A FAITHFUL ADmonition of a certain true Pastor and Prophet, sent unto the Germans at such time as certain great princes went about to bring Alienes into Germany, & to restore the papacy, the kingdom of Antichrist. etc. Now translated into English for a like admonition unto all true english hearts, whereby they may learn and know how to consider & receive the procedings of the English Magistrates and Bishops.  
With a Preface of M. Philip Melancthon.  
Take heed and beware of the ●euen of the popish Phariseis.  
Take heed and beware of the pestilent poison of the cursed Papists.  
Take heed & beware in time of these godless Alienes and brutish Spaniards, which mind to conquer your nation, and to subvert the whole state thereof▪   

❧ The Preface of the Translator.  
¶ Eusebius Pamphilus, the Translator of this following treatise, unto the Christian Reader.  
THe grace & merci of our heavenly father, with the true knowledge of his son jesus Christ. which the devil and his members now labour with tooth and nail▪ to blemish and subvert thorough Antichrist the Pope and his generation, be daily multiplied & confirmed in the▪ most Christian Reader. This following treatise, as it was first written of as worthy Prophet as hath been since the Apostles time, for a warning unto his dear country men: Even so the state of m● natural country of England, over which God threateneth now his terrible plagues, standing in the like danger, I thought that my natural duty towards my country required so much service of me as to translate the same into the English tongue, if peradventure God will work in the hearts of the Readers thereof by following the council ministered therein, to prevent that subversion & extreme inconvenience which at this present hangeth over their heads. And though the Papists shall peradventure frown and fume thereat; I care not much therefore, for seeing the devil hath so bewitched them, that they care not what destruction they work towards their country, so that their kingdom may flourish again, I am well assured that nothing proceeding of the spirit of God, can content or please them. And to say the truth, for as much as they defile themselves with idolatry, superstition, false religion, and with persecuting of the true professors of the Gospel, they are not worthy that am good thing should delight or content them, o● that any godly advertisement should sink into their heads. But such as have the true fear of God in their hearts, let them take it as a profitable admonition unto them, with thanks giving unto almighty God, that he hath stirred up such instruments endued with such a grace & spirit, whereby they may be warned & advertised how to avoid such imminent dangers as their sins & unthankfulness have not only worthily deserved, but also in manner, brought upon their necks. If such warnings as have proceeded of the like spirit as this present advertisement was written▪ had been regarded in time, peradventure God would have spared us our late josias, noble king Edward of famous memori, a little longer. O England, England, that thy sins, unthankfulness & security were such that they provoked God to take from thee such a prince thorough whom thou mightest so quietly and religiously have been governed, & to send ●he such now as go about to bring the in thraldom & subjection unto Alienes, & to conquer the with tyranny, & seduce the with false religion. O England, England, thy Nobles were preached unto, and told plainly enough by God's prophets, that God's wrath was at hand, if they would not redress their enormities, but they could not be hard, yea those to whom they preached made a mock an● a jest at their earnest crying & calling upon them, ask them who made them so much of God's council. It would never sink into their heads that God would so dea●e with them, as the Preachers ou● of the spirit of God threatened them. They thought peradventure that it was enough for th● to pretend Gods true religion, how little soever they framed their lives thereafter. But god hath now meet ●●wel taught some of them the price of pretenced religion, even as he taught the jews in the old Testament, how little he regarded their pretence of religion, crying: The Temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, & showing in their lives nothing but dissoluteness, securiti, and 〈◊〉. God grant that the penance which they that be lately taken away, have felt for their contempt & dissembling with God, may be an occasion to those that are yet left behind to consider with themselves, & to call to remembrance how good God is yet unto them, to call them still to the crediting of the godly Preachers doctrine (I mean not of the Papists, Antichristes' messengers which now fill all Pulpits full, with most shameful lies & most detestable blasphemies) seeing God hath showed in some of them the ensamples of such punishments as they told them before of. Which is a most infallible token that they were Gods true prophets, & that it was his true religion which they preached. And therefore hath God taken some of them away, that the punishment of them, might be a warning unto the rest, to repent their negligence and contempt of his word, when they had it truly & faithfully preached unto them, & to endeavour themselves to beware hereafter how they contemn God's word at the mouth of his Preachers and prophets again: lest if they neglect this further warning, more than their fellows had, God may give them also a further and a sharper penance. This should my Lords and the Nobles do whereby the true fear of God might appear to be in their hearts, and not to fall from contempt of God's holy word to the utter renouncing and denying of it, and to seem to fear mor● a weak creature (as Peter did the Girl) than the mighty God, which hath the hearts of all creatures in his hands. Truly, truly, this is not the way to pacify God's wrath, for to deny his true religion, & to consent to abominable idolatri, but rather to kindle it more fervently against us. Ye have peradventure policies, fetches & devices in your heads, but take heed lest they deceive you. Think not the god is bound to your policies & drifts. I never saw, nor heard yet that ever any policy or fetch against the will of God, came to any good end & effect at length. As I could rehearse many examples even in our time.  
Thus much be spoken to the Nobles for their advertisement: whose insolency & supine dissoluteness without doubt hath been a great cause of this plague that is now come upon us. Notwithstanding I mean not thereby to clear and excuse the inferior or mean sort▪ as though their part were not therein also. How unthankful have they ben● also in receiving, & how slack in following the earnest advertisements that were daily given them. I mean not only of the blind Papists which waited and gaped daily for the restoring of their wicked Mass, and other damnable idolatry (wherewith the devil hath now filled their mouths full) thinking that all should be well, if they might once have that again. Now they may see what it hath brou●ght, & what it is like to bring, name●ly the subversion of the whole state of the realm, the overronning thereof with a strange nation and such a nation as is the most vile and godless nation upon earth, the utter destruction of themselves and of their posterity for ever. Let them now make much of papistry that list, they see what fruits it hath brought with it, and wha● it is like to bring more, if they will needs have it. I mean not (I say) only of them, but even also of those which have known and professed God's religion. That the same may well be said onto us all, & to the whole Realm generally, which Christ spoke unto Ie●usalem in the xix of Luke, that all these plagues are come upon us because we did not acknowledge the time of our visitation. Let us all therefore repent our former negligence. Let us all amend ●ur former faults, and also let us all be true followers of the Gospel in deed, as we have long been professors thereof in word, and than doubtless God shall cease and withdraw his plague wherewith he had minded to scourge ●s, he shall drive the Papists and the aliens (which they go about to bring in, to maintain their kingdom, & to make themselves strong against God) out of our country, that where they sought but one way to come in, they shall seek ●en to fly out of it again. Let us not contemn such warnings and admonitions as this conceived in the treatise following. And speaciallye let no man misconstrue it, but read it with judgement as an instruction not to stir any man to unlawful rebellion (as I doubt not but the Papists gods sworn adversaries will be ready to say, where as they and no other are the authors of all mischief, as may most manifestly appear to any that hath but half his right wit) but only as an advertisement that no man minister any aid or obedience to such tyrants as bend themselves against God and his word, and to the subversion of their natural country. In which case it is not only unlawful to obey them or in any wise to consent unto them, but also most lawful to stand in the defence of god's religion, and of the laudable & ancient state of their country, against such uncircumcised tyrants (they shall never be called Magistrates of me, 
Nay, until they have a more lawful commission.  till they show themselves worthy of that name) as go about such devilish enterprises. The God of heaven with his mighty hand confound them.  
Thus hast thou most gentle reder, both the scope of this admonition, and also partly the occasion that moved me to translate it. Put now thy endeavour (if thou be a true Christian, and hast any true natural love to thy country, to thy self or to thy posteriti) that it be neither of the first author written, nor of me translated in vain. And herewith let my younker Papists which now are in their ruff, triumph above the Moon, crying: Crucifige upon the gospel, and the poor professors thereof▪ take their advertisement also, that when God hath used them as his scourge & rod to that that his divine council hath determined, than can he find them out well enough, and give them their penance, from the which their mass idol (make they never so much of it) shall as little save and deliver them, as Baal saved the wicked false Priests and other that worshipped him and took him for their God.  
God be merciful to his Church and flock of England, & deliver the same from the violence of unmerciful tyrants, & ungracous papists.   

The Preface of Master Philip Melancton.  
AS our saviour jesus Christ the son of God offered up himself upon the cross unto his eternal father for our sins (mary & john standing next unto him) immediatli before his death▪ he gave to john a special charge over his mother Mari▪ whereby he signified that he would all men, and specially Rulers & governors to have the care & charge of his poor church, 
The chief charge of officers.  which suffereth in the world contempt, slander, & affliction: wherefore all men upon earth & specially the true members of Christ's true church, from the beginning of the world unto the end, ought to consider with themselves, & standing under the cross of Christ, there to behold & ponder this marvelous work that the son of God should bear & suffer such terrible wrath of his eternal father for us, & embrace the singular grace & mercy purchased thereby unto us: & we all to show ourselves thankful therefore: knowing that our hole life & death also ought to be directed unto this end, specially, that God may be praised: and above all, that the true doctrine of this great and singular wor● might be preserved. And again that we ought to be thankful for this wondered benefit of god. And therefore to maintain & preserve that church of his which doth preach, teach and embrace this true and sicere doctrine, & calleth upon the very true God in the knowledge of Christ, according unto the saying of our saviour Christ unto Peter wha● thou art converted, confirm & strengthen thy brethren. Whereunto all men do apply and endeavour themselves (if they be not altogether rude & godless, but have any sparkle of godly knowledge and of the true faith in their hearts) namely that mankind should not live like a brute beast, seeking only an easy life for himself, but always to labour, how the knowledge of God may best be furthered, and the true religion best maintained and preserved. And this is my earnest desire, that all christian hearts inspired with the fear of God, would a● this present, consider and remember, what duty and allegiance they own unto God in these dangerous & troublesome days, and in this heavy time. For in asmuch as it is most evident that the pope (the sworn enemies 〈◊〉 all true Christians) doth all that he ca● possibly, to the intent to suppress the true doctrine, & Religion, which hath been preached, and maintained these certain years, and to establish and set up again his Idlatrous service and superstitious errors. It is he that seduceth kings and princes. And using the crafty conveyance of wicked bishops and priests, moveth them to murder and shedding of blood, which by bringing Aliens and strangers sworn unto him, into all Realms▪ meaneth at length to subvert, and abolish the ancient laws, and whole state of noble and godly common wealths, and so to work a general destruction for ever.  
Now what every honest and true heart ought to do in such case, all godly men endued with any godly understanding, may easily perseive & consider  
And first thus much are all men bound unto God, 
All men bound to give no aid to the maintenance of idola●rye.  that they minister no manner of aid nor assistance whereby Idolatry or false religion might ● strengthened or maintained, accor●●g as it is written. Thou shalt not ma●e thy self partaker of other men's sins  
Item two. Cori. vi. Ye shall not help the unfaithful, or the unbelievers (understand) to confirm or stablish Idolatry. For how can Christ and be●ial agree together? And what a comely thing is it, for the temple of God to be stuffed with Idols? Now are ye the temple of the living God, as God saith, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God and they shallbe my people. Wherefore depart and separate yourselves a way from them, saith the Lord.  

Every Christian ought to open his faith to others.  secondarily, every one that doth not utterly contemn and despise God, is this much also bound unto him, that he mind and desire to have his faith & belief in God, known unto other. For thereunto is mankind specially created, that we should know & praise God, and also witness and testify unto other of him. And our saviour Christ himself saith, he that denieth me before men, him will I deny again before my heavenly father. And this confession must be made according to every man's calling, state, and degree. Such as be preachers and ministers, must confess him, by preaching of true doctrine. Such as be rulers and governors, must confess him, by abolishing, and subverting of Idolatry and superstition, and by maintaining of true doctrine and religion. And all that can help, by any manner of means, either with body or goods, to the maintenance of the same, ought to endeavour themselves earnestly thereunto, according to the saying of S. john i. john. iii. Hereby do we know the true love, that, like as Christ bestowed his life for us, even so should we bestow our lives for the brethren. Let every one consider, and ponder these and such like advertisements by themselves, and having always an eye, and respect unto the same, let them than read, and mark this treatise following with diligence.  
And specially for asmuch as all men are not of one mind, but some take & esteem the true honour of God, the true invocation, religion, and doctrine for the most special and most necessary thing to be sought, and some not. And again some are more fervent & constant in the same than some other. Lest thorough the evil persuasions of the worst sort, many other which know not the matter, nor the danger thereof, might be seduced and led amiss, this admonition and advertisement therefore, shallbe very necessari and profitable. For let the enemies of God & of our country pretend what they will, that they mean not to be of council, nor to subvert our old ancient laws: when they have once their purpose, we shall see that that was their special drift. 
Fair words are traps to catch fools 〈◊〉.  For all their fair words, and flattering persuasions are nothing else, but traps to deceive the simple sort with, till they have wrought their feat.  
Some of them pretend, and say: tha● they mind nothing less, than to establish the Supremacy of Antichrist the B. of Rome, but if it were well sought it would appear, that most of their practices and fetches come from Rome. And that a great part of these proceedings have not been wrought, nor practised without his advise. What if virtuous and godly princes, which have set themselves against his kingdom, have been betrayed and destroyed, by the subtle practices of such imps of his, as have borne swinging by their dissimulation about such virtuous princes. O how many subtleties hath Satan, to assault Christ's kingdom with? I warrant you it hath cost the b. of Rome many a nights watch, yea, many a pound, before these practices were brought to this pass, which are now abrewing. Yet hath god left some holes open, whereby such as have any understanding, may spy their drifts. For why do they hold godly, virtuous, learned & most worthy councelours in prison, but only because they fear, lest they would hinder, and withstand some of their enterprises and proceedings? Let all those therefore that bear true hearts towards their country, suffer them selves to be admonished in time.  
For if the spaniards do once enter into our country, 
What the coming in of spaniards will grow to.  and may be suffered to nestle themselves there, they will not only at length creep into the chief Dukedoms, earldoms and lordships, and deal the same among themselves, but also will establish the Idol of Rome, and the whole cursed Papaci again: which all our country shall repent and rue for ever. 
priests care not what become of the Realm, so that their hooryshe kingdom flourish.  And yet that is the chief thing, that the spiritual prelate's (in giving their aid and council thereunto) do seek. They care not what become of this whole noble nation, nor what villainy be use● therein (as the Spaneyardes are most vile and beastly people given to vice and brutishness) so that they may uphold and maintain their kingdom of Idolatry and superstition, and may reign again. The Lord of heaven disappoint and subvert their enterprises▪ For whatsoever they can allege, or pretend, to charge those with, which have embraced, and set furth the true religion, as many as have any indifferent knowledge and understanding (if they will not speak against their own conscience) must needs acknowledge and confess, that divers high points, and necessary articles of christian religion, have been sincerely and purely taught, and declared by them. And divers notable errors have by them been disclosed, which before were taught, and preached openly in Pulpits, whereby the people were pitifully seduced. And now such as have truly and faithfully laboured, 
The reward of true preachers.  and traveled, to set furth the truth to abandon such Idolatry, and superstition, as the people hath been extremely blinded with, to plant true, necessary and wholesome doctrine, & to root out all falsehood & hypocrisy, they are rewarded for their labour with imprisonment, deprivation of their livings and goods, & with such like rewards. Other causes may well be pretended of the persecutors, and common cutthroats, as we may hear, but these are the very causes in deed. How long God (which is just in all his works) will suffer & use them as his scourges (as David saith the wicked man is a scourge of the Lord) that let them look unto. For where they pretend, that much disorder, dissension, negligence, security, and offence did reign among the professors of the true religion, without redress or reformation, etc. It cannot be denied, nor they themselves will not deny but that all this is true in deed. And more over that they are laden with divers infirmities and sins, as well private and secret, as open and manifest also, and that there have been many weeds among them (as evermore have been in the true church of God) which have always waxed, and sprung up among good corn. As with David▪ Nathan & other true members of gods church in those days, sprang up Absalon, Achitophel, and other unprofitable weeds. But what than? Should the people of God, by reason of such offences, or because of their own or of other men's infirmities, utterly have denied, and rejected the true doctrine and religion, and yield to Idolatry & superstition: as our (yea rather Christ's) adversaries would have us now to do? Why do not the higher powers, the jolly prelate's, and the fault spiers labour to redress, and reform such offences, as they see in any of them, that have professed the sincere Religion? Or why at the least did they not labour to restore the true discipline of the gospel, that thereby such offence givers, might have been redressed, & brought to an open Christian penance, for the wealth of their own souls, & a good example unto many other▪ Why did they not this I say? ●hy? Marry because some of them feared, lest they themselves might peradventure, be the first, upon whom the true discipline ought to be exercised. Let them first examine their own consciences, and then tell me, whether I have said any thing▪ ●ut the truth or no? No, no, the true discipline (if it might have been freely restored) would not have suffered such offences to have reigned, neither in high nor in low, neither in the spiritual nor yet in the lay sort, as the adversaries have found fault with, and pretended for the only causes, which have kept them from the same profession. The godly preachers have testified sufficiently in their open exhortations, that such disorder, dissoluteness of life, slanderous examples, misspending of the time, with ungodli & unprofitable pastimes, as have been used of the gentlemen disars, and the lady carde-plaiers (as well in the Court as in the country) were not agreeable to the profession of Christ's gospel. What could they do more, but openly rebuke such enormities, seeing they would never suffer them, to exercise the true order of discipline, upon any transgressors? If this discipline (which hath long been earnestly called for) might have been obtained, a number of unpreaching prelate's, of idle belly bishops, should not have been suffered, to loiter as they did, and to spend the patrimony of the Church unprofitably. But now we may see, that they played the dissembling lurkers, gaping, working and practising for a Day, wherein they might show themselves, as they were, and as they now appear, where as the right order of discipline would have brought them to the true profession of sincere Religion, and also to the practice thereof, in their vocation. And so would it have done also my Lords, and gentlemen, scrap●alls, which used the Gospel for a cloak of their covetousness. In summa, we lacked nothing but discipline, to have reformed all the enormities with, whatsoever they have been that our adversaries have found fau● with, in the profession of our true Religion. But let them lay all the faults, infirmities, and offences, which they have marked, & espied in the professors of the gospel upon one heap, they all together (if there were a thousand more of them) are far inferior, and incomparabli less, than the manifold errors, impiety, and Idolatry of the Mass, of the latin service, of the invocation of saints, of the filthy and abominable pretenced chastity, that is of the Sodomitical single life of priests, and of such other hypocrisy and superstition▪ as our adversaries go about with fire and faggot, with tooth & nail, to maintain, & to set up for the service of god.  
For notwithstanding that among the membres of the true church, and among the professors of the true religion, there reign many and divers infirmities and enormities, which they espy daily in themselves, yet the true godly sort do conceive true and hearty repentance, for their weakness, and they remain nor continue not therein, as the spiritual professors of single life do, in their hordome and filthy abomination. And what soever infirmities they have otherwise. Yet this horrible vice have they not, (thanks be to God) to maintain Idolatry, wyttingli to persecute the truth, nor to murder the godly professors of the gospel. These detestable vices, murder, blasphemy and Idolatry, which are the most true and infallible tokens of the papists and adversaries of Christ are not to be found among them. For these works are the special works of the devil, which he practiseth and worketh in his membres, whereby he declareth and speweth out his poison malice, and hatred against God, 
Ihon. viii  as it is written, Ye are of the devil, which is a liar and a murderer.  
These are sins, which all men ought specially to ●lee, and daily to pray earnestly unto God, that he will preserve them, that they fall not into any of these abominations.  
And he that looketh upon the life of the professors of the Gospel, and also of the papists, And by reason of the infirmities, which he saith in both their lives, standeth in doubt to which of them he may join himself, he ought to remember and to consider this, that he ought in no wise to take part with them which are idolaters, maintainers of blasphemies, persecutors, and murderers of the true membres of Christ. And though they should venture their lives thereupon, and go the same way that Abel went. Yet have they this notable comfort, that God heareth their prayers, and will be merciful unto them. For all other sins shall be forgiven: but the manifest blaspheming of God by idolatry, that is to say, he that either maintaineth, or helpeth to maintain idolatry or false religion, & is a persecutor and a murderer of the true professors, or a fautor of such murderers, shall never be forgiven. And God knoweth many of the contrary part, which do refrain from persecuting of the true doctrine, for non other cause, but to th'intent to avoid these ii points (blaspheming of God and murder) for God's honour, & for their own salvations sake. And it is manifest enough, that divers of them (thanks be to god) have sought neither pleasure nor money, nor dignity, nor yet any other thing, that the world esteemeth, but rather have suffered much sorrow, misery & opprobry. Now if such should spend their lives as Abel did, and suffer death thereupon, such a death should be more acceptable unto them, than all the life & pleasure of Cain, than all the pomp and riches of the Cardinals and bishops. For all men are debtors unto death not withstanding. But this must every one of us always consider, how we may stand (after this life) before the judgement of God, and of his whole church, at the latter day everlastingly. And as we have before our eyes the ensamples of Abel, jeremy, john the Baptist, Christ himself, Paul & other of the Apostles, how they all were murdered of tyrants, even so let them be sufficient witnesses unto us, that after this life, another everlasting judgement shall be holden and kept. And therefore let all men take it for an high honour, and for a singular grace to put their lives in jeopardy, for the confession of the true faith & religion of God: as Christ saith: Fear not them which can do nothing but slay the body, as for the soul they cannot slay. etc. And for asmuch as it may well appear that this is the scope & end of all practices of the Lords & Bishops by their proceedings, to bring in the bishop of Rome again, & to establish his idolatry & errors, wherbi they may reign, and abuse the people again, as they have done in times past, and to bring our country to a perpetual destruction. 
Note well.  it is most certain, that all honest and true hearts, may lawfully refuse to obey them, and aught in any wise refuse to help or to aid them. And where as they will object, & say that subjects ought to obey all commandments, & proceedings of their magistrates, although it may be briefly answered unto them, 
Bishops are not magistrates.  that the Bishops & Prelates, which are the chief workers of this misery, are not the Magistrates, whom the inferior people are bound to obey, yet let this answer stay all men's consciences, that the regiment of the common wealth, 
The Magistrate may not pass his bounds.  is such an ordinance of God, wherein the magistrate hath his appointed bounds, as well as the subject. And for asmuch as God is the highest Lord, if the worldly magistrate attempteth, any thing against him, the inferior sort may lawfully refuse to obey him, 
Inferiors may in this case lawfully disobey. Abdias. iii. re. xviii  alleging for themselves, that they cannot, nor may not disobey God, to obey & to serve them. As for an example: Abdias did very well in keeping the prophets privily in dens, & secret places, contrary to the commandment of his king which commanded them all to be slain. And in like manner the Armenians did well, & nothing but rightfully, in detending their church & their country against their Emperor Maximiane. Victorinus was a great prince, which in the time of Gallienus, had the Emperors authority, in the government at Coley, & did govern there very laudabli, yet was he laufulli slain of his own secretary, which found him abusing his wife. Marius also a noble prince, did pardon a young soldier, & set a crown upon his head, because he s●ew his captain (which captain, notwithstanding was Marius high friend) because he did it in his own defence. Such facts in Christian men are right & lawful, & do please God well. Yea they are special testimonies of the judgement of God, against unlawful violence, and intolerable pride, and presumption of tyrants.  
And what is it else but tyranny, to go about to set up manifest idolatry, to separate godly men from their lawful wives, to bring in strangers, which shall subvert the state of the common wealth and such like? For it is easy to perceive, that if the Spaniards, and their train, may once bear rule in the Cities, Dukedoms, & lordship's of our country (which God of his mercy forbidden that ever they should do) where as hitherto, thorough gods merciful providence, the ancient laws and good ordinances of our common wealth, have been preserved, they will go about to abolish & to subvert them▪ and at length breed much inconvenience and misery in our nation. Against the which inconveniences all godly parents, householders with their wives, children, and families, aught with most hearty sighings call and cry unto god, that for the furtherance of his knowledge, and for the glory of his own name, he will preserve his true religion among them, and that he will not suffer these churches and nations▪ wherein his truth hath been confessed and preached, to decay nor to be subverted. And that such prayers may be made the more earnestly, & with out let or hindrance, we all aught to amend our lives, in the fear of God, in true faith, and in all other virtues, remembering the saying of the Lord in the prophet: Turn unto me, 
jere. xiii.  and I will turn unto you. Doubtless the matter is weighty, and (end how it will) there is like to be a wonderful alteration in the common wealth, and also in religion, 
We feel i● already.  that is most sure. And I wonder much, that wise men, which know and see well enough, what will be the end of such proceedings, 
Note well.  will notwithstanding seem to be workers, and furtherers of such matters, as they do not allow in their consciences. But surely it is no man's devise nor working, but it is the devils in hell, which rage and rave, because they would gladly work an universal destruction and misery, in all Christendom. Wherefore it were best for such as be in authority, and of any power, not to be hasty in following & satisfying the lusts of princes, and the practices of wicked bishops and Prelates, Antichristes' imps. For seeing the malice and spite of the Devil; and of the idolatrous sort, is so fervent and great, it will minister occasion to a wondered alteration; which peradventure they themselves shall repent. But I beseech all godly hearts, that they will earnestly pray unto God, that he will graciously preserve the commonwealth, and ancient laws of our country, and specially his own church, that his true word and religion may continually sound therein.  
Last of all let all Christian hearts bear this well in remembrance, that every one in his degree, and to the utterof his power, is bound to apply his uttermost endeavour, towards the preservation of Christ's true religion, & likewise towards the defence of their country, and the ancient privileges of their nation. That is the special end of our life in this world, and no better thing can we do in this life. And forasmuch as the state of our time now, is much like unto the state of the Machabes, and even the like practices and subtleties now pretended, & attempted, as were than: every one may take good and profitable instructions out of the same books and story. Our Lord jesus, our only true shepherd, & head captain, defend his Church against assaults which the devil, Antichrist and his imps now devise, & practise there against Amen.   

A faithful advertisement of a certain true Pastor, to his dear countrymen the Germans, Translated into english for a like advertisement to the english nation.  
MOst earnest supplication and intercession hath been made to the high Potentates, both of the Spiritual and of the lay sort, that they would not bend themselves so earnestly, against the true Religion and doctrine of Christ▪ but would show themselves more equal and moderate, & suffer the Gospel freely to be preached. And again that they would not consent to bring strange princes into our country, to bear any Rule, or to have any government therein. The which thing, both I and many other godly hearts, have most heartily prayed, and sighed unto god for. But forasmuch as neither our most faithful prayers unto God, neither yet the earnest intercession made unto them, could any thing prevail with them, it is easy enough to perceive, what it betokeneth: nameli, euē●hys, that being perverse, obstinate, blinded, & given over of God, as such as have ever thirsted for innocent blood, and bend themselves to maintain the blaspheming of God's name, and all abominations, God thinketh them not worthy to be inspired, so much as with one good thought, or that they should give ear to any faithful advertisement or profitable intercession. And it standeth with them, even as it stood with the jews in jeremies' time, when as God said unto jeremy these words, If Moses or Samuel should stand up, and make intercession for this people, Yet have I no heart unto them: drive them from me, and let them departed. etc. 
jere. seven.  Thou shalt not pray for this people, nor bring no manner of lamentation, nor supplication before me for them, Neither make any intercession at all for them: For I will not hear the. Even the like answer, may all those which have made intercession, as is before said, unto the potentates and prayed unto God for them, think to have made unto them. Forasmuch as God showeth evident & manifest tokens, that he will not hear any man's prayers for them, but that he will suffer them, to go headlings forward, and after the example of Pharaoh, to sin against the holy ghost, even so long till there be no more hope of repentance, nor of any amendment in them. For if either prayers unto God for them or else any earnest intercession unto them would any thing have helped, they would never have gone so far as they have done. And therefore seeing no prayer unto God, nor yet any faithful intercession unto them, will take place, let us no more pray for them, but suffer them (like blind & obstinate Pharaos') to go forward with their practices, till at length the red sea overtake them, and make an end of them. And as for the prayers, 
No good prayer lost  that have been made for them, although they have done them no good, yet have they not been unprofitable, unto those that have made them. For they cannot be unprofitable, that is most certain. But as chris● saith, if the salutation and peace of the Apostles, can find no place in such houses, as they are wished unto, than shall their peace return again unto themselves: Even so shall it hap unto us. Seeing all our prayers that we have made for them, have done them no good: they shall return again unto us, & they for whom they were made in the stead of prayer, shall have their fill of curses, and in the stead of peace shall have their fill of strife and debate, whereof God send them plenti▪ Amen. And forasmuch as they are altogether bend to force, and will bring all their proceedings to pass perforce, as well against the manifest truth of god's word, as against the lawful and ancient privileges of their natural country, like unnatural men, let no man fear them but be of good comfort, and take good hearts, against such raging enemies of God. For they never prai nor call upon God, neither can they pray, by reason of their evil consciences, and wicked proceedings, presuming & bea●yng themselves, bold upon flesh, as though they had no need of God towards their enterprises, Yea as though they need not, once to axe god, whether he be pleased with their devices or no. And therefore God must needs have great pleasure and delight in them, & must needs be highly pleased with such presumption, and contempt of his grace and goodness, & he useth to give very great success and victori, to such presumptuous boasters and bragger's: And that shall be this, that they all shall be destroyed, and not one of them left a live. For this are we sure of, that their raging enterprises are not in their own power to accomplish, but stand all in God's hand. And they shall not so easily bring their purpose to pass. God will be master, and bear the stroke among them, in spite of their beards (as he hath ever yet done) and that shall they well feel.  
But let us vainly imagine (as it were in a slumber) that there were no God to let them, but that their practices and proceedings might go forward even by force, as they would have them. One of these two things are like to breed thereof, either an uproar of certain, or else a general war of the whole nation against them, where in a multitude both of their sort and of ours also, may fortune to come short home. For if they think in this case, that the Protestants being diligently taught by our preachers the danger of sedition, 
Rebellion & defence are two. things.  for conscience sake dare not stir against them in this case they may fortune to be deceived: For the preachers have done well in so teaching generally. But if our adversaries will admit one article of our doctrine, that maketh for their purpose, and refuse all the rest, peradventure our men will think also, that they may borrow one point with them, seeing they know, it is another thing to be a Rebel, than to be one of those, which stand in the defence of God's true religion, and of their natural country.  
And if it so come to pass (as it is to be feared, that God's wrath is so kindled, that he will punish us with some notable scourge) let our Potentates thank the Papists, and their owns Bishops, & Prelates, and those whose affections they have served. Therefore they shall not say, these are the fruits of the gospel, or of the new learning (as it pleaseth them to term it) but they and all the world shall say, these are the fruits of the stinking Papistry, and of the cankered Papists, and of their pestilent Prelates, and blin● Bishops, which to blemish the light of God's word, and to stablish their Antichristes' kingdom, have been the workers and practisers of such procedings, as all true and godly hearts, that have any sparkle of understanding do abhor. They therefore shall be guilty before God, of all the bloodshed that shall breed thereof, & not our doctrine. And I trust that God & our Lord jesus Christ shall preserve & deliver us, even as he preserved and delivered Loath in Sodone. And if it happen any of us to die among the multitude, we must thank our Lord god, and think, that we have lived long enough, and well deserved otherwise to die. And yet shall we die with better consciences, than they. For where we have with the gospel taught peace & unity, they with their papistry have bred such dissension and division, as those that are yet unborn shall rue, it they should have their purposes. And this yet shall be a comfort unto us, that where they and we shall go on pilgrimage together, we shall take our leave honestly one of another, & departed a sunder, they with their lies and blood shedding to the pit of hell and to the devil (whom they have served) and we to our Lord jesus Christ whom we have faithfully served, in professing & preaching his truth and peace. For this is easy to reckon, that he that killeth me, or any of my companions in such an assembli, the same shall not much spare the papists. Wherefore let us go together, they in all devils names unto hell, and I with my brethren and fellows, in God's name unto heaven. As for mine own person, I am well assured, that no man can hurt me, no more than I desire to hurt any other. And they shall not work so much displeasure against me one way, but I shall work more against them another way. They shall not have so hard heads in their naughty procedings, but I shall have as hard an head, in my lawful and godly enterprises, although not only Emperor Charles but also the Turkish Emperor should take part with them. They shall never fear me, nor make me to shrink, but I will make them fear and shrink. So far have they overseen themselves already, that I and such things as I have enterprised, and attempted, shall prosper, when they with their procedings shall decay, and be confounded. For my life shall be their hang man, and my death shall be their devil. That and none other let them trust unto, for they shall be sure thereof, for all their laughing & triumphing that they make now. 
An evil conscience can not prai faithfully.  And if the Papists should begin any war, we should not need greatly to fear them, for they cannot proceed in their enterprises in the name of God, nor can not with good consciences pray● unto God, for any success. They can not pray from their hearts, so much as thus: O God help us in our proceedings. For their own consciences do accuse themselves, that their procedings are nought & ungodly. And for the christian religion, that hath been preached by us, & set forth by authority of our princes (which they now go about to suppress) divers of their own best Clerks (as for the blind asses, we do not regard) have confessed & said, that none of our doctrine is against any Article of the faith, nor against the scripture, but only against certain ordinances of their own church, & certain decres of the pope. Therefore it is easi to perceive, with what conscience they can attempt any thing against our doctrine. And as for bringing Aliens into our nation, 
Papists do against nature for their kingdom's sake.  to have the government among us, & to subvert the ancient privileges of their own natural country, I dare say, their own conscience telleth them that it is against nature. Now if they should begin any battle, it must needs be for one of these two causes, which being both ill in their own judgement, how can they pray unto god, for any good success? And therefore we may well speak this benediction over them: As ye seek God's honour, & as good as your quarrel and proceedings are: even such success & victory God send you, Amen. And again, God can stir up a judas Machabeus, to be the captain of his flock, which shall beat them down, and teach them to be authors of wars, when they may have peace. And when soever they shall lie in the field, for maintaining of these procedings of theirs. I and my brethren shall cry & call unto God must earnestly, with true and faithful prayer, that he will give them a fearful, faint, cowardly & desperate heart, that here one, and there one, they may be pricked in their own consciences, 
The papists proceedings are both against god & their natural country.  that they shall be forced to say: Alas Alas, why am I here for the maintenance of an ill quarrel, which is both against God, and his word, & also against our own country. And when they see a true faithful and natural heart, of Maccabees host, coming against them, that they may take their feet, & run away from him, as fast an chaff flieth from the wind. Think 〈◊〉 not that God can the same science still that he speaketh of in a certain place, where he saith: I will give the a faint & a weak heart, that when thou shalt● go out to war against thy enemies one way, thou shalt seek vii ways to run back again from them, & the very noise of a leaf shall make thee afraid? Verily thus did he unto the obstinate hard hearted Egipcians, in the red sea, which were as stout and as secure as the authors of these proceedings be (namely the papish bishops & Prelates, & their adherentes) and had as good a quarrel also, as they have any. And yet when their hou● once came, that their own conscience did pri● them, they cried out & said: Alas, alas▪ let us run away, & give over, our quarrel is nought, god is against us. He that knoweth not what it is to go to war with an ill conscience, let him take part with the Papists, when they shall attempt any war, for the maintenance of the proceedings above rehearsed, & so shall he well learn what it is. And the prayer that I & all Christian & natural hearts with me, shall pray against them, shall be no secret thing, but a common prayer, nameli the vii Psalm of David, which he prayed when he defended himself against Absalon, and at one slaughter (which was also the first) all Israel was beaten, & a thousand men slain with Absalon, of a veri smal armi. And yet Absalon & his army had ordinance, & pulver, and harness enough.  
Now if the matter should come to a battle, as it is veri like (which god ye● forfend, if it be his will) I will not that such as should stand in defence of gods true religion, & of their natural country, against the authors of the proceedings above mentioned, 
Resisting of popery is no rebellion, nor unlawful disobedience.  & against the murderers, & bludthirsty Papists, which have been the chief workers of all these mischiefs, should be taken for rebels, nor I will not grant, that such defence of the common sort, should be taken for an unlawful disobedience, but rather for a necessari and a lawful act. And that can I prove by the Law, and the Lawyers cannot deny it. For in such case, when such murderers and bloodhounds will attempt and murder, for such unlawful causes as these, without doubt it can in no wise be rightly named any uproar, for any man to set and defend himself against them. And every right Christian knoweth ●el enough, what to do in such case, & how to yield unto god, that that is dew to God▪ And also to Cesar, 
Note this Mat. xxii.  what is ●ewe to Cesar: But not to yield to tyrannous bloudsuppers, that that is not due unto them. Wherefore to make the matter more plain, that the blood suppers may not ●ost nor brag, as though they should war against rebels, and so might pretend both before God & the world, that they had an honest and a lawful cause to war▪ I will teach and declare, that there is a great difference between unlawful uproars or rebellion, and necessary defence for lawful considerations. For in case they should set, and defend them selves, against the bloudsuppers, and practisers of such unlawful proceeding, 
Keeping out or resisting of the Spaniards is no rebellion.  I would not that their conscience● should be burdened, & pricked with the danger and peril of uproar or rebellion, as though their defence in such case, were seditious or rebellious. For it were a great prejudice, & to sore so to name them, in such case. There is another and a better name for them, which the Lawyers know well enough.  
We must not suffer every thing to be called uproar and rebellion, which the bloody butchers, Antichristes' sworn champions, the practisers of all mischief, do so falsely name. For that is one of their practices also, 
Note, note  under the pretence and colour of uproar, and rebellion, to stop and to bind all men's mouths and hands, that no man●e should reprove their doings by speaking, nor yet with their hands defend themselves against their wicked proceedings. And they in the mea●e season, to have both their mouths & hands at liberty, to work almis●hief. And so to fear and trap all other, under pretence and colour of uproar and rebellion, and to comfort themselves, and pretend to the world, their procedings to be lawful. But they shall not so blear men's eyes. We shall so define and declare the matter, that that subtlety shall not serve them. It is not always uproar, nor rebellion, 
Mark well.  to do against every law, for th● every transgression against any law should be rebellion. 
What a rebel is.  But that man may be called a rebel, or a maintainer of uproar which will suffer no magistrate to rule nor no law to take place, but will rise against the magistrate, to deprive him to the intent to be ruler & Magistrate himself, and to make what laws him lusteth, as the head Captain of the anabaptists did at Monster in Westphalia. 
To withstand the b. of rome is no rebellion, but a keeping of our oath & most bound duty.  Such one may well be called a maintainer of uproar, and a rebel. For, Aliud est invasor, aliud defensor. For a rebel and a defender are two things. So that it can be no uproar nor rebellion, for a man to defend himself against the wicked practices, and unlawful proceadyngs of bloudsuppers Papists. But they themselves, that will begin wars to maintain by force their wicked proceedings against God and against their natural country, they may well be called rebels and traitors to God and their countrei: 
The Papists are traitors both to God, the Realm, & to nature.  Yea there are no greater traitors nor rebels than the Papists & the bloodthirsty bishops and prelate's and such as take part with them. For they like very abominable murderers and traitors, of very mischief and spite, do work both against God and also against nature. And that may easily be proved. For first concerning the doctrine and religion which they would sub●●●t, they themselves know well enough, that it is the very true religion of God. For at the great council of the Empire that was holden at Augspurge, Cardinal Nicolas, 
The Bishop of Augspurge.  the bishop of Augspurge, said: that he could well be content that the same religion that was at Wittenberg, should be received generally, savying that he could not abide that it should begin and spring, in such a corner of no reputation, as Wittemberge is. How like ye this gear? Are not these jolly words to come out of a bishops mouth? 
Campegius.  And in like manner Cardinal Campegius, the Pope's Legate, did confess at the same council, that he could consent that that religion should be suffered in Germany, but that it would be a great ensample for other nations to require the same also, and for that cause it were in no wise to be granted. And another great bishop of theirs said these words, concerning their disputers & learned men: 
The Papists own confession.  Our learned men do defend us prettily, for they confess themselves, that our faith which we have followed these many years, hath no ground upon the scripture, but only upon the Decrees and determinations of the counsels. All this to be true divers noble men, that heard it, can testify. And besides, one Wynchestre a bishop in England, 
Wynche●ster a weathercock & a jack of both sides.  otherwise a very obstinate perverse and crafty Papist, hath written a book against the supremacy of the Pope, wherein also he writeth against pardons and vows, although he be a maintainer of the filthy & abominable single life of priesses himself. And in certain sermons that he hath made before the king of England hath inveighed against Monks and Friars, and confessed also that there are divers abuses in the Mass, worthy to be reform. 
Read winchesters oration of true obedience.  And yet he himself is a great massmonger, and would fain maintain asmuch of it as he could. And th● like have other bishops of England also done, which are notwithstanding no enemies to the pope. For although they would have him to be their supreme head, yet have they proved in their bolts, that he cannot challenge any supremacy, by the scriptures and word of God. So that the very papists themselves know that our religion and doctrine is no false doctrine but grounded upon the scriptures and the word of God. And yet of very malice and spite, they would condemn & rote out our religion by very force and violence, contrary to all right & reason. And where it was required in the general Parliament or council, that no ●et should pass against our doctrine & religion, before it were heard in ope● disputation, what the learned men of our side could say, for the defence and maintenance thereof: that could not nor might not be granted, that Christ's saying might be verified, he that doth evil, hateth the light, 
Popery may not abide the light. Truth loveth the light.  and refuseth the light, that his doings should not be reproved and disclosed. But he that doth the truth, cometh to the light, that his works may be openly known because they are done in God. Theridamas is never an Article of our doctrine & religion, but we are able & ready to prove it by the manifest word of God. Thus much concerning our religion. And as concerning the other point that they would so fain bring to pass, that strangers and Alianes should have the government of our nation, if they would speak according to their own hearts & consciences, I would desire none other judges but even themselves. Wherefore it is they that are the authors of uproar, and very traitors, rebels, which will attempt wars for the maintenance of their tyranny and wicked practices. And to show myself a true Pastor and prophet, and to bear a true heart unto my native country▪ I will give my dear country men a faifhful warning and instruction how to behave themselves, 
Do after this counsel.  that they run not into any peril & danger of soul, in obeying the proceedings of the bloody Papists, against God and their natural country. The danger whereof doubtless is very great. And this will I do, to the intent that no man hereafter may excuse himself and say: Non putassen, I would never have thought that the danger had been so great. Now he that will follow my council, let him take it, and he that will not, let him leave it, but no man shall say, but that he was warned.  
And my true and faithful advertisement is this, that if the Emperor or any other prince should go about, to maintain the procedings above specified by force of arms, and should command all men to prepare them selves, and to be in a readiness to aid him▪ that ye my dear country men, do in no wise hearken to any such commandment, nor in any wise obey him. For in such case no man ought to obei neither King nor kaiser, but should offend and disobey God, and should cast both his body and soul into perpetual peril and danger, if he should obei. For the Emperor or any other prince (what so ever he were) in so doing, should do manifestly against god, 
This is not man's advise, but God's commandment.  and against all right. And that no man should think, that this council springeth of mine own brain & fancy, I will show the such strong reasons and arguments, that thou shalt feel at thy finger's ends, that it is not only my council, but Gods own earnest and most strait commandment, whose heavy displeasure all men ought to fear and to tremble thereat, as they must do at length.  
The first cause why no man ought to obey Emperor nor king in such case (specially in the cause of religion) ●s this. 
The first cause why no man ought to obey to the maintenance of popery.  Every particular man hath promised and vowed in his baptism ●euen as well as the Kayser himself) to keep and maintain the Gospel of Christ, & not to persecute it or to work any thing there against. Wherefore to the commandment of the Emperor or of thy prince (whatsoever he be) thou mayst make this answer: 
Answer to the magistrate.  Most noble Emperor or prince, if you did keep your oath or vow which you made in your Baptism, you should be my most dear and liege Lord, and I would obey you with all my heart▪ But if you will not keep your promise and christian covenant made with Christ in your Baptism, but persecute the same obey who will, I will not blaspheme my Lord, nor be one of them that shall help to persecute his word, & so run and cast myself headlongs into the pit of hell with you, for your pleasure.  

He that maintaineth popery, fighteth against god & ●l his creatures.  This is the first cause, which comprehendeth in it many other great and weighty causes. For whosoever fighteth or draweth his sword against the Gospel: the same doth fight & draw his sword against God himself, against jesus Christ, our only saviour against the holy ghost, against the precious blood of Christ, against his death, against God's word, against all the Articles of the Christian faith, against the true ministration of all the Sacraments against all the Doctrine and Religion which is given, confirmed and approved through the gospel. And to be short against all Angels and saints, against heaven and earth, and against all creatures. For he that striveth against God, must needs also strive against all that belongeth unto God or holdeth of him And against all these shall thy obedience minister aid and help, and so shalt thou begiltie before God of all these things before rehearsed. And therefore what reward thou shalt have therefore of God at length, thou mayest easily gather thy self. And this maketh also the matter the more grievous, forasmuch as thou shalt do all these things wittingly, & against thine own conscience▪ And in this case thou shalt do worse, than all Turks & Tartarians, jews and Panimes. For where they do obey their heads in persecuting the Gospel, they do it of ignorance and know not what they do, so dost no● thou. Wherefore thou must needs be much worse, & suffer ten times more grievous damnation, them ani Turk or Paname.  
Now although it be an heavy and a miserable thing to consider that the matter is come to this point among Christian men, that they should have any need of any such advertisement as this. And though they themselves knew not, what a terrible & heavy thing it is to resist against god's word: or to show any obedience or token of obedience, in such things as are contrary, repugnant & injurious to the same (for it is a manifest token that even in Christendom among Christians, there are worse Turks than are either in Turkey or in hell) Yet such as be true Christians in deed (although there be few of them) do know well enough themselves what to do in such case, 
The great Turk himself is not so mad as to rage's & rave against his own Mahomet & Al●oran as our devils the Papists do against the gospel that they were professed unto, in their baptism: wherefore the Turks may be angels in respect of the Papists, & the papists very Devils in respect of the turks.  & have no need of any such admonition as this: But the papists, which bear the name & shine of Christians (& yet are ten times worse than Turks) must be admonished & warned. If it will do them any good, it is well, if not, yet shall they have the less to excuse themselves with, and must look for the more grievous damnation. Now to the second cause.  
The second cause why men ought not to obey in such case, is this: Though our doctrine were not right (as it is most right and true) yet ought this to fear men from showing themselves obedient in such case, for as much as by such obedience, they should make themselves guilty & partakers before God of all the abomination that is all ready committed, or shall hereafter be committed in the whole Papistri. This cause comprehendeth infinite abominations, all wickedness, sin, & danger the a man in manner can reckon. In summa, in this cause is hell itself with all the sins that are therein, whereof thou shouldest make thyself partaker if thou shouldest obei either kaiser or King in such case. And to the intent that thou mayest more plainly see what they be, I will here rehearse some of them. For the papists pretend such an holiness as though they were angels, & they wil● not hear of any of these abominations, & so they never repent for them, nor never amend them. 

The Papists sit up, but they amend not.  
Horedone.   First thou shalt make thy self partaker of all their filthy living▪ that they have led, & yet lead. For they never purpose to amend any part thereof. And all that shouldest thou help to defend & maintain by thy obedience. And by that means should light upon thy neck all the whoredom & filthiness, that is used in their Colleges & cathedral churches. 
A sort of holy gentlemen.  And thy conscience should have this to rejoice & to triumph of, that thy obedience hath holpen to maintain the most abominable whormongers & villains upon earth, and to defend the most abominable living that can be thought. Yea, and if the Emperor or any other prince should attempt any war for the matter, if thou shouldest take part with him, thou shouldest venture thy life and blood for such abominable wretches. Oh this were a goodly thing for thy conscience to triumph of. 
Buggeri.  Furthermore thou must make thyself also partaker of the chastity of the Pope, and of his Cardinals, which is a wonderful chastity above all other Ecclesiastical chastity, which they call in the Italian tongue Puseronen, that is such chastity as the Sodomites and Gomorrhianes did use. For so suffereth god his arch enemies the Pope & his Cardinals to be blinded above other, that they can not be content only to offend with woman kind, but according to their well deserved reward, they defile themselves and their own bodies one with another most beastli, & are so deeply drowned in that horrible vice, & so blinded in their hardened hearts, that they count that abomination for no sin at all, but make a jesting & a laughing matter of it, as though there were no more peril nor danger therein, than in a game at tables or cards. Go thy wai now & defend & maintain with thy obedience these beasts past all shame & repentance, which make but a jest & a christmas game of such an horrible vice▪ And it is no lie that I write here in this matter, for such as have been at Rome do know well enough that more abomination is there used than any man can rehearse or believe. When the general counsel called consilium Lateranense was holden at Rome, in the time of Leo the ten among other decrees that were there concluded upon & determined to have been set furth, 
Two decrees of the pope. Mark them. The spaniards & papists use three small sins, Simonia, Buggeria ● non credere in Deum. The Cardinals were stinted, but the Pope might keep sans ●omber.  this was one also which should have been set furth as a decree of that council, that men should believe the soul of man to be immortal. Whereby every man may judge, that they made than at Rome but a very sport and mock of everlasting life. For it is an evident testimony, that their common belief was there, that there was no everlasting life. And therefore they would teach them the contrary with a Bull, and decree of their council. And yet besides that, there was set another pretty decree also in the same bull, which was this: That from thence forth the Cardinals should not keep so many male stews as they used to do. But pope Leo commanded that to be stricken out, lest all the world should suspect (as they might well do) and have knowledge how openly and without all shame the Pope and his cardinals did maintain Sodom, even at Rome. And there is no Pope, cardinal, bishop doctor, priest, nor religious man, that ●uer went about to punish or reform this abomination, but colour it, yea laugh & jest it out: and moreover do bewitch, provoke and set on, kings, and princes, to defend and maintain them, to practise their filthy and devilish living still, freely without repentance or reformation. And to the maintenance of all this, shall thy obedience serve and help, and so shalt thou procure all these horrible sins upon thy neck, whosoever thou art that shalt obey either Emperor, king or prince in these proceedings, and be an occasion that the terrible use of such, more than beastly vices, shall come into thy country, for the punishment whereof than, we must daily look and wait, that the earth shall sink under us, and swallow us up. 
The virtue of the spaniards  Let them once bring in the pope again (as doubtless the Spaneyardes will labour to the uttermost to do) and than shalt thou see how these horrible blasphemous vices shall reign in thy natural countrei: And shall not then thy obedience be well spent▪ to help to bring such gear into thy country▪ 
The wealth of the popish Church rose by lying and stealing. Pardons. Purgatory,  And yet moreover thou shalt● also make thyself partaker of all the theft and robbery of the whole papacy. The infinite treasure which they have falsely and deceivably gotte● with their pardons, is it not very abominable theft and robbery throughout all christendom? That innumerable money that they have procured & gotten, through their stinking feigned purgatory, is it not very theft & robbery throughout the whole world? The infinite treasure that they have gotten with Masses, 
Masses.  mounthmyndes, trentals, & such other massmarchandyse, is it not abominable theft and robbri throughout the whole world? The wonderful riches that they have gotten with bulls for whitemeate, with pilgrimages, Images, and an infinite swarm of such gear, is it not very abominable theft & robbri throughout the whole world? How have the pope▪ cardinals, bishop● colleges▪ etc. come by their lands, lordships and manors, that they are equal to the mightiest Emperors and princes? Is it not altogether unmeasurable abominable theft and robbri? 
Papists are thieves & robbers  What are they now else▪ than the greatest robbers and thieves upon earth? And yet there is no repentance nor amendment in them: No, there is not so much good blood in their bodies, as to do but some part of their office, whereby they might seem to enjoy such revenues under some shine or pretence of honesty. But they do rather the contrary, and condemn, blaspheme and persecute the name, word, and working of God. Now come thy way, such manifest thieves and robbers shalt thou defend and maintain with thy obedience, that they may not only continue and go forward in their wickedness without repentance or reformation, but also that they be strengthened and encouraged to continue therein. See now, what danger thou shalt cast thyself into by such obedience. For of all this robbery and theft shalt thou be guilty of, and a partaker before God, if thou dost obey these proceedings, which tend to the setting up and restoring again (as all men may easily perceive) of the pope's authority and jurisdiction. 
To maintain popery, is to be gilti of all innocent blood shed  And so besides all this also, thou shalt charge thyself with all the innocent blood that the pope hath hitherto or shall hereafter shed through his practices, and also with all the sorrow & heaviness, that he hath wrought or shall hereafter work in this nation to maintain his kingdom. How many thousands have been murdered by his tyranny, and are like hereafter to be murdered, if he may obtain his usurped jurisdiction, which doubtless the godless Spanieyardes, will labour to restore out of hand? Alas how wilt thou be able to bear upon thy neck so much innocent blood (whereof thou shalt make thyself partaker by thy obedience) seeing it is an intolerable thing, to be guilty of one man's blood I will not here rehearse other abominations of the papists, what poison, treason, malice and spite they use and practise daily. I think no tongue upon earth can rehearse all the abominations of the papistry, but by these points now rehearsed and by the daily ensamples that they practise, we may easily gather the rest. 
The pope is Antichrist.  And if it were not that the Pope must needs be the very Antichrist & his adherentes Antichristes' imps, which in all things must evermore be contrary to Christ, men might marvel and wondre how they could so continually use so much abomination. But seeing it is so, 
The life, & doctrine of Christ & the pope are contrari the one to the other.  & can no notherwise be, it must needs consequently follow, that like as Christ did lead and teach a most pure, sincere excellent, chaste, sober, holy, and godly life: Even so contrary wise must this Antichrist the pope and his adherents, lead, teach & maintain, a most shameful, blasphemous, filthi, cursed, beastli abominable, hellish life: how could he else in all points declare himself to be the enemy of Christ and the very right Antichrist? And yet all their abominations might the better be born if they did not so earnestli defend them, & would make all the world believe (perforce) that they did nothing but well and right in all their doings. And yet not withstanding all this, if all these abominations that I have rehearsed, were tolerable & to be winked at (as they in no wise be) yet to condemn the pure and sincere doctrine & word of God, & to exalt & set themselves above god (as they go about to do) no right Christian heart ought to suffer it, much less to minister any manner of aid or assistance by his obedience, or otherwise thereunto. Yea, every true Christian ought rather to spend his blood, life, goods, & all together in the confession & defence of the true honour & religion of God, than for the keeping of them, to endanger both body & soul with eternal destruction, thorough following & obeying their doctrine: The infinite abominations & errors whereof (which they defend & maintain as right, true and lawful, never intending to reform or alter one jot thereof) I am not able to rehearse▪ All the danger whereof shalt thou procure upon thy neck (whoso ever thou art) that shalt obey or help to assist the proceedings of the Emperor, and such princes and bishops as are confederate with him, to maintain and bring in the B. of Rome.  
And to rehearse some of their intolerable errors, how wilt thou (whosoever thou art) bear in thy conscience, the false & shameful deceit of the B. of Rome's pardons, wherewith so many thousand souls have been so miserably seduced and deceived, and shamefully beguiled of their money, & so like to be again, if they may obtain their purpose? And although they them selves do know that it is nothing but very knavery that they have wrought with their pardons, 
Papists past repentance.  yet show they no repentance nor token of reformation thereof. They have taught the people to put their trust and affiance in pardons, even at the veri hour of death, which is so heinous an terrible a thing, that if they were otherwise as innocent & holy, as S, john the Baptist, yet were they most worthy to be damned in the veri pit of hell, for this one point only, and had well deserved, that neither the earth should bear them, nor the Sun shine upon them: much less that any man should help to assist and strengthen them or venture his blood for them.  
For consider a little, the wicked knavery and abomination of their pardons. 
The virtue of the pope's pardons.  Who so ever did put his whole trust and affians in their pardons, and so died in the same hope and trust, the same did utterly renounce, forsake, and forget Christ, and could have no hope nor trust at all in him. For whosoever setteth his trust in any other thing (whatsoever it be) saving in Christ only, the same can have no trust at all in Christ. Now do we and all men know this, that the papists (whom thou must help to strengthen by thy obedience) have taught most earnestly, that men should build their salvation upon pardons, else would not men have esteemed them so much, nor bought them so fast as they did. And like very messengers of Satan, yea, like very incarnate devils, they made no word nor mention in the mean time, of any faith or hope in Christ. For he that knoweth, that his faith and hope of salvation ought to rest in Christ, the same cannot suffer nor abide, no faith nor hope to rest in any oher thing besides christ. Now if they were not more than mad, & utterly rob of their wits, they would be ashamed, once to desire such shameless doings to be maintained or difended. But we may perceive, that it is so true that a certain bishop said unto master Philip. Melancthon at the could held at Augspurg, whose words were these. Alas Master Philip, 
popish priests never good.  what would ye reform in us pristes? for we were yet never good. As who should say, it were an heard thing now to make them good. And it was one of their own pillars that spoke these words, which had experience of the rest by himself. Well to let pardons pass, and to come to purgatory, 
The pick purse purgatory.  that hath picked many a purse, how wilt thou (whatsoever thou art, that shalt obey or assist the Emperor and his confederates, in these procedings, that are before mentioned) be able to bear in thy conscience, all the falsehood that they have used with this purgatory▪ whereof thou must be partaker? How traiterouslis have they bleared & bewitched all the world, and brought all the world in manner into a fool's paradise? And with such lies & theft, have gotten all their goods & possessions in manner. By the means whereof they have utterly excluded and banished the only true comfort and trust in Christ, & have taught the people in stead of Christ▪ to gape upon their own works, & to trust to be saved by the same. And who so ever so doth, the same must needs exclude Christ; and utterly forget him. And so if God had not wonderfully hitherto preserved his, all must have died in a false belief, as the jews and Turks, & so have perished in the pit of hell, thorough the default of such teachers. Oh, what soul murderers are they? No heart of man shallbe able to comprend (as long as the world endureth) what murder they have committed, against the souls of men with their feigned purgatory. Much less shall they be able to comprehend, what injury and blasphemy they have done thereby, against the true faith & confidence that is dew unto Christ. And yet there is no repentance nor amendment in them, but they rather labour & studi, how they may be defended & maintained, in these naughty procedings.  
And yet more, who so ever shall obey either Emperor, King or prince in this case, shall also make himself guilty and partaker of all the abomination & blasphemy, 
The virtue of the holy mas, cursed might it be.  that is contained in the wicked & detestable Mass and of the infinite idolatry & blasphemi, that is therein committed, against the true use of the holy sacrament of Christ's body and blood. As first of the feigned sacrifice, pretending to offer up daily unto God, his own dear son, as though they were better & holier than the son of God. And so they are not content, the holy sacrament to be an ordinance of God, which men should receive in faith, but they make a sacrifice & an oblation of it, where with they will reconcile themselves and other unto God, and will make also a salve of it, for every sore. Yea, for every saint, there is a peculiar Mass, & for every disease & adventure what so ever it be, a peculiar Mass. in all their books & doctrine, a man shall not find one word of faith, but all is full of the Mass, the Mass, what a sacrifice, & what an holy thing that mass is, where as there is no ceremoni, where in faith is so much required and exercised, as in the true institution & celebration of the Sacrament, being rightli administered, forasmuch as Christ himself did institute it, for a remembrance & memorial of himself, that all men in the celebration thereof, should preach of him, remember him, and believe in him. But in stead of that, they preach & set forth their oblation & sacrifice, & their own invention, & most abominably buy & sell therewith. Here I overpass the idolatry that is committed at the elevation of their false Mass god, 
Stoop a fore.  and in the adoration thereof: O Lord who is able to rehearse all the blasphemies that are committed only in the Mass? If they had brought up no nother error nor abuse of the holy sacrament, but only to make a gaping and a gazing stock of it, as they use to do at their high feastful days, & specially upon their church holy days, carrying it about in their processions, & making (as it were) a Christmas game with it, only that the priests (at such times) may fill their bellies, & get money of the simple people for their labour. This abuse & profanation of the Sacrament, were more than horrible enough. But yet this is nothing to this most grievous abuse, that they will make of the common Sacrament, 
Greased and anointed.  a private work & a peculiar oblation, to be made onli of certain appointed parsons. This is such an high blasphemi, that it abhorreth me to remember it, yea, it might well kill a man to remember it, if he did thoroughly weigh and consider it. 
Their faces to the wall like an Horse in the manger.   
And yet this augmenteth the blasphemy somewhat the more also, that they conceal & keep secret the words & faith of the sacrament, murmuring then secretly to themselves, contrary to the manifest doctrine of saint Paul, saying as oft as ye shall do this, ye shall preach and show fourth (and not keep close, and murmur secretli) the death of the Lord. S. Paul saith: Ye shall preach & show forth, etc. And they do clean contrary. But the abuses of the papistry are so many, that no tongue can reprove or paint them out sufficiently. 
Every abomination is set forth by one devil at least, but the mass was made and set forth by the full consent of all the hole chapter house of devils.  Other abominations have every one a peculiar and a particular devil working in them, but I take the Mass to be a work of all the devils in hell together, whereunto they all have cast and laid all their heads, all their hands, all their devices, yea all their knavery and wickedness together, and so finished this detestable abomination. And this may appear by the false deceivable spirits, which (under the colour of dead men's souls) appear in divers places, crying for Soulmasses, where as we never herd of any of them, that ever cried or called for Christ, nor for any help of him, but all for masses. Which is a very strong proof and evident token, that the devil liveth in no one thing so effectuously, 
The devil liveth in nothing so effectousli as in the mass, and mass priests.  as he doth in the Mass & in the mass merchants which through their abominable filthy life, covetousness, blasphemies & other abominations, do most shamefully maintain and entertain him. And doubtless it is the highest and last vengeance and wrath of God upon earth, that shall appear before the latter day. For there can be no greater. These are the virtues, which thou shalt help to maintain, by thy obedience to their proceedings. Now if any man peradventure be offended with me, for using so sharp & taunting words against them, I would desire them to take this for a sufficient answer unto them: 
Though they be knaves by their order, yet they are gentlemen by their misorder and idleness.  That my sharpness is nothing in respect of their wickedness and knavery. For what taunting is it to call the devil a murderer, a thief, a betrayer, a blasphemer, a liar? It is even as much to him, as if one did puff at him with the breath of his mouth. And what are the maintainers of papistry other than very incarnate devils, which have no sparkle of repentance in them but have obstinate hardened hearts, bent to defend & maintain these abominations, which they themselves know to be nought, & yet they would have thine & mine obedience, to help to maintain them. Let any man taunt a cankered Papist never so much, it is even as much unto him, as if a Goose did hiss at him, for his obstinate perverseness is grown so far, that nothing is able to call him back. The greatest taunt that thou canst taunt him with, is to call him a Papist. For with that name, thou comprehendest all together. As for all other taunts besides, they are no more, than if a man would beat a Bear with a straw, or strike upon an hard stone with a Fether. And again, they themselves have given the occasion enough, to taunt them sharply, if I could. For some of them have said, that they would rather suffer themselves to be torn in pieces, than they would consent, that any part of the Mass should be altered or abolished. 
priests were never good.  And again another of them said: Priests were never good▪ & that we should suffer them unreformed. And both these that thus said, were bishops, & special pillars of theirs. And as their connsciences and words are: even such (doubtless) are the consciences & words of the rest. Seeing therefore they bear witnesses of themselves, that they be such desperate wretches, & will so continue, & will rather be torn, than cease from their blasphemies, I should do them great wrong, both before God, & the world, if I should name them otherwise, than they name themselves. Therefore if I should call them most holy, most honourable, 
Yea, but they love & look to be so mocked.  reverend or worshipful Fathers, no man should know whom I meant: Nor they themselves should not know, of whom I did speak, because they know no such names. Therefore my taunting is no taunting at all, no more than when I call a Pear, a Pear, or an Apple, an Apple. And to make an end of these horrible mass martyrs, 
Honouring of saints  how will any man be able to bear upon his neck, the detestable idolatry, of honouring and worshipping of saints, not content to praise God in them, but they make very Gods of them. And the most noble virgin Mary, the mother of Christ, they set even in Christ's place, imagining Christ to be a severe judge, and making the siple & weak consciences believe, Christ to be a tyrant, so that they have utterly plucked all trust & affiance from Christ. Can any man deny this to be true? have we not all proved & tried it to be true? And if any man would deny it, are not the books of the lowsi friar observants, & of the black Friars also to be seen▪ which are stuffed full of such Idolatry? As the books of our Lady's Psalters, of Stellaries, Rosaries, Coronaries; and such like devilish trash. And here I will rehearse a story, that happened at Augspurg, that all men may see, 
Papists agree not in doctrine.  upon what ground they build their idolatri and superstition. In the discourse of the Article of invocation of saints, D. Eckius alleged a text out of the xlviii. chapi. of Gen. Where the Lord speaking of jacob, Ephraim and Manasses, saith thus: And my name shallbe invocated over these children. And after many words of Master Philip Melancthon, master john Brentius happened to say, that there was not one word in all the scripture to be found, of the invocation of saints, Than stepped Cochleus forth (like a profound clerk) to help the matter and said: that there was nothing in the old testament, to prove the invocation of saints, because there were no saints in heaven, when the old testament was written: but they were all at that time in Limbo Patrum. With the johannes Friderich Duke Elector of Saxon, which heard all their reasoning, said thus unto Eckius: There hath Cochleus answered your text, that you alleged out of the old testament so sure are these noble doctors of their doctrine, and so well do they agree other, that one of them saith there is no thing in the old testament to prove the invocation of saints with And another alegeth authority out of the old testament to prove it: As though we knew not, that god wrought all the miracles, which were done in the Old testament for Abraham's, Isaackes & jacobs' sake (as he himself, oft times doth testify) & not for any saints sake in the new Testament. And from whence do they fetch their profess to prove their doctrine trow ye? out of noble authors I warrant you, even out of old barbarous Donses. I read once in a book of theirs, which was a book of Moralizations, how the Virgin mary ought to be worshipped with offerings & gifts. And why? Marry, for this cause: There was once a thief which was one that rob by the high way, 
A great miracle of our lady of Candelmas  which never did good all his life long, saving that he happened once by chance to come into a Church upon Candlemas day: where, seeing the people offering money & candles upon the altar, he offered there also as other did. After that the same thief was taken for robbery, and hanged. When he was dead, the devils would have had his soul to hell. But there was a good angel, that withstood them, saying unto the devils, why would ye take this man away, seeing ye have nothing to do with him, nor no power over him? The devils made answer again and said: He hath done much evil and mischief, & never did good in all his life. 
devils stand before gods judgement seat among the Angels, and than the i. Psalm is not true neque pecatores in concilio in storum. Godyles soles have hands.  So they went together before the judgement seat of god, and there the devils accused the thief, that he had never done any good. Then the good angel brought forth the cross penny, together with the candle, which he had offered upon the altar. Upon the the jug gave sentence, that the these should defend himself against the devils. And the angel gave him this counsel, that he should take the penny in the left hand, in the stead of a bu●le●, & the candle in the right hand, in the stead of a sword, & so to fight with the devils, and to strike nothing but cross strokes at them. And so he did, and by that means chased away the devils. After that, the soul came to the body again, and was taken from the gallows, and the man lived afterward very honestly. Hec ille.  
Who would ever have believed, that they had had, such strong reasons to prove their doctrine with, if we had not their books for witnesses? Yea, the Monks, friars and priests have stuffed their books full of such begerly fables, to blear and blind all christendom with. And there was never yet any Pope, Bishop, nor doctor that ever found fault with such gear. But now that men preach Christ to be the only saviour of all mankind, they rage and rave, as though they were besides themselves. When men preached that A candle or a peney offered unto our Lady, was of such force that it could deliver an vacant wretch and murderer, both Christ and faith set a part, and could chase away the devil: When men thus preached (I say) Blaspheming, and (as it were) treading under their feet the passion & merits of Christ, than were all sermons good and catholic, 
Pestilent catholic.  and than were no heretics in the world. etc. Doth not this well verify the Bishops saying▪ That priests were never yet good?  
Well let us yet rehearse somewhat more of their stuff: How will any man be able to bear upon his conscience, the intolerable violence and force, which they have wrought unto all the world, with their ear confession, wherewith they have brought infinite souls to desperation, 
Auriculea confession.  and have rob and spoiled many sorrowful hearts, of all christian comfort? For like very traitors, and abominable wretches, they made no manner of mention, nor spoke never a word, of the true virtue and power of the keys, nor of faith, but forced only upon tedious and intolerable torment of particular nombring & rehearsing of sins, and of doing just penance, and impossible satisfaction therefore. And unto such enumeration and satisfaction (as a work of their own) they ascribed the purchasing of God's savour, and of everlasting salvation: so that Christ might go play him, as one that had nothing to do with that matter. And thus they led & kept men quite from Christ, & taught them to put their trust in themselves, and in their own and other men's works and deserts.  
And in all their Doctrine, there is not one Syllable, be it never so little, nor one title never so small, wherein Christ is not denied and blasphemed, and the true faith in him most shamefully slandered & assaulted, & the weak hearts & consciences of simple people forced to impossible things & to desperation. 
Antichrist  And so, and no notherwise, should the right Antichrist do, that according to his name, he might teach & live manifestly enough, contrary to Christ, & to exalt himself above God and his word. Which thing we see to be more manifestly and apparently verified in the papacy, that is in the Pope's government, than any man can comprehend. And yet there is no repentance for all this gear, but they rather defend and maintain that confession of theirs, and would besides, that every simple subject should (by his obedience and aid) be partaker of the sorrow, misery, and desperation, that the same confession brinketh with it.  
And yet this is not all, but who so ever thou beest, that shalt aid or obey them in their procedings, thou shalt make thyself partaker of the grievous misery, 
The Pope's curse, cursed be he, and all his covent.  and detestable abuse of their Curse and Excommunication. Which abuse only (if there were no more but that) hath worthily deserved, that all men should wish the papacy to sink and to perish, much less to show any obedience, or to minister any aid, whereby it might be maintained. How hath the Pope ruffled (and played Rex Regum) with that thounderbolt of his curse and excommunication, against Emperors, Kings, and against all the world? Yea against God himself and his holy word. For what so ever the devil had put in his mind, that must go forward, and be accepted as right and lawful. What wars & effusion of blood hath he caused therethorow in the world: Yea, who is able to rehearse all the abomination, that it hath bred? What so ever the Pope would have to be sin, or to be called sin, that must needs so be. And what so ever pleased him to be named good & godly, that must needs so be, so that he must be a most dreadful Lord over the whole world, over body & soul, lands & goods, over purgatory, over hell, over the devil, over heaven, over angels, over God, & over altogether. Heaven was open, or shut, to whom soever it pleased him: And so was hell like wise. Whom soever it had pleased him, should have kept or lost his body. goods, estimation, lands, heritage. wife, children, house, money and all such things. Yea, if this abuse of the keys had not been, what had the papacy been? And all this have they done of very wilfulness & force (against all right and reason) even for very pomp, and for their bellies sake, misusing (most wretchedly) the holy name of god, for the maintenance thereof. For under the name and pretence of God, have they wrought all their detestable mischief and tyranny. For the which they never once mind to repent, but (like obstinate beasts) continued still in their wickedness, defending & maintaining it, what so ever any man hath said or written never so truly there against. It were little wonder, if heaven and earth should open or utterly burst, for such abomination, or that God would suffer such continual wretchedness, spite, & misbehavour any longer unrevenged. I think that if the great Turk knew himself to be so wicked, & such a wretch, as the Papists know themselves to be desperate caitiffs', he would not be so obstinate, nor so desperately and spitefully defi god with his abomination. And I think also that the great Turk would never say: 
The Pastes boast of themselves.  We Tukes were never good: as the papistes shame not to make their boast, saying: We Priests were yet never good. But it is the veri devil that possesseth them, 
The pope followeth the devil,  who knoweth his works to be nought, & therefore defendeth them the more earnestly. And so doth the Pope and his adherentes. Were it not well done now of thee (what soever thou beest, if thou hast any Christian blood in thy heart) to help with thy obedience, to aid or maintain such arrant soul murderers.  
And what shall I say of their damnable, devilish, 
Relics. Pilgrimages.  lying & false Relics and pilgrimages? Lord god what devilish craft have they used therewith? Dead bones & rotten rags have they made the people believe, to be the bones and vestures of holy saints. And with such devilish subtlety have they seduced the simple souls and persuaded them to run hither and thither to viset and to kiss their rotten relics. And this gear is maintained of the pope, bishops priests, monks, & Friars, to be godly and holy, and all with craft to pike men's purses, to rob and spoil them of their money and goods, under a cloak of holiness, to maintain their idle bellies their with. And it might the better have been borne, if they had not there with led the people utterly from Christ, and taught them to put and fix their trust, and to build their salvation in such works of their own invention. For there was none that ever sought any relic, or pilgrimage but that did put his trust and affians of salvation therein, contemning Christ and the true faith in him, as a thing of no importance. And this contempt & utter renouncing of Christ, and of the true faith in him, have the Papistical bishops and priests not only never spoken against, but also they had a pleasure and delight therein, and procured pardon for such as did believe in such beggary, and so peeled and polled all the world, to feed and pamper themselves in idleness.  
Christ speaketh of an abomination in the holy place, If the papaci be not such an abomination, let every man judge, that hath indifferent judgement. Not only for using of such abominations as I have rehearsed, but specially for maintaining of them and contineving in them so desperately. For by that means, they do not only sin in very deed against themselves, but also they confirm that sin of theirs with unrepentance, whereby it becometh a sin against the holy ghost, which is the most highest & most grievous & heavy sin that can be. 
The sin of the papistes and of the devil are like.  For the devil himself can commit no higher nor more grievous sin. Now see, these are the jolly rutterkyns, that will be lords & controllers over gods word, 
● shameless Hypocrites.  and which dare attempt to move us to recant and revoke our doctrine, and to reverence and receive all these abominations for the words & works of God? and as for themselves, to remain unreformed, what else? And in no wise to admit any new alteration, beware of that how so ever they do. They speak and prate much of stirring up of sedition and uproar, 
The papists & non other are the stirrers up of uproar & sedition. The papists are the occasion of all plagues and of all misery in the world  but if this doing of theirs be not the next way to stir up sedition & upror I cannot tell what can more stir up sedition & upror. Yea, what can more provoke the pestilence, extreme dearth, the invasion of the Turk, wars, murder, and all the plagues and vengeance of God upon our necks than these mischievous abominations that I have reckoned? I say and will abide thereby, that nothing so much. Here must I leave unrehearsed, for avoiding of tediousness, a number of abominations which I have not yet spoken of, as vows to pilgrimages, brotherhods, buying and selling of their works, and of their cowls and such like.  
Now to the third and last cause, why no man ought to aid or obey Emperor, King or Prince in this case, which is this: If thou shouldest obey or aid the Emperor, thy King, thy Queen, Prince, or Magistrate in such case, forasmuch as they mind by such procedings of theirs to establish Antichristes' kingdom, thou shalt not only (by thy obedience & aid) make thyself partaker of all these abominations before rehearsed; but thy obedience & aid also, shall serve & help, to subvert and to root out all the good, that hath been done or wrought by the gospel. For these archecaitives' are not content to maintain these abominations, but also they labour (all that they can) utterly to abolish & to root out for ever all the goodness, which the doctrine of the Gospel, or the Preachers & professors thereof have taught wrought, or brought to pass.  
This cause comprehendeth much matter in it, & is a veri weighty cause. For the doctrine of the gospel which hath been earnestly preached & taught by us, hath wrought much good, thanks be unto God before. 
What good hath been done by the preaching of the gospel  For before the doctrine thereof was preached & taught by our brethren, no man knew what the gospel ment. No man knew what Christ was. No man knew what Baptism or penance was. No man knew what faith or good works were. No man knew what a sacrament was. No man knew what flesh or spirit was. No man knew, what the. X. commandments, what the lords prayer, or what the Crede ment. No man knew what prayer was. No man knew how to bear the cross, or how to take affliction, nor yet how to comfort himself in any adversity. No man knew before what the true office of a Maiestrat was Nor no man knew, what the state of holy Matrimony was. No man knew what was the office of parents towards their children, of Masters and mistresses towards their servants, and maids, nor yet of Children, servants and maids towards their parents, masters and dames. No man knew before, what the devil or what the world was: What life or death was. No man knew rightly, what was Sin, or what was Virtue, nor yet what forgiveness of sins was, nor where to be sought. No man knew what God was. No man knew what it was to be a bishop, or what it was to be a pastor, and to have charge of soul. No man knew also rightly, what the church was, nor what authority it had. No nor no man knew, what it was to be a christian. Shall I say altogether in few words? No man knew any thing at all, that every true Christian ought to have known. For the pope and papistical asses, had blinded all the world and oppressed all men with ignorance. I may well call them asses, for they are very gross and unlearned asseheades in all matters of Christian religion, in deed. For they know, or at the least they will know nothing else, but that the salvation of Men and women dependeth, upon monks and friars and such like, and upon their works and merits, and not upon Christ at al. Where as the doctrine which we have taught, hath brought to pass, that divers men, women, and children (thanks be unto God) know the principles of Christian religion; and how all men ought to believe, how to pray, how to take the cross, how to live, & how to die. The true understanding of these & many other articles hath been opened through the diligence of our preachers. The true use also of the lords table, 
Yea, but now farewell truth seeing our poor preachers are chopped up.  and of the Font, wherein all people are consecrated unto God thorough Baptism, hath by our preachers & teachers been brought to light, so that all men (thanks be to God) may see in their order the very right form of a Christian church. All this shalt thou help, through thy obedience, to subvert and to condemn, whosoever thou are, that shalt obey them in their proceadyngs. And furthermore also thy aid and obedience shall serve, and help to burn and destroy the old and new Testament in our in other tongue, the holy Psalter and other books of godly prayers in our mother tongue, and all other good books and most godly and necessary works▪ which our preachers & teachers have written, as the papists themselves cannot deni. And thy obedience shall also serve and help to this, that no man from hence forth shall know the X. Commandments, the Articles of the Christian faith, The lords prayer. (For so was it before the doctrine that we profess was preached.) And thy obedience shall serve likewise, that no man shall hereafter learn any good instructions of baptism, of the Lords supper, of faith, of the Gospel, of the true christian liberty, nor of any other godly article.  
Item, thy obedience shall serve and help, that no man may put his trust and affiance rightly upon Christ. And yet more than this, it shall also serve & help, that men shall put that trust and confidence that is due unto Christ only, in the works and merits of monks, friars and priests, and that they shall buy their merits and cowls at the hour of their death. Thou shalt help there with also, that in the place of holy Matrimony. thy nation shallbe filled with the hordom and fornication and other filthy and unnatural sins of priests and votaries. And yet further by helping with thy aid and obedience, to maintain their abominable merchandise which they make with their idolatrous mass sacrifice, thou shalt make thyself partaker of all the covetousness, robbery and theft, wherewith they have gotten all their possessions. And what shall I say more? Thou shalt help therewith utterly to subvert Christ's word and whole kingdom, and to restore, and maintain the devils kingdom. For that thing do the mischievous captives the Papists, and the authors of these proceedings mind to do. They are Antichristes' ministers, & therefore they can mind nor do nothing but that which is contrary to Christ, Specialli in the chief article of our salvation, which is this, that our heart, comfort, and affians of salvation should rest only upon Christ, and not in any works of our own, that is to say, that we should believe to be saved and to be delivered from our sins, and to be made righteous only through true faith as it is written in the. ii. to the no manes: with the heart do we believe, unto righteousness. This article I say will they in no wise suffer. And we can in no wise forbear it. For take this article away, and than take away the church. For without this Article, no error can be resisted. For asmuch as without this article, Christ will not, nor cannot be with us. For this is the article that must declare and open christ unto us. For this articles sake, hath the world oft been plagued, through the sin flood, through great tempests, thorough wars and divers other kinds of plagues. For this articles sake, was Abel murdered and many other martyrs. And yet it remaineth & shall remain, let the adversaries do, & practise what they will this Article shall remain, when they shall go to wreck & perish in the pit of hell.  
Now let all men well consider with themselves, and look well about themselves, If their aid & obedience shall help and serve to restore all the abominations of the papistry, they shall make themselves partakers of all the blood that hath been shed thorough the papists from the death of Abel till this day, or that hereafter shall be shed by them. And moreover, if their obedience and aid shall serve to the roting out and subversion of Christ's Gospel and of his whole kingdom, and to the setting up and maintaining of the devils kingdom, let them take head what will be the end thereof at length, 
Note well.  and with what consciences they will stand before god at his judgement seat  
And besides all this to make an end whosoever shall aid and obey them, his aid and obedience shall serve to bring in Aalianes, 
Thy obedience shall work the shame. Are not the Spaniards worthy to be welcome?  which shall overrun his natural country, most shamefully defile and abuse honest wives, widows and virgins even before the faces of their husbands, parents and friends. They shall also rob and spoil men of their goods, lands and heritage, and divide and bestow them at their pleasure. No tongue is able to rehearse the hundred part of the misery, that shall happen, if the papists & the magistrates that are led by them may bring their proceadyngs to pass, both the nobility, the yemanry and the whole commonalty shall be destroyed for ever, their lawful heirs & posterity disinherited, & Alianes shall possess the lands & inheritance of our ancestors. The ancient laws of our nation shallbe subverted, & new laws established. All this and more than I can rehearse, shalt thou begiltie of, before God and the world, that all thy posterity shall rue the day that over they were borne, whosoever thou art that shalt obey or and the proceedings that are now attempted. Well, let no man say but that he had warning enough, in no wise to obey or to aid, neither Kaiser nor King, Lady nor Lord in such case. If they will take and follow such warning and admonition it is good: If they will not, the more peril, danger & shame shallbe theirs. ☞ Thus much hath my duty to my natural country bounden me to write unto my dear country men, for a faithful admonition and counsel for them, not to stir or to provoke them to any unlawful uproar or sedition, but to instruct them, that they ought in no wise to obey nor to aid the sworn adversaries of the son of God & of their natural country (borne to work mischief) in such proceadyngs, as they go about. And if they should be forced by violence, to the obedience of such unlawful things, that they may by all laws defend themselves against such magistrates, even as against most violent tyrants and bloodhounds.  
And now to you (ye papists) for a conclusion, If ye can with truth reprove or deny any thing that I have written in this Admonition, let me hear it, & I shall make further proof thereof, if need shall require. And let the people freely read this my admonition, and than let the blindest of them be judge between you and me. But if I have herein written nothing but truth, than forbid all men to read or to have in in their hands this Admonishion, that all the world may know, that ye are the very same, of whom I have spoken therein, and that ye are afraid that your works should come to light. But if ye forbid this, doubt ye not, but you shall have another more earnest, wherein your detestable abomination and your devilish Practices, shallbe a little better described and painted.  
Forbid it if ye will.   

A prayer to be said of all true Christians against the Pope and all the enemies of Christ and his Gospel.  
O Lord, almighty god and heavenly father, we have verily well deserved that thou shouldest punish & correct us. But we beseech the most gracious father, that thou wilt punish & correct us thyself favourably and with mercy, and not in thy fury and indignation. It is better for us, O Lord, to submit ourselves under thy rod and correction, & to yield ourselves into thy hands, than into the hands of men, or of our enemies. For great is thy mercy. Against thee (O Lord) have we sinned, we have not kept thy word and commandments, we have done evil in thy sight. But we have done nothing, for the which the devil or the Pope and his ministers ought justly to correct us, neither have they any authority to correct or punish us. But thou mayest use them as thy terrible rods against us, forasmuch as we have sinned against thee, and therewith worthily deserved most grievous punishment. No Lord, we have done no offence, for the which they ought justly to punish us. But this is their seeking that we should most blasphemously sin and offend against thee as they do. That we should disobey thee for their pleasures, and blaspheme thee, and commit idolatry and superstition, and believe in fables and false doctrine and religion as they do. And so that we would so do, they care not what whoredom, murder, theft, filthiness or what other abomination so ever we did otherwise. But this is all the sin which we have done against them, that we profess and confess thee, which art our God and Father, with thy Son our Saviour jesus Christ, and the holy Ghost▪ to be the only true God.  
For if we would forsake, and deny the and thy word, which thou hast revealed unto us, both the devil & the Pope with all their ministers would let us alone, & suffer us to live in rest.  
Wherefore thou merciful father, and most earnest judge over our enemies, cast thine eyes upon us. For they are thy enemies, more than they be our enemies. And in that they persecute & vex us, they persecute and vex thee. For that word which we do profess and believe, is not ours but thine: & all together is the working of thy holy Ghost in us. Which thing the Devil & the Pope with such other enemies of thine can not abide. But they would be our God in thy place, & in stead of thy word, they would establish lies. For the Pope in stead of the most precious sacrifice & oblation of thy son jesus Christ, would stablish & set up the feigned sacrifice of his own invention, the detestable & abominable mass, & other false & wicked articles contrary to the true doctrine of thy word. Wherefore awake & arise, O gracious Lord God, & sanctify thy name in us, which they do most abhominabli blaspheme & dishonour. Strengthen & increase the kingdom in us, which they go about to subvert. And work thy will in us, which they resist, & will not suffer. But thou (O Lord) suffer us not to be trodden under foot, & to have an overthrow of them, which seek not to punish or correct us for our sins, but rather that thy name, thy word & works should not be had in remembrance among us, but utterly quenched, that thou shouldest no more be a God, nor no more have any flock or people to praise, profess & confess the. For they cast a way thy word, & set up their own inventions. They subvert the true use of thy sacraments, & set up idolatrous ceremonies. They banish and keep in prison the true preachers of thy word▪ and send abroad false teachers, belly Gods & shameless Hypocrites. They mind utterly to subvert thy truth, & all godliness, & to plant all hypocrisy & abomination. Wherefore good Lord (of thy mercy) abate thou their pride, assuage thou their malice, confounded & disappoint thou all their devices & practices, deliver thy Turtle dove, thine elect, out of their hands: that they and we all being preserved thorough thy defence from all such perils & dangers as they practise and devise against us, may glorify thy name which art the only preserver of all that trust in thee, thorough thy dear son jesus Christ. Amen.  
O Lord arise, help and deliver thy people of England for thy name's sake.  
O Lord defend thy elect people of England from the hands and force of thy enemies the Papists.  
O Lord graciously look upon the afflictions, sorrows, and necessities of those that do truly profess and believe thy word. Amen.   

¶ Imprinted at Grenewych by Conrad Freeman, in the month of May. M.D.Liiii.  
With the most gracious licence & privilege of god almighty, King of heaven & earth.  
FINIS.