THE ENGLISH Roman Life. Discovering: The lives of the Englishmen at Room: the orders of the English Semiminarie: the dissension between the Englishmen and the Welshmen: the banishing of the Englishmen out of Room: the Pope's sending for them again: a report of many of the paltry Relics in Room: their Vaults under the ground: their holy Pilgrimages: and a number other matters, worthy to be read and regarded of every one. There unto is added, the cruel tyranny, used on an English man at Room, his Christian suffering, and notable martyrdom, for the Gospel of jesus Christ, in Anno. 1581. Written by A.M. sometime the Pope's Scholar in the Seminary among them.  
Honos alit Artes.  
Seen and allowed.  
Imprinted at London, by john Charlewoode, for Nicholas Ling: dwelling in Paul's Churchyard, at the sign of the Mermaid. Anno. 1582.   

To the right Honourable Sir Thomas Bromley, Knight, Lord chancellor of England: William, Lord Burleigh and Lord Treasurer: Robert, Earl of Leicester, with all the rest of her majesties most Honourable privy Council. A. M. wisheth a happy race in continual honour, and the fullness of God's blessing in the day of joy.  
THis Book (right Honourable) as I have been care full to note down nothing in it, that might impeach me, either with error or untruth, malice or affection to any, but even have ordered the same, according to certainty and knowledge: so when I had fully finished it, and done the uttermost of my endeavour therein, I considered with myself, I was to present the same, to such personages of Honour, wisdom, and gravity, as, did malice rule me, they could quickly espy it, or affecting myself to any, they would soon discern it: then would Honour reprove me for the one, & their noble nature reprehend me in the other.  
To discharge myself of both these, and purchase the favour wherewith your Honours are continually adorned: I directed my compass by truth, persuading myself, that albeit in some, Veritas odium parit: yet in your Honours, Magna est veritas et praevalet.  
Few words sufficeth your wisdoms, and circumstance without substance, may incur disliking: according as when I presented your Honours with my book, called the Discovery of Campion, I promised, so now in my English Roman life, I have performed: thinking myself in as safe security, under your Honourable favour, as Ulysses supposed himself under the buckler of Ajax.  
Your Honours ever in duty, Anthony Monday.   

To the courteous and friendly Reader.  
THe thing long promised (gentle Reader) is now performed at last, and that which my adversaries thought I would never set forth, to their disproof and thy profit, I have now published. Thou shalt find a number of matters comprehended within this small volume: some, that will irritate the mind of any good subject, and therefore to be read with regard: others, importing the whole course of our Englishmen'S lives in Room, with the odd conceits, and crafty jugglings of the Pope, (whereto our Englishmen are likewise conformable) they are in such true & certain order set down, as if thou were there thyself to behold them. I will not use many words, now thou hast it, read advisedly, condemn not rashly, and if thou thinkest me worthy any thanks for my pains, then friendly bestow it on me.  
Thine in courtesy, Anthony Monday.   
¶ The English Roman life, Discoursing the lives of such English men, as by secret escape, leave their own Country, to live in Room, under the servile yoke of the Pope's government. Also after what manner they spend their time there, practising, and daily looking for the overthrow and ruin of their Princess and Country.  

First, how the Author left his native Country of England, betaking himself to travel, and what happened in his journey toward Room.  
Chap. 1.  
BEcause a number have been desirous, to understand the success of my journey to Room, and a number beside are doubtful, whether I have been there or no, albeit the proofs thereof, sufficiently are extant to be seen: as well to content the one, as remove the doubt of the other, I will (God aiding me) here set down such a certainty thereof, that if it happen not to please both, yet, if they will, it may profit both.  
When as desire to see strange countries, as also affection to learn the languages, had persuaded me to leave my native Country, and not any other intent or cause, God is my record: I committed the small wealth I had, into my purse, a travelers weed on my back, the whole state and condition of my journey to God's appointment, and being accompanied with one Thomas Nowell, crossed the Seas from England to Bulloine in France. From thence we traveled to Amiens, in no small danger, 
The Camp broken up, the soldiers met with us, & rob us, & hardly did we escape with our lives.  standing to the mercy of despoiling Soldiers, who went robbing and killing thorough the Country, the Camp being by occasion broken up at that tyme. Little they left us, and less would have done, by the value of our lives, had not a better booty come then we were at that time: the Soldiers preparing towards them, whom they saw better provided for their necessity: offered us the leisure too escape which we refused not, being left bare enough both of coin and clothes. But as then we stood not to account on our loss, it sufficed us that we had our lives: whereof being not a little glad, we set the better leg before, lest they should come back again; and rob us of them too. This our misfortune urged us to remembrance, of our former quiet being in England, carefully tendered by our Parents, and loovingly esteemed among our friends, all which we undutifully regarding, rewarded us with the rod of our own negligence: being as then fearful of all company on the way, 
Many men rob and slain by the Soldiers, which made us travel in no small fear.  such cruel and heavy spectacles was still before our eyes, but yet this did somewhat comfort us, we had nothing worth the taking from us, but our lives, which we had good hope to save, either by their pity, or our own humble persuasion.  
When we were come to Amiens, we were given to understand, that there was an old English Priest in the Town, whose name was Master Woodward: of whom we persuaded ourselves for Country sake, to find some courtesy, in hope whereof, we inquired for his lodging, and at last found him. After such salutations as pass between Countrymen at their meeting, I began to tell him, how we had left our Country, for the earnest desire we had to see foreign Dominions, 
The Priest of whom I have made mention in my Discovery of Campion.  how we had been spoiled by the way, of all that we had, and that we hoped for some friendship at his hands, which if God vouchsafed us safe return, should not be cast out of remembrance.  
Alas my friends (quoth he) I am your Countryman I will not deny, but not such a one as you take me for. I am a poor Priest, and here I live for my conscience sake, whereas, were things according as they should be, it were better for me to be at home in mine own Country. And yet trust me, I pity to see any of my Countrymen lack, though I am not able any way to relieve them: there be daily that cometh this way, to whom, according to my ability, I am liberal, but they be such, as you are not, they come not for pleasure but for profit, they come not to see every idle toy, and to learn a little language, but to learn how to save both their own and their friends souls, and such I would you were, than I could say that to you, which (as you be) I may not.  
Trust me Sir (quoth I) I hope we have learned to save our souls already, or else you might esteem us in a very bad case. If you have (quoth he) it is the better for▪ you, but I fear me one day, they that teach you to save your souls after that manner, will pay for it dearly, and you with them for company.  
With these words, he began to wax somewhat melancholy; which I perceiving, and remembering that our necessity, stood not in case to plead points of controversy▪ rather sought to please him in hope of some liberality, then to contend with him (we being unable) and so fall into farther danger. Whereupon I desired him, not to be offended at any thing we had said, for we would gladly learn any thing that might benefit us, and beside, would follow his counsel in any reasonable cause. Then he began to be somewhat more gently disposed, saying, he could not greatly blame us, if we were obstinate in our opinion, coming from such a young Hell as we did, but he had good hope, that ere long it would be harrowed.  

The Priest used many circumstances, of the Pope's liberality to our Countrymen: as also what Treasons was toward her Majesty and the Realm.  Then he willed us to walk with him, and he would bring us where we should lodge that night, at his charges: all the way rehearsing unto us, how beneficial the Pope was to our Countrymen, and how highly we might pleasure ourselves, our friends and Country, if we would follow his council. Beside, such horrible and unnatural speeches, he used against her Majesty, her honourable Council, and other persons that he named: as the very remembrance maketh me blush, and my heart to bleed. To all which we gave him the hearing, but God knows, on my part, with what anguish of mind: for I would have persuaded myself, that duty should have withheld the Subject from reviling his Princess, and nature from slandering his own Country: but it sufficeth, where grace is absent, good qualities can never be present. When we were come to our Lodging, he talked with our Hostess, what she should provide for us, and afterward taking his leave, told us he would have more talk with us in the morning: in the mean time, we should think on that, which he had opened to us, and resolve ourselves on a certain determination, for he meant us more good than we were beware off. 
A little sufficeth hunger, where necessity is mistress of the feast.  He being departed, we fell to such simple cheer as was prepared for us, which was simple in deed, scant sufficient to the good stomachs we had to our victuals: but because we had soon done, we went the sooner to bed, sparing as much time as we could, in remembrance of the Priests words, till the weariness of our journey, compelled us to take our rest.  
In the morning, the Priest sent a poor fellow, whom he kept to make his bed, and r●n about on his errands, to our lodging, that we should come unto his Master presently, because he had occasion to go into the Town, and his return was uncertain, therefore he would speak with us before he went. Upon these so hasty summons, we addressed ourselves towards him, finding him in his Chamber, reading upon his Poetess, to him we gave thanks for his courtesy, promising to requite it if he came where we might do it. In brief, among great circumstance of talk, wherein he manifested the treason toward England: he behaved himself in speeches to us, according as I have already declared in my Discovery of Campion, 
There you may read his words, at large set down.  where you may perceive the Pope's determination, & our Englishmen'S unnatural consent, to be Traitors to their own Princess, to shorten her life, & overthrow their native Country, where they were borne.  
When he had mightily besieged us with a multitude, as well threatenings as persuasions, to conform ourselves under that obedience: as well to avoid peril that might otherwise happen, as also to gain somewhat toward our relief, we promised him to do as he would have us, & to go whether he would appoint us. Whereupon he presently wrote two Letters to Doctor Allen at Rheimes, one of them concerned our preferment there, how we should be entertained into the English Seminary, and take the orders of priesthood, because we might do good in our Country an other day. The other Letter was of such news, as he heard out of England, how matters went forward to their purpose, and beside, other things which I am not to speak of here, because they are not to be read of every one.  
These Letters finished▪ and sealed up with singing Cake, he delivered unto us, saying: I thank God that I am ordained the man, both to save your Souls, and a number of your friends here in England, whom I could wish: here present with you, for that I pity their estate, as well that they are in, as that which is worse, and I fear me will fall on them shortly.  
I put up the Letters, and gave him to understand, that we could hardly travel from thence to Rheimes, having nothing wherewithal we might bear our charges. Trust me (quoth he) & I have done as much for you as I am able, for I have nothing here but to serve mine own necessity. 
When we offered to sell our Cloaks: he could find money to buy them.  Then we offered to sell our Cloaks, which the Soldiers against their wills had left us. In deed (quoth he) to travel in your Cloaks will do nothing but hinder you; I will send my man to a friend of mine (as much to say, as his Chest) to see what money he can get for them.  
The fellow took our Cloaks, after his Master had whispered him in the ear●, and went down the stairs, returning quickly with two French Crowns, which the Priest delivered to us, with fow●e or five French Souls out of his own Purse, 
Great liberality.  so, willing us to do● his commendations to Doctor Allen, and to labour earnestly in that we went about & Master 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we parted, he into the Town, and we in our journey.  
When we were about three or four miles from Amiens, we sat down on the side of a hill, recounting what the Priest had said to us, as also the cause why he sen● us to Rheimes: the remembrance of the true and undoubted Religion, used in our own Country, and wherein we were trained up, was of force sufficient to persuade us from yielding to that, which we judged rather to be a mummery, and derision of the true. Doctrine, than otherwise: So that (notwithstanding many matters my companion alleged unto me, what danger we might come unto, if we went not to deliver the Letters, as also the hard penury we should 〈◊〉 in travel, being destitute of money, apparel, an● 〈◊〉 other needful things) by the only appointment of God wha no doubt put it in my mind at that time, 
This to be true, albeit he now be my utter enemy, I am sure he will not deny.  I willed him to follow the, and come woe, want, miserio, or any other calamity, I would n●●er leave him to the death. But if any exercise might get it, any pains compass it, or the extreme shift of begging attain it: I would do all myself, whereby to maintain us, only that he would but bear me company, for I would try all means that might be, ere I would forsake my Faith.  
This to be true, I am sure and certain himself will not deny, who seeing my earnest in treaty, and the promises I made to the uttermost of my 〈…〉 to go with me, and so we left the way to Rheimes, and went on straight to Paris.  
In Paris we met with a French man, who could speak a little broken English, and he conducted us where my Lord the English Ambassador lay: to whom I gave the Letters and after certain talk he used with us, he bestowed his Honourable liberality upon us, wishing us to return back again into England.  
Leaving my Lord, 
It is a good help, to meet a friend in a strange Country, when a man is in some need.  and walking into the City, we met too certain English Gentlemen, some of them for the knowledge they had of me in England, showed themselves very courteous to me, both in money, lodging, and other necessaries. And through them we became acquainted with a number of English men more, who lay in the City, some in Colleges, and some at their own houses: where using daily company among them, sometime at dinner, and sometime at supper, we heard many girds and nips against our Country of England, her Majesty very unreverently handled in words, and certain of her honourable Counsel, undutifully termed.  
Great talk they had, about Doctor Saunders, who they said, either as then was, or shortly would be, arrived in Ireland, how he had an Army of Spaniards with him, and how himself under the Pope's Standard, would give such an attempt there, as soon after should make all England to quake, beside, there were certain English men gone to the Pope, for more aid, if need should be, at whose return, certain Noble men English men, then being in those parts, whose names I omit for divers causes, would prosecute the matter, with as much speed as might be.  


Any subject, that hath either fear of God, or love to his prince would quake to hear their Traitorous devices.  
The Devil wanteth no instruments to help his cause.   The very same did the Priest at Amiens give us to understand of, almost in every point agreeing with this: which made us to doubt▪ because in every man's mouth; her Majesty still was aimed at, in such manner as I tremble and shake to think on their words. All this time that we remained amongst them, diverse of the Gentlemen and others (who were like factors for the Pope, as Master Woodward at Amiens, Doctor Bristol at Douai, and Doctor Allen at Rheimes were, to increase his Seminaries with as many English men as they might,) very earnestly persuaded us to travel to Room, assuring us, that we should be there entertained to our high contentment, beside, they would give us Letters for our better welcome thither.  
We were soon entreated to take the journey on us, because we thought, if we could go to Room, and return safely again into England, we should accomplish a great matter, the place being so far of, and the voyage so dangerous. Upon our agreement to undertake the travel, we received of every one liberally toward the bearing of our charges, 
By their persuasions and liberality, they win a number daily to them.  and Letters we had to Master Doctor jews in Room, the Archdeacon of Cambra, and to Doctor Morris, than the Rector of the English Hospital or College in Room, that we might there be preferred among the English Students. Taking our leave of them, and yielding them thanks for their great courtesy, we journeyed to Lions, where in the house of one Master Deacon, the words were spoken by Henry Orton, one of them condemned, and yet living in the Tower, which in my other book I have avouched. From thence we went to Milan, where in the Cardinal Boromehos Palace, we found the lodging of a Welshman, named Doctor Robert Griffin, a man there had in a good account, and Confessor to the aforesaid Cardinal. By him we were very courteously entertained, 
There are Englishmen almost in every ●ittie by the way.  and sent to the house of an English Priest in the City, named Master Harry's, who likewise bestowed on us very gentle acceptance, as also three English Gentlemen, who lay in his house, being very lately returned from Room: they likewise both in cost and courtesy, behaved themselves like Gentlemen unto us, during the time that we made our abode in Milan.  
Our coming to milan was on Christmas even, and having lain that night at an Osteria where Master Harry's appointed us, on Christmas day we dined with Doctor Griffin, where we had great cheer, and like welcome. 
The talk that Doctor Griffen had with us, being at dinner with him.  In the dinner time, he moved many questions unto us, as concerning the estate of England, if we heard of any wars towards and how the Catholics thrived in England: and at the last (quoth he) have you not seen three Gentlemen that lie at Master Harry's his house? Yes that we have (quoth I) to us they seem marvelous courteous, and offer us such friendship as we have never deserved. Oh (quoth he) if all things had fallen right to their expectation, they would have been jolly fellows. I am sure you have heard what credit Captain Sukelye was in with the Pope, and how he was appointed with his Army, to invade England: he being slain in the battle of the King of Portugal, things went not forward according as they should have done. These three Gentlemen came forth of the North parts of England, 
An unnatural desire of men to seek the ruin of their own Country.  taking upon them to go forward with that, which Stukely had enterprised, which was, to have the Pope's Army committed to their conduction, and so they would overrun England at their pleasure, than they would make Kings and Dukes and Earls, every one that they thought well off. To help them forward in this matter, they purchased the Letters of Doctor Saunders, Doctor Allen, Doctor Bristol, and others, who thought very well of their intent, & therefore furthered them in their Letters so much as they might, to Doctor jews, 
The secret seducing priests, win a number to join in their traitorous intent,  Doctor Morris, Doctor Morton, and divers other Doctors and Gentlemen at Room, all of them very earnestly following the suit hereof to the Pope's holiness, informing him, how they had already won such a number in England, to join with them when the matter came to pass, the granting them his holiness Army, they would presently overrun all England, and yield it wholly into his hand. But when the Pope had scanned on this hasty business, well noting the simple and arrogant behaviour of the men, and their unlikelihood, of performing these things: even according as they deserved, they were denied their request, & sent away without any recompense. 
The Pope seeketh to accomplish his desire, by the Subject that must betray his own Country.  The Pope was not to trust to any such as they, he well knows England is too strong yet, & till the people be secretly persuaded, as I doubt not but there is a good number, and more & more still shallbe, by the Priests are sent over daily, and they must war within, while other holds than play with out: till than England will not be conquered any way.  
Other talk we had, not here to be rehearsed, but truly it would astonish a heart of Adamant, to hear the horrible Treasons invented against her Majesty and this Realm, and so greedily followed by our own Country men. But some perhaps will demand how we behaved ourselves to come to the knowledge of such traitorous intentions, judging that they would rather keep than secret, then reveal them to any: to answer such as so do question, thus it was.  
When I was at Paris, 
The mean, whereby they made me acquainted with all their devices.  the Gentlemen took me to be a Gentleman's Son here in England, whom I refuse here to name, but as it seemed, they were some▪ what persuaded of him: I perceiving they took me for his Son, called myself by his name, where through I was the better esteemed, and beside, loved as I had been he in deed. When they understood my fellows name to be Thomas Nowell, they whispered among themselves, and said undoubtedly, he was kin to Master Nowell the Dean of Paul's: and if they witted certainly that he were so, they would use him in such gentle order, as they would keep him there, so that one day he should stand and preach against his Kinsman. This suppose, serving so well our necessity, we were glad to use: which made us well thought on of all, and keeping company so familiarly with them, we were made acquainted with a number more matters than may here be expressed.  
While we were in Milan, 
The treason against England, was common in every englishman's mouth.  we visited Master Doctor Parker, who likewise told us the same tale that Doctor Griffin had before rehearsed, beside, he told us that Priests were appointed from Room & Rheimes for England, and that over long they should be sent. Soon after we departed thence, to Bologna, Florence, Sierra, and so to Room, where how we were received the Chapter following shall amply unfold. Thus, as well to certify the incredulous, as also to content those desirous how I attained to Room: I have breeflye done my good will to please both.  
You have heard herein, how at sundry places, and by several speeches, there was a general agreement of Treason, expected and daily looked for, to the harm of our gracious Sovereign, and hurt of her whole Realm. All these matters we heard before we came to Room, from whence the treason should chiefly proceed: we seeing such devilish devices to be talked on by the way, we might well judge Room to be Hell itself, in that all things should go forward, as it was there determined. You are not altogether ignorant of their intentes at Room, for that my other book hath truly revealed some of their traitorous and disloyal practices: and such as modesty will suffer me to utter, and you to read, you shall here find faithfully discoursed.   

¶ The Author being come to Rome, after what manner he was received into the English Seminary. The emulation & dissension, between the Welshmen and the English men in the College, their banishment out of Room, & the Pope's sending for them again, as you shall read hereafter. Chap. 2.  
OUr entrance into Room, was upon Candlemas even, when as it drew somewhat towards night: for which cause, we refused as then to go to the English College, taking up our Lodging in an Osteria somewhat within the City, and determining to visit the English house on the next morning. On the morrow by inquiring, we found the English College, where after we were once entered, we had a number about us quickly▪ to know what news in England, and how all matters went there. Not long had we stood talking with them, but one entered the College, 
A present of holy Candls brought from the Pope to the English Students.  with a great many of war Candles in his hand: who gave them to understand, that the Pope had sent to every Scholar in the College a Candle, which that day at high Mass he had hallowed, for it was Candlemas day. They receiving them with great account, both of the Pope's favour, as also the holiness they credited to consist in the Candles, went every one to lay them up in their Chambers: in the mean time Master Doctor Morris the Rector of the house came to us, to whom we delivered the Letter sent to him on our behalf from Paris, which when he had read, he said we were welcome, allowing us the eight days entertainment in the Hospital, which by the Pope was granted to such Englishmen as came thither. Then he brought us to Doctor jews, the Archdeacon of Cambra, to whom we delivered his letter likewise, and with him we stayed dinner, ignorant whither he were an Englishman or no, for that he gave us our entertainment in Latin, demanded a number of questions of us in Latin, and beside, dined with us in Latin: whereat we marveled, till after dinner, he bade us walk to the College again with Doctor Morris, in English. We were no sooner come to the College, but the Scholars, who had already dined, and were walking together in the Court, came about us, every one demanding so many questions, that we knew not which to answer first: at last, one of them took my fellow aside, and one of the Priests likewise desired to talk with me, because he said he knew my Father well enough, 
The talk one of the Priests had with me in the Garden.  using the name that I did, so, he and I sitting together in the Garden, among other talk he asked of me, wherefore I came to Rome? Trust me Sir (quoth I) only for the desire I had to see it, that when I came home again, I might say, once in my life I have been at Room. Then I perceive (quoth he) you come more upon pleasure then any devotion, more desirous to see the City, then to learn the virtues contained in it: in sooth I see, you remain in the same wildness you did, when I lay at your Father's house, but I do not doubt now we have you here, to make you a stayed man ere you depart, that your Father may have joy of you, and all your friends receive comfort by you. In deed Sir (quoth I) I have always addicted my mind to so many youthful devices, 
Mine own tale, which so well as I could, I made to agree with the priests discourse.  that I little regarded any religion, which my Parents seeing, and fearing I would never be bridled: sent me over to Paris, where I should remain at my book. But there I found Gentlemen of mine acquaintance, who wished me to travel hither, whereto I quickly gave my consent, being (as I have told you) desirous to see a thing so famous. I think very well (quoth he) of your words, aswell for your Parent's sake as also your own. But this I will say unto you, there ought none to come hither, the place being so holy, ancient, and famous, but only such as with earnest endeavour, seek and thirst after the Catholic faith: being here taught and maintained, according as Christ ordained it, the Apostles delivered it, Peter himself planted it, and all the Fathers of the Church since, have followed it. 
Hear may you behold, what unreverent speeches they can afford her Majesty.  They must denounce that damnable heresy, crept in to the Church of England, that proud usurping jezabel, (meaning our bread & gracious Princess) whom (quoth he) God reserveth to make her a notable spectacle to the whole world, for keeping the good Queen of Scots from her lawful rule: but I hope ere long, the Dogs shall tear her flesh, & those that be her props & upholders.  

A paper of the names of such noble men of her Majesties  Then drawing a paper out of his pocket, he said, I have a Bead role of them here, who little knows what is providing for them, & I hope shall not know, till it fall upon them. Then he read their names unto me, 
Counsel▪ whom they meant to persecute, when their intent came to pass in England.  which, that all may perceive the villainous & traitorous minds of our own Countrymen: so many of them as I can call to memory, I will set down, even in the same manner as he read them. But first I must crave pardon of those honourable personages, to whom the words do offer great abuse, and whom I unfeignedly reverence and honour: that they would not admit any evil conceit against me, but in the noble nature wherewith they are daily adorned, I, being but the reporter, 
I desire thee gentle Reader, to use some reverence in reading these undecent words, because they are truly set down, after the order as they were there spoken  may be pardoned and not reproved. First, (quoth he) here is my Lord Keeper, the Bacon hog, the Butcher's son, the great guts, oh he would fry well with a Faggot, or his head would make a fair show upon London bridge, where I hope shortly it shall stand. Next is eloquent Master Cecil, Lord Treasurer, you shall shortly see if he can save his own life with all the wit he hath: had it not been for these two before named, England had gone to wrack long since. Then here is the Earl of Leicester, the Queen's Ostler, & his brother Ambrose Dudley, a good fat whoreson, to make Bacon of: with other words of my Lord of Leicester, not here to be rehearsed. My Lord of bedford, he forsooth is the Queen's Cousin, we will see how finely his Cousin & he can hang together. Sir Frances Walsingham, & Doctor Wilson, they be her Secretaries: for every warrant they have suffered, to apprehend any of our Priests, our friends or other, by that time they have counted their reckoning, they shall find they have a dear payment. Sir Christopher Hatton, he pleased the Queen so well, dancing before her in a Mask, that since that time he hath risen to be one of the Counsel: with other words, which I refer for modesty. Sir Frances Knowles, and other of the Counsel whose names I well remember not: he gave them many a heavy threatening. Then opening the paper farther, at the end thereof was a great many of names, of Magistrates & other belonging to this City, 
Every one that was named in the paper, the manner and order of of their death was appointed.  among whom was Master Recorder, Master Nowell Deane of Paul's, Master Fox, Master Crowlye, & sundry other, whose names I cannot very well remember, and therefore am loath to set down any thing, but that whereof I am certainly assured: but very well I remember, there was no one named, but he had the order of his death appointed, either by burning, hanging, or quartering, and such like.  
It is not unlike, but that this unreverent matter will offend some in the reading, that men of honour, and worship, and those of credit and countenance, should have their names published in print in such sort: I have had the judgement of those, of worship and learning, on this behalf, and they have said, how it is necessary, that their own wicked speeches should be set down, for an example to all men, how they abuse her Majesty, her honourable Council, and learned and discreet Magistrates, whereby their traitorous dealings may be the better discovered. And to them thus undutifully regarded, it can not seem an offence, considering, that Christ unto his chosen vessels hath said. 
Math. 5.11.  You shall be mocked, scorned, and reviled for my sake: but do you rejoice and be glad, for your reward is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven, and you remain blessed.  

There are other here, to whom the like charge hath been, given to justify that I do not report any untruth.  Then putting up his Paper again, he began after this manner. As I have said before, so now I say the same, such as come to this holy place, must faithfully bend his life and conversation, to honour and reverence our provident and holy Father the Pope, in all things, that shall like him to command, to hold and confess him the universal supreme head of Christ's church, & embrace his decrees, as the only ordinance & will of God. For he is the person of God on earth, and he can not sin, because the spirit of divine grace guideth him continually: he hath authority over all Kings and Princes, to erect and suppress whom he pleaseth, and that shall England well know ere long, that he hath such power and authority. To honour and obey him, to be a true and faithful member of his Church, and to live and die in his cause, this aught to be the intent of all that cometh here.  
This long Tale, containing a number of more circumstances than I can unfold: made me study what answer I should make him, which after some pause, came forth as thus. Credit me Sir, I am but a novice in these matters, and therefore you might as well have disputed with me, in the deepest School points that is, and I should have censured both alike. Nay (quoth he) I think not your ignorance so great, albeit it seemeth great enough, though you have been loosely brought up, yet you have been with me, both at Mass, and at Confession divers times, at such time as I served my Lady B.  
Beside, 
A number of places he told me here in England, where priests have entertainment.  there are a great many of Priests in England, as in Warwickshire, at Master I. T. in Staffordshire, at Master G. of C. and at S. T. F. in the same shire: all these be near your Fathers, and not one of them but visiteth your Father's house, three or four times every year, as they did when I was there (for there is no long tarriance in one place for a Priest, but he must shift still, lest he be taken,) and I am sure your Father would see you duly confessed.  
Now I was put to so hard a shift, that I knew not well what to say, I knew none of these men he named, but one, and he in deed had a Priest, who after his long ranging about his Master the Pope's business here in England, I thank God, I have caused to be stayed. Likewise, I knew not the Gentleman, whom▪ both they at Paris, and he said, to be my Father, neither where he dwelled, 
It was only God, that framed my answers to agree with the Priests demands.  nor what he was: which made me stand in fear to be disproved, having avouched myself before to be his Son. Wherefore, referring my case to God, who had so provided for me till that time, in his name I resolved myself on this answer, not knowing how it might happen to speed.  
In deed Sir, I can not deny, but that I have oftentimes heard Mass, as also been at Confession, but my devotion thereto hath been ●ender, 
An excuse serving very fit for my purpose, and liked the Priest well enough.  as you yourself have seen, knowing me to be so wild, and, as it were, without government: but when you departed from my Fathers, I tarried there but a small time after you, for I obtained leave of my Father, to go lie at London, at a Kinsman's house of his, because I would study the French tongue, to have some knowledge therein against I went over, for my Father told me long before, that I should go to Paris, and study there. When I was at London, I grew in acquaintance with divers Gentlemen, in whose company I frequented many delightful pastimes: so that I could hardly refrain them, when my Father sent for me, to the intent I should travel to Paris.  
Well (quoth he) and though you did go to London so soon after I was gone, any of the Priests that reforted to your Fathers, or he himself could have certified you, of such places in London, where you might have heard Mass, and been Confessed too, without suspect at all. 
A matter worthy to be regarded.  For at Master S. his house on the backside of P. you might divers times have heard Mass, and been Confessed there likewise: I lay there an indifferent while, and said Mass there, whereat divers were present, also in the after noon, when they have been at the Play, in all that time I have Confessed many.  
Likewise, you might have gone to the Marshalse a, and inquired for Master Found, & you should seldom have miss, 
Euerarde Ducket, was taken, going into the Marshalsea, to speak with the Papists he being a Priest: and being there taken, behaved himself in such traitorous manner, that he was executed at Tyburn, 1581.  but have found a Priest there with him: for sometime under the habits of Gentlemen, Servingmen, or what apparel they imagine most convenient for them, Priests do daily resort unto him, where they confess him, and give him such hallowed things as are sent him from Room, as Agnus This, Grana benedicta, and other things: there, if you had made him privy to your intent, he would have appointed one that should have done it for you. He likewise would have bestowed on you some of those holy things, for he findeth such means, what with the Priests that come to him, and other, whom he hireth or infreateth to carry a Letter abroad now and then for him: that those holy things are delivered to their hands, who do not a little rejoice in them. Myself once, made Norris the Pursuivant carry a Letter for me, to one of my Lady B. her Gentlewomen: and therein was two Agnus This, a hallowed Girdle, and above forty or fifty Grana benedicta, which maketh me to smile every time I think on it, that I could make him my man, when I durst not deliver it myself.  
Master Norris being told this: offereth his life, if any such thing can be proved, for he saith, he never delivered any thing to any of my Lady B. Gentlewomen. And for his faithful service to her Majesty, I have to show under his own hand, the penalty he putteth himself too, if any unjust service can be laid to his charge.  
By this time, the Bell rung for all the Students to come to Supper, which made the Priest to stay at this Periadus, else he would have continued in discourse, I know not how long: for what with the several charges wherewith he sounded me, my care still how to shape a sufficient answer, and the tediousness of his tale, mixed with so many words, far distant from civil and dutiful regard, he was not so ready to go to his Supper, as I was glad for that time to break off company.  
So after certain familiar behaviour, used between him and I, he glad to see me at Rome, and well hoping in short time to make me a new man, I appliable with thanks, for every thing; for that it stood with wisdom to accept all thing: he went into the Refectorium, which is the name of their dining Hall, & I to the Chamber appointed for me and my fellow, whom I found there sitting with Doctor Morris, ●●aying my coming, that we might sup together, which in deed we did, Master Morris using us very courteously, passing away the supper time with much variety of talk, among which, Master Doctor said his pleasure of divers persons in England: which, for that it would rather check modesty, then challenge any respect of honesty, I admit it to silence, the talk being so broad, that it would stand as a blemish to my Book.   

In what manner our English men pass away their time in the College, the orders of the house and other things to be regarded. Chap. 3.  
IT is unpossible for me, to note down half the speeches, that passed between the Scholars and me, as also my fellow: but as for that was used to him, I could seldom come acquainted with all, except I had stood by & heard it▪ for either they had fully persuaded him, or he joined into consent with them▪ so that he would never report any thing that had passed between them, he liked so well of every thing. But letting these matters pass a while, I think it expedient here so set down, before I go any farther, the orders used in the English College, how the English men spend the time there, and within what compass they limit themselves, which so briefly as I can, I will pass over.  
The English College, 
The place where the English College standeth in Room.  is a house both large and fair, standing in the way to the Pope's Palace, not far from the Castle Sante Angelo: in the College, the Scholars are divided, by certain number into every Chamber, as in some four, in some fix, or so many as the Rector thinketh convenient, as well for the health of the Scholars, 
The order for the English men's lodging.  as the troubling not much room. Every man hath his Bed proper to himself, which is, two little Trestles, with sour or slew boards laid along over them, and thereon a quilted Mattress, as we call it in England, which every morning after they are risen, they sold up their sheeets handsomely, laying them in the midst of the Bed, & so roll it up to one end, covering it with the Quilt, that is their Coverlet all the night time.  
First in the morning, 
The orders observed by the Scholars, every morning.  he that is the Porter of the College, ringeth a Bell, at the sound whereof every Student ariseth, and turneth up his Bed, as I have said before. Not long after, the Bell ringeth again, when as every one presently kneeling on his knees, prayeth for the spare of half an hour: at which time, the Bell being souled again, they arise and bestow a certain time in Study, every one having his Desk, Table, & Chair to himself very orderly, and all the time of Study, silence is used of every one in the Chamber, not one offering molestation in speech to an other.  
The time of Study expired, the Bell calleth them from their Chambers, down into the Refectorium: where every one taketh a glass of Wine, and a quarter of a Manchet, & so he maketh his Collatione. Soon after, the Bell is knouled again, when as the Students two & two together, walk to the Roman College, which is the place of School or instruction: where every one goeth to his ordinary Lecture, some to Divinity, some to physic, some to Logic, & some to Rhetoric. There they remain the Lecture time, which being done, they return home to the College again: where they spend the time till dinner, in walking and talking up and down the Gardens.  
And an order there is appointed by the Rector and the jesuits, 
The diversity of penance adjoined the English Students: which they must do openly in the Hall, at dinner tyme.  and obeyed by all the Students, that who soever doth not in the morning turn up his Bed handsomely, or is not on his knees at prayer time, or heareth not Mass before he go to School, or after he comes home, but forgetteth it: or else if he go forth, and put not the Peg at his name in the Table. For there is a Table hangeth by the door, which hath a long Box adjoined to it, wherein lieth a great company of wooden Pegs, and against the name of every Scholar written in the Table (which is observed by order of the Alphabet) there is a hole made: wherein, such as have occasion to go abroad, must duly put a Peg, to give knowledge who is abroad, and who remaineth within.  
Beside, divers other orders they have for slight matters, the neglecting whereof, is public penance at dinner time: when as all the Students are placed at the Tables, such as have so transgressed, goeth up into the Pulpit I which standeth there, because one readeth all the dinner time▪) and there he sayeth: Because I have not fulfilled this or that, whatsoever order it be that he hath broken, I am adjoined such a penance. Either to kneel in the midst of the Hall on his bare knees, 
All these I have been forced to do, albeit it were with an ill will.  and there to say his Beads over: Or to say certain Pater nosters, and ave Maria's: Or to stand upright and have a dish of pottage before him on the ground, and so to bring up every spoonful to his mouth: Or to lose, either one or two or three of his dishes appointed for his dinner: Or to stand there all dinner time, & eat no meat: and divers other, which according as it is, either afterward he hath his dinner or supper, or else goes without it: And all these penances I have been forced to do, for that I was always apt to break one order or other. As for the private penances, it shall not be greatly amiss to rehearse them here too: so long I shall desire you to stay, from hearing the manner of the Students dinner. 
The private penances, which are appointed by the ghostly Father.  The private penances, are appointed by the ghostly Father at Confession: which are fulfilled without public knowledge of the cause, and likewise of the person. If his penance be, to whip himself openly in the Hall at dinner time: then the Rector ordereth it after this manner, that he shall not be known, to be reproached by any of his fellows, or that they shall certainly say, it is such a one. At the dinner or supper, that this penance is to be accomplished, the Rector causeth seven or eight to keep their Chambers, and commonly but one that time in a Chamber: their doors must be made fast to them, & they, not so much as look out at their window, to see from which Chamber he comes that doth the penance. 
The whipping themselves, publicly at dinner.  When they are all set at the Tables, he cometh in, clothed in a Canvas vesture down to the ground, a hood of the same on his head, with two holes where through he hath sight, and a good big round place bare, against the midst of his back: in this order he goeth up and down the Hall, whipping himself at that bare place, in somuch, that the blood doth trickle on the ground after him. The whip hath a very short handle, not much above a handful long, and forty or fifty cords at it, about the length of half a yard: with a great many hard knots on every Cord, and some of the whips hath through every knot at the end crooked wires, which will tear the flesh unmercifully.  

The manner of the jesuits whips wherewith they whip themselves.  The jesuits have, some of them, to whip them selves, whips with cords of wire, wherewith they will beat themselves, till with too much effuse of blood, they be ready to give up the ghost. And this they will do in their Chambers, either before a Crucifix, or the image of our Lady, turning their backs when they bleed toward the Image, that it may see them. One of the jesuits, because they could never get me to whip myself, (for that I well knew God said: Rend your hearts, 
joel. 2.13. Psal. 51.17  and not your skin: And that, A contrite and sobbing heart, is more acceptable to God, than a bleeding body,) took me once with him into his Chamber, saying: I should see (because I was so fearful) what he would inflict upon his own body. 
The example one of the jesuits gave me, to whip myself.  So when he was unapparelled, he took a whip, the Cords whereof was wire, & before the Picture of our Lady, he whipped himself very grievously, saying: Sancta Maria matter Dei, suscipe dolorem meum: Sancta Maria matter Dei, accipe Flagitium meum: Et ora prome, nunc et in hira mortis: Which is as much to say, Saint Marry mother of God, receive my dolour: 
O monstrous ignorance.  Saint Marie mother of God, accept my whipping, and pray for me, now and in the hour of death. These, with other like words, he used to the Picture a great many times: and then he went to the Crucifix, which stood upon his Desk, and whipping himself still, he said these, or the very like words. O jesus obtestetur te virgo gloriosa Maria matter, quae (quod pro certo novi) pro me nunc tecum agit. Flagitistu●, sanguinolenti tui sudoris, Cruci● tuae, mortis ac passionis tuae, pro me passae memoriae, ad hoc me faciendum impulit: eo quod perpessus sis, his decies pro me graviora: In English thus. O jesus, 
Egregious impudence  be thou entreated by that glorious virgin thy mother, who I am sure at this time maketh intercession to thee for me. The remembrance of thy whipping, bloody sweat, Cross, death and passion, maketh me do this, in somuch as thou hast suffered ten times more for me.  
In these and such like acclamations, be continued whipping himself, almost the space of half an hour, bleeding so sore, as it grieved me very much to see him. Afterward, he willed me to try it once, and I should not find any pain in it, but rather a pleasure. For (quoth he) if Christ had his flesh rend and torn with whips, his hands and feet nailed to the Cross, his precious side gored with a Lance, his head so pricked with a Crown of thorn, that his dear blood ran trilling down his face, and all this for you: why should you fear to put your body to any torment, to recompense him that hath done so much for you? I desired him to bear with me a while, for I was not endued with that strength and fortitude, as to abide and suffer the pains he did: but yet in time I doubted not, to fulfil any thing on my body, he would command me. My answer pleased him indifferently, so I left him in his Chamber, and went down, lamenting to see a spectacle of so great folly.  
Now as for the other penances, 
Diversity of penances, given them, all by their ghostly Confessor.  as they be divers, so be they divers ways fulfilled, either by Fasting, wearing a shirt of hair, trudging to the seven Churches, lying upon the bare boards, going into the dark vaults under the ground, or traveling on Pilgrimage, and a number more, which exceedeth my memory to unfold, they have amongst them, as there be divers can bear me witness, and some of them my Confessor hath constrained me to do.  
Return we now to the Students, who being come from the schools, and have recreated themselves some what, either in the house or in the Gardens: are now at the sound of the Bel come into the Refectorium to dinner. 
The manner of the English men's dinner.  The custom is, that daily two of the Students take it by turns, to serve all the other at the Table, who to help them, have the Butler, the Porter, and a poor jesuite, that looketh to all the scholars necessaries, to bring them their clean shirts, and foreséeeths, that neither their Gowns, Cassocks, Doublets, Breeches, Hose nor shoes want mending. These bring in their hands, each of them a round board, which hath a staff about half a yard long, made fast through the middle of it: and round about that board is set little Saucers, wherein the Cook shareth every man a little quantity, which they bring, and hold over the Table, when as every man taketh his own mess.  
As for their fare, trust me it is very fine and delicate, for every man hath his own Trentcher, 
The variety of dishes, and daintiness of the English men's fare.  his Manchet, knife, spoon, and fork laid by it, & then a fair white napkin covering it, with his glass and pot of wine set by him. And the first mess, or Antepast (as they call it) that is brought to the Table, is some fine meat to urge them have an appetite: as sometime the Spanish Anchovies, and sometime stewed Prunes and Raisins of the Sun together, having such fine tart syrup made to them, as I promise you a weak stomach would very well digest them. The second, is a certain mess of pottage of that Country manner, no meat sod in them, but are made of divers things, whose proper names I do not remember: but me thought they were both good and wholesome. The third, is hoylde meat, as Kid, Mutton, Chicken, and such like: every man a pretty modicum of each thing. The fourth, is roasted meat, of the daintiest provision that they can get, and sometime stewed and baked meat, according as pleaseth Master Cook to order it. The fift and last, is some time Cheese, some time preserved conceits, some time Figs, Almonds and Raisins, a Limon and Sugar, a Pomegranate, or some such sweet gear: for they know that Englishmen loveth sweet meats.  
And all the dinner while, 
The order that one of the Scholars observeth, reading all the dinner tyme.  one of the Scholars, according as they take it by wéeklie turn, readeth: first a Chapter of their Bible, and then in their Martirilogium, he readeth the martyrdom of some of the Saints, as Saint Frances, Saint Martin, Saint Longinus, that thrust the Spear into Christ's side, Saint Agatha, Saint Barbara, Saint Cecilia, and divers other: among whom they have imprinted the martyrdom of Doctor Story, the two Nortons', john Felton and others, calling them by the name of saints, who were here executed at Tyburn for high treason.  
The dinner done, they recreate themselves for the space of an hour, & then the Bell calleth them to their Chambers, where they stay a while, studying on their Lectures given them in the forenoon: anon the Bell summoneth them to School again, where they stay not past an hour, 
They have feeding enough, four meals a day.  but they return home again, and so soon as they be come in, they go into the Refectorium, and there every one hath his glass of wine, and a quarter of a Manchet again, according as they had in the morning.  
Then they depart to their Chambers, from whence at convenient time they are called to exercise of disputation: the Divines to a jesuite appointed for them, and every Study to a several jesuite, where they continue the space of an hour, and afterward till supper time, they are at their recreation.  

Their exercise after Supper.  After Supper, if it be in winter time, they go with the jesuits, and sit about a great fire talking, and in all their talk, they strive who shall speak worst of her Majesty, of some of her Council, of some Bishop here, or such like: so that the jesuits themselves, will often take up their hands and bless themselves, to bear what abominable tales they will tell them. After they have talked a good while, the Bell calleth them to their Chambers, the Porter going from Chamber to Chamber, & lighteth a Lamp in every one: so when the Scholars come, they alight their Lamps, lay down their Beds, and go sit at their Desks and study a little, till the Bell rings, when every one falls on his knees to Prayers. Then one of the Priests in the Chamber, as in every Chamber there is some, beginneth the Latin Litany, all the Scholars in the Chamber answering him: and so they spend the time till the Bell rings again, which is for every one to go to bed.   

¶ Other matters of our English Students in the College, their days of recreation at their vinyeard, their walk to the seven Churches, a report of some of the Romish Relics, and other things concerning their behaviour. Chap. 4.  
THe English Students every third or fourth day, go not to the Schools, but have access abroad; to sport and delight themselves: sometime they walks to their vineyard, and the jesuits with them, where they pass away the day in divers disports, what game, what toy any one can devise, they altogether in pastime join to perform it.  
another day they go to the seven Churches, which according as I remember their names, I will here set them down. 
The seven Churches in Room, whereto they go on pilgrimage.  S. peter's, S. Paul's, S. john Lateranes, S. Maria maiore, S. Croce, S. Laurences, S. Sebastianes'. In all these Churches, there be divers Relics, which make them haunted of a marvelous multitude of people: whereby the lazy lurden Friars that keep the Churches, gets more riches, than so many honest men should do. For either at the coming into the Church, or else at the Altar where the Relics be, there standeth a Basin, and the people cast money therein, with very great liberality. And there standeth a Friar, 
A crafty kind of coosonage, whereby the ignorant people are beguiled.  with a forked stick in his hand, and thereupon he taketh every body's Beads, that lays them on the Altar, and then he wipes them along a great proportioned thing of Crystal and Gold, wherein are a number of rotten bones, which they make the people credit to be the bones of Saints: so wiping them along the outside of this Tabernacle, the Beads steal a terrible deal of holiness out of those bones, and God knows, the people think they do God good service in it: Oh monstrous blindness.  
But because every good Subject may see into the romish jugglings, and perceive the subtlety of antichrist the eldest child of hell: I will rehearse some of these Relics, as many of them as I can possibly call to my remembrance.  

A brief rehearsal of some of the romish Relics, whereby the Pope deceiveth a number, and hath good gains, to the maintenance of his pomp.  

In Saint Peter's Church.  

The Pope's brazen Rock, taken for the Rock Christ spoke off.  AS we enter into the Court before Saint Peter's Church, there standeth the form of a Rock made of brass, an old & ancient thing: the which is kept there, that the ignorant people should believe that to be the Rock, which our Saviour spoke off to Peter, when as upon Peter's confessing him to be, Christ the son of the living God: 
Math. 16.16.18.  he answered. Upon this Rock will I build my Church, which Rock he meant by himself, and not by Peter. This piece of brass they make the ignorant to believe to be that Rock, and therefore a number as they go into the Church, fall down on their knees, and worship this brazen Rock with their prayers.  

The half bodies of S. Peter and Paul.  Going thorough the Church, we come to a Chapel, wherein is an high Altar, whereon standeth a Picture of S. Peter and S. Paul: within that Altar, they say, lieth half the bodies of these two Apostles and Saints, and therefore that Altar is daily worshipped.  
Coming back again into the Church, we come to a square Altar, 
The spear that was thrust into Christ's side, and the handkerchief wherewith he wiped his face, when he carried his Crosse.  wherein (say they) is the head of the spear that was thrust into our saviours side: but the point thereof, is broken off, and is in an other place. And in the same Altar, is the Handkerchief which Christ wiped his face with all, when he carried his Cross sweeting, & left the perfect print thereof on the cloth: this is called Vultus sanctus. How this altar is honoured, you shall read more in the Chapter, which talketh of the Flagellante night.  
What other Relics be in this Church, I certainly know not, but they say there is the bodies of divers Saints: whose names because I can not remember, I will let pass, because I will not be found in an untruth.   

In Saint Paul's Church.  
IN this Church, 
The other half of S. Peter and Paul.  under the high Altar, is said to be the other half of the bodies of S. Peter and Paul: this Altar is likewise adored with marvelous reverence.  
Not far from this Church, there is a place called Tre Fontana, 
Three leaps of S. Paul's head made three Fountains.  at this place they say Saint Paul was beheaded: and when his head was cut off, it leapt three times, and in those places where it leapt, there sprung up presently three Fountains, there is great devotion likewise used at this place.   

In Saint john Lateranes Church.  
AS we come first to the little chapels before the Church (wherein, 
The stone whereon the Cock crew, when Peter denied Christ.  they say, our Lady hath been divers times seen and therefore hath left such holiness there, as they pray there a good while) there standeth a round pillar of Stone, seeming to be but lately made, & on this Stone, say they, the Cock stood and crowed, at what time Peter denied Christ: & therefore they do use to kiss it, make courtesy to it, & rub their Beads on it.  

The rings wherein the jews set their Banners, when Christ was crucified.  Near to this Stone, is a broad gate, being the entrance into the aforesaid chapels, and on the one side of this gate, there is two round Rings of Iron, whereon sometime a gate hath been hanged, to open and shut: in these Rings, say they, the jews did stick Banners, all the while that Christ was crucified, and therefore for the holiness of them, they will draw their Beads thorough the said Kings, and kiss them when they have so done.  

The Font wherein Constantinus Magnus was Christened.  From thence we go to a fair large place, in the midst whereof standeth a Font, wherein, they say, Constantinus Magnus was christened: in this Font every year on Easter even, they do christian jews, such as do change to their Religion. For there is a certain place appointed for Sermons, whereat the jews whether they will or no, must be present, because one of their own Rabines preacheth to them, to convert them, as himself hath been a great while.  
In Room, the jews have a dwelling place within themselves, being locked in their streets by gates on either side, and the Romans every night keepeth the keys: all the day time they go abroad in the City, and will buy the oldest apparel that is, an old Cloak Doublet, or Hose, that a man would think not worth a penny, of the jews you may have the quantity of four or five shillings for them. Now, that the jews may be known from any other people, every one weareth a yellow Cap or Hat, and if he go abroad without it, they will use him very ill favouredly.  
In this order they come to the Sermon, and when any of them doth change his Faith: he taketh his yellow Cap or Hat off from his head, and throws it away with great violence, then will a hundred offer him a black Cap or a Hat, and greatly rejoice that they have so won him. All his riches he then must forsake, that goes to the Pope's use, being one of his shifts: and to this aforesaid Font he is brought, clothed all in white, a white Cap, a white Cloak, & every thing white about him, with a holy Candle burning, that he beareth in his hand. 
Bishop Goldwell. baptizeth the jews in Room.  Then is he there baptised by an English man, who is named Bishop Goldwell, sometime the Bishop of S. Asaph in Wales: he hath this office, maketh all the English Priests in the College, and liveth there among the Theatines very pontificallye. After the jews be thus baptised, they be brought into the Church, and there they see the hallowing of the paschal, 
Hallowing of the paschal Candle.  which is a mighty great wax Taper: and then a devise (wherein is enclosed a number of Squibs) is shot off, when thorough all the Church they then cry. Sic transit gloria Mundi. From thence they go to a College, which the Pope hath erected for such jews, as in this manner turn to his religion: there they stay a certain time, and afterward they be turned out, to get their living as they can, none of their former riches they must have again, for that goes to the maintenance of the Pope's pontificallitie. This aforesaid Font is a holy thing, and there must prayers be likewise said.  
From this Font we go up into a fair Chapel, 
Our Ladies holy Chapel.  wherein is an Altar dedicated to our Lady, in gold and sumptuous shows surpassing, and all about the Chapel are hanged little wooden Pictures, Tapers, and wax Candles, which are the Pilgrims vows to our Lady, and there they leave them to honour her. Here must be used great devotion.  
From thence we go into an old room, 
The three holy doors.  wherein is an old Wall standing along in the midst of this room, and in this Wall is three old doors, having painting on them that is not very old: thorough one of these doors, they say, Christ went in to judgement, when he came back from judgement, he went thorough the second, and thorough the third to be whipped: these doors are worshipped every day.  

The holy stairs that Christ went up to judgement on.  From thence we go a long thorough an old gallery, and there is a fair pair of stairs of stone, that cometh up into this Gallery, being in number of steps, about four or five & twenty: up these stairs they say Christ went to judgement, & as he came back again, he let fall a drop of blood on one of the steps, over the which place (because the people with kissing it and rubbing it with their Beads, have fretted a deep hole in the stone) is made a little Iron grate. The people must neither go up nor down these stairs, on their feet, but creep them upon their knees, and on every step say a Pater noster & an ave Maria: so that with the number that creep up & down these stairs daily, they are kept as clean, as the fine houses in London, where you may see your face in the boards. These stairs have no small reverence.  

The vail of the Temple, that rend in the midst.  Near to the head of these stairs, on either side of the Gallery, there is in the Walls two half pillars of stone, much like to Alabaster: which they say, to be the veil of the Temple that rend in the midst, when Christ yielded up the Ghost, upon these two half pillars, they rub their Beads, in sign of great devotion.  

The Pillar that Christ was whipped at.  Somewhat near to these half pillars, there is a long Marble pillar, at which pillar, they say, Christ was fast bound, when he was whipped in pilate's hall. This pillar is much adored.  

Some of the Milk of our Lady's breasts.  Hard by, we go, into a little Chapel, which hath a very rich & costly Altar, wherein they say to be, some of the Milk that came out of our ladies breasts, and as yet remaineth pure and sweet. To this Relic is used marvelous worship.  
And in the same Chapel, hard by the door as we come in, 
A piece of the Cross, whereon the good Thief was hanged  there hangeth tied with an Iron chain a piece of wood, which is crossed every way with divers plates of Iron: this piece of wood, they name to be a piece of the cross, whereon the thief was hanged, to whom our Saviour said. This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise. To this is given much devotion.   

Beneath in the Church.  
IN the Church at the high Altar, 
The first Shirt that was made for Christ  there is as they say, the first Shirt, that our Lady made for Christ, when he was young.  
In the same Altar, 
The heads of Saint Peter and S. Paul.  are the two skulls or scalps, of the heads of S. Peter, and S. Paul, with the heir as yet on them: which are set in Gold and Silver very costly.  
There is also a glass vial, 
A glass, vial, full of the blood of Christ.  which is full as they say, of the blood of our Saviour, that ran out of his precious side hanging on the cross: the people when this is shown, will take their hands, & hold the palms of them toward the glass, and then rub all their face with their hands, with the great holiness they receive from the Glass.  
Then there is a piece of Christ's Coat without seam, 
A piece of Christ's Coat, with his blood yet fresh on it.  and it is the part of the Coat, which when it was turned down over his body, that he should be whipped, that blood did trickle down upon: and upon this piece of his Coat, say they, the blood yet remaineth as fresh, as it was the first day when it fell on it. This is a marvelous precious Relic too.  
Likewise there is the whole chain of Iron, 
The chain wherewith S. john was led to Ephesus.  wherewith S. john the Evangelist, was led bound to Ephesus: this Chain is a little old one, I am sure little above half a yard long.  

One of the Nails that nailed Christ on the Crosse.  There is also one of the Nails, wherewith our Saviour Christ was nailed on the Cross: and it hath the blood yet fresh upon it.  
And among all the rest, there is a great portion or quantity of the Crown of Thorn, 
A part of the Crown of thorn.  wherewith they say our Saviour was crowned.  
divers other Relics there be in that Church, which I cannot now very perfectly remember: but these I am certain they make the people believe to be there, for I have stood by among a multitude of people, that come thither to see them on the day they are shown, and there have I heard all these named: almost all the English Students can bear me witness, for I have gone in their company, as it is a custom and an order among them, to go from Church to Church all the Lent time, to the Stations as they call them, and then each day in Lent, one Church or other hath their Relics abroad to be seen. And then they tell the people, this is the Relics of such a Saint, and this is such a holy and blessed thing: but they be either covered with Gold, Silver, or Crystal, so that we can not tell whether there be any thing within or no, except it be sometime in a broad Crystal Tabernacle, and there you shall see a company of rotten bones, God knows of what they be.   

In Saint Maria Maiore.  

The Manger wherein Christ was laid.  THere is an old rotten Crib or Manger, wherein say they, our Saviour lay, between the Ox, and the Ass, when the shepherds came to honour & reverence him. This is a thing highly honoured.  

Aaron's rod.  There is likewise Aaron's rod, as they call it, which is in the form of a Bishop's staff: a holy Relic.  
There is also of the heir, 
Heir of our Lady's head.  that grew on our Lady's head: this is there reserved richly, and worshipped for a singular Relic.  
There is the form of a finger in Silver, 
S. Thomas his finger  wherein▪ say they, is the finger of S. Thomas, which he thrust into the side of Christ: this is no simple Relic.  
There is the point of the head of a Spear, 
The point of the spear that was thrust into Christ's side.  which they say, to be broken off from the Spear, that was thrust into our saviours side on the Cross: a Relic of no small worship.  
There is also certain pieces of Money, 
Some of the thirty pence, for which judas betrayed Christ.  which they name to be of those thirty pence, which judas received when he betrayed his Master, wherewith (after he had hanged himself) they bought a field, called: The field of blood. These are Relics of great estimation.  
There is likewise an old rotten piece of wood, which they make the people to think, 
A piece of Christ's Crosse.  to be a piece of the cross whereon Christ was crucified: to see this Relic, the people will come creeping on their knees, and behave themselves with marvelous devoutness.  
There is also certain of the Thorns, 
Thorns of the crown of thorns  which sometime, as they say, were on the Crown of Thorn, wherewith our Saviour Christ was crowned: Relics of great authority among them.   

In Sancta Croce.  
THere is an other of the Nails, 
In other of the nails where with Christ was nailed.  wherewith Christ was nailed on the Cross: and as they say, the blood still fresh upon it.  

More of judas pence  There is also three or four of the pence, which judas received for the betraying of his Master Christ.  

More of the Crosse.  There is a good big piece of wood, which they likewise say to be a piece of the Cross, whereon Christ was crucified.  

One of the whips wherewith Christ was whipped.  There is a Whip, which they report to be one of those whips, wherewith Christ was whipped in pilate's Hall. This is a holy and very precious Relic.  
There is a Tabernacle of Crystal, the Pillars thereof are of silver, 
Relics of saints.  wherein is divers old rotten bones, which they say to be the bones of Saints, and holy Martyrs.   

In Saint Lauraunces.  
THere is made fast in a Wall, a great Marble stone, 
The stone whereon S. Laraunce was broiled  about two yards in length, and a yard in breadth, which is closed in with a grate of Iron: upon this stone they say, S. Lauraunce was broiled. This is a Relic much set by.  

The Grediron whereon S. Laraunce was broiled  There also they say to be the Grediron whereon S. Lauraunce was broiled: but that I never saw, therefore I will not make any certain report thereof.  

The head of Saint Lauraunce  There at the high Altar, they say the head of S. Lauraunce is, which they have set in Silver marvelous costly.   

In Saint Sebastian's.  
THere under the High Altar, 
The body of Saint Sebastian.  they say lieth the body of S. Sebastian, to whose shrine they offer very much worship.  
At all these seven Churches, there are a number more Relics than I can well remember, which maketh the people to resort to them almost daily: and our Englishmen, they are as zealous in these matters as the best, and believe that those Relics are the very certain things whereof they bear the name, so great is their blindness and want of faith.  
To these places they frudge commonly once every week, sometime twice, or as the jesuits think it convenient: but when they have been at these seven Churches, and honoured all these paltry Relics, they think they have done a most blessed and acceptable service to God.  
There are Relics beside these, at most of the other Churches and chapels, but what they be, I do not as now remember: yet thus much I can say, that when the Station hath been at Saint Appolonias, all the way as we go, 
Prayer to S. Appolonia. for the toothache.  the streets are full almost of lame and diseased people, who, when they desire an alms of the passers by, say, they will pray to S. Appolonia for their teeth, that she will keep them from the toothache, or any other pain that may happen to their teeth. This they do, because they report, that S. Appolonia being martyred, had all her teeth by violence plucked out of her head: and therefore they imagine, that she can defend any body from having any pain in their teeth.  
Likewise S. Agatha, whose breasts they say, were clipped off with a pair of tongues, made red hot in the fire: 
Prayer to S. Agatha for women's breasts.  to her they will pray (if the people will give them any money) that any Woman passing by them, this Saint will not suffer her to have any pain in her breasts.  

A cunning shift of Beggars.  Other of their Saints, who had any thing ministered by way of torment, either on their head, arms, body, legs, or feet: because the people shall give them somewhat, these Beggars will pray to any of those Saints, to defend them from pain in any such place of their body.  
Now some lazy Friar, or some other crafty companion, who will not take so much pains as to beg, 
A commanding Beggar.  but that he will compel the people to give him somewhat: he getteth a Pax, and every one that cometh by him, must make homage to it, come and kiss it, and give him some Money, ere he go any further. This fellow standeth as Master of the Beggars, and all these knaveries, and an infinite number more, are our Englishmen so insolent, both to like and allow off.  
And now seeing I am among the Pope's Pageants, I will blaze a little more of his holy Hell: that those (to whose hands this my Book shall happen to come, and are by some of our secret seducing Priests any thing moved that way) may behold the egregious follies and devilish drifts, whereby God is despised, and men too much wilfully blinded. So that, turning to the bare and naked truth, which craveth neither shadow nor any coullored devise: they may vomit up that Antichrist and his abominable inventions, and cleave only to that which God himself hath commanded.     

¶ A brief discourse of their dark Vaults underneath the ground, and how they beguile a number by them. Of the Pilgrimage to S. james in Gallitia, to S. Maria di Loreto, to Saint Clare at Mount Falcon, & other places of like holiness. Chap. 5.  
AMong a number of their inventions, to uphold and maintain their wicked dealings: they have certain Vaults underneath the ground, wherein they say, how in the time that the persecuting Emperors lived in Room, 
Mark this good Reader, & think well thereon.  the Christians were glad to hide themselves: and there they lived many years, having no food or nourishment to maintain them, but only that they were fed by Angels. Some time Christ himself came amongst them, and he fed them by his heavenly Deity, When as he could not come, but was busied about other affairs: he sent his Mother the Virgin Marie to them. At other times, the Archangel Michael, the Angel Gabriel, or one Angel or other, was still sent unto them: and Saints that were living on earth, came daily and preached to them. This our English men hath told to me & other, at divers times: yea, and when they have seen me to offer doubt of those matters, they have been ready to swear it to be certain and true.  
At a Church there called Saint Pancratia, 
The Uau● at Saint Pancratias Church.  there is a vault, whereinto I have gone with the jesuits of the English College and the Students: and there they have showed me in divers places made on either side in the Uaut as we go, that there lay such a Saint, and there lay such an other, there they were buried, & none was there, but they were all Saints. Then (having every one of us a wax light in our hands, because it is unpossible to see any light in the vault, and for those lights, the Friars that keep the Church must have money, which we put into a Basin, that standeth at the going down into the vault) they look on the ground under their feet as they go: and if they chance to find a bone (as some sure are thrown in of purpose, to deceive the people) whether it be of a Dog, a Hog, a Sheep, or any Beast, they can tell presently what Saints bone it was, either Saint Frances, Saint Anthony, Saint Blaze, or some other Saint that pleaseth them to name. Then must no body touch it, without he be a Priest, and it must be brought home for an especial Relic: and thus (saving your reverence) increaseth the genealogy of the holy Relics in Room.  

A marvelous history and one of the Romish miracles.  In this aforesaid vault of Saint Pancratia, as one of the English Priests in the College gave me to understand, there was some time a Franciscan Friar, who having long time lived among his brethren in the Monastery, in chastity of life, and devoutness in Religion: walking one day without Room, Saint Frances appeared to him in his Friars cowl, and calling him by his name, said unto him. I know my good Brother, thou hast long thus lived in my holy order, and hast obeyed me in every thing: therefore I will, that thou be no longer a mortal man, but a Saint. And from this time forward, thou shalt leave thy Cloister, & go to the vault under the Church of Saint Pancratia: where thou shalt be worshipped of every one that cometh into the said vault, and to them thou shalt give the bones and Relics of holy and blessed Saints, which they in their Churches shall adore with great reverence: what thou wilt have, shall be done, and what thou wilt not, shall not be done.  
After these words, Saint Frances vanished from him, & he went home to the Monastery, to tell his Brethren what had happened: soon after, with burning Tapers, and great shows of holiness they brought him to the vault of Saint Pancratia, 
Mark this.  wherein being entered, they found a seat ready prepared for him, which shined as bright as the Sun, so that it dimmed the light of all their Tapers: it was like unto the Clouds, very thick beset with twinkling Stars, and over the head of it, it was covered with a goodly Rainbow. Nothing could be seen whereon this seat depended, it neither touched the ground, the top of the vault over head, nor any part of the wall on either side, therefore it was supported by Angels, whom though they could not discern, yet they heard them make very melodious harmony, to welcome this Saint to his new seat. Then the Friar being bashful, to see such a glorious seat provided for him, 
O horrible and abominable blasphemy.  withdrew himself, as though he were unworthy to sit therein: but then out of one of the Clouds stretched a hand (which they said to be Christ's) wherein they saw the fresh bleeding wound, being pierced thorough with the nail on the Cross, and this hand pulled the Friar to the Seat, & placed him very royally therein. At the sight hereof, all his brethren fell down & worshipped him, whereupon, he delivered unto every one of them divers holy Relics: as the head of such a Saint, and bones of divers other Saints, which was put in to his hand to give them. Some of them for pure zeal, would not departed from him, but stayed there many years, being fed & nourished by Angels: the other, to look to the good ordering of their Monastery, were forced to departed.  
A long time this Saint remained in that vault, and many other that came to him, whom he daily made Saints: so that, as well on the behalf of this Saint, as divers other as good as he, this vault is worshipped as though it were a second heaven.  
When he had ended this brave notorious Fable, delivered forth with far more reverend gesture, than I can set down, or you imagine: he said. If a man should tell this to the Heretics of our Country, they would straight way condemn it as a lie & untruth: so mightily doth the devil prevail with them, to deface the daily miracles shown in the Catholic Church. Trust me (thought I) I know not whether they would esteem it for a lie or no: but I do allow it for one of the notablest lies that ever I heard in all my life.  
O my dear Countrymen, think how God hath given over these men, that repose credit in such abominable untruths: whereby he is rob of his glory, & the worship which we ought of duty to give to him, is bestowed on a rabble of rascal Relics, a dunghill of most irksome & noisome smell, & they themselves become spectacles to the world, following the whore of Room, as her puddle of accursed filthiness. Their impiety hath pierced the heavens, and offended the Almighty, to see that his Creatures shall thus disdain their Maker: and therefore, while they are glorying and triumphing in the midst of their wickedness, he hath thrown them down, accounted them as bastards, & not children, that they might be an example to us, how to live in his fear, and how to behave ourselves like Christians, not to give his honour to stocks & stones, not to lust after dreams and fantasies of the devils invention: but while we have the light, to walk as becometh the children of light, to keep ourselves true and faithful Subjects, to her, by whom we enjoy the light, and to pray to God, to bless her and us all, to continue in the light. Amen.  
I will set down one discourse more, of an other like miracle, done in an other of their Vaults: and then I will trouble you no longer with such frivolous & foolish stuff, which I will declare even in the same manner, as a Priest of theirs, as yet not taken, yet he is here in England, told me, when he, I, and two of the Scholars more, 
another strange history, of a romish miracle, done in the Uaut of Saint Priscilla, without Room.  went into the said vault.  
Without Room, about the distance of half a mile from the City, there is a huge great vault, which they call S. Priscilla's Groat: and within this vault, there is a great many of several places, turning one this way, an other that way, as in one street, there may be divers streets and lanes, turning every way. So that when they go into this vault, they tie the end of a line at the going in, and so go on by the line, else they might chance to lose themselves, and so miss of their ever coming out again: or else if they have not a line, they take Chalk with them, and make figures at every turning, that at their coming again, (being guided by Torch light, for Candles will go out with the damp in the vault) they may make account till they get forth, but this is not so ready a way as by the line.  
One day I was desirous to see this vault, for my fellow Thomas Nowell, in the company of the jesuits and the Scholars, had been therein, and I lying sick in my Bed, both he and they made such a glorious report thereof to me, what a Heavenly place it was, what a number of Saints and Martyrs had been buried there, and what precious Relics was daily found there: that I very much desired to see the thing, whereto they gave such an admirable praise. For in sooth, my fellow was even all one with them, his company was required of every one, & he as lewd in speeches against his Country as the best: so that I was esteemed I can not tell how, they would not misdoubt me for my Parent's sake, & yet they would give me many shrewd nips. As when they demanded any thing of me, as concerning our gracious Princess, or any of her honourable Council, I should answer: Her Majesty, God bless her, or, the right Honourable, such a Noble man, of whom they asked me: whereat they would check me very much, for using any reverence in naming her Majesty, or any of the Lords of her honourable Council.  
And this I may say boldly, for that it is true, as God is my witness, 
I speak not this good Reader, either in pride or bravery.  that in all the time I was amongst them: I neither offered moiety of misordered or undecent speech, either of her Majesty, or any Noble man in the Court, no, nor so much as thought ill of any of them, notwithstanding the words they used, sufficient (had not God ordered all my doings) to have moved a more stayed man then myself to an error. I appeal to God, who knoweth I set down nothing but truth, & to him that is my chiefest enemy, if he can justly report otherwise by me: for I thank God, albeit I were so far from my Country, he gave me the grace to consider, I was a Subject, & I was bound by duty to regard and honour my Prince so long as I lived. And because my adversaries object against me, that I went to Mass, & helped the Priest myself to say Mass: so that (say they) who is worst, I am as evil as he. I answer, I did so in deed, for he that is in Room, especially in the College among the Scholars: must live as he may, not as he will, favour comes by conformity, and death by obstinacy. These rash heads being in England, would do many goodly matters at Room, they would tell the Pope of his lascivious & unchristian life, the Cardinals of their Sodomitical sins, the Friars of their secret juggling with the Nuns, & the Priests of their painted Purgatory, their wafer God, and their counterfeit blood in the Chalice: all this they would do, now they are in England, But I doubt if they were at Room and beheld the merciless tyranny executed on the members of Christ. God having not endued them with the spirit of perseverannce, 
The will of God must be done in all things.  to suffer and abide the like (for what can this frail carcase endure, if God do not say: I will that thou shalt suffer this?) I fear me, they would be as ready to do any thing for the safeguard of their lives, as I was. You may note a special example, in these our Countrymen lately executed, that neither their cause was esteemed of God, nor perfectly persuaded in themselves: yet they would die in a bravery, to be accounted Martyrs at Room, and in the midst of their bravery, all the world might note their false and faint hearts.  
Sherwood, 
Sherwood, executed in Southwark.  he ran down the Ladder, when death should arrest him, having killed one of his fellow Papists. Campion, their glorious Captain, he looked dead in the face, so soon as he saw the place of Execution, and remained quaking & trembling unto the death. Shirt, would have the people think, he feared not death, and yet he catched hold on the halter, when the Cart was drawn away. Kirbie quaking when he felt the Cart go away, looked still how near the end of it was, till he was quite beside. And Cottom dismaying, died trembling & in great fear. These are the Martyrs of the Romish Church, not one of them patiented, penitent▪ nor endued with courage to the extremity of death: but dismaying, trembling & fearful, as the eye witnesses can bear me record. We may therfore-wel know, that a good cause doth animate the Martyr, which belonging to God: let Room, Hell, & all the devils set themselves against us, they can touch us no farther, than God will suffer them. As Saint Lauraunce being broils on the Gridiren, 
S. Lauraunce  to witness the invincible courage wherewith God endued him, he said: Thou tyrant, this side is now roasted enough, 
S. Isidore.  turn the other. And Saint Isidore likewise said to the tyrant: I know thou hast no further power over me, than my God will suffer thee from above. But now to our matter.  
As I have said, through the great report they made of this vault, one of the Priests, two of the Scholars and I, took with us a line, & two or three great lights, and so we went to this aforesaid vault: we going a long in farther and farther, there we saw certain places one above an other, three and three on either side, during a great way in length: and these places they said, to be some of them the graves of persecuted Saints and Martyrs, where they hide themselves in the time of the cruel Emperors of Room, and there they died.  
Proceeding on forward, we came to an old thing like an Altar, whereon, in old and ancient painting, (which was then almost clean worn out) was Christ upon the Cross, and our Lady and Saint john by him: there the Priest said, Saint Peter, Saint Paul, and many other Saints, had said Mass to the Christians that hide themselves there. And besides this (quoth he) there chanced not many years since, a poor man of the City to come into this Uaufe, and when he was come so far as this Altar, the light he carried in his hand, suddenly went out, so that he was forced to sit down, and stay here.  

A strange and rare miracle, too strange to be true.  He being thus without any light, and ignorant of the way to get out again: fell in prayer to our Lady, who presently appeared to him, having about her little Angels, holding burning Lamps in their hands, where through, the place was illumined very gloriously. And there she questioned with him, & he with her, about many holy and Religious matters: then she departing, left him there accompanied with Angels, so that he remained there ten days, at the end whereof, he came forth, and went and told the Pope what he had seen, for which, when he died, he was canonised a Saint, and in this order arise many of our Romish Saints.  
As for the Pilgrimage to Saint james in Gallitia, 
The Pilgrimage to S. james in Gallitia.  it is a thing that is usually frequented all the year, by such a number of people, as you would scantly judge: among whom, divers of our Englishmen be so holy, that they will not stick to bear them company. There they say, lieth the bode of Saint james the Apostle: 
Relics at S. james in Gallitia.  and there is the Cock that crowed, when Peter denied Christ: some of the hair of our Lady's head: certain of the Thorns of the Crown of Thorn: the Napkin that was about Christ's head in the grave: certain drops of his blood: a piece of the Cross whereon he was crucified, and a number such like Relics, which are honoured and worshipped, as if they were God himself.  
Then one of the chief Pilgrimages, is to a place called Santa Maria di Loreto, 
Pilgrimage to Saint Maria di Loreto.  where, within is an old little brick room, which they name to be the house our Lady dwelled in: there is the Image of our Lady all in Gold and Silver, the house round about her, beset with Chalices of Gold and Silver, which are oblations and offerings of divers Pilgrims, that come in whole companies thither. 
All this helps to maintain the Pope.  And before her is a great barred Chest of iron, wherein they throw money to our Lady, by whole goblets full at once: Within this little house, there is an Altar made right before our Lady, & there is said every day, forty or fifty Masses, whereat the people will throng in great heaps, to get into the house, for they think themselves happy, if our Lady have once seen them. And all the Church is likewise hung with pictures, Tapers, and wax Candles, which are the vows of the Pilgrims to our Lady. I have heard of some, who by the counsel of their ghostly Father, have made money of all their household stuff, and have come five or six hundred mile bare foot and bare legged, to give it all to our Lady there: mean while, the holy Father hath had liberty, to play with the man's wife, at etc. In all my life I never saw a place more frequented with people, than this is daily, only for the admirable Miracles that be done there. Some have come thither for their eye sight: and when they were there, 
The miracles at our Lady of Loreto.  they could see a little (as they say) but they have come away stark blind as they were before. A man came thither, being grievously wounded on the Sea, by his enemies: and after he had seen our Lady, he went to the Hospital, and within a quarter of a year after, at the furthest, the chirurgeons had healed him. When he was well again, he went and hung up his picture in the Church, that he was healed of his hurt, so soon as he looked upon our Lady. divers have been brought thither in their Beds, some being sick, some wounded, or otherwise diseased and there they were set before our Lady, looking when she should say: Take up thy bed and walk. And because she could not intend to speak to them, being troubled with so many other suitors: they have been carried to the Hospital, & there they have been either buried or cured, than such as recover their health must go set up their picture in the Church, how that the very looking on our Lady hath helped them. Sundry other holy Miracles, done by our Lady of Loreto, I could rehearse, but they be so strange, that no wise body will care for the hearing them: nevertheless, the Pope finds her a good sweet Lady of Loreto, for the pilgrimage to her, increaseth his treasure, many thousands in a year.  
To Mount Falcon, 
The Pilgrimage to Mount Falcon, to see Saint Clare.  there is an other Pilgrimage, to see the body of S. Clare, which was buried I know not how many hundred years ago, and yet the body remaineth whole and sound, without any perishing of bone or skin. I have been at this place, and there in a long rich Tabernacle of glass, lieth, as they say, the same body of Saint Clare: the hands and feet are to be seen, which I can aptly compare to the manner of the Anatomy, whereon the chirurgeons show every year their cunning, as for any flesh, there is none to be seen: but the bare bones, and the withered sinews, which being kept so bravely as that is, standing still in one place and never moved, I judge will continue a great while, & truly I take it to be some Anatomy, as divers other have done, that have seen it as well as I. The whole body (if there be any) is covered with a gown of black Velvet, and the head covered, so that none can see it. 
The Relics of S. Clare.  There lieth by her, a thing which they say, was her heart, which being cleft a sunder in the midst: the whole torment and passion of Christ, was there in lively form to be seen. Then there is likewise by her, a glass of her tears, that she shed daily, in remembrance of the bitter passion of our Saviour: which tears, they say, are as fresh and sweet, as they were on the first day.  
There are a number other Pilgrimages, 
Other Pilgrimages to divers places.  as to Thurine, to see the winding sheet wherein Christ was laid: wherein, as they say, he hath left the perfect Image of his body. This marvelous Relic, is never shown, but once in fouretéen year, & then to deceive the people with the greater authority, there must six Cardinals come thither, and they must hold it abroad for every one to see it, no other but they may presume to touch it. To Paris, to Saint Dennis in France, to Poiteer, and a number other places there be daily Pilgrimages, to see a number like Relics, as I have declared before: all these help to uphold the Pope, lest his kingdom should decay, and so his usurping title be clean worn out of memory.  

A new Pilgrimage risen up in Room, called Madonna di Monte.  But now you shall hear of a new prop and pillar, wherewith the Pope is & will be marvelously strengthened, that is risen up little more than two year since: and at this new holy place▪ is wrought miracles of great account. In the year of our Lord .1580. about the time of Easter, a certain poor man, one that saw the simplicity of the people, how apt they were to believe every feigned invention: he being a subtle and crafty fellow, thought he would come in with some devise of his own, whereby he might yet a great deal of money, & beside, be canonised for a Saint when he died.  
He having concluded his practice, with divers other crafty companions, as subtle as himself, who should maintain all that he did devise: feigned himself to dream in his Bed, that a vision appeared to him, willing him to make clean his house, and to fall down and reverence an old picture of our Lady, which stood in his house, when presently there should be marvelous miracles accomplished there. His companions noised this abroad, adding thereto such admirable protestation of speech, as every one that heard thereof, conceived no small cause of wundering. This aforesaid vision appeared to this man twice, all in one manner, by which time it was spread abroad sufficiently: so that when it came the third time, he did according as the voice bade him, he arose, made clean his house, and fell down and worshipped the Picture of our Lady.  
His companions had some of them, bound up their legs, & went on Croutches, some of them feigned them selves to be blind: 
Miracles very strangely wrought.  so that they came no sooner before our Lady, but the lame recovered his legs, and the blind his sight. Then those few Croutches, that these counterfeit fellows came withal, where hung up by the Picture, and a number more, to make the people believe so many lame folks were healed, and likewise the report of the blind that received their sight, so that it was thought a marvelous number were healed, at this new found holy place.  
Upon this, the resort of people thither, 
Note the marvelous ignorance of these people.  was truly incredible: Gentlemen would come thither, and there hang up their velvet Cloaks, as an offering to our Lady: Gentlewomen, would come thither bare foot and bare legged, & there hang up their velvet Gowns, their silk Gowns, with other costly apparel, and go home again in their Petticoats. As for the money, jewels, and other treasure daily offered there, it was most marvelous to see: for therewith they have builded a very fair Church where this house stood. When they saw they were grown so rich, they made no account of the old Picture, wherewith all the aforesaid miracles were done: but they erected a costly Altar, and thereon made a sumptuous new Picture of our Lady, which the people do daily honour with marvelous resort. This is faithfully affirmed by one john Young an English man, who not long since came home from Room, & while he was there, he well noted the impudency of our English men, in landing & extolling this place, and the miracles there wrought: so that they as certainly believe in those miracles, as any Christian doth in God.  
This john Young, once questioned with one of the English Priests, why God did not as well suffer such miracles to be done by his Son jesus Christ, as altogether by our Lady: whereto the Priest answered. Because among the Heretics, 
A wise answer of an English man.  they use little or no reverend regard to our Lady, but rather despise & contemn her: therefore it is the will of God, to witness the power & heavenly authority she hath, by these and many such miracles, both here and in divers other places, rather than by his son Christ. Here may every good Christian, behold the horrible abuses, used among this Satanical crew: their Pilgrimages, their Relics, and all their crafty inventions, is to be marveled, that people will be so fond as to believe.  
As for the Nails wherewith our Saviour was nailed on the Cross, it is evidently registered by learned writers, that they were no more in number then three: yet I am sure in Room, there is above a dozen nails, dispersed there through divers Churches, and they are not ashamed to say, that with every one of those nails, Christ was nailed upon the Crosse.  

Helena, the mother of Constantine, the Emperor, found the Cross of Christ, and gave the nails to her son.  And for those three Nails, wherewith Christ was nailed on the Cross, Platina recordeth, that Queen Helena the mother of Constantine the Emperor, searching in the ground, by chance found the Cross whereon Christ was crucified, & wherein the Nails were still sticking, for which cause she builded there a Temple in the same place, where she found the Crosse. All these Nails she gave to her son Constantine, which he bestowed in this order. One of them he caused to be fastened in the bridle of his Horse, whereon he road to the wars: an other he made to be wrought into his Helmet, in the place where he set his Plume of Feathers: and the third he used to carry about with him, till on a time he sailing on the Hardriaticum Sea, a tempest arose, so that the Sea waxed very rough, whereupon he cast the Nail therein, to assuage the rage thereof. Thus have you heard what became of the three nails, wherewith our Saviour was nailed on the Cross: and yet it may be, that the Nail which Constantine threw into the Sea (according as Ambrose doth likewise affirm it was) took upon it the nature of a Fish, and spawned a great many of other Nails, whereof those may be some, that are held for such holy Relics. And because you shall not doubt whether this be the opinion of Platina or no: I will here set down the words according as they be in his works. Platina in vitis Pontificum, et in vita Siluestri primi. Anno. 339. ab urbe condita. 1191. Helena vero aedificato, eo in loco Templo ubi Crucem repererat, abiens, clavos quibus Christi corpus Cruci affixum fuerat, secum ad filium portat. Horum ille unum in froenos Equi transtulit, quibus in praelio uteretur: alio pro cono galia vicbatur: tertium in mare Hadriaticum (ut ait Ambrose) ad compescendas saevientis maris procellas deiecit.  
Bishop jewel, Bishop of Salisbury, preaching at Paul's Cross, 
A Sermon of Bishop jewel, at Paul's cross.  in the beginning of her majesties reign, took occasion by his Text, to entreat of a company of the Popish Relics, where among he named the Nails, that nailed Christ on the Cross, what a company the Papists had of them: two in one place, two in an other, and here one, and there an other, so that he could reckon to the number of seventeen, that they had. And then he told, how at a Visitation in his Diocese, he found a Nail at a Gentleman's house, which the Gentleman and divers of his friends, did worship and reverence, for one of the Nails wherewith Christ was nailed on the Cross: from him he took it, and said, I have already reckoned seventeen in divers places, and this is the eighteen, which he pulled forth, and showed it to all the people. This is the merchandise of Room: from reposing any credit in them, or him that is the Capitol master of them, Good Lord deliver us.   

¶ The manner of the dissension in the English College, between the English men and the Welsh men: the banishment of the English men out of Room, and the Pope's sending for them again, with other matters worthy the reading. Chap. 6.  
Having promised before in my Book, to rehearse after what manner the English men and Welsh men fell at variance in the College: I thought good to drive off the time no further, but even here to set down how and in what sort it was. The Pope when he erected the College, gave it the name of the English College, so that he supposed the Welsh and English, to be all as one, in that they came all out of one Country, allowing them his liberality jointly together. Now, in deed there are sundry Welsh Doctors in Room, who have been longest, & of greatest familiarity with the Cardinal Morone, who was the Protector of the English College, to whom likewise he allowed greatest favour, so that imboldening themselves upon him, the Welsh men would be Lords over the English men, and use them according as they thought good.  

Doctor Morris, favoured more his own Countrymen than Englishmen.  Doctor Morris, being a Welsh man, and Custos of the Hospital or College, would allow his own Countrymen greater pre-eminence than English men: which indeed they began to stomach, and would not esteem him for their governor, but rather sought to have the jesuits to rule them, by whom they applied their studies, and beside, they would be indifferent men on either part.  
When I had been there a pretty while, I know not how Doctor Morris conceived anger against me, but he would not suffer me to tarry any longer in the College. As for my fellow, his sincerity in their religion was such, his natural disposition so agreeable with theirs, and every thing he did esteemed so well: that Doctor Morris would suffer him willingly to remain there, but he could not abide me in any case. The Scholars understanding this, as well they that bore me affection, as they that made least account of me, agreed to take my part, saying. That if Doctor Morris would put every Englishman, he thought good on, out, in short time the College would be all Welshmen: so they bade me stick to them and if I went away, they would go away too.  
Beside, they moved a certain speech amongst themselves, that if I were not received into the College amongst them, 
The English men's policce to keep me there still.  and used in every respect according as they were▪ when I returned into England, being known to come from Room, I might be compelled to tell the names of them that were there, and what conference I had among them, so that their parents and friends should be discovered, and themselves be known against their coming into England. To avoid therefore any such doubt, until they had me sworn to priesthood: they would keep me there, and th●● I should be as deep in any matter as they.  
When I perceived the scope of their devise, I behaved myself more frowardly to Doctor Morris, than ever I did before: every thing that I heard of him, I told unto the Scholars, and tarried there dinner & supper in spite of his no●e. Where upon he went and complained to the Cardinal Morone, how the Scholars used no regard to him, being their Rector, but maintained one lately come forth of England, both to scorn at him, and to offer him too much abuse.  
This being come to the scholars ear, and how on the next day they must appear before the Cardinal: they determined with themselves all one resolute opinion, which was, that Doctor Morris should be Rector over them▪ no longer, but the jesuits that were kept in the house for the profit of their studies, and upon this they would all stand, denying any Rectorshippe to Doctor Morris,  

The Scholars were sent for before the Cardinal, upon the complaint of Doctor Morris.  On the morrow they were sent for before the Cardinal Morone, where they found Doctor Morris, and Doctor jews, they having made sound their tale before they came. When they were come into the presence of the Cardinal and myself with them, these, or the very like speeches he used unto us in Latin.  
You Englishmen, what meaneth this great disobedience, and uncivil behaviour you use in your College? Master Doctor Morris, a man of ancient time, and well esteemed here in the City, being appointed to be your Rector, and to govern you in a good order, as a great while he hath done: you contrary to love and duty, behave yourselves ridiculously against him, and neither respecting his credit and countenance, nor your own honesty, determine a mutiny or tumult among yourselves. What is the cause of this? you are sent for to manifest it, wherefore let me hear how you can excuse this blame laid against you.  
Master Sherwin▪ who was executed with Campion, being there esteemed a singular Scholar, both for his eloquence, as also his learning: made answer for them all after this manner.  
I trust my gracious Lord, by that time you have heard, 
Master sherwin's answer to the Cardinal, on the behalf of them all.  the good cause we have to stir in this matter: you will neither be offended at our proceeding, nor displeased with us, the cause tending to your own honour. It is not unknown to you, that the College or Hospital, which by the gracious providence of our dear Father the Pope's holiness, we enjoy our abiding in at this present: hath been always allowed such a sufficient stipend, that one should not be better than an other, or excel his fellow in common behaviour.  
This most godly and holy appointed estate: we both have been, and at this present are, content to obey: but when he that is the head shall fail in his duty, and urge an inconvenience among a quiet assembly: no marvel if the Worm turn, being trodden upon, and we speak, being used with too much spite.  
Master Doctor Morris, whose age we reverence, and obey the title of his authority: dealing with us so unfréendlye as he doth, we can hardly bear it, much less abide it. For where his office doth command him to deal both just and uprightly, and to use no partiality to either, for favour or alliance: he doth not only abuse the credit of his authority, but also maliciously deal with us, who have not so much as used an evil thought against him.  
When any Englishman cometh to the Hospital, if his learning be never so good, or his behaviour never so decent: except he be pleased, he shall not be entertained. But if a Welshman come, if he be never so vylde a Runagate, never so lewd a person, be can not come so soon as he shall be● welcome to him, whither he have any learning or no, it maketh no matter, 
Doctor Morris, kind to his own Counteromen.  he is a Welshman, and he must be permitted. Then which of us hath the best gown, he must receive one that is all ragged and torn, and the newcome Welshman must have the best, because he is the Custos Countreiman: and many nights he must have the Welshmen in his chamber, where they must be merry at their good cheer, we glad to sit in our studies, and have an ill supper, because M. Doctor wasteth our Commons upon his own Countrymen, so that we must be content with a snatch and away.  
If there be one bed better than an other, the Welshman must have it, if there be any Chamber more handsome than an other, the Welshman must lodge there: in brief, the things of most account are the Welshman's at command.  
This maketh many of us to wish ourselves Welshmen, because we would gladly have so good provision as they, & being Countrymen to our Custos, we should be all used a like: excepting Master Doctor's Nephew Morganus Clenokus, he must be in his silk, though all the rest go in a sack.  
To mitigate therefore all inconveniences, that neither the Englishmen shall be despised▪ 
They desire the jesuits for their governors.  nor the Welshmen contemned: we desire that the jesuits in our College, may receive the Rectorship, they labour for the profit of our studies, and they being none of our nation or country, will see equity used to either side: so, our discord shall be quietly reform, our College a great deal better governed, ourselves be encouraged to employ us more willingly to our studies, and we shall jointly live together in quietness. Where other wife, our emulation shall be known at home in our Country, how we fall at variance here, and can not agree: and then shall our names be known, our parents and friends openly discovered, than what the end will be, I leave to your honourable judgement.  
When the Cardinal had heard this discourse, (being greatly affected to Doctor Morris, 
The Cardinal so affected Doctor Morris, that he should not leave his Rector-shippe.  thorough his long abiding in Room) he would not grant that he should be put from his office, but bade them departed home again; and show themselves obedient to the Rector, that both the Pope and himself had appointed, promising if he heard any more disturbance, he would inform the Pope of it, which should be but small to their profit.  
So the Cardinal not minded to hear them any longer at that time, they departed home to the College, greatly offended with themselves that they had sped no better. And now, I must out of the College, there was no other remedy: but yet thorough entreaty of the jesuits, I had leave for a fortnight to lie in a very sweet Chamber, filled with old rusty Iron, and all the trash of the house was put into that Chamber, being a vacant place, & serving for no other purpose, because it was next to the common house of office, which aired the Chamber with so sweet a perfume: that but for names sake of a Chamber, and fear of catching some disease, I had rather have lain in the street amongst the Beggars. Well, froward as I was, so was I frowardly served, which I think Doctor Morris did, only to tame my youthfulness: for in this place, not long before my coming to Room, there lay one tormented with a Devil, and so distraught of his wits, that they were fain to bind him there in his bed.  
So Doctor Morris, seeing I used myself, both careless of him, 
Doctor Morris his provision for my lodging.  and with little regard to their Religion▪ yet in such an order as they could have small advantage of me: chambered me there, where I think the Devil was still left▪ for every night there was such a coil among the old Iron, such rattling and throwing down the Boards, that with the sweet smell came out of the counting house to my beds head: I lay almost feared out of my wits, and almost choked with that pleasant perfume, so that when I was laid in my Bed, I durst not stir till it was fair broad day, that I might perceive every corner of my Chamber, whither the Devil were there or no.  
Every morning the Priests & the Scholars would come to visit me, giving me money to send for my dinner and supper into the Town: because Doctor Morris mine old friend, watched them so near, that I could not have so much as a draught of Wine in the house. Then I told them of the noise that was every night in my Chamber, when they verily believed, that the Devil, having possessed a Woman on the further side of the Garden: did every night take up his lodging in my Chamber among the old Iron.  
Wherefore one night, two of the Priests came to hollow my Chamber, 
The priests come with holy water to hallow my Chamber.  and brought their holy water, and their holy Candles, and sprinkled about in every corner: giving me also a pot of holy water, to hang by my Bed's side, that when I heard the stir again, I should with the sprinkling Brush, throw it about the Chamber. And they gave me a pair of Beads, whereon I should say six Pater nosters, and six ave Maria's, than they would warrant me, the noise would be gone straight way.  
Night came, and supping so well as I could, with two Quatrines worth of leeks, one Quatrine bestowed in Ricoct, 
The manner of my supper at night.  which is hard Cruds to make Cheese, a Bayock in bread, and a demie Boccale, of the Vine Romanesco, wherewith I supped so well as I might, albeit not so well as I would, yet a little thing serves to quench hunger. I had not been in my Bed full an hour and an half, not daring to sleep for fear, nor keep my head out of the Bed, because of mine accustomed air: but then began the noise again, more vehement than the night before, the old Iron was fling about the Chamber, the Boards that leaned against the Wall fell down, and such a terrible coil there was, that I thought the house would have fallen on my head.  
Then I put forth my hand to throw the holy water about, which did as much good, as the thing is good of itself: which set me in such a chase, that to make up the Music among the old Iron. I sent the pot and the holy water, with as much force as I could. As for my Beads, I was so impatient with myself, that I gave them the place which they best deserved: and then I called to old Sir Robert a Welsh Priest, 
S. Robert a Welsh Priest, coming to see what was the cause of the noise, fell over a threshold and b●ra● his knee.  who lay in a pretty Chamber hard by, but before he would come▪ the noise was indifferently pacified. For he coming with a Candle in his hand, which he used to keep a light in his Chamber, and being in haste, fell over a stone threshold that lay in his way: so that he burst his knee very sore, and could not light his Candle again in the spate of an hour, by which time all was quiet.  
The fear I took at this noise, brought me to be very weak and sickly, so that I was very unwilling to lie there any longer. But Doctor Morris I thank him was so gentle to me, that he said, and if I liked not my lodgding go hardly (quoth he) and lie in the street, for that place is more meet for thee then any room in the house.  
How I received these churlish words, I leave to your judgements, but it sufficeth▪ I gave him my blessing, and if I could have gotten him forth of Room, I would have burned him too.  
On the next day, upon an other complaint of Doctor Morris the Students were all sent for again before the Cardinal▪ who plainly said unto them, that except they would live in quietness one with an other, (because there was one Hugh Griffin, a Welshman of a hot nature, and he would many times fall together by the ears with some of the Scholars, that sometime the blood ran about their ears) likewise, that they should confess Doctor Morris for their rightful Rector, and be obedient to what he appointed: or else to get them away out of Room.  
Well home they came again, incensed with such anger and choler, that they were now more disobedient than before: saying to Doctor Morris, that they would never consent unto him, and therefore provided themselves to be packing out of Room▪ Doctor Morris thinking to bring them violently to his bow, informed the Cardinal so severely against them: that they were sent for the third time, when he commanded them to provide themselves, for they should stay no longer in the English Hospital, but banished them all from the City.  

Doctor Morris beginneth to offer me gentleness.  When they were come to the College, everyman trussed up his needful things, determining on the next morning to departs: then came Doctor Morris to me and my fellow, willing us to stay, because the other would be gone, and he would stand our friend marvelously Trust me no Sir (quoth I) since you would not stand my friend when I was in great need, now I mean not to receive your courtesy when I care not for it: for since the Students have stood my friends so much, and you mine enemy so greatly. I will bear a share in their travail how ever I speed. As for my fellow, since you have loved him all this while, love him now so if you please: and let him stay & do what you think best, for I have told you my mind.  

The Englishmen avoid the College.  Well, on the morrow morning we went our way, with bag and baggage, to an englishman's house in the City, and as I remember, his name was M. Creed, Creed, where to make ready our dinner▪ every one took an office upon him, one to fetch milk, an other to make ready Rice for the pottage, some to make the fire: so that every one was employed till our dinner was dispatched. Then they concluded to buy every man an Ass, to carry his Books and his clothes upon, as for money, there were gentlemen's sons of such credit amongst them, that Doctor Morton, and the Gentlemen in the City, would provide them with as good as five hundred Crowns quickly. Within one hour and a half after dinner, 
The Scholars sent for before the Pope.  came Father Alfonso the jesuit of the English College, whom the Students had chosen, and made suit to be their Rector: he, I say, came running in such haste, that he could hardly tell his tale, because he was almost out of breath. But this was the sum of his news, that the Pope's holiness had sent for them in all the haste, and they must delay no time, but come to him with all speed possible.  
Then we went with him to the Pope's Palace, where coming into the Pope's Chamber, and having every one kissed his foot: we stayed to attend what was his pleasure. But before he spoke any word, with a dissembling and hypocritical countenance, he fell into tears, which trickled down his white beard: and began in Latin with these, or the very like words. O you English men, to whom my love is such, as I can no way utter, considering that for me you have left your Prince, which was your duty, and come so far to me, which is more than I can deserve: yet as I am your refuge, when persecution dealeth straightly with you in your Country, by reason of the heretical Religion there used, so will I be your Bulwark to defend you, your guide to protect you, your Father to nourish you, and your friend with my heart blood to do you any profit.  
Behold, what deceits the devil hath to accomplish his desire? tears, smooth speeches, liberality, and a thousand means: to make a man careless of God, disobedient to his Prince, and more, to violate utterly the faith of a Subject. These tears that he shed, these words that he spoke, made divers of them say within themselves, as one of them for example, presently to me said.  

The words of one of the Scholars.  Oh singular Saint, whose life, love, and liberality, may be a spectacle to the whole world. Who would live in England, under the government of so vile a jezabel: and may rest in safety▪ under the perfect Image of jesus? who would not forsake Father, Mother, friends, goods, yea, and the life itself: to have the bountiful blessing of such a provident Father? The Pope recovering his health again from his weeping: caused this devout fellow to stay his talk, because he began again as thus.  
What is the cause that you will departed from me, that have so well provided for you: to thrust yourselves on the rock of your own destruction? Then Master Sherwin began, and told him all the dealings of Doctor Morris toward them, according as he had done before to the Cardinal, and how they would have the jesuits for their Governeurs, for the causes before mentioned. Upon these words the Pope started out of his Chair. 
The Pope supposed Englishmen and Welshemen, all as one.  Why (quoth he) I made the Hospital for English men, and for their sake I have given so large exhibition: and not for the Welsh men. Return to your College again, you shall have what you will desire, and any thing I have in the world to do you good.  
Then he commanded one of the chief Gentlemen of his Chamber, to go with us, and to certify the Pope's mind to Doctor Morris, and so giving us his benedicton, we all went merrily again to the College.  
The Gentleman gave Doctor Morris to understand, he must be Rector no longer, the jesuite named Father Alfonso, whom the Scholars had chosen, must have his office, than were the Scholars glad, that they had gotten the victory of the Welshmen.  
On the morrow, 
The Pope's lyberallite.  the Pope sent four hundred Crowns, to new reparation the house, to buy the Students all needful things that they wanted, and the house must no longer be called a College, but a Seminary.  
Then Cardinal Morone, because Doctor Morris should not lose all his dignity, caused the house to be parted, and so made both a Seminary for the Studientes, and an Hospital for the entertainment of English Pilgrims when they came, whereof Doctor Morris continued Custos, by the Pope's appointment.  
Thus was the strife ended, and myself and my fellow, admitted by the Pope's own consent, to be Scholars there: but yet the sickness I got, with lying in my former Chamber, hung still upon me, so that I was then removed to a very fair Chamber, where the Scholars every day would come and visit me, until such time as I recovered my health again.   

¶ Of the Carne vale in Room: the Pope's general cursing on Maunde thursday: and the manner of the Flagellante that night. Chap. 7.  
DUring the time of Shrovetide, there is in Room kept a very great coil, which they use to call the Carne vale, which endureth the space of three or four days, all which time, the Pope keepeth himself out of Room, so great is the noise and hurly-burly. The Gentlemen: will attire themselves in divers forms of apparel, some like Women, other like Turks, and every one almost in a contrary order of disguising: and either they be on Horseback, or in Coaches▪ none of them on foot, for the people that stand on the ground to see this pastime, are in very great danger of their lives, by reason of the running of Coaches and great Horses, as never in all my life did I see the like stir. And all this is done where the Courtezanes be, to show them delight and pastime, 
The Burdella, helps to maintain the Pope.  for they have coverlets laid out at their windows, whereon they stand leaning forth, to receive divers devices of rose-water, and sweet odours in their faces, which the Gentlemen will throw up to their windows.  
During this time, every one weareth a disguised visor on his face, so that no one knows what or whence they be: and if any one bear a secret malice to an other, he may then kill him, & no body will lay hands on him, for all this time they will obey no law. I saw a brave Roman, who road there very pleasant in his Coach, and suddenly came one, who discharged a Pistol upon him, yet no body made any account, either of the murderer, or the slain Gentleman: beside, there were divers slain, both by villainy, and the Horses or the Coaches, yet they continued on their pastime, not making any regard of them.  
The first day of their Carne vale, the jews in Room cause an Ensign to be placed at the Capitol, 
The jews have small pastime in this. But it is an order that they must do, whether they will or no.  where likewise they appoint certain wagers at their own coasts: and then they run stark naked from Porta populo unto the Capitol for them, the which I judge above a mile in length. And all the way, they gallop their great Horses after them, and carry goads with sharp points of steel in them: wherewith they will prick the jews on the naked skin, if so be they do not run faster than their horses gallop, so that you shall see some of their backs all on gore blood. Then he that is foremost, and soon cometh to the Capitol, he is set on a Horse back without any saddle, one going before him carrying the Ensign: but than you shall see a hundred boys, who have provided a number of Oranges, they will so pelt the poor jew, that before he can got up to the Capitol, he will be beaten beside his Horse four or five times.  
The next day, there are certain of the Christians that run naked likewise, but no body pursueth them, either with Horse or Coach: and the wager they run for▪ the jews must pay likewise▪ Then the buffel and the Ass runneth, but it is unpossible for me to tell all the knavery used about this: and therefore thus much shall suffice of the Carne vale, letting you understand, that they who were most knavishly disposed in this sport, on Ash wednesday came to take Ashes in such meek order, as though it had never been they.  
ON Maunde Thursday, the Pope cometh into his Gallery over Saint Peter's, sitting in the Chair wherewith he is carried on men's shoulders: and there he hath a great painted holy Candle in his hand burning, when as a Cardinal on each side of him, the one in Latin, the other in Italian, sigeth the Pope's general malediction.  
There he curseth the Turk, and her Majesty, our most gracious Princess and Governess, 
The Pope's curses will return to himself.  affirming her to be far worse than the Turk, or the cruelest tyrant that is. He curseth likewise all Calvinians, Lutherans, Zwinglians, and all that are not according to his disposition. When he hath cursed all that he can, saying, Amen, he letteth the Candle fall: when as the people will skamble for it, and every one catch a little piece if they can, yea, our English men will be as busy as the best, and one of them chanced to get a piece of the wax of the Candle, whereof he made such a bragging when he came to the College, 
Was this the part of a Subject?  as you will not think, that he had got a piece of the Candle, wherewith the Queen of England was cursed, and that he would keep it so long as he lived.  

The manner of the Flagellante.  The same night a number of the basest people, and most wicked livers that be amongst the people, gather themselves together in companies: as the company of the Holy Ghost, the company of Charity, the company of Death, and such like, every company their Crucifix before them, their singers following them, on either side a number of burning Torches, and thus they go all whipping themselves.  
First they go up into the Pope's Palace, & then down into Saint Peter's Church, which is all adorned with a number of wax lights: and there on the top of an Altar standeth a couple of Cardinals, who showeth them the holy Handkerchief, 
A fine piece of knavery, to deceive the people.  or Vultus sanctus, (which in deed is nothing but a lively painted Picture, overshadowed with a couple of fine Lawns, and no body must desire to see it uncovered, because they say no body is able to endure the brightness of the fare, a number have seen it, and have been the worse a great while after) and all the while that both this, and the Spear head is shown, they will whip themselves before them very grievously, and give a general clamour thorough the Church: Misericordia, Misericordia, Tu autem Domine miserere nobis: and in this order they continue almost the whole night. This is the glory of the Pope, the blindness of the people, and the great folly of our English men, to bring themselves within the compass of such wicked order of life.  
God continue his loving and fatherly countenance over England: bless and preserve her Majesty, and her Honourable Council: and exercise us all in fear to him, obedience to her, and faithful and continual love to our neighbours, Amen.   

A true Report, of the Christian suffering, and merciless martyrdom, of one Richard Atkins, English man, at Room: who for the truth of the Gospel, to the great terror of all the beholders, endured the extremity of the torment, and cruel agony of death, in the year of our Lord. 1581. Chap. 8.  
ABout the time of Midsummer, in the year. 1581. one Richard Atkins, a Hartfoord shire man, came to Room, and having found the English College, he knocked at the door, when as divers of the Students came to welcome him, knowing that he was an English man. Among other talk, they willed him to go to the Hospital, and there to receive his meat and lodging, according as the order was appointed, whereto he answered. I come not (my Countrymen) to any such intent as you judge, 
His council to his Countrymen.  but I come lovingly, to rebuke the great misorder of your lives, which I grieve to hear, and pity to behold. I come likewise to let your proud Antichrist understand, that he doth offend the heavenly Majesty, rob God of his honour, and poisoneth the whole world with his abominable blasphemies: making them homage Stocks and Stones, and that filthy Sacrament, which is nothing else but a foolish Idol.  
When they heard these words, one Hugh Griffin, a Welsh man, and a Student in the College, caused him to be put in the Inquisition: where, how they examined him, and how he answered them, I know not, but after certain days he was set at liberty again.  
And one day going in the street, he met a Priest carrying the Sacrament, which offending his conscience, to see the people so crouch and kneel to it: 
His attempt, to smite down the Sacrament.  he caught at it to have thrown it down, that all the people might see what they worshipped. But missing his purpose, and being judged by the people, that he did catch at the holiness, that (they say) cometh from the Sacrament, upon mere devotion: he was let pass, and nothing said to him.  
Few days after, he came to Saint Peter's Church, where divers Gentlemen & other, were hearing Mass, and the Priest being at the elevation: 
His attempt in S. Peter's Church.  he using no reverence, stepped amongst the people to the Altar, and threw down the Chalice with the Wine, striving likewise to have pulled the Cake out of the Priests hands. For which, divers rose up, and beat him with their fists, and one drew his Rapier, and would have slain him: so that in brief, he was carried to prison, where he was examined, wherefore he committed such an heinous offence: whereto he answered, that he came purposely for that intent, to rebuke the Pope's wickedness, and their Idolatry. Upon this, he was condemned to be burned: which sentence he said, he was right willing to suffer, and the rather, because the sum of his offence, pertained to the glory of God.  
During the time he remained in prison, sundry English men came unto him, 
Our English men's labouring to him, and his persuading them.  willing him to be sorry for that he had done, and to recant from his damnable opinion: but all the means they used were in vain, he confuted their dealings by divers places of Scripture, & willed them to be sorry for their wickedness, while God did permit them time, else they were in danger of everlasting damnation: these words made the English men depart, for they could not abide to hear them.  
Within a while after, he was set upon an Ass, without any saddle, 
His going to execution.  he being from the middle upward naked, having some English Priests with him, who talked to him, but he regarded them not, but spoke to the people in so good language as he could, and told them they were in a wrong way, and therefore willed them for Christ's cause, to have regard to the saving of their souls.  
All the way as he went, there were four did nothing else, but thrust at his naked body with burning Torches: whereat he neither moved nor shrunk one jot, but with a cheerful countenance, laboured still to persuade the people, 
Oh marvelous patience, and Christian boldness.  often bending his body to meet the Torches as they were thrust at him, & would take them in his own hand, and hold them burning still upon his body, whereat the people not a little wundered. Thus he continued almost the space of half a mile, till he came before Saint Peter's, where the place of Execution was. When he was come to the place of Execution, there they had made a devise, not to make the fire about him, but to burn his legs first, which they did, he not dismaying any whit, but suffered all marvelous cheerfully, which moved the people to such a quandary, as was not in Room many a day. Then they offered him a Cross, 
They offered him a Cros to embrace.  and willed him to embrace it, in token that he died a Christian: but he put it away with his hand, telling them, that they were evil men to trouble him with such paltry, when he was preparing himself to God, whom he beheld in Majesty and Mercy, ready to receive him into the eternal rest. They seeing him still in that mind, departed, saying: Let us go, and leave him to the devil, whom he serves. Thus ended this faithful Soldier and Martyr of Christ: who is no doubt in glory with his Master, whereto God grant us all to come. Amen.  
THis is faithfully avouched by the aforesaid john Young, who was at that time, and a good while after in Room, in service with Master Doctor Morton: who seeing the martyrdom of this man, when he came home to his house, in the presence of Master Smithson, Master Creed, and the said john Young his servant, spoke as followeth. Surely, this fellow was marvelous obstinate, he nothing regarded the good council was used to him, nor never shrunk all the way, when the Torches were thrust at his naked body. Beside, at the place of Execution, he did not faint or cry one jot in the fire, albeit they tormented him very cruelly, and burned him by degrees, as his legs first, to put him to the greater pain, yet all this he did but smile at. Doubtless, but that the word of God can be but true, else we might judge this fellow to be of God: for who could have suffered so much pain as he did? but truly I believe the devil was in him.  
Behold (good Reader) how they doubt among themselves, and because they will not speak against their Master the Pope, they infer the mighty power of God, upon the devil: but he no doubt one day will scatter the chaff, & gather his chosen Corn into his Garner. That we may be of this good Corn, let us defy the Pope, his hellish abominations, continue in our duty to God, faithful obedience to her Majesty, and unity among us all as Brethren: and then no doubt but we shall enter the land of the living, to our eternal comfort and consolation.  
FINIS.  
Anthony Monday.  
The Picture herein adjoined, doth lively decipher the order of the martyrdom, of the aforesaid Richard Atkins, at Room.