A DISCOVERY OF THE GREAT Subtlety and wonderful wisdom of the Italians, whereby they bear sway over the most part of Christendom, and cunningly behave themselves to fetch the Quintessence out of the people's purses: DISCOURSING AT LARGE the means, how they prosecute and continue the same: and last of all, convenient remedies to prevent all their policies herein.  
LONDON Printed by john Wolf. 1591.   

TO THE MOST Magnanimous, victorious, and invincible King Henry the fourth, King of Fran●e and Navarre, and to all the Princes of the blood-royal, and all others Ecclesiastical persons, both noble and others assistant in the assembly of States: the royal Frenchman wisheth grace, and peace in our Lord jesus Christ.  
COnsidering how the body of the Christian Common wealth, hath a long time been grievously tormented with a most dangerous and incurable d●sease, which doth not only trouble the w●ts of men, with terrors and vexation, putting their bodies to extreme torments and grievous travels, but also exposeth the goods of all in general to the pillage and purloining of others. For remedy whereof, a number of good spirits pricked forward with a Christian and laudable zeal, have endeavoured their best, these fifty years, to root out the malady by such medicines as they suppose most convenient and wholesome, yet do they all what they could: they could never heal the wound perfectly. So that the body diseased, falleth down still oftentimes into far worse case than at the first, and me think the cause is, for that they have not looked with the eye of their understanding, to the first causes and beginnings, from whence this sickness should grow, but went no further than to stop the course of her effects, like the Physician, who seeketh to cure only the pains & accidents of a disease, never touching the root & cause thereof: the which in space of time, recovering new force and rigour doth bud again, and is as bad & worse than ever it was, which is not only true in Physic, but in all other affairs of the world. Wherefore, deep was the judgement of the Latin Poet: who reputeth that man happy who can know the cause of things. For Aristotle also witnesseth with him, that the ignorance thereof breedeth manifold errors. Seeing then the diversity of men's judgements concerning the cause and curing of this malady, coming nothing near the truth; some because they were a muster of ignorance, which dimmeth so their sight, that they cannot see well: others, because they suffer themselves to be carried away with their own passion; affectionate only to some one particular party: & other some, because they go no further, but to remedy only some particular effects, and leave the cause untouched: I have thought good pitying this languishing and sick body, so to represent and lively set down the cause and cure of this disease, that it shallbe long of herself, if she recover not perfect health. Neither let any be afraid to take this wholesome medicine which I will prescribe, being no violent corsive, or Antimoyne, nor dear as is the tincture of Sol, for I present but a sweet decoction, to purify the crooked sinew, governor of the sight of the understanding, to purge the Septentrional and Occidental peoples of a gross humour engendered in them, by reason of the grossness, and coldness of the air wherein they live, which letteth them for seeing so clearly into matters of state, and the government of this world, as do the nations that are more Meridional who being aware of so great advantage can so cunningly handle the matter, to make us fall together by the ears, to weaken and overthrow ourselves by our own forces and arms, thereby to make v● their slaves, to possess and nicye our persons, and to triumph over v●, having purloined our domination & riches into their own hands: but especially those, who have the Sea so near their noses, that they can every way trade and traffic with other peoples, as are the Grecians, Carthaginians, Florentines, Venetians, & other Italians their like: who if they may discover but the least entrance to set in foot amongst the Septentrionals, they will strait be able to devise and practise so great shifts and subtleties, that they will make them break asunder all bonds of amity, and flesh them to ruin one another like cruel and savage beasts, causing an alteration of blood amongst the best of the Country by their marriages, and so to grow to make quarrels and take parts, when they see them feeble and in misery, and then to fish for their riches and dignities, even as in a troubled water, men catch and kill fish best, when they cannot be descried. Wherefore, many of those whom the heaven hath enriched with a clearness of judgement above the rest, have great need to be aided herein. Some attributing the spring of these mischiefs, to the darkness and obscurity of the holy Scriptures, wherein for all that they are deceived, seeing that it in some requireth of us, but to love God and our neighbour, to fly from evil, and to do good. And because the corruption of man doth hinder him to believe in him who hath absolutely fulfilled all, and shed his blood for the purging of all our sins, using only certain Sacraments after the holy institution of him and his holy Apostles: some others think that the diverse interpretations there about, and about other texts of Scripture, are the cause of all this mischief, and are of opinion, that to interpret and expound truly these places and passages of Scriptures, is the very best mean and remedy to deliver all Christendom from all these troubles: and thereupon do the Divines fall out, and backbite one another by contumelious speeches, every where defaming one another shamefully: but the expositions that they condemn, and whereupon they are so at variance, are but thirds spun by some of the more meridional nations: who when they perceive how they can set us together by the ears, they know how to invent store of such new obscurities and shifts to trouble us, if we will give them leave a little to come in amongst us into our Countries: where they will show themselves always with profane knowledge to teach us how we shall go to heaven, or else inflamed with a burning zeal for the public good of all our Country. Although if we be so wise as to look well into them, we shall soon discover their mines, how they do but seek to reap some profit out of our ruins, and to make their hand by us. We must then cast our eyes upon the good instruction, that nature or rather the Author thereof doth set before us visibly: For he having laid and set the Alps most high mountains, so firm and permanant on the one side, and the deep Seas on the other, for bars between us and them, that we should not go to one another, teacheth us, if we will take his instruction, we should dispose of all that concerneth our State, apart: and shut up from them all access or entrance into our Country by the reasons and experience of things already past, which shall more amply be dilated in this discourse, prepared for a general remedy for us all, whether we be Catholics or Protestants, to recover full deliverance and health of these maladies, which so long time have oppressed and troubled us: hoping by the grace and blessing of the most highest, it shall work some great effects in those, who shall use these preparatives, which are first of all presented unto them, before the taking of more strong medicines, and harder physic. Now, for that the governor of the whole world, seemeth to have turned his favourable countenance towards us, having given the royal Sceptre into your majesties hands, being extracted out of a more Meridional quarter then your predecessors were, and also in giving us, who are neighbours of the great Ocean-sea, a wiser and more ingenious King, than those before time have been: to the end that we being lightened by so bright and glorious a star, the quick and subtle Italians may no more abuse us, so that we shall no more be exposed to the lamentable miseries, into the which they were wont to bring us headlong, as men altogether blind andegrosse-headded, at their own lust and pleasure. And this is the cause why I have presumed to dedicate this discourse unto your M. hoping that it shallbe rather liked and approved of you, then of others, who being more Septentrionals have their spirits more dull and nothing so quick and pliable, assuring also myself, that if it please you to receive it with a favourable countenance, that only shall give it a far more free passage to all those, who are your most affectionate servants: Now, I will pray the sovereign Lord and God to invirone your M. with his special protection in the midst of all the perils and dangers wherewith you are besieged, establishing your thrown in all justice and godliness, according to his most holy will and pleasure.   

A description of Italy, and the causes of the subtility of that Nation. Cap. 1.  
THe Italians inhabit the right arm of the continent of Europe, which hath Spain in place of the head, France for the stomach, for the belly Germany, and Denmark for the left arm: From that part of Italy which extendeth more to the Southward, and from the other bounding North, with his two arms, which are parts of the main, entering further into the Sea than the rest of the body, have from all times the other principal parts of Christendom, sustained great ruins, cruelties, loss of goods and other oppressions: of the first, because it goeth far beyond all Nations bordering Northward, in invention, craft and worldly policy, witness Aristotle, Strabo, Caesar, Pliny, & other approved Authors: of the second, in respect of their surpassing straight and corporal puissance, by reason of the cold situation of the place. That which produceth such effects in Italy, is the moderate temperature of the climate, situate in a subtle air near unto the sea every where, without any excess heat or cold: and beside, another cause is, the trading and great dealing that the Italians have with the people of Asia, of Africa, and Europa, as also with the Islanders, or a great part of them with whom they haunt, and live. By reason whereof, beside that they are of themselves very witty & subtle headed, all cunning slights, crafty conveyances, and deceitful cosinages, are so proper and common to them, whereby they can fetch under other people, and are so cunning to finger from them their money, and can moreover, so closely cover their actions, that of a thousand hardly one could ever come within them to perceive their juggling. For as any deceit or cozenage finely handled, is not perceived but of those which know it, and look very near unto it, deceiving those which have their eye but on the natural and external show: so there are none but those which curiously seek out the beginning, the progress and advancements of the Roman and Italian government, and the means whereby they have drawn money from other nations of the earth, since the time of Romulus, to this present day, who can find out their fetches and shifts, or discover the masks wherewith they are disguised, to advance and enrich themselves by the overthrow and pillage of others. Albeit, it is not enough when we have gone so far, if beside we throw not away the mufflers which deprive us of sound and true judgement in things of this world, as are custom, hate, love, obstinacy, and envy, which are even so many plagues & corruptions, overthrowing quite the judgement and clear understanding of man in all things: for if custom carry us away, the Italian may prevail, not only of an hundred, but of more than a thousand & five hundred years, which was the very time that julius Caesar an Italian, pillaged and ruined, not only France, but also all other parts of Europe. Therefore we should deserve to be commanded and gnawn to the bare bone, for ever hereafter, as well as in time past, that could look to these matters no sooner. The cause of all, have been but our blind affections which pervert us in true judgement, the which now we must needs cut off, to have only reason for our guide, which is the true & essential difference, that separateth man from other Animals, & maketh him judge truly of all things: otherwise we rob ourselves of the most excellent and precious jewel we have, to become as bestial as the bruit beasts. From hence springeth then also the cause of so great diversity of opinions in our Continent, the principal and chiefest part of the world, for that some suffer themselves to be governed by the clear light of reason & understanding, and other some let themselves be carried away headlong with their own affections and customs, and this is the cause why the inhabitants of the Oriental. Asia under the dominion of the great Cham of Tartary, whose Empire is two thousand leagues in longitude, do hold him for the son of God in earth, and why? those which live under the great Turk believe Mahomet to be a greater prophet than jesus Christ: and why? the jews scattered in great multitudes follow the customs of their fathers, rejecting the true Messiah, to look for another: and why? Christendom is so troubled by reason of the Romish constitutions, which some believe to be holy and necessary to salvation, and others altogether contemn: being none other mean of reconciliation amongst us, but to cast away these blind mufflers of customs, hatred, and consideration of loss or gain, & to suffer ourselves to be directed by the clear light of the heavenly word, by the unsearchable works of God, and by lively reason clarified with authentical histories of time. Putting but this in practise once, we shall soon discover, and clearly see with our eyes the wonderful deep subtleties of Italians, and hereafter beware how we be overrought by their policies.   

Cap. 2.  
How in the persons of Romulus, and Numa Pompilius, their were two kinds of governments prefigured among the Italians.  
FIrst we will consider, even as in the murder of Abel, committed by Cain, God did prefigure unto us, that the good should be persecuted by the wicked for his service sake till the end of the world: so also in the person of Romulus first founder of Rome, & murderer of his brother Romus and Tassius his companion, as also in the person of Numa Pompilius, a most subtle and ingenious inventor of a forged religion, to establish his own government. God would manifest unto us, that this nation should serve itself hereafter, with murders and appearance of a counterfeit religion, to lay hands on others kingdoms, and to snatch away the substance of other people's: for we see even as their first domination began at the first by effusion of blood, and after by cloak of religion: so also it is come to pass, that the first glory of the great Empire of the Italians, to the which all Europe was brought in subjection and made tributary, was gotten by the great murders so commonly committed in the time of Marius and Sylla, contrived by Augustus Caesar, and by Anthony, which lustre being by long tract of time dimmed and extinguished, is by a clean contrary manner restored and reestablished under a fair show and cloak of religion.   

Cap. 3.  
How the subtle Italian borroweth the name of the Pope, to come to his pretences with more facility.  
NOw I pray thee Reader, be not persuaded, that I mean by this discourse contemptuously to blame the Popes of Rome in their own persons, or any holy constitution in the Church of Rome: My desire is only to lay open the deep reach and subtlety of the Romans, who by a great foresight and immutable order, have been able so to handle their affairs, and to dispose of Popes, of Kings and Princes of the earth, in such sort that they have got the head and rule over them, and fetch round sums of deniers out of their coffers, and from their commons beside. For proof hereof, I will maintain the like preposition, that was held to Augustus Caesar, the greatest, happiest, subtilest, and most politic Monarch of the world. It was this, That he commanded indeed all nations, and all the world trembled at the excellency of his nature, but yet that his wife commanded him, and his daughter her mother: giving thereby to understand, that it was they that ruled only, borrowing his name to authorize and establish what they listed. So I say, that whatsoever is ratified, published and received under the name and authority of the Popes, it is but the counsel and invention of the Italians of Rome, who to authorize their doings, cover them with the name of the Pope, and therefore must be attributed to them, as to the inventors, persuaders, and contrivers of that which proceedeth from his holiness.   

Cap. 4.  
A lively pattern of Italian subtlety, in the person of Katherine de Medicis, and her Florentine Counsel.  
FOr confirmation of that which goeth before, and for demonstration of the matter, let us set before our eyes the estate of France, in the time that Katherine de Medicis, Queen-mother lived, and we shall see, as in a clear glass, that she and her Council of Italians got between them the whole government & disposing of all the affairs in France, into their hands, and like bloodsuckers sucked the blood of the poor people so dry, as if it had been crushed out in a winepress: so that by such cruelty, men perished in France by famine, nakedness, & heart's grief, by thousands and millions, and never were there so many died by poison of Serpents and other venomous beasts, nor by the cruelty of Tigers, Libbards', Crocodiles, Lynres, Bears, and other devouring beasts, since the creation of the world, as by their tyrannous cruelty, showed whilst they bore the sway. This could not any one French man perceive to come to pass, for so small a matter, as to have matched the daughter of an Italian Duke with a younger brother of France: But here-hence proceedeth it, that this nation is so ingenious and subtle, that upon the least occasion which may be, it maketh way and mean to enterprise and effect the greatest matters in the world, and moreover, to lay the blame and grudge that cometh by their stingings & exactions upon other men's shoulders: fine workmen I warrant you: that can so closely cover their dealings with the name & authority of great Prelates, Kings or Princes, that the hatred and blame may lie upon their necks, and the profit be put in their own purses. And sure this nation can make so sure way so far before hand, and so contrive their plots, that then at the length only men can perceive them, when it is clean past their power to find out any remedy to prevent them.   

Cap. 5.  
How of any light occasion, this Nation can devise to effect great matters.  
FOr evident proof hereof, this Italinesse had not remained long time in France, but Monseur le Dauphin, who was to rule over us, as lawful heir to the Crown, vanished quickly by some perfume, or by some other Italian devise, thereby to give entrance, and make a gap for the Italians to rush in, to the managing of the greatest parts of the affairs of France. And this occasion being redoubled by the death of King Henry, they took fast hold of her hair which groweth before, not letting her slip out their hands to run after her, judging the two best means to procure the government of this estate to this woman and themselves, was first of all to bring up those which should rule over us in all lasciviousness and pleasure, to make them more effeminate than their own mother, and likewise in the ignorance of good letters and in well governing an estate, to the end that their Italinesse being more forward in knowledge of these things than they, (to the great advantage of Italians) might seize wholly on the government of the kingdom, and the entire disposing of all France: and secondly, to sow debates, & stir up wars among the French, least that their union and concord might disturb or not permit the rule, government, and advancement of a strange nation over them, who could not suffer or permit any government to the only daughters of our Kings of France itself,   

Cap. 6.  
The Roman soweth divisions, and putteth away the substance of a people, to enrich himself, and to do with it at his pleasure.  
THese two breaches being made in the body of France, the Italians persuading themselves, that if then when they had yet no way to set in foot, which was but in the time of K. Henry, they were able to frame among them such disorder, that Francis the first, having left seventeen hundred thousand crowns in his coffers, albeit he had paid ransom in Spain: the said Henry having reigned but a while, had left his heir behind him indebted forty three Millions, which was a most strange and marvelous debt, considering the great tributes which he had exacted of his subjects, of the employing whereof, there could be none account heard, notwithstanding the best friends and lovers of the commonalty, made a motion & were very instant. They have at this present far more ability by the authority and subtility of their Italinesse, to prosecute the ruin and utter subversion of this estate: the which to bring to a low ebb: they must fill full of civil wars, and so over load with such heavy burdens of subsidies, taxes, and new rearages, that they poor people remained quite ruined and trodden down, so that it could never since recover foot again: and the better to fear and torture them thereunto, to lock them up in prisons, and there to make them rot miserably, if they did not pay their intolerable ransoms, exceeding in many parts of France, more by the third part then the yearly revenue of the poor Peasant did amount unto: not disburdening him thereby any thing at all of his charges in finding soldiers, of whom he was daily sore gnawn, devoured, beaten, and oppressed, besides the extremity showed unto him in paying the fines of his wine, without the which he could by no means be discharged. Thus this subtle nation having gotten on their side some Italionate Frenchmen, to take their parts, and to fortify them somewhat more: as also to lay part of the blame of these pillories on their backs, do all things at their own will and pleasure, to the enriching of themselves, and to the utter ruin of the poor commons, who abide the greatest smart of all. And he which would desire to know what is become of all these excessive heaps of money levied in this kingdom: let him go to Florence, to behold the sumptuous buildings which there have been erected by our ruins, and there let him see the wondrous wealth wherein many Florentines swim, which came but like poor snakes into France, and now how they have altered their state. But if the people of France had had as much wit and wisdom as they: they should at the first have laid their heads together, and concluded to have chased them back into their own country, and foreseeing the debates and quarrels that they began to sow every where in France, have sent them back to their own home: as they themselves once served the French, when they were in their country, in like manner.   

Cap. 7.  
How this Nation going about to ruin a country, beginneth with some one estate, and from thence cometh to all the rest by degrees, and how the French can by no means take such opportunity when it serveth them.  
ALthough they have been always void of all mercy and compassion towards the poor people, having drenched them dry, and brought them to great misery, yet they have showed as little favour as might be to Churchmen, making them to be gnawn to the bare bone with tenths, and to be pulled a hole lower by sale of their goods, maintaining all inequality amongst them, making floods of riches to run down the heels of some Italianate spirits, their coherents, and as for those who take pains daily in divine service, which the French Romans will not meddle withal, nor so much as with the tip of their finger to turn over one leaf of it, they may have a sore drought, but the devil a whit of drink will they give them to cool their thirst. Their Nobles they were saluted so oftentimes with summonings to assemble themselves, who held any lands of the Crown, to be seized for the affairs of the wars and payment of soldiers, and withal put to such pinches and dangers, to ruin one another: with such extreme costs and charges raised by the vain enhancing of their gold chains of their Order, for all payments and wages employed only for the pays of the Italians, and other strange nations. As for the Officers, although that their offices were sold unto them in the wane of the Italian power, ten times dearer than in the reign of any former Prince or King, they were so fleeced and pulled away by substitution of others, that did rob them of all the profit and honour that might grow thereby, who in their turn also were peeled and brought to nothing, by restoring the money that was sucked from them, that first bought them: so that by that time all their lands were counted, there was nothing to be laughed at on no side: but only the Florentines and their partners, who might well laugh in their sleeves, having so much the more to drink, filling their purses, with the emptyings of others, so that by such devices they have so well sucked out the substance of the French, that since the coming of this Italianess into France: they have picked more pence out of the coat of this people, then during the reign of twelve Kings before. The tokens whereof most manifestly appear, especially upon the poor peasants by their nakedness, who go appareled but with old linen cloth in the greatest colds, and are beside constrained to humble themselves so low, as to live upon Oats and Pease like bruit beasts. The cause and original of all these miseries proceeding of the marriage of one Italinesse in France, aspiring to make way for her adherents, and to get the Crown into her own hands, making our kings odious to the whole world: and this showeth well, that they are so ingenious, that of the least occasion that may serve to favour them: they know how to find and fetch out greater advantages, far beyond the reach of any nation in the world beside. This thou shalt easily perceive, if with the consideration of that which goeth before, thou cast but thine eye of understanding upon the French, to see how great a number of the King's daughters have been married into Italy, as Madam Renee daughter of King Lewes the twelfth, to the Duke of Ferrara: others to the King of England, & into Spain, to the Dukes of Savoy, and of Lorraine. By means of whom, although they were all descended of far more noble houses than her, yet the French could never by any such occasion tyrannize and impoverish these people, never making the least commodity thereby, or get any other preferment: but to the contrary, they still left behind them very much of their own, as in the marriages of the King of Spain, and of the Duke of Savoy, where they got to their shares the fairest fleeces and conquests of France. And this may very well show how gross witted we are in France, and how ingenious and subtle the Italian is at every opportunity that may happen. See wherefore I would feign be able to persuade the Popes, quite to forsake this nation to come into Swicerland, and into France, very courteous and good people: to deliver themselves from the yoke of that nation which is the most corrupt in the whole world: for if one only Italinesse were able to chain our Kings at Paris, and within a little thereabouts, and with one wink of her eye make tremble Constables, Marshals of France, governors of provinces, and by the least word or letter alter the Parliaments of France, what may ten 1000 Italians do, environing a Pope? It is certain, they may force his will by violence, depriving him of his liberty in his government of the church. Or if he bow not that way which they would have him, they will not stick to give his holiness some dram of such perfume, as they did to the deceased Queen of Navarre. This is the cause why commonly we see four or five Popes to die, during the reign of one Emperor. Wherefore he should do well either for love of his life or his liberty to retire and come away from amongst them.   

Cap. 8.  
Upon what occasion the Romans changed their Monanarchie into a popular estate: that is to wit, upon the ravishment of Lucretia, committed by their king Tarqvinius.  
But to make a more lively representation of the great wisdom of the Italian, we must mount a little higher to the beginnings, progress, and advancement of this admirable domination, whether by degrees it hath elevated itself in perceiving the Tarquins their kings were very vicious, and nothing valorous, they spied out matter enough quickly against them to be rid of them, so jump at that time fell out for their purpose the ravishment of Lucretia, perpetrated by Tarqvinius their King: whereupon they made a commotion against him, by and by to thrust him out of his kingdom: not that they meant to restablish any other in his place, but to alter this form of government (although it be absolutely the best, when kings rule as they should do, and behave themselves well) and to institute another, which should exalt them (as they thought most likely) above all other peoples, and make them all tributary to them. Now this was their order, to have a Senate wherein men of the greatest spirits, very well learned and experienced were only admitted, by whom every year should two Consuls be chosen, who should always have the conduct of wars: and besides if any important affairs chanced, then was there elected one to be a Dictator, and such a one as was most worthy of all Italy to command & to resist, whom soever came against the Romans. So that if one Consul lost a battle, the estate was not thereby overthrown, because his fellow had mustered in a readiness another Army ready to fight and give battle again, so that if he also were vanquished, they had for all that good hope yet, being the Dictator to come, upon whose valour and experience, they most of all relied, (as on Marius and Fabius,) for he set in incontinent for the third man. This is the reason, that when the enemies of the Romans had gotten two fields against them, as divers times did Pyrrhus and Hannibal, they were not dismayed for all that, and thought themselves thereby never a whit the more overcome, whereas contrariwise, if any King, Prince, or common wealth had once had an overthrow by a battle in the field, they could not so soon recover their loss, but would judge themselves straightways ruined, and overthrown. By this mean, their domination seemed altogether invincible, till by their own Armies, by civil broils and domestical jars, they conspired their own ruin and destruction.   

Cap. 9  
How the Romans by pretence of their Faith, found means to augment their Domination.  
ALbeit, that this so goodly order and form of government might have been sufficient to make them surpass all other people, yet they perceiving that the breaking of faith and promises, did work the ruin of all estates, that made no conscience to violate them: the Italians well advised hereof, as those that saw well enough that Faith was the most firm band of human society: and that where it reigned not, even did stand very slippery, and were always staggering, tottering, and shaking with fear, and mistrust: to the end to bind themselves most strictly to the observation of the same, and to make all the world believe that they would inviolably keep their promises, they builded a Temple of FAITH: to the which they gave great honour and reverence. Whereupon every one assuring themselves in their fidelity, desired their league and friendship, and to cover themselves with their protection and favour, sparing neither tribuite nor subjection to obtain the same. This was a most rare piece of policy and wisdom, found out by them, whereby they bore sway, and drew profit from all other people's: albeit otherwise the Italians were far surpassed by them in number & forces. Hereby may we then see evidently, that they have a spirit more sublimate and ingenious, than any other nation that liveth under the scope of the heavens.   

Cap. 10.  
The ruin of the first Roman Domination, and the causes thereof.  
But as all earthly things come in process of time, to fail in glory and natural force, so this brave Signiory which seemed to sway the whole earth, fell at last to decay and ruin, because at the first beginning they did but shave and clip those which were subjugated and forced to take hold on the cords of the empire, to make them a little gentler and tamer: afterwards they fell roundly to flaying of them: besides the horrible and detestable cruelties of Nero, Caligula, Commodas, Heliagabalus, and other such like monsters, made this nation odious, and spited of many others, who beginning a little to discover, that the Romans' had not brought them in subjection by any greater power or multitudes, whereby they excelled them too that ways, but rather had gotten the upper hand, by sowing quarrels amongst them, by supprising them unawares, and establishing among them a better order of military discipline, than was before: they resolved with hazard of their lives to overthrow their tyranny, and to pull down their intolerable Domination to the ground. Amongst other the people of the North, environing the left arm, I mean the Goths, the Saxons, and Hungarians who having experience of their strength, to be far passing that of Italians, observing a better order in their warfare then before, set forward and prosecuted so lustily, the course of their hearty enterprises, that they became in short time masters of the city of Rome, and many other parts of Italy. In like manner Arthure a most valiant king of England, accompanied with six hundred thousand men, victoriously overthrew Lucius the Roman Senator, marching with no less number of soldiers than he, pretending to make the English tributary, as they were before time. The Gauls likewise cast of their yoke, and the Almains got from them the dignity imperial, into their own hands, whereupon ensued the total subversion of this their first earthly violent, and forced Domination, under the which, they had yoked in the necks of all the rest of the people of Europe.   

Cap. 11.  
Of the beginnings and first foundations of the second Domination of the Romans in christiandome.  
THey then perceiving by their profound wisdom, that there was no means to be had, for the re-establishment of their first Domination, because the nations of the North most strong and warlike, had made proof that the corporal strength of Italians, was far inferior to theirs, and that it was impossible to bring them ever so low again by arms or force, to yield them that obedience they had done in former time: yet the Italians lay other ambushes for them, and begin to deceive these people, to bring them under again, by a victory altogether spiritual, voluntary, and nothing at all carnal, tastiug nothing but a spiritual government, and such a one as might guide men to life everlasting: and to lay the foundation stones of this Domination: they must uphold that there is none other mean to be brought for the confirmation of the christian Church, but by establishing of a sovereign Head and universal Bishop, in like manner forsooth, as it is in the Monarchies and Empires of the world. Persuading themselves, that if they had carried away this point once, they might very well prevail in the rest, seeing that Rome had been the seat of the rulers and Emperors of the earth, they might rather than any other nation come by this prerogative, to dispose of christian people, under the cloak and authority of their universal Bishop, at their own will and pleasure, so that they might without ever striking stroke, or shedding blood, be kings, and make money come apace from all provinces, which should protest to hold the christian part. And for a fairer show and more credit of the matter, it were very meet to publish by word of mouth, by report and writings, that Rome had been the seat of S. Peter, and that he suffered martyrdom there, so that thereby he had planted in that city a more excellent dignity and prerogative, then in any other city of the world.   

Cap. 12.  
How in creating an universal Bishop at Rome, the Italians entered into possession of a far more excellent Domination, then that which they had lost before.  
THese two points being once granted them, the Italians might very well dispose at their pleasure, of all christiandome, putting on but the cloak and authority of their universal Bishops. This was an easy way for them to hold, for the recovery of a more excellent Domination (being now spiritual and heavenly) then the first which they had lost, and by this prerogative might they make the purest and most precious gold and silver of all christianity, to fly to Rome. It was most easy of all to make this currant among other Bishops: persuading them that all this did but increase their dignity and profit, and invest them with a power to make head against the kings of the earth, to cast of their yoke, and neglect all their magistrates. By reason whereof, this invention was found good, and passed quickly without any contradiction: but there was only a little strife between the Bishop of Rome, and him of Constantinople, for the superiority of them two. But yet on the Italians side, there was no mean to make them forego this dignity, they would in no wise lay it down, because they foresaw that thereby they could make what doctrine they listed currant throughout all churches, and their constitutions to be received every where, as the decrees of their sovereign and heavenly Court: they could make themselves redoubted and feared of the kings, and princes of the earth, as though they were the only Porters of heaven gates, and that no man could come in there, but by their leave, mean, and favour. To make the rest of the Clergy receive this invention, there was no more ado, but to perform it with a smell of the augmentation of their dignity and profit, and they strait ways embraced it, with all joy and gladness: for whilst that men are living here in this earth, very few are found, but will suffer themselves to be infected with such plagues, which (as Galen saith) are Avarice and Ambition, which bring unto the soul that which the falling sickness doth bring to the body. And if there be any found any found amongst the rest, which have the glory of God, and the salvation of men in greater regard, it is in so small number, that the greater part shall soon overcome the better, and bring them quickly to a contrary bow.   

Cap. 13.  
How the people follow none other religion but that which their Pastors teach them, and how the Romans give us one according to their own nature.  
TOuching the people (by whom I comprehend Nobles, Citizens and Peasants) in matter of religion, they will embrace that which their Pastors shall preach unto them, or that wherein they have been brought up, without making any further choice: So that if a man be of the Empire of Tartarians, he will frame himself to the form of divine service that is there established: in like manner will he do that is borne among Turks & jews, Lutherians, and catholics: the worst is when he is grounded in one, he will take no knowledge, nor make none examination of any other, but will have them all in detestation, and shall be as glorious in his own, as if he had found some precious treasure of inestimable valour, especially when he hath his eyes dimmed by sensible, terrestrial, and humane religion.  
The Italian is not here to seek how to deal with him, he can handle the matter so well, that he will fetch some substance from him, without any war or violence, and at his own pleasure: and to effect the same, he hath no more to do, but to win to his side the Doctors and Priests, which instruct the people, who may teach them a religion which is altogether agreeable to their own nature. But here is the point of controversy, which hath and shall be ever betwoone God and men: that God will be honoured with a service agreeable to himself, and of the quality of his own nature, to wit, spiritual, divine, and heavenly: and we humane creatures, clean contrary will serve him with a service that is nearest and best agreeing to our own nature: for it is his will, that when we adore and invocate his holy name, we should lift up our spirits above the heavens: and we desire to find him here below on earth, in our Temples, under some visible form, which we may see and touch, because that our earthly nature taketh far greater delight, in that which it seeth with the bodily eyes, then to transport itself in spirit above the azured heavens, so far distant from us. In like manner those which will make their prayers to the saints of Paradise, take great pleasure to have their images here below on earth, saving a long journey to go into the kingdom of heaven to seek them. God will have his divine service proceeding from his divinity, and such a one whereof he himself is the author: and we take more delight in that which is humane, and proceedeth from our own brain, because it most consisteth in visible things, to be beholded with these our bodily eyes: as are sumptuous and goodly Temples, glistering with costly glass windows, triumphantinges, lively pictures, images exquisitely carved forth, most precious clothes, of Arras, Chalices, Crosses of the finest Ducat gold, height of Pyramids, Copes of crimson velvet, others of cloth of gold and silver, which are things most pleasant to the eyes to behold. And to delight the hearing with songs of Music, noise of Organs, and sound of Bells: all these things are delectable in deed, and have some show of human wisdom, for all that have they not God for any Author: neither did jesus Christ nor his Apostles ever institute or occupy the like: rather they taught us to despise the world, and all that is therein, to aspire up to heaven, instructing us to renounce ourselves and all the lusts of the flesh, to do the holy and perfect will of God, to take up our Cross and wade thorough many tribulations into the glory of God. And this cannot we abide, we must have a religion which will help to augment our dignities and earthly riches, that we may live here in all voluptuousness and security. And because the Gospel taken in his purity is quite contrary to that, there is nothing in the earth that this nation hateth more, then to hear speak thereof: far preferring a worldly felicity present, which by no means they will forego, upon hope of any eternal, absent, and hidden joys which are to come.   

Cap. 14.  
A comparison of the divine service invented by the Italians, with the counsel of some subtle Physician.  
HE that would thoroughly examine the form of Religion planted by the Italians, by the authority of their sovereign high Priest, shall find all these things afore truly observed amongst them. So that flying thereby, with wings swifter and stronger than the wings of any Ingle, they are able to beat down to the ground those that are so saucy as to withstand in any thing, or gainsay in any wise the forms of their services, which they have introduced to fetch under their subjection, the greatest Potentates of the earth, and to draw thereby deniers and revenues from them: imitating herein some crafty Physician, who preferring a good booty of silver before the health of the sick patient: will learn what meat and drink pleaseth best his appetite, and having found, that he loveth claret wine above all things, and sugar to make it have a dainty taste, which he taketh: imagine that he go visit the patiented, who will strait begin to tell him, how he can get no recovery of his sickness, albeit he hath used much blood letting, taken many pills, and other physic, which hath brought him very low, and put him to much pain: this same impudent Physician that tell him, that all that served but to weaken him, & to take away his stomach: and by moving a question to the sick patient, shall ask him, if he love not well good claret wine? He answering, with all his heart, this Physician shall reply, that he will warrant him to recover his health again, if he leave taking these hard medicines, and those pills so bitter in swallowing, and to get some dainty wine of most delicious taste, if he should send his man ten miles for some, to have always at the least, three or four good bottles in his Cellar in store. And bid him beside, lest the vapours should sum too much to intoxicate his head: to take Coriander comfits at the end of his repast, & assure him that this will make him more lusty again then all the physic in the world. I let you judge with what audacity the sick shall dare to embrace this counsel? But if it chance after he hath been very ill, and his sickness begin to grow away, he come to recover strait here upon, how will he honour this Physician? he shall never be able sufficiently to set forth his praise. But in the service of God it is otherwise, we must eat the bread of affliction and sorrow, drink the water of bitterness, which are very bitter and loathsome drugs to swallow, as things much offending our taste, whereas in the service invented by the Italians, there is nothing but that which is very pleasant to our human senses, and which doth very well agree with our carnal nature: and therefore do ignorant men embrace with a most ardent desire, all that they invent, which when they have once received, is hard to be rooted out of them, because their eye sight is not quick enough to discover the mark whereat they shoot, which is only to bear rule, and to share and make boot of the money which they get from them.   

Cap. 15.  
That they care not at Rome for any diversity of Religions, so they tend only to maintain their Domination.  
THis is most manifest, for if any man invent any new form of religion never known before in the world, appareling himself after a strange fashion never seen before, using gestures altogether ridiculous and foolish: living after a most austere, to cruel and brutish manner, as do the Capuchians, Fucillians, and such like foolish orders of Friars, all shall be approved and received by the Italians with great plaudities, so that such religions will serve them for a wall and defence for their kingdom and gain: but if any one appear or come near them that dare speak against such abuses, and touch them to the quick a little, leaning upon the pillar of that doctrine, which hath been given from the terrestrial Paradise, they will shake a heaven and earth, and remove all a world, to stop his mouth and kill him, with great exclamations, that he went about to sow new doctrines, and begin some new sect of religion: whereby we may clearly see, that under this cloak of religion, they do but aspire to be rulers; and to finger money from other peoples and nations: and that all the wars and civil broils which have so long troubled Germany, Swicerland, all Flanders and France have been broached and begun by them for such matters, albeit, those who had the conduct thereof, enterprised them for the zeal they bore to their own religion.   

Cap. 16.  
That the Romans are not contented to stay themselves with that which is spiritual, but would also dispose the kingdoms of the earth at their pleasure.  
THat the Italians shoot at this mark also, I bring evident proof, that when they had set their matters in so good forwardness that the Emperor and the other Christian kings had granted this title of sovereign high Priest and universal Bishop to their Prelate of Rome: for to be a greater stay and pillar of the Christian Church, and to keep the other Bishops and Pastors in better order, and within the compass of their duty, they are not content to rest with that: pass further, and cause to preach and publish by word and writing, that their Bishop is Christ's only Lieutenant on earth: to whom all Sceptres and Crowns must yield humble obeisance and be subject, having full power to take them from whom he list, and give them again to others, as it may best please his Holiness. And touching the kingdom of heaven, he hath it so at commandment, that he hath power to open it to some, and to shut it to other some: as he that keepeth the keys of heaven gates in his own hands: as for Hell, his power serveth him as well to send thither whole Cart loads of souls, no man so bold for his life as to ask him why nor wherefore. These things made Kings & Princes so sore astonished, that the Emperors at their Coronation abase themselves so low, as they promise to serve the Pope, for Subdeacon to hold the stirrup while he get on horseback, and to lead his Horse by the bridle a little while. A worthy piece of homage for the Italians to remember, who have exalted their Sea and Bishop to so great pre-eminence. Of which act they may be well ashamed, as also of the dispossessing of Childericke, descended from Pharamont, of the Crown of France, to invest Pippin, great Master of the Palace, whom he had sent with his Army to secure the Romans, against other Italians, in recompense of his conquests which he forgave the Pope, and the people of Rome, which was a reward out of other men's purses, for it cost Childericke full dear. He learned not this by the succession of the Apostles, neither did he herein imitate jesus Christ, for he himself paid tribute to Caesar: and he (whose heir and successor he saith he is) teacheth him another lesson in his first Epistle, Fear God, Honour the King. And S. Paul writing to the Romans, willeth that every soul be subject to the higher powers: and that in resisting them, they resist the ordinance of God. Likewise S. john Chrisostome interpreting this place saith: that by these words, (Every soul) is meant Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Bishops & Monks, none excepted. In like manner the high Priests representing the person of jesus Christ, did never enterprise to make such braveries against David, Solomon, & their successors, kings of jerusalem. Is it then likely that a Bishop or poor Monk should go about such high enterprises of his own motion? we may easily judge that it is the Italians of Rome, who under the covering of their names, and by their subtle means extort from them such things to make themselves rulers, and get money under the mask of their authorities from other peoples and nations of the earth.   

Cap. 17.  
That to make the kings of the earth vassals tributary to the Romans: they sow wars amongst them, and use Censures.  
ALthough the Italians having advanced their capital City and high Priests to so high dignity and sovereignty, aught to have rested content without encroaching any further: yet such is the natural inclination of this nation, that having an inch granted them, they will take an ell: they begin now to cast about and devise some means to wind under their arms the necks of Christian Kings and Princes, to bring them to be their tributary vassals. To make way to this, considering that from the beginning the Popes were not admitted in the election of Emperors or the Kings of France, by reason whereof, they could not so well master them, nor turn and wind them at their pleasure, because they durst not enterprise against them so freely: the Council of Rome taketh away this obstacle, and worketh so well in the matter, that the election is translated to the Priests of Rome, who are my Lords, the Cardinals. That once dispatched, seeing themselves greatly advanced thereby, they contrive other means which they see more fit to effect their purposes, whereof one is to stir up wars and debates between Christian Kings & Potentates, whereby they may destroy and weaken themselves, by their own proper arms, and bow more at ease their necks under the Italian Domination. The other is by the Pope's censures to set them together by the ears with domestical and civil quarrels, and in the mean time while they jar, to get some province or kingdom from them into their own hands: it is long since the Romans understood this practice: yea a good while before the domination of Caesar. For desiring to bring Greece in subjection, wherein there were two invincible leagues, to wit: of the achaians and Ethobians, who held so fast together, that it was impossible to vanquish them any way by arms: they found out this hole to enter in, to make them fall to wars and divisions among themselves, so to ruinated their own country, that they might more easily set foot into their provinces. And if we look well unto the victories that Caesar won on this side the mountains, the Italians redoubting the Swissers, more than any nation in the world, as Cicero saith in his Philippics, we shall see that Caesar charged them by surprise, at great disadvantage, and against the law of arms: they having passed the one half of their army over the river Soane, and the other remaining on the other side of the river, could not come to fight: being as yet then no declaration made of open war, between the Swissers and him. Besides he took Ariomistius chief Captain of the Almains, and all his troops at unawares, and assailed them in time of truce: after to cover his sport, and to make the matter good, he said that he had discovered, how they went about to surprise him. By means whereof having furnished his army with two strong and warlike peoples, and having by divisions that he sowed every where, got most of the Gauls on his side: being beside very skilful to keep good order of military discipline: it was an easy matter for him to overthrow all other peoples. Amongst the rest the English withstood him most courageously at the first, and gave him repulse, but he went another way about with them, for before he departed, he kindled such quarrels and divisions among them, in the which they were very hot one against another before he returned to set upon them again: wherefore it was an easy matter for him to vanquish and conquest them afterwards.   

Cap. 18.  
The Council of Rome, setteth kings and christian princes together by the ears, and the way how they discover all their counsels and enterprises.  
THe Roman Council hath got some more advantage by this their policy and device, since the creation of their Pope: for pretending to bring all kings, peoples and princes of christianity, Catholics, as well spiritual as temporal unto their subjection, under cloak of their Bishops, they have spun the thread of all the wars which have been between the Emperors, and other christian princes, so to bring them on their knees, and to undermine them that ways, that they must still of force have recourse to them, as to a place of refuge and protection, the only mean to pull down their haughty stomachs, and to set the Italian far above them. To pass over this plank well, they have given the name of Cardinals to the priests of Rome, granting the sons and brethren of kings and christian princes, to be honoured with the same title and estate: suffering them also to remain with their train amongst them. To the end that by these their creatures they might handle and turn the other at their devotion, make them arm their people, and march against their neighbours at their pleasure, and disarm again and retire, their forces when they should serve God. Considering also that by such persons, the Counsels wills, and determinations of kings and christian princes, to the which they are called, should thereby be revealed and manifested to them. The quick spirited Venetians, having long time since discovered this policy, being a people of Italy very subtle, and well advised, would never permit that any ecclesiastical person should be admitted into their Council, because they had all taken the oath of the Pope of Rome. See than it appeareth that the Romans are privy to all the counsels and enterpriser of the princes of the earth, and of their highest and sovereign courts, they discover all their actions, as well as if they were present, where on the contrary, not one of these can come within them to under feel their consultations and dealings, they are so close and secret, whereby we may judge clearly, how far they surpass all other people in invention and subtlety of wit.   

Cap. 19  
The great force of Excommunication, to put the kings of the art in fear, to make them their tributaries, and the magnanimity of our kings in France.  
NOw I come to another device of theirs, by the which they have so cunningly triumphed over the kings of the earth, never striking stroke for the matter, and without any danger at all, and yet they have brought them under as much or more than ever the ancient Romans did by their Trophies and great victories, to wit: by excommunication, with the which they so frighted them, that if they had never so little displeased them: by and by they were threatened with rebellion of their subjects, to have their sceptres taken from them, and others to be invested therewith incontinent, having no way in the world to resist or save themselves, but in humbling themselves under the greatness of their Bishops, yielding themselves to be the Pope's vassals, or in paying them otherwise some great and intolerable tributes. By this means they exacted from john king of England, that all his subjects should pay him a penny sterling for fire, for the murder by him committed on the person of Arthure Duke of Brittany, his own Nephew and heir, which tribute the Italians mined from them, more than the term of trhée hundred years, albeit the fault of this murder was not in the people, & therefore they paid this tribute very unjustly, and against all reason. Yet they found means to augment this tribute very much, by the death of the Archbishop of Cauterburie, who was executed by command of the king. Yet had the Italians nothing to do in the matter, having no interest at all therein, being neither his heirs nor children. Another tribute was exacted of the Polonians, for the murder committed on the person of Stavislaus their Archbishop, to, which is paid for S. Peter's tongue. The Pope having thundered by excommunication against the duke of Venice, he was feign to make him quiet, to creep on all four like a Dog, having a rope about his neck, to be absolved. The kings of Navarre, and Granade for disobeying him, were dispossessed of their kingdoms, which were bestowed on Ferdinand king of Spain, yet the Italians did not forget themselves in this match, as in deed they must never: for it was upon this condition, that they should afterward be held of their Pope of Rome. Pope Nicholas excommunicated the kings of Naples and Sicily: and making them turn over a new leaf, invested the Duke of Anjou brother to Lewes the ninth, yet not forgetting himself, as we said before: upon condition to pay him eight thousand ounces of gold yearly revenue. He excommunicated also philip's le Bel king of France, because he would not hold his kingdom of him, as his vassal: but he being descended of the race of Hue le grand County of Paris, quaked not a whit at the matter, but with a magnanimous courage, proper to the kings of this race, constantly resisted, and never trembled at the hearing thereof, as other christian kings did, whose great magnanimity hath been continued by his successors. This was the cause that the Italian Council laid their heads together to do their uttermost to ruin this Monarchy, by foreign forces, making it to be assailed on every side, and having set the Armies of the Empire of Spain and England, to thrust this race out of their kingdom, which seemed to them invincible. But perceiving all that took not effect, as they did wish, they have filled the State full of civil wars, thereby to weaken and diminish the force of this kingdom, and to make way to invest some other with the Crown: who should think himself borne under an happy planet, and greatly beholding to them, to come by it so easily, yielding himself therefore there vassal and homager, having purloined a kingdom by there means. Who also would be easily entreated to let slip the accords confirmed between our kings and the pope's for the privileges, and liberties of the French Churches, and touching the presentations of Benefices, reserved to the Nobility and other patrons of the Laity, only translating them over wholly to the Pope, and so to enrich more and more the city of Rome. And by this mean we should see this flourishing kingdom parted, as a booty & prey, between the Italian: keeping for his part, the spiritual, and his confederates who should have the temporal for their shares.   

Cap. 20.  
That it is a very false pretext that they take, to refuse the King for his religion sake, seeing they have a spite at all his race, and wish them no more well, although they were never so great catholics.  
THat this hath been the drift of the Italians, the proof is most manifest in this, that although Charles the ninth, and Henry the third of this name his brother, were the most religious observers of the ceremonies of the church of Rome, and more precise than any kings that had been before them, sparing nothing to ruin and rout out the religion of the protestant Huguenots, not so much as their own persons, life, treasure, nor livings, nor their faith and honour beside, which is more. Yet for all that, could they never win the favour and good will of the Italians, nothing near other princes, who had wrought little in comparison of them. And what was the cause hereof but that the Italians foresaw that a race of ancient, and so long time invested with the Crown of France: would never abide that they should have any rule or prerogative over them nor in no ways permit that the liberties and covenants made between their predecessors, the kings, and the Popes for the benefit of their kingdom should be infringed. This is the reason why the Council of Rome hath sought all means possible to install other princes in their room, and to bring it to pass: have employed all their Preachers, begging Friars, and other Eccleisastics, to vomit out all kind of blame and shame most opprobriously against the said King Henry the third deceased, placing him in the rank of the most abominable tyrants, & murderers of the world, whom by their count, he should surpass in the period of all mischief: extolling above the heavens with the highest titles of praise which they could devise, some other Princes, thereby to adjure them, and make every one honour them, love them, and make much of them. But to show that the Italians and their partners meant no good, not only to the deceased King's person, but also to all his race in general, see we not plainly that when they had by treason caused him to be murdered, they continue their self-same practices towards those of the house of Bourbon, issued of the last son of S. Lewes, called Robert County of Clermont? upon whom, seeing they can lay no blame, for that they are the true and lawful heirs of this Crown, they think to disherit him who is the eldest son and heir, whose place he holdeth and representeth: upon a colour only that he believeth not as much or more in the Constitutions of the Church of Rome, as in the word of God, and by this text, they win the good will of the people, and of other ignorant people. But when they contemn those of this house, making war against them, who have been most zealous and affectionate to their Constitutions, who have also for defence thereof, exposed their lives and goods to all dangers, as have done the Dukes of Mont Pensier, both father & son: do they not show, that they are thoroughly resolved to destroy this race, and to translate this Crown unto some other progeny? Touching the King, who is at this present: they should never be able to attaint or stain him with note of any cruelty, tyranny, nor any other insufficiency to rule, for to blame him for sticking to that religion wherein he hath been brought up, it is not likely they will, for the same reproach would fall upon their pates, if they should not persevere in these. But he offereth them fair, and more than they will accord to, that is to be heard in a place of free assembly, to eramine lovingly all these things, & to stand to that which shallbe awarded for both sides. Wherein he showeth, how impudently and falsely, they argue and condemn him to be an heretic. And as for those who magnify and exalt the offspring, and descent of other houses to make the world believe that this whence he is descended, is base, poor, and of no name, they are less able to speak of the great, high, and noble families of Christendom, then are Bats and Moles to discourse of the greatness, height, essence, beauty, and admirable operations of the Sun: for seek among all the Empires of the Assyrians, Persians, Grecians, Romans, Almans, jews, Tartarians, Mahometans, and over all the face of the whole world beside, and you shall not find a King of greater race, nor of more ancient family than this, having had xxviii. Kings in his house before him, and all lineally in race masculine: and of his mother's side being the issue & heir of a Queen, who with her mother the sister of Francis the Great, excelled in wit, learning, and haughty courage, all other Christian Princesses, that ever have been before them. And touching the great bounty and virtue both in time of war & peace of the house of Bourbon, neither Kings nor Princes, since the death of S. Lewes, but this race hath far gone beyond them, as all the Chronicles of France shall witness sufficient. And touching his wealth, he hath always had twenty times as much as hath had any adversary he hath, having at the time of his succession more than a million of rent, by his patrimony and yearly revenue, which he might have multiplied to as much more, if he would have pinched & sucked his subjects, by taxings, sales of Offices and rearing of tributes, as some Italians have caused to be done in France. Let them then lay away these false cloaks wherewith they disguise the truth of things, and let us believe for a troth, as it is true indeed, that the Italians seek nothing else but to translate the Crown into some other house, which will bow their necks under their commandments, and suffer them to fish this Realm for silver, to plant amongst us the Spanish Inquisition, to admit the Council of Trent, and to take the right of presentations from the Nobles, to finger them themselves, and wipe their noses of the best and sweetest profits that belong to the Realm.   

Cap. 21.  
The great subtlety of the counsel of Rome in getting into their hands the Soverantie of the new-found world conquered by the Spaniards.  
But I cannot so often call to mind the conquest of the new world, as I wonder at the great subtlety of the counsel of Rome, and again at the more than great simplicity in the Spaniards and Portugese's behalf: for the Italians perceiving to their great grief their Domination and tributes, to be cut of in the East and North parts, as well by the conquests of the Turk, as by the preaching of. Luther, as also Pope Alexander the sixth had set in his foot at the parting of stakes, and made the division: giving on half to the one king and the other to the other, reserving for himself the feesimple, principal jurisdiction and Soverayntie, making these two Kings consent to be his vassals, and to hold their countries of him, although he had neither right of service, nor of possession, and was not the discoverer neither. Yet see, this part was handled with such cunning and craft, that the Italian became thereby sovereign Lord of twice so much soil and country as all Christendom under the name of their Pope, And by what mean? you shall not find it to be by his great travels, perils, and expenses, but by the labours bloudsheding, and arms of the spaniards who venture bodies and goods, exposing themselves to infinite perils, troubles and hazards, to shipwrecks of the sea, in danger of many Pirates and Rovers before the can come thither: and when the are once there and entered into the country, faint to fight many combats and battles, and worse than all this, to fall into many strange and incurable diseases, which proceed of change of air and habitation, when men transport themselves into far countries, where the climate is of far more excessive heat and cold than their own was. Now whilst these nations endure these travels and sorrows, worse than twenty deaths, the Italians are at whom in there sumptuas and brave palaces, out of all danger, passing the time in all voleptuous pleasure, nevertheless they have the most precious and fairest fleece of their conquests reserved for them, even as well, as if they themselves had been the only attempters and atchivers of these so haughty and dangerous exploits. But let us look a little if there were ever any Kings or Emperors, who gripped so easily whole countries and kingdoms from others, as these do: Cyrus, one of the first, after he had sustained infinite turmoils and travels, lost his life and had his head put in a bowl of blood, to quench it so insatiable desire of blood: Alexander the great found himself in often jeoperdies' to lose his also, and was many times over matched, and put to the worst. julius and Augustus Caesar's, the most politic and wisest heads of the world, never made any conquest but by bloody fights and victories, exposing themselves to a thousand dangers both by sea and land: But now the counsel of Rome taking there ease at their own home, never approaching any danger for the matter, have invested themselves with the Signiory and Domination of the greatest countries that ever have been conquested by the sword. O subtle heads, more subtle and cautelous than subtlety itself. O that the high reach of thine inventions are elevated many degrees above all other nations of the earth. O that thou forséest long before the event of things, and canst choose the gainest ways to attain thy desires: few or none there be that can discover thy meaning, thou winnest first the heart of the greatest part of those; the third of whose ruin thou meanest to spin: afterwards to underprop thyself against those that refuse thy Domination, and will not become thy tributary vassals. Thou wilt know all things, and yet thou wilt keep other people in such ignorance, that they shall know nothing: thus thou usest them at thy pleasure, lest they should bewray thee in thy subtle shifts, and beware of them hereafter. This is they reason why a long time thou hast laid a block in the way, that all matters of great consequence either concerning Religion, or otherwise of any other great importance could not be registered but in thine old mother tongue the Latin, and sore against thy will it hath been if the have been written or Printed in any other language because that it maketh a breach, and showeth a ready way for many to come to discover the fertility of thy spirit, abounding with so many subtleties, fetches, drifts, and deceits. See this is the cause also why thou wilt not permit the nations of the new conquested countries to understand any thing concerning religion or matters of State, that thou mayst lead them by the noses, and handle them as if they were so many bruit Animals that had neither wit nor reason.   

Cap. 22.  
The causes why the money that is transported to Rome, is called by the name of Quintessence.  
NOw we have sufficiently spoken of the Dominations of the Romans, we will pass to the next point touching the extraction of the Quintessence of purses, where ye must note that I take purses, for the gold and silver that is put in them, speaking by a figurative speech, for I borrow these terms by a similitude: for even as in all liquors, be it of Wines, Oils, Plants, Sulphurs, Allums, Antymoines, and other Minerals, they who are skilled to draw out the tinctures or proprieties, and can separate them from the terrestrial and elemental body, as could that great Philosopher Paracelsas Gesnerus, and he that wrote the book entitled, le Medecin Liebant: these have the sweet fruition of the finest and most precious part of the bodies and natural substances, whereof the more celestial and spiritual part is called Quintessence. In like manner the Romans having learned by incomparable skill and artistry, to draw unto themselves the most noble portable, the most desirable and fairest coin of all Christendom, leaving the grosser, and more terrestrial sort of base moneys to the Kings, Princes, and people of Christendom for their usage, appropriating to themselves the more spiritual and celestial part, which they can tell how to separate from the temporal and earthly: are very well said to draw the Quintessence out of their purses▪   

Cap. 23.  
Of the excellency of the money which is carried to Rome out of other countries, and how the Italians only can fetch it thither.  
TO show this by a familiar example, regard but a man that is of base condition, who hath only but fifty or sixty crowns of yearly rent for a piece of land that he holdeth by fee-farm, lying within the domains of some Baron or County, he will make more account of that piece, then of three or four times so much lying among Peasants, or that he gathereth among country Farmers, bragging of it every where. Now see we some Bishop, or poor Monk coming to be Pope, to have rents and tributes out of the kingdoms of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and Polonia, and as he was wont also out of the kingdom of England, where as all Christian Kings and Princes take no tribute: but for the most part of poor, base and miserable people their subjects, readier to take then to give, and this must they do by Taxes, Subsidies, fifteens, and such like payments. Herein we may see the marvelous excellency of the Pope's tributes above those of all our Kings. And to show how the sweetest money and most desired of all, goeth still to the parts of Rome: mark but the common fashion of every one, that falleth into want of money: he wisheth strait but to have a hundred or two of crowns out of the Abbots or Bishop's purse, who is next to the place where he dwelleth, as being such fellows which have least need, and yet have the greatest plenty of all: albeit, they may wish for it long enough before they have it to fill their purses, because they can devise no shift proper for the obtaining of their desire, although they be his very next neighbours. But the Italians, they can work such a way, and handle their matters so well, that they can scrape & hook to them a thousand crowns from one place, and twice as many from another, the distance of an hundredth leagues or more, and the difficulty of passing over the mountains cannot hinder them a jot.   

Cap. 24.  
How that this money when it is transported to Rome, doth fly with an incredible swiftness.  
YEt to prove better that the name of Quintessence, is properly attributed to the gold that they share from other people of Christendom, I pray thee gentle Reader, consider that the substance of Quintessence is of so celestial a nature, that if it be not very closely kept, and enclosed within some vessel for that purpose, it loseth strait the virtue, and flieth away by vapours into the air: so this gold which they fetch so far to Rome, hath such an excellency more than all other money hath, and hath both value & virtue, none like it, that we have: not only for that it is levied with such wonderful celerity, and unusual speed. (For when they purchase any collection of money, or any other Bull of an Abbey or a Bishopric, they spare no Horse flesh to gather up the sums taxed, & having gotten them up once, they must go in post, and change Horse so often, that it seemeth the Fly with a Swallows wings: no height of mountains, no rough, narrow, steep, stony, hellow, crooked, nor raggy ways, no depth of snows, nor hardness of ice or frosts, no rivers that can stay or stop the passage of this money, it must to Rome, it must fly, it must not creep on the face of the earth: and sure it is of a wonderful swiftness in comparison of the heaviness, delay, and long time that the moneys of Kings, Princes, and other great Estates are in getting into their coffers, when oftentimes before they can get it in, they must force the good will of their subjects, & be driven to choose out men that shall sit upon their Subsidies & other Imposts, & others to collect the same, they which will not take such charges upon them but by great constraint, and being urged by necessity, and then the poor people pay such sums sore against their will, putting it of as long as they may. Then must there be straining of movables, and much heaving & shoving to have them again, hatred, displeasure, anger, ill will, much ado, and great delay on every side, so that it will ask commonly three, or four months at the least, to collect, and deliver in these Deniers to the receipts, although it might easily be carried thither in three or four hours: and in very deed may be said to march but with wooden legs, in respect of the swift course and great celerity, of that which is transported to Rome. This may very well show, that the quality and nature thereof, is far more excellent and precious, then of that coin which the Kings and Princes of the earth possess. Yet some may peradventure reply, that that which cometh by the sale of offices, approacheth very near the nature thereof, I will confess so, but I will also answer, that such traffic is but an Italian trick and invention, for that by all laws and ordinances, both of God and man, all such sales are forbidden as most pernicious, and greatly damageable to the common wealth, and matters most unworthy & unbeseeming all good Christians, that have the fear of God before their eyes.   

Cap. 25.  
A description made, by learned men which hath always feared the Council of Rome, and the causes why.  
I Think I have said enough of the Domination and filching of money, wherewith the Italians have a great while prevailed to fill their pockets, & to master the world. Now must I speak of the means wherewith they serve their turn to maintain themselves in their estate, & to make it good against all other. And albeit, in invention and devising, the you're so cunning, and can pass and make seem good to every one, that which they have invented and devised: yet are they far more expert in keeping their estate, and can remove and prevent all lets that may endamage them to hold their own. Foreseeing then that they had entangled the people of Europe within their Domination, under the pretence and cloak of religion, there was no more likelihood that the people might ever pull their necks out of their yoke, being far grosser and harder to receive any change, than the people of Africa: seeing also that all that they feared was, lest that some, addicting themselves to the contemplation of God's works, to the study of Philosophy, and to the reading and perusing of the holy scriptures in the language wherein they were written, might view all the religions that are used under the scope of the heavens, and seek out the first causes, principles, and inventors thereof, and having curiously examined all, might make these conclusions: viz. that all religion is either divine or human: that the divine is proceeded from God, the other from men: that by the divine, there is nothing required at our hands but to offer ourselves, souls, and bodies to God, to do that which is his will, which is to follow virtue, and to fly vice, to call upon him and adore his holy name, and for our sins, I have recourse unto the mercy that he offereth us in jesus Christ, the which he offereth us freely without our money or riches, only enjoining us charitably to help and love one another. On the other side, casting their eyes upon human religion, they shall see that all religions that men have, whether they be Pastors of the church, or who soever they be: for their authors, tend only but to get rule, & to draw away the substance of those that embrace them, and are fit to tie men by the feet to this earth, then to carry them up to heaven, where the seat of God is. Concluding likewise this: that, that religion is best, by the which God is best served: than it must needs follow, that following his will declared by his word, he is better served, then by the traditions of men: wherefore we must not go beyond that, as being the only object of faith, and as being the only thing which agreeth with his Doctors and Preachers in all the parts of the world, to wit, the Firmament, with his admirable greatness and beauty almost incomprehensible: the Planets placed between it and us: the air, and that which is engendered therein, the earth, the water, and the creatures which live and move in the same, altogether setting forth from the one end of the world to the other, the greatness, majesty, wisdom, providence, power, and bounty of God the Creator and preserver of the same. On the other side, serving to convince us of weakness of spirit, of ignorance, of blindness, and uncapablenes to comprehend his essence, his profound wisdom, and the mean whereby he hath created all these things, how he conserveth them in their being, and how he worketh every day in the diversity of so many things which we see before our eyes, to learn us thereby, that it is an intolerable arrogancy, and presumption in men to think to be his counsellors, to make laws, like little Kings, in his Church, which he calleth the Kingdom of heaven, and his Spouse: to there great shame which name themselves servants in the same, by whom a great oversight and rashness (not to be borne with all,) go about to establish in it certain humane Constitutons, as though they were to command and not to obey. For seeing that it is his Spouse: servants must not be so saucy as to make Laws for her to be at their check. Seeing then that he is the sovereign King, and him before whom all things are present, no man may enterprise such things without encroaching upon his kingdom, reputing himself of greater wisdom than he, who is his creator, which are grievous offences deserving very great punishments, and clean contrary to our duty towards God, which is to show ourselves, humble, lowly and glad to be taught by him, and to tremble at his words, as this Dampish earth an insensible and deaf creature taught us, at the publication of the law, when it reeled, trembled and was ready to shake in sunder at the voice of God. Moreover what fair show soever they can set on the Constitutions of Pastors, the shall always be humane, and whosoever obeyeth them, obeyeth but men and there inventions. But he that would look with a vigilant eye to the near examination and deep sounding thereof: shall easily discover, that their only purpose is to amplify there authority more and more still, and to draw coin from people secretly, selling that at an hard and dear rate which God giveth us freely, and offereth us most gratis. And this is the reason why the Italians fearing lest the publications of such doctrine altogether heavenly and divine, would make there Domination shake from the top, quickly turn it up side down, and soon diminish all the profits that the reap out of the countries of all Christendom, by means of their reaching inventions: they have therefore by a most subtle piece of providence took order in the matter that the Doctrine and lessons of these men come not to light by remedies which seem to be the fittest in the world for their purpose.   

Cap. 26.  
The first means that the Romanis use to maintain their Domination.  
FIrst, to prevent lest any should attain to so great knowledge in the holy Scriptures, that they should find out of themselves the most perfect and only wholesome means of salvation to consist therein, and to despise all other humane services: the have caused all that concerneth the Divine service to be written and pronounced in a tongue out of use with all nations, the understanding whereof cannot be attained, but in consuming many years great travels, and much cost, to th'end to keep the people still in ignorance of the true way to serve God. Taking good heed not to translate it into Italian, lest by and by they should prove to learned to suffer the council of Rome, to handle them as they have done. And beside all this to use the matter so, that the that understand Latin should not learn to much by the lecture of the Epistles and Gospels, the have set down an order that the shall sing them with such a Note, that those which understand the tongue very well otherwise, shall not understand much more in that place, than the ignorant people: for to speak troth the council of Rome useth the word of God no further, but so far as it will serve for there Domination and enriching in other parts of Christendom, and would be willing that whatsoever therein is contained importing any disadvantage to their dealings, had been cut of five hundred years since, for that they have no need of it, observing therein very well the saying of a certain Philosopher used in these speeches: Take heed lest in seeking to much the Heaven, ye lose not the earth. Which is as much to say: that they must prefer earthly things before the kingdom of God. As we see the Italians do, interpreting or reading Gods commandments when the cutof the defences made in the law of God, against Images: whereof one is, not to make Images, another not to bow down to them, and the third not to worship them. Would they ever do this, think you, but that they foresee that the true understanding of this commandment, would cool & freeze the zeal of those that bring offerings to the worshipping of their Images, with the which they lick their lips full sweetly. But they will not I warrant you, pervert or misconstrue this article. Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock will I build my Church. All the world shall hear, what these words signify, they will want no Trumpets for the matter, that they may thereby be Dominators and Kings, and fetch in money by Cart loads to Rome: such force and virtue have those words, so sure a staff unto them is the rock of S. Peter. See then this is one mean most ingeniously invented, to contain the people within the obedience of the Roman Council.   

Cap. 27.  
A second mean that they have to keep men in their service still.  
But judging that to be a sufficient remedy to withhold learned men, who by reading of the holy scriptures, by true contemplation of things created by the handy work of God, and by the great harmony of both these, joined together, should be brought to the knowledge of the Creator, and to the true service convenient for his holy name, and so fall to be opinative, rejecting the Italian Domination, and by such means shake their so sure government, & make it totter a little. Against whom being men well armed with sound arguments, it were a most dangerous thing for the Italians and their supposts to deal by way of disputations: yet see they have defences & ramparies to let them, for making any breach in their Domination. First to make them hold their tongues: no more but to give them some fat benefice, some Abbey or Priory, and to school them a little with this lesson, that the verity which they say, they know, is but poor and bare god wots, wearing but a third bare coat, never able to make a man rich: (as it was apparent indeed in him who was the Verity itself, having no place to hide his head in:) that beside it had the world, all Kings and Princes of the earth for enemy. On the other side, he that would be employed for Rome, she had to command all over the world, and had the bestowing of Bishoprics, Abbeys, Priories, and Parsonages, to advance and make happy all those that embraced their part. Now of a great number few or none stand out with them, but are overcome with such temptations, & if there be any that will not yield to them, we see by and by that the Bishops and their Officials have them in chase, and do their uttermost to inflame the Magistrate against them, to put them to death, as did the Priests of the old law, against Helias, jeremias, and the rest of the Prophets, & their successors, against Christ. But if the Magistrates chance to wink at them, the Council of Rome, hath caused Ecclesiastical Counsellors to be admitted into all Courts of Parliament to advise, stir up and inflame all Precedents, Proctors of the King, and all other councillors to make open war with fire and sword against such people, not without sore charge to the judges, to look unto them, menacing their negligence herein with double punishment. By reason whereof, it shallbe heard for them to escape their hands. Whereby appeareth, how great the carnal wisdom of this nation is, to maintain and hold fast their revenues and Domination.   

Cap. 28.  
The third mean whereby they fortify themselves with the Forces of three of the most mightiest in all Christendom.  
NOt to be destitute of any one aid that might stand them in steed, they found means to arm themselves with the greatest Forces the Christian men may yield, when they perceived that by such fellows as are abovesaid, Princes, Cities and common weals might be pulled from them, which were no fish for Provosts, Controllers, nor Sergeants mouths: they backed themselves better with the most strong redoubtable and puissant forces of all Christendom, as with the K. of Spain for the head, with the King of France for the stomach, and the Emperor for the belly, which are the principal parts of Europe. So that if a man open his mouth to speak against their Domination, you shall see the Catholic straightway, thunder down all with his Inquisition, & every man have a fling at him. Is there any that will set upon them by main strength for any other matter? Be the Lombard's, Venetians, Neapolitans, or whatsoever they be, they will but whistle at Rome, and by and by ye shall see marching to their succour the Armies of these mighty Princes above named. But the Romans, they will make themselves poor when they should pay them, and recompense their travels: they can abide nothing worse than that. For Childericke the King of France, for sending them aid, lost the Crown of France. And as for satisfaction for any other aid that other Kings of France have given them, they never put their hand to their treasures yet, to recompense them: nor never adjoined any Duchy or kingdom to their Empire: but have always been pulling from them. But in recompense of all their labours, losses and expenses, they have given this word (THRICE) which is used in forming a superlative, to the King of France: although he had as much and more authority to take it to himself, than the Romans to give it him. And to the King of Spain they have given this word (Catholic) which he might have taken himself if he would have challenged it, no man to say nay. These names have continued from father to son, as if they came by inheritance, by which the Italians have played and wrought upon, as well the one as the other, as though the bare names had any virtue or operation in them, to transform the persons, and to make them any other than they were, which should be a most manifest abuse. But when that a man hath any quality of great virtue or vice, he may very fitly have some name of honour or dishonour attributed unto him. As S. Lewes was so called for his holiness of life. Philip le Bel, for his exceeding beauty: and Philip le Hardi, for his hardiness & valour. But all this cannot be translated to their heirs and successors, because they are but qualities of special persons, and are proper to them only, from whom they cannot pass. For as it had been a most absurd thing to have termed Commodus an Emperor of Rome, and a most cruel tyrant, a Saint and a Philosopher, because Marcus Aurelius his father, for his rare virtues, sagess and eloquence was so named: so also is there none apparent reason why the Council of Rome, should denominate for flattery, indifferently all the successors of this crown, kings most Christian. No more than with the Epitheton that was given to Charles le grand, (1. the great.) And as for the title of Catholic, it was falsely attributed to the King of Spain, because it signifieth as much as uninersall King: that is, King ever all. Whereas at that time he was King only but of the Spain's; for as yet then reigned the King of Portugal: and beside he is not so much yet neither as King over all Christendom. Although that such Epithets have been very unfit, & falsely attributed indifferently to all: yet we see by such toys and devices, they have with a wet finger drawn more Forces to their succour out of these kingdoms, then at this present twenty millions out of any other Prince's purse, would do out of all Germany. By giving them only these names and titles, they make them march when they list, using them like the great Canary Dogs, which are tied fast with a long chain and a collar. As for the Emperor to keep him under, they have bestowed on him some kingdom or Princedom, to make him their own creature and vassal, yet under the name of their Pope, to set him forward, or pull him back as they list, and at their devotion. And all this to the end, that if any went about to shake or endamage their Domination at the head, he should strait assail and be shaken off by the Catholic King, if he came against the breast, the most Christian King should trounce him, if he made at the belly, the Emperor should tear him: so that he should be met withal what way so ever he came. Turn over & read the Histories of the memorable acts and deeds of all nations in the world, and find none that ever hath so justled Kings and Emperors by a voluntary Domination, to make them march, without any pay at all, as hath done the Council of Rome. I speak not only by these but by an infinite number of others, so he have been glad to obey and follow them at all times, whensoever they stood in need.   

Cap. 29.  
A Demonstration how the Council of Rome winneth to their side, Princes, younger brothers, and maketh them their voluntary slaves.  
But the sublimation of the Italian spirit is remarked to fly far above all other nations of the world, herein especially, that perceiving a few years since, there were found many men of great spirit in the Councils of these monarch, who discovering their drifts, began to countercheck them a little, not stirring a whit at the first sound of the Trumpet, coming from Italy, as they were wont to do in times past, they have made a cunning proviso for this matter, drawing into their confederacy and league, certain younger brethren of the best houses of the Princes in Christendom, who being not surcharged with too much revenues, nor too great governments, to employ themselves, run like swift footed Greyhounds at the first call, that is made for them. To make them march with more than human expedition, they must be charmed with praises up to the heavens, far higher than the praises of many of those which the Paynims held for Gods in this world. Comparing them with the most worthy and valiant warriors which ever have been, terming them the very portraitures of Alexander, in diligence and haughtiness of courage: very Images of Augustus Caesar, in subtility and wisdom, and in zeal for the enlarging and glory of the Roman Church: true imitators of Constantine the great, resemblers of Charlemagne, and as great warriors as ever was the Roman Fertorius, to resist and stand out boldly against all human powers. And to set a better hue on these so high commendations, if there be to be found any external beauty or corporal force in these Princes, that must not be forgotten in no wise, but extolled to the ninth degree: likewise, for the antiquity of their houses, the great Alliances with other Princes, the noble and famous acts of all their predecessors, all this must be curiously dilated, not one little forgotten. And beside, to pass them up with the wind of such vain praises, and to elevate their courage above all that is under Luna, they forget not to abase and disgrace as much as they can, the spirit, courage, and valour of these three great ones, of whom I spoke but now, as though they had not the wit to enterprise any great exploits of arms: as though they had no magnanimity, diligence, force nor wisdom at all, to execute such matters: notwithstanding the place and dignity they keep, and the great means they have in their power: but they if they had their room, it were enough to make them become monarch of the whole world. The very breath of these so high commendations, doth so set on fire all the parts of their soul and body, that it serveth them for wings to fly when they go about any affairs for the Council of Rome; who for their part, to the end to give them feet to stay and stand surely upon, must not forget to advertise them, that if they have any brethren or children, they may promote them to the dignity of Cardinals, so that they shallbe sure to have as much Ecclesiastical revenue as their back will bear, so they may fill their houses full of coin, which had but in mean quantity before. Now every one may think, that whilst they go about these things, Coursers of Naples, Damascus sword, plumes of feathers, and precious stones, the rarest and dearest are also presented them, as those only who are worthy to possess them. But above all, when they understand that all that shallbe their own that they can conquest, which is temporal, and that the Italians pass not but for the spiritual, than they are set on fire with an inextinguible zeal. Then appears there such a sudden change, and strange metamorphosis in these Princes, that a man would think that some new soul had entered into their body, and dispossessed and chased out that which ruled there before: for then treading under foot the natural affection, that they bore to their country, their sweet mother, who hath brought them up tenderly, and nourished them more deliciously than all others: then farewell the homage and loyalty belonging to those whom God hath set in place for their superiors, and the strait bond of amity towards all their kindreds and ancient friends, without any regard of those, who have been their plank to prefer them to so high degree and rank of honour which they possess, such younger brethren, neglecting the oath given to their Prince, transported with a most unquenchable heat, and zeal, without all government of reason, cast themselves headlong to embrace the affairs and practices of the Roman Council, with so violent affection, that all their thoughts, discourses, and imaginations, are occupied in nothing else, but still how to continue the same. So that the fervent zeal to advance the Roman Domination, doth consume and gnaw them night and day: falling into such disquietness for the furthering thereof, that they have not so much as the patience to abide any good advertisements. But like as they were transformed into more natural Romans; set their wits to devise a thousand things for their good and conservation: refusing not to sustain all perils and dangers of body and goods, all watchings & travels for their sake. Making no doubt of conscience to set kingdoms and provinces any ways on fire: either by working their ruin by their own arms, or by foreign Forces, or to do worse, to stir up thieves and murderers, who by treason and at unawares, do shed the blood of those, who keep themselves fast locked within towns, causing all laws and bonds (both divine and human) of amity and consanguinity to be violated, persuading themselves that such butchery & murder, may any way advance the Italians: or else that such cruelties should be to them only sacrificers of sweet savour, and services most agreeable. See then the arrows that be ready drawn, made by this most ingenious nation, to the ruin and confusion of those, who dare once open their mouths to speak against their profits or Domination.   

Cap. 30.  
Begging Friars sent abroad and employed by the Romans, to set upon those that dare open their mouths against their Domination.  
THe Council of Rome having long time found that many Cardinals, Bishops, and Colleges did not stir at the first word, that they hard from Rome, to set upon Princes and commonweals, although they were their own creatures double bound unto them: first having been advanced by Kings and princes by their leave, & next, for fear to lose the fairest feathers that they wear. They invent, or howsoever give place to other kind of fellows, which they receive into the number of Clergy men, that will make no such delay as the other: I mean their begging Friars, a most laborious kind of people, supporting all travel and pain, and doing so much good abroad, that they will swell out incontinent, and have at a bay those that do but think any evil against the kingdom of the Romish Constitutions. Let them hide themselves never so well, they are sure to be drawn out of their dens by this kennel, who can open and discover so well, that in the twinkling of an eye, they will set in an uproar all Christendom, exclaim against Kings, Princes, and peoples, yea, against Bishops and all other Clergy men, that will not execute their resolutions and commandments. Greatness nor highness cannot amaze these fellows, they will speak their pleasure, and that which is in their heads, what soever come of it. Neither fear they that their Prebends be taken from them, or that any other fine be set on their head: for there is no more to be gotten of them, then of the shaving of an Eggshell. Besides, they need neither gold nor silver by the way to spend, for their lodgings are provided before where they shallbe relieved without a penny cost, neither fear they any confiscation of their goods, nor that any infamy fall upon their children, for that they have none at all. See how they may be bold with all security, to speak any contumelious reproaches, and ignonimious slanders on Princes, outraging them in their persons, caring not a point, & making a small matter to do it.   

Cap. 31.  
Of the service of jesuits, to blind the youth withal, to the end to make them adore the Italian inventions.  
But because this great rabble had not taken upon them the instruction of youth, wherein certain learned Schoolmasters being employed, discovered many things to the great diminishing of the Roman authority, to make up this breach, the Italians brought in jesuits of far profounder learning then the begging Friars, and with the same have peopled the most famous Universities of Christendom, who being so much followed by students, take no hire of them that hear them, contenting themselves only with the gain of their pensioners. They hold opinion, that the Bishop of Rome is above the Consuls, by this mean altogether overthrowing the authority thereof. As for their Disciples, they tie them so fast by the heels, with the cords of the Italian superstitions, that they put them in such fear that they tremble again, if they transgress the least of them never so little: and the more easily to strike this fear into their hearts, they rob the tender youth of all judgement and use of reason. For to judge truly of any question in controversy, we must diligently hear and weigh the reasons on both sides, all affection laid apart. These on the contrary, having brought their Disciples to believe in the Catholic and Roman Church, they conclude thus thereupon, that they stop their hearing, and give none ear to any one, who soever dare speak against the Pope's authority, nor against the ceremonies which he hath instituted, nor dare once so much as to read any book, which may call them in doubt, as not altogether necessary to salvation: and that he which feareth the plague, aught to fly from such places & persons which are infected: so they before all things must take heed, not to hear any, nor receive any books which may go about to remove them from their opinion in one jot. These are their proper foundations and grounds, whereby they do not only deprive their Disciples of all judgement, but also of the use of all their natural senses, wherewith God hath endued man to make choice of things, and to know how to put a difference between good and bad: by this means, they make them not only dull spirited; but altogether as brutish beasts in heavenly and divine things, fight directly against the instruction of S. Paul, who teacheth us to prove all things, praising in this place of scripture, the diligence of those that did examine the Prophecies, to know if Christ were the true Messiah. And whereas the Prophets did not cease to exclaim against the abuse of the Sacrificators and Priests of the old law: S. john Baptist in like manner: Christ also the sovereign Prophet, the Apostles who ever cried out against the false pastors. And S. Augustin complaining of the multitude of ceremonies which were entered into the Church at his time: and beside we have seen heretofore many Bishops, Doctors and Pastors do the same in contemning the greatest part of them. These on the other side, hold all good, and maintain them, not only over & above the word of God: but further than this, beside the word of God. By reason whereof, if the Catholics look not about them, to bestir themselves otherwise then they have done since the entrance & creation of these jesuits, to shake off the yoke of the Italian Domination, it will soon be reestablished in the highest degrees of sovereignty that ever was since it began. And there shallbe neither King nor Prince be he never so strong nor mighty, but the Romans will make him tremble at one wink of their eye: and will put them in as bad fear as the poor Israelites were at the publication of the Law, when they shall threaten them with the thunderings & lightnings of their Romish excommunications, to discharge all their subjects of the oath of their loyalty, to invest others with their kingdoms and principalities, so that the Italians shall triumph over them, as they did over the Duke of Venice, trailing him with a cord about his neck, for his disobedience to their Romish Bishop.   

Cap. 32.  
A brief refutation of the jesuits.  
But whosoever would not make himself obstinate against his own good and salvation, might easily help himself out of these jesuits halters, setting before his eyes how that they allege things contrary to that which they profess & cause to be executed indeed. For this is the sum of their Doctrines, that every one most firmly abide in his own Religion, without hearing any thing to the contrary, and nevertheless they have inflamed the Spaniards to kill thousands and Millions of the new world, because they would not change there Religion, to embrace another. And as it is proper to shifters, deceivers, and those that have not loyal Merchandises, to deal in secret, as much as they can, and closely to cover there action, to sell there aware in dark places, to th'end to keep the truth of the matter hidden, lest their abuse should be discovered: so these which fear so much the examination of their Doctrine convince themselves, that it is not sound, nor allowable. Whereas that man that seeketh but the glory of God, without any respect of any Domination, or worldly profit, will take singular pleasure, seeing his Doctrine examined by the word of God, and with the works that he hath created, and likewise be delighted to maintain and defend it against whosoever would dispute to the contrary. For all this, this would never the Church of Rome permit, her policy is so great herein, albeit Italy is replenished with a great number of very learned men and great Scholars, as well in Philosophy as in any of the laws: and very desirus to maintain any dispute against heretics, (as the term them) who are so themselves, to give them their right title and definition, and against all those that go about to diminish or speak against there kingdom and gains, for that the repute not others for such. For the are not so gross witted as the Almonds, who dispute about the Consubstantiation and Infinity of the body of Christ against the confession of the Swissers and Frenchmen, without hope of any profit or Domination to be gotten thereby: But the Italian smelling out any profit or gain in that which is propounded, he will agree to all, and repugn only in that whereby he thinketh to receive any damage. Which is a most clear and manifest proof that there is nothing, but worldly wisdom in all that he pretendeth and goeth about.   

Cap. 33.  
The council of Rome is like to certain Petifogging layers, who will not consent to have there causes disputed and heard in open audience.  
TO make this more apparent, we must note that when the council of Rome, will never accord to have there cause defended in any open audience against there adversaries, what other thing thereby may be inferred, but that they secretly yield that there cause is scant good, for the are not so gross witted, nor so much blinded, as the Iesuistes Scholars of whom I speak even now: but as crafty Layers of good means and habilities, finding there low matters like to go against them, prolong the judgement and curry favour with the judges as much as the can: yet seeing the plaintiffs sue them hard, they will labour tooth and nail to refer there cause to those of the counsel, hoping by favour and instance of them, they may sooner win there process, then in any open audience. And if the perceive that all this do not avail, what will the do? the will higher some manslayer, to kill there advarsarie by some villainous treachery: even so this counsel so crafty & politic, understanding of an assembly of states, or any general day of hearing, either in Germany, France, or Spain the send in continent thither, and what by favour and corrupting with bribes, the will use the matter so, that nothing shall there be debated, which concerneth any way the kingdom of Rome: unless it tend to the advancement and furtherance of their Domination. And if there be any Chancellors or other learned personages, who have authority and mean to moderate and order matters as they would have, they are saluted with congratulations, and promises of great rewards, and by that means won to their side. As for murders, they have spilt more human blood since john Hue Bohemian rose up in arms, to challenge his Domination against them, than all the quarrels and manquellers since noah's flood, in all the broils, brawls and quarrels that they have made. Take only but the battles that they caused to be given by the Emperors against the Bohemians, and against the Almans: the persecutions in England, the wars of France and Flanders, and all those that the cruel and bloody Inquisition hath destroyed, both in Italy and Spain: and the slaughters that have been in many towns of France, and in many other places by their means only, and you shall find that they are cause of the death of more than a million of men: and women: and all becanse the would keep there cause from debating in Parliaments and national councils. Whereby we see they have all devices and crafts in their heads so ready, which may serve them to preserve their Government & continue their purloining of money from other nations: who in no wise can come near them to practise any such subtleties, they are so gross, and such sleepy heads, that their is none amongst but the best spirits, not subject to be passionate, who can discover there juggling, and fine conveances.   

Cap. 34.  
The brief confutation of a Pestiferous book, published in France, by the name of (the Catholic Englishman).  
THis nation and there partners envying the Government of the good French, who being wearied with so many troubles and miseries, were amiably united to live peaceablly together, Catholics and Protestants, the borrow the Eloquence of some Italionate Frenchman, who falsely termeth himself the Catholic Englishman, abusing the true use of this gift by the which (as Caecero saith) men which were altogether rude, rustical, cruel and savage are transformed into a more sweet and sociable nature, to use it as a trumpet and torch to give alarum, and to kindle the burning coals of choler, and vengeance in the hearts of all Catholics to make them run headlong into heat and rage of stomach like unto a Bare ravished of her whelps, to sack and destroy all those who dare open there mouths against the Italian Domination, under the name of Popes: caring not by this pernicious council to make all Christendom so weak: that it might without great resistance be invaded of the Turckes, to abolish the name and remembrances of all Christian people for ever: for by his council he goeth about to make the Catholics believe, that it shall suffice them to fly like dogs upon the Hugonots, to pull out there throats to rout out there names, and to vanquish them quite for ever: But this there cursed, crafty and captious council, hath not had such issue as they would have wished or looked for: it hath but abridge the life and hastened the death of those that first took it in hand as namely of the Duke De joyeuse, and the Lord de Saint Saweur they be most affectionate partners, with great ignominy and dishonour of so shameful a flight of so many, who accompanied them both in there actions: As also with the great reproach. disgrace and overthrow of men given to the Duke, De Aumalde and all his troups at the battle of Senlis, without speaking of five or six armies beside, which without ever striking stroke by sickness and long travels ruined of themselves. Besides the Parisians inflamed and bloodily bend to destroy some body else then the Catholic Englishman shot at, have gotten but travels, troubles, and inestimable charges by their malice, having suffered the enemy to come and beat them into there own gates, to saise upon there nearest towns, with out ever lending aid to any. And further than all this, they have seen there own suburbs pillaged, and there forces, which the judged invincible, destroyed before there faces, at the battle of Yury being in chanted by the venomous and pestilent Eloquence, both of there pernicius Englishman, and also by the bloody sermons of one Francis Pinsenac very like unto this false and pretended Catholic, unless as I may guess it be the very man himself, or his familiar friend of Orleans that hath put forth this bloody book: which may ravish and quite carry away with the force of his lively Eloquence a great part of the Catholics that read it, to enterprise the slaughter and manquelling of those, who do not adore all that cometh from Italy, Where I might spare it if any good had ever come to France by it, or by any that are employed on that part. But seeing that it seemeth that this nation is created for the scourge and extreme ruin of the more Northern people, when he taketh so their part, making it good to the utter ruin and overthrow of us all. Doth he not discover, that he believeth neither hell nor heaven? But is a villainous Atheist preferring the worldly profit and honour, which he draweth from this party before the love of his country, for the which as Caecero, saith, Every honest man ought not to refuse death. And not as this wretch, to hasten it ruin. O very rare & seed of a viper: who seemest not to have been borne for any other good, but the destruction of thy Country, which thou oughtest to love more deréely than thine own life. O pernitions Physician, whose Phesike is an hundred times more dangerous than the malady itself: who in steed of a gentle purgation ministers Antimoyne not prepared, & rank poison, making thyself ignorant, that seeing a sect is so far grown, that it is able to hold out by ware, and that it cannot be rooted out by public justice, how it must be left and referred to the Divine justice & not to kindle a civil war there upon, which doth but kill and corrupt men and bring all Religions to nought being the greatest plague and the extremest calamity, into which men may run themselves headlong. But out of what school hath he set this his bloody and tragical doctrine? Not out of this great and faithful law giver Moses, who saith Thou shalt not kill: nor out of the Royal prophet David, counciling men To fly from evil and do good, seek peace and ensue it: Nor out of the other prophets, who have endured grievous persecutions, and never moved any of their dissiples to persecute again or take any vengeance at all, nor of all the sects of philosophers, as of Socrates, Plato, Pythagoras, Aristotle, and others, who always laboured all the could to wine men to peace, quietness, goodness, gentleness, and mildness whereas this fellow will imprint in there hearts all rage, cruelty, outrage and madness: whereby appeareth, that he is a very limb and instrument of this old and subtle Dragon, who made Cain conceive in his heart the murder of his own brother Abel, the same which moved the priests of jerusalem, unnaturally to saw in twain in the midst, this heavenly and divine Prophet Esaye, and to persecute the process and condemnation of jeremy, He showeth himself seton by a more bloody spirit, than ever were Marius and Silla, who shed so much of there own Citizens bloods: but rather more like to Phalaris, Catiline, Nero, Commodus, and other such cruel and salvage beasts, all together void of all humanity towards there own countrymen. His shameless impudency, and his so insatiable thirst after blood, is so apparent that it is not to be hid: for he representeth himself as a Standardbearer of Christ's catholic church, who ought to here his voice, and do after his commandments: who pronounceth in the fifth of S. Mathewes Gospel that The merciful, pitiful, and peace makers are blessed, and that we must forgive, if we willbe forgiven. And the Apostle S. Paul writing to the Romans teacheth us To have peace withal men, without taking any vengeance, which belong only to God: And that if our enemy hunger we should give him to eat, and if he thirst we should give him drink, surmounting his malice, by our mildness and mercy. And last of all S. john in his first Catholic Epistle, saith, That he which hateth his brother is in Darkness, and cannot tell whether he goeth, because the Darkness hath put out his eyes.   

Cap. 35.  
How this false Catholic Englishman void of all humanity, transformeth himself into all cruelty and rage.  
SOme were then to examine this bloody book, wherewith he would infect all Christendom, with the rage and rancour that possesseth his furious stomach, whereby he goeth about to set the people of France together by the ears, to destroy one another, like fierce Dragons and cruel Tigers, it argueth his cowardly, most dastard & effeminate spirit, for these are things that are never in a man that hath any magnanimity or greatness of courage in him: Wherein he showeth that he is the very disciple and trumpet of the malign spirit the devil, that in shape of a filthy and stinking hée-Goat, useth the like speeches unto sorcerers & witches, who having forsaken jesus Christ, go unto his sabbaths to do him homage, where he giveth them none other lessons, but to put in practice vengeance, murders, and cruelties, whose footsteps he followeth right, pretending to overthrow in man all the clear light of reason and understanding, & utterly to extinguish that which maketh him foresee in his actions, whether they tend to his honour, profit, and security or no, before he undertake them, to abse and make him stoop to blind beastly and furious passions, so to make men fly one at another like mad dogs & cruel beasts, when we see any advantage of the side that we take: for his drift is, to make the Catholics root out the Hugonots, as a people not to be tolerated in religion: yet there is no people under heaven that agreeth so well with them as they: be the jews, Turks, or Tartarians, against whom thou shouldest rather scum of the froth of thy fury and heat to combat, and employ the flood and force of thine eloquence, then conspiring the total ruin of Christians, against those who receive and allow of all the books of the Bible, & the four first Counsels, with whom having none other quarrel but for human Constitutions, thou oughtest rather to take part. And furthermore I say, that the truest and best Catholics and Protestants, are for the most part the surest and best friends that any City or common wealth hath, & there is but the Cockle which groweth among this good wheat, and other dogs and hogs, who smelling out any commodious profit by the Italians and their supposes: much like himself, who for reward of his forged crimes and lies: smelleth out some Crosiers staff, mitre, or Abbey, under a false mask and show of religion, passing not to be recognized for the true son of the father of lies, and ancient slanderer the devil, when maliciously and untruly he bringeth the mighty Princess Elizabeth, for an example of wonderful cruelty against Catholics, to make our French Nation conceive a great hatred and fear of our King: wherein I think, that his father the devil would have been ashamed himself to have published such impudent lies, for as much as this gracious Princess the Queen of England, and our King of France, whom he representeth as her imitator: have never been accused of any blame and reproach, but to have been too merciful and pitiful towards such pestiferous mates, and seditious spirits, as is he himself, whom I should have made known for the most pernicious and damnable enemy of all Christendom, that ever was on any side whatsoever, as him that hath fastened the author of his hope upon a particular and temporal commodity, caring nothing at all to be cause of the subversion of the common weal, and to deprive himself of life everlasting. But because I am prevented by others that have answered the book, I will not enter further to confute any particularity thereof. I think now by a most manifest and brief description, I have set before the face of the Readers, as well the means as instruments, by the which the Italians know how bravely to conserve and maintain their Domination, to the great shame and dishonour of those that are subjecteth thereunto as slaves: wherefore it is now convenient to manifest and propound the remedies, by the which all noble and gentle spirits, lovers of their own liberty, may easily deliver themselves from their slavery and thraldom.   

Cap. 36.  
The first remedy, by overthrowing the foundation stone, upon the which the Roman Domination is builded.  
AS it were a small matter for a Physician to be able bravely to discourse of the causes, beginnings, augmentation and nature of any disease, if he should not give remedies to cure the same: so it shallbe requisite to set down the mean whereby men might as well in times past, as also hereafter, throw away this Italian yoke, & keep their money in their purses, without enriching strangers with it: for this matter, I will begin at the foundation stone, upon the which they have built, augmented and elevated there so great and lofty Dominations, that it hath no bounds here on the face of the earth, as have the kingdoms and empires of Emperors and Kings: but being elevated (if we will believe them) as high as heaven gates, shutteth & openeth them even as they do the doors of the Consistory at Rome. In some this foundation stone is, that Saint Peter had his Apostles seat at Rome, and there was martyred: whereof followeth, that the Roman Bishop is his successor, and hath universal charge over the whole world. For the first I deny, seeing that neither the Acts of the Apostles, nor any other of the Epistles of S. Paul, hath made mention thereof: & that he himself witnesseth that he was the Apostle of the jews, called to those that were of the circumcision. For the second, that he was martyred there I confess, for that those of Rome and their Emperors, to make a triumph of jesus Christ, and of his doctrine, & to quench their insatiable cruelty against Christians, had caused S. Peter to be transported to Rome, from another place where he was detained first prisoner, to put him to death ignonimiously, and make him a public spectacle to the world. But for having by this cruelty and injustice, deprived the world of so famous & excellent servant of God, that they should be reputed his successors, there is no reason at all: nay contrary, I will stand to it, they ought therefore altogether to be disinherited: for was there ever any man so impudent, that for having murdered another, would dare to challenged his succession? And if he had been borne at Rome, and appointed Apostle to the same place, which he was not, neither they have made themselves unworthy of all successory, right and title. For this were a pretty matter, that for using all cruelty, and committing bloody murders against the servants of God, men should get domination and principality, as well in earth as in heaven, it were far wide to say so, and the greatest absurdity in the world, that men might imagine. Nay contrary, Christ menaceth great punishment for the like matter, when he cried out, jerusalem, jerusalem, thou which killest the Prophets, thereby denouncing her ruin and overthrow by the fire of God's vengeance, foretelling her destruction to come, and the miserable estate wherein she is at this present hour. If then this were sufficient to deprive Rome of her succession, yet furthermore, were she worthy to be deprived for her rebellion against the Gospel, and the doctrine of S. Peter, wherein she hath persevered since the death & passion of Christ, having brought forth the most detestable monsters for Emperors, as Tiberius, Nero, Calligula, Commodus, and Heliogabalus, which have ever been remarked to live under the vault of the heavens: who as cruel beasts estranged and degenerate from all Christian blood, by reason of the enormity of their lives, could not suffer any such clear light to shine there near them, being also set on by their sacrificing Priests, Pagans, and Idolaters, who only taught publicly at Rome, soon to extinguish the same. But if there were any good Bishops there, they lay close, and did not openly discover themselves, and were no part of the body of this people, being indeed sent thither, from divers other parts: personages of great learning and eloquence, rather to make residence there, then in any other part, for that this city was still replenished with learned men, cunning Philosophers, and Pagan Orators: against whom it had not been for Pastors meanly learned to have disputed without overthrow and conviction. Yet all this hath nothing elevated the Italians, above any other people of Christenty, for having Domination over them, but rather it bringeth lower and abaseth them, as a testimony of their great resistance and rebellion to the truth, and the teachers thereof.   

Cap. 37.  
Constantine the Great, King of England, opposed himself against the tyrannous persecutors of Christians, that Italy brought forth.  
But if ye come to ask me, what Nation hath more right to have the Sea of an universal Bishop erected in it, than Italy? I answer, that as Italy hath made itself unworthy, by bringing forth the murderers of S. Peter, and of other tyrannous and persecuting Emperors, having a long time made resistance to the Gospel: so those have best deserved it, who being pushed forward with an holy zeal of God's glory, and of the salvation of men, having abandoned their lives, kingdoms, and treasures, to make passage for the Gospel throughout the whole world, in destroying the doctrines of Pagans, and all idolatry which had reigned before, more than two thousand years, all over the world, except only among the jews. Now what nation hath that been, of so haughty and magnanimous courage, which hath done God so signal a piece of service. Surely it was England, which having brought forth that great, and thrice sacred Constantine, who of a Pagan that he was, making profession of the Christian faith, and receiving Baptism, strait began to war upon Maxentius the Roman Emperor, a most cruel murderer, and a great persecutor of Christians, whom he vanquished, and planted the true Gospel and kingdom of Christ, not only in the isle, his native country that bred him; but also at Rome, the receptacle of all Idolatry, and from thence made passage for it unto Alexandria, the capital City of all Africa, to Constantinople, and all that country bordering towards Asia, enlarging the kingdom of the son of God, far and wide (which seemed at that time to be banished out of this world, by the continual wars of the Romans) destroying and overthrowing wheresoever he went, that of Satan, showing himself to be the Executor of that which jesus Christ had foretold in the twelfth of S. john, saying: Now is the judgement of this world, now shall the Prince of this world be cast out. O that the wonder of thy holy and almost divine enterprises, do make thee go far beyond all human creatures? for the light that thou madest to shine in the world, surmounteth as much that of the holy Kings of the old Testament, as doth the light of the Sun, the clearness of the Moon. And as for that which the Apostles and other faithful Pastors which went before thee, it was always divined, and intermingled with the darkness of superstitious Idolaters, which had full course among the Emperors and Kings of the earth: but thou great Instrument of the Eternal, thou hast chased far out of thy sight, all the sacrifices & services that men did dedicated unto the devil, according to the witness of S. Paul, who saith, that the Gentiles did sacrifice unto him. And more than this, it is thou great Monarch, that hast so firmly planted and established this light in the world, that what assaults so ever have been made to extinguish it, yet could it never altogether be put out and defaced. If than one so great and divine a benefit had proceeded from Rome, as is from England, who could imagine how great prerogatives and honours almost divine, they would challenge from other people, whereas nevertheless the Emperor sprung out of Italy, have ever been the most signal persecutors of jesus Christ, and of his Martyrs: for all that they have cast such clouds over the eyes & judgement of other peoples, that they made themselves only deemed worthy to have the Sea of the universal Bishop: and by means of this prerogative, have made all the Kings & Princes of the earth, kiss the Pantofle of their Prelate and Bishop. What would they have done, I pray you, if they had fought as much for the advancement of the Gospel, as they have done for the suppression and extinguishing thereof? It is very likely they would have exacted honours and homages, more than divine of those which should live under the obeisance of their Domination. For this nation craveth never so little subject to work upon, to make itself to be wondered at, and to bring the Septentrional & Occidental peoples under their coram and subjection, for that they are people less ingenious, and nothing to compare so subtle as they are, which is a thing altogether strange and wonderful.   

Cap. 38.  
An example of the Italians subtle dealing with the Admiral of Castillon.  
FOr manifest proof hereof, I shall not need to seek out but one only familiar example, well known of all, of the deceased Admiral of Castillon, who was reputed a man of as great counsel & experience, as was any in France: But the Queen-mother and her Council of Italians, having a quarrel at him above all other, made it well known, that the best French policy and craft, could hardly avoid the subtle snares and embuscadoes of the Italians. For seeing that by force of arms, they could never prevail to vanquish or overthrow him, they resolved to provide for him, baits of peace and truce: by the first conclusion whereof, they seized into their own hands, all the Cities, Castles, and all the munition that was in them, which all the Forces of Italy, had not been able to take in twenty years. Perceiving this, they devise to set again upon the Prince of Condie and him, as persons destitute of refuge, to retire themselves, with any Forces, but yet the Lord De la Nove, by his great wisdom and accustomed valour, stood in some good steed here, having seized again the town of Orleans into his hands: they perceiving the Army of this Prince ranging almost in the heart of France again, strait judged, that they had half taken them napping already by this hook, and that they might hereafter very well overtake them. Having cast this hook to them the second time, they surprise them once more: and so dispossess them quite by this bait of a second peace, of all their strong Forts and holds once again. Whereby many began greatly to mistrust them: but to take away all suspicion, they practise quickly a confirmation of their former peace, by conclusion of a marriage, by this utterly to ruin and cut the Admiral's throat. He trusting to it, was taken in the net that was laid for him. So that this may well show, that all our subtility is but a sluggish slight, in comparison of the quick carriage of the Italians, by reason that their climate is more Meridional, and the region of France more Septentrional. True it is, that this great workman of the world, hathenriched those that inhabit the more Northern countries, with many other goodly gifts, as to be more strong, more fair and lusty, witness many great Philosophers & learned men, and this might serve us for instruction, that seeing we are endued with more strength, and are the greater number, we should chase them out of France, and not suffer them to usurp any Domination over us at all, nor to accompany any of our Princes or great Lords, that might trouble or alter our state. This is a very good preservative to save and deliver ourselves from their wiles and subtle slights. Very true it is, that it is a great shame for them who name themselves Christians, and have been baptised to use so much treachery in their dealings, whereas their ancestors who were but Pagans, and knew not God, did keep their faith inviolable to all, to be a greater credit unto them in all their actions whatsoever.   

Cap. 39  
How the Bishop of Rome being created universal, other nations should not suffer the Italians to have him only to themselves.  
LEt us come now to the point I spoke of, how that I did not purpose to blame the Pope's persons, nor dispute against their title of universal Bishop, referring those that would take delight in such disputation to the Treatise of the Church, made by the L. of Plessis Mormay. But this is the point that I prove, that seeing the Italians hold him for the universal Bishop of Christendom, it must needs follow by the nature of contraries, that he can be no more particularly tied to Rome, but that he is also as well Bishop of France, of Germany, and Spain, who cannot be conversant and particularly resident in all these places at once. Therefore his Sea ought no more to be at Rome, then in other places; but he should wander over all Christendom, as did the Apostles, seeing that they hold that S. Peter Apostle of the jews, came to Rome, being six hundredth leagues distant and more, from the place from whence he came. So that if the Pope be resident any while in Italy, he ought to do the like also in other provinces & countries: otherwise he should deprive them of the right which unto them appertaineth. Wherefore they should never abide that the Romans only should keep to themselves the Bishop common to all: to prevent them, lest by that prerogative they should rule the world at their will, and dispose and alter all things at their pleasure. This shall very well show, that whatsoever we conceive and persuade ourselves of the subtility and policy that is in us, they shall still for ever far go beyond us. Witness the compositions made between King Henry the second, & those that inhabit but the nearest borders of Italy, who retain some sparks and beams of their subtility hidden in them. As the Duke of Savoy, to whom this King with the assistance of those, whom he deemed the best advised and most sage parsonages of France, yielded up a great country which he and his ancestors had conquered with infinite charges, combats, & victories. And yet without any blow strooken by the agreement of one marriage all was rendered: & all Lombardy likewise by the same policy. Must not then hereafter all Forthren people's awake themselves out of their so fluggish dullness, & not suffer themselves to be overcome with the sugared words of this nation, although they be interlaced with the sweetness of religion, or profit of the common weal? And above all things to take heed how they deal with them in any case, for they will be sure to have the surest end of the staff. But if every nation had practised this in times past, and taken resolution of that which concerneth either their affairs of Estate, or of religion, never making the Council of Rome privy thereunto: out of how great miseries, troubles, calamities, wars, quarrels, divisions, and hatreds, should Christians have saved & delivered themselves? But at the least, we shallbe preserved in time to come, by experience of these oppressions that are past, which cannot choose but be to our great good and profit.   

Cap. 40.  
That the Council of Italy never made conscience to cut off the authority of the Pope, when they smelled that there was any thing for them to be gained.  
WHen we come then to remember, how they make the people believe that the Church cannot stand without an universal Bishop: who without ever looking to that which might follow thereupon, allowed very well of all that: They incontinent having this advantage, made him proper to themselves, & by such devise have usurped a domination over all the world: & prepared a way to fetch great sums of money out of all parts of Christendom, under the name and authority of this their Bishop. Whose authority notwithstanding they never make conscience to abridge, when they smell any profit for themselves: how did they practise in the great Pardons which were sent abroad in the time of Charles the eight, and Lewes the twelfth, by the which general remission of all sins was given, and Paradise opened to all those, that would go in pilgrimage to Rome: Wherein I say, that they did limit and restrain the power of their Bishop: for being universal, as they maintain, so also is his power extended over all, and not restrained or tied within Rome. Wherefore did they this then? but for a fine devise, to enrich their City, by the concourse of divers strange peoples, who flocked thither from all parts of the world, to go into Paradise, preferring by this mean, the inventions of men, before the commandments and decrees of God, and the way that he showeth them to attain to heaven. This is an evident token, that this nation being most subtle, measureth all things, as they see they may turn her to profit, and augment her authority.   

Cap. 41.  
That other kingdoms may create and constitute Popes within themselves, because the Italians refuse their Pope of Rome to be common to all.  
NOw if there had been in other nations any craft or subtlety, any thing near like to that of Italy, after they had perceived how by this prerogative they were brought under the jurisdiction of the Italians, and drained of their money by this country, if they had strait pretended that the universal Bishop ought as well to visit, and be resident among other nations and principal parts of Christendom, as at Rome: and in case the Italians would not consent, to have told them plain, that every nation should have proceeded to the election of an other, in every several country: as the Frenchmen for their part, who held that the Gospel was first brought unto them by S. Dennis, and that therefore he is their Apostle, to constitute the Sea of their Bishop at the Temple of S. Dennis for France: and for Spain at S. james Church in Gallitia: so in like manner for other nations. And in case hereupon, they should enter into choler and storm at this, they might be answered, that S. Panl did admonish the Corinth's to follow him, even as he imitated Christ. And in good faith, it is honour enough for these Romish masters, in imitating them, to establish the like order & government, as they allow best of among themselves: for truth it is, that the true manner of honouring and worshipping of Saints, consisteth in doing our uttermost to imitate and follow their footsteps. According to this, even as they would never consent to be deprived of their Pope, without whom they cannot bear sway in the world, and purloin money from other nations not so quick spirited as they: so in like manner, if the French would look well into their affairs, it were necessary for them also to make a Pope among themselves, to serve their own turn. And by the example of the Romans, they should endeavour their uttermost, to range under their jurisdiction, not only a whole kingdom, but also other nations more Septentrional, who are less ingenious than they, and principally this might be effected by the Prouensals or Gascons, being a people more meridional than the other Frenchmen. As for the English, although by reason of the great traffic they have into all parts by sea, they are not a people altogether so dull spirited and gross, yet they confess, that the French have subtly recovered that of them, by conclusions of peace, which they by great victories had conquered from them before. So that it is very like by this mean, that if in imitating the Italians, there were a Pope constituted but in France only, yet he should have under his jurisdiction, England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Friesland, and all the netherlands. By this shift, they might fetch in coin from these parts, after the example of the Romans and the people of Italy, who have had a hand of such people: whereas if the French had practised such counterpolicies, whereas the Italians contemn them at this day, as gross and barbarous: they would have made as much of them, otherwise as a nation and people as politic, crafty, and subtle as themselves might be. All which is to show, how far they excel us in invention and subtlety of spirit.   

Cap. 42.  
Arguments in defence of a Pope, if there were any in France against him of Rome.  
BUt if any object, that the Italians would never endure the, for because he were first in possession of one only Pope: I agree well to that, so they were the stronger: but when we see that many of our Kings have passed clear through the country of Italy, without any contradiction, and gone as far as Naples, and that those that at any time went about to withstand them, were by and by overthrown, we must needs think, that it were great disadvantage for them to deal that way, but if on the other side, they would go to dispute and combat of words, to decide whether the succession of S. Peter and the lieutenancy of Christ be tied to Rome, or no: we shall need but to send them to combat in this dispute with the Lutherians, who maintain according to the saying of Virgil, that the property and true description of Rome is to contain seven mountains, thereby giving us to understand that it is the City remarked in the apocalypse, to be the seat of Antichrist: Now in the town of Saint Dennis in France, there is no such matter, therefore such quality cannot be attributed truly to the Pope as the have given him. But some may reply, the the people would never believe so much in any other Pope as in him of Rome, to that I answer: that if they had made one of as subtle a priest as him of Bellovet, if no man had gone about to descry his knavery (as some did) he might have easily prevailed for that point: for there was never any Pope of Rome, who for his own persons sake, nor for his miracles, that ever was so followed with so great troops, as was he of whom I now speak. But if they went about to terrify the French Pope, by excommunications and interdictions, so that he would but practise the like against theirs of Rome; it is most certain, that whosoever would but look on the one and the other, should see the Italians far more black in the face and more melancholic, and the French far more cheerful and jocande than they. See her then in mine advise are medy which being put in practice of us as it ought, will ruinated the Domination of the Italians and the counsellof Rome, in the persons of there Popes, which likewise would quit cut of the way whereby the transport all our silver from us, As for those who would not nor could not away with the Pope, shall by that means keep themselves exempted from there Domination, without paying them any money at all, no more than the protestants do, which will have nothing at all to do with them. And here I will advertise the Readers of a fine devise to fear the Romans, and to make there Pope's triple crown shake on his head, if they had but the news carried them, how that the most Reverend Cardinal of Vendome were elected Pope in France: it would make them all quake for fear, and put them in worse case than if an Army of ministers should go thither to set upon them: But if any Frenchman should, to make them more certain of it, tell them again that he were wonderosly affectionate to the mass and to the ancient ceremonies, they would think him more ass and sot than sottise itself, because that is no part of the grief that tormenteth them, but the name of their Pope only. And if the Spaniard likewise would but follow this example, the lead of Rome that the have sold for a dearer price than the finest gold in the world, which men come to seek so curiously out of all parts, should tarry with them at Rome, to help them to make there gutters of there houses, cisterns to hold there water, or Characters to print what they please withal.   

Cap. 43.  
How the Roman Ecclesiastic knaweth the people of his own country, and teacheth those of other nations to do the like to their countrymen.  
BUt because the Italians is so subtle and wary, that he will slip none occasion, but he will take it fast by the hair assoon as it is present, and will never let go his hold till he have made thereof all the commodities that it may yield: see he dealeth hardly with his own countrymen to there great hindrance and loss. Now they detain a good piece of their gain from them, who making up part of the body of the commonwealth, hold there assemblies a part, and nevertheless the themselves are present at the assembles of others, who moreover can of themselves publish and by there own reasons confirm that which they will have established and set down▪ no man so hardy as to open his mouth to speak to the contrary, which is the easiest mean to obtain any thing whatsoever a man would have in this world. For look into the Sovereign courts and other jurisdictions, where in there are many learned and eloquent Lawyers, although they be suspected to plead the weaker causes: yet so it is, that if they have this advantage to propound only that which concerneth the judgement of the cause, being no adverse party or advocate that dare speak any thing to the contrary: they willbe sure to discourse and plead in such sort and with such dexterity, that the judge and the Assistances shallbe so ravished & carried way by there reasons that they shall obtain victory of the cause, were it never so unjust. Now the Roman Ecclesiastic having won this advantage to himself to the great prejudice of the Nobility and the Commons, and having beside given light and instruction to those of other Counties to do the like, have rob all other Estates of there goods and dignities; triumphing and swimming in riches themselves up to the chin: caring not a straw to go against there profession which should be by contempt of the world to afpire to heaven. For proof hereof, there was a precedent who was very curious to count all the revenue of the Kingdom of France, and having made his computation, he found that the some did amount to twelve thousand millions and that the ecclesiastics, who are not the hundredth part of the people carried away seven parts hereof: Whereas in the old testament they had but a tenth: never speaking of any oblations that the have at Baptisms, churching, confessions, and the great ransoms that thy extort after the death of the deceased husbands of poor widows, orphans and pupils, under the colour and pretence of their long prayers: all which ought in deed to be employed to the instruction of children and the marriage of poor parentles maidens: beside in all the Churches of Cities, a man of any honour cannot scape there nets, but he must leave behind him some half Teston, a matter of two groats if he will not be in disfavour of these Ecclesiastickes. Touching any charges, watchings and travels that they should be at, to teach, reprehend and comfort the people as S. Paul requireth, these great pillars of the Church, the Cardinals, Bishops, and Abbots, they draw back and will not come near them, and yet it never engendereth any remorseof conscience, to take fifty thousand crowns of yearly revenue, referring the exercise of their charges to their courts, who after their example discharge themselves by their Vicars, and their Vicars, they hang all upon the begging Friars, so that the Nobility and the people be well served between them all by this shift, which showeth very well that they can devise shifts & means now for their commodity in this world.   

Cap. 35.  
Very fit means to hinder the Ecclesiastic for meddling with that which concerneth the Magistrates.  
TOuching the Magistrates to whom they are bound to give all honour, and yield them all subjection, they rob them in part of their jurisdiction exempt themselves from their power, and taking themselves the prerogative of honour, that they own unto them. And further, that which is to be noted more strange, in steed of supporting the poor Priests who have all the heavy burden of their charges upon there backs, they still over load them with so many services, and cut them out so great quantity of matter to sing, that those of Cities, in less than ten or twelve years become so hoarse, that they are not able to serve any longer, but must be cast off to go seek where they can, by reason whereof, seeing them at some solemn feast, surcharged with such quantity of services, whereas they sing on their part: for my part I bewail their miserable condition, esteeming it worse, then that of poor slaves and captives in the Roman Galley, and cannot choose but argue those of great inhumanity, who have overcharged them with so heavy burdens: not only against all good reason, but also against the ordinance of the son of God, and the brief form of prayer that he hath taught us: but also against all human order, observed in tendering of petitions unto Kings of the earth, which are abridged with as few and short words as may be possible. See wherefore it were most necessary to stop the course of such Italian influences, not to suffer ourselves to be handled at their devotion, and not to depend any longer of them, as heretofore we have done: but to find out the remedies hereof, it is not an easy matter amongst the Northern people, because that such drugs do not grow amongst them, no more than do the Palm-trees and their Dates. But even as one country bringeth forth oftentimes poison, and the preservative far the same, even so, he that would preserve himself from their domination and draft of money, that they use to drain out of other provinces, shall borrow a good piece of wisdom, found out at a time of great need by the common people of Rome, to restrain the course of the domination of their Senators, who had them before at advantage, to villanize, abase, and reduce them into bondage and slavery, at their pleasure. The common people perceiving that they had their counsel apart, where they might take secret deliberation, to increase their authority, and to pull down & gnaw the people, which should be hard things for them to remedy, because the Senate did consist of very learned men, great Orators, and full of majesty, advised themselves to create Tribunes for their own defence: which should oppose themselves to the ordinances of the Senate, in case they did any thing diminish their liberty, & should keep the Senators short, that they should not tyrannize over them, nor draw their substance from them, as before time was their common practice. By this mean the people was no more exposted in prey to the Senate, but maintained still themselves in their own liberties: for even as the body of man is very well at ease, when none of the Elemental qualities doth suffer itself to be overcome with the contrary: so that commonwealth evermore flourisheth, when none of her parts do suffer itself to be in subjection to the other.   

Cap. 45.  
That it is very requisite that the Magistrate should set his hand to the reformation of Churches, because that will never be done by means of any Pastors.  
ACcording to this, there is no more effectual remedy to prevent the Ecclesiastic, lest he gnaw the rest of the people: then to choose out in every town some learned and virtuous man, which is not of the same quality, not too much addicted to ceremonies and superstitions, who must have an eye to their counsels, constitutions, and preachings, and who must also discover their end: to the end they may see whether they go about any thing to the prejudice of the Nobles, of the Magistrates, or of the people: and if they do, to withstand them therein, having power and authority to assemble the people, to advertise them by speeches and Orations in their Temples, how that they go about to deceive them. If in the time of Constantine the Great, such Protectors had been chosen, they would never have permitted the ecclesiastics under shadow of Purgatory and prayers for the dead, to have deprived the lawful heirs of so many Counties, Lordships, Baronies, Feegarms, and other lands, whereof they have rob and spoiled them, nor that the goods of Hospitals given to the poor, should be eaten and swallowed down by them: for although that they would not contradict such doctrine, yet perceiving that under the colour thereof, they pretended to make traffic and sale of the kingdom of heaven, and to sell for fair ready money, life everlasting: they would have gainsaid them, and reproved such thieves, who under a false appearance of bringing men to heaven, pretended to pick their purses, & to make them lose that which they had on earth: they would have taken order at the least, that the poor should not die for hunger, languishing and crying, seeing the Priors of Hospitals to devour their good, singing and making merry. See then this is a good remedy whereby we might keep fasting the Italian and the Ecclesiastic, and make them content themselves with their own, and to keep within their own limits. For to hope that ever they will reform themselves, they never did it yet, nor never will. For if you look since the death of jousa to jesus Christ, between which there is more than a thousand years, you shall find that the ecclesiastics never ceased to corrupt the true service of God. By reason whereof, he gave them over into the hands of their enemies. And how to restablish them, he raised up judges and Magistrates: how also after they had Kings, he inspired many to reform and reduce his true service, having been abastardized by the Ministers and ordinary Priests of his Church. And why, I pray you, were Prophets sent? But to accuse and convict the ordinary Pastors of their impiety, rebellion, and disloyalty. After the manner of which Prophets, S. john Baptist termeth them a generation of vipers: and jesus Christ calleth them, thieves and robbers. And S. Paul in his time, cried out against their abuses. And in the time of Constantine, they had divided Christendom into more than twenty several sects, all which this holy parsonage cut off in his time, reducing them all to one uniform confession at the Nicene Council. By whose example, Kings and Magistrates ought to set to their hands: and out of the miserable dissipation wherein we live, to restablish one true way for the service of God, as Moses did command them: to wit, that they should meditate in his law day & night, to keep it themselves, and to cause others to observe it also. And not to expect till the Pastors reform it: whereof a great number seek but to enrich themselves, and to sway over others.   

Cap. 46.  
That it is very needful to withstand the enterprises of Churchmen, be they Priests or Ministers, and to choose protectors for the conservation of the people.  
ANd to take away the doubt that some may propose, to wit, if such Tribunes are necessary among those who have cast off the Pope's yoke and have Ministers. It is certain, that the reason is all one: for to be persuaded, that they are of better borne, and of more gentle nature than the sacrificing priests, issued out of the race of Abraham, there is none appearance. But to go no further then to the Apostles themselves, if we look but to the mark that they leveled at before the Ascension of jesus Christ, and before he had sent down his holy spirit upon them, we shall see that they were inflamed with an ardent desire to be promoted, to rule & bear sway. So that, if once they be tolerated to set down articles & constitutions in the Church, every one thinking himself wisest of all, and far to go beyond his predecessors, will endeavour to invent and bring in some new article, so that they will proceed so far at the last, that the Church shall find itself replenished with human traditions again, in steed of the Romish Ecclesiastical constitutions before abolished. And so it shall fall out as a thing most natural and common to all Pastors, that they will cause their own inventions to be observed more strictly, than the commandments of God, and the precepts of his most sacred wore, as well by depriving their sheep of the Lords Supper at their pleasure, as also by their public exclamations in their Sermons. So that also the violence that some use in seeking out curiously, those which had transgressed some articles of their discipline, hath made men and women by thousands to revolt from their Churches: and most true it is, that he which too curiously seeketh out the doings of other, often forgetteth to examine his own, which is quite contrary to S. Paul's instruction, who treating of the Lords Supper, commandeth Every one to try himself. Whereupon the leagued Cantons of Switzerland, one of the best peoples in the world, have abridged their Ministers of this power, which they of France labour to establish amongst them every where. But if there were Protectors of the Magistrates, Nobles & Commoners, might not they very well stop the course and progress of these matters? teaching them this lesson, that seeing they attribute to themselves none other quality or condition, but to be the servants of the living God, that there is nothing more repugnant to their profession, then to presume to make laws in the church, which is the kingdom of God. And that there was never any servant to King nor Prince, that durst attempt to usurp any such prerogative, how well soever he was favoured of the king. And who was ever so saucy a servant, that being left to serve and wait upon the spouse of his Lord, forgot himself so much, that he would rule over her by his own laws and ordinances? And what greater blindness can there be, then to think to light by our counsels the fountain of all light and wisdom, which is eternally resident in God? Who if he would be assisted with any other counsellors in the government of his Church: hath he not Angels and Archangels by legions? Hath he not Noah that great Herald of justice, Abraham the father of the faithful, Moses, Enoch, and Helias, the Prophets and Martyrs, and more than five hundredth of the faithful beside, which rose from the dead after the death of jesus Christ, as witnesseth S. Paul. All which in knowledge, holiness, and experience, go a great way beyond the best and greatest spirits that may creep on the face of the earth, in the prison of their bodies. And by such and such like reason, to keep them within the bounds of their vocation, which is, that in showing themselves faithful Ambassadors and messengers of God, they may in nothing go beyond the commission that they have in charge.   

Cap. 32.  
That it is the duty of Pastors to plant the Faith, and to root out vice and sin, and not to make laws.  
FOr confirmation hereof, and to prove that there is more doctrine and instruction in one only Epistle of S. Peter and S. Paul, nay to speak of less, in one only Chapter, the fift to the Galathians, than the most perfect and holiest men in the world could ever accomplish or fulfil. And to the end that the Pastors should endeavour themselves to root out the fruits of the flesh, and to plant those of the spirit, they are at large set down. First to wit, for the fruits of the flesh these: Adultery, fornication, filthiness, dissolution, idolatry, empoisoning, enmities, strifes, envies, anger, quarreling, seditions, sects, murders, gluttony, drunkenness, & such like. Secondly, for the fruits of the spirit, these: Charity, joy, Peace, Patience, Clemency, Bounty, Faith, Mercy, and temperancy. See then here is more work cut out in this one Chapter, than they and their disciples will ever be able to do, and in doing this, they shall but do their duty: beside consider all the instruction of the whole Bible, and you shall see a bottomless sea of doctrine, wisdom, and good lessons to teach us to live well, seeing that this only Chapter doth teach us more than any man in the world hath been able to perform and follow truly. But he that would in good earnest come to the reformation of the life of men, here is the sovereign mean, to pull up by the roots out of their hearts, all incredulity, the mother of all vices, to plant therein faith, the spring of all virtues, as the Lord Du Plessis Mornay, hath very well advised in his book, Of the verity of Christian Religion: wherein he hath wrote a most divine piece of work. For who is he that regarding the shortness and uncertainty of this life, who firmly believing that there is an everlasting joy and felicity, into the which, all the faithful and virtuous enter: and that there are likewise eternal pains provided for the unjust, and vicious, who would venture to wallow in all vice, to be deprived of so great a benefit. This is the mark at the which all pastors ought to le●●…ll: and not to make traditions and laws, seeing there are so many in holy scripture, that in examining our life by the perfection of them, we are clearly convicted and attainted of our own imbecility and insufficiency to fulfil them. For my part, when I see an assembly of pastors congregated to make laws, to bring and conduct men more easily to life everlasting, than the Prophets and son of God, and his Apostles did (although they are taken for Angels in respect of the rest of the people) mée-thinkes I see as an absurd a thing as if the fifteen score blind folks of Paris should take upon them to go mend all the ill highways of Christendom, to make them fairer and straighter than they are: as cunninger and more skilful to do it, than those that have been employed about it heretofore. But if you will object, that Ministers have made good laws by their discipline, against dancing, masking, and dicing. I yield, that at the first fight, it hath a fair show and appearance, but examining it nearer, you shall find that they take away therein, the authority of the Magistrate, and usurp that which appertaineth properly to the Kings and Princes of the earth: to whom only it belongeth, to make inholitions upon such things, to cause them to be observed by penalties and by privation of the Lords Supper, for that is expressly prohibited by God's word, and so by consequent out of their commission. Moreover, the Ecclesiastics have ever had this device, subtly to intrude themselves to the making of laws, & to have matters of small importance, still referred to them, thereby to have a gap to matters of greater consequence, as the Tribunes may make ample relation hereof, and prove it by many sundry examples.   

Cap. 48.  
That the controversies about the Lords Supper, by which the Pastors trouble the whole world, are easily to be accorded and quieted, if the Magistrate would but go about it in good earnest.  
WHerefore if we do not take some order for the peace and tranquillity of Christendom, by some such mean as I have set down, in vain otherwise shall we look for any firm and assured concord. For those who above all other, aught to seek for reconciliation between God and man, & afterwards, between themselves, are nothing else but the very instruments of trouble & sedition, kindling the fires of discord every where, to set all in flame and conclusion. For to stay till of their own motions there fall out some accord between the Council of Rome and the Lutherians, and between them again and the Caluinists, touching our Lord's Supper, that will never be no more than between Caiphas and the Apostles of jesus Christ, wherefore if there be none other to step in amongst them, moved thereunto by pitying the ruin of other Estates, which I have named, who must crave aid of the greatest Kings and Christian Magistrates, to make them hold their tongues, they will trouble heaven & earth about this disputation of the Supper (a matter nevertheless very easy to be accorded between them.) For we all agree to this, that the faithful taking the bread & the wine from the hand of their Pastors, receive by this mean the very body and blood of jesus Christ, to be united with him, and made flesh of his flesh, & bone of his bone. What is it that is yet in controversy, but only the manner and form how that cometh to pass? Now the Capernaits, desiring to comprehend the manner of this eating, jesus answereth them, that, The words that I speak unto you are spirit and life. As if he should say unto them: there is none but those who understand the operation of the divine spirit, and how he giveth life unto all creatures, who can comprehend how that is done. But our soul which is detained prisoner in this body, she cannot so much as conceive how the spirit of God being infinite and incomprehensible, hath it operation in all that is in the world: nay, that which is far less, we cannot imagine how the Angels of heaven, and the spiritual Damon's, employ their Forces to execute the judgements of God, nor the temptations of the wicked spirit against us: nor how a legion of devils may be in one only man, nor after what manner they lodge in him. And yet things far less than all these, cannot we comprehend, as the essence of our soul: and whether it be within us or about us. For how it can so quickly stir and remove all the members of the body: nor also by what force the Adamant which is in the rocks of the North, can draw unto it iron, being in a ship more than ten or twenty leagues of. And whereas he calleth his words Life: it is to give us to understand, that as our human understanding cannot conceive, how God inspireth life to all creatures, and giveth it to some living creatures in the belly of their dams, giveth it to an infinite number of little Animals, Locusts, and little Flies, and no man can comprehend the form and manner how he doth it, nor so mnch as this, how many living creatures being penned in and deprived of all external light, for all that see most clearly: so likewise must we conclude, that God worketh in this Sacrament by a divine operation, and altogether incomprehensible, which man cannot comprehend, nor shall not comprehend whilst he is resident in this Elemental and corruptible body. It should suffice us to know what S. Paul teacheth us: that, there is in us an interior and an exterior man. So that in this Sacrament, even as the exterior, receiveth the signs of bread and wine, so the interior receiveth the body and blood of jesus Christ, for the nourishment of everlasting life, without making any deeper search of the manner how it is done. This point so concluded upon, it shallbe meet for the peace and tranquillity of Christendom, that the Tribunes should humbly entreat Christian Kings and Potentates to employ the power and authority that God hath bestowed upon them, to bury in perpetual oblivion, all these means devised by the Ecclesiastickes, be it of Transubstantiation, Consubstantiation, infinity of Christ's body, and many other quiddities, the fountain of troubles and divisions in Christendom, by this mean to prevent the Italians, lest for things wherein they have none interest, they ruin also other Estates of this Continent. And if any debate should fall out between the Tribunes and the Ecclesiastickes, and that they could not agree, that the King should assemble a good number of men of profound knowledge and great experience, and especially those that are best affectionate to the benefit and quiet of their country, and without any interest in this controversy. The which should not be moved by the outrageous cries, and violent passions of mutinous and seditious preachers. And to seek out such fellows as Messieurs Budee, de l'Hospital, de Pibrac, and Monsieur Groulard, who is at this present first Precedent of Normandy. And look what the King shall resolve by the counsel of these learned men▪ to cause thoroughly to be observed. And to go about these matters so secretly, that the Italians hear no inkling thereof, lest they by their crafty conveyances, hinder not the happy success of this business. To foresee this well, it shall need but to make the world believe, that these assemblies were made for some other purpose, and that some new occurrence had fallen out, and given occasion to treat of religion, all under one.   

Cap. 49.  
That in vain we look for deliverance out of the miseries of France by any Assemblies of Pastors.  
IF we do not use these or the like remedies, our hope shallbe in vain to expect for any goodly effect of Synods or Assembles of the Ecclesiastickes, because there shallbe always but one or two of the most learnedst and eloquentest: albeit the be all of one nation, who shall dispose and carry away all things at there lust, all the rest serving but to say Amen, and to subscribe to there advise. For when any one amongst them hath got aname to be profoundly learned & to bemore subtle indisputing than others, no man dare gain say him, the tremble all under his authority: & if he bosom what stirring & ambitious, & desirous to bear sway: he will make them receive what Articles & laws he list, for that having studied matter enough to defend himself with Arguments to reach unto his purpose, that others shall little think of, and perfaming his matters with a little apparent benefit for them, they will let him carry them away so, and subscribe to whatsoever he would have them. For that among them there are few or none, who are accustomed at such an instant readily to contradict and resist. But it goeth not so with Magistrates the greatest number whereof being brought up and exercised to plead in contradictory judgement, will not suffer themselves so easily to be carried away, but can tell how to withstand one another, what study soever any party hath employed and come never so well provided. Wherefore it is a dangerous case to repose any confidence in the decisions of Ecclesiastical Assemblies, which in the old Testament, never wrought any other effect but kindled the fire of persecutions, first against the Prophets and afterwards against Christ himself, his Apostles and infinite others of his martyrs: and so conclude, such Assemblies have never been but a plank for the Italians to pass to establish all there new Constitutions such as are not yet altogether received in all parts of Christendom thereby to sway over, and gnaw to the bone all Christian people it followeth then hereby, that to take away the occasion of this abuse, we must have recourse to Sovereign Princes and to there Magistrates, when it comes to the question of establishment of the Christian Church, for so God did himself as we find in the old Testament, and not to run to Pastors who being once out of the true way, will always go worse and worse and ever come into it again.   

Cap. 50.  
That all Christians are agreed of the place of joy and happiness whether they must go, but disagree concerning the ways that must lead them thither.  
But because the Italian is so quick and pliable, that there is no good order so well established, but he can alter and bring to confusion, either by seed of divisions or by corrupting persons by flattery, gifts and remuneratory promises as well Magistrates as other protectors of the people, employing their unto some Ecclesiastickes or others, we must needs seek out and use some surer and perpetual Remedy against them, And because as I have proved that there Domination and great sums of money they drain out of other countries hath no foundation but the bare cloak of Religion, by reason whereof to prevent lest they surprise us, we must be very careful and diligent to choose out the truth, for that the devil transformeth himself into an Angel of light, and is an Ape to the works of God, to rob and deceive us. But not to be deceived, we must at the first consider and examine curiously all that is proffered and presented to us for the way of salvation, of what side soever it be, to choose the best, otherwise our choice shall always be doubtful, having no knowledge of neither of the ways which we might take. For in matter of Religion all have one desire and shoot at one and the same mark, which is to come the joys of heaven and in this they all agree, but they disagree of the ways and the form of services that they ought to follow. And because they Counsel of Rome, teacheth one kind of way and maketh many take that route with a goodly forwardness, that they set them in thitherward, and an external form of service, which with great delight, feedeth human senses very much, practising all kind of murders and cruelties, on those that seek to climb to heaven any other ways: There is also an other sort of men, who by lively reasons and great persuasions, go about to fetch back from them as many as they can, to lead them thither by other paths: but the Romans, to prevail in this matter, say, that that weigh which they teach, is the broad and wide way, wherein the Fathers have passed, the which is also more common to a great number of people. The others they say, that this great way whereof they esteem so much, is that which leadeth to perdition, and many there be that enter in. And that the way of salvation is very narrow and strait, and few there be that go that way. And if that they which follow the great and large way, find it to be the better, they will not hinder them for going that way: but yet requisite at their hands, that they will suffer them peaceably to go by their strait and narrow way, which they take to be the surer passage.   

Cap. 51.  
That men being contrary in opinions, concerning the way of their salvation, they must receive instruction of the Ecclesiastical bodies.  
NOw in this conflict, if we look only but unto men, and to that which is on earth, we shall find ourselves much troubled, and thinking to choose the best way, we shall take the worst, and never reach thither whither we mind to go. And if in this judgement we depend upon Ecclesiastical Pastors, one shall allow one way, & others shall teach another, grounding themselves diversly on places of the scriptures, and the Doctors of the Church. In such diversity, what should it then be needful to do? we must lift up our eyes, cogitations & thoughts upon on high, to other Masters & Preachers, who teach us not by the ears as mortal men do: but by the eyes of a visible, certain & immutable language: and ask neither gold nor silver, nor domination over us for their pains: but freely offer us their instruction, with great bountifulness and blessings towards us, if we take it thankfully, and we never need to make any long and tedious pilgrimages to find them out. But it sufficeth to but go forth of our habitacles, builded by the workmanship of men, to enter into the great Palace and Temple of the living God, made with his own hand, in the midst whereof, he hath placed us: to know and admire the wonderful excellency of his works, and to yield him the glory and honour that he deserveth. In doing this, to make ourselves worthy beholders of the same, when we shall comprehend with all admiration the omnipotency, wisdom and bounty of their framer, who shineth in the same most gloriously: and although that upon the earth and in the waters of the sea, his sagess, virtue, power and bounty, is most amply proved unto us: yet would he give us more ample testimonies in the concavity and extendue of the heavens, to draw us nearer unto him, having set there two great lights, the one lower, the other higher, to the end that by them as by the Ladder of jacob, we should go to find him out in his heavenly Tabernacle, to do him homage, and to yield him all the loyalty, wherein we are bound unto him, as holding our life & all our goods beside of him, putting ourselves still under his protection. And therefore to carry all reverence and due obedience towards his laws and commandments, having our recourse unto him when we are oppressed, or that we fall into any necessity or sickness, giving him thanks so oft as ever he bestoweth any benefits upon us, in celebrating the praises that the greatness of his works deserve. By the consideration whereof, we shall perceive our own infirmity, to learn thereby to humble ourselves before his divine Majesty, and still to have in admiration the superexcellency and depth of his wondrous works.   

Cap. 52.  
That the lights of heaven do draw us to seek God in heaven, and do witness, that their Creator is infinite and incomprehensible.  
ALthough that the lightnings, thunders, clouds, rain, snow and hail, which are engendered in the middle region of the air, yield such ample testimonies of the power, bounty, and providence of God: yet mounting a little higher, to the torches of heaven, whereof the nearest unto us is the Moon, keeping continually the course that God hath assigned her, to give light in the night, and to moisten all bodies: and from her let us mount higher by degree and degree, to every Planet, till we come to Saturn, elevated highest of all, and from him to the starry firmament, and we shall see a number of those that are far bigger: for we cannot contemplate the firmament with his blazing torches, infinite almost in number, may we cannot behold at one time the one half, but we shall be ravished to admire the force and greatness of the maker, who hath framed a piece of work so excellent, above all other wondrous things? Now we have been led so high with our bodily eyes which can go no higher, we must have recourse to the eyes of our understanding, the which being lightened and conducted by the brightness and light of God's word, shall make us mount yet higher into two other heavens, to come where S. Paul by a trance and ravishment of the divine spirit, saw jesus Christ the son of justice, and many other unspeakable things in the glory of God, having full confidence and belief, that in his essence being divine, infinite, omnipotent, glorious, & quickening all things, according as David witnesseth: comprehendeth in him all things, without being comprehended of any, and that in his perfect light and glory, all Angels and blessed spirits are lightened and live. But because that his infinity, majesty, glory, and brightness, cannot be beholded of us, for that it would ravish all our senses, and our sight is not able to endure so pure and bright a light: whereof Eliseus & Isaias being great Prophets, having beheld but one only beam, have been thrown down to the ground, and not able to stand to behold it any longer. But I must return from this bottomless sea of glorious brightness, and come again to the torches of heaven, which he hath set in his great Palace, wherein he hath placed us creeping upon the earth, to receive instruction at their hands: and for brevities sake, I will go no further than the clear and pure Sun, as the most perfect & accomplished image of his Creator and maker, which representeth best unto men, the wonderful profoundness of his great virtues.   

Cap. 53.  
Of the Sun, the very portraiture of his Creator, & what are his works and operations.  
ANd first I say, that even as men cannot comprehend the quantity of his essence, being a thousand times greater than it appeareth to our eyes, as by demonstrations all Astronomers prove, nor likewise the quality thereof, nor the manner how it casteth his heat and light over the whole world. So also can we conceive neither by our understanding nor exterior secnes, the greatness or quality of the divine essence; nor how it hath produced it operations in the creation of the world, in the conservation of the same, nor the manner how it worketh to create in the faithful the new man, which fighteth against the flesh. Likewise as this great celestial light is in perpetual operation and moving, to run his great race about the whole world, always doing good, and bringing infinite commodities to other creatures: so God is always watching and in action for the benefit and preservation of his creatures. Moreover, as when a thick cloud hath deprived our sight of his beams for a month together or more, and that this let being taken from us, we begin to see his beams again, which bring a certain joy or gladness unto us, and drive the cold far from us: so the faithful never seek to behold God in his works and virtues, but that they receive great pleasure and delectation. And beside, as when this divine image retireth back from us into Capricorn, the calls coming from the North-parts, and from the frozen sea coming to afflict all living creatures, spoiling our mother the earth of all her trim and good ornaments, and making her naked and ugly to behold: so when God angry at our sins, taketh his holy spirit from us, the prince of this world, of the air, the God of this age, the ruler of darkness, which is, the devil cometh to assail, and environ us, to tempt us and bid us battle, and to annoy us many other ways. But as this great celestial light goeth not from us to forsake us: but to distribute his light to the people which live under the North Pole, and that by his long absence, we know better the benefits that we receive by his presence: so God sometime holdeth his face from us, to the end that desiring him we should seek for him, & showing us his countenance again, we should taste better what a benefit it is to enjoy always his presence. For as this blazing torch coming towards, being leapt backward to approach unto Cancer, beginneth to renew the face of the earth, and to beautify her with greenness, and with an infinite number of herbs and flowers of divers colours, giving life to many hundredth thousand millions of little Animals, to serve for food to birds and fishes, to feed their young withal, who by an harmonious melody, full of all joy and gladness, celebrate the bounty of their sovereign the Sun, which they receive by such instruments as it pleaseth him to use to heat again that part of the earth, from whence he had absented himself so far, wherein he magnifieth the omnipotency, bounty and wisdom of his maker, which hath attributed to him so many virtues, to the end that we should wonder at him in his so beautiful and perfect workmanship: so also he pulleth down our presumption, for that we cannot show any such like pieces of workmanship, nay, we cannot so much as conceive by our understanding, how he giveth life to so many living things, and how one only flower is clothed with such diversity of colours. If it be so, than the greatest and quickest understandings are surmounted by the operations of one of the creatures of the Almighty: how shall we comprehend those of the divinity, whereas it worketh in us of itself, as in Baptism, the water of regeneration, or in the lords Supper, in the eating of the body of jesus Christ, or in the unity of the three persons in one only divine essence? Whereby appeareth that this celestial body is to us of itself a most excellent Preacher, to make us leave of the vain disputes of the manner who God worketh in the sacraments, to content our selves simply with the ordinance that he hath given us in instituting them, and never to go further for the matter.   

Cap. 54.  
That this light reproveth those who detain men in worshipping images, and the works of their own hands, to seek God by them.  
THis same Preacher also reproveth the spirit of me, of a most brutish error, when men being drawn by him to the knowledge of the most high God, by an elevation of their spirits towards the highest heavens, they turn their back to him, seeking him here in earth, in buildings made by the handy work of men, forgetting the lesson of S. Steven, the first Martyr, which was: that God did not inhabit in Temples made with the hands of men. Which the Sun can likewise prove unto us by an argument á Minore ad Maius. Thus, if it be so that all the forces of men are not able to build an house big enough to enclose and contain me: how is it then that they are so foolish and presumptuous to think to lodge him that is infinite, and hath his dwelling in the inaccessible light, of the which I am but a spark? how dare they think that he may be contained nor comprised in houses made by men, and that the temples built by them, and that their tapers and candles are more agreeable to him then we his great lights, who without waxing old or consuming, do distribute continually to the world, so great and admirable a light? For as for their temples they are but earth: and grant that they be vaulted with stone, covered with brick, lead, or state, yea were it with gold and silver; all that is taken out of the bowels of the earth. So that all your buildings stand you in no more steed than earths and holes do to the Foxes, that is to preserve you from the injuries of the vehement heat, rain and cold: but you are not in any wise by their means the nearer to God, nay rather when you are in his temple of the world, they let you, that you cannot behold his wondrous works, putting as it were a bar between heaven and you. And as for the images that ye place within them in contempt of us, by your most detestable ingratitude, seeing that God doth preserve you by me and the rest of the celestial lights, and doth bestow on you all kind of blessings, is it not then a great oversight in you, that in forsaking us who are the workmanship of the Creator, ye will prefer before us images made by the devise of men, albeit they approach in nothing, neither in matter, greatness, quality nor effects, to those that are the handy work of God. For first they are made of an earthly and dead substance, which cometh nothing near our greatness: without any moving or operation: and without the heat and light which we have. Moreover, they are but lying Doctors, as jeremy the Prophet saith: For they have no power, life, wisdom, light, nor bounty, neither can they see any thing: is it not then falsely done to go about to represent by them Almighty, who is the wellspring of life & light: and him, who is all goodness itself, & afterward to translate unto them the honour that appertaineth unto him? Further, one is pictured that he is thrust into the side, and blood issuing out, which was never so: another showeth a laughing countenance, and never laugheth. Other are pictured with eyes, and they see not, some with ears and they hear not, and others with a mouth and yet they speak not at all. Whereby appeareth, that there is no verity in their witness, and that all that they can do, is but to transport the money aut of our purses into the Italians hands, or to some other of their supposes employed in their services only. Nor we for our parts, being the true celestial images, do not represent any lie to your eyes, and the testimony that we yield to the Almighty is most true: we have not required any oblations of your gold or silver, nor any other service or adoration, as the Italians have done by their dead images: and nothing else do we request at your hands, but that you will yield to the Almighty▪ the glory and honour of all things as appertaineth to him, not giving away any part thereof, to any creature that ever was, or is at this present under the firmament. See here briefly, what is the instruction and lesson of him who marcheth as King among other Planets.   

Cap. 55.  
How that Italians are proved to have abused the world, in making men go to jerusalem, by the form of the firmament.  
COme we now to this great, gilded, and azured Heaven, whose speech is all one as before, publishing from one Pole to the other, and over all the world, that what account soever men make of their earthly Temples, they come nothing near it in beauty, greatness, long continuance and lust. For the greatest tempell that ever was built, was but of half aleague in length, and the Astronomers affirm that their is fifty nine Millions of leagues from the earth unto they starry Heaven, and from they other side as much whereby it should follow that my roundness should contain very near three hundred fifty and four Millions of leagues, and yet for all that cannot contain the infinite essence of God, How then do men suffer themselves to be abused worse than brute beasts by the Romans and their Italian Council, who make them believe that they can shut him into there pipes in their Temples, to behold him therein, and to carry him under their Canapes to th'end to rob you by this mean of your money, and altogether to beguile you. They same heaven being round and equally distant in all parts from they earth: doth manifest unto men that their is no one place more near to him or his heavenly glory, than another. In this he convinceth of a shamefastly and falsehood the Roman Counsel, and those that maintain it, who to approach to God, caused in times passed great troups of men to troth so far as jerusalem and Rome, to go the sooner into God almighty's Paradise, although indeed this was but a mask and shift found out and practised by the Italians to advance and increase their Domination, and so to fish money out of judea Syria: notwithstanding by this cozenage they have caused to perish in these voyages, that they made them to undertake both Christian Kings and Princes, and more than two millions of men, speaking not of their great travels, perils, maladies, and other sorrows: beside that they have made them endure, whose chance it was to return from so long a viage. These are then they goodly and they Celestial lessons which are given us from above, as most excellent preservatives against the craft and cautelous dealing of the Italians, by the which if we be not all together out of our wites, we shallbe by them set at all liberty and wind our necks out of their Domination, and by they same means will keep our money in our purses, to help us at our need, and also to do our friends good, and these that we shall see stand in any great necessity.   

Cap. 56.  
The harmony of they holy Scriptures of the Bible and of the heavenly creatures to humble man to give glory only to God, and to seek him above in heaven.  
But to the one that we may be armed on every side, God hath not only provided for us these heavenly instruction: but also to instruct us more familiarly, he hath left us his Apostles and Prophets to teach us all after one manner, and by the same lessons, of they number of which if we will take the most heavenly, to wit, King David in his Canticles, I say they Prophet, S. Luke and S. john in their Gospels, S. Paul to the Romans and to they Galathians, and S. Peter in his first Epistle; we shall find they sweetest harmony and goodliest Concordance that may be devised to be found amongst all the Preachers of his word that are in the world. And see this is the true touch stone, whereby we must examine all they writings and doctrines of men: that is to wit: whether they agree with they testimonies that God giveth of himself by his creatures: which as they publish that all things are proceeded from a supreme and former cause that doth maintain and preserve them: so also must he give him the homage of all his benefits, and to have recourse to him as to a bottomless fountain, to lad out of him all blessings, as well spiritual as temporal, confessing his greatness, bounty, and excellency, in respect of his great and admirable works, to humble us, and to tame this pride growing in us by nature, in exalting him as the giver of all that which we have, to depend wholly on his good pleasure, and most holy will: And to make proof of this great concordance: the royal Prophet David speaketh unto the eternal to this effect: Call upon me when thou art in trouble and I will help thee, and thou shalt worship me. Wherein we see a strict commandment to call upon God, and to give him thanks, as an act properly due to the divinity and incommunicable to all the rest of his creatures: as he speaketh in another place, To thou O God, who art above in the heavens, we lift our eyes.  
For to show us the form of calling upon him, which is not to have our spirits fixed here in earth in the works of men's hands: but to elevate them towards the heavens, as Christ himself used saying: Our Father which art in heaven, and so forth: And as for faith, that it only aught to look up to God: this Prophet very well proveth. In God is my soul well pleased, he only is my safeguard, and the rock of my defence, he is my saving health, and my strong fortress, so that I shall not fall, for he holdeth me up. And if we regard well, a great part of the Psalms, and amongst the rest, the 104. and 118 to what do they tend but to magnify the excellence, beauty, and greatness of the works of God? And surely, there is no thing so excellent for man to practise, as to exercise himself in the contemplation of them, to give the praise and honour thereof unto his Creator. And all the rest of the Psalms tend but to extol the admirable virtues of the living God, as his bounty, power, mercy, justice, liberality and clemency. Moreover, there are certain principal verses amongst the rest, which by the riches of an imitable eloquence, do praise, set forth, and above all things advance his holy and divine law: showing that the sovereign felicity of man consisteth in the mediation thereof day and night: forcing himself with all his heart, thoroughly to observe the same. But after that he hath thus spoken of God, of his works, and of his law: what saith he, I pray you concerning men, and of his own person? when he saith. What is man? he is a thing of nought, and all that he worshippeth is but vanity: & in another place, the same kingly Prophet saith: All are gone out of the way: they are all corrupt, there is none that doth good, no not one. And speaking of his own person, although he were the most holy king that ever reigned over God's people, he saith: Be merciful to me O God a poor sinner, etc. and that his mother hath conceived him in sin, praying God to wash him, and to purge him from all his iniquities, as him only that could do it.  
Now having thus much spoken of man and of his doings, to abate and pull down his pride and presumption, and not to leave him there, but to prepare him to seek all that which he wanteth in the person of his redeemer: embracing him by a true and lively faith, as being him that to satisfy the divine justice, should carry all our transgressions and sins upon his own back, as David describeth in the 22. Psalm, and the Prophet Esay in the 53. Chapter of his prophecy, which they did set down before the coming of Christ, and after his death his Apostles, well I have proved by a most admirable consent and unity. He that will then no more submit himself under the Italian yoke, to be ranged under their Domination: let him read quickly the aforesaid books, and consider and ponder them well in his mind, weighing diligently every word, and every sentence one after another: and conferring advisedly the beginning with the middle, and the end. Let him examine this doctrine with other instructions that God doth give us particularly both in heaven and in earth: not to approve and make them serve to our fantasies and opinions, but laying all them wholly aside, to take their instructions, and simply to follow their lessons. In this doing, he shall learn that we are all Burgesses and fellow-citizens of the great Temple and sumptuous palace of our God, and that by the consideration of our vicious and poor nature, he shall be taught to mount above the heavens, to invocate upon God, and to obtain by this mean, all things whereof he shall stand in need. And from thence, coming unto his most holy and sacred word, magnifying it as the only instrument of our salvation, and a perfect declaration of the counsel and will of God towards men: and having the knowledge of these things, no man shall be able to withdraw us from this way of warshipping GOD on high, to seek him in Temples, buildings, and other places of this earth, but if we go to those places that shall be only to make profession of our faith, to be assistant at public prayers, to hear the word of God, to examine whether the Doctrine that is taught us be conformable to these Doctors, of whom I have now spoken: which when we shall find, we shall embrace as divine and of God, and putting us again in mind, and confirming those things which the preached, we shall receive it as most heavenly doctrine: but if it tend to exalt men and their works only to please them withal, we shall receive it as proceeding from the presumption and oversight of men, who take themselves to be wiser than God, and for such stuff as may entangle the people in the nets of servility, and fill only the purses of worldly Pastors: wherefore, without any regard from whence it proceedeth, whether from Councils or Synods, or from any other sort of Ecclesiastical persons whatsoever, we will reject it, think ourselves no more bounden unto the observation thereof, then to the dreams and tales of old women. On the other side knowing that life everlasting is given us by the grace of God in our Lord jesus Christ, and is offered gratis to all men: what gins soever the Italians and such like can lay to draw our money finely from us, we shall go by them well enough, making as though we saw them not, and as though we never heard talk of them, These are then the most sure & certain remedies, by the which all true Christians may easily wind themselves out from the Italian Domination, and make a proviso, that their money be no more transported to Rome, but tarry at home in their own purses.   

Cap. 57  
The eonclusion of this present discourse.  
WHerhfore thou Spaniard, having they place of the Head, which workest all that thou canst to reduce under thy Domination other nations which should be the eye of Christendom, thou oughtest to have as much wit as any other people, It is not then a great blindness for thee to behold thyself in such slavery to the Roman Counsel, that thou art no more than the executor and drudge of their wills, and that they make the tributary to them in huge & infinite sums of money, whereas thou didst never get one penny from them. And thou French man which art the heart of Christendom from whom should flow all motions of virtues to encourage the other parts, thou hast almost suffered thyself to be overcome under the spiritual Domination of this nation, by their flatteries and cautelous shifts, suffering them to put a knife into thine own hands to destroy thyself, to set all in combustion and ruin, to th'end that they may fish in thine overthrow and destruction? As for Germany, the seat and residence of the Empire, to the which the Apostles and the first Bishops of Rome yielded all obedience and subjection, what greater cowardliness, shame and dishonour can there be on her side, then that in degenerating from their ancient Caesar's, and other Roman Emperors, under the which all the world did tremble: they are at this present become the slaves and vassals of Rome, and brought so low as to be glad to hold the Stirrup of some filthy Monk, who hath been chosen Pope. And if heretofore you have had the eyes of your wit and understanding so much dimmed by the darkness of the time, suffering yourselves to be made so very fools, that they might use you at their pleasure, now in this great light which shineth at this present, and is not yet gone from you, amend your former faults to recover your honour, and seek to rule and sway over them another while in your turn, and to get from them again under some colour whatsoever all the money they have in their fingers of yours and your people paying them now at the last home according to their deservings and cursed intentions: and that according to good rule that they have a long time kept in Christendom, they may have their due desert at the last paid them to the uttermost.  
Laus Deo. Finis. G. B. A. F.   

A Table of the Contents of this book.  

A Description of Itlie and the causes of the subtlety of that people, cap. 1.  
How in the persons of Romulus and Numa Pompilius there were two kind of governments prefigured among the Romans. cap. 2.  
How the subtle Italian borroweth the name of the Pope to come to his pretences with more falsity. cap. 3.  
A lively pattern of Italian subtlety in the person of Caternie de Medicis and her Florentine council. cap. 4.  
How of any light occasion this nation can devise to effect great matters. cap. 5.  
The Roman soweth divisions and pulleth away the substance of a people to enrich himself, and to do with it at his pleasure. cap. 6.  
How this nation going about to ruin a country beginneth with some one estate, and from thence cometh to all the rest by degrees, and how the French can by no means take such opportunity when it serveth them. caq. 7.  
Upon what occasion the Romans changed there Monarchy into popular Estate: that is to wit, upon the Ravishment of Lucretia committed by their King Terquni, cap. 8.  
How the Romans by pretence of their faith found means to augment there Domination. cap. 9  
The ruin of the first Roman Domination and the causes thereof. cap. 10.  
Of they beginnings and first foundations of the second Domination of the Romans in Christendom. cap. 11.  
How in creating an universal Bishop at Rome the Romans entered into possession of a fare more excellent Domination then that the had lost before. cap. 12.  
How they people follow none other Religion, but that which their Pastors teacheth them, and how they Romans give us one according to their own nature, cap. 13.  
A comparison of the Divine service invented by the Italians with the council of some subtle Physician cap. 14.  
That they err not at Rome for any diversity of Religions, so they tend only to maintain their Domination cap. 15.  
That the Romans are not contented to stay themselves with that which is spiritual, but would also dispose the kingdoms of the earth at their pleasure. cap. 16.  
That to make the kings of the earth vassals tributary to the Romans they sow wares amongst them and use censures. cap. 17.  
The council of Rome setteth Kings and Christian Princes together by the ears, and the way how they discover all their counsels and enterprises. cap. 18.  
The great forces of Excommunication to put the kings of the earth in fear, to make them their tributaries, and the magnanimity of Kings of France. cap. 19  
That it is a very false pretext that they take to refuse the King for his Religion sake, seeing the have a spite at all his race, and with them no more well, although they were never so great Catholics. cap. 20.  
The great subtlety of the council of Rome in getting into their hands the sovereignty of the new-found world conquered by the Spaniards. cap. 24.  
The causes why the money that is transported to Rome is called by the name of quintessence cap. 22.  
Of the excellency of the money which is transported to Rome out of other countries and how the Italians only can fetch it thither. cap. 23.  
How this money which is transported to Rome doth fly with an incredible swiftness. cap. 24.  
A descripsion of certain learned men, which hath alway feared they council of Rome and the causes why. cap. 25.  
The first mean the Romans use to maintain their Domination cap. 26.  
A second mean that the have to keep men in their service still. cap. 27.  
The third mean whereby the fortify themselves which the forces of three of the most mightiest in all Christendom. cap. 28.  
A demonstration how the council of Rome winneth to their side, Princes younger brothers, and maketh their voluntary vassals. cap. 29.  
Begging friars sent abroad and employed by the Romans to set upon those that dare open their mouths against their Domination. cap. 30.  
Of the jesuits service to blind youth with all to th'end to make them adore the Italian inventions. cap. 31.  
A brief Refutation of the Iesuistes. cap. 32.  
The council of Rome is like to certain perifogging Layers, who will not consent to have their causes disputed and heard in open audience. cap. 33.  
The brief confutation of a most pestiferous book published in France under the name of (the Catholic English man) cap. 34.  
How this false Catholic Englishman void of all humanity transformeth himself into all cruelty and rage. cap. 35.  
The first remedy by overthrowing the foundation stone upon the which the Roman Domination is builded, cap. 36.  
Constantine the great King of England opposed himself against the tyranuos persecutors of Christians that Italy brought forth. cap. 37  
An example of the Italians subtle dealing with the Admiral of chastillon. cap. 38.  
How the Bishop of Rome being created universal, other nations should not suffer the Italians to have him only to themselves. cap. 39  
That the council of Italy never made conscience to cut clear of the authority of the Pope when they smelled any thing for them to be gained. cap. 40.  
That other kingdoms may create and constitute Popes within themselves, because they Italians refuse these to be common to all. cap. 41  
Arguments in defence of a Pope, if their were any France, against him of Rome. cap. 42.  
How the Roman Ecclesiastic gnaweth the people of his own country, and teacheth those of other nation to do the like to their countrymen. cap. 43  
Very sit means to hinder the Ecclesiastic for meddling with that which concerneth the magistrates. cap. 44.  
That it is very requisite that the Magistrate should set his and to the Reformation of Churches, because that will never be done by means of any Pastors. cap. 45.  
That it is very needful to withstaud the enterprises of Churchmen, be they priestly or ministers and to chose protectors for the conservation of the people. cap. 46.  
That it is the duty of Pastors to plant the Faith, and to rout out vice and sin and not to make laws. cap. 47.  
That the controversies about the Lords supper by which the Pastors trouble the whole earth are easily to be appeased and quited if the Magistrates would but go about in good earnest. cap. 48.  
That in vain we look for deliverance out of the misery of France by any assemblies of Pastors. cap. 49.  
That all Christians are agreed of the place of joy and happiness, whether the must go, but disagree concerning the ways that must lead them thither. cap. 50.  
That men being contrary in opinions concerning the way of their salvation they must receive instruction of the celestial bodies. cap. 51.  
That the lights of heaven draw us to seek God in heaven, and to witness that their creator is in finite and incomprehensible. cap. 52.  
Of the sun the very portraiture of his creature, & what are his works and operations. cap. 53.  
That this light reproveth those, who detain men in worshipping Images, and the works of their own hands. cap. 54.  
How the Italians are proved to have abused the world in making men go to jerusalem, by the form of the firmament. cap. 55.  
The Harmony of the holy Scriptures of the Bible, and of the heavenly creatures, to humble man to give glory only to God, and to seek him above in heaven. cap. 56.  
The conclusion of this present Discourse. cap. 57