HISTORIA DE DONNE FAMOSE.  
Or The Roman jubilee which happened in the year 855.  
Disputed lately, that there was a Woman Pope named jone the eight, against all the jesuits, by a German, but especially against Rob. Bellarmine Father of all controversies, his Treatise De Roman pontifice. lib. 3. cap. 24.  
Newly translated into English. In Honorem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
Imprinted at London for Edward White, and are to be sold at his shop, near the little North door of S. Paul's, at the sign of the Gun. 1599   

Historia de Donne Famose. Or the Roman jubilee, which happened in the year. 855.  
THE jesuits being a new kind of Sacrificers, and of mystery mungers: first in our age at Venice, of a certain Spaniard a soldier (enriched with rapine and spoils, without any religious restitution made of his wrongs done) they took their offspring. And they of that Pope Paulus the fourth were well approved, being apparently worthy of such an Author: And therefore nothing deserving the surname of our Saviour jesus, because they being malcontent with the common commendable name of the Christians, do usurp the title of jesuits. Too much are they fruitful and multiplying in our soil of Germany: But God wots only for the rooting out (as the swine use) of the Cockle from the Corn, the very tars and Darnell of all Heresies. And so to reduce wandering sheep, wavering and lost into the soul and lap of their Mother Church. That no where but many of them are prepared and bend, that as soon as of one or an other forerunner any den or starting hole is praeoccupied, by and by all the residue flock thither.  
A certain Prince of ours did therefore nothing fond after this manner jesting term jesuits, or rather as other men after their deserts fitly term them Esauites: resemble them unto those louse which of a secret part of the body they use to offend, were called for their offence inginuals or Crab-lice, of which kind even of one, there remaining presently innumerable propagation & multitudes of issue are stirring: a fit comparison for such a flock. And not unlike he did compare them unto a game at Cards in the which the gamesters like Loadam play, and bring them forth last, that are of most price, to beat down the adverse party: or like the Ace of Hearts at Maw (the game is called with us Kumstich). So the Pope with his five fingers, the jesuits now at last when all is gone in Germany, sending forth his craftsmasters of Embassage, unto the 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  late lost authority here, thinketh either to recover the game, or to save the residue in his devilish hand, I name them Sacrificers, although this their own words, as they signify by the expurgatory index, and book of reprehension, they would else where to be now left out, affecting rather as Lords to hear themselves exalted to the society of jesus. But I was about to name them Monkeys, save that is unproper, yet Monks, such as Franciscanes or other orders of the beggars, are called unaptly Monks, when they use nothing else but only a Imgring life in frequent and rich Cities, where the profit of vagrants is fruitful, there they make their nests near to some Granar, like to mice or rats: ut prodat seipsum sores: yet they differ from franciscans not only in vesture or garment, shaving of their head, and in other apparel of the body, less absurd and monstrous, and less envied, and in hatred less abominable, even with the commons of our land. But also in this, that whereas they at men's doors by exacting of their reward, and by parcel●●ea pieces, require their bodily sustenance, the jesuits more stately in Bishopric and Abbeys, rich and well regarded, do spend their days, and do receive from thence by large sums, their whole prebents o● maintenance, the franciscans for this their beggarly life, they are ra●her less acceptable in neighbourhood & Scholarship, to the Bishops and Abots, and to those number of Princes which are too too much obsequious and faithful to their Sanctificed Father. I fear me they would it were to the detriment and utter losing and pernition of our Country and us. Not alone, for that part that dependeth and to pure & innocent religion belongeth, the which they no less than Esauites, murderers of Martyrs, wish to be oppressed, nay wish to be extinguished, yea with all that part that belongeth unto our Politic State & government, of which these Sinones are triers and betrayers, openly bewraying their bad cause, & secretly betraying our good, unto their Italianates & other strangers unto us, by reason of our rites of Ecclesiastical government & amendment, & our abiectment & reiectment of all their pontifical monarchy & yoke, for their attention & intention, to recover v● unto their pristine & old state of government called now Tyranny. Most like are those Esauites, if not more like unto those cowled and whooded beggars in one thing, for that pressing themselves into the Courts of our Princes: yea & into the nursery too, they observe, hearken 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  out & require to know what counsel is in handling what matters are one foot that so their news to their betters may strike a stroke in Prince's marriages, may moderate the elections of Bishops & Abots, & may design in the common wealths as yet Popish, both consuls & other Magistrates, with their privy persuasions, & secret instinct of nature. To this purpose, they propose their venomous & secret insinuation into the familiarity of the chiefest of those Cities by whom they may undermine the secrets of their government, which known (if it be known worthy) they signify it to their great Masters & Lords. Unto which policy of fishing, fowling & bunting after men's secrets, no one engine and wile doth more fit than confession, which we call auricular or rather ocular, all witness that may be, which unto this use so like a bait they retain and defend it, and to be so necessary for all Christians, as they are for their Mystagoge and 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  Prince of Sacrificers, who in the beginning have sworn to do it to them. And furthermore whether in chastity they do praeexcell these poor Whood-men or no, it may be doubted (not without cause) saving that sometimes at the Altar, whiles they missifie themselves and others with the Mass, whiles they preach in the Pulpit, whiles they teach in the chair, than they appear to all men to be continent.  
And moreover if it be a branch of chastity, voluntarily to swear and vow a single life against God and nature, and every man not to have his own wife, who then dare deny these Esauites truly to observe chastimony? O but so many societies, so flourishing a multitude of youth, of lively youth, securely, finely, want only living: which one, may meet so neat, so fair, as if they were brides, so vegitative, with such a habit of strength, as if they were Champions▪ such shall we say purely to lead singleness of life? hardly will it be believed of any who know the stimulation, (will say 'tis simulation) who know the force of inhuman nature unto generation, to be divinely invested in them, as all things else, will they think, will they understand it? For note what flagitious and prodigious, and wretched lust was re●ealed in the Colleges of Priests, in the den●es of monks, under a pretext of continency uttered: shall we not now think they wrestle as weakly with their insuperable nature? In our own Country of Germany, in England, in Denmark● and other places, where they were looked into, espied and meritoriously abolished, it is a thing so wried to be true in them, so notified that there need no more words to prove it.  
Neither is it enough for these new Hypocrites to cloak themselves with this simuled and false chastity, and by it to sell themselves away in vain ostentation unto the foolish credulous vulgar people. But not content with this, they defraud the Ministers of the reformed Churches, proudly and disdainfully, of their good names, as if they were incontinent and effeminate with their own wives, terming their children bastards, because they fearing God do yield to nature, the handiwork of our good God obeying it in chaste matrimony, living married, (a remedy for that only sin, and an only remedy for that sin of lust) and do beget issue, and do well bring them up, and take care for their families, and for the most part do with great difficulty, care for them, and do tolerate the matter with godly sorrow, while they without all economical and household grief of mind, or molestation of life in the commodities thereof, (without all discommodity) live in abundance of pleasures, delicacy & rioteousnes: Whence it is that necessarily must ensue (a consequent of time) that they act these things warily and covertly, until time revealing all things, doth also bring to open light and open shame, their misdeeds, even as already with us the filthy and uncivil lusts of the Monks, are at such a height gone up, that they appear to all men: whereupon late fame of two in Polonia being Esauites, it is delivered to us that one of them hath brought forth a child in their walks: many never suspecting it, yea many malevolent and backbiting our religion, have thought it very agreeable, and recounting the condition of such a society of two and no more, and remembering the like events in the Monks, especially in wandering runagates, & land-leapers with their beggary, have granted it might be true: Neither, yet is this rumour supplanted out of all men's minds there from suspicion: albeit by the Kings own edict, it was forbidden, any such wicked event to be misdeemed of two so holy Fathers. But thought they say is free. As perhaps neither doth this seem a fable altogether vain, nor can many be so easily dissuaded from that was said lately to be seen in the town of N. in a certain Canonical house of a Canon there, A jesuite was gining her child sucks.  
These men do imitateth Esauites, these former Munks in this thing also, that with no less happiness than diligence, they allure younglings, young men, ingenious, swift and full of speech, and many (in good time) not deformed, but want on Gammedes, and profane jones cupbearer (procul a phano) they know what secrets I mean, and also some more fortunate, by whom to the society of poor jesus much profit may rise, by their institution and nurtering of such, borne as it were desastrouse, they entice them into the cod of their net, by the which a perpetual Seminary is supplied, increasing with old men & their merits, and the merits of them dead succeeding others. For the institution of their Seminary and discipline they are to be praised, for that diligently they instruct them in the tongues, and in Arts (but that only in the seven liberal Sciences): More were they to be praised, if they did it to instruction, and sincerity, and piety, to the defence and conservation of the kingdom of Christ and his glory, not unto antichrist's Idols and tyranny, to be strengthened and confirmed on their side for profit and honours sake. Such 
Mundum pellectum. For Pellicio is with blandishment to entice, therefore the whore of Babylon is called pellex quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. A Gel. lib. 4. c. 3.  are these and all other their deeds, full of guile and fraud, full of their treacheries, only right and well tending, that with the shape of this good, which is altogether great in approved government and right discipline, they may by little and little accustom the world (harlot like enticed) unto them, and once again unto the pontifical Majesty, and to his worship. Mean while what do they? they endue the tender minds of the youth of the pontificality, it is of corrupt religious doctrine, and corrupt love, with hate and apostasy, of utter forsaking of plain and sincere truth, which never after they unlearn nor leave: for what then think you of such men not feigned nor coloured can be performed, who in so great and daily a light of Christianity already restored unto us (notwithstanding) employ their diligence to darkness: all their wits, yea and all their erudition, endeavouring to defend the same, who in so manifest deprehending, yea and open detecting of the high Priests of Rome, of their household, and all their clients, of their sliding back, apostasy, and fraudulent religion, shrouded under foison of truth, a tinfoile of deceit, practised against the people of so many ages, notwithstanding, they would defend themselves to be men, and men for all this, good and holy, the standard bearers of piety, and most worthy too, unto whose training, whose prescript order, men that are men indeed, must obey: thus they persuade the unskilful and fatuate commons to believe.  
This verily is the endeavour of the sodality, the fellowship of Esau, and of others his fellow servants, more than devilish, by which no more worthy nor efficient way to deprave or overthrow the doctrine of the church, could be premeditate and usurped, because they not only call in question, degrading certain of the latter writers, such as Stapulensis, Erasmus, Polydorus, Capino, Caspiniarus, and others, these sometimes not reverently reporting (like men of better note) against their pontifical and the wilds, tyranny, pride, disdain, and riot of their Prriests. And not resting there but in all unrest and disquiet, they would mussel up the mouths of the ancient Fathers, being the better sort of the interpreters of the holy Scriptures. And because they are wholly against their pontifical opinions and Monarchy (of which these knaves the Esauites publish themselves in profession, to be the very Atlas and Axletree to uphold all) in our age in a manner their Books have been Printed after the ouldest exemplar in written hand, sought forth, perused, and with the most noble diligence and incredible labour of Erasmus and others, most learned men, renewed from their defects, repurged of the written faults by their side committed, and thereupon Imprinted at Basile, and else where faithfully and truly, both Augustine, Jerome, Cyprian, Hilary, Irenaeus, Chrysostome, and others, whose names they have not signed in the book of life, but in their expurgato●ie Index, their censure of the whole world, most perfidously, wickedly, heinoussie, and all ungodly: some of these books they may me like a headless trunk or stock, some they deprave, some they increase, some they decrease, even agreeable for their own purpose as they please. And these by their own types and forms, their own Printers by the mandate of their Prince of the Apostles, and by the under commandment of other Princes, footmen to the Prince of Rome, Pages to the pontificals, they empress and set them forth, intending guile, foul fraud, and sacrilege, to all the Christians, both present and in future time hereafter, and that only to recover and uphold the stature of the Idol and of their Lord God the Pope's authority, power, and his grace. Which usurpation of theirs, both by the Apostles own writings (which I fear me in time they will also s●t upon to corrupt too) and by the Father's ancient monuments, are oppugned, are slided from their first creation, in as much that they may see themselves overthrown both horse and foot. O worthily worthy, that for this so great wretchedness, wickedness, and sacrilege, 
Scala Gemonia were the sleds for the damned in Rome. Cor. Tacit 〈…〉. they lay in Aventine, in the thirteenth ●e▪ gion of the City.  of us Christian people to be stoned to death, but more▪ in a more feeling fashion, is the master of them Anresignanus worthy to be dragged a long Rome on the Gemontan sled. And thus by reason of these capital fals●ries the Esauites both Bishops, Abbots, yea and the Princes of our provinces, pluck down to ruin noble and rich houses▪ unbuilde them, to feed these with the fattest and fairest Prebends: and thus they nourish that serpent Coluber in their own bosoms.  
Therefore to conclude them▪ behold, behold, I beseech you, and lend an ear too, with what study and industry Parasites execute their office, affirming by demonstration (the best argument that is) on every side, by all means and ways, their absolute and perfect sanctimony and holiness, the inviolable majesty of their Lord: insulting and singing according to the Proverb Canentes vernaculum, 
Canentes Vernaculum.  that, Chansowne, Chansowne, of whom they are fed. And they dare too deny a truth, confidently, impudently being compelled thereunto, as it were enfolded in gravel, with the arguments of the story, the verity▪ whereof almost for the space of this eight hundred years, even in the Pontifical kingdom (in Rome) was never doubt made, or disputation of controversy of any man offered before, but that all the libraries with one consent with one voice speaking, affirmed the faith of that history. Now at last and at lest forsooth, it is called in question, 
Vile Theatrum eat pessum Cortina lebescat: Senica nunc Comus cesses adulteria. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deus panim: pro papa.  brought under doubt by adulatory Parasites, sith they perceive the person, and the adored majesty, to be despect and despised, and amongst many other matters, their own curtain and wild theatre set open, & the story to be penned and played, stirred up and preferred more liberal of late then ever before And mark the story followeth.  
About the year of our Saviour Christ 855. Lotharius being Emperor, the son of Lewes called Pius▪ it happened to the holy sacred, and sacred holy Catholic and Apostolic See of Rome, to the Columns pillars & standard bearers, to the hinges & Cardinals (if so be there were any hinges to their doors or cardinals at that time) that their holy spirit, who in all their counsels is present ever, absent never, so as to err, to be deceived, to slide in any matter, they say of themselves they cannot, in some enormity their sprite served them, deceiving themselves, whether of ignorance or of purpose, or busied about other matters of more import, he suffered them in their creation and consecration of a new high Priest, inwardly, outwardly and most ridiculously to err, and to be shamefully deceived, in choosing without any discretion of sex a female Pope instead of a male. For Leo the fourth being deceased, an Aedile and quaestor very industrious, (the Consultation for a successor being propounded) there was conversing at Rome, one as it appeared, not one but two, a certain young man a German borne at men's, named john English in Scholes, in some places and withal in Greece brought up in erudition. He or she, in wit, doctrine, eloquence, manners, habit, and comeliness of body, to be admired at: at a word, such an one, that the Primates and chief men there in Rome were benevolent auditors, and did hear her in certain Schools where she red, there: and by their endeavours and sentence, she was preferred to the sacred Senate, designed and made a woman high Priest, in the steed of a man: so many prudent perspicuous sages, so many eyes and noses being by, yea without any admonishing of their holy spirit, so as they know not the woman's sex from the man's, no not by a beard, which though it had been razed after their own fashion, yet me thinks the stubbes should appear, no not by voice and other notes and tokens hidden and unknown. At last the fallacy was bewrayed in this plain event. In that her delicacy of licence to do what she list, lascivious nature admitted into her embracing, either a Cardinal or some meaner man more familiarly, by whom she was begotten with child. When her time was almost expired, & her next neighbour the birth day was at her hand, so imprudently as a Heighfer not expert in her first calf, on the day of their litamie and Procession (as they call it) she walked forth, & falling down in the very public walk amongst the whole rou●, (beli●e expressing her estate, they left her forborn) there with dolour and pain, she brought forth her first begotten, and so in the child-birthe they both perished.  
This story the Esauites contend against, & would have it to be a fablement, and so many of integrity, grave writers in whose consenets and momoments, it is expressly red, they reprove so unreverently, so arrogantly, both of vanity and falsehood, and that not for t●nthes sake and affirmation thereof, so much as for that, wheresoever any thing maketh against them, they do adulterate or suppress it, (as I showed before). But this is because they would wash away the blot, and guild their worthless copper (Pope) from this crime, in this our latter age reject, and thrown into despect, and ignominy for their Roman Hierarchy, the foundation whereof in perpetuity, even from this time unto the succession of Don Petre: (for Peter himself was never at Room) they would scite and derive it: which rope of sand made like a chain broken, by reason of this woe to man, dolefully they brook it, being desirous to have it to remain in integrity, linked with their petty degree.  
In former times, books of such Histories were red of 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Of the triple Crown.  few, and they that might read them, they in honour and grace of the Triple Crown, of the Vicar of God, upon the earth did dissemble them, and retain them in silence, as a thing too shameful, not only evil but absurd, and 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  to his estimation and glory, a great detriment: now the Esauites unto whom as unto triers or old soldiers of the 
Trianios.  rearward, the sum in gross of regaining and revenging from all vice and fault, the Majesty Pontifical at this day is delivered, will persuade us with their loquence that this is a fiction, and that no such thing could be. Albeit upon the matter, there i● no great moment in it, whether it be a fable or a variety, of this Pontifical and 
Puer perium.  Great-belly● yet to express in this pageant, their harlot's foreheads, and the whores faces of these Parasites, and how much in other great matters they are to be believed, and trusted unto, and that men may be warned and armed, the more from their fraud, I will with God's help, truly repeat the brevity of Historio-Graphers, as many certain as have been seen of me, their testimonies, the matter in fact (not a fiction) and affirmed, and confirmed by them, which being red, let any stout and just arbitrator censure, whether more faith and credit, is not to be ascribed unto the tradition (old and consenting together) of so many excellent men in piety and integrity, or rather unto the denial, new and never heard of before, of a few fresh Hypocrites and Gnathos, denying what they lust, and affirming what they lust, in favour of their own Master. Of all that truly are read of the men of our time (as 
Radal. Flaviens, by the course of nature, might be at it, & so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, their far his age unto 930. the fact was done 75. years before he died, if this reference be true in 855.  I suppose) the most ancient writer of this Feminine Lord, is old Ralph Flaniencis, a benedictine Monk, alleged in the centuries of the Ecclesiastical History, and whom Trithemius termeth a brief Chronicle, which the Authors of the Centuries name Polycronicon, they say that he writ it, referring his age unto the year of our Lord 930. myself have not yet obtained the reading of it: but they scite the fifth book of Radulphe, Chapter the 32.  
To produce the first that I have red, I have Marianus after his native country surnamed Scotus, whose honesty and verity by this may be esteemed, that the fellowship of the Benedictines, both Cullin, Fulda. & Mons received him, and striving with entertainment, at his first coming into Germany, where he died Anno Domini, 1086. He in the third book in the sixth age of his Chronicle: in few words showeth the matter to be so ignominious, and especially in that time, not to be ripped up▪ nor heaped upon: yet of all faithful Historiographers not to be pretermitted neither, in brief, he saith thus. In the year of Lotharius the 14. the woman jone succeeded L●●, for two years, five months and four days. This testimony of Martin, the Esauites do elevate and make light of, because in their manuscript books it is not extant. But with what face can these falsaries require, that in this matter or manner, can trust be given to them? who themselves in describing, omit what they lust, and things that other men write, some they eat out, and some they blot out. The Copy which the Printer of Basile did imitate came forth of the Library of the College of Saint Bartholomew's in the City of Frankfurt, by the commandment of the Bishop of men's, in which exemplare, these words (which they deny to be in their copy) were found contexed. With like fidelity, they deny this story also to be found 
I remember I have seen this in Sigisb. Gembls. 1. Milo Smith a famous Doctor, showed me the book printed at Paris. Nor am I ignorant that Bellarmine answereth in ipsius Si gisberti, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non inne●itur: but without witness that it is Sigisb. own hand, written now above 500 years save only on john Molane lately living Doctor of Lovane who it may be plucked out the leaf: now is ready to swear with Beilar. that it is not in the first copy, and that they knew Sigisb. own hand 500 years since written: it were a miracle if they suffer any copy, now to remain in their territories much less in their Libe●ties, therefore I believe Bellar. and Mollane both in this.  in a certain old book of Chronicles of Sigisbert▪ a Monk, which in all other his books are expressed, and are to be read in this manner. Fame reporteth that this john was a woman, and known familiar to some one only, who it seemed embraced her, being great with child, she was delivered being Pope. Wherefore some do not number her amongst the High priests: Therefore he maketh no number of that name. Sigisbert lived in the time of Henry the fourth, about the year of our Lord God, 1110.  
I find next unto Sigisbert Martin surnamed of Polone a Monk, of the order of Preachers, penitentiary unto Pope Nicholas the third: after Archbishop of Consentin●, at the year of our Lord 1320, whose Narration of john the Pope, is this, john English, borne at men's, sat in the Seat two years and five months he died at Rome, and all the offices were void them for one month. This john as it is affirmed was a woman. And when in her childhood of a certain lover of hers, she was brought to Athens in man's apparel, she did so profit in divers Sciences, that no one was found to be comparable unto her, in so much that afterwards she reading at Room openly, obtained great Masters to be her scholars. And then in the City she being of great fame by her conversation and science, by counsel of them all, she was chosen to be Pope: But in the Papal seat by her familiar friend, she became pregnant with child, yet unskilful of the time that women reckon for their birthright: when she was tending her journey from Saint Peter unto Lateran● (the Pope's Palace) being environed betwixt the Colossis and Saint Clement's Church, she fell in labour, and was delivered, and afterward when she was dead, she was buried there, as it is said in the Colossis.  
Now because that my Lord the Pope, doth always shun that place, that way: it is believed on all sides that he doth it for detestation, and hate of that fact. Neither is it put into the Catelogue of the holy high Priests, as well for the sex of her womanhood, as for the deformity of so fowl a deed. These same words wholly in a manner are to be red in the book of Richard the Monk of Cluniacens, the title whereof is, The number of the, Roman high-priests, which is kept in the Library. Which words a man very honest certainly told unto us, that he saw them at that place written (being there) about sixteen year ago. Richard was before Martin, and was his antecessor a hundred and fifty years, upon Trithemius report.  
This same express and so clear a narration of Martin, the Popes own penitenciary, which office is not a little credit among these vain Paper-puffed men, in which he behaved himself so, that for his reward, he was endued with an archbishopric, by the which no body could be more certain of the Acts and Histories of the high Priests than he might. And yet these Esauites (chief Bellarmine) do enuic still-that before Martin Polone, not ●ne betrayed, this to the memory. But have you not marked how both Sigebert, Mariane, Radulphe, and Richard were all before him: yea and many more out of whom he but gathered these and other things too, as he himself in the Proem, beginning his Chronicle doth well signify? And besides that Mariane in the very entry of his work doth rehearse, out of whose monuments he heaped up this story, who were either all of them interred then, or else done to dust some where, or being dead, they were dismembered and lay hid, not any alive. But if it were true that Martin was the first that ever commanded this to writing, shall we therefore think it to be a fable? Many things certes in stories both divine and profane we read of, the which their own Authors having heard it of old men, their elders and betters, did first before any others comprehend it in writing.  
And should we therefore doubt in ambiguity of the truth of all these writers and matters? Anastasins the keeper of the Library (they allege with others) in that same time survivors being Chroniclers, do make no mention of jone the woman Highpriest. As though all men wished it, and as if no man, in his secret opinion and judgement, could think it a thing so unworthy of the Pontifical seat (even at which themselves blushed) but would not be content to pass it to the sink of oblivion in silence, to all posterity, slumber, and funeral, of such a fact. As touching certain Greek writers Zonaras and others, that they did decline (as the Esauites suppose) from their institute purpose, and that it was proposed by them only to handle the matters of their own Emperors and Churches, and not of the Roman high-priests, and for their hatred this cause of shame they opened. O but doth not Leonicus Chal●●condilas an Athenian in the sixth book of his Demonstration of Histories, rehearse the manner and rites of the electing and proving of a new Highpriest? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. etc. 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  That is, they place him who is chosen upon a sell having an open hole, by which his golden fleeces, hanging down, of some one deputy to this office, they are handled, that it may be known whether he is a man: for they perceive that in times past, a woman crept into the See of Rome because her sex was not discerned, (and therefore almost over all Italy and the western regions, the men do apparently shave their berdes.) And when she was great bellied, she was going to a certain sacrifice, and there 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  brought forth her infant in the view of the people, whereupon for sure knowledge, and no doubt, they handle the manly parts and he that feeleth, crieth aloud: A man is our Master. And now I will not allege that their argument of authority, brought in negatively, 
Ab authoritate negative.  and so drawn forth (according to the Logicians) is nothing worth. As for example, if you reason thus: Frisingensis & Vribergensis, who then lived, did never remember us of that inhuman▪ and more than Scythian insult and revenge of Alexander the third, in which he spurned Frecoricke the first Emperor of that name, prostrate before his feet, exclaiming in the troup to a circumstance of his flatterers, the Psalm: Thou shalt make thy perambulation upon asps & Basiliscus, etc. Ergo, they that did write of this do make a lie: a s●und argument.  
another objection of Bellarmine is, that the writers of this story differ amongst themselves whether she were borne in England or at men's. Alas alas Martin doth not so write as they cavil, that England was her native 
Vocatus de Anglia As many men are called john French, john Holland, john Ireland. that never were in any of these Nations, much less borne there.  country, but that she was surnamed of England, being borne at men's, johannes Anglicus, nati●●e Moguntmus, and not as Bellarm●ne placeth the Comma, and calleth▪ Martin a simple man, johannes Anglicus natione, Moguntmus: and saith Martin knew not whether men's were in England or in Germany, a frivolous excuse. But this thing, jacobus Curi● Hosemius sometimes Physician ●nto Alv●●● Bishop of men's and Cardinal, in his Chronicle he confirmeth ●● saying. After that the Saxons were overcome by Charles the great, and reduced to Christianity, there came out of England unto Germany, men learned, for propagation of religions sake, and amongst them the Father with the mother, great with child of this woman: being banished, brought forth this daughter of hers at men's, and named her Gilberta. And thence it cometh that she was surnamed of England. And I pray you what marvel were it, if a matter ●o prodigious and hideous should be told of some one way, and of some an other way, of which the true men would set forward truth, and liars would either conceal the truth, or deprave it?  
They object that at Athens then was no study of learning and Philosophy, they prove it out of an Epistle of 
Cardinal Bellarmine saith very ill: Ne vestigium quidem literarum in t●ta Gracia.  Synesius, who went the there in the time of Theodosius the younger, when there he found no Schools. But Synesius doth not write that he found altogether none, not a flock, nor a hear, but not a handibredth, not eight ounces or inches of learning, & that he found not such store there as he thought he should have found. There were also then Colleges of Doctors and Scholars, yea in other neighbour cities of Greece, at Thessalonica and Constantinople, where the studious, whom the fame and former opinion of great Athens conceived, had deceived, might very well bestow themselves.  
Objection: The high Priests at that time did not dwell in Vatican but in Latherane! what doth this hinder it, but that Martin should declare a truth? He doth not say, that the High priest went forth in Procession from his palace Vatican unto Latherane, but from S Peter, whose house then was there, without all controversy, or I am foully deceived. From that house returning in his pomp, groaned as mountains do, & brought forth a Mouse. It doth seem to these wandering Esauites, that Martin was a most simple man, ●● one that writ many other fables: it doth seem to us the contrary, that he was a man of a noble stomach, and true hearted, not any fable●, for else his Chronicles would not have been written out into so many examplars and manuscripts, before any Printers were ever borne, in so much that in all the best instructed Libraries it might have been found. And then our videtur is so much the more available than their videtur, for because whatsoever maketh against them, that, they contemptuously and scoffingly with a nose of Simon, and crook backed, are wont to mock at, when with reasons they cannot confute it.  
There is another Martin of the family of the Minorits, in his Chronicle to which he giveth title. The flowers of time, pertaining even till Charles the fourth's time, that reporteth the same of jone, adding this also, that she adjuring a certain man possessed with a Devil, demanded when the devil would departed, unto whom the evil spirit versifying, answered.  

Papa pater patrum, papiss● pandito partum,  
Et tibi tunc edam, de corpore quando receda●●.   

Good Pope our Father's Father, send forth our mother's mother,  
And then from thee I'll start, when I from her departed.   
I have seen this Chronicle in written hand in Latin, and in the German tongue, with types Imprinted at Ulmes in the year 1486. This notable woman (perhaps) esteemed that it would come to pass, that the very devils and all, would be obsequious and obedient, to give place to her, indeed as to a familiar, and well deserving favourite and minion of theirs. For as it is said, she writ a Book of Necromancy, of the power and strength of devils.  
Francis Petrarch a man on every side chief, I suppose they will not deny him to be of so sound judgement, that between a fable and a history, he knew well enough how to discern, and to be of such gravity and uprightness, that what he had suspected to be false, he would not have sent it for a truth in open tables, to all after times and prosperities. Out of his Chronicle written in Italian, and Printed at Florence in the year 1478. this I translated into Latin, in the year of our Lord God 855. john English, held the High Priesthood two years, five months and four days. The Church was vacant for one month. He is not placed in the Catelogue of the Popes, because he was a woman: who in her nonage, of a certain lover of hers, was brought to Athens, in the habit of a man, there in divers studies and sciences, she escaped their knowledge and did prove excellent. After when she came to Room, she ascended such a height of fame, that she was had in admiration with all men, whence it happened by concord & suffrage of the best, the supreme honour of a Pope was attributed unto her. Which thing afterwards betrayed itself to the world.  
In her time in the City of Brixie, three days and three nights it rained marvelously blood: and in France appeared monstrous Locusts, having six wings and six feet, and teeth very hard, flying through the air admirably, which after were all drowned and suffocate in the Sea of Britain. From whence the carcases of them were beaten to the shore, and did so corrupt the air, that a great part of the inhabitants there died. This Petrarch died in the year of our Saviour Christ, 1374.  
john Bocace inwardest friend to Petrarch, both for his wit and for his similitude of study, and manners, an other he, doth rehearse this jone, and describe her, first called Gilberta, as he saith in his book of noble women, Chap. the 99 which in these words he concludeth. To detestation of whose filthy hood, and continuance of memory of her name, even unto this day, the chief Priests of the Rogation, with the rest of the Clergy, and people going to do Sacrifice, they abhor that place of her child, borne in the midst of her journey, and omitting it, they decline through by ways, and streets, and so that detestable place spurned at, reentring home, they end their journey which they began. There is also placed in a book, to be seen, the picture and spectacle of the Childbirth of the Pontifical, with circumstances of Cardinals and Bishops, standing by, like Midwife's or Nurse's. That same book of Bocaces making, is turned into the German tongue, of a Physician in the City of Vl●●es, and Dedicated to the Duchess of Austria, in the year 1473. Imprinted in the same City, with old Characters & rude, and with all the picture of her bringing forth her child. To this do agree certain rhymes consonant in Italian, out of an old hand written book taken, whose title is, Historia de Do●ne Famose, and of famous Women.  

Historia de Donne Famose.  
Gion●●ni setti●o, infra quest astute,  
La se●●a gloria del Pontificato,  
Administro con cure alt●. etc.  
Eper in temperantia lei dif●s●,  
No● f●c● asua lasi●ia, etc.  
Un gi●rno ac●●dde, e fu vicina alparto,  
Una solemnita, est ●matae digna;  
Onde con●i●●, chel suo termin coart●  
S●e discoperto, in procession ven●re:  
D●●e a quel tempo il figlio in ●●rr● hasparto.  
E con dolour f● vista partorire,  
In presentia del p●p●l con tormento:  
E l▪ une l'altro, lor vita fi●ire.   
Interpretation word for word.  

The seventh, john, amongst these w●ly snares,  
The sum and glory of the richest Seat,  
A jone for john, did minister with cares,  
And wanting temper did herself defeat,  
Withouten cease by her lasciviousness.  
It fell upon the feast near lying down,  
solemnity, high, holy, and of fame,  
As ought her term restrain, her triple crown  
Detect. To Litany all as they came,  
Laid instantly her birth, upon the earth.  
With dolours doom how soon she was unbent?  
With people's eyes how sore she was torment?  
So he and she did die forlorn in lent.   
Anthony Archbishop of Florence, in the second part of his history, to the narration of jone, out of Martin the penitentiary repeated, he weveth this same Web, saith there is a certain sign of a marble Sculpture, in the way where this happened, placed there for a memorial of the matter. And to the matter, he proclaimeth as a 
Respr●p●ana non prucula phano.  thing so wicked, so profane: (yet not far from the Temple) this saying of S. Paul, O altitud●●●pientia & s●ientia Des, etc. As if our good God had procured and perfected this punishment, not as if that wicked fiend the Devil, foul and abominable, had been the sole author of it: yet the end he saith if it were true (as granting) yet to none is there any prejudice by this of Salvation, because neither the Church then, was without a head▪ which is Christ, etc. yet he speaketh doubtfully, (in a plain case) lest a blot so filthy to the Church (otherwise pure) should not appear to be abhorred.  
The standing Image of which he maketh mention, the Esauites do suppose that it hath not the shape of the woman and her infant, but of some Priest with his boy going afore him to Sacrifice, lest otherwise they should ●a● nothing to contradict it. The way that declineth from the right way (as in all other matters) so in this, they do take it to be the most commodious way for them to go in presession, whereas we do hear by others, that have with contemplation curiously beheld both, say this way is more commodious and shorter than the other. But some think this monument of such dishonour, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the 
Monumentum quasi. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  most memorable place of all others, is destroyed, abandoned and unbound, now and a good while ago: to abolish or to diminish her fame, with us the Heretics and adversaries to the Church of Room, that do so play on stages, and stir it up in this our time. As with all the visage of this popit or little Pope, momit or little mome, in the City of Seen in the primary, Church there made with a woman's face, with this inscription, Femina de Anglia. (But all English men defy her) and together with many other Popes, which are now a few years past, either called in, or removed away as we hear.  
William james Monk of Ecmondence near to Alcmaria, in a parchment book now two hundred years past, as far as I can conjecture written, doth contain the lives of the Popes in meeter, such as were used in that time to be composed, too too curiously even unto obscurity, therein being observed the number of Syllables, and the rhythm, which such as they are, as touching this jone accept I pray you.  

Priusquam reconditur Sergius, vocatur  
Ad summa qui dicitur johannes, huic addatur,  
Anglicus. Moguntia iste procreatur, etc.   

The Lions gone, the Sergeant is untombed, one called,  
To climb, whom travel had with child benumbed, jone stalled,  
Would flying fame, of her had never humbed, she said.  
Whom England named, but men's did bring her forth,  
Whom sentence yields, was more than woman's worth;  
By Sex as sequence plain demonstrate doth.  
Abbreaviate voice! though Annals do exceed,  
Of her, of whom less said the better meed:  
She was the Queen Amazon by our creed.  
But men's her native bower relinquished, 
And Grace, That Fleece, One Piece.   
She studious sought and schools unfinished,  
Of Colchis learned men diminished.  
Of Room the walls, by her wit raised were,  
As music Thebes or Athens Phrines gear:  
Her sex exalted she was near the near.  
'tis said her servant holp her to a son, 
The birth, Vngirth, O●irth!   
At hand, she climbed a horse at noon:  
Near weeping Cross Precession was begun.  
Enormity Gods shamed in our City,  
In Clement's street a child borne without pity?  
Both by Colossis buried nothing witty?  
Shall Poets know that Popes do in by hate, 
Plaine-ways, by-ways, Noon days.   
And love by reason of this mortal fate:  
And all we miss the way to heaven gate.  
O then deny that ever we so slided,  
And that her name is from our names divided.   
This Poet here saying, de qua breui●s dicta minus ledunt doth insinuate that he himself is ashamed of this declaration, and fears lest some should be offended with it, he adjoineth jone to Sergius, after Leo the fourth was past.  
In the Chronicle of Albert Abbot of Stade●s, which endeth in the year of our L. 1255. lately Printed at Helmestade, he is named john the seventh, and a little after john the ninth, there being left out and omitted jone the eight. Otto Bishop of frisingen's, of equal age 
Frisingens●.  with Frederick the first, in his first book, in his Catelogue of Popes, placed john the woman in number the seventh, as doth the Sculpture, and graven Image at Seen in Tussis. Which diversity and perturbation in 
Seen not far from Rome a famous City which Breanus Captain of the French built, for his old soldiers▪ and for his poor, Anno ante Christi adventum 362 Author Pompo ●●●s, Lib, 3.  Chronicles, rise up of this, because certain of the antiquaries did altogether exclude this woman▪ others did conclude and agree of her, but placed her in a spare place distant out of order, as the Author of Fasciculus Temporum, the farthel of flowers hath, and as here this Poet of theirs, doth intimate it was done.  
But it is no more absurd, that such a Pontifical should confound the order of history, then that Pontifex puer pera, the woman Pope, with his Feminine name and nature should disturb all the Rules in Grammar.  
In the antic Chronicles (Augustiano) written in Latin hand I red this. Furthermore not far from that tempestuous time of the year of our Saviour Christ 855▪ there was at Room a Pope john the eight, named (qui mulier) a he woman, yea that filthy harlot Gilberta of men's, led about in man's apparel: of a certain Monk of the monastery of Fulda, both through Greece and Italy, a beast most littered, I would say lettered, and most learned, most changeable and crafty, Chameleon like; escaped out, and endued with a Pope-doome, inscaped in the City likewise.  
Raphaell Ualaterane in his Commentaries, Dedicated to the very Pope julius the second, was not afeard to write thus of john: john English whom they call a woman, in her dissembling habit, otherwise most famous for learning, they say was overtaken in the way, where she brought forth a Child.  
Now let us produce Platina: who albeit he had tried the cruelty, and severity of the Pope Paul the second towards him: yet he feared not to write of jone unto Sextus the fourth, which story now as vain these pield fellows do reprove, so far were they from inditing or penning it, they durst not write a word of it: the which he confesseth is taken out of Martin, and because they are induced before time, and recited as his, I will not repeat them now, to which he subjoineth these. There are which object these two things. That the Pope when he should go unto the Princely Court of Laterane, 
Basilica 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly a hall of judgement, as Hesiod▪ intendeth where the judges are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Doniuor●s judices Buds.  for detestation of so foul a fact, doth decline from that way, of a set or consulted purpose: and for because he would shun the sight of such an error: whiles first he is placed in the seat of Peter, which is bored through with a round hole, that the secret parts may be handled of the last of all the Deacons there.  
Touching the first of these objections, I will wink at it: for the second thus I think. That Seat to be prepared to this end, that he that is constitute, and ordained in such a Magistrates place (for Magistracy will soon show what a man is) may know himself not to be a God, but to be subject to the necessities of nature: as for example, digestion and such like, whence the seat is called meritoriously A close stock, this that I have said is commonly carried about, but by uncertain and obscure Authors, which I therefore instituted, to set down briefly, and barely, least obstinately and frowardly, I should seem to omit, that which almost all men affirm. Let us err therefore with the multitude, in this matter: albeit it may appear that this that I have said, is out of those things, which may be, by possibility believed to be true. Hitherto Platina, whose latter words, whiles he saith fieri potuisse, do manifest why he said Erremus cum vulgo, lest God wots, he should offend his Lords in affirming the story directly. But the cause of the Pope's declining the way, he confesseth to be the young child of the woman Highpriest.  
But for the use of the Stercorary stool which he saith is not convenient, for such holiness and divine Pontificiality o which the simple & foolish superstitious rout is of opinion that he stooleth nothing but Ambrosia which he eateth again, to be converted wholly into the substance of his deified body, which vulgar so religious opinion of God's Vicar made of earth: O it is by no means to be dimished (no, no beware of that). Again, if any necessities of human nature remaining in him, were to be represented 
〈…〉 ciolum 〈…〉.  by any right: o it were more decent to do it by a dish of sweet meats, and by the receiving of food, then that that it should be done by egestion of the excrements. For by that Antecedent, this consequent would ensue, and come to light. That, He that doth eat, he must stools so again, He that doth stool, he must eat. Pl●ni● remembering (like the best remembrancer) of a story natural to the Grasshoppers, maketh them to have no wicket, neither for a Cricket to void excrements by, he addeth with all, neither mouth to eat food by.  
And when brother Robert the French Dominicane, in his book of Visions, written 300. years since, doth report of this Throne to be seated in the Po●ch of the Palace of 
Porphyre stone is that we call Marble, or Lapis Numidicus of the Romans', indeed a stone out of Numidium, so named of the colour because it doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 glitter like Rubbish or Iron or the privy stool might be porphyretica and perforata both even as they report.  Laterane, by which the Pope is tried, whether he is a man and which he in an extasis or dream, did behold to be made of Porphyry stone, such as others have also exhibited unto us, have seen it what it was: it is nothing likely that the Author of this common place of Ajax being Benedict the third, by whom he saith, it was placed there, should riot so insolently and impudently withal, that he would prepare an instrument so precious, (out of Numidia) and so splendent with all, to signify so filthy a matter, to wit, the deiectment of the belly. Therefore the Esovites have commented (for what may not commentaries do?) upon a more honest allegory of this Throne, and less unclean: that is, they term it an Ajax or S●ercorarie, because it doth admonish the new Pope sitting upon it, that he is made of human dung out of low estate (being but poor Cardinals and Princes fellows) out of humility unto sublimity, out of minority to superiority (as they speak) to be raised. And there upon of the Clergy compassed about to him, to 
O inexpected and intolerable blasphemy open to the world by Cardinal Bellarmine.  him, all tongues and Organs resound out of the Psalm: He raiseth the poor out of the dust, and out of the dung he doth erect the beggar that he may place him with the Princes (nay then above the Princes) of his people: We could admit the Commentary & fiction, but that Stercus, Ajax, of whom forks and scowpes and tumbril, named dunke-finders, dung-fillers and dung-carters or carriers, are fitly derived and called S●ercorarie & S●erquilinie, if of the earth it were called earthly, there were more toleration, and a cleanly similitude in the interpreter. Wherhfore we do assent unto their scent, as the truer relators, who do affirm that it is a relative used, not usurped, but made to try the genital parts. Yea and we are drawn unto it (as we esteem) by this argument, because oftentimes we have heard in the Popedom, that the sacrificing sort have jested, and termed those manly parts (by the figure Antonomasia) pontificals (for they make a high priest) truly of none other cause, but that by these rights well known to them, in 
Ab infimo Di●con● membrum attractatur.  which the most infamous Deacon of the Cardinal, doth handle that part of the new Pope hanging thorough the hole, and doth handle them, exclaiming Habet: it were out of use in times past this experiment to have been, by which they now approve themselves, the root of evil not to want, when as before their Priesthood they begat bastards, which done, those they had about them, some Cardinals▪ some Bishops, and called them the Sons of brothers and of sisters. This approbation of verity johannes Pannonius Bishop of five Churches, doth finely note in these verses.  

Unlock the heaven gates? no woman can assume,  
That hath not made her trial in the air  
Where empty nothing is: none dare that seat presume,  
Except some new Hermophroditus heir.   
Anthony Sabelicus doth affirm almost as much as Platina saith of love in his ninth Enead, placing her as Frisingensis did number, the seventh of her name.  
jacobus Philippus Bergonie, of the family of the hermits, in his supply of supplies of Chronicles, hath as touching jone, some things not differing from these that Martin, Platina, and the rest do write: he saith, she travailed with child publicly, without a Midwife, and in the same place she died miserably with her child, and buried there without any honour at all, in whose place, saith he, Benedict the third was chosen. This Book is imprinted in Latin at Venice Anno 1503. and there also in Italian, in the year of our Lord God 1540  
The like things are red in Matthew Palmers continuation of Eusebius and Prosperus, which beginneth at the year 449. and endeth in the year 1471. The exemplary was Printed at Basill 1549. neither do they differ from this, which of this Pope the Duke of Genua called Baptista Fulgosus, of the same age that Palmer was of, noted in his Book of Memorable sayings and deeds, set forth at Basil in the year 1541.  
Trithemius in his Chronicles of the Monastery of Hirsaugia, in the life of Luitprando the first Abbot, after other things, he speaketh of jone the high Priest. They say that she being of a certain familiar of hers▪ mpressed, brought forth child in the open street. And for that many would not place her amongst the Popes, as it were abhorting the unworthy fact.  
john Stella Priest of Venice, in his book, the title whereof is, The lives of two hundred and thirty of the highest Priests, from blessed Peter the Apostle, even unto julius the fift of that name, and the Preface is to Dominic, Grimane, Cardinal there, and the same matters delivered which Philip of Bergonie handled, touching jone the Pope.  
I have beheld a History book ample and fair, and precious too, set forth at Norimberge in the year 1493. with Picture of Emperors and Popes, in which at the Narration of jone the Woman Pope, was expressed the shape of the woman pontifically crowned, but for her Rochet pontifical, she had a garment womanlike upon her shoulders, and for her triple Crosier and thrice crossed sceptre, she had an Infant in her arms.  
Naucleare Prepositer and Chancellor of Fabinge in his great Historical work doth report no otherwise of jone the eight, then is of these afore, then that which Martin and which Platina do intimate.  
Valerius Anscimus in his Chronicle dedicated to them of Bernia. jone the woman of men's climbing the pontifical seat, by her excellency of manners and learning, left it by the infamy of her childbirth, and died.  
Albertus Cranzius by his judgement betwixt true & false, being a grave Historiographer, and Deane of Hanburgh, betwixt consenting & dissenting a judge, of all readers his monuments worthily, are much attributed unto. He in a Catalogue of the Priests, strictly doth note jone in these words: john English of men's was a woman belying her own sex, with an acute wit, with a prompt tongue, learnedly she could speak, in so much that she converted all men's minds towards her, to the intent that she should obtain the pontifical seat only, one servant had secret intelligence of her sex, by himself made pregnant, compressed, it is said she brought forth at the Colossis, in the 2. year not expired of her reign, in childbirth she died.  
Carthusiane the Author of the Farthel of times (as the wiser sort do judge) not to be contemned, placed jone without the number of the Popes, with this description. That john English by Syr-name, but by birth of men's▪ is said to be about those times, and she was a woman clothed in habit of a man.  
She did so proceed in divine scripture●, and profit withal, that none was found like unto her, she was chosen to be Pope. But after being made pregnant with child, when publicly she should proceed in procession, she was delivered and died. And this seemeth to be the sixth Pope that had the name of sanctity without any desert to this day. And like others of them (observe the verity of this man) she was plagued & not placed in the Catalogue of Popes. Some trifle in this cause, that no Almain should be chosen Pope, which appeareth to be false for Carthusiane the Monk dare say, yea that before jone and before our age 800. years, there were wicked Popes, and well worthy the infamy of jone. The same thing in this Esauitical age a man, may say of Popes much more wicked than these were both Horrible, blaspheming, and heresy, worthy of fire and faggot.  
Baptista Mantuanus in his third book of Alphonsus and 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  description of a place of Tartarus or hell maketh there john the Pope hanging, an abominable matter expressed in very sweet verses.  

Hinc pendebat adhuc sexum mentita virilem,  
Famina, cui triplici phrygiam diademate mitram,  
Ext●llebat apex & pontificalis adulter.   
And seineth her in the entrance of Tartarus in the first place of hell, as is fit for a Pope (before all other) which are there varioushe vexed, to hang with her adulterer and concubine, it is a marvel verily that these falsaries do not relate and bring into their damnation book called Thexpurgatorie index. Mantuans works also which are so many stomaching the defiled Popedom of zeal and godly indignation. Her Ca●●e●●●es may see her perform her purgatory without all delivery as well she deserves to do.  
Neither may I omit here a rich testimony of Coelius Rodeginus, a man of infinite reading, whom it appeareth nothing lay hid from, that was contained in books, of whose integrity and gravity in judging, so much the less men may doubt, because every where in his work he beareth a godly mind, speaking reverently of our Saviour Christ, which virtue to him and but a few more Italians, especially in this age is common. He in his forth volume of Antiquary lections, numbering learned women nameth jone, what saith he? do not we know that in Chronicles it is resolved: that jone English only from the beginning of the world alone, in the form of a man, durst invade the seat Pontifical of Rome, in the shape of a man, Yea verily, and admit one of her familiars, who only inwardest, hit nail on the head, knew the matter and the manner, was admitted unto the bed and chamber, therefore unto the bed chamber, and then she with child in the sum of dignity and disdainfulness, travailed with child? This was done in the year of health, eight hundred, fifty three. There is more fidelity to be attributed to this man, yea and an Italian too, his testimony, his affirmation more this matter, then to all the inficiation, all the denial of the Esauites, which Parasites and hirelings will do any thing to demerit the altar, and say any thing for their Lord and master.  
The Chronicle of john Lucidus begun from the beginning of the world, unto the year of our Lord 1536. produced. And from thence he being dead, it was increased by a certain Monk unto the year 1575. And dedicated unto a certain general (as they call it:) an Abbot, doth present verily john English in the form of the Popes, but not in the number of them: saying, john English a woman, reigned two years, five months, and four days, she is not put in the Cathalogue of the Popes, and therefore the seat was then void, until the year of our Lord 855. This Book is Imprinted at Venice in the year 1575.  
john Henald a Frenchman, of the state of the Church from the time of the Apostles under Nero, unto Charles the fift Emperor (saith so of this Pope, as the rest of the Histories, and addeth, that this is a true figure of that great spiritual fornication of the Roman Popes. And after this the harlot daily more and more, did manifest herself, and greater was the iniquity of this commanding seat laid open.  
In a German Chronicle in written hand, out of many Authors gathered by james of the King's court (Uon Konigs Holen) a Priest of Argentine, which beginneth God Almighty and everlasting, etc. ending in the year 1456. in Eugenius the fourth it is read, folio 110. joannes von men's was Pabst. etc. john of men's was a Pope two years and five months, she was a woman Pope, etc.  
The Chronicle of Martin in Germany restored, retaineth the very same altogether, which is in the Latin. The exemplary hand writing that I have seen, is absolute in the year 1429. distinguished, and lined with titles every where.  
another German with greater letters set forth at Augusta in the year 1487. says. john von men's a● Rhein, etc. der wasein Weib, etc. john of men's upon Reign, was a woman: and it hath the verses, papa pater patrum, etc. repeated before. It is ended in Sixtus the fourth.  
An other written at Constance with the proper language of the Helvetians, pertaining unto the year 1400. saith, Ein Weib hiesse joannes von men's was Bapst, etc. A woman called john of men's was Pope, who died with child-birthe, which a Cardinal got in the year of our Lord 855. jahre.  
And in another with somewhat greater Characters. Printed at Ulmes in the year 1486, there you may read Der Keyser Arnolphus (it seemeth it should be red Lotharius) when Caesar or Emperor Arnolphus there was in that time a Pope that was a woman, & in the open streets of Rome there she laid her young one. This was such a shame to the Popes, that they shun to come any more that way. This Chronicle doth end in the overrunning of men's in the year 1462. There are many Annals of this same stuffing, which I omit to prefer unto you.  
I would allege more fresh writers, some as Melanctbon, which is the author of Charions Chronicle, Robert Barnus, Peter Virete, john Functius, Casper Hedion, of whom is cited Mall●●lus Tigurinus, of equal age with the counsel of Basil, Peter Paulus Vergerius, sometimes Bishop of justinople (who in a peculiar libel to himself, painted forth and described this child birth) with john Bal●, and a whole jury of others, but that they are censured for Heretics of the Esauites and of adverse party to the pontifical dignity, and therefore their testimony in this business is both suspect and reject. Yet one of these new writers they cannot reject, Pistorius Nid●nus late an Evangelist, now a pontifist, whom verily I do not think, though in religion he is a Buskin, or rather a shipman's hose, with like inconstancy he will deny a History, and that written by him long ago, and set forth: and me thinks the Esauites should assent unto him, being one of their own flock.  
Amongst the writers of the Acts and jests, one hath escaped me, The Compiler of the Anonymies, that is, without names, in whom this is read. There was likewise an other false Pope, whose name and years are not known, for she was a woman, as the Romans' do confess, and of elegant fame and of great science, and in hypocrisy of wonderful life: she under pretext of a man's habit, lurked, until she was chosen to be Pope, and in her Popehood conceived with child, and when she was great, the devil in Consistory court, publicly before them all bewrayed the deed, exclaiming Papa pater patrum▪ papissa pandite partum. To these above mentioned, and the like, or to the very same, their own Isengrine doth mention of this Pope, in his Chronicle of two Languages, even in the kingdom of the Esavites, set forth with Grace and privilege of the Caesar's Majesty, in the year of the Lord 1564 whom their familiar friend, with what cavillations, or with what foison or colour they could refute, salving his estimation and honour, that he might not be offended (if he were living) they should perceive it well enough.  
Now therefore the verdict followeth: Let indifferent readers and arbitrators give sentence. Whether of so many Histories, by so many worlds continued and consented, we must believe the affirmative of them, or the infection and negative of a few Freshmen, hired as it appeareth thereunto, and whose profession it is by all ways and means, with all force and policy, where the pontifical dignity lieth overthrown, to raise it up, where it is ready to flide (that is every where) to underprop it, and for the most part (Gentle Gentlemen) those whom I have induced were Historians, Priests, Monks, or otherwise sworn to the Pope, or bound to him. Yet notwithstanding, look what was comely for a story, they remembered, which of their Ancestors rather they heard, or of their superiors in Books worthy of note and remembrance, and fit for all posterity, they thought well of, that they brought into their books and volumes of greatest account and authority without all respect of persons, nothing then fearing the offence of the potentate, who (it may be thought) was nothing offended with this verity. No man ever before this time did deny this history, no man took it grievously, no man contradicted it, no man call it in question, it being Dedicated to the very Popes themselves to the Cardinals, to the Abbots, by the Authors of this story. And these for the most part were Italians, neighbours to the great Pope, and therefore more worthy of our belief in this, for that they might sooner and easier get notice of these matters, than other strangers, both by the relation and report of their seniors, as also by the libraries near at hand.  
We have showed you before, that Martin was not the first Preacher that bewrayed so bad a cause, and betrayed so good a one, as this (God wots) is. But if he were, should therefore it be thought feigned or uncertain? By such an Enthy●●●a, or by the like syllogism, this might be concluded. Herodotus doth first commemorate the war betwixt Cirus and Cr●sus, Ergo it is a fiction. Sweto●i●s first doth utter the portent and hideous (not hidden) wickedness of Nero, Ergo they are not to be believed.  
Before Moses time, the horrible Sodomites sinned, shamed, and punished, was not extant nor described; who after four hundred years, at last was commanded to writing, is it therefore a doubtful matter? Certes by this means, detraction and back-calling, of most matters done before our memory, which out of writers and monuments of old we learn, may shamefully be used, than nothing certain, but what our own memory holdeth, shall ever come to light.  
O you Esauites do you arrogate unto yourselves such sagacity, such intelligence, so confident, so impudent are 
O ●ane à tergo quem nulla Ciconia pinsit.  you, dare you peck out the eyes of janus, the eyes of the Cornix, whom no Ciconia, no Crane dare peep at, as the proverb saith▪ What think you▪ Petrarch, Bocace, and such like, were so dull of eye sight, their noses bitten off, that betwixt a similitude and a truth, and a fablement, they wanted skill to discern, so light and vain▪ that they would set open to all after times, things that should seem to carry form and shape of lies.  
Will you alone, nay dare you argue of falsehood and reprove of lying, so many Bishops, Princes, so many Acadiemes, so many Cities, and their Libraries, in all which, this story is red? You object that for the most part they, those Authors, do speak doubtfully▪ referring over the matter to a dubitation, Aiunt, Fe●tur, Scribitur, Aseritur. Are not men wont to say so, especially of things very strange, unexpected, unhoped for, prodigious, and detestable? Which they did for this cause, (no doubt) that they might show themselves wishing, and willing well, that no such error, such contumely, should be fall the Capital of Rome, the head Church upon the earth, & to the sanctified holy, and holy sanctified counsel thereof.  
Onuphrius they oppose against it, as if the Authority of such a Monk, and fellow servant unto you, of that Priesthood, especially in that tempest (betwixt us) in which your own & your companions, fraud of old, your wickedness, your heinousness, is detected, is chanted aloud, were of force to refel, and oppress, so inveterate integrity of religious men, so consonant tradition of others. You oppose likewise Aventine, who conjectureth that the matter was otherwise. This man was grave & historical and nothing vain, yet of him more suspicion may be made, thathe in favour of Matthew Langius Archbishop of Saltzburgh, Cardinal & legate of the Apostolic seat his great Maecenas diverted the intent of this story to an end contrary then aught, especially in that time, when as then the Pontifical kingdom began to favour like carrion, contemptible & spewed out of Germany, for which cause, & for defence of it, & to deck & trim up again the buried corpse of Popery, Cardinal Langius was sent as Legate. But what should I now so long stand, what matter of worth, is it in this prolixity of words, showing & convincing, that john the 8 Pope was a woman, & a broody woman too? Verily this efficient cause. That I may give document of study, & teach the commonalty of the windiness & wafer learning of the Esauites, hired, instructed & Emprested forth to conserve, with instauration the Pontifical authority & tyranny chief, now swaying (or swagering as they nickname it) in Germany, hear unto which one & only end all their poisoned rumours (and all Sophistication) all their minstrill-like diligence, histrion-like labours in Churches and schools doth respect, belong and tend: seeing so confessed and manifested verity, with so many testimonies confirmed, they labour to pluck up by the roots, to evert and pervert, where they esteem any faith remaineth for them, or any credit in the matters of religion, in which business of Christian health, they challenge the Magistracy to belong chief to them.  
Verily they have razed out of all books which so many every where in Libraries were found, & have blotted out of the minds & memory of man, this Pontifical uncomelies and shame, this opprobrious event, videlicet. That the societies and sages of the Catholic Church of Rome deceived once (& never but once) of their spirit so holy, chose a high Priest of the feminine gender instead of the Masculine. O but how will they excuse & abolish other errors of their holy of holiesito wit, unhallowed errors, yea & in voluntary cases, wherein they elected improbous, unchaste, incestuous, impure, credulous & incredulous Popes, replenished & fulfilled withal the genders of wickedness, all the species of holiness, instead of chaste, and mild, and holy, and good Popes? Sergi●s for one he did so ravinously enrage, (with Salomons shrewd passion, anger) the bird that often lighteth on, but should be kept from building in the tree, that he hated his Decessor Formosus, whose competitor & Emulus he had once been for the Papal attire and dignity, being in his grace, (the mansion house of the dead) which the Civil law doth never allow so to open, he drew him forth of his Sepulchre, in which he had slept eight years, beheaded him, dismembered him, and so cast the headless trunk into the river of Tiber.  
john the 13. was slain taken in adultery without the City, by the husband of the adulteress out of hand, in the tenth year of his reign, in the year of our Saviour Christ, 964. Silvester the second, mighty and execrable, had a familiar Devil in a Brazen man's head from whom he had answers, and at length when he was missifying, saying Mass in the Vestry, a place called jerusalem, with a present Fever, he died.  
Hildebrand, that Firebrand (which is Gregory the seventh) whose Pontifical virtues, Cardinal Benno, who was his inspector, and arbitrator of his jests, and Ane●tine likewise do Preach of, how great he was in magic, how many Popes before him he did to death, what bloody and capital hatreds he exercised against Henry the fourth, whose life both for this life (and otherwise beside) he laid trains enough for. The Emperor was commorant at Rome a while, with his Empress, where in the Church he used to be at their holy exercise, and there to pray, and upon a beam over him, this holy Father commanded great stones to be placed, and so to be cast down suddenly upon him at prayer. Whiles the minister of this wickedness was on the beam ouerladen with stones, and the burden great, the beam broke, and so he fell down with it, and was crushed to pieces.  
This immane disturber of the German Empire. Hildebrand, who came in like a Lion reigned like a Fox, and died like a dog, as all the true historiographers do resolve of him.  
Alexander the sixth, a Spaniard, his eulogies are celebrated of Guichardine (Lieutenant to the Pope) and amongst other things, with what love he embraced his own daughter, and his two sons, even that he was used to incest the daughter himself, drawn from her husband, to whom he had married her before, and had his two sons his rivals, both wittingly and willingly (horrible to be spoken). And how that one brother slew the other in the night (worse than the Catelnies did, for their murder was not incestuous) & that because both in their lusts, as with all in other manners, the one had prelacy and superiority above the other, being thus slain, the Father fished for him that was cast into Tiber, this only way of fishing showing himself and none other devise, like unto a fisher for men. He died by a draft of poisoned wine, which was provided for certain Cardinals to take them away from amongst men, in a Garden Banquet in a Bower, the poison was given to him by one that waited, the flagons being changed by error of the servant that attended.  
Paul the third whose name before the Priesthood was Alexander Fernesius, how horrible and libidinous, whoredoms, incests, murder of parents, witchcrafts, proditious and betraying of men, are well remembered of him? These and others like to these, with many, every where in the acts of your Popes are read, and shall for ever be read, how many expurgatory index soever you make, wherein you would persuade that they are false, even now at last to approve the explete & sanctified innocency on every side, and the sanctity of Hierarchy. Convince you therefore of like falsity, the Authors of the History of jone the Pontifical.  
Laurentius Valla no stranger, but borne in the City of Rome a Canon, his reprehension of Popes of his time as liberal, so true and very true, that if you deny it, yet we and many other, neither have doubted nor ever will doubt. I say, (quoth he) and I exclaim (neither will I fear men being accustomed with God) not one in my time, in the Pope-doome, was either faithful dispensator of the mysteries, or wise, who are so far from giving bread, that they give a bait unto the family of God. The Pope himself, now wars is pacified, doth bring in war upon his own people, and soweth discord betwixt the Cities and the Princes. The Pope both thirsteth after other men's goods, and suppeth up his own treasures. The Pope maketh profit, not only of the common wealth, but also of the Ecclesiastical wealth, and selleth the holy Ghost. And when he is warned of this, he denieth it not, but openly confesseth it, and glorieth in it, that it is so lawful for him, upon any reason to make sale of the patrimony of the Church, endued and given him by Constantine, to wrest it from any the occupiants of it. As if it would come to pass that it so being used, the Christian religion, would thereby become more blessed by it, and not rather as it is more cursed with all wickedness, luxuriousness & libidiousnes oppressed, if possibly it may be more oppressed, and if any farther place of misery be remaining. Thus Ualla feared not out of a Godly stomach, all peril neglected to exprobate the papacy, to hit them in the teeth in his time, now 1140. years ago, so uncorrected ever since▪ that daily it is made worse and worse, and worse is like to be.  
reprove if you can, that which Io●●niane Pontane a man of your religion, but otherwise verily, more simple, & more sincere in his writings of Popes and Cardinals than you are, he writ a Dialogue of Charon & Mercury, if perhaps you have not the book at hand, thus it followeth.  
Charon. I pray you do not the Popes & Priests themselves meet with this wickedness? albeit of all number and sorts, and orders of creatures, where daily I am carried about, I see no men of worse note, and marked with such filthy marks. Mercury. Indeed no men are less careful for true religion, because they are as such who are careful and whose endeavour it is, to amplify their private wealth to heap up money, and in feeding their carcases, to be well occupied, and yet whereas too too wretchedly they are covetous, yet no men eat more daintily, nor cloth themselves more wantonly than they do. Of late a priest a Cardinal sent his Cator to buy a Wolf fish, or a Pike, and because he spared the money it being dear, for the price was three score crowns. O with what reproach did he revile him, and had almost forbidden him his house as a servant nothing careful of his masters life. And Charon, that you should not mistake me, they term that life now, which heretofore was called death, the appetite. another priest also of the same College dying, bequeathed unto a 
Exoleto. They are men that have been wanton boys and are grown out of use, by reason of age, of which kind not a few these ● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (for so the Syrians term their princes, as the Sun rising they make their God, and the Papists do call their Pope a God, D. deum nostrum papun) these are meant by Pontanus hear. But o were they now served, which flow so out of kind every where, as Alexander Severus plagued them whom his predicessor Hielogabalus kept, he sent them all to shipwreck to the islands. Read Cicero pro Milone, and Herodian lib. 5. Clodius ut secum, semper scorta, semper exoletos, semper lupas ducebat, filthy wanton Boys, and greedy She wolves, that is, Common whores.  * Minion of his, thirty thousand crowns. Char. O would I wanted eared, rather than to hear these things! shall any mortal men suffer such wickedness to pass, and cannot punish it? in superstition are they holden, etc.  
Confute if you can the dialogue of Erasmus & H●t●en, so noble, so notable, in writing, depainting out the manners of your julius the second, and such acts: that when he was dead, the gates of Heaven, which with his own keys he was wont to set open unto other men at a price for money, he could not unlock for himself, and Peter would not open them to him when he knocked, that he might go to hell beneath with his company, and his whole court of guard being excluded.  
Refel if you can these (or expurge) with true arguments and reasons) the acts of these high Priests repugnant unto the acts (God it knows) of the Apostles, as one end of the diameter is unto the other, the axle-tree of the world the East unto the West, which are of john Bale of England set forth, all which a Christian man, yea an Ethnic only well mannered, would fear to hear them read. Such a sink of wickedness, and for the most part of Popes, thence from john's travail with child, unto this our age is to be felt. If such like you endeavour to purge, what else do you seek, but to wash a Negro to be white? Seance you therefore from hence forth to cast a mist before men's eyes, and to sell smoke for fire in such a world fit for Argus many eyes, as this. Leave off, leave off, to stuff with straw, and deck up your throne of Antichrist any more in vain, unless yourselves mean to enjoy such flattery: by such devices and advises, you would perceive, receive, and take more easily from your Patrons, the commodities of this present life, feelingly, being honoured with the opinion of sanctimony of your disciples, boys and young men, and of the fatuate common people, indeed many of them being Midas rich, whom your adulatory old songs do please. All which, if you deem them more acceptable than Christian verity, sincerity, and blessedness: hold on, hold on, to lie, laugh, flatter, and face, to simulate and dissemble, to play the Historions, to abuse religion unto cursed fraud, until ye try at last that God will not be deluded, if happily you will differ in this one and in all, from your Coryphaus, and from his purple mantle crew, to think there is a God, who bringeth all humane souls unto the universal judgement after this mortal life. To him be all honour and glory both now and ever,  
Amen.  
Trino & uni sit omnis laus honour & gloria. Amen.  
T. B.