THE ANATOMY OF POPE JOAN.  
WHEREIN HER LIFE, Manner's and death is lively laid abroad and opened, and the forged cavils and allegations that our adversaries use for her, throughly unripped and confuted.  
Necessary for all those that are not fully acquainted with the story, and not unfruitful to all them that love and embrace the true religion of Christ, and abhor the sottish illusions of Romish Antichrist.  
Written by I. M.   printer's or publisher's device ANCHORA SPEI 
Imprinted at London by Richard Field dwelling in great Woodstreet. 1624.   

To the reasonable Reader.  
THou hast here mine Anatomy of Pope joane briefly comprised: if not cunningly as it ought, blame mine insufficiency: if not as an expert Chirurgeon, impute the fault to want of skill, and not of good will. Howbeit, errare fortassis possim, hareticus esse non possum. The matter hereof is so manifest, that corun copiae were needless to polish it, and the truth so evident, that the Pumi-stone of exquisite and superficial eloquence would not have been requisite to flourish and smooth it. Read therefore willingly, judge indifferently, and correct friendly. Let reason rule thee, authority move thee, and truth enforce thee. And let us both pray together, that the truth may be maintained, all errors confounded, and Gods name glorified. Farewell.   


CHAP. I. How our adversaries the Papists are ashamed of Pope joane, and how some of them do peremptorily deny the story thereof.  
AS the Scriptures are plain to prove, the Doctors and learned father's plentiful to testify: so many & great are the signs and tokens which the Lord from time to time hath showed, that Rome is Babylon, the Pope Antichrist, the abomination of desolation, the arch-enemy of Christ, and that man of sin, which lifteth himself above all that is called God. 
2. Thess. 2.4.  Among which none surely is more lively & evident, and more to be weighed and considered, then that of Pope joane, which is such a notable precedent & singular demonstration thereof, that no man (unless wholly possessed of Satan, and a verier beast than ever was Nabuchadnezar) will doubt or put any diffidence therein. This is that which is the only eyesore, and biting corasive to our adversaries, which pulleth down their proud peacocks feathers, & battereth their paper walls clean to the ground. This is that which grieveth them to the galls, and pricketh them to the quick, which overwhelmeth them with horror, & drowneth them top and tail in shame and dishonour. 
Eus; ebb. lib. 10. cap. 14. Superati pudore & adoperti cōfu●ione discedunt  For as the shameful and detestable end of Arrius, was such a terror and cooling card to his adherents, that they went away hushed, overcome with shame, and covered with confusion: so that strange event of Pope joane and her opprobrious death, is such a torment and torture unto them, that in their own consciences they are stinged and accused, and compelled to cry: 
Esa 1.21.  Quomodo facta est meretrix urbs fidelis? How is that faithful City become a strumpet? 
Anton. Par 2. tit. 16. cap. 1.7  Antoninus' the Archbishop of Florence, when he had opened this whole story of Pope joane, was so astonished with the strangeness and admiration of the matter, that he cried out: O altitudo sapientia, & scientiae Dei: quam incredibilia sunt iudicia eius! O the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how incredible be his judgements! 
A story writer, living in the time of king Edward the son of Egelred, and Emma.   

See Marianus printed at Basil, collum. 407. sub an. Dom. 854.  Marianus Scotus, perceiving what a deep downfall and ruin this brought to the Sea of Rome, and that God would have such a matter openly known, to the everlasting detestation both of the person and place, writeth thus: 
The Author corrupted.  Propter turpitudinem roi, & muliebrem sexum, Authores Pontificij huius Iohannae nomen non ponunt. Both for the shame of the matter, and also for the woman kind, the Popish Chroniclers leave out the name of Pope joane. Can there be a more manifest token then this, both of great corruption of manners, and dissoluteness of life? Can there be a more infallible argument of open horror and filthiness, in that only Sea above all others? 
Psal. 147.15.  Surely, surely, the Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works, & all his judgements are done in truth and equity. 
A proper figleaf of our adversaries to cover Dame joane.  But our adversaries have a figge-leafe to cover this shame, and think by that, to shift and face out the matter, and to pass away invisible in a cloud. They flatly deny that there was ever any Pope joane in Rome, yea they stoutly and sturdily defend it, and say, that it is a fond and vain fable, a lie, and a tale invented of malice and stomach against them. Soft and fair, my Masters: your figge-leafe is dry and withered, and not worth a rotten fig, for it doth uncover your shame, show your nakedness, and bewray your treachery and dastardness in the cause. 
Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 21.  You cannot bridle the flowing Seas, nor blind the Sunbeams: you have as great an advantage by the denying of it, as the Ebionites had by denying S. Paul's Epistles, and calling him an Apostata of the Law. But can you prove it so? Alas you cannot: for your own Doctors and Proctors have written and related it so plainly and pithily, that you must needs (unless you clip their credits, and deface them) confess it. Martinus Polonus the Pope's Penitentiary, and a Monk of the order of Cisterce, who lived about the year of our Lord 1320. hath written and reported it: 
johan 8. mu●ier ut fertur. Testimonies or the proof ●f Pope Ioane ●vs dicitur.  So hath Platina in johanne. 8 Sabellicus, Enneadis 9 lib. 1. Marianus Scotus: Ravisius Textor in Officina: Antoninus the Archbishop of Florence: Supplementum Chronicorum: Fasciculus temporum, and other more. Are all these liars and tale tellers? Are the writings of all these men fabulous and untrue? I trust you will not say so. Then give place unto the truth, and kick not against the spur: for the truth is great, and will prevail, will ye, nill ye, it will conquer. Deny not such a miraculous token, showing as it were in a glass, the corruption and abomination of the Roman Church, and of the Pope thereof, the open adversary of God, and the abomination standing in the holy place. Acknowledge and confess it, and let the remembrance thereof work such repentance and remorse in you, t●●t you may renounce your errors, abjure your heresies, forsake the kingdom of darkness, and serve the Lord in true holiness and righteousness.   

CHAP. II. How some of our adversaries go about to excuse and shift the matter, by possibility of nature, saying, that Pope joane might be Hermaphroditus, that is, a man and woman both in one.  
THe Lion is known by his claws, the Leopard by his spots, and our adversaries by their perverse and corrupt dealing to defend Pope joane, and to colour her filthiness and abomination withal: wherein as many of them have toiled and moiled not a little, so especially hath one Cope our countryman, an earnest Proctor for the Pope and his Prelates, who writing of this matter, saith thus: 
Dialogo. 1. pag. 47.  Neque hic ego quicquam dsco de Hermaphroditis & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de quibus veterum librs pleni sunt. I will here say nothing of such persons as be called Hermaphroditi, and are both man and woman all in one, whereof in old writers we find much mention. Meaning thus in effect, that the Pope might be Hermaphroditus, an Herkinalson, that is to say, a man and a woman both in one: and thinking by this means somewhat handsomely to excuse and shift the matter. Gentle stuff for the nonce; and worthy divinity for such a Roman courtier. What toy is there so vain and ridiculous, and what excuse so childish and frivolous, which they will not force to serve their turn? The Pope may be a man and a woman both in one: very likely, for he might peradventure wash himself in the fountain Salmacis in Caria, and be made half a man: or he might perchance embrace a woman as the Nymph did, finding Hermaphroditus the son of Mercurius and Venus naked, and desire of the gods as she did, that of them two might be made one body. Is not this Catholic Theology, and Apustolike discipline meet for a Roman champion? Is not this credible and to be justified? 
●orn. Agrippa de Occul. Phi●osophia. lib. 1. ●ap. 45.  Yes no doubt, for the Pope that is a God & above Angels, may transform himself if it please him, as well as Proteus, Periclimenus, Achelous, and Metra the daughter of Erisichtho, and may and can do greater miracles than these: for in his hands is heaven, hell, and purgatory, he hath all the earth at his command, all the saints at his commandment, yea, and all the devils too if need be. Therefore a small matter it was for him, and the least miracle of a thousand, to make himself a man and a woman both in one. What cursed doctrine is this? alas what a childish and silly excuse is this, to cover Dame joanes' infamy, and to bring her to some credit in the world? Omiserable & fantastical imaginations, of very heathen Atheists & Apistes not allowed nor maintained. For shame, for very conscience sake, for the regard of the world, and for fear of God's heavy wrath, reject such foolish dreams and ceremonies, and uphold no longer such blind and vain excuses, in defence of that which is so well and perfectly known to the world, and which is such a clear light, and plaive signification of sacrilege, superstition and idolatry in the Roman sea. Let not Antichrist any longer deceive you, nor the Romish Babylon infect you with her poisoned cups. 
jerem. 2.13.  Damn not up the springs of the water of life, nor break up puddles of your own, such as are able to hold no water, but serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice unto him with reverence; embrace his word, love him, and put your whole trust in him: than you shall be his people, and sheep of his pasture, than your leaf shall not whither, yea and then look whatsoever you shall do, it shall prosper.   

CHAP. III. How some say, that the Pope being a man, may afterwards be changed into a woman.  
GReat is the subtlety, and marvelous is the craft the Satan useth to drown men in heresy, to thrust them headlong into sin and perdition, and to make them obstinately wallow and welter therein. He will provide for them such fine excuses: he will get for them such starting holes and defences, that they shall think themselves secure, to be in the right way, and to stand upon good and firm ground, when it is far otherwise: yea he will leave no means unaffayed to keep them in his subjection, and to make them drunken with their own erroneous opinions. This may be perceived in none more perspicuously then in the Papists, and in no one thing more apparently, then in their defence of Pope joane, whom the devil hath so bewitched, so blinded, and so wedded to their own self wills, that to cover her deformity, and to paint it out with some colour to the world, they have spread themselves again as the heavens, and left no way unattempted. Wherefore let us go further, and see more of their dealing, and more of their fetches in the matter: and let us come again to Cope, and see what a good and ghostly Master he is for his Dame joane. After he had said, that the Pope might us an Hermaphroditus, he resteth not there, but going further, he forceth Ovid's Metamorphosis to serve his turn, and saith, that the Pope being a man, may be changed into a woman: for these be his words: Et ne à nostri temporis memoria longius abeam, non ignore monumentis literarum esse traditum, Mulierum quandam nomine Aemyliam Antonio Spensae, Civi Eubulano nuptam, post duodecimum à nuptijs annum in virum transgress. Legi etiam alteram mulierem, ubi puerum peperisset, in marem fuisse mutatam.  
But not to go farther than the remembrance of our own time: I know that it is written that a certain woman named Emylia, married unto one Antonius Spensa a Citizen of Eubulum, ten years after she had been married, was turned into a man. I have likewise read of another woman, that when she had been brought a bed, afterwards became a man. Certes this is strange, for a man to be turned into a woman: but all things well considered, it is nothing strange at all. For the Pope hath all laws and knowledge within his breast, and whatsoever he be, he is holy, and immaculate, and can work no small wonders. May not he change himself into sundry shapes, as well as jupiter, Mercury, Apollo, and other of the Gods? 
Metam lib. 3. Ponta●us.  May not he be changed into a woman as well as Tiresias was: or as well as Caietana and Aemilia into men? Yes doubtless, for he is fare above them, and can do much more than ever they could, Therefore master Copes surmise, that the Pope may be changed into a woman, is very Catholic and substantial, and fit for such a pregnant and illuminate doctor. But fie for shame, what a sottish excuse is this? What a vain illusion and Maygame? Is there no better shift nor surer refuge than this? Is there no thicker cloud to spread over the matter with more likelihood? Then who seeth not the bondage of Egypt? who sees not the spiritual Babylon, and the madness of them that commit spiritual fornication with her? Better it had been, and the safer way by a great deal, simply and plainly to have confessed it, then by a miracle to turn the Pope from a man into a woman, and that which is worst of all, obstinately to defend it. For now every one doth see, that you had leifer be filthy still, then leave off your filthiness, and had rather (because you love your vices) Excusare, quàm excutere. Excuse them, then forsake them: and as many as in spi●●● and truth do love the Lord, do mou●●e for grief, to see men carried so heau● 〈◊〉 with such godless and reckless imagination's.   

CHAP. FOUR How they have left cut Pope joanes' name out of their Calendar: and how they have hired Onuphrius Pamuinius of set purpose to face out the matter.  
SOme of our Adversaries take this Enthimeme for an insallible argument: 
An Enthimeme of our adversaries to deny Pope joane.  Dame joane is not registered in the Calendar among the Popes: Ergo it is but a vain fable that ever Dame joane was Pope in Rome. The consequent is very simple, and not to be granted, because it is well known, that the Bishop's names as well in Rome as in other places, have upon sundry occasions been oftentimes quite stricken out of the Calendar. But Dame joanes' name (they say) is not in their Calendar. It may be so: and wherefore I pray? Martious Polonus, one of their own sworn brothers doth tell us. johanna (saith he) non ponitur in Catalogo Pontificum, tam propter muliebrem sexum, quàm propter deformitatem facti. Pope joane is not reckoned in the Calendar of holy Popes, as well for that she was a woman, as also for very shame of the matter.  
The like doth Sabellicus set down. Nullus defunctae honor habitus: fama tenet, ob tam foeda rei memoriam. There was no honour bestowed at her burial: the report is, for the remembrance of her filthy act. By this we see, that the name of Pope joane was not put into the Calendar of the Popes, partly because she was a woman, and especially, because she was a woman of such a filthy life, and vicious behaviour. Therefore this reason of our adversaries is a blind conjecture, and of no force. But (say they) 
In Scholijs in Platinam.  Onuphrius Pamuinius upon Platina, hath truly and learnedly written hereof: and he that list to read that discourse of his, shall easily believe the whole matter to be fabulous. Truth it is, that such a one indeed hath of late written hereof, and beaten his brains not a little to help out this matter, but all in vain: for he was one of the Pope's Parasites, hired and procured by him only for that business. His book was printed in Venice, and plausibly accepted of his friends and well willers: but the stuff that he hath brought in there, to make the world believe, that there was never any Pope joane in Rome, is such trash, and so ridiculons, that it will grieve a good Christian in in his heart, to read and see it.  
This is the craft & policy of the Pope, to hire and procure men to smooth and soothe his matters, and to face and grace out his impieties, with many forged lies and false suppositions: thinking by that means, to dazzle men's eyes, and to make them believe they be true, godly, and apostolical. 
Most impudent and notorious railers and liars.  This have many popish Pages of late done, and especially Amphilochius, Onuphrius, Surius, and Hieronimus Bolsecus, one that hath used most shameless railing, most vile, spiteful, and horrible lies and cavils, with an immoderate and uncivil bitterness, proceeding from the unsavoury and unquiet humour of his heart, against the godly and reverend ministers of the Gospel, Caluin, Beza, with others more. God of his mercy grant, that they may repent & amend their lives, renounce their damnable errors, forsake their cursed slanders, and not adventure their wits in such desperate causes. For, Nemo periculosiùs peccat, quàm qui peccata defendit. No man sinneth with more danger, than he that standeth in defence of sin.   

CHAP. V What year of the Lord Pope joane lived in Rome. How long she was Pope: and between what Pops she was.  

Herodotus.  Xerxes' the great king of Persia, when he brought over his huge army into Grecia, sent out his letters of defiance unto the great mount Athos that is in Macedonis, and commanded him to stand still, & not to stir a foot, nor to work any displeasure, either to himself, or to his army. Even by like authority, and with as good discretion, the Pope & his hirelings have done with Dame joane, who being able no kind of way, to colour or cloak her sufficiently, have sent out their letters and defiance to all Countries & Regions that perfectly know her, commanding them not once to spurn or kick against her, nor so much as to make any record or mention of her. But let them wrestle and wrangle so much as they will, let them curse and defy while they list, and let Onuphrius, and all the rabble rout of them do what they can, the truth thereof will never be forgotten: it is and will be absolutely known, to the utter confusion of proud Antichrist, and to the everlasting execration of all the popish and peevish synagognes. 
What the cause was, that they have left Pope joane out of their Calendar.  For although they have left the name of Pope joane out of the Calendar of the Bishops of Rome, only for shame, lest it should appear in records that a woman, and such a woman had been bishop of Rome, or that the bishop of Rome had been with child: and although they never cease to bolster and bungle up the matter, sometime with this shift, sometime with that, sometime affirmatively, sometime negatively: yet so many Chronicles would not have recorded it, nor so many men would have written it, nor the world would so universally have believed these things of the Pope, more than of any other, had it not been true, credible, and verity. For where I pray began the history of her first? In Rome. From what place was it first published abroad into the world? Fron Rome. What he they that have written & declared it? The trusty friends of Rome: yes the great authentical Doctors & commissioners of the Pope, have described & avouched it, some living four hundred years ago, some five hundred, who have ever been counted famous fathers in Rome, and whorthy of no small authority and reverence. What year of our Lord was Dame joane Pope in Rome? As they have written, 853. How long was she in the Popedom? As they have written, two years, one month, and four days. Betwixt what Popes was she? As they themselves have written, between Leo the 4. and Benedict the third. Seeing then that our adversaries own friends & Proctors have written and related it, and so plainly and expressly shown it, I marvel with what faces any of them can deny it, or go about to excuse it.   

CHAP. VI What Pope joanes' name was, how she was not borne in England, but at Mentz in Germany, and how she came to Rome, and to the Popedom.  
MAny there be (I know) and those our own countrymen, who think and believe Dame joane to be an English woman borne. 
The cause why Pope joane is thought to be an English woman born.  I can conjecture no other thing to be the cause hereof but report only, being for the most part more comen then true, and especially because in many authors entreating of this matter, is found, johannes Anglicus, or johannes de Anglia, which seemeth unto them to be transtated, john an English man, or john of England. Because I would have all those that be not as yet truly certified & resolved herein to agree together, and rightly to believe this point, I will declare unto them the truth of the matter, according to the opinions of the best and most approved writers. 
Why she was called joane English.  She was called joane English, by the surname of her father, and borne at Mentz in Germany. Martinus Polonus the Pope's ghostly Penitentiary, discoursing at large of this matter affirmeth the same, for thus he writeth: johannes Anglicus natione Maguntinus, sedit annos duos, mensem unum, dies quatuor, etc. john English (so surnamed) borne at Mentz, sat in the Roman Sea two years, one month, and four days. Theodoricus Niemus also, sometime the Pope's Secretary, and therefore had good cause to know the truth hereof, doth lively paint out the whole matter, & expressly showeth the same. Et fuit mulier de Maguntiae nata, quae studuit Athenis sub virili habitu: & in tantum profecit in artibus, ut tandem veniens Romam per biennium in schola Artes liberales legerit: & adeo sufficient fuit, ut etiam Maiores & Nobiles urbis eius lectiones frequenter audiverint. Et postea eligitur in Papam, etc. And there was joane a woman, borne at Mentz, who had studied at Athens in the apparel of a man, and had so profited in the Arts, that at last coming to Rome, two years together she professed the liberal sciences in a School. And her gift in teaching was such, that the Elders and Nobles of the City resorted often to hear her read. Afterward she was chosen Pope, etc. 
Pope joane a Dutch woman.  We need not cite any more testimonies for farther proof hereof: these two do manifestly show that she was a Dutchwoman borne, and not called joane English by the name of the country, for that she was an English woman borne in England (as many imagine) but only by the surname of her father. For who knoweth not that there are many at this day called by the names of Scot, Irish, French, Welsh, Norman, Gascoine, Holland, and yet not borne in any of these countries, but only in England. 
Her right name was Gilberts, but called joan the eight.  Therefore it is true, & without all doubt, that Pope joane was not borne in England but in Germany. Notwithstanding some there be (whose authority is very credible and sufficient) that say her name was Gilberta, and called joan the eight: 
Pope joane was a student at Athens.  who likewise affirm, that she was a Dutch-woman of Mentz, and went with an English Monk out of the Abbey of Fulda to Athens, in man's apparel. Well, truth it is that she was in the young years of a girl brought to Athens by one that was her lover in man's apparel. There she studied, and profited so much in divers sciences, that none were found to be compared with her. 
Women brought up in men's apparel, and taken for men.  This is not strange, nor much to be marvelled at: For Ravisius Textor in Officina writeth the like of one Marina, that dissembling what she was, lived many years in an Abbey as a Monk: and of Lasthenia, Axiothea, and others, that being women, came into the School in man's apparel to hear Plato. The like doth many others writ of Euphrosyna that holy maid, that dwelled thirty and six years in Monks apparel among Monks, and was never otherwise taken then for a Monk.  

Pope joane came to Rome.  From Athens she came to Rome, & there professed learning openly, and had great Doctors to her scholars, and for opinion of learning and good life by one consent of all, was made Pope. 
She was created Pope of Rome. Her behaviour in that high office.  Being in this high and glorious seat, she behaved herself so orderly, and discharged that supernal office so absolutely, that she was with child, and as she went in procession delivered thereof, & so died. 
A most lively precedent of the whorish Sea.  Thus was the Pope of Rome, who is such a parles fellow that he cannot e●re, a woman with child, delivered in procession, dead openly in the streets, and buried without any honour or solemnity. God give all Christians grace by this example to beware of the Antichristian and Babylonicall Pope, to renounce him, and all his errors, to reject him and all his parasites, and to see the truth, and that blessed hope whereunto they have been called, so as they may glorify him alone, who is the true God, and also that same jesus Christ whom he sent down to us from heaven: to whom with the Father, and holy Ghost be given all honour and glory everlastingly. Amen.   
FINIS.