¶ wonderful news of the death of Paul the. iii. last bishop of Rome & or diverse things that after his death have happened, wherein is truly set ●●● the abominable acts of his most mischievous life. Written in Latin by. P. Esquillus, and englished by W. B. Londoner.  
¶ Apoca. viii.  
Come away from her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.   

¶ W. B. to the loving Reader.  
IT is wonderful (good Reader) to see the sundry diversities of wits what means they invent to declare & publish such things as they think necessary to be known, some under the colour of feigned histories, some under the persons of speechless beasts, and some under the shadow of dreams and visions, of which thou haste here a notable and worthy example. For some witty man (as it appeareth by his writing) privy of the last Pope's secrets, (which are so abominable as I have heard of few like,) willing to declare to the world, how men were deceived in him, which not only called, but also believed him to be more than half a god, hath under the name of. P. Esquillus written an Epistle to his friend forius. Wherein after that he hath truly declared the time of his death, he feigneth a poesy in manner of a vision, in which he seeth Paul Frenes. the Pope received into hell, and there meeteth his son Petrus Aloysius, who in talking to his father, setteth forth his wicked belief and doctrine. After that he beholdeth Arches and Pinnacles, wherein are graved the mischievous deeds of the Pope, as the giving of his sister to be abused of one that was Pope before him, the poisoning of his mother, and of his sister, because she loved another better than him, the abusing of his own daughter, and his persecuting of Christians, with divers other things. At last following on still. S. John's revelation, he seeth him abuse princes, & at last, cast with them into a lake of burning fire. All this he feigneth properly, but lieth not I am afraid. And now somewhat to say my fancy in the matter, me thinketh the book is very good and necessary, & I would wish that all christian men, especially princes, for whose cause principally it seemeth to be written, had red it, that they might learn here how Popes and their ministers have done and do abuse them. For I believe that all which is here written of the Pope's acts, and of others, be true, & that because I know no man would have been so shamcles so to make report, except he were assured of them. And to th'intent that all English men might thank God the more for his abundant mercy, in delivering them through knowledge of his truth from the tyranny of so corrupt and stinking an head, and that better love and obey our sovereign lord and king, their head by God appointed, I have (good Reader) according to my poor cunning, Englished Esquillus Epistle, that all they may see therein the Pope's most detestable, mischievous, and devilish doctrine, life and deeds: that such as yet for lack of knowledge favour him, may through crediting this, detest and abhor him, or at lest wise his vices, which are unseparably joined unto the Popedom. Wherefore if thou (good reader) shalt for this intent read it, I shall think my pains not only well bestowed, but also (as I wish they may be) abundantly requited. Far well.  
¶ Love and live.   

¶ To his dearly beloved brother Mark Forius, well learned in both laws, Publius Esquillus, master of Prelates, wisheth joy and peace.  
How heavily I took thy departure from the city brother Mark, both at thy going away, and sense by letters thou knowest well enough. In so much that it the Pope had not feared me more absent than present, I must needs have gone with thee, or else died, if I had be mortal. The Pope durst not strive with me being present, because he remembered to how great a foil I put Adrian the sixth, and Clement the seventh. For when God made me Master of Bishops and Prelates, he gave me also such a nature and condition, as could feel no death, chiefly because it is ordained by nature that men shall die but once, which I have once done already, & therefore I shall live alway to set a work, and correct the prelacy for ever. But thou art happy, O mark Forius, whose chance it was to have so soon witness of thou heavenly discipline which thou learnedst through out accompanying, when as Pope Paul being in a rage, & calling that either to recant or die, thou escapedst with a few. For what more certain witness can any man have of God's favour toward him, & of his own allowance, than that the bishops priests & Pharisees (as they did to Christ himself) bitterly curse, trouble, vex, & endeavour to torment & kill him? But to let pass this, which thou taught from above knowest well-enough, let us come to the pith of the matter, for which I write now. Thou remember'st (I suppose) that when we commoned of the common weal in heaven, thou madest me to promiss that if I should at any time (as I once did walk through the upper coasts) chance, to pass through the neither, that is to say, the secrets of hell, & of spirits, I should likewise certify the thereof. Which thing now hath happened wondrously well. For after that this dotterel (I mean Paul Farnesius) was buried & carried into hell, I also descended thither, & saw there many things, which if bishops and other men would believe, they would neither persecute Christ jesus, and waste his church as they do, nor yet suffer themselves to be led away from Christ with foolish trifles & superstitions. But for as much as I cannot now be present to talk with thee, & show the those things, I will in this Epistle as briefly as I can, describe the whole tragedy. Wherefore as thou art wont mark thou well, & consider in thy mind the things which thou shalt read.  
Paul which is also Saul began to die in the fift Ide, that is the. ix day of November, about the first watch of the night. At what time I was with Titus Polybius, whom thou knowest to be a man of singular sobriety among all the rest of the citizens of Rome, and such a one as may worthily be called a wiseman: With him I held communication of the calamities of the Christian common wealth, and of the remedies of the same. But before our talk was ended, and therefore deferred till an other time, it pleased Polybius to make me lodge at his house that night. But ear I was on sleep, behold Genius that ghost, which ten years agone had carried me into heaven, seemed to be present before me and said: Up Publius; arise, if thou desire to see with what pomp, and what preparation, Paul is receiucd of Dites the prince of darkness, and of the other fyendes. What, (quoth I than,) is our most holy father dead? Yea (said he) he is dead now at last, if at the least wise he ever lived.  
But all his holiness he left for Christ and his saints, thinking it enough for him, if but in title and name he might be called most holy. I come than (quoth I) my most trusty guide, and gladly and willingly I do follow thee. Forth we went till we came unto the Pope's palace, where we found Paul breathing a little, for he was at the point of death. About him were many devils, but few men. For they being sure he would die, were othcrwise occupied, some in rifling his coffers, and other some in stealing his costly apparel, with his silver and golden vessel, some about one thing, and some about another, as commonly men are wont to be at so good a season. While these things were in doing, our holy father gave up his ghost. Then was there one, which seemed to be captain of the fiends, and to be in authority above the rest, who coming to him, said: Sathanas save thee, thou pillar and worship of our kingdom. And than taking him by the hand, led him down into a certain shadowed valley: The sides whereof were so full of most high Cypress trees, that the pleasant light of the Sun could no where get in. In the head of this valley was a very stinking lake, which I think either be Auernum, or some other like. Here Dracolicus (for that was that Captain devils name) because Paul went naked, commanded a woman's garment of iron grey, broidered with fiery serpents, to be brought him, about that borders whereof were Scorpions after the manner of a guard. Than lo, Paul seemed to me to be wholly changed, into a most foul & doting old trot. Contrary to Pope John, who counterfeiting the man, declared herself, in bringing forth a son, to be a very woman. But I wondered much at one thing: For in this garment I saw figured his most notable mischiefs, as manstaughter, poisonings, treasons, Incest, & abominable adulteries. Than they put high on shoes, or rather boots, of swines leather. And set upon his head a fox fur nyghtcap, whereon they put a mitre, meet for three crowns: of which the first that went about his forehead & temples, was an * Amphisbene. The second was of an Aspis, the third was a Cerast with two horns, which did well set forth the top of the mitre. About his neck hung a chain made of two wreathed Adders. At his ear in stead of his earetyres, crocked. two. speckled frogs. To this they gave him loaden gloves, and bracelets of vipers, that he should lack nothing of an whore's attire and garnishment. Then did they set him upon a great beast, which had hear grown out of man's blood, which seemed divers, with divers coloured spots. In these spots might be read as they had be printed with a burning iron, the names of all errors and revilings of god and Christ, that have been at any time sense men were borne, both of the Egipcians, Phariseis, Hessenes', Hebeonites, Manichees, Arrians, Maometans, and Pelagians, besides those which the Papists have invented to the reproach of God and Christ. This beast had seven heads, and ten high lifted horns, and on every horn a crown which signifieth a kings power. But Paul had carried with him a golden cup, like unto these which the priests life up at the altar, while they are at work about his holy service. This Chalice carried he in his hand with such gesture as the germans be wont, when they bid any man to drink. The ministers of hell led down the high by shop being thus decked through the low vallcye. But Genius my ghost guided me very pleasantly by the right side of the mountain: So that we lurking among the Cypress trees, did the easilier behold from an higher place, all things that were done, and all the whole pomp of his Triumph. And when we had gone a little farther, we heard a great noise of horsemen that were coming. And not long after through the monition of Genius my ghost, I knew Peter Aloysius the bishop's son, who having heard of his father's coming, came forth before to meet him for honours sake. And be being wrapped in a goats skin,  upon a Goat, that was so big, that he seemed to be greater than a bull. At his breast in stead of a golden Bull, hung a great Priapus. And this Priapus (which I greatly wondered at, had a naked Pintell hanging in the middle part of his body. About Peter Aloysius were Catamites innumerable, having all the parts of their body finely clothed, save only their atses, which being naked like Apes, they showed forth. The rest that were with him, toad upon very great she goats. And in their banners (whether it were to fray birds or no I know not) they had images of Priapus. There Petrus Aloysius with Constance his sister, who also was his stepdame, scarce knew his father in that black band of horsemen. For he had not that apparel, that face, that white horse, nor that train after him, which he was wont to have in his life time. Neither could he have known him at all, if he had not marked well a certain shape of a bishops mitre (which they call a kingdom) & his voice and speech. But when he was come nearer him, and that they had saluted one an other, he said: O father, art thou also come down hither? whom I would have thought, if souls might live longer than the bodies, (which now alas to my pain I feel) wouldst have flyen up into heaven: For many and that a great company of men worshipped the as a GOD. Thou promisedst heaven to them that worshipped thee. Thou called'st up souls again from hell. Thou forgavest them much punishment and pains, (according to the ancient severity) which returned to thy holy seat & devotion, as of late days thou showedst the princes and people of Germany (which fell from the to a certain (I know not what) doctrine of the gospel) by three by shops which were thy Legates a later. notwithstanding those which were nearest about thee, (as was I with few other) knew well & to well; that thou trustedst not thyself to those things which thou so much boastedst of, & souldest to other, but estemedst them as tales of Robin hood. For I remember when thou affirmedst that there were no souls, nor any hell at all, but that thou diddest defend them and say there were such, because they were excellent and very meet to deceive men: and not only to save and defend riches and empires, but also to get and obtain them.  
¶ I thy son being instructed and seasoned with this noble doctrine, thought nothing unlawful for me to do. Hereof came my so many adultries both with men and women, Hereof came the slaughters and robberies, from hence came the sacrileges, and blasphemous revilings against God, Christ, and his mother the virgin and against all the heavenly saints, from hence came the innumerable mischiefs, and all kind of ungracious deeds, which I following that my father, have committed: In which I being so drowned, that neither god nor man could any longer suffer me at the last after the manner of other Tirans, without whose murder & wounds, few descend hither, I fell into this pit, where I have experience in very deed that there is an hell, that there be furies, and fiends, and that there are punishments for wicked deeds, with everlasting fire: which things while I was in life, being nuzzled in thy instructions, and household doctrine, I never thought upon at any time nor yet feared, Wherefore (O father) there is nought else for us to look for here, but misery, and everlasting desperation. At this his father sighed and held his peace, attending only to see the end of his own matter. And behold while they went on, a greater neighing of horses, and roaring of Lions was heard, which were certain Emperors, Kings, tyrants and other princes, but chief those which had given their power to the beast, & which having drunken in the lovely cup of the whore of Babylon, had committed fornication with her. These came to meet him, and bewailed his wretchedness. After these came forth a much greater company, of Popes, Cardinals, bishops, Abbots, monks, priests and friars, all these road upon Locusts, like unto horses, which are prepared to battle, upon whose heads was the shape of a certain golden Crown. Their face was like a man's, their hear like womennes, but they seemed to be armed with lions teeth, and iron Habetions: with the clapping of their wings, they counterfeited Chariots going forward to battle. They had tails, and in their tails stings of Scorpions. And now to withhold the no longer, with this company we went to the iron city of Dites, or Pluto, and his unpleasant kingdom: where there were Arches, great pillars, and notable memorials set up. In which the titles, and noble mischiefs of our holy father Farnesius, were written, and graved.  
The first Arch before the gate of the City, showed the first beginnings of his noble mischiefs. That building was all of most heavy lead. And there in scyled work, I saw Paul giving his sister to be defiled of Alexander Borgias, the chief bishop, to deliver himself out of other men's det. On the other side of that Arch, the same Paul poured in, (but gave not poison) to his other sister, because she followed to openly the manners of the family of Fregnesia, and seemed to love other more than her brother Paul. But they cannot choose but live wastefully, which hope for other men's goods, while the waste their own. And the front and upper part of the Arch, declared plainly that with the same cup he brought his mother to her long sleep. This was the title of this Arch. To Paulus Farnesius a singular Patron of Bawds and manquellers.  
When we were come from thence into the city, appeared the other building made of sound brass, in which out Paul triumphed over a certain wench, an Anconitane. For when now with his accustomed bawd playing, and guiles, he had deserved a red hat, and was the Legate of Anconia: there, under the colour of a certain merchant, he deceived a noble Damosel, and when she was promised him, married her for his wife: which woman after that she knew him to be that, which he was in deed, and that she was not his lawful wife, but his concubine, (which out of the decrees thou knewest very well,) It failed but little that she fell not mad. But yet by that marriage he got Peter Aloysius, a worship forsooth and a singular Ornament of the Romans name. The mayse of this deed was this.  
To Paul Farnesius Cardinal, a Knave most reverent, defrauders have set up this. Then went we further, and behold another monument, made of a mixture of lead, brass, and tin all together. There in cast work, I saw Paul now the chief Bishop, with his daughter Constans, which was more pleasant and obedient to him, than a daughter should be to her father: on the backside of this, This Goatishe old man provoked to Adultery a certain chosen Damosel, a niece of his, which was a Kingly Matron, no less excelling in Maidenly shamefastness, than in good shape and beauty. In the upper part of this Arch, Peter Aloysius, wrought by force unnaturally with the bishop Fanensis, whereof that good young man died. And there his father Paul smiling, did absolve him. And therefore for these gentle mischiefs, the fyendes wrote upon the Arch.  
To Paul the third, chief Bishop, and to his son both adulterers, Incestuous, Buggers, defilers, Abusers, and of all Ruffians the chiefest. The company of Lechers have set up this, for an everlasting memorial. From hence we came into Plutonium the greatest field of all the City, where were two noble memorials, which seemed to be made of hardest salt, and that somewhat read.  
In the one the Perusmes were overcome and oppressed. In the other Ascanius Colona, a most righteous Prince was of this old Knave in a great fury driven out of his kingdom. To these was a superscription after this form.  
To Paul Farnesius chief Bishop, a most cruel Tyrant, tyrants have set up this.  
Not far from these on the other side the field, were two pillars, square & broad the stuff whereof I could not know. For they were not of any accustomed or used matter. In one of them he took Camerine, after he had driven out the princess thereof, a woman endued with singular wisdom and religion. In the other I might see by what crafts he drew the College of Cardinals to hold with him, as touching Placencia and Parma, by making an exchange with them of Cametine, that was not his, for Parma and Placencia, which was not theirs: which afterward was the cause & that deservedly, of his son Peter Aloysius death. Whom he made Lord of those two most noble Cities. And of these both, the title was this. To Paul the third, chief Bishop, the most notable in innumerable and most great treasons, judas Iscariotes, with other traitors, have set up this.  
In the third part of the field, and in the side, was an Arch made in shape like heaven, there were the seven planets, and the. xii. signs, so well known of the Astronomers, and innumerable stars. There was our Paul with Dionise Seruita, and Gaurico, & certain other, which all searched the destiny of the Bishop and of his friends, in Hecoscopes, in Aspects, and in the houses of the stars, in which they were amazed with such astonishment, that they seemed to fall into madness. This was the Title To Paul Fernesius, the chief Bishop, an Astrosogian, a wysarde and the chiefest diviner, the Caldeyes have set up this. In the courthe angle or the tield there was a building made of red wax, in which were many mitred: of which, three in purple, higher than the test, and as it were judges, sat down together. The place and cause were noted with these letters. S. S. T. C. The place and sitting yielded the shape of some most holy counsel: In which as it appeared by certain letters which were there both red and written, at the instance of a few, was devised how the truth might be thrust down, and the Emperor deceived. There might ye have seen some hissed out of counsel, because they were so boldc but slenderly to defend the truth, and hold against their perverse counsels. There saw I a certain wellearned Physician, but a better astrologien. F. C. Corrupted with money, to th'intent he should testify with his mouth & writing, that the air there was unwholesome for the fathers: that to deceive the Emperor, they might transfer the counsel to some other place, where they might either bring more certain, & more free suggestions, for the Pope's tyranny, or else at the least wise delay the counsel. Alexander. T. no common physician, gaynsayed this corrupted Physician, and that learnedly, proving the air and all other things there, to be very wholesome, and that there was nothing in the nature & disposition of the place, which should seem to be able to fray them from keeping their counsel there. Yet notwithstanding the gainsaying of the Physician, and the vehement repugning of the Emperor, it was brought to pass with corrupt and stinking suffrages, that the greatest part of the blessed fathers went their way. Neither did this Arch lack his title. For in it were these words.  
To Paul the third, chief Bishop the troubler of counsels, and common peace, thirty Popes have set up this. About the middle of Plutonium was a pillar of sound Adamant, at which I could not marvel enough when I saw the wars, and bloody lights against the saints, so shine, they seemed to be in doing, rather than showed by Imagerye, but after a new & unwunted kind of fighting. For there were to be seen two forts of battle.  
first there were flocks of most meek cheap clothed in white garments. Upon the sheeps heads were golden crowns, glistering with a wonderful shine.  
These flocks had to their guide a lamb which had seven horns, and as many eyes. On the other part were ravening wolves, wolves truly, but not all in one sort of apparel. For some had on their heads red caps, some two topped miters, some Cools, and that diverse, other some after another sort. But one amongst them was above the rest, which bore on his head a triple crown, which differed nothing at all from the mitre and kingdom of the high Bishop. All ware one kind of garment, some of purple, some violet, some black, some grey, some white.  
This was the kind of their battle. The wolves in divers places broke in upon the flock, and every one took a cheap, tore him & devoured him. The fearful sheep did nought save sometime hold themselves together, and sometime fly away, and lifting up their heads into heaven, bleat miserably, and look upon the lamb. The lamb alone with a spear like a cross, fought: and sometimes so drove away and chased the wolves, that he constrained them to fall headlong into a certain bottom les pit. The other battle was after this sort. Not far from hence, were legions and crews of armed men, like to all these which (as I said before) came forth to meet Peter Aloysius, save that those seemed to have Paul the third to their chief Captain and Emperor. Of these some catyed drawn swords, some kindled fyerbrandes, and some cups mingled with deadly poison.  
They which fought with swords, & common weapons, had to their Captain a certain cardinal the bishops Legate, a young man, desirous of vain glory, upon whose garment, these words were written: I will go and make such a slaughter, that my horse shall swim me in the blood of Lutherians. All these had in their standard the world between two keys. Against these, with great courage of mind and spirit, strove men, without any manner of harness or weapon, save that a good part of them, held up against their strokes with one hand a pen, and in the other a book. And part after the manner of petitioners, lifted up pure hands to a certain mountain. For these armies were scattered about a certain mountain: upon the top whereof, I saw a cross fastened and lifted up, so high that it femed to touch heaven with the top, and upon it was Christ jesus that son of god crucified. And there was a title fastened to the head of the Cross after this tenor. This is the victory that overcometh the World our faith. This was a cruel battle, and a new kind of overcoming. For here might we see some to be bound of their enemies, and shut up in dark prisons, some to be slain with the sword, some dispatched with poison, some in the midst of the sire singing the praises of GOD and Christ, some bound and thrown into the water, some banished and bound to the galleys, some to exile. At which things their enemies were so astonished, and so disdainful, that they boat their tongues with their teeth, and plucked away the hears of their beards. These things and many other were in that great pillar, which I know not how for to utter. For there I knew many of the Pope's Knights and ministers of his cruelty, some dead, and some yet alive: whom if I should name, that whole world would wondre at it. Notwithstanding some of them are so well known by their wicked & mischews deeds, that it needeth not to name them. The other I will pass with silence, lest it should appear that I name them rather for the hatred I bear them, that for the love of the christian common weal.  
But I had almost overskipt the writing of this pillar, which. about the shrine, was this. To Paul the third, the chief bishop, for his singular hatred of Christ and christians, and for that which he hath luckily done against them, which prisons, galleys, rivers, ashes, exiles, murders, and slaughters, in Italy, France, Spain, England, and in unconquered Germany, do witness: insomuch that he hath worthly deserved the name of Antichrist, Emperors, Kings, and other Princes, Prelates, Cardinals, bishops, and all other fautors of the Sea of Rome, and all the anointed that are here, have consecrate this renowned, wonderful and everlasting title on hard Adamant stone. While I was greatiye inatuayling and musing upon those things which I had read, Genius counseled me to look upon that part of the field whereas Pluto his palace was. And behold I saw innumerable ministers, of which some carried tables & tresties, some table clothes & napkins, some dishes and cups, and some dressing knives, and by and by the tables were set and prepared throughout the whole field, & their seats made ready: but one was higher than all the rest, more full of work, and better decked, which in stead of a base groundsel, a she wolf and a Dragon stayed up. Therein was set the whore, Our holiness, holding in both her hands the golden cup, which we spoke of before. Into the which cup, she shed first the filth of her menstrue, and after her all the devils put in their engendering seed. Than came the kings of the earth creeping unto her, to whom after they had kissed her blessed feet, she retched her lovesome cup. Of which they drunk, and when they had done, all the kings meddled with her, with abominable adultery. But when this act was finished, came Pluto his ministers, and when they had caught that whore Babylon, that is, the chief Bishop, (an horrible thing to be heard) they drew her into the butchery and there played the butchers with her, and than brought her to the table, and set her before the kings to be eaten. Which fed strait upon the flesh of the romish whore, and in a while after provoked to vomit, they spewed up their Gobbettes of flcshe, smelling of that most filthy wine. Of which Gobbets (a wonderful matter) put together, I saw the Bishop new made again.  
When this feast was done, and Dracolicus had given them warning, all rose up from the table. Than was the Whore with her lovers & servants, led out of the City, to a certain pond whole kindled with fire of brinstone. Genius gave a sign that we should follow, for the end of the tragedy was now at hand. When they were come thither, the whore with her bawds, flatterers, lovers and companies, were thrown headlong into the pond, there to be punished for ever. This is the end of the great Bishop Paul: This is the portion of his cup, and of all other wicked folks. Genius my ghost allowed not that we should return into Dites City, but ascending by a certain narrow path, warned me that at no hand I should stand still, neither look back ward. That if I did, the fault were not in him, though he performed not his promise. When I remembered what betided Lot's wife because she obeyed not the ghost, what time they went from the burning of Sodom into the next mountains, I obeyed: and climbing up with him, I looked no whither, but both with eyes and steps followed only my forgoer. By that path we came to the way, which leadeth into the heavens. And behold there went before us one of Pluto's servants leading the seven headed beast which Paul had rid upon: on whose back was set that big and mighty cup in which all kings had drunk, full of the filthiness of the whore. Than asked I my guide what this should be. They are gifts. (quoth he) which Pluto doth send to the new bishop, Paul's successout: The four footed beast is for him to ride upon, & the cup, to get him (through the drink thereof.) the love of princes & nations, as other Popes have doen. But I fear me lest that strength be not in the drink, which hath been here tofore, when men knew none other drink & when through the Popes means Christ's cup was hid. But now when many begin to savout the most sweet & whole some liquor of the Lord, the fewer will come to that whores cup. I grant (q I) most faithful guide it is true that ye say: For not only the common people & some learned men have tasted Christ's sweet drink, but also princes, yea (and that which is a great metuayle) some Cardinals & Bishops. Thou knowest how Fregosius &. C. Cantarene, Cardinals both, with John Baptist Uergerius the Bishop of Polen, were for this cause poisoned of out most holy father Paul. And Peter Paul his brother, the Bishop of Justinopolis, was for the same cause brought in great danger his life. Who nevertheless Christ as it were an other S. Paul, called and reserved for many commodities of his church. For thou knowest in how little time he set forth many excellent godly works. insomuch that this man appeareth in my Judgement to have been stiered up of the Lord to be the teacher and light of our Country Italy. Besides these there be other many whom purposely I overskip. It is even so as thou sayest (quoth he) but perceivest thou not that we be come to the City? Yes (quoth I) I see it, and I am so weary of it that it loatheth me. For it is not now Rome, but Babylon the disworship of all christendom. Then (quoth he) O Publius Esquillus, doubt thou not but this Papacy of Rome, the very enfection & head of all mischief, shall shortly be taken away, which gone, not only Rome, but all Italy beside, shall receive her old dignity & holiness again and Christ's church shall flourish. And now sith I have brought thee home again safe, I will with thy licence depart, & be thou (O Publius) diligent in thine office, & earnestly admonish princes, that if they desire to bring themselves, and the ships whereof they have the guiding, unto the haven of health, and port of salvation, they beware of the deadly cup, flatteries, & song, of this whore. When he had said this, he departed. But I (O my best beloved Forius) did for thy sake straytewaye write this, that thou mightest know of me the truth both of those things which be done, and also that be in doing. The Cardinal Farnesius, as soon as his grandfather was dead, took, & keepeth saint Angel's tower. The College of Cardinals prepare themselves to create a new Bishop, & there is much styrting of those that gape for it. Princes are not in sleep, but every one is earnest for his own part, and I fear that three Bishops shall be created at once, except some prince mightier than his fellows, bow to his will the consents of many. Which if it come to pass, the beast shall shortly fall. For the greater that the confusion and of all things shall be, so much the nearer and greater shall be the health and hope, to have a redress of the christian common wealth. But while they strive and fight among themselves, let us pass merely these halcyon & fexiall days, which god of his goodness hath granted us. For me thinketh thou mayest now safely return to the city. For this truly I assure thee that in this most great gladness of the whole City, or rather of all the world, & in the death of Pope Paul, that was most to be desired, I wanted only thy sight and embracing to augment my joy withal. Which if I may once get, I will never let go again. And except I shall hereafter set forth all the fruits of thy pleasantness in time passed, which hitherto I have omitted, surely I should judge myself much unworthy of this thy good will towards me. Adieu.  
¶ At Rome the. xi. day of Novembre, the year of our Lord. M. D. Xlix   

¶ Imprinted by Thomas Gaultier dwelling at Fliete Bridge in the new Rents.