THE ABUSES OF THE ROMISH CHURCH ANATOMISED. BY A Well-willer to Zion, and to all them that love the Truth in the Truth. Religio a Christo religat Romana: subinde Aes religit; rectos & relegare jubet. Vivere qui sancte cupitis discedite Roma, Omnia cum liceant, non licet esse bonum. LONDON, Printed by Augustine Mathewes, and are to be sold by John Grismand at his Shop in Paul's Alley at the Sign of the Gun. 1623. To the Reader. COurteous Reader, (for so I will style thee, till I find thee contrary) The intolerable abuses of Pole-shorne Popelings, have in all ages heretofore, and are still so great, that many have been animated, (I had almost said enforced) thereby to show themselves in Print, who otherwise never meant it, if they had not been instigated thereto by their abominable Lying, Whoring, Swearing, Blaspheming, Pride, Drunkenness, Covetousness, and the like. I myself am one of this number; I have here published a Book, the first which ever yet set forth, and shall be the last, unless this find kind entertainment. If then (gentle Reader) thou acceptest willingly and lovingly, what thou findest laid down plainly and rudely, the Author will acknowledge himself bound to pleasure thee in what he is able; if otherwise thou play the Critic, carping at every thing, and construing that ill which was intended well, do as thou pleasest, use me as thou wilt, I am Thine as thou usest me, ANONYMUS. THE ABUSES OF THE ROMISH CHURCH ANATOMISED. Their Lying. AVgustus, Emperor of Rome, in the Triumph which he made of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, brought with him to Rome a Priest, of Egypt, aged threescore years, who in all the days of his life never told any lie: In regard whereof the Senate presently ordained that he should be made free, and created Pontifex Maximus: also, that a Statue should be erected for him, and placed amongst those of the most renowned men of all the Ancients. In the days of Claudius, Emperor likewise of Rome, there died a man in Rome named Pamphylus, who never told any matter of truth in all his life time, but evermore had his chief delight in lying, which caused the Emperor to give command, that no grave should be granted to his body, but his goods were confiscated, his house ruined, and his wife and children banished out of Rome, to the end that no memory might remain of so venomous a beast. If the same order were among the Papal Fry still in force, we might hope, that either we should have more Truth-tellers, or fewer I yers: But that custom is now abolished, and this vice of Lying reigns more among these Massemonging Priests, than any people under Heaven: Witness those many lies which they tell of their Saints▪ as for example: Saint Denis the Areopagite, (say-they) took up his head after it was stricken off, and carried it in his hand two miles. They say further, that Saint Bernac turned Oak leaves into loaves, stones into Fishes, water into Wine, and that he sailed over the Sea upon a stone, as an hundred and fifty of joseph of Arimathea's company did upon his son's Shirt, and Friar Herueus upon his Mantle. They go on, and tell you, that Saint Nicholas whilst he lay in his cradle, fasted Wednesdays, and Fridays, on which da●es he would never suck above once. They report moreover, That Bishop Tryan having killed his Cow and his Calf to entertain Saint Patrick and his company, found both of them the next morning feeding in the meadow. They further tell of Saint Dominickes books, how they fell into a River, lay there three days, and so many nights, but were found afterward by a Fisherman, and taken up as dry as a feather. They say farther, that Saint Romuala delivered high points of Divinity as soon as he was borne, and presently after that he was baptised, made a learned Sermon. They deliver also, that Saint Margaret being swallowed by a Dragon, had no sooner made the sign of the Cross; but the Dragon burst asunder, and out she came as sound as a Trout. They say also, that a man who never saw further than the length of his nose, opening Xauiers Tomb, and rubbing his eyes with his hand straightway recovered his sight. Yea, they are not ashamed to affirm, that Ignatius Loyola was rapt up into heaven, and saw the holy Trinity in three Persons, and one Essence, and that God shown him the pattern of the world which he laid before him when he made it. They report also, that Friar Bennet of AreZZe being cast into the Sea in a Tempest, was environed with a little cloud, and carried to the terrestrial Paradise, whom when 〈◊〉, and Elijah saw, they demanded of him what he was? And when they heard he was Saint Francis his brother, they danced for joy, and led him about to show him every corner of Paradise; from whence he was carried back again over the Sea in a little Cloud, which marvelously astonished those that beheld it. They go on still, and would make you believe that one time, whilst Saint Dunston was at his devotion, the Devil looked in at the window, in the shape of a beautiful Damsel, thinking to allure him to lust: but he hating such abominable filthiness, took the said Devil by the nose with a pair of hot tongs. Neither do they here cease, but tell wonders surpassing credit, of Saint Thomas Becket: For they aver, That when Ail●ardus for stealing of a great Whetstone, (which the Author that writes it best deserved) was by sentence of Law deprived of his eyes, and virilities, upon prayer to Saint Thomas, he had all restored again: Yea, even a bird having been taught to speak, flying out of her Cage, and now ready to be seized on by a Sparrow-hawk, said only, Saint Thomas help me, and her enemy fell presently dead, but she escaped, and (belike) reported it: Yea, in his life time the Virgin Mary herself was contented to be his Sempster, and sowed his shirt with red Silk. But these forgeries be only fit for Monks to indite, Children to read, and Fools to believe, invented at the first to deceive poor ignorant people, who cannot perceive this their abominable lying, being nuzzled and fostered all their life long in Ignorance, by a command from his Holiness, lest they should descry their intolerable wickedness. And therefore I will not dwell any longer upon this point, but conclude it with a proof of their Lying: for in the Reign of King Richard the second, King of England, their lying was grown to such a pass, that it was held as good an Argument to reason thus, Hic est Frater, Ergo Mendax, He is a Friar, and therefore a Liar; as to say, Hoc est Album, Ergo coloratum: This thing is white, and therefore coloured. Their Gluttony, and Drunkenness. HItherto we have seen them lying, now let us see them walking like the tops of trees, tossed to and fro with the wind. Let us also view their Gum mandizing and Glttony. That these vices are not wanting in them, is evidently proved by that prayer of theirs to their good Saint Dominicke, which runs thus: Sanctus Dominicus, sis nobis semper amicus, Cui canimus nostro jugiter praeconia rostro, De cordis venis, siccatis ante Lagenis. Ergo tuas laudes, si tu nos pangere gauds, Tempore Paschali, fac ne potu puteali Conueniat uti, namsi fiat, undique muti, Semper erunt fratres, qui nil curant nisi ventres. Take him also for a witness, who saith, If that I must in order tell, What virtues along to Monkish Cell, He is not fit for Cell or Coven, That's not a Glutton and a Sloven, Sluggish, Lecherous, for nought fit, A drunkard, dolt, devoid of wit, He must eat at each Repast, Until his belly well nigh braced: He must guzzell in the wine, Till he be drunken as a Swine. And if he can but chant it well, This man is fit for Quire or Cell. And him who saith of them, O Monachi Stomachi vestri sunt amphora Bacchi, Vos estis, Deus est testis, turpissima pestis. Take his testimony likewise, who saith of their Monks: Si prandet, competit ut loqui nesciat, Ne lingua dentium opus impediat: Si bibit, expedit ut bibens hauriat, Ne pes sub pondere ventris deficiat. Die devotus adorat dolia, Nocte cum bipede laborat bestia, Tali discrimine, tali molestia, Meretur vir Dei Regna Caelestia. But because I will not be too tedious in so plain a case as this is, I will conclude this point also, with that Epigram which was made upon Saint Anthony, the Saint for Swine: Diceris Antoni porcos pavisse subulcus Vivus; adhuc Monachos luminecassus alis. Par stupor ingenij est, ventrisque abdomen utrisq Sorde pari gaudent, ingluvieque pari. Nec minus hoc brutum genus est, matumue suillo Nec minus insipidum, nec minus illepidum. Cetera conveniunt, sed non levis error in uno est Debuerat Monachis glans cibus esse tuis. Englished. Once fedst thou Anthony an herd of Swine, And now an heard of Monks thou feedest still, For wit and gut alike they both have been, Both do love filth alike: both like to fill The greedy paunch alike: nor is that kind More beastly sottish, swinish than the last, All else agree, one fault I only find, Thou feedest not thy Monks with Oaken Mast. Thus much for their Gluttony and Drunkenness. Their Lechery. AFter Gluttony and Drunkenness, follow necessarily Lechery and wantonness: and therefore seeing we have proved them immeasurable Drunkards, we may also conclude, that they are intolerable licentious, and extremely addicted to the lust of the flesh. And that they are in this vice nothing inferior, or less expert, then in their Lying, or Drunkenness, the many bones of children found about Monasteries, may be a sufficient witness: yet that we may not be deficient in examples, take these as witnesses of their Fornicating: An abbottess in Lombardie rising hastily from a Priest, (with whom she had laid that night) to take a Nun with her Paramour, put on the Priest's Breeches, in stead of her Veil, upon her head, which the poor Nun perceiving, desired her first to tie the strings of her Coif, and then to speak. The abbottess perceiving her error, changed the copy of her countenance, and departed. Take another example or two. A certain Franciscan in a Town of Perigrod at the marriage of his Hosts daughter, caused meat to be served into his Chamber, for himself and his fellow Friar, making scruple to sit at the Table with the rest of the Guests, yet made no Conscience after Supper to go to bed with the Bride in humility, taking the same pains with her in charity, which he knew the Bridegroom meant to take: Yea, even their holy Saints, whom so religiously they adore, are not free from this vice, which we may prove by the Tale of that Nun, who having a sore thigh, besought Saint Dominicke, that she might be restored to her limbs again; Falling asleep, she thought she saw Saint Dominicke close by her, taking from under his Cope a strong smelling Ointment, wherewith he anointed her thigh. And when she asked him what it was, he told her, that it was called, The Ointment of Lone: which we may understand to be the private familiarity which was betwixt them. In the time of Pope Paulus the third, the number of Whores which were in his Register, amounted to forty and five thousand; and yet this was but a small number, compared with that which was before this Pope's time. His Holiness himself is many times given to this vice, as we may perceive by the Epitaph of Pope Alexander the sixth his daughter, which runs after this manner: Conditur hoc tumulo, Lucretia nomine, sed re, Thais: Alexandri filia, sponsa, nurus. Englished thus. Here lies Lucrece in name, Thais in life, The Pope's child and spouse, and yet his own sons wife. If then the Popes be thus, how can we expect that his Cardinals should be better? Surely they are as ill as their Master: Witness the Pope's holy Cardinal, johannes Cremensis, who being sent by Honorius the second hither into England, in the days of King Henry the first, to redress the sinne-seeming abuse of the Clergy, in retaining and using according to Gods own Ordinance, the society of their wives; upon the birth day of the blessed Virgin, made a solemn Oration in praise of Virginity and Chastity, with a terrible Inuective against married Priests; and to amplify their sin the more, he shown what extreme impiety it was to rise from the bed of unlawful lust, (for so was their chaste marriage termed) and with polluted hands to touch the Sacrament of the Body of Christ, but the same night following, he having that very day consecrated that holy Sacrament, was himself taken with a whore. If the Pope's Holiness, and his reverend Cardinals be thus wicked, we cannot expect that the Minorites, or petty five farthing Friars should be any whit better? If the root be unsound, how can the branches flourish? Assuredly they follow the steps of their Superiors, as in all other vices, so in this of Lechery more especially, witness him who saith: Proh dolour? hos tolerare potest Ecclesia porcos Duntaxat ventri, Veneri, somnoque vacantes? Witness also him who saith of their holy Fathers in general: Noctu filium veneris agitant in cubili, Mane filium Virgins sacrificant in Altari Nocte Venerem amplexantur, Mane Virginem venerantur. Take his testimony also, who saith of them: You jacobines, Carmelies, Cordeliers, You Augustine's, and all you fornicating Friars, How came you by the ghostly father's names: For under the Crucifix and high Altars, You are wont to get us sons and daughters, In kind acquaintance with our ghostly Dames. But lest they should say, that these testimonies have been devised by men of our Profession, to disgrace them and theirs let us hear what Mantuan, one of their own Sect saith of them: I pudor in villas si non patiuntur easdem, Et villae vomicas; Roma est jam tota Lupaner. And another of their own Profession witnesseth, that the first prey which Soldiers sought for when they entered any Town, was Priests Lemen: But this their Lechery was dear bought and well paid for; when Mounsieur d' Avanchi a French man, admitted two Franciscans into his Castle, made them good Cheer, and to make an end of their kind entertainment: He told them he would pleasure either of them with his pretty wench. They refusing his kind offer at the first, he requested them to make bold with him, telling them withal, that he well considered they were but flesh and blood as other men were. In the end he locked them all into a chamber together, and returning thither about an hour after, he asked them how they had done; and understanding that they had not been idle: O wicked Hypocrites, said he, is this the way to overcome temptation? and having so said, he stripped them as naked as my nail, and having whipped them as long as himself and men could lay on load, he sent them away all naked as they were, to teach them to fight another time more valiantly against such temptations, or not to give them the encounter. One of Marquis Berengers Chaplains also in Italy paid dear for his pleasure, when being taken and stripped naked for playing naught with his Mistress, he lost that part wherewith he offended: Let this suffice to have spoken of their lewd, and licentious living. Their Covetousness. But are they clear or free from Covetousness? nothing less. Witness their wand'ring from place to place, and craving the benevolence of those people, whom they fare exceed in wealth: Witness also that ancient Distich. Est nullum Monacho majus Daemonium, Nihil avarius, nil magis varium. Cui si quid datur est possessor omnium, Si quicquam petitur, nil habet proprium. Witness likewise that Epigram. Curia vult marcas, bursas exhaurit & arcas, Si Bursae parcas, fuge Papas & Patriarchas: Si dederis marcas, et jis impleveris arcas, Culpa solveris, quamque ligatus eris. And this. — Venalia Romae, Templa, sacerdotes, altaria, sacra, coronae, Ignis, thura, preces, Caelum est venale, Deusque. Englished. Priests, Churches, Altars, holy things, Prayers, frankincense and Crowns of Kings: Yea Heaven and God himself for gold, At Rome is to be bought and sold. And that, Intus quis? tu quis? ego sum, quid quaeris? ut intrem, Fers aliquid? non, sta, fero, quid? satis intra. Witness also that made of Pope Alexander the sixth. Vendit Alexander claves, altaria, Christum, Emerat ille priùs, vendere jure potest. Englished, Christ, Altars, Keys, doth Alexander sell, Why should he not? for why, they cost him well. When King Henry the first his Ambassador, told the Pope that his Master would not lose his right in the Investitures of the Church for the loss of his Kingdom. The Pope answered, I will not suffer him to enjoy them without punishment, no not for the saving of my head. This made one brand them with this mark, that the clemency of the Papal See is never wanting to any so long as the Red and the White make intercession for them. Their Avarice may also be seen in their Indulgences, Pardons, Maggot-eaten Relics, Paxes, Crucifixes, Trentals, Dirges, Pictures of Saints, Bulls, hallowed Beans, Holy water, Exorcisms, and a thousand such fables and babbles, which were too long and too wearisome a task to relate, all which are invented for no other end and purpose, but by drawing money from the poor Ignorants, to fill and stuff the Pope's Coffers. We may also call to witness their covetousness, that best Fire in the Pope's Kitchen, Purgatory, which was found out for nothing else, but that poor people not knowing any thing to the contrary, might give lands and liuings to these Massemonging Priests, to the end that they by saying so many Masses, Dirges, Aue Maries, and the like for their souls, might rid them out of that (as they think) fearful place. I will conclude this point with that of the Poet: — Heu Romae, nunc sola pecunia regnat. Their Blasphemy. Here my hair startles, and my Pen is even ready to fall out of my hand, considering the many execrable and abominable blasphemies which their hearts have conceived, their mouths uttered, yea, and their hands committed to writing: to such a height are they grown of impiety, abusing and wresting Scriptures (like a nose of wax) to their own ends, and applying those things to themselves, which were meant of Christ. Alexander the third having commanded the Emperor Frederick to prostrate himself, and ask him pardon for his offences; the Emperor kneeled: This gentle Pope, setting his foot upon his throat, or (as some say) upon his neck, most blasphemously applied those words to himself, which were understood of Christ, It is written, Thou shalt walk upon the Asp and the Basilisk, the young Lion and the Dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet. The Emperor highly offended for this contempt, answered, I do not this to thee, but to Saint Peter. The Pope treading upon him the second time, said, Et mihi, & Petro, Both to me and to Saint Peter. Pope Leo the tenth hearing one of his Cardinals preach, who choosed his Text out of the New Testament, burst forth into these execrable blasphemous words, O what great Riches have we got by this Fable of Christ? Pope Julius the third loving a Peacock very well, and missing it one time from his Table, asked where it was? Answer was made, That his Physicians had given charge he should eat none, because it was prejudicial to his health. He being most blasphemously bend, presently replies, Fetch me my Peacock, Ce dispetto de Dio. When his Cardinals, and other followers besought him not to be so angry, he still persevers in his impiety, and answers them, If God were so angry for an Apple, as that he cast our first parents out of Paradise, why may not I who am his Vicar, be thus angry for a Peacock, which is a greater matter than an Apple. A Priest of Lorraine holding a Pixe or box full of vnconsecrated singing Cakes, (as they term them) shuffled them together, saying, Ye little Whoresons, ye little Whoresons, which of you will be God to day? One praying to our Lady holding her young Babe in her arms, (whom so religiously they adore and worship) and having received such an answer as pleased him not, by one that stood behind the Image, and judging by the voice that it was the Child that spoke, said, Hold your peace, and let your Mother speak, who is wiser than you. Yea, they are not content thus blasphemously to abuse God and his divine Word, but they must boast also of this their wickedness. And are not (I pray you) their prayings to Saints, yea worse than that, to stocks and stones, so many blasphemies against Gods sacred Majesty? Is it not a most execrable blasphemy, to make our Lady equal, yea, above our Saviour? making him but a half, yea, no Saviour at all. If this be not Blasphemy in the highest degree, I would gladly know what it is? But let them take heed, and consider with whom they have to do, when thus they mock GOD, even with him whose eyes cannot behold Iniquity, but will repay the committers thereof. This sin of Blasphemy hath he in all ages punished in the highest degree. Witness Lucius, a notorious blasphemer of Christ's Divinity, who was devoured with dogs. Arrius had such a looseness of belly, that he voided his Entrails. Lewes the eleventh, King of France, beholding certain Tennisplayers, with his wife, amongst other talk, said, He hoped to do nothing hereafter which should offend GOD: which words were no sooner out of his mouth, but he fell down speechless, and languishing a few hours, died in the same place. Sophocles writeth, That before Aiax went to the Siege of Troy, his father counselled him to fight valiantly, but withal, to pray to GOD for Victory, whereto Aiax answered, Adiutore Deo, vel ignavus vincere potest, Ego sine Deo. And therefore God smote him with a Frenzy, so that he went about the field, slaying the silly Sheep and Cattles, supposing that they had been his enemies; and when this was done, he kills himself on the point of his own Sword. One in an Inn laughing at those which spoke of Christ, offered to sell his soul for a cup of Wine: one having bought it off him, the Devil being among them like a Swaggerer, bought it at the second hand, and then making challenge of his Bargain, hurried him away with him in the air, after which time he was never seen. Certain Gamesters at Mantua breaking forth into blasphemy against our blesse● Saviour, their eyes fell on the Table. And a child at Rome not above five years of age, blaspheming the Name of God, was carried away by the Devil, from between his parents arms. And a Mariner at Ragouse, most fearfully tearing and rending GOD asunder with his bloody Oaths, fell into the Sea, and was not seen, till certain days after, that he was found on the Shore, where his Body was taken up entire and whole, the Tongue only excepted. And that I may not be too tedious in a point so evident, we may see it in the two Pope's , Leo the tenth and julius the third; the first of which being over-ioyed for a Victory received against the French, reveled three days and so many nights together, and then died with Drunkenness: The latter of them came most miserably to a shameful end. Seeing then this sin never escapes unpunished, what hope can these Blasphemers have? Do they think God is not so just, or more merciful than heretofore he hath been? Or do they think he sleeps, or winks, and will not see their impiety? It is blasphemy to think either. Let them therefore either amend, or else look for the like, or more fearful judgement. But I have been (I fear) too long in this point, and therefore I will conclude it with that of the Poet Virgil. Discite justiam moniti, & non temnere Divos. Their Pride. THat the pride of these Pedlars of Relics is no less, than their forenamed Vices, may sufficiently appear, if we consider the many Titles, which that great Vicar, (as he styles himself) of Christ, arrogates to himself, setting himself above Kings and Emperors, making them to hold his Stirrup; yea, even to put their necks as a Footstool for him to tread upon, putting on Crowns with his foot, and casting them down with it again as soon as put on, and making Kings, with their Wives and their Children, to stand three days together at his Gate barefoot and bare-legged, and there to wait till his Holiness be pleased to give them absolution. Their Triple-Crowne also is no less an Argument of their pride, as is also their challenging to themselves both Ecclesiastical and Temporal Authority: Even Lucifer himself is not more proud than is his Holiness, who holds out his foot to be kissed by the greatest Monarches: One time as he was stretching it out to be kissed by an Emperor, a Spaniel got hold of it, and bitten it: And therefore his Holiness lost the Reverence at that time, which should have been done unto him, because the Emperor refused to kiss that place which a Dog had bitten. But they will tell you perhaps, that this reverence is not done to them, but to the Cross which is set upon his Shroe: But this argues a great deal more pride, in that they dare put so sacred a thing (as they hold the Cross to be) upon their shoe, which seems to be but a contemptible, and vile place, and not rather in some more eminent part of the body, as Head, breast, or the like. Their being carried on men's shoulders, as though the ground were not good enough for them to tread upon, is a most manifest argument, that this Vice doth reign in them, and yet (forsooth) the whole World must be guided by them, and submit themselves to their commands: They must be supreme Bishops, chief Lords, greatest Comptrollers of States; and either all men must obey, and stoop at their beck, or else out comes a Bull presently to excommunicate them, as lately it did against our late Queen, now Saint Elizabeth, in which they pronounce her an Heretic, and an Alien from the Commonwealth of Israel. Each Five-farthing Shaveling must be reverenced and observed as if he were some great man. One of their Profession, a Cardinal, made a Feast to Eleanor of Arragon, wherein were so many several sorts of meats, and dainty Dishes, that it lasted for the space of seven hours: and lest his Guests should have been wearied, he caused sundry Plays to be acted, whilst they were at the Table. And to make his pride complete, he caused every Servitor at every new Course, to come in a new Suit. Yet all this is nothing to the pride he shown to his Concubine Tiresia, for he kept her publicly in such sumptuous manner, that her very Shoes were set full of Pearls and precious Stones. Yet these men must be accounted the only Meek, Humble, Gentle, and Courteous men upon earth: but if these things I have reckoned up, savour any thing of humility, let any equal Arbitrator be judge: for mine own part, I cannot see that any humble man will exalt himself above his Superiors, as the Pope doth. When Augustine the Monk was sent into Britain from Rome, to teach the Britain's Christianity, it is written, that the Britons went first to a certain holy and wise man, (which lived an Anchorites life) to ask his counsel, whether they ought at Austin's Preaching and exhortation to leave their Traditions or not? The Anchorite replies, If he be a man of God, follow him. But how shall we prove (say they) that he is a man of God? The Anchorite answered, If he be mild and humble of heart, than he is a man of God; If cursed and proud, he is not of GOD, neither must you much esteem his words. They inquire how they might know, whether he were proud or no? If (quoth he) when you come near him, he arise courteously, and salute you, then think him to be a Servant of Christ, and so hear him and obey him: if he despise you, and will not vouchsafe to rise at your presence, let him likewise be despised of you. They go to him, where they find him set in his Chair, but stirred not: which when they saw, forthwith waxing wroth, they noted him of Pride; and therefore endeavoured to thwart and gainsay whatsoever he proposed: and so the preaching of the Gospel was put off, till a man of better temper should come. Thus in part have we seen the pride and the arrogancy of these Shavelings, in some small manner laid open to the world, but I may say as Virgil said in an other case: Non mihi si centum linguae sint oraque centum Ferrea vox, etc. Though I had a thousand mouths, and every mouth so many tongues; though I had a Stentorian voice, which would never fail, yet were I not able to reckon up the one half of their pride. Their wickedness in general. LET us now speak a little of their wickedness in general, and so an end: And nrst concerning their Demy-God the Pope: When Leo the tenth was reproved by certain of his Cardinals for his lose and wicked life, he answered, If I be wicked, I may thank you for it: for you made me such a one as I am. They demanding of him what he meant thereby, he answers, Because you made me Pope: for it is not possible to be both a Pope and an honest man. When certain asked Pasquin, what injury had been done him, because he looked not after his accustomed manner; hath any man called thee Thief, Murderer, Poisoner, or the like? He answered, Oh no, but they have calleon me worse. What? hath any man called thee Sacrilegious person, or Buggerer, Parricide, or Atheist? Oh no, (saith he) but they have called me worse. In the end, being often requested to utter his grief, breathing out many sighs, with, Alas, Alas, he said, they had called him POPE. The same Pasquin made this Epigram, or (if thou wilt) Epitaph upon this word Pope. Hic Carapha jacet, superis invisus & imis, Styx animam, tellus putre cadaver habet. Inuidit pacem terris, Dijs vota precesque, Impius & Clerum perdidit & populum. Hostibus infensis supplex, infidus amicis. Scire cupis paucis cetera? PAPA fuit. Hildebrand poisoned seven or eight Popes, that he might come to the Popedom. Pope Joan was taken for Pope john, till she was delivered of her great belly; since which time they have gotten a bottomless Chair, through which they were wont to search the Pope's humanity. But now they have left that Custom, having given sufficient testimony of their virility before they come to ascend the Papal Throne. Pope Boniface (as I take it) the eighth, crept in like a Fox, reigned like a Wolf, and died like a Dog. Thus much for the Head, let us now descend a little lower, and search if the members be any whitt better, and we shall find them sympathize all with the Head: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: If the head be unsound, the whole body must needs be ill at ease. If the Pope's Holiness be thus wicked, the people whom they hold to be altogether unholy, must needs be fare worse. They will Swear, Forswear, Curse, Blaspheme, Fornicate, Kill, Dare to do any villainy; and why? His Holiness doth it, and why not we? That which is good for him, cannot be hurtful to us: and therefore we will do it: If need be, we can go to him, and get a Pardon, and when we have done, sin again, and get a Pardon; and at our death give but so much to a devout Monk, to say so many Dirges, and chant so many Masses, and we shall be in as happy an estate as the best. Hence come those many Powder-plots, Poisons, Poyniards, Guns, Inquisitions, Croysadoes, Racks, and a thousand more such devilish things, invented by the Pope and his Monks, and put in practice by your Laiety. But Oh poor souls, why do you suffer yourselves to be thus seduced and misled by the Devil in the likeness and shape of a man? Look but narrowly with the eye of discretion into his actions, and you shall see how you are deceived: Weigh our two Religions in an equal balance, and see if yours be not too light. Think upon that Epigram: Esse Lutheranum rumorte Gaurice clamat, Sed tuus Antistes te tamen esse negat. Tam scortaris (ait) quam si vel Episcop us esses, Et potus dubium pervigit usque diem. Nec memor es Christi, nisi cum jurare libeb it, Nec sis Scripturae vel breve jotu sacrae. Nempe per haec suevit numquam fallentia signa, Ille vigill sanas noscere pastor oves. Hear you may see the difference between the two Religions, whether of them swears, blasphemes, curses, whores, drinks, revels, and the like, and whether of them fears to do these things; judge of them, and as you find them, so follow them. Let us now speak a little of their holy Fathers. Hear what one saith of their Cardinals: Semiviros quicunque patres radiante galero, Conspicis & rubrae syrmata longa togae. Crede mihi nullo saturatas murice vestes, Divite nec cocco pallia tincta vides. Sed quae rubra vides, Sanctorum caede virorum Et mersa insonti tota cruore madent. Aut memor istorum quae celet crimina vestis, Pro Dominis justo tacta pudore rubet. Another speaking of their Priests, saith, that they are Angeli Sathanae per discordiam, Angeli Apostatici per superbiam, Angeli Jncubi per Luxuriam, Angeli Abyssi per Auaritiam: And another sayeth of their Monks: Credibile est Circen, mutasse potentibus herbis. In Monachosque Sues, inque Sues Monachos. Englished. It's like that Circe with her Spells divine, Hath turned Swine to Monks, and Monks to Swine. Fulco a French Priest coming to King Richard the first, told him he had three very bad daughters, which he wished him to bestow away from him in marriage, or else God's wrath would attend him. When the King denied he had any daughter, the Priest answered, Yes, thou hast three Daughters, Pride, Covetousness, and Lechery. The King apprehensive of his meaning, replied, My Pride I bequeath to the haughty Templars and Hospitallers, who are as proud as Lucifer himself: My Covetousness I give to the White Monks of Cisteaux Order, for they covet the Devil and all. And as for my Lechery, I can bestow it no where better, then on the Priests and Prelates of our times, for therein have they their most felicity. These proud, conetous, Lecherous, oppressing Friars and Monks did so domineer in England in the Reign of King Henry the third, that a Cardinal told the Pope, that England was to the Pope like Balaams' Ass, which being so often veronged, spurre-galled, and cudgeled, it was no marvel if at the length she opened her mouth to complain: And as for themselves and their Roman Court, they were like unto Ishmael, every man's hand was against them, and theirs against every man. In the same King's Reign, Edmund Archbishop of Canterbury weary of his life here in his own Country of England, by reason that he could not redress nor suppress the Pope's detestable exactions, and oppressions, made choice of a voluntary exile at Pountney in France, where he died with the honour and opinion of a Saint. A Senator of Rome said to Sylla, that vaunted of himself in the Senate: How can you be a good man, that having little or nothing left you by you father, yet in so short a time are become exceeding rich? So may we say to the Pope's Holiness, vaunting and boasting, that he is above Kings and Emperors, How can you be a good man, who having (as you pretended) little or nothing, but went about begging the benevolence of good charitable people, yet now are raised to that honour and dignity, that you set yourselves above your Superiors? And we may say of all Papists in general, That they arrogate to themselves the glorious name of Catholics, and brand their opposites with the odious name of Heretics, as certain Heathen in old time called themselves Deists, and all men else Atheists: and as the Turk at this day, who will needs be the true Muselman, and all the world beside Pagans. But this their Catholic Religion, is nothing but Catholic corruption: and Catholic Papists, Catholic Heretics. I will now draw towards a Conclusion, give me leave only to speak a little of Rome, and so an end: In ancient times, M. Aurelius said of Rome, that it was the head of vices: O Rome without Rome, which now art become Stews of vices: not without tears (quoth he) I say, that there was never any Roman Captain, that killed ten thousand Asians, with the weapons he brought into Asia, but he lost an hundred thousand Romans with the vices they brought to Rome. Thy walls are carried a great height, but thy virtues very low: She braggeth of the number of her Inhabitants, but may rather weep, that her vices be more without comparison; In one month a man may number the stones of her stately Buildings, but not in many years her lewd manners. O cursed Rome, cursed thou hast been, art, and wilt be: As by thy Tyranny thou hast made thyself Lady of Lords, so the time will come, when thou with justice shalt return to be Servant of Servants. The like Sentence another gave of Rome, who told the Senators, that he came out of strange Countries only to see Rome, and now he found it without Rome: If my judgement (saith he) deceive me not, either these be not Romans of Rome, or else this is not Rome of the Romans. This was Rome in ancient time, and that it is still the same, may sufficiently appear by those abuses of the Inhabitants thereof afore mentioned: And therefore I think I may safely conclude with that Distich of the Poet: Roma vale, vidi, satis est vidisse, revertar Cum Leno, aut meretrix, scurra, cynaedus ero. Englished. Now farewell Rome, I have thee seen, It is enough to see, I will return when as I mean Bawd, Scoffer, Whore and Rogue to be. FINIS.