The practyse of prelates. Compyled by the faythfull and godly learned man, Wyllyam Tyndale

●xed who shulde be greatest in the king●●● of heauen , Chryst called a yong chyld vnto him / and set him in the middes among them ▪ sayeng : Excepte ye turne backe and become as chyldren , ye shall not enter in the kingdome of heauen . Nowe yong chyldren beare no rule one over an other / but all is fellowshype among them . And he sayd more ouer : Who soever humbleth him selfe after the ensample of this Chylde , he is greatest in the kingdome of heauen , that is , to be ( as concerning ambicion and worldely desyre ) so chyldish ▪ y● y● couldest not heyue thy selfe aboue thy brother / is the very bearing of rule and to be greate in Chrysts kingdome . And to describe the very ●a●ion of the greatenesse of his kingdome / he sayde : He that receyueth one such chylde in my name receaueth me . What is that to receaue a chyld in Chrystes name ? Uerely to subm●● to meke and to humble thy selfe and to cast thy selfe vnder all men and to consider all mennes infirmities and weakenesses / & to helpe to heale their dyseases wyth the word of trueth / and to lyue purely that they se no contrarye ensample in the to what soever thou teachest them in Christ that thou put no stumbling blocke before them , to make them falle whyle they be yet Younge and weake in the fayth : But that thou abstayne as Paule teacheth .i. Thessalo . v. Ab omni specie mala , from all that myght seme euyll or whereof a man might surmyse amysse , & that thou so loue them / that whatsoeuer gifte of god in the is / thou thynk the same , theirs and their fode and for their sakes geuen vnto the as the Truthe is , and that all the infyrmytyes be thyne , and that thou feale them and that thyne hart mourne for them and that wyth all thy powre thou helpe to amende them , and cease not to crye to God for them neither daye nor nyghte : and that thou let nothyng be founde in the / that any man maye rebuke , but whatsoeuer thou teachest them , thou that be : And that thou be not a wolf in a Lambes skynne as our holye father the Pope is , whych cometh vnto vs in Name of hypocrysye and in the tytle of cursed Cham or Ham callyng hym selfe Seruus seruorum / the seruante of all seruantes / and is yet founde tyrannus tyrannorum of all tyrauntes moste cruell . Thys is to receaue yonge chyldern in chrystes name , and to recaue yong chyldern in Chrystes name , is to beare rule in the kyngdom of christ . Thus ye maye se that Chrystes kyngdome ●s alltogether spirituall , and the bearynge of rule in it is cleane contrary vnto the bearing of rule temporallye . Wherfore none that beareth rule in it maye haue any temporall iurisdiction or ministre any temporal office that requyreth Uyolence to compell with all .

¶ Peter was not greater then the other Apostles , by any aucthoritie geuen hym of Chryst.

THey saye that Peter was chefe of the Apostles , verely as Apelles was called chefe of painters for his excellent conning aboue other , euen so Peter may be called thefe of the Apostles for his actiuitie and boldnes aboue the other : but that Peter had any aucthoritie or rule ouer his bretheren & fellow apostles , is fals & contrary to the scriptur . Christ forbad it the last euen before his passion , and in dyuerse times befor , and taught always the contrary , as I haue rehersed .

Thou wylt saye : thou canst not see how there shuld be any good ordre in the kingdom , where none weare Better then other , and where the superiour had not a lawe and authoritie to compell the inferyour with violence . The world truly can se none other way to rule , then with violence . For there no man absteyneth from euel / but for feare , because the loue of ryghtuousnes is not written in theyr hartes . And therfore the Popes kingdome is of thys worlde . For there one sorte are your Grace , your Holynesse , your fatherhod : An other , my lorde bisshop my Lorde Abbot , my Lord Priour / An other / master doctour / father , bachelar / master parson / master vicar , and at the last commeth in simple sir Iohan. And euery man reygneth ouer other wyth myght and haue euery ruler his pryson his iayler / hys chaynes / hys tormentes / euen so much as the fryers obseruauntes obserue that rule , and compell euery man eyther with violence aboue the cruelnes of the heathen tiraunts , so that what cometh ones in , maye neuer out for feare of tellyng tales out of scole . They rule ouer the bodye with violence and compell it whether the harte wyll or not , to obserue thinges of their owne making .

But in the kyngdom of God it is contrarye . For the spirite that bringeth them thether maketh them wyllyng & geueth them luste vnto the lawe of God , & loue compelleth them to worke / and loue maketh everye mans good and all that he can do , commune vnto hys neyghbours neade . And as every man is stronge in that kingdome , so loue compelleth him to take the weake by the hande / and to helpe him , and to take him , that can not goo vppon his shulders and beare him . And so to do seruice vnto the weaker , is to beare rule in that kyngdome .

And because Peter did excede the other apostles in fervent service towarde his brethern , therfore is he called ( not in the scripture but in the vse of speaking ) the chefeste of the Apostles , and not that he had any dominion ouer them . Of which truth thou mayest se all thy practise in the A●tes of the Apostles after the resurrection . For when Peter had bene & preached in the house of Cor +nelis an hethen man , the other that were circumcysed , chode hym , because he had bene in an vncyrcumcised mans house and had eaten with him , for it was forbydden in the lawe , neyther wist they yet that the hethen shuld be called . And Peter was fayne to gyue accountes vnto them ( which is not token of superiorite ) and to shew them how he was warned of the holy gost so to do Actes . xi .

And Actes the .xv. when a counsell was gathered of the apostles and dyscyples aboute the cyrcuncysion of the hethen , Peter brought forth not hys commaundement and the auctoryte of hys vycarshyppe , but the myracle that the holy gost had shewed for the heathen / how at the preaching of the gospel , the holy gost had lyghted vppon them and purytyed theyr hartes thorow fayth , and therfore pro●ed that they ought not to be circumcysed .

And Paule & Barnabas brought forth the myracles also that God had shewed by them / among the heathen , thorow preachyng of fayth . And then Iames brought forth a prophecy of the olde testament for the sayde partie : And ther with the aduersaries gaue ouer their hold / and they concluded wyth one assent by the auctorytie of the scripture & of the holy gost , thou the heathen shuld not be circumcised / and not by the commaundement of Peter , vnder payne of cursing , excommunycatyon interdytyng and lyke bogges to make foles and chyldren afrayed wyth all .

And Actes . viij . Peter was sent of the other apostles vnto the samaritanes / which is an evident token that he had in iurisdiccion ouer them ( for then they coulde not haue sent hym ) But rather ( as the truth is ) that the congregacion had auctorytie ouer hym and ouer all other pryuate Parsons , to admitte them for ministres and send them forth to preach whether so euer the sprite of god moued them / and as they sawe occasyon .

And in the Epystle vnto the Gallathians thou seist also howe Paule corrected Peter when he walked not the ryght waye after the truth of the Gospell . Galla. ij . So now thou seyst that in the kingdome of Chryst , and in his churche or congregation , and in his counsels , Scripture is the chefest of the apostles . the ruler is the scripture approued thorowe the myracles of the holy gost and men be seruaunts onely ▪ and Chryst is the heade and we all bretheren : And when we call men oure heades , that we do not , because they be shorne or shauen , or because of theyr names , parson , vicar , bisshoppe , pope : But onely because of the worde which they preach . If they erre from the worde / then may who soeuer God moueth his harte , playe pauil ▪ and correct him . If he wyl not obeye the scripture / then haue hys brethern aucthoritie by the scripture to put hym downe & to sende him out of Chrystes church amonge the heretikes which preferre their false doctryne aboue the true woorde of Chryst.

¶ How the gospell punissheth trespasers and how by the Gospell we ought to go to lawe with oure aduersaryes .

THough that they of Chrystes congregacion be all wyl●ing : yet because that the moost part is always weake & because also that the occasions of the world be euer many and greate , in so muche that Chryst , which wys●e all thing beforehande , sayth Mathew xviij . Wo be vnto the world by reason of occasions of Euell , and saythe also that it can not be auoyded but that occasyons shall come , therfore it can not be chosen but that many shal ouerfaule , when a weake Brother hath trespassed , by what law shal he be punisshed ? verely by the law of loue / whose properties thou readest in the xiii . of the first to the Corinthians . If the loue of God / which is my profession / be written in myne hart , it wyll not let me hate my weake brother when he hath offended me ▪ no more then naturall loue wyll let a Mother hate her chyld when it trespasseth against her . My weak brother hath offended me , he is fallen , his weaknes hath ouertrowne him : it is not ryght by the lawe of loue that I shuld now faule vpon him , & treade him downe in the myre and destroy him vtterly : but it is ryght by the law of loue , that I runne to hym & helpe him vp agayne . ¶ By what processe we shuld go to law with our trespacers / christ teacheth vs Math. xviij . Tell him hys faute betwene him & the with all mekenesse , remembryng that thou arte a man & mayst fall also : Yf ye repet , & thou loue him / ye shall sone agre / & then forgeue him . And when thou forgeuest thy neyghbour , them thou arte sure that god forgeueth the thy trespaces by his holy promysse Math. vi . If he heare y● not / then take a neyghboure or two . If he heare them not , them tell the congregacion wher thou art : & let the preacher pronounce gods law against him & let the sad & discret men rebuke him & exhort him vnto repentaunce , if he repent , & y● also loue him accordyng to the professyon , ye shall sone agre . If he heare not the congregacion , then let him be taken as an hethen . Yf he that is offended be weake also / them let them that be strong ●o betwene & helpe them . And in lyke maner if any sine against the doctrine of Chryst & the profession of a christen man so that he be a dronkard , & Turrian horekeper , or whatsoeuer open sinne he do , or if he teach false learning : then let such be rebuked openly befor the congregacion & by the auctoritie of the scripture . And if they repent not , let them be put out of the congregacion as he then people , if they then be not a shamed ● we haue no remedye but paciently to abyde what god wil do & to pray in the meane time the god wyll open their hartes & giue them repentaunce . Other law then this , Chrystes gospell knoweth not , nor the officers therof . It is manifest therfore , that the kingdom of christ is a spirituall kingdom which no man can mynyster well , & a temporall kingdom to , as it is sufficiently proued : because that no man whiche putteth his hand to the plow , & loketh backe / is apt for the kingdom of heauen , as Chryst answered Luke . ix . vnto him that wold haue folowed him , but wolde first haue take leaue of his housholde . If a man put hys hand to the plow of gods word , to preach it / & loke also vnto worldly busines / his plow wyll surely go a wry . And therfore sayth Christ vnto Turrian other that wold likewise folow him , but desyred first to go and bury his father . Let the dead bury the deade , but come thou and shewe or preach that kingdom of god . As who shuld say , he that wyll preache the kingdom of God ( which is Chrystes gospell ) truly , must haue his harte no where else .

¶ What officers the apostles ordeyned in christes church , & what their offices wer to do .

Wherfore the apostles folow●g & obeing the rule , doctrine & commaundment of our sauiour Iesus Christ their master / ordeyned in hys kyngdome and congregacion two officers : One called after the greke worde byshop , in english an ouersear : which same was called preast after the greke , elder in englysh because of his age , discrecion & sadnes for he was as nygh as coulde be all waye Turrian elderly man : as thou seist both in the new & olde testament also , how the officers of the Iewes be called the Elders of the People / because ( as thou mayst wel thynke ) they were ouer old men ▪ as nygh as could be . For vnto age do men naturally obeye , and vnto age doth god commaunde to geue honoure / sayenge : Levi. xix . Ryse vp before the horehead , and reuerence the face of the old man And also experience of thynges and couldnesse ( without which it is hard to rule wel ) is more in age then in youth . And thys ouersea● dyd put hys handes vnto the plow of goddes worde , and fed Chrystes flocke / and tended them only without lokyng vnto any other busynesse in the worlde .

An other officer they chose , and called hym Deacon after the greke , amynystre in english , to mynystre the almesse of the people vnto the pore and neadye . For in the congregation of christ , loue maketh euery mans gifte and goodes comune vnto the necessyte of hys neyghboure . Wherfore the loue of god beyng yet hore in the hartes of men , the rych that had the substance of thys worldes goodes / brought of theyr aboundaunce grete plentye vnto the sustentation of the poore , and delyuered it vnto the Handes of the Deacons . And vnto the helpe of the Deacons were wydowes of .lx. yeare olde , holy , vertuous / and destitute of frendes , chosen to tende and wayte vppon the sycke and to washe the sayntes fete that came from one Congregacion vnto an other / whether for any busynes or for feare of Persecucyon . And these commune goodes of the churche offered for the succour of the poore , grewe in all churches so Exceadyngly / that in some congreg●cion it was so much that it was sufficyente to Mayntayne an hoste of men In so muche that tyrants dyd oft tymes persecute the christen for those commune goodes / as thou seist in the lyfe of . S. Laurence the deacon of Rome .

And moreouer the couetuousnes of the prelates was the decaye of chrystendome and the encresyng of the kyngdome of Mahomette For by the first springing of the empyre of , Mahomete , the Emperoures , Kinges , and greate lordes of christendome had geuen their treasure so myghtely vnto the church , what after great victoryes , & what at theyr deathes , that their successours were not able to mainteyne battell against the Saracenes and Turkes ( for the woorlde was not yet in such captiuitie that they coulde make theyr subiects swere on bokes what they were worth & rayse vp taxes at theyr pleasur ) so that a certein wrytter of stories sayth : The prelates gaped when the laye men wolde take the warre vpon them against the Turkes , and that lay men loked when the prelates wolde laye out their money to make the warre with all , and not to spend it in worse vse , as the most part of them were wont to do / spendynge the moneye that was goten with almesse and bloude of marters vppon goodly place and greate vessels of golde and syluer , without care of things to come , despising God whome they worshypped for their belyes sake onely and also man . Moreouer it was the custome euen then / ( sayth the auctor ) to axe what the bishopryke was worth , ye and to leaue a worse for a better or to kepe both with a vnion . And at the same time Isacius the debitie of the Emperour , came to Rome to confirme the Pope in his se , with the Emperours aucthoritie , for the election of the pope was then nothynge worth , except it had bene confirmed by the emperour , and he founde so great treasure in the church of saynt Ihon Lateran , that for dysdayne which he had that they shulde haue such treasure in s●ore & not to helpe the emperour in his warres against the Turckes seing his souldyers / lacked wages , he toke it away with violence against the wyll of the prelates , of which he exy●ed some / and payde his owne men of warre with one part & toke an other part vnto him self , & sent the thyrde parte vnto the Emperoure : whiche must nedes haue bene a great treasure in one church .

¶ By what meanes the prelates fell from Chryst

THe office of a Bysshop was a roume at the begynnynge , that no man coueted and that no man durste take vppon him , saue he only which loued christ better then hys owne lyfe . For as Christ sayeth that no man myght be hys disciple , excepte that he were ready to forsake lyfe and all : euen so myght that officer be sure that it wolde coste hym hys lyfe at one tyme or an other forbearing record vnto the truth . But after that the multitude of the chrysten were encreased , and many great men had receau●d the fayth , than both landes and rentes aswell as the other goodes , were geuen vnto the maintenaunce as well of the clergye as of the poore : because they gaue then no tythes to the priestes , nor yet nowe do saue in certeyne countreys : For it is to much to geue almesse / offeringes / landes and tythes also . And then the bysshops made them whych they call pryest / and kepe the name bisshop vnto them selues .

But out of the deacons sprange all the myschefe . For thorow their handes wente all thynge : they ministred vnto the clergye , they ministred vnto the poore / they were in fauoure with great & small . And when the bisshops office began to haue rest & to be honorable / then the deacons through fauoure and gyftes clam vp thervnto , as lyghtlye he that hath the old Abbots treasure , succedeth with vs . And by the meanes of their practise & accointaūce in the world , they were more subtile and woorldly wyse then the olde bysshops , and lesse learned in Goddes worde , as oure prelates are / when they come from studentshyppe in Gentlemens houses , and from surueing of greate mens landes , lordes secrets , Kynges counsels , ambasadourshyp / from warre and ministring all worldly matters / yea , worldlye mischefe : and yet nowe they come not thence / but receaue all and byde there styll , The prelates must b●de styll in the courte . yea they haue enacted by playne parlyament that they must byde in the courte styll or els they may not haue pluralytie of benefyces . And then by lytle and lytle they inhaunsed them selues and turned all to them selues minysshynge the poore peoples parte and encreasing theyrs , and ioynīng accoyntaunce with greate men , and with their power clam vp and entitled them wich the chosing and confyrming of the Pope and all bisshoppes , to flatter and purchase fauoure and defenders : trustynge more vnto their worldly wysdom then vnto the doctryne of Chryst , whych is the wysdom of God and vnto the defence of man , then of God . Then whyle they that had the plowe by the tayle , loked ●acke , the plow went a wrye ▪ Faythe waxed feble and faint / loue waxed cold , the scriptur waxed darke , Chryst was no more sene : he was in the mounte wyth Moses , & therfore the bysshops wolde haue a god vpon the earth whom they might se , and thervpon they began●e to dyspute who shulde be greatest .

¶ How the Bysshop of Rome became greater then other / and called him selfe Pope .

Then quod worldly wisdom Hierusalem must be the greatest for that was christs sete , et factum ●st , so it can to passe for a season And in conclusion where a greate cytie was and much riches , ther was the bis●hop ever greater then his fellowes . Alexander in Egypte / and Antioch in Grece / were greater then theyr neyghbours . Then those decaying , Constantinople and Rome / waxed greate , and stroue who shuld be greater . And Constantinople sayd , where the Emperour is , there ought to be the greatest seat and chefest bisshop . For the Emperour lay● most at Constantynople / because it was ( I suppose ) nygh the middes of the empyre , therfore I must be the greatest sayde the bisshope of Constantinople . Nay quod the bisshoppe of Rome , though the Emperour lye neuer so muche at constantinople yet he is called Emperour of Rome / & rome is the head of the empyre , wherfor of right I muste be the Father of all waten . And thus whether they chalenged theyr title by the aucthorite of God or man , or by peter or poulinge , it was all one : so they myghte be greatest .

And great intercession was made vnto the Emperours of both parties : but in vayne a greate season / for the emperours stopped their eares at such ambicious requests longe time , tyll at the last there cam an Emperour called Phocas whyche laye long in Italy & was a very soft man & a praye for prelates . Phocas . Pope bon●face the 〈◊〉 In whose time Boniface the third was bysshop of Rome , a man ambicious & gready vpon honour , & of a very subtil wit nothing inferiour vnto Thomas wolf ser cardinall of yorcke . This Boniface was greate with the emperour Phocas , & with his wyly● persuasions & greate intercession together , obtayned of Phocas to be called the chefest of all bysshops , & that his churche shulde be the chefe church . Which auctorite as sone as he had purchased / he sent immediatly his commandment with the emperours power wherunto all the bisshopps of Almanye ▪ ●●maūdi●g the euery bysshop shuld call all the priestes of his diocese , the chastit● of priestes how it came vp . & charge them that euery man shuld put awaye his wyfe vnder payne of excommunication Which tyranny , thogh great resistaunce was made against it / he yet brought to passe with the emperours swerde and his owne subtiltie to gether : for the Bysshops were rych and durst not displease the pope for feare of the Emperour .

As sone as Nemroth the myghtie him 〈◊〉 had caught this praye , that he had compelled all bysshops to be vnder hym and to swere obedyence vnto hym / then he began to be greate in the earth , and called him self papa , Papa . wyth thys interpreca●yon / father of fathers . And when the Pope had exalted his throne aboue hys fellowes , then the vnitie that ought to be amonge bretheren in Chrystes Church , brake : and diuisyon began betwene vs and the grekes / which grekes ( I suppose ) were at that time the one half of chrystendome . Diuision in the church . And when any pope ●ens exhorted them to vnitie they answered that he which wyl reygne ouer hys bretheren with violence breaketh vnitie / & not they / & that they wyl not be vnder hys tyrannye whervnto he calleth them vnd a colour of vnite . And from hense forth with the helpe of his bisshops , which were sworne t● be true lyg● men vnto him , when before tyme they were admitted to their bisshoprikes of the emperours and kinges , he began to ley a bayte to catch the hole Empyre into his handes also .

¶ By what meanes the pope inuaded the Empire .

AT that same ceason Mahomete the auctour of the s●cte of the turckes and saracens beganne . mahomete & the p●pe began at ●●ne time . And as sone as he had got muche People vnto him with wiles and fayned miracles , he inuaded the empyre of Rome in those quarters . And loke how busy Mahomet was in those partyes so ●esy was the pope in these quarters to inuade the empyre ( with the helpe of his sworne bysshops which preached all of non other God then the Pope ) whyle the emperour was occupied a farre of , in resisting of Mahomete . Gregory the pope came vp by the frenchmen & by the he cotinnueth his estate styll .

And within few yeares after , when the kinges of Italy nowe and then vexed our holye fathers for the covetouse ambicion , then Gregory the third ioyned amite wyth the Frenchmen , and called them to helpe / by whose power they gatte all they haue & also mayntaine it vnto this daye , For if any man sens that time hether , dyspleased the pope neuer so lytle , he immediatly cursed him and excommuni●ated hym / and proclaymed him no ryght enheritoure , and that it was not laufull to holde of him , and obsolu●● hys lordes and subiectes of theyr alleages aunce , and sent his blessing vnto the french king , and remissyon of sinnes to go and conquere hys lande , the pope and french kynge alwaye diuiding the spoyle betwene them , the bisshops and all that serued god for the belly , preaching the popes myght ▪ how that he had power so to do / and all thinges to b●de and lose at hys wyll / wrestinge the scriptures to serue for their purpose / corrupting all the lawes both of God and man to proue hys godhead with all .

pope zacharias the .i. Hilderichus THen cam pope Zacharias the first , in whose time hulderichus was kynge of fraunce / a man that gouerned his royalme ( as it ofte chaunceth ) by a debitie ( as parsones preache ) one Pipine a lord of his o●ne & his sworn subiect . pipinus This pipine sent an holy bisshop to pope Zacharias that he shuld helpe to make hym kynge of Fraunce , and he wold be hi● defender in Italy ( as the maner of ●●aul● horses is , the one to clawe the other ) & Zacharias answered that he was more worthy to be kyng that ruled the Realme and ●oke the laboures , than an ydle shadowe that went vp and downe and did nought . And so vpon that / the lordes of Fraunce by the persuasions of the prelates , consented vnto Pipine , and thrust downe their right kinge , vnto whom they were sworne , ynd made a monke of him . And both the lordes & also Pipine toke dispensacions for theyr othes of our holy father , and were forsworne . Thus was oure holy father the Pope crepte vp in to the consciences of men with hys false interpretation of byndyng and lo●synge , good .viij. hundred yeres agone .

Then came Pope Stephanus the second out of whose handes Estulphus kyng of Lombardie wold faine haue scratched som what , pope steuen the second estulphus for he thought that the holye fathers gathered to fa●●● / and had all readye raked to muche vnto them . But the new kynge Pipine of fraunce warned of hys duetie and seruice promysed and mindefull of old frendshippe , and hopynge for parte of the praye , came to succoure the pope and when he had subdued the Kyng o● Lombardye , he gaue vnto our holy father or rather to saynt Peter that hungry begger , greate prouinces & contreys in Lombardye and in Italye , with the yle corsica and many greate cyties , of which some perteyned vnto the Emperoure being then at Constantinople / & yet the Emperour had sent before vnto king Pipine that he shuld not geue of his townes vnto the pope . But Pipine answer●● that he cam for the same intent , & to inhaunce our holy father . And our holy father receaued them .

And thus the Empyre was deuided in two part●s : the Pope and the frenchking partyng the one halfe betwene them . And as the Emperour decayed , the Pope grewe . And as the pope grewe , so the secte of Mahomete grew , for the Emperour ( halfe his empyre lost ) was not able to defend him selfe against the infidels . And the pope wold suffer no help hence to come for two causes : One , lest the Emperour shuld recouer his Empyre agayne , and an other because the prelates of the grekes wold not submitte them selues vnto his godheade as the prelates of these quarters of the world had ●one .

AFter Pipine raygned his sonne greate Charles whom we cal Charlemayne which knew non other God but the Pope nor any other waye to heauen then to do the Pope pleasure . Pipine Charlemayne For the Pope ser●ed him for two purposses : One to dispē●● wyth hym for what soeuer mischefe he did : an other , to be stablished in the Empyre by his helpe , for without his fauour he wist it wold not be / so greate a God was oure holye father become already in those dayes .

T is pope steuen in his latter daies fell at variaunce with Desiderius king of Lombardye , aboute the archbisshoppe of Ra●enna .

AFter Steuen succeded Adrian the firste with whom Desiderius the king of Lombardy wold fayne haue made peace , but Pope Adrian wolde not . Steuen . Desiderius king of lombardy . And shortly vpon that the brother of this Charlmayn which raygned wyth hym in halfe the dominion of Fraunce , dyed , whose wife for feare of charles , fled with hir .ij sonnes vnto Desiderius king of Lombardye for succoure . Desiderius was gladd● of their comming trusting by the meanes of these two chylderen to obtaine fauour among many of the Frenchmen , and so to be able to resyst charles , if he wold medle ▪ and to brynge Italy vnto the ryght Em●perour againe , and wold haue had that pope Adrian shuld haue annointed them kinges in their fathers roume . But Adrian refused that to do ( for he sawe charles mygh●e and mete for hys purpose ) and was as wilye as Desyderius , and thought to kepe oute the right Emperour & be Emperour of Rome him self , though he gaue an other the name for a ceason tyll a more conuenient ●ime came .

Then Desiderius warred vpon the popes iurisdiction . And Adryan sent to Charles / and Charles came with his armye and dra●e out desyderius and his sonne , which sonne fled vnto the ryght Emperoure to Constantinople . And Charles and the Pope dyuided the kingdome of Lombardy betwene them And Charles came to Rome And the Pope and he were sworne together that who soeuer shulde be ennemy vnto the one , shuld be ennemy also vnto the other .

This Adrian gathered a counsell immediatly of an . C. lii● . bisshoppes , abbottes and relygious parsones , & gaue vnto Charles and his successours the empyre of Rome , and ordeyned that the ryght and powr to chose the pope ▪ shuld be hys ▪ and that no bysshop shuld be consecrate tyll he had obtayned of hym both consent and the ornamentes of a bysshop also ( whych they now ●ye of the pope ) vnder payne of cursing , & to be delyuered vnto black Sathan the deuell / and losse of goodes . Dist. lxiij .

And Leo the thyrde which succeded Adrian , confyrmed the same / & crouned Charles Emperour of Rome for like seruice done vnto hym . And then there was apointment made betwene the Emperours of constantinople and of Rome and the places assigned how farre the borders of ether empyre shuld reach· And thus of one empyre was made twayne . And therfore the empyre of constantinople for lacke of help , was shortly after subdued of the Turkes .

The sayd Leo also called Charles the moost chrysten Kynge because of his good seruice : which tytle the kynges of Fraunce vse vnto thys daye / though many of them be neuer so vnchristened ▪ As the laste Leo called oure kinge the defender of the faith . And as this Pope Clemens calleth the duke of Ge●der the eldest sonne of the holy 〈◊〉 of ROME , for non other vertue nor propertye that anye man can knowe saue that he hath b●ne all his lyfe a pickequarell and a cruell and vnryghtuous bloudeshedde●● as his father that sitteth in that holy se is . So now aboue seuen hondred yeres to be a Christen kyng , ●s to fyght for the Pope , and most chr●sten that most fyghteth & sl●●eth most men for his pleasure .

●he lyfe of Charles This Charles was a great conquerour that is to saye a great tiraunte / and ouercame many nacyons with the swerde , and as the Turke compelleth vnto his Fayth , so he compelled them with violence vnto the fayth of Christ , sayth the stories . But ( alas ) Christ● fayth whervnto the holy ghost only draweth mennes hartes thorowe preaching the worde of truth and holy lyuynge according therto , he knew not , but vnto the pope he subdued them and vnto this supersticious ydolatry , which we vse clene contrary vnto the scripture .

Practyse . Moreouer at the request and great desyre of his mother , he maryed the doughter of Desyderius kyng of Lombardy / but after one yere vnto the great dyspleasure of his mother he put her a waye againe : but not without the false subtiltye of the pope thou mayest be sure , nether with out his dispensacion . For how could Charles haue made warre for the Popes pleasure with Desiderius hir father , and haue thruste him out of his kingdome , and banysshed hys Sonne for euer , deuydinge his kingdom betwene him and the pope as long as she had bene his wyfe ?

And therfore the pope with his auctorit● of byndynge and lousinge / lowsed the bondes of that matrimony ( as he hath many other sens , and dayly doth for lyke purposses ) to the intent that he wold with the swerde of the french kyng put the Kyngdome of Lombardye that was somwhat to nye him ● out of the way : by the reason of whose kynges hys fatherhode coulde not raygne alone nor assygne or sel the Bysshoprykes of Italy to whome he lusted and at his pleasure .

He kept also .iiij. concubines , and laye with two of his owne doughters therto . And though he wist howe that it was not vnknowne , yet his lustes being greater than great Charles , he wold not wete nor yet refrayne .

And beyonde all that , the sayinge 〈◊〉 that in hys olde age a whore had so bewitched him with a ryng & a pearle in it , and I wote not what ymagerye grauen therin that he went asaute after her as a Dogge after a bytch / and the do●ehed was beside hymself and hole out of hys Mynde : in somuche that when the whore was dead , he could not departe from the Deade Corps , but caused it to be Enbaulmed and to be Caryed wyth hym whether so euer he Wente / so that all the worlde wondered at him / tyll at the last hys lordes accombred wyth caryenge her from place to place , and asshamed that so olde a Man , so greate an Emperoure and such a most chrysten kynge , on whom , & whose dedes euery Mannes eyes were sette , shuld dote on a dead hore , toke counsel what shuld be the cause . And it was concluded that it muste neades be by enchauntement . Then they wente vnto the cophyne , & opened it and sought , and founde thys rynge on her finger : which one of the lordes toke of and put it on his owne fynger . When the ringe was of he , commaunded to burye her , regarding her no longer . Neuertheles he caste a phantasye vnto thys Lorde and beganne to dote as faste on hym , so that he might neuer be out of syght : But where oure Charles was / there must that lord also be , and what charles dyd , that must he be preuye vnto : vntill that th●s lord perceauing that it came because of this enchaunted rynge / for very paine and tedyousnesse● to●● and cast it into a well at ac●n in douchland And after that the rynge was in the wel ▪ the Emperour coulde neuer departe from the towne / but in the sayde place where the ring was , cast though it were a foule ma●resse , yet he bylt a goodly monasterye in the worship of our ladye , and thether brought relikes , from whence he coulde gett thē●ād pardons to sanctifye the place and to make it more haunted . And there he lyeth and is 〈◊〉 sainte / as ryght is . For he dyd for chrystes vicar asmuch as the greate Turke for mahomete : but to saue hys Holynesse that he myght be canonysed for a saint , they fayne in his lyfe that hys abydyng / there so continuallye was for the hote bathes sakes with be there .

AFter Charlemain , lewes the mil● was emperour which was a verye pacient man ( an other pho●●● & an other pray for the pope ) & so meke and softe , that sca●elye he coulde be angrye ●f any thynge at all . Whan oure holy fathers had sene his water and spyed what complexion he was / they chose Steuen the iiij . of the name Pope with out his knowlege and bad him nother good morowe nor good euen nor once god spede about the matter , pope steuen 〈◊〉 .iij. against theyr own graunt vnto hys father for his good seruice . And hys softnes was yet somwhat dyspleased there with in as muche as the electyon of the Pope partayned vnto his right . But the Pope sent Ambassadoures and wrote al the excuses that he coud and cam after him self to fraunce to him , & pleased him and crouned him ye●e emperour and passed the tyme a ceason with him , and they became verye famylier to gether .

After that , they chose Paschalis pope of the same maner , pope paschale . which phascalis sent immediatly legates vnto the emperour softe lewes excusing him selfe and sayeng : that it was not his faute but that the clergy and the comen people had drawen hym therto with violence against his wyll . Then the emperour was conte●t●or that ones and bad they shuld no more do so , but that the old ordinaunce ought to be kept . The softenesse of this Lewes did him much care . For he was after presoned of his owne sone 〈◊〉 helpe of pope Gregory the fourth .

After this mans dayes the popes neuer regarded the Emperours / nor did the clergy of Rome sue any more to the emperour , ether for the election or confirmacion of the pope . Moreouer after this Lewes there was nev emperour in christendom of any power or able of his owne might to correcte any pope nether was there anye kyng that coud correct the outrages vices of the spyritualty of his owne realme after this tyme For this Lewes lefte .iij. sonnes amonge which he deuided the realme of Fraunce and all douchlond . Which same for pride & disdayn● that one shuld haue more then another fell to gether ( as we say ) by the eares / eche destroyeng others power / so that fraunce was afterward of no might to do any great thing . And then the pope reygned in Italy alone without care of any Emperour : Alone pope Niclaus the .i. in so much that Nicholaus the first● decreed that no seculare prince or emperoure shuld haue ought to do or be at the counsels of the clergy . pope adrian the ij ¶ And after that Adrian the seconde was chosen pope the emperours debite beyng in Rome and not ones spoken to of the matter .

And when the emperours ambassadoures disdained , they answered who can resiste the rage of the peple , & prayed them to be content & to salute him as pope . And Adrian the third decreed that they shuld not abyde and tarye for the Emperours confirmation or aucthoritie in chosing the pope , and hat● the pope onely shuld call a generall councel , and not the emperour , or if the Emperour wold presume that to do , the councell shulde be of none effecte / though all the prelat● of chrystendom were there , & though what soeuer they did were but GODS worde . So mighty was the beast now waxed when he ones began to raygne alone . And from this tyme h●therwarde perysshed the powr of the Emperours and the vertue of the pores , saith platina in the lyfe of popes . For sins that tyme as there was none emperour of myght , so was there no pope of any vertue

Alter thys lewes , the empyre of Fraunce and of all doutchlande was diuided betwene his thre sonnes which ( as I sayde ) fought one with an other and destroyed the strength of the empyre of fraunce . And from that time to this , which is aboue .vij. hundreth yeares , thou shalt reade of fewe popes that haue not led their lyues in bloudsheading / in so much that if thou consydre the storyes well , thou shalt easely perceaue that there hath bene slayn about theyr cause farre aboue .xl. C. thousand men , besides that there hath bene but fewe princes in christendom that hath not bene busyed and combred a greate parte of his lyfe about their mater . Eyther in warres begonne at their setting on , ether in ceasing scismes or diuision that hath bene amonge the clergye who shuld be pope , or striuing of bysshops who shulde be greatest / as betwene the bisshop of Yorke and Caunterbury in Ingland & betwene the bisshops of Inglande & Wales , wherof al the chronycles be ful , or in reforming friers or monks , or in sleing them that vttered their false hypocrisy with goddes woorde .

When the Emperour was downe , & no man in christendom of any powr to be feared , then euery nacion fel vppon others and all landes were at variaunce betwene them selues . And then as the Danes cam into Ingland and vexed the Inglishmen , and dwelt there in spyte of their hartes / euen so came straunge nacions whose names were scarce hearde of before in these quarters ( as the Uandales / Hunnes and Gothes ) and ran thorowout all christendom by . C. thousands together , Uandales ▪ Hunnes· Gothes . and subdued the landes and dwelt therin maugre the inhabitours , as thou mayest se in Douchlond how diuerse nacions are inclosed in the middes of the land of a straunge tongue which no douchman vnderstandeth : and that rule continued wel .viij. or ix . score or .ij. hundred yeres . And in all this ceason / who soeuer wan the maystrye / him , the spiritualtye receaued , and him they crouned king and to him they cleaue . And what so euer any tyraunt had robbed al his lyfe , that or most parte therof must he deale among them at his death / for feare of purgatory . The spirytualty all that ceason preached the pope myghtely , bylt abbayes for recreatyon and quietnesse / shryninge them alwaye for sayntes which purchased them priuileges / or fought for their liberties , or disputed for the popes powr , how so euer they lyued ( but after . L. yere when their liues were forgotten ) and if any resisted them what soeuer mischeuen they went about , him they noted in chronycles as a cruell tiraunt : ye & what soed misfortune chaunsed any of hys posteritie after him , that they noted also , as thouh God had plaged them , because their forefather was disobedient vnto holy churche ● & euer put the stories that vttered there wyckednesse out of the way and gathered relyques from whence they coulde g●t them , & fayned myracles , that and gaue them selues onely vnto poetrye / & shut vp the scriptur / so that thys was the very tyme of which Chryste speaketh . Mat. xxiiij in whych false prophete● shuld aryse and shewe myracles and wonders to deceaue the very electe yf yt had bene possyble .

FYnallye in thys busye woorlde the Kynges of Lombardy gatte a lytle myght / and came vppe agayne and were diuerse tymes Emperours / th●gh of no greate myght . beringarius . And one Beringarius kinge of Lombardye began to meddle with oure holy fathers businesse . Wherfore the pope fled vnto Ottho Kynge of the saxons , which by that tyme had gotten myg●t , and brought him into Italy against Beringarium , whych Ottho ouercam Beringarium & was made Emperour for hys labour , Ottho . and thus came the Empyre fyrst vnto deue●●●nde .

And Ottho recaued the empyre of one pope Iohn ( ●ay they ) with this othe , pope Ihon the xij . I Ottho do promesse and swear vnto the lorde Iohn , by the father / the sonne and the holy ghooste , and by thys wod of the crosse that maketh lyuing , & by these relyques of sainctes , that if I come to Rome with goddes helpe , I wyll exalte the holy churche of Rome and the , the gouernoure of the same , vnto my powr : Neyther shalt thou lose lyfe nor members , or that honour that thou hast by my wyll , counsell , consent or settynge a worke . Moreouer I wyll make in rome no constitucion or ordinaunce of anye thyng that perteyneth vnto the or vnto the Romaynes without thy counsell . And whatsoeuer of the landes of saynt Peter cometh vnto our handes / I wyll dilyuer it the And vnto whom soeuer I shal commit the rule of Italy / I wyll make him swere that he shal helpe the , to defend the landes of saint Peter vnto his power .

Pope Gregory the .v. And Gregory the .v. ( when they had gotte at the last that whiche they long gaped for ) made this ordinaunce of chosynge the emperour / to stablysh it with all : that vi . lordes of Almany .iij of the spiritualtye and .iij. of the temporaltye with the king of Bohem the seuenth to be the odde man & vmpear , shuld chose him for euer , and send him to the pope to receaue his othe , and to be crouned . Neuertheles the pope to kepe the Emperour a farre of , sendeth him his coronacion home to him oftimes moch leauer than that he shuld come any nere as a meke spirited man , that had leuer lyue solytary and alone , then haue his holynes sene .

¶ A propre similytude to describe our holy father .

And to see how oure holy father can vp marke the ensample of an yuirtre : first it springeth out of the earth & then a whyle crepeth a longe by the grounde tyll it fynde a great tree : then it ioyneth it selfe byneath a lowe vnto the body of the tre , & crepeth vp a lytle and a lytle fayre and softely . And at the beginning whyle it is yet thyn and small that the burthen is not perceaued , it semeth glorious to garnysh the tre in the winter and to beare of the tempestes of the wether . But in the meane ceason it thrusteth his rootes into the barke of the tree to hold fast withall / and ceasseth not to ●●ym vppe tyll it be at the toppe / and aboue all . And then it sendeth his braunches along by th● braunches of the tree , and ouergroweth all and waxeth greate , heuye and thyck and sucketh the moystoure so sore out of the tre and his braunches , that it choketh and st●fleth them . And then the foule styncking yuye waxeth myghty in the scōpe of the tre and becometh a seat and a nest for all vncleane , bird●s and for b●inde oules which hauke in the darke and dare not come at the lyght .

Euen so the bisshop of Rome now called POPE , at the begining crope a longe vpon the earth , and euery man trode vpon him in this worlde . But as sone as there came a christen Emperour , he ioyned him self vnto his fete and kyssed them , and crope vp a lytle with begging now this priuilege , now that , nowe this citie now that / to fynde poore people with all and the necessary ministers of Gods word . the chosīg● of the pope & al bisshopes p●rtayned vnto the empe●our & kynges once . And he entitled the Emperour with chosyng the pope and other bisshopes / and promoted in the spiritualte , not whom vertue and learning but whom the fauour of greate men commended , to flatter to get frendes and defenders with all .

the almesse And the almesse of the congregacyon which was the fode and patrimony of the poore and necessary preachers , geuen vnto the poore is become . S peters patrymonye . that he called saint Peters patrimony , saynt Peters rentes , saynt Peters lands , saynt Peters right ; to cast a vayne feare & an hethenish supersticiousnes into the hartes of men , that no man shuld dare meadle with what soeuer came once into their handes , for feare of saynt Peter , though they ministred it neuer so euel : and that they which shuld thinke it no●e almesse to geue them any more ( because they had to much alreadye ) shuld yet gyue saynt Peter somwhat ( as N●buchodonesser gaue his God B●ell ) to purchesse an aduocate and an intercessor of saynt Peter , Danielis xiiij . and that saynt Peter shuld at the fyrste knocke , let them in .

And thus with flateringe and fayning and vayne superst●cion vnder the Name of Saynt Peter , he crept vp and fastened hys rootes in the harte of the Emperour , and wyth hys swerde clame vp aboue all his felow bishoppes and brought them vnd his fete . And as he subdued them wyth the Emperours swerd , euen so by subtilty & helpe of them ( after that they were sworne faythfull ) he clam aboue the Emperoure / and subdued hym also and made hym s●oupe vnto his fete / and kysse them an other whyle . Yea Pope Calestinus crouned the Emperour Henrye the fift , holdynge the crowne betwene his fete . And when he had put the crowne on / he smote it of with his fete agayn , sayeng : that he had myght to make Emperours and to put them do●ne agayne .

And he made a constitucion that no lay man shuld meddle which theyr maters , nor be in theyr counsels or witte what they did , & that the Pope only shuld call the counsell / and the Emperour shuld but defende the Pope : prouyded alwaye that the counsell shuld be in one of the Popes townes , and where the popes power was greater then the Emperours : then vnder a pretence of condempnyng some heresye / he called a generall counsell / where he made one a patriarcke , an other Cardinal / an other Legate , an other Primate ▪ an other Archbysshop / an other Bysshoppe , an other Deane , an other Archdeacon and so forth , as we now see .

And as the Pope played with the Emperour / so did his braunches and hys membres the bisshops play in euery kingdome duckedom and lordshyp , in so much that the very heyres of them , Qualis pater talis filius . Good naturall chylderen . by whome they came vp / hold nowe their londes of them and take them for their chefe lordes . And as the Emperour is sworne to the pope , euen so euery kyng is sworne to the bisshopes and prelates of the realme : and they are the chefest in all perliamentes : yea they and their money and they that be sworn to them and come vp by them / rule all together .

And thus the pope the father of all hypocrites hathe wyth falshod and gyle peruerted the order of the worlde and turned the rootes of the trees vpwarde and hath put doune the kingdom of christ , the popysh order compared with Chrystes . & set vp the kingdome of the deuell whose vycar he is , and hath put downe the ministers of christ , and hath set vp the ministers of Sathan , disgised yet in names and garments lyke vnto the aungels of lyght / and ministres of rightuousnes . For Chrstes kingdom is not of the world Ihon. xviij . and the Popes kingdom is all the world .

And Christ is nether iudge nor diuyder in this world Luke . xii But the pope iudgeth and deuideth all the worlde & taketh the empyre & al kingdoms and geueth thē●o whom he lusteth .

Christ sayth Math. v. Blessed are the pore in spyrite : so that the fyrst steppe in the kingdom of Chryst is humblenes or hum●●ytie that thou canst fynde in thyne hart to do seruice vnto all men , and to suffer that al men treade the.

The Pope saith . Blessed be the proude and hyghminded that can clym and subdue all vnder them and mainteyne their ryght and such as wyll suffre of no man / so that he which was yesterday taken from the donghyll and promoted this daye by his prince , shall to morrow for the popes pleasure cu●se him & excommunicate hym , and interdyte hys royalme .

Chryst sayth . Blessed be the meke or softe that be harmlesse as doues .

The pope blesseth them that can set all the world together by the eares and fyght and slea manfully for his sake , that he may com h●te from bloudsh●ading to a bysshopry●e as our Cardinal dyd , and as Saynte Thomas of Canterbury dyd / which was made bysshop in the feld , in complete harnesse on his horsebacke and hys speare bloudy in hys hande .

Chryst hath nether holes for foxes , nor 〈◊〉 for byrds , nor yet wheron to lay his head , nor promysed ought in thys woorlde vnto hys dyscyples nor toke any to hys d●sciple but him that had forsaken all .

The yuytre the Pope hath vnder hys rootes throughou● all chrystendome in euery vi●lage holes for foxes , and nestes for vncleane byrdes in all his braunches , and promyseth vn●o his discyples all the promocyons of the worlde .

The nerer vnto Chryst a man cometh , the lower he must d●scende and the Poorer he must waxe : but the nerer vnto the pope ye come the hygher ye must clim and the more ryches ye must gather whence soeuer ye can gett them , to paye for your bulles , and to purchase a glorious name & lycence to weare a mytre and a crosse and a pale and goodlye ornamentes .

¶ Howe the pope receaueth hys kyngdome of the deuell / and howe he distributeth i● agayne .

SHortlye the kingdomes of the ea●th and the glorye of them ( whyche Chryst refused ) Mathew . iiij . did the deuell profer vnto the pope , and he immediatlye fell from Chryst and worshypped the deuell / and receaued them . For by falshed ( as he maynteyneth them ) cam he therto / and by falshead do al hys disciples come therto . Who of an hundred one is Pope bis●hope or any greate prelate , but ether by necromancye or symony or wayting on greate mens pleasures / and with corruptynge of goddes worde and fasshyonyng it after theyr lustes .

And the Pope after he had receaued the kyngdome of the worlde of the deuell and was become the Deuels vicar , The pope distributeth his fathers kingdome . toke vp in lyke maner all chrystendom an hye , & brought them from the mekenes of Chryst vnto the hye hyll of the pryde of Lucifer and shewed them all the Kyngdome of the erthe , sayinge : fall downe and worshyppe me , and I wyll geue you these . Unto the spiritualtye he saieth : fall from Chryst and preache me , and take thou that cardenalshippe , thou the bysshoprycke , thou the Abbotshyppe , and so fourth : thou as many benefyces as thou wylt , and a dispensacion for what thou wylt . And to monkes and fryers in like maner , take thou that hole , and thou that nest / wyth what pryuylege ye wyll desyre and dispensacyons of youre rules , yf ye wyll preach me .

And vnto the temporaltie he saythe : First to the Emperour , yf thou wylt fall down & kysse my feate and sweare to hold of me and to defend me , I geuethe the empyre .

And to al kin●●● in lyke maner , yf they wyl sweare to defend hys lyberties and to holde of him / he crowneth them . And euen so all temporall Lordes from the hyghest vnto the lowest , and all officers , and all maner subiectes , if they wyll enioye landes , rentes , offices , goodes and their verye lyues they must ronne the same way .

The very whores ( goddes honour vnregarded ) as long as they dispyte not him and his ordinaunces , they shall haue nes●es in his rentes , and amonge his Prelates . And the theues and murtherers shall haue dennes in his sanctuaries , whatsoeuer they do against God / so longe as they hang on him .

The Apostles chose pryestes to preach Chryst onely / all other thinges layde apart and chose none but Learned and Uertuouse

The Pope shaueth who soeuer commeth , The popes order compared with the order of the Apostles . leuer ●u●e of the stu●s then from studye ● when they be Sworne he Sendeth them vnto all greate mennes houses to preache his godhed to be stuardes / surueyers / recea●ers & counsel●rs of all maner myscheue : 〈◊〉 popysh priestes . to corrup●e wife / doughter , and mayde , & to betray theyr owne master , as oft as it neadeth to promote their falsehead with all . For therto are they sworne to gether .

And when they haue done all mischefe / there shall no man wyt whence it cometh .

The apostles chose deacons to ministre the almes of the rych vnto the poore . And to helpe the deacons they chose widowes of .ix. yere old , the popysh wi●dows . holy & d●stitute of frendes to ●end the sycke . And the Pope in stead of such wedowes maketh who soeuer commeth / whether she be yong or olde , but none saue them that be ryche & able to pay . xx.xxx . or .xl. pounde for their prof●ssion , to whom for as much more he wyll gyue a dispensacion on the morowe to mary agayne . And in steade of suche deacons , ●he popysh deacons . he maketh bothe deacons and subdeacons which do nothinge at all but are vayne names without office / except it be that on some Holydaye in steade of ministringe the goodes of the church vnto the poore , they syng a pistle or Gospell to begge more from the ●●ore . And as his 〈…〉 the ●oodes of the church 〈◊〉 the poore : euen so doo hys pryes●es preac●● Chrysts gospell vnto his flocke .

And the almesse that was geuen to the sustencacion of the poore which thou shalt reade in storie● that it was in some cities aboue . xx.xxx.xl . yea an hundred thousand pounde , How the pope diuydeth the poore people . and all the landes geuen for the same purpose , they haue s●olen from them & haue diuyded it amonge them selues . And ther with did they at the beginning corrupt the greate men of the woorlde and clam vp to this heigth were they now be . And for that haue they strouen among them selues this viij . hundred yeares . And to mainteyne that which they haue falsely gotten / hath the pope sturred vp aswerde of warre in all christendom this .viij. hundred yeares & hath taken peace cleane out of the worlde .

When the bisshoppes , preastes and deacons were fallen and had receaued of the pope the kingdom that parteyned vnto the poore people , and had robbed them and parted their patrymony among them selues / then sprange the orders of monkes : Whose professyon was to abstayne from flesh all theyr liues , to were vyle rayment , to eate but once in the daye / and that but butter , chese , egges , frutes , rootes and suche thynges that weare not costly / and myght euery where be founde . And they wrote bokes / and wrought diuerse thynges to get their lyuinge wyth all . When the laye men sawe that the preastes were fallen in to suche couetuousnes / & that the Monkes were so holy : they thought , these be mete men to minister our almesse vnto the pore people . For theyr profession is so holy that they can not deceau● vs as the preastes do , and made the monkes tutors and ministers vnto the pore , and gaue great Landes and rychesse in to theyr handes to deale it vnto the poore . When the monkes sawe suche aboundaunce / they fell after the ensample of the preastes , and toke dispensacyons of the pope for their rules and strait profession , whiche now is as wyde as their coules / and deuided all amonge them ▪ and robbed the poore once moare . And out of the abbayes toke he the most parte of his Bysshoprickes and cathedral churches , and the moste parte of all the landes he hathe / besydes that there Remayne yet so Many myghtye abbayes and nunryes ther●● .

As sone as the monkes were fallen , them sprang these beggynge fryres out of Hell / the last kind of katerpillars , Beggyng● fryers . in a more vile apparell and a more strate relygion that ( if ought of relefe were lefte amonge the laye men for the poore people ) these horseleches might sucke that also . Which dranebees as sone as they had learned their crafte & had bylt them goodly & costly n●stes / and their lymiters had diuided all contrees amonge them , to begge in / and had prepared lyuynges of a certayntie / though which beggynge / then they also toke dispensacyons of the pope for to lyue as largely & as lewdelye as the monkes .

And yet vnto the laye men whom they haue thus falselye robbed & from whyche they haue deuyded them selues and made them a seuerall kyngdome amonge them selues , The charge of the lay people . they leaue the payenge of tolle / custome and trybute ( for vnto all the Charges of the Royalmes they wyll not paye a myte ( and the finding of all the poore : the fyndyng of scolars for the moste parte : The fynding of these forsayde horseleches and carcepillers / the beggynge fryers the reparyng of hye wayes and brydeges the buyldynge and recreacyons of theyre abbayes and cathedrall churches , chapel● coleges / for which they send out theyr pardons dayly by heapes / and gather a thousand pounde for euery hundred that they bestow truely .

If the laye people haue warre or what soeuer charge it be , they wyll not beare a myte . If the warre be theirs ( as the one parte almost of all warre is to defende them ) they wyl with falshed make them beare the greatest parte , besydes that , they must leaue their wyues and children & go fight for them and loose their liues . And likewise in al their charges they haue a cast to poll the laye people . The Scottes cast downe a castell of the bysshop of dirams on the scottysh bancke called Noram castell . And he gat a pardon from Rome for the buyldynge of it agayne / wherwith I dout not , bu● he gat for euerye pennye that he bestowed thre .

Howe the spyritualtie bestowe theyr treasure , And what do they with their store that they haue in so greate plenty every where : so that the very beggyng fryers in short space to make a cardinal or a pope of their sect or to doo what feate it were for theyr proffytt , wold not stycke to brynge aboue a Kyngs raunson ▪ Uerely make goodly places and parkes of pleasure and gaye shrynes / and paynte postes and purchese Pardons / wherwyth they yet styll polle and plucke a waie that litle where wyth the pore which peryshe for neade , and faulle in to greate in con●enyences myght be somwhat holpen and releued , And laye vppe in stoare to haue alwaye to paye for the defending of their faith ●nd for to oppresse the truth .

¶ How the pope made hym ● lawe , and why .

AFter that the pope wythe tyrannye was clom vppe aboue hys brethren and had made all the Spyrytualtie hys subiectes and had made of them and hym a seuerall kyngdom among them selues , and had seperated them from the laye in all thynges / and had got pryuileges that what so euer they dyd , no man shuld medle wyth them : and after also he had receaued the kyngdoms of the earth of Sathan and was become hys vicare to dystrybut them , and after that the Emperoure was fallen in lyke maner at hys fete and had worshypped hym as God , to receaue hys empyre of him , and all kings had done lyke wise to be anoynted of him and to be crouned of him , and after that the worlde both greate and smale had submitted them selues to receaue the beastes bagge : then because that christes doctryne was contrary vnto all such kingdomes , and therfore had no law ther in howe to rule it he went , and made him a seuerell lawe of hys owne makyng , which passed in cruelty and tyranny , the lawes of all hethen priestes .

And in his lawe he thrust in fayned gyftes of old emperours , that were out of memory , What subtilt● the pope vseth to stablysh hys kyngdome . sayeng that the emperour Constantinus had geuen vp the empyre of Rome vnto . S. Syluester , which is proued a false lye for diuerse causes : one that saint siluester being so holy a man as he was / wolde not haue receaued it contrarye to his masters commaundementes & doctrine : an other that the emperours raygned in Rome many yeares after and all bisshopes sued vnto the emperour and not to the pope , which was but bisshope of Rome only / & not called father of fathers . Moreouer that no autentyke storie maketh mencion that any emperoure gaue them their patrimonye / but that Pipine which falsely & with strength inuaded the empire gaue it vnto him . Then put hem the graunt of Phocas / then the gift of pipine confirmed by the great charles : then a fayned relefe of the election of the pope / geuen vp agayne vnto pope Paschale by the emperour Lewes . For they them selues had graunted vnto charlemayne , & his successours for euer the eleccion or denominacion of the pope & bisshopes to flatter him with all , & to make him a faythfull defender , and that in a generall Counsell which ( as they say ) can not erre . Neuerthelesse pope Paschal though he beleued the counsell coude not erre , yet he thought them somwhat ouersene , to make so long a graunt , & therfore he purchased a relefe of gentle ●ewes as they pretend But verely it is more lykely that they fayned that graunte to excuse their tyranny after they had taken the election into their handes agayne wyth violence / when the emperours were weake & not able to resyst them ▪ as they fayned the gift of Constantine , after they had inuaded the empire with subtylty and falshed . And last of al they broughe in the Oth of Ottho with the ordre that now is vsed to chose the emperour

¶ Howe the pope corrupteth the scripture and why .

MOreouer lest these his lyes shuld be spyed & least happly the emperours following / myght saye , our predecessours had no power to bynde vs , nor to minish our might : And least kinges following , shuld say after the same maner / that the swerd & full power to punish euel doers indifferently is geuen of God to euery kynge for hys tyme , and therfore that theyr ● decessour coulde not bynde them contrarye vnto the ordynaunce of God : but rather the it was vnto theyr dampnation to make such grauntes / & that they dyd not execute theyr office . And therfore the foule & mysshapen monstre , gate hym to the scrypture & corrupted it wyth false exposytions / to proue that such aucthoritie was geuen hym of God / & calenged it by the aucthoritie of Peter ▪ saying / that peter was the head of Christs church and that Chryst had made hym lorde ouer the apostles hys fellowes , in that he bad him fe●de hys shepe & lambes Iohn the last / as who shuld saye the paule which came longe after , was not commaunded to feade as specyally as peter , which yet wold take no aucthoritie ouer the bodyes or ouer the faythes of them whych he fed , but was theyr seruaunt for Chrystes sake , Christ euer the lord and head . And as though the other apostles were not lykewyse as specially commaunded as Peter : And as though we now and all that here after shall loue chryst , were not commaunded to ●eade chrysts flocke , euery man in his measure , as well as Peter . Are not we commaunded to loue our neyghbours as our selues , as well as Peter ? Why then are we not commaunded to care for his flocke as well as Peter ?

Moreouer if to feade Chrystes shepe is to be greatest ( as no doubt to feade christs flocke is to be greate and moste to feade ▪ is to be greatest ( in which office thogh peter was greate , yet paule was greater ) howe commeth that the pope by that aucthorytie chalengeth to be greatest , and yet thys .viij. hundred yeres feadeth not at al : but poysoneth their pasture with the venamous leuen of his tradicions & wyth wrestynge the texte vnto a contrary sence ?

Then came he to thys texte Mat. xvi Thou arte peter and vppon this rocke I wyll byld my congregation or church . Loo sayth Antichryst the carnall beast / peter is the rocke wheron the church of Chryst is bylt , and I am his successoure , and therfore the head of christes church . When christ ment by the rocke , the confession that Peter had confessed , sayeng : Thou art christ the sonne of the lyuing god , which arte come into this worlde . This fayth is the rocke , Faith is the roote wheron Chrysts churche is bylte . wheron christs church is bilt . For who is of christes church , but he only that beleueth that Christ is Gods sonne , come into to this world to saue sinners ? This fayth is it , agaynst which hell gates can not prevayle . This faith is it , which saueth the congregacion of christ and not Peter .

Then he goeth forth vnto that which foloweth : Unto the I wyl geue the keyes of the kingdome of heauen / and what soeuer thou bindest in earth , it shal be bound in heauen ▪ &c. Lo● , sayth he , in that he sayth what soeuer thou biodest in erth , he excepteth nothinge , therfore I may make lawes & bīd both king and emperoure . When christ / as he had no worldly kingdom , euen so he spake of no worldly binding , but of binding of synners . The keies Chryst gaue his disciples the keye of the knowlege of the law of God , to bind all synners / and the keye of the promyses to louse all that repent and to let them into the mercy that is made vp for vs in christ .

Then commeth he vnto an other text whiche Christ rehearseth Mathe. la●● , sayeng : Al power is geuen men in heauen & earth ▪ go ye therfore , and teach al nacions , b● prysyng them in the name of the father , and the sonn● , and of the holy gost , teachinge them to kepe all that I commaunded you : And behold I am with you vnto the worldes ende : Loo sayth the pope , Chryst hath all power in heauen and earth , without excepcyon , and I am christes vicar , wherfore all power is mine / and I am aboue all kinges and Emperours in temporall iurisdictyon and they but my seruauntes to kisse on● my fete only but my . N. also if I list not to haue them stoupe so low . When christ as I said because he had no temporal kingdom , Christes powr is to saue sinners euen so he ment of no temporall power , but of power to saue sinnes / which they professe of , the text declareth by that he sayth , goo ye therfore , and teach and baptyse : th●t is preach this power to all nacions / and wash of their sinnes thorow fayth in the promisses made in my bloude . o● this man●r ●●●lech he with textes .

Then he commeth vnto an other text Hebre. vij . which is . The presthode b●ing translated , the law must nedes be translated also . Now sayth the pope , the priesthode is translated vnto me , wherfore it perteyneth vnto me to make lawes and to bind euery man . And the pistle meaneth no such thinge / but proueth to euydently that the ceremo●i●s of Moises must cease . For the prye●●es of the old testament must nedes haue bene of the tribe of Leui as Aaron was ▪ whose dutye for euer was the offeryng of sacrifices . Wherfore when that priesthode ceased , the sacrifices and ceremonies ceased also . Now that priesthode ceased in Christ , which was a priest of the ordre of Melchiscde● and not of the ordre of Aaron· for them he must haue bene of the tribe of Iuda & of the sede of Dauid . Wherfore they that are vnder Christs priesthod are vnder no sacrifices or ceremonies . And of this maner iugle they wyth all the scriptur , whyche falshed lest the lay men shuld perceaue wyth readinge the processe of the Texte / is all their feare what soeuer they pretende .

Moreouer that thou mayst perceaue the popes falshed , marke : Christ sayd vnto p●ter , I wyl geue and not I giue , nether sayde he I wyll giue vnto the only : Therfor ●oke in the .xx. chaptre of Ihon where he gaue them the keyes after hys resurrection / & thou shalt se that he gaue them vnto all indyfferentlye sayeinge : Chryst gaue all hys Apostles like aucthor●tye . As my father sente me so send I you . Whether sent he them ? in to all the worlde / and vnto all nations . What to do ? to preach the law that the people might repent , & the promyses that they might beleue in Chryst for the remyssyon of sinnes ▪ sayeng : receaue the holie gost , who so euers synne ye forgeue , they shal be forgeuen ▪ by which holy gost he gaue them vnderstandynge of the scrypture and of all that they shuld preache : as thou mayest see Luk last , where he opened theyr wittes to vnderstande the scrypture and sayd , that repentaunce and forgeuenes of synnes muste be preached in hys name to all Natyons , and that they were wytnesses to preache it . Wherby thou seyste that to Bynd and to Loose is but to preache and tell the people theyr fautes , To bynde & louse is to preache . and to preache mercye in chryste to all that repent .

And when he sayeth / all power is geuen me : he saieth not go thou Peter and preach but sayeth vnto all indifferentlye / go ye & preach thys power geuen me of my father ●o saue al that repent , and to dampne them that repent not but folow the lustes of their flesh , wyth full desire to lyue beastlie beyng ennymyes vnto the lawe of god .

And Math. xviij . Peter axed chryst how oft he shuld for gyue hys brother / whether seuen tymes . Nota. And chryste sayed / seuentye tymes seuen tymes . As who shuld saye / as ofte as he repenteth and axeth forgeuenesse .

Now though this were spoken vnto Peter only , because Peter onlye moued the question / yet it apertayneth not vnto vs all as well as vnto Peter ? Are not we as muche bounde to forgeue oure neyghboures that repent and axe forgeuenes , as Peter ▪ Yes verelye . But because Peter onlye axed the question , therfore did Chryste teache vs by Peter . Yf an other had axed / he wolde haue taught vs by that other . And in lyke maner when chryst axed who saye ye that I am : yf any other of the Apostles whiche beleued it as well as Peter , had sayde as Peter did , thou arte chryste , the sone of the lyuinge go● / which arte come in to the worlde of synners , to saue them : vnto him wold Chryst haue answered / as he dyd to Peter / that vppon the rocke of that his confession he wolde haue bylt hys church , and wolde haue Promysed hym keyes as well as he dyd Peter . Yea and in the .xviij. chapter of Mathew , Chryst saith to al the Apostles / yea / and to all congregatyons where synners be , A woman hath powr to bynde . that what soeuer they bound shulde be bounde & what soeuer they loosed shulde be loosed .

Moreouer euerye man and woman that knowe Chryst and hys doctrine , haue the keyes and power to bynde and loose : in an ordre yet and in their measure , as tyme place and occasion geueth and pryuatelye . Maye not a wyfe , yf hyr husband synne agaynste God and hyr , and take a nother woman / tell hym hys taute betwene hym and hyr secretelye , and in good maner humblye , and bynd hys concyence with the law of god ? And yf he repente may she not for geue hym and loose hym as well as the Pope ? Yea , and better to , as longe as the synne is secret , in as muche as he synne the specially against hy● ▪ and not against the pope .

And so maye the sonne do to the father / and a seruaunte to the master / and euerye man to hys neyghboure , as thou seyst in the sayde .xviij. chaptre of Mathew . How be it to bynde and loose in the concience by open preaching perteyneth vnto the offycers that are apoynted therto . And to bynde and loose open Synners , and them that wyll not repent tyll they be complayned on vnto the congregacion , perteyneth vnto the congregacion .

Finally there were many that preached christ at Rome , R●●sons the peter was not the greatest by any aucthoritie geuen him of Chryste . yet Peter cam thither if he cam euer thyther : as Paule and many other . Had they not auctoritie to bynd and loose ? Or els how did they conuerte the people ? Peter was also an Apostle and went from place to place as Paule did , and as Paule ordeyned Bysshopes in euerye place to teach the people , so no doubte dyd Peter . Why then might not those Bysshopes calenge auctoritie by Peter as well as they of Rome ? they saye also in their owne legendes that Peter had his seate ot Antioch first . Did he runne to Rome lyuyng no man behinde him to teach the people at Antioch ? God forbyd . Why then myght not that Bysshop calenge Peters aucthoritie ? They wyll haply say soner then proue it , that Peter dyed at Rome , and therfore his auctoritie is greatest ther. Then by that rule christs power is no where so ful as at Hierusalem . But what hath Chrystes inuisible kyngdom to do with places : Where Chrystes Gospell is , Chryst●● powr is in the gospell their is his power full and all hys auctroite as well in one place as in an other .

Fynallye to gett auctoritie whence so euer , they can snatch it , they ioyne Paule with Peter in their awne lawes Distinctio . xxij sayinge : By the auctorytie of peter and Paule . Whych is clene agaynst them selues . paull is called to help For they say in their awne lawe in the presence of the superior , the power of the inferior ceaseth , and is none at all . Nowe if Peter be greater then Paule , then by that rule / where Peter is present theire Paule is but a subiecte and wythoute auctorytie : As where Christ is present bodil●e and preacheth him selfe , there the apostles geue vp their auctorytie / and hold their peace and sitt doune at hys fete , and become scolers and herken to .

Wherfore in that they ioyne Paule with Peter , and chalenge their superioritie as wel by the auctoritie of Paule as of Peter , there they make Paule felow and equall with peter . And thus it is false that Peter was ●eater then hys fellowes , but the blynd onles care not what they houle , seyng it is night and the daye lyght of gods worde , shut vp that no man can spye them .

Moreouer with this terme Peters seate they iugle apase ( as with infinite other ) saying that Peters seate , is the chefe seat / but what Peters seat is that they tell you not For wyste ye that / ye shuld some perceaue that they lye . Peters seate is no stole or chayre ( for what hath the kingdom of Christ to do with such baggage ) but , it is a spiritual thyng . Chryst sayth in the gospell Math. xxiij . The Scrybes and pharyzees syt on Moses seate . What was moses seat ther , a chayre ●or the temple / or the churchs , or synagoge of the land ? Nay verely ▪ for moses came neuer there . But Moses seate was Moses lawe and doctrine . Euen so peters seate , is peters doctryne , the gospell of christ which peter taught . And the same doctrine is Peters keyes : so that peters seate , Peters keyes and Peters doctrine is all one thing Nowe is peters doctryne , Paules doctrine & the doctrine of all the .xij. Apostles in differently , for they taught all one thynge . Wherfore it followeth / that peters keyes , and peters seate , be the keyes and seate of Paule also , & of all the other .xij. Apostles and are nothing saue the gospell of Christ And thus as Peters doctryne is no better then Paules but one thing , euen so Peters seate is no greter nor hier or holyer then the sete of the other .xij. Peters sete now is christes sete / Chrystes gospell on whych all the appostles sate & on whych this daie sitteth all they only that preache christ truly Uherfore as Antichrist preacheth not peters doctrine ( which is christs gospell ) so he sytteth not on peters sete / but on the sete of sathan whose vicar he is and on the sete of his owne lawes and ceremonyes and false doctryne wher vnto he compelleth all men wythe vyolence of swerde .

Then he clame to purgatorye with the ladder of the sayde texte , Purgatori what so euer thou bindest in earth . &c. purgatorie sayeth he , is in earth : wherfore I am lorde ther to . Neuerthelesse as he can proue no purgatorye / so can he not proue that yf ther were any / it shuld be in the earth . It myght well be in the elemente or sphere of fyre vnder the mone as well as in the earth . But to bynd and loose , is as I haue aboue sayde / to preache and to fede and with Chrystes doctryne to purge soules . And they that be dead be not of the flocke which christ bad Peter fede , but they that lyue onlye .

Then clam he vppe wyth the same ladder styll ouer all vowes and professions of all relygious parsones , Uowes . Othes . testaments . and ouer othes made betwene man and man to dispence wyth them / and ouer all mennes testamentes to alter them . For what thou makest an hospytall , that will he shortely make a college of preastes , or a place of relygyon , or what he lusteth . Then all maner monkes and fryers and lyke d●affe toke dyspensations of hym for the ordenaunces of theyr olde founders

And because , as they thought , they had prayed & distributed for theyr Souls Inough to bring them out of purgatory , they thrust them out of their beedrolles and toke dayly mo and mo .

But euer sens they toke dyspensations of the pope both for their rules and to deuide all among them , they receued in the name , not of the poore / but of purgatorye , to quench the raginge fyre ther of / which is as hote as theyr belyes can fayne it , and foles be out of theyr wyts to beleue it : promys●ge a masse daily for .xl. shilyngs by the yeare / of whych foundations when they haue gotten twentie , Union . they wil yet with an vnion purchased of the pope , make but one chauntrie . For if they shuld do all that they haue promised from the fyrst founder vnto thi● day .v. hunderth monkes were not ynough in many cloysters .

Thynkest thou the men were euer so mad to make the fassions that are now among them ? to geue the sell●rar such a some , & the priour and the suppriour and the other offycers so much for their partes as they haue yerelye , and to ●●empte the Abbot from his brethren & to send him out of the abbaie into suche parkes and places of pleasure , and geue hym a thousand , fyftene hundred , two thousand or .iij thousand pounde yerely to sporte himselfe with all ? Nay , but when thorow hypochrisie thei had gotten land ynough then they turned vnto the pope and toke dyspensacions both for their rules whych were to harde for such aboundaunce , and for the wylles of their founders , and serued a great sort of founders vnder one per dominum , and deuyded among fewe that whych was ynough for a great multitude .

It was the pope that deuised all these fassions to corrupt the prelates with abundaunce of worldelye pleasures , of whyche he wist that the worst wold be most gready and for which he wist also that he shuld fynd Iudasses ynow that wold forsake Chryst and betraye the truth , and be sworne false vnto him and hys godhead . He maketh of many chauntries one , of an abbay , a cathedral church , and out of the abbays plucketh he the Bysshoprykes . And as Bysshoppes paye for theyr bulles , euen so do an infinyte numbre of abbots in chrystendom , in all landes some ▪ whyche Abbots be bysshops within them selues and immediatly vnder the pope . And other abbots & prioures send after the same ensample dayly vnto rome to purchesse lycence , to weare a mitre and a crosse & gaye ornamentes , to be as gloryous as the best . &c. And where before God , no man is a priest , but he that is appointed to preache Chrystes gospell vnto the people , & the people ought not to geue ought vnto the spiritualtye / but for the maintenaunce of the preaching of Gods word , the Pope taketh vi . or .vij. yea ten .xx. and as many benefices as he lysteth , & geueth them vnto one the preacheth not at all as he doth all other dygnities of the spiritualtie : he that wyll purchasse and paye / and be sworne , shall haue what he wyll .

¶ Howe they proue all theyr generall counsels .

WHen the Bysshoppes and Abbottes and other greate Prelates had forsaken Chryste and hys lyuinge , and were fallen downe before the beast the vycar of Sathan , to receaue their kyngdome of hym / then the pope called together diuerse counsels of such holy apostles , and there concluded and made of euery opinion that semed proffitable / an artycle of the fayth . If thou axe wher is the scriptur to proue it ? They answere we be the church & can not erre , and therfore saye they , The churche can not erre . what we conclude , though there be no scrypture to proue it / it is as true as the scriptur & of egall aucthoritie with the scrypture and must be beleued as well as the scryptur vnder payne of dampnation . For ( say they ) our truth dependeth not of the trueth of the scriptur that is , we be not true in our doynge because the Scrypture testifyeth vnto vs that we do truly : but contrary / the truth of the scripture ( saye they ) dependeth of vs , that is , the scrypture is true because that we admyt it and tell the that it is true ▪ For howe couldest thou knowe that it were the scrypture except we told the so ? & therfore we nede no witnesse of the scrypture for that we do , it is ynough that we so say of our owne head for we can not erre·

Which reason is lyke as though yong monkes newly professed , A similitude . shuld com by the rules of their order & ordinaunces of their olde founders and wolde go about to kepe them : & the old cankered monkes shuld call them backe vnto the corrupt and false maner that now is vsed , saying : ye er . Do only as we teach you / for your profession is to obey your Elders . According vnto the rules of our order and ordinaunces of our founder shal they saye : We can teache you none other , shall the old monkes say / nor can ly vnto you , ye ought therfore to beleue vs and to do as we byd you . The yong monkes shall answere , we se that you ly , cleane contrary vnto all that is writen in our rules and ordinaunces . The old monkes shal say ye can not vnderstande them except we expounde them vnto you / nother yet know that they be your rules / excepte that ye beleue that we can not lye vnto you . For how can ye knowe that these be your rules and ordynaunces / but as we your elders tell you so ? Now when we tell you that these be your rules and ordinaunces howe can ye be sure vndoutedlye that it is so / excepte ye beleue vndoutedly that we can not lye ? Wherfore if ye wyl be sure that they be your rules & ordenaunces / then ye must first beleue that we can not lye . Leue such imaginations & disputations therfore and laye your rules and ordinaunces out of youre handes and loke no more on them , for they make you erre And come and do as we tell you / and captiuate youre wyttes and beleue that we can not lyr vnto you , and that ye can not vnderstande your rules and ordynaunces . Euen so yf thou saye it is contrary to the scrypture : they answere that thou vnderstandeste it not / and that thou must captiue thy wytte and beleue that though it seame neuer so contrary , yet it is not contrarye : no if they determe that christ is not risen agayn & though the scripture testyfy that he is rysen againe / yet ( say they ) they be not contrary , if they be wisely vnderstande . Thou must beleue / say they , that there is some other meaning in the scripture & that no man vnderstandeth it : but that we say / whether without scripture or against it / that must thou beleue that it is true .

And thus because that the scripture wolde not agre with them / they thrust it out of the way fyrst , & shut vp the kingdome of heauen which is Christs gospel , with false●●● posicyons and with such sophistry & with false principles of naturall wisdom . And the abottes toke the scripture from their monkes lest some shuld ever barke against the abottes lyuyng , the abottes kepe the monkes in ignoraunce , & the bisshopes the priestes and set vp suche longe seruyce and syngyng to werye them wyth all that they shulde haue no leasure to rede in the scripture but with their lippes , and made them good chere to fyll their bellyes and to stop theyr mouthes . And the bysshops in lyke maner to occupy their priests with all , that they shulde not study the scripture for barkyng agaynste them , sett vp longe Seruyse wonderovse intricate / so that in xij . y●ares thou coudest scarce learne to turne a ryght vnto it : Long matenses , long Euen●onges , longe Masses / long Dyryges with vauntage yet to mitigate the tediousnes / quia leuis est labor cum lucro / for lucre ( say they ) maketh the laboure lyght : euer noselyng them in Ceremonies and in their oune constitucyons , decrees , ordinaunces and lawes of holy church .

And the promises and testament which the sacrament of Christes body and bloud did preach daylye vnto the people , that they put out of knowlege and say now that it is a sacryfyce for the soules of purgatorye , that they myght the better sell their masse . And in the vniuersytes they haue ordened that no man shall loke on the scriyture vntyl he be noseled in heathen learning .viij. or nyne yere and armed with false principles , the cast of the vniuersities . with which he is clene shit out of the vnderstonding of the scripture . And at his fyrst comming vnto the vniuersitie , he is sworne that he shall not defame the vniuersytie what soeuer he seeth . And when he taketh fyrste degre / he is sworne that he shal hold none opinion condemned by the church / but what such opinions be / that he shall not know . And they when they be admitted to studye diuinitie , because the scripture is locked vp with such false exposicions and wyth false principles of naturall philosofye that they can not enter in , they go aboute the out syde and dspute all their lyues aboute wordes and vayne opinyons pertaynynge as muche vnto the healyng of a mannes hele as helth of his soule . Prouiso Prouided yet alway / lest god geue his syngular grace vnto any parson / that none may preach except he be admitted of the bisshopes . Then can Thomas de aquino & he made the pope a god with his sophystry , Saint thomas de Aquino . & the pope made him a saynct for his labour , and called him doctour sanctus , for whose holynes no man may deny what soeuer he sayth saue in certayne places where among so many lyes he sayd now and then true . And in like maner who so euer defendeth his tradicions , decrees and priuileges , him he made a sainct also for hys labour , were hys lyuyng neuer so contrary vnto the scripture , Saintes . as Thomas of Canterbury with many other like whose life was like Thomas cardinalles but not Christs neyther is Thomas cardinalles life any thing saue countrefaytynge of sainct Thomas of canterbury . Thomas becket was first sene in marchaundise temporall , Thomas of caunterbury . and then to learn spirituall marchaundyse , he gatt him to Theobald Archbisshop of Canterburye which sent him diuerse tymes to Rome about busines of holy church . And when Theobald had spied his actiuitie , he shore him deacon lest he shuld go backe , & made him Archdeacon of Canterbury & vpon that , presented him to the kinge . And the king made him his chauncelare in which office he passed the pompe & pryde of Thomas cardinall as farre as the ones shrine passeth the others tombe in glory & ryches . And after that , he was a man of warre , & captayn ouer .v. or .vi. thousand men in full harnesse as bright as sainct George and his speare in his hande and encountred who soeuer can against him / & ouerthrew the iolyest rutter that was in al the hoste of Fraunce . And out of the feld hote from bloud sheading was he made bisshop of Caunterburye and did put of hys helme and put on his mytre / put of his harnesse and on with his robes , and layde downe his speare and toke his crosse , yet his handes were colde / & so cam wyth a lustye corrage of a man of warre , to fyght an other whyle against hi● prince for the pope . Where hys princes causes were with the law of God , & the popes cleane contrary . And the pompe of hys consecratyon was after his old worldly fation . How be it yet he is made a saynte for his worshyppyng of the holy seate of sainct peter / not that seate of peter which is Christs gospell / but an other lyed to be peters , & is in dede cathedra pestilencie / a chayr of false doctrine . And because he could no skyll of oure lordes gospell he sayde of matens with oure lady , saye they . If any man vnderstand the laten , let hym reade his lyfe & compare it vnto the scriptur , & then he shal se such holynes , as were here to long to be rehersed . And euery abbay & euery cathedral church did shrine them one God or other / & mingled the lyues of the very saintes wyth starke lyes / to moue men to offre / which thyng they call deuocion .

And though in all their doinges they oppresse the temporalty & their comen wealth , & be greuous vnto the rych , and paynfull to the poore : yet they be so many & so exercised in wyles & so subtyl & so knit & sworne together that they compasse the temporalty & make them beare them whether they wil or wyll not ( as the euye doth the oke ) partly with iugglinge , & besyde that with wordly polycy . For euery abbot wyl make him that may do most in the shyre or wyth the kynge / the stuarde of hys landes & , geue hym a fee yerely , and wyl lend vnto some , & feast other , that by such meanes they do what they wyll . And lytle master parson after the same maner , if he come into an house & the wife be snoutefaire he wil rote him self there by one craft or other : ether by vsing such pastime as the good man doth / or in beinge benefycyall by one waye or other , or he wyll lend hym / and so bryng hym into hys daunger , that he can not thruste hym oute when he wolde , but must be compelled to beare him and to let hym be homely whether he wyll or not .

¶ An ensample of practyse out o● oure owne chronycles .

Take an ensample of their practise out of our owne stories . Kyng Herolde . Kyng Herold exiled or banished Robert Archbisshope of Canterburye . For what cause the Inglysh polychronicon specifieth not . Robert of canterbury . But if the cause weare not sum what suspect , I thynke they wolde not haue Passed it ouer with scylence . Thys Robert gat him immediately vnto kynge Wylliam the conqueroure then duke of Normandye . And the pope Alexander sente duke Wylliam a baner to go and conquere Ingland and cleane remission vnto whosoeuer wold folow the baner and goo wyth kynge Wyllyam / here marke how streight the pope folowed-Christs steppes and his apostles : Remission of sinnes to conquere englande . they preached forgeuenes of synnes , to all that repented throw Christes bloude shedyng : the Pope preacheth forgeuenesse of synnes to all that will slea their bretheren bought with Chrystes bloud : to subdue them vnto hys tyrannie . What so euer oth●r cause duke wyliam had against kynge Herold / thou maiest be sure that the pope wolde not haue medled yf Herold had not troubled hys kingdom ●●e : neyther shuld duke willyam haue bene able to conquer the land at that tyme except the spyritualtie had wroughte on hys syde . What bloud did that conquest cost England / thorowe whych almoost all the lordes of the Inglysh bloude were slayne , & ● the Normandes became rulers / and all the la●es were chaunged into Frenche ? But what careth the holy father for sheading of laye mens bloude ? It were better that .x. hundred thousand laye knaues loste theyr liues , then that holy church shuld louse one ynch of her honour , or sainct Peters seate one iote of her ryght .

Ancelmus And Ancelmus that was bysshoppe in shorte time after , neuer left striuinge with that myghtie prince kynge Wyllyam the second / vntyll he had compelled hym maugre hys teth , to delyuer vp the inuestiture or election of bysshops vnto sainct Peters vycare / whych inuestiture was of old tyme the kynges duet●e .

And 〈…〉 when the sayde kyng Wyllyam 〈…〉 the tribut that pryestes gaue 〈…〉 to their bysshops for theyr whores 〈…〉 , dyd not Raffe bisshop of Chich● 〈…〉 goddes seruice ( as they call it ) 〈…〉 the church dores with thornes thorow out al hys di●cese , vntyll the kynge had yelded hym vpp● hys trybute agayne ? For when the holy father had forbidden pryestes theyr wyues / the bysshop permitted them whores of their owne for a yearely tribute , & do yet in all landes , saue in Ingland where they maye not haue any other saue mennes wyues onely .

And agayne for the election of Steuen langton archbysshop of Canterbury , what miserye and wretchednesse was in the royalme a longe ceason ? Then was the land interdited many yeares . And when that holpe not , then Irelande rebelled agaynst kinge Iohn immedyatly , Note . and not wythout the secrete workinge of oure Prelates I dare well saye . But fynally when neyther the interditing nether that secrete subtiltie holpe ▪ & when Ihon wold in no meanes consent the saint peters vicar shuld raygne alone ouer the spiritualtye , & ouer all that perteyned vnto them , and that they shulde synne & do all mischefe vnpunisshed / the pope sent remissyon of synnes to the kynge of Fraunce for to go and conquere hys land . 〈◊〉 ▪ of synnes to conquere Wherof king Ihon was so sore afrayd that he yelded vp his croune vnto the pope , & sware to hold the land of him and that his successours shuld do so lykewise .

And agayn in Kyng Richardes dayes the second / Thomas Arundell archbysshop of Canterbury & chauncelare was exyled with the Earle of Darbye . Thomas Arundell . The outwarde pretence of the varyaunce betwene the Kynge and his lordes was for the delyueraunce of the towne of Braste in Brytayne . But our prelates had an other secret mystery a bruing They coulde not at theyre owne luste slea the poore wretches which at that tyme were conuerted vnto repentaunce / and to the true faith / to put their trust in christs death & bloudsheadyng for the remission of their sinnes by the preachinge of Iohan Wyclefe / As sone as the archbysshop was out of the royaume , Practyse . the Irishmen began to rebell againste kynge Rychard as before against Kynge Ihon : But not hardelye withoute the inuisyble inspyration of them that rule bothe in the courte and also in the consciences of al men . They be one kingdom sworne together one to helpe an other scatered abroade in all royalmes .

And howe be it that they stryue amonge them selues who shal be greatest , yet against the temporall powr they be always at one though they dissemble it and fayne as thogh one helde againste the other to know theyr enemies secretes to betray them with all . They can inspyre priuelye into the brestes of the people , what myschefe they lyst , & no man shal know whence it commeth . Their letters go secretly from one to an other thorow out all kyngdoms . Sainct peters vicar , shall haue worde in .xv. or .xvi. dayes , from the vttermost part of christendom . The bysshops of England at their nede / can wryte vnto the bysshops of Ireland , scotland , denmarke , douchland / fraunce and spayne , promysing them as good a turne an other tyme / puttyng them in remembraunce that they be all one holy churche / & that the cause of the one , is the cause of the other , sayenge : if our ●ugglyng breake out / yours can not be longe hyd . And the other shall serue their turne / and bring the game vnto their handes , & no man shall know how it cometh about . As sone as king Richard was gone to Ireland to subdue these rebellyous , the bysshope cam in agayn , and preuented the kinge , and toke vp his power against him and toke him prisoner / and put him downe / and to death most cruelly , and crouned the earle of darby king . O mercyfull Christ / what bloud hath that coronacion cost England ? But what care they ? Their causes muste be auenged . He is not worthy to be kynge that wyll not auenge their quarels· For do not the kynges receaue their kyngdome of the beast , and sweare to worshyp hym and maynteine hys throne ? And then when the erle of Darbye whych is kyng Henry the fourth / was crouned , the prelates toke hys swerde and hys sonnes Henry the fifth after hym , as all the kinges swerdes syns and abused them to shed christen bloude at their pleasur . And they coupled their cause vnto the kynges cause ( as now ) & made it treason to beleue in Christ as the scriptur teacheth & to resyst the bisshopes ( as now ) and thruste them in the kynges prysons ( as now ) so that it is no new inuencion , that they now do but euen an old practyse , though they haue done their busy cure to hyde theyr science / that their conueyaunce shuld not be espyed .

And in kyng henrye the .vj. dayes , how raged they as fierce lions against good duke Humfre of Gloceter the kynges vncle , and protectour of the realme in the kings youth and childehod , Duke Umfre . because that for him they myght not slea whom they wold , and make what cheuysaunce they lusted . Wold not the bysshop of Wynchester haue fallen vppon him / and oppressed hym openly with myght and power , in the Citie of London , had not the cityzens come to hys helpe ?

But at the last they found the meanes to contryue a dryft to bryng their matters to passe , and made a parlament farre from the cityzens of London , where was slayne the good duke and only welth of the royalme , and the myghty shylde that so longe before had kept it from sorow , which shortly after his death , sell theron by heapes . But the cronicles can not tell wherfore he dyed / nor by what meanes . No meruell verely . For he had nede of other eyes then such as the world seeth with all that shud spye out theyr priuye pathes . Neuerthelesse the cronycles testifye that he was a vertuous man , a godly and good to the comen welth . Moreouer the Protectour of Purgatorie sayth in hys Dialoge / quod I , and quod he / and quod youre frende , how that he was a noble man / and a great clerke , and so wyse that he coulde spye falce myracles and dysclose them , and Iudge them from the true / whych is an hatefull science vnto our spyrytualtye and moare abhorred them necromancie or wytchcrafte and a thynge wherfore a man by their lawe , I dare well saye , is worthy to dye / and that secretly yf it be possible . Now to be good to the comen welth / and to se false miracles , and thirdely to wit●stande that Fraunce then brought vnder the fete of the Inglyshmen , shuld not be set vp agayn , by whose power the pope holdeth doune the Emperour & reygneth in his stead , becauses why he myght dye though by what meanes be not knowen . For to be good to the comen wealth , is to be hurtefull to the spiritualtye , thre causes seing the one is the others pray / as the lambe is the wolues . Secondaryly if a man be so cleare eyed that he can spye false myracles / howe can iugglers gette theyr lyuinge and be in price where such a fellow is ? Thyrdlye to kepe doune the kingdeom of fraunce , is to pul . S Peters vicar out of his seate .

Now if the great baude the whore of babylon were destroied , then wold the bordel and stues of our prelates shortly perish . Yf Abadon that destroyer king of the grassehoppers which deuoure all that is greane , were destroyed , then were the kingdom of our caterpyllers at an ende .

¶ By what craft the pope kepeth the Emperour doune .

Marke an other practise of our most holy prelates . When the empyre was translated vnto the germaynes / though the emperour was fallen doune , and had kyssed the Popes fete , and was become his sworne seruaunt : yet there was much strife and open warre oftimes betwene the popes and the emperours . And the popes haue put doune many good Emperours / by helpe of the Bisshopes , which euery where secretly persuaded the lordes , to forsake the emperou●s / & to take dispensacions of the pope for their othes .

And contrary wyse , the emperours haue now and then deposed dyuerse popes at request of the Cardinalles & other great prelates , by whose helpe onely they were able to do it . For els verely though al Kynges christened / had sworne to depose one Pope out of his seat , if they had not the fauour of other prelates therto , they might haply by the secret practise of them , to be put out of their own seates in the meane tyme . The pope therfore , to be sure of him self & out of the feare & daunger of the emperour , were he neuer so mighty , & that the emperour shuld not se / his dayly open pastimes , made frendship and amytye with the Uenecian● on the one syde of him , and let them com in to certayne cyties of the Emperours in Italy and with the French king on the other syde / and late him also vp into certayne Cytyes and possessyons of the Emperoures : and he himselfe in the middes : And shotte out the Emperoure from comminge any more to Rome , and euer sent him his coronacion home to hym . No man rebuk the pope And then he made a lawe that no man shuld rebuke the Pope for what so euer myschefe he dyd , sayeng , that the Pope was aboue al / and iudge ouer all , and none ouer him , and therfore forbade in his law . Distinctio .xl. Si Papa . sayenge : though the pope be proued negligent aboute him self / and also the soule helth of his brethern , and slacke in his worke and speachlesse as concernynge anye good , and drawe with him by his ensample inumerable people to hell to be punished with him with diuerse tormentes euerlastingly : yet se that no mortal man presume once to rebuke his fautes here . For he shall iudge all men and no man him . O antichryst . Is he not antichrist that wyll not haue his lyfe tryed by Gods worde ?

●enecians . Yf the Uenecians catch any of our holy fathers townes or possessions whether by warre or that they haue bought it , or that it be layde to morgage vnto them or that the olde Pope hath geuen it with the mariage of som doughter vnto the duke of Uenyce : then the holy father that succedeth , when he seeth his ceason , sendeth for it agayne , sayenge that it is not laufull for lay men to with holde sainct Peters patrimony . Yf they allege that they bought it and so forth : his fatherhod answereth that the old Pope had none auctoritie to make any such cheuisaunce with sainct Peters enheritaunce : he coude haue but the vse of it his lyfe longe / and after it must nedes returne vnto his successoure agayne . And vpon that he interdyt●th them and curseth them as blacke as coles / and doune to the pyt of hell .

But the Uenecians knowing more of oure holye fathers practyse , for their nyenes then we which dwel a farre of / and wyser then we of cold contrees / perceauing also that their colour chaungeth not with his cursynge , and that they syncke not , and that their meate digesteth as well as before / and that ( as Erasmus sayeth ) they s●yte as easyly as before ( with reuerence of the holy course I speake it ) & therfore feare not his interdiction nor excommunicatyon .

Then our holy father raiseth vp all his power that he is able to make in Italy , agaynste them / & sendeth for the zwytzers to come and helpe . Yf he be not yet strong ynough / then he sendeh vnto the bysshops of fraunce , warning them that if hys seate decaye / theyrs can not longe prosper , and therfore that they put theyr kynge in remembraunce how that he is called most chrysten kyng and that they desyre hym to do somwhat for hys tytie against this disobedient rebellyons , vnto the most holy se of Rome our mother holy churche .

Frenchmen Yf an other tyme the frenchmen come to nye our holy father , as they be euer gaping for Italy , to brynge the empyre home agayne to fraunce . Then the moost holy vicare bryngeth his whole power agaynste them with the power of the venecians , and with hys old frendes the zwytzers . If he be not yet stronge ynough / then he sendeth to the bisshops of England , Englishmen to help their god , and to moue their kyng to do somwhat for holy churche , puttyng him in remembraunce of whom he holdeth his croune & of hys othe , and how many cappes of mayntenaunce haue bene euer sent vnto hys forefathers , and what honour it was vnto them , and that he maye easely gett as greate honoure as they / and happly a more excellent title / yf he wyl take our holy fathers parte , besydes that he shall purchase remyssyon of all hys synnes .

Then must the peace and all the apointementes made betwene vs and fraunce , be broken , and the kynge must take a dyspensacion for hys oth . For the kynge of fraunce wyll attempte nothing in Italy , vntyll he haue sent hys ambassadours / and haue made a perpetuall peace wyth oure kynge , the Sacrament of the bodye of oure sauiour broke betwene them , to confyrme the appointement . But I suppose that the breakyng signifyeth that the appointement shall not long endure / for a greate deale of flower wolde not make so manye hoostes , The abuse of the sacrament . as they call them , or synginge loues , as hathe bene broken in our dayes betwene christen princes ( as they wyl be called ) to confirme promises that haue not long bene kept . Other vse of that blessed sacrament wyll the princes none know : but christ ordeined it to be a perpetuall memorye that his bodye was broken for oure sinnes vpon the crosse , & that all that repent shuld receaue as oft as they ea●e of it / forgeuenes of their misdeades thorow fayth . Yf the kings of the earth when they breake that sacrament betwene them , do say on this wyse : The body of our sauiour ( which was broken on the crosse for the synne of al the repent & haue good harts & wold faine kepe his law ) be broken vnto my damnacion , if I breake this oth : them is it a terrible oth , and they had neade to take heade how they make it . ●d if it be lawfully made , not to breake it at all . But as they care for the ●rothe / whiche they make in wedlocke● so they care for this .

Whatsoeuer nead the pope hath , he wyl not send to the Emperour to come & helpe hi● in Italy , for feare lest he wold take to himself what soeuer he conquered of the frenchmen / and waxe to strong and minish oure holy fathers power , and become our holy fathers vicar / as he is saint Peters . Neuerthelesse if we englishmen will hyre the Emperour to com and fyght against fraunce for the right of the church in these quarters that ●e next vnto vs , his fatherhod is content to admyt his seruice .

When our king hath graunted to take our holy fathers part / then the pretence & cloke out ward must be , that the kyng wil ●alenge his ryghte in fraunce . And to ayde the king in his ryght , must the commens be mylked tyll they blede agayne . Then to do the king seruice , the lordes sell or laye their landes to morgage . Then is cleane remission geuen to sleo french dogges . Remissio● of synnes . He that dyeth in the quarell shall neuer see purgatorye / but file tor heauen streyght , euen with a thought .

WHen the Pope hath what he desyreth in Italye , then muste we make peace wyth the Frenchmen agayne immediatlye / that fraunce be not all together troden vnder the fete : but that it rema● alwaye in a meane state / stronge Inough to match the emperour & to kepe hym doune , but not to myghtye for oppressinge the pope , and then oure prelates to bringe the peace about / sende immediatly a fryer forest / or a vicar of croiden / to preach before the king & his lords / which preacher roreth and cryeth vnto them as though he halowed hys houndes and maketh exclamations , sayenge : Alas what wyll ye do ? spare Chrysten bloude : wyll ye slea youre owne soules ? Be not the frenchmen as well christen as ye ? Moreouer ye slea pore innocents that neuer offended ? make peace for the passion of christ , kyll not one an other as though Christ had not dyed for you : but fyght rather agaynst the turkes .

Then come in the Ambassadours of fraunce , and money a fewe prelates and certayne other the kynges playfellowes / that be sworn with them to betraye both the kinge and the royalme too : And then is peace concluded . But outwardelye there is nothinge saue a truce taken for halfe a yeare / tyll our souldiers be at home again / for feare least they wold not be content ▪ Then commeth the whole host home beggerd both great and smal And the poore that can not sodenlye gette work , fall to stealyng and be hanged at home . Thys could More tell in hys Utopia before he was the cardenalles sworn secretarye , and fallen at hys fete to betraye the truth / for to gett promocyon .

Henry the .v. Take an ensample : the bysshops sent king Henrye the fyft out to conquere Fraunce . The cause was ( sayth the chronicles ) that the kynge went about to take theyr temporallyes from them . And therfore to bringe the kynge into an other imaginacyon , they monyed hym , and sent him into fraunce .

When they had sent out the kyng , he conquered more then was theyr will and more then they supposed possible for hym in so shorte space / and brought fraunce cleane vnder fete : so that oure prelates had much secrete busynes , to set it vp agayn , but what is impossyble vnto so great Gods ?

In kynge Henryes dayes the .vi. oure holy father of Rome made the bysshop of Wynchester a cardynall , Henry the .vi which went shortly after into fraunce to treate of a truce betwene Ingland & fraunce . And him mette a legate of Rome , a cardinall also : after which meating / Inglyshmen had euer the worse in fraunce , and theyr chefest fryende the duke of Burgayne forsoke them . For when cardinalles & bysshops mete together , they haue their secrete counsell by them selues , wherin they conclude neyther what is good for Inglande , nor yet for fraunce , but what is best for our holy fathers proffytt to kepe him in hys state .

When kynge Henry was of age , there was a maryage made betwene hym and the earle of Arminackes doughter in Hernan , with the which shuld haue bene geuen manye castels and townes in Gian and a greate some of money therto . But the maryage was broken not without the secret workyng of oure prelates and dyspensation of our holye father thou mayest be sure . And a mariage was made betwene hym and the kinges doughter of Cecyle , for which Ingland gaue vp the whole dukedom of Gyan and Earledom of Mayme / wherby we lost all Normandye , wherof they were the kaye . And besyde y● , the communes gaue a , xv . & an half to ●ette her in wyth pompe . And then was the good duke of Glocetter traytourously murthered / partely because he could iudge false myracles , & partely because of the delyueraunce of these two contreys . For he being a lyue , they durst not do it .

And when kyng Edward had put doune kyng Henry● , a mariage was made and concluded betwene hym & the kynge of spaiue this quenes mother that nowe is . But yer the Ambassadours were come home , oure Prelates had be witched kynge Edwarde by theyr apostle Fryer bongay / and maried him vnto a wyddowe that was a knyghts wyfe / lest yf spayne and Ingland had bene wyned together / kynge Edward shuld haue recouured fraunce agayn . But what followed after the breaking of that mariage , betwene kynge Edward & the earle of warwick and what came of his chyldren ? ye and what came on king Henry of windsores children also ? But what care our prelates what v●geaunce or mischefe fa●●e on princes or on theyr royalmes / so theyr kyngdome prospere ?

In Kynge Henryes dayes the .vij. the cardinall Murton & bysshop ●ox of winchester , delyuered vnto the kinges grace the confessions of as many lordes as hys grace lusted . Who soeuer was mistrusted , it he shroue hym self at the chart●rhouses sy●n Grenewich / at sainct Iho●s , Confession or where soeuer it wa● , the confessour was comaunded by the aucthorite of the pope to delyuer his confession wryten & sworne that it was al. And cardinal Murton had a lyc●nce of the pope for fourtyne , to study nycromancy● , of whych he him selfe was one / and other I haue heard named whiche at thys tyme I passe ouer with scilence . And how the holy fryers obseruauntes caryed feyned letters to trye who was true , I passe ouer with silence also . How beit such temptacions and fained profers were ynough to mo●e them that neuer wold haue thought amysse : yea and in confession men wyll shryue them s●lues of thoughtes which they neuer went about in the outwarde dead .

When any great man is put to death how his confessour entreateth him & what penaunce is enioyned him , concerninge what he shall say , when he cometh vnto the place of execution / I coud gesse at a practise that might make mens eares glowe

And did not the subtil counsell of the sayde two prelates fayne the sege of Bolen to make a pretence to gather in a fiftene , when there was no more warre betwene the king of Fraunce and of Englond , then is betwene a mans head that hath lust to slepe , & his pilow ? Which sege yet cost many a man their lyues , yea & some great men therto , which knew not of that faining . The kinges grace went ouer with a ten thousand men to conquere all Fraunce and spent haply an hundred thousand pound , of which he saued the fourth part in the dādyprattes and gathered at home .v. or .vi. hundred or more . And two other such fayned viages could I happly reherse , which I passe ouer for diuerse causes , where many an Englishe man lost his lyfe . But what care they for mens lyues ?

And did not our cardinall with like polycy thincke ye / to gather the which he thoght wolde not well be payed , excepte the commens sawe som● cause , bring a great multitude of scottes vnto the english pale eth●● by some bysshopes of Scotlande or by some great man , whom he corrupted with some yerelye pencion ? agaynst which the po●re northen men / must goo on their owne cos● to kepe them out . And generall processyon was commaunded at London / thryse in the weke , and thorow out all the lande , while ● Kynges receauers gathered the taxe of the comen people . Which plage and such like after the thretning of god . Leui. xxvi . & Deute . xxviij . and .xxix. I am sure wyll faule on all christendome without cease , vntyll they ether defye the name of chryst with the turckes , or if they wyl be called christen , they turne and loke on his doctrine .

Yea and what fayned the cardinall at the great loue to begyle his owne pryestes / to make them swere what they were wroth and the better wyllyng to paye , for the comen priestes be not so obedient vnto theyr ordinaryes , that they wyl pay money excepte they know why . Now it is not expedyent that euery rascall / shulde know the secretes of the very true cause , for many consyderacyons . And therfore Turrian other pretence must be made and an other cause alleaged . And therfore the priestes were charged by theyr ordynaryes to appeare before the gentelm●● of the court and t●mporal officers / & swea●e what euery man was worth . Now the pryestes had ●euer be slayne and dye marters after the ensample of sainct Thomas of Caunterbur● , then to sweare before a laye iudge , for they thinke it greater synne / then to slea their owne fathers , and that then the lyberties of the church were clean lost , and they no better then the vyle lay peple . And when they were in that perplexitie that they muste eyther sweare or runne into the kyngs daunger & lose theyr goddes ( I wold say theyr goodes ) then my lorde cardenall sent downe hys graciouse powr that they shuld swear● vnto theyr ordinaryes onely . And then the pryests for ioye that they were ryd out of the laye mennes handes , were so glad and ioyous , that they wyste not what thankes to geue my lorde cardinall / and so were obedyent to sweare and to lende , or els for all the curses that my lord Cardinall hath and the Pope to , they wold neither haue sworne or payde a penny .

¶ The practise of oure tyme .

WHen the Kynges grace came fyrste to the ryghte of the croune and vnto the Gouernaunce of the Royalme yong & vnexpert , Thoms wof●e . Thomas wolf●e a man of lust & courage , and bodelie strength to do and to suffer great thinges / and to endure in al maner of voluptuousnes , expert a●d exercysed in the course of the worlde , as he which had hard , red & sene much policie & had done many thynges him selfe / and had bene of the secrete councell of weyghtye maters , as so●●e as symon that betraaed troye , vtterly apoynted to semble and dissemble , to haue one thynge in the harte / and an other in the mouth , beynge therto as eloquent as sotle & able to persuade what he lusted to them that were vnexpert : so desyrous and gredye of honoure / that he cared not but for the nexte and most compendious waye therto , whether godlie or vngodlie : this wylye wolf I saye / and ragynge sea and shypwracke of all England , though he shewed him selfe pleasaunt and calme at the fyrst ( as hores do vnto theyr louers ) came vnto the kinges grace and wayted vppon him , and was no man so obsequious and seruiceable / and in all games and sportes the fyrst and next at hand and as a captayne to courage other and a g●ye fynder out of newe pastimes to obtayne fauour with all .

And therto as the secrete communicacion went , which by many tokens thou mayst well coniecture and gather to be true , Bisshopes calke kings natiuities . he calked the kinges natiuiti● and birth , whiche is a comen practise amonge prelates , in all landes , wherby he sawe wherunto the kynges grace shuld be enclined all his lyfe , and what shuld be lyke to chaunce him at all times . And as I hard it spoken of diuerse , he made by crafte of nicromancye , grauen Imagery to beare vppon hym , wherwith he bewitched the kinges mynde , and made the kinge to dote vpon him more then euer he dyd on any lady or gentil woman / so that nowe the kinges grace followed him , as he before folowed the king . And then what he sayde , that was wysdome , what he praysed , that was honourable only . Moreouer in the meantime he spied out the naturs and disposicyons of the kinges playe felowes , and of all that were greate , and whom he spyed mere for his purposse , him he flattered , & hym he made faythfull wyth great promyses , & to hym he sware , & of hym he toke an oth agayne that the one shulde helpe the other for wythout a secret oth , he admytted no man vnto any parte of hys pryuities .

And euer as he grewe in promocions & dignitie , so gathered he vnto him of the most subtle wytted , & of them that were dronke in the desyre of honour most lyke vnto himself And after they were sworne / he promoted them , and wyth great promyses , made them in falshed faithfull : & of them euer presented vnto the kyngs grace , & put them into his seruyce , saying : thys is a man mete for youre grace . And by these spyes ( if oughte weare done or spoken in the court , The kinge is betrayed against the cardinall ) of that he had woorde within an houre or two . And then came the cardinall to court with all hys magike , to persuade the contrary . If any in the court had spoken against the Cardinall , and the same not great in the kinges fauour / the Cardinall bad hym walke a villayne , and thrust hym out of the courte headlong . If he were in conceyte wych the kynges grace , then he flattered , & persuaded and corrupt some with gyftes , and sente som Ambassadours , and some he made Captaines at Calais , Hammes , Gynes , Iernsey & Gersey , or sent them to Irlande & into the north , and so occupyed them tyll the kynge 〈◊〉 forgotten them and other were in theyr rowmes / or tyll he had spyed what they e●●tended .

And in lyke maner played he with the ladyes and gentyll women . the quene 〈◊〉 betraied Whosoeuer of them was great , with her , was he familiar and to her gaue he giftes ▪ Yea : and where saynt Thomas of caunterburie was wont to com after , Thomas Cardinall wē● oft before / preuentynge hys prince and peruerted the order of the holte man . Yf any were subtyll witted and mete for his porpose , hi● made he sworn to betray the quene likewise●●nd to tell hym what she sayde or dyd . I know one that departed the court for none other Cause then that she wolde no long●● betraye her mastresse .

And after the same example he furnishe● the court with chapelains of his owne sworne disciples & children of hys owne brynging vp , to be alwaie present and to dyspute of vanityes and to water what soeuer the Cardinall had planted . Yf among those cormora●̄t●s any yet began to be to much in fauour wyth the Kynge , and to be somwhat busye in the Court , and to drawe any other waye then as my lord Cardinall had appoynted / that the Plowe shulde goo , a nonne he was sent to Italye or to SPAINE : or some quarel was picked against him and so was ●●●ust out of the court , as stokesly was .

He promoted the bysshop of Lyncolne that now is , the bisshop of Lincoln his most faythful frende & old companyon / and made hym conf●ssour : to whom , of what soeuer the kinges grace shro●e him self , think ye not that he spake so loude that the Cardinall herde it ? and not vnryght : for as Gods creatures ought to obeye God and serue his honoure , so ough● the popes creatures to obeye the pope & se●ue hys magestie ?

Finally Thomas wolfse became what he wolde , euen porter of heauen , so that no man coulde entre into promocion , but thorow him .

¶ The cause of all that we haue suffred thys twentye yeares .

ABoute the beginning of the Kynges grace that now is / fraunce was mightie / so that I suppose it was not myghtier thys fyue hundred yeares . Kynge Lewes of Fraunce had wonne Naples / and had taken Bonony from sainct Peters s● . king lewes Wherfore Pope Iuly was wroth and cast Pope Iuly how to bring the frenchmen doune , yet soberly lest whyle he brought hym lower / he shulde geue an occasyon to lyft vp the Emperour hyer . Our first viage into Spayne was to bring the frenchmen lower . For our meyney were set in the forefronte and borders of spayne towarde Gaskayne : partly to kepe those parties , and partly to feare the Gascaynes , & to kepe them at home whyle in the meane tyme the Spanyardes wan Nauerne . When Nauerne was wonne our men came to howse as manye as dyed not there , and brought all there money with them home agayn / saue that they spend there . Howbeit for all the losse of Nauerne the frenchmen were yet able ynough to match Spayne , the Uenecians and the Pope with all the Zwytzers that he coulde make : so that there was yet no remedye but we must set on the frenchmen also , if they shuld be brought out of Italy .

Then pope Iuly wrote vnto hys deare sonne Thomas wolfse that he wold be as good / as louynge and as helpynge to holye church / as any Thomas euer was / seyng he was as able . the newe Thomas . Then the newe Thomas as glorious as the old / toke the mater in hande and persuaded the kinges grace . And ●hen the kinges grace toke a dyspensatyon for hys othe made vppon the apoyntment of peace betwene him and the French king and promysed to helpe the holy seate where in Pope Peter neuer sate . But the Emperour Maximilian myght in no wyse stand still lest the frenchmen shuld money hym , & get ayde of hym / seynge the Almaynes refuse not money whence soeuer it be profered then quod Thomas wolfse , Maximli● Oh and lyke youre grace / what an honoure shulde it be vnto youre grace if the emperour were youre sodyare ? So greate honoure neuer chaunced any kyng christened . It shulde be spoken of while the world stode . The glory & honour shall hyde and darken the coste that it shall neuer be sene , though it shulde coste halfe youre realme . Dixit & factum est , it was euen so . And then a parliament : and then paye : and then vpon the Frenche dogges ▪ with cleane remission of all his sinnes , that slew one of them , Remision of synnes . or if he be slayn ( for the pardons ▪ haue no strengh to saue in thys life , but in the lyfe to come only ) them to heauen strayght wythout felynge of the paynes of purgatorye .

Then cam oure kyne with all hys might , by se and by lande , and the Emperour / wyth a strong army and the Spanyardes and the pope & the Uenecyans all at once against king Lewes of fraunce . As sone as the pope had that he desyred in Italy , then peace immediatlye . And frenchmen were chrysten men / and pytie , yea and great synne also were it to sheade their bloud / and the frenchkinge was the most chrysten kyng agayne . And thus was peace concluded and oure Inglyshmen or rather shepe came home against winter and lefte theyr fleces behynde them . Wherfore no smal number of them , whyle they sought them better raymente at home , were hanged for theyr laboure .

¶ Why the kinges syster was turned vnto fraunce .

WHen this peace was made , oure holye Cardynalles and Bysshoppes ( as their olde Gyse is to calke and caste .xl ▪ L. yea an hundred yeare before what is lyke to chaunce vnto theyr kingdome ) considered how the Emperour that now is , was moost like to be chosen Emperour after hys graundfather Maximilian / for Maximilian had already obteyned of dyuerie of the ELECTOURS that is shulde so be .

They considered also howe mightye he shuld be : first , Kyng of Spayn with all that perteyneth therto , which was wont to be v. vi or .vij. kyngdoms : then Duke of Burgoyne Earle of Flaunders , of Hollande / Zelande / and Braband , wyth all that parteine therto : then Emperour , and hys brother Duke of Austrych / and hys sister quene of Hungrye . Wherfor thought our prelates , if we take not hede betymes / oure kyngdome is lyke to be troubled & we to be brought vnder the fete . For thys man shal be so myghty that he shall with power take out of the french kynges handes , out of the handes of the Uenetians / and from the Pope also , what soeuer parteyneth vnto the empyre / and what soeuer belongeth vnto hys other kyngdoms and dommions therto . And then he wyll come to Rome and be crouned there , and so shall he ouerlooke our holye father and see what he doth . And then shall the olde heretykes ryse vp agayne & say that the Pope is Antichryste , and styrre vp agayne , and bryng to lyght that we haue hyd & broght a slepe with muche cost , payne and bloudeshedyng more then thys hundred yere longe . Considred also that hys aunte is quene of England , and hys wyfe the king of Englands sister , consydred the old amitie betwene the house of burgom , & the old kinges of englond so that they coulde neuer do ought in fraunce with out theyr helpe : & last of all considered that course of marchaundise that ingland hath in those parties / & also the naturall hart that englishmen bear to frenchmen . Wherfore if we shall vse oure old practyse , and set the french king agaynst hym : Then he shall lyghtelye obtayne the fauour of the king of Ingland by the meanes of hys Aunte and hys wyfe , and ayde wyth men and money . Wherfore we must take hede betimes and breake thys amytie Whych thinge we maye by thys oure olde craft / ●easely bringe to passe . Let vs take a dispensation & breake thys maryage , and turne the kinges sister vnto the French king Yf the frenche Kynge , Practyse . gette a male of her . then we shall lyghtly make our kyngepro , tectoure of fraunce / and so shall Inglande and Fraunce be coupled together , and as for the quene of Inglande , we shall trymme her well ynough , and occupye the kynge with straunge loue / and kepe her that she shall beare no rule . And as the godd●s had spoken so it came to passe . Our fayre yong doughter , was sent vnto the old pocky king of fraunce / the yeare before our mortall ennemye and a myscreaunt / worse then a Turke / and disobedient vnto oure holy Father , and no more obedient yet then he was compelled to be against his wyll .

The cause of the iourney to Calyce .

IN shorte space thereafter Thomas wolfse / now Cardinall and Legate a latere and greatlye desyrous to be Pope also / thought it exceading expedient / for his many secrete purposes to bring our Kyng and the Kyng of Fraunce that now is together : both to make a perpetual peace and amitie betwene them , and that ( whyle the two kynges and their lordes dalyed together ) the greate cardinalles and Bisshoppes of both parties , mighte becraye them both / and the Emperour and all Chrysten kinges therto .

Then he made a iourney of gentelmen arayed all together in sylk , so much as th●ir very showes and lynynge of theyr boutes , much more lyke their mothers then men of warre : yea I am sure that many of theyr mothers wolde haue bene ashamed of so ny●● and wanton aray : how beit they went not to make war but peace for euer and a daye longer . But to speake of the Pompouse apparell of my lorde hym selfe and of hys chaplaynes , it passeth the .xij. apostles . I dare swere that if Peter and Paule had sene them sodenly and at a blush / they wold haue bene harder in beleue that they or any such shuld be theyr successours / then Thomas ●●dimus was to beleue that Chryst was rysen agayne from death .

When all was concluded betwene the kyng of Fraunce and ours , that Thomas wolf●e had deuised / and when the prelates of both parties had cast theyr peny worthes agaynst all chaunces and deuysed remedyes for all mischeues· Then the ryght reuerend father in God Thomas cardinall and Lega●● , wolde go se the young Emperoure newlye chosen vnto the roume , and haue a certayne secrete communicacion wyth some of his prelates also . And gatte him to bridges in Flaunders , Prelates where he was receaued with great solempnitie as belongeth vnto so mighty a pyllar of Christes church , and was saluted at the entering into the toune of a mery felow which sayd , salue rex regis tui atque regni sui . saluta●io● ▪ ● Hayle both kyng of the king and also of his realme . And thogh there were neuer so great stryfe betwene the Emperoure and the French kynge / yet my lorde Cardynall iugled hym fauour of them both / and fynally brought the Emperour to Calays , vnto the kinges grace , where was great tryumphe / and great loue / & amytie shewed on both parties in so much that certayne men maruelynge at it , asked the olde bisshope of Deram . How it might be that we were so great with the Emperour so shortlye vppon so stronge and euer lastinge a peace made betwene vs and the frenchmen , the Emp●rour and the kyng of Fraunce being so mortall ennemyes ? My lorde answered that it might be wel inough if he wist al. A certeine secret . But there was a certayn secret sayd he , wherof all men knew not . Yea verely / they haue had secretes this .viij hundred yeares , which , though all the laye men haue felt them , yet fewe haue spyed them , saue a few Iudases whiche for lucre haue bene confederate wyth them , to betray their owne kinges and all other .

Then were we indifferent & slode still . And the Emperoure and the French kyng wrastled together . And Ferdinandus the Emperours brother wanne Mylane of the frenchmen / and the Emperour turnay our greate conqueste whiche yet after so greate coste in Buyldynge a Castell , Milane . Turnay . we delyuered vp agayne vnto the frenchmen in ernest and hope of a mariage betwene the dolphine & our princesse .

¶ How the Emperour cam thorow Englond .

AFter that the Emperour wolde into Spayne and cam thorowe Englond where he was receaue with great honour & with al that pertayneth to loue and amyte . The kings grace lent hym money and promysed hym more . And the Emperour shuld tarye a certayne yeares & mary our princesse : Not that the cardinall intended that thou mayest be su●e , for it was not proffitable for theyr kingdom , but his mind was to dallye wyth the Emperour and to kepe him without a wyfe that ( in so much as he was yong and lusty ) he might haue bene noselled and entangeled wyth hores ( which is their nurtering Nurtering . of kynges . of kinges ) and made so effeminate and that he shuld neuer haue bene able to lift vp his harte to any goodnesse or vertue : that cardinalles and bysshopes myght haue administred his dominions in the meane time vnto our holy fathers profyte .

The king of fraunce hearing the fauour that was shewed vnto the Emp●roure , sent immediatlye a diffiaunce vnto oure king , not without our cardinalles & bisshops counsell , thou mayst well wyt .

For frenchmen are not so folish to haue done it so vnaduisedlye and so rashlye / seynge they had to many in their toppes already . Then oure king spake manye greate wordes that he wold dryue the frenchkyng out of his realme , or els the frenchkyng shulde bryue him out of his ▪ But had he added as the legate Pandulph taught kinge Ihon / with the popes lycence , his wordes had sounded much better . For there can no vow stande in effect / except the holy father confirme it .

We sent out our sodiars , two sommers against the frenchmen / vnto whose chefe captaynes the Cardinall had appoynted , how farre they shuld go , and what they shuld do ▪ And therfore the frenchkyng was nothing afrayed / but brought all hys Power agaynst the Emperour in other places . And ●o was the Emperour euer betrayed . And thus the cardinall was the emperours frend openly , and the frenchkinges secretlie , For at the m●●●ng / wyth the frenchkinge besyd Cal●s , he vtterly betrayed the Emperour ▪ yet for no loue that he had to Fraunce , but to helpe the Pope , yea and to haue bene Pope happely / and to saue theyr kyngdome . Whych treason / though all the world smelled it , yet it brake not out openlie to the eye / tyll the sege of Pauye . And the Cardynall sent the emperoure muche monye openlye / and gaue the Frenchkyng more secretelye . He played with both handes to serue their secret ▪ that all men know not , as the bisshop of Deram sayed . But what soeuer the frenchmen did , they had euer the worse , no● withstondyng the secrete workyng of our holy prelates on their syde .

Fynallye vnto the sege of Pauye came the Frenchkyng parsonallye with .lx. thousand men of warre , Pauye . of whych .xij , thousand were horsemen , and wyth money ynough And the Emperours host was vnder .xx. thousand , of whych were but .iij. thousand horsemen , with no money at all . For he trusted vnto the Pope for ayde of men , and vnto oure Cardynall for money . But the Pope kepte backe hys men tyll that the frenchmen had geuen them a felde , and our Cardinall kepte backe hys money for the same purpose . And thus was the selye Emperoure betrayed , as all hys predecessours haue bene this .viiij. hundred yeres . How be it there be that sa●e , how that the Emperours sodiars so thretened Pace , Pace● the kynges graces embassadoure , that he was fayne to make che●esaunce wyth marchauntes for money in the kinges name , to paye the soldyars with all . Wherfore the cardinall toke from hym all his promocions , and played tormentours wyth him when he came home , because that he presumed to do one Iore more than was in his commission But how so euer it was , the emperours men , in tarieng for helpe / had spent out all their vitayles . Whervpon Burbon the chefe captayne of the Emperoure sayd vnto his vnder captaynes : ye se , Burbo● helpe cometh not , and that our vitales are spent . Wherfore there is no remedy but to fight though we be vnequally matched . If we wynne , we shall fynd meate ynough : if we loose , we shall loose no more th●n we must lose with hungre / thogh we fyght not . And so they concluded to set vpon the Frenchmen by night . The king of fraunce and his lorde● purposing that the mone wolde soner haue faullen out of the skye , then that the Emperoures host durst haue fought wyth them / were som what negligent , and went the same night a mummynge that Burbon sett vppon them . The Emperours host therfore with their sodayn comyng vppon them , amased the frenchmen / and draue them vpon heapes to gether one on an other , so that they neuer coulde com in aray agayne , and toke the king and diuerse of his lords & slew many and wanne the felde . And there came out all the Cardinals preuye treason / for in the frenchkinges tent ( say men ) were letters founde / and besyde that in the Frenchkyngs treasure , and in all the host among the sodiars were englysh shippes found innumerable whiche had come saylynge a thousande myles by land . But what wonder , shippes be made to sayle ouer the sea , and winges to fle into farre contrees & to mount to the toppe of hye hylles .

When the frenchkyng was taken , we sang Te deum . But for all that singynge we made peace with frenchmen . And the Pope , Te deum . the Uenecians , Fraunce and England were knyt to gether , lest the Emperours army shuld do any hurte in fraunce Wherby ye may coniecture of what mind the pope & the cardinal were to ward the emperour ▪ and with what hart our spiritualty with theyr inuisible secretes , sang Te deum . And from the time hitherto / the emperour and our cardinall haue bene twayne .

After that , when the king of fraun●● was delyuered home agayne / and hys sonnes left in pledge , many wayes were sought to bryng home the sonnes also : But in vayne / except the frenchking wold make good the which he had promysed the Emperour . For the bringing home of those Chylderne no Man more busyed his wittes / then the Cardinall . He wold in any wyse the emperour shuld haue sent them home / & it had bene but for our kynges pleasure , for the greate kindenesse that he shewed him in times past . He wold haue maryed the kinges doughter our princesse vnto the Dolphine agayne , or as the voyce went among many , vnto the seconde Brother , and he shulde haue bene prince in Englonde and king in tyme to come , so that he sought alwayes to plucke vs from the Emperour and to ioyne vs vnto Fraunce , to make fraunce stronge ynough to matche the Emperour / and to kepe him downe , that the pope myght reygne a GOD alone , the marte shuld haue bene at Ca●●●ce . and do what pleased him / without countrollynge of anye ouerseer . And for the same purpose , he lefte nothing vnprouided to brynge the marte from Andwerp● to Cales .

This be sufficient at this tyme , though I coulde saye more , and though other haue deserued that I more sayd : ye and I could more depely haue entred into the practise of our cardinall , but I spare for diuerse consyderacions , and namely for hys sake / whiche neuer spared me / nor any faythfull frende of his owne , nor anye that tolde hym truth , nor spareth to persecute the bloud of Christ in as cleare lyght as euer was , and vnder as subtyll colour of ypocrysy as euer was any persecution syns the creation of the world . Neyther haue I sayde for hate of any parson or parsons ( God I take to record ) but of theyr wickednesse only , and to calle them to repentaunce / knowledginge that I am a synner also , & that a greuous . Howbeit , it is a deuelysh thyng and a mercylesse to defend wickednes against the open truth , and not to haue power to repent . And therfore I doubt not , if men wyll not be warned hereby , but that God wyll vtter more practise by whome he wyll , & not cease , vntyll he haue broken the bande of the wytye hypocrytes / which persecute so subtylly .

And fynally , let them remembre that I , to preuent all occasyons and all carnall beastes that seke fleshly lybertie , sent forth the true obedience of a Chrysten man with yet they condempned , but after they had condempned the newe testament , as ryght was , whence the obedience had hys aucthorytie . Now then if when the lyght is come abroad in which theyr wyckednesse can not be hyd , they fynde no such obedience in the people vnto theyr old tyranny , whose faute is it ? This is a sure conclusyon : none obedience that is not of loue can longe endure : and in your dedes can no man see any cause of loue : and the knoledge of Chryst , for whose sake onely a man wold loue you , though ye were neuer so euell , yea persecute . Now then if any disobedience ryse / are ye not the cause therof youre selues ?

Saye not but that ye be warned .