A BRIEF AND LEARNED TREATISE, containing a true description of the Antichrist, who was foretold by the Prophets and Apostles.  
AND AN EVIDENT PROOF that the same agreeth unto the Pope.  
WRITTEN IN LATIN BY M. George Sohn Doctor of Divinity, and public professor thereof at Heidelberg, And translated into english.  
Printed at Cambridge by JOHN LEGATE.  
1592.   

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❧ TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE AND VIRTUOUS Lady, Katherine Countess of Huntingdon, his especial good Lady, Grace and peace in Christ jesus.  
RIght Honourable Lady: whosoever is engrafted into the body of Christ, and duly considereth the manifold stratagems of the old serpent, and his wicked instruments, must needs be moved with mutual compassion, to pity their estate, and with all ability received from God, to prevent their subtleties, and to hinder their malicious proceed. For if Satan continually do compass the earth like a roaring lion, seeking to devour: if his children (having their father's nature) do compass sea & land, to withdraw from the faith: if both children and father, with all his angels of darkness, do transform themselves into Angels of light, to deceive ifit were possible, he very elect: how much more ought we to regard our brethren, the children of God, lest they become the children of Hell, be devoured of the great àragon, and be drawn to have pleasure in unrighteousness, and to worship the beast. Behold how they hazard their goods, their lands, their liberty, and their lives, and being, as it were, inflamed with the fire of hell, they come amongst us to set on fire the Temple and city of our God, to burn up the corn, the olives, and the vineyard of the Lord of hosts; that is to say, more plainly; these Romish and Rhemish foxes endeavour by all means to poison our youth with the leaven of popish opinions, to confirm the aged in their old superstitions, and to withdraw all men as well from the holy service of Christ, as from their loyal obedience to their gracious sovereign. Therefore it is full time, that we should all say with the spouse in the Can. Take us the foxes, not only the greatest, but even the little foxes which destroy our vines: and further to afford all that little help we can, for the quenching of these Antichristian firebrands. This moved the author of this treatise, * 
Doctor Sohn public professor of Divinity at Heidelberg. The matter of this book.  as divers other very godly and learned men, to write divers books for the benefit of the Church: amongst which, this seemeth very worthy both his pains of writing, and our diligence in reading thereof. For here is delivered a aplain and sound description of Antichrist, and the same so mightily applied and surely fastened upon the Pope, that he must either change his nature, which is unpossible, or else be enfolded within this conclusion, The Pope is Antichrist. Here he is most lively painted forth unto you by his name, qualities, and progeny: by his doctrine, miracles, and authority: by his life, his habitation, and the time of his revelation, continuance, and utter destruction: here the doctrine of Christ is opposed to that of Antichrist, and sound confirmed, not with the weak reed of human constitutions, nor with the sand of man's traditions and authority, but with the sacred rock of Christ, his Apostles, Evangelists, and Prophets: so that though the winds blow, and the rain fall, and the floods be at, and the gates of hell be opened against the same, yet it shall not fall: for it is grounded upon this rock, The word of the Lord endureth for ever.  
Therefore who soever pleaseth to see the truth of this great controversy, may within few hours know (and that out of the word of God) what we ought to judge concerning the Pope; namely that he is Antichrist. Whereupon it will follow, that as the Babylon of Antichrist is not the jerusalem of Christ, nor the religion of the beast, the worship of the Lamb: so the Popish Church is not Bethel but Beth-auen, not the Church of Christ but the synagogue of Satan: and the religion of the Pope, is not the religion of Christ, but the superstitious homage of the cursed beast. So that it cannot be but a lewd practice of them, who endeavour to make an union of two religions, 
No union of the two religions.  which differ in themselves as light and darkness, who do altogether forget that heavenly voice, Revel. 18. 4. Go out of her my people, that ye be not partakers in her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.  
Now that many may be benefited by this learned treatise, being earnestly entreated and greatly urged by a good friend of mine: I have adventured to express my author's meaning, after a plain manner in our own language, and to commit the same to the blessing of God, and the friendly acceptation of the Christian Reader.  
And these my first fruits of this kind, I am bold to dedicate unto your Honour, most Honourable Lady, beseeching you to accept of this as of a small, yet a public testimony of my bounden duty, thankful remembrance, and hearty affection, which I can not any way express, but do entirely bear toward your Honour, and the rest of your most Honourable name and alliance. Whose Honourable favour and goodness, (the fruit of true faith, sincere love, and pure religion) as it hath been comfortable to many of God's children, and especially vouchfafed to my Father, myself, and other friends, so is it a work which God himself will regard and reward in mercy, with an immortal crown of everlasting glory: Who keep, direct, and bless your Honour, with the right Honourable my good Lord, and all yours in Christ jesus, that being furnished with all spiritual graces and temporary benefits, needful for this life and the life to come, you may continually walk in the ways of righteousness, and enjoy at the length the incomprehensible joys of the kingdom of heaven, the end of your hope, the salvation of your souls, through Christ jesus.  
Amen.  
Your Honour's most humble bounden in the Lord. N. G.   

THE POPE OF Rome is that Antichrist OF WHOM THE Prophets and Apostles have Prophesied.  
Having heretofore discoursed concerning Christ, that is, the person, the office, and the estate of Christ; we will now entreat concerning Antichrist: that the glory of Christ may be somewhat the better understood: because, that (according to the common saying) Things contrary appear more evidently by their comparison.  
Antichrist in general is he, who 
The definition of Antichrist in general.  doth any way oppose himself to the doctrine of Christ, whom in word he professeth to follow: or, who doth oppugn Christ, under the name and pretence of Christ: for thus he is described unto us, 1. joh. 2. 18. & v. 22. Chap. 4. v. 3. & 2. joh. 7.  
Antichrist is of two kinds: for 
There be two kinds of Antichristes.  either he is adversary only to one part of the doctrine of Christ, or else almost to the whole body thereof.  
Of the first sort are all heretics, which have been ever since the Apostles 
1  times, and yet continue unto this day: as were Cerinthus, Valentinus, Martion, Sabellius, Arius, Nestorius, Eutiches, Pelagius, and the rest: who have opposed themselves against either the person, or office of Christ: and of this kind speaketh 1. joh. 1. 2, 18.  
Of the second kind is some one 
2  notable and principal adversary of Christ, who is called Antichrist, by way of primacy, superiority, or principality: and unto whom the Antichristes, which are of the former sort, have only (as it were his forerunners) paved and prepared the way 2. Thes. 2. 7. 1. joh. 4. 3.  
6 And what this Antichrist is, and who he should be, is now chiefly to be inquired, because at this present, the controversy betwixt us and the Papists concerneth him: wherein we will especially declare, what is that which we defend.  
Now let it not seem strange to any, that we do somewhat dissent from some of the ancient fathers in former times. For before such time, as Antichrist was come into the world, and before he was revealed: the interpretation of that prophecy, which was not then fulfilled, was very hard. But now seeing he is come into the world, and remaineth and reigneth in the same: in so much, that the event & the experience of the thing itself, is very answerable to the prophecies of the Prophets and Apostles: it is more easy to determine thereof.  
First therefore, this Antichrist (who is so termed by the way of excellency, both in the scripture and in the writings of the fathers) is also called by other 
The names of Antichrist.  names in the holy scripture: namely, The man of sin, the son of perdition, the Adversary: Abaddon, Apollyon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: the king of Locusts: the beast: the whore: the dragon: the false prophet: the Angel of the deep, and such like, as ye may find in the 2. Thessalonians and the second chapter: as also in the Revelation. Furthermore, there have been, as it were, certain Types or figures of him in the old Testament: 
The types.  as namely, Antiochus Epiphanes, by whom Daniel describeth Antichrist (whose Prophecy extendeth even to these last days) and divers other, who were the principal and capital enemies of the ancient Church, and people of God, Zachar. 11. v. 15, 16, 17, etc.  
But thus he is defined in the Scripure: to wit, that he is a man, 
The description of Antichrist in special.  who usurpeth a kingdom, who professeth the name of Christ, but yet opposeth himself unto Christ, and to the doctrine of Christ, who hath a double authority, and both of them supreme: the one spiritual or ecclesiastical, the other civil or secular, who vaunteth of himself as God, with signs, and miracles, (though altogether false and deceitful) he is an idolater, an hypocrite, a blasphemer, he is ambitious, proud, and not under law, he is a single man, and unmarried, but yet a filthy fornicator: he refraineth from certain meats, but yet aboundeth with all excess, riot, and deliciousness: he is covetous, crafty, vain, false, and cruel: who after the ruin and division of the fourth I mean the Roman) Monarchy, by little and little arising, even out of the rubbish and relics thereof, is to be situated at Rome, even in the Temple of God (that is, in the Church) by the power and effectual operation of Satan: finally, he is to be revealed in the last times of the world, and at the length to be utterly abolished at the glorious coming and appearance 
The declaration of the description.  of Christ jesus. This is the definition or description of that Antichrist: which we will briefly declare by testimony of the scriptures.  
Wherefore to prove that this Antichrist is a man, the scripture witnesseth it, 2. Thes. 2. 3. Dan. 7. 6. where he is very expressly called a man. 
A man.   
And that he is not simply any one person alone, nor any particular or singular man, but one sort or kind of men, which (as one man, or as a certain order, or company and state of 
A kingdom or state.  men) governeth and executeth the authority of the kingdom, it appeareth plainly in the 2. Thess. 2. 3. Dan. 7. 8. Revel. 17. 1. & 18. 3. In which places in truth, this Antichrist is described, not as any one person or particular man, & (as the Logicians speak) an Individuum: but as a corporation of men, and 
That is, a proper and singular person, as Leo, Pius, john, Gregory.  as it were, a certain kingdom: wherein yet, there is alway some one, who excelleth and ruleth over the rest, who setteth his own mark upon them, Revel. 13. 17. For first Paul mentioneth an Apostasy, that is, a general departure, & revolting from the faith, which indeed maketh one body or corporation, and one kingdom: this is a matter which can not be effected suddenly, but requireth many years thereunto. Further he proveth very clearly, that the mystery of iniquity, should be compounded and consist of many errors, & grow by little and little. thirdly he affirmeth, that the kingdom should continue and endure a long space, to wit, until it should be utterly abolished, by the coming of the Lord at the end of the world.  
This kingdom is signified by the cruel beast and by Babylon, Revel. 13. 11. & 18 Chapter, as Irenaeus witnesseth in his fift book, and the thirteenth chapter: and Jerome is of the same mind; and Augustine in his 20 book De Civitate Dei, and the 19 chapter. Beda also and divers others did see the same. Further it is signified by many waters, Revel. 17. 1. And john speaketh of the chief and principal citizens, and subjects of his kingdom, saying after this manner, There shallbe Locusts, having upon their heads crowns like to gold. Revel. 9 3, 7. And again, there shall be three unclean spirits proceeding out of his mouth. Revel. 16. 13. Finally, all both great and small, rich and poor, bond and free, shall receive the mark of the beast in their right hands, and in their foreheads, Revel. 13. 16.  
Further, that which followeth, that he is adversary to Christ, that he 
Adversary to Christ.  denieth him in deed, whom in word he professeth, and that he corrupteth almost all the doctrine of Christ, or at the least defendeth very stoutly the revolting from the doctrine of Christ, (for which very cause he is an Archhereticke, or rather, the Patriarch and prince of heretics) is witnessed by the Prophet Daniel chap. 7. ver. 25. saying, He shall speak words against the most High. And by Saint Paul 1. Thess. 2. 3. Where he foretelleth, that there should be first are volting before that the Antichrist should come: Adding further, that Antichrist should sit in the temple of God: that is, in the Christian Church. For although Antichrist profess himself a friend and disciple unto Christ, yet shall he set himself against Christ, as it were in the name of Christ, or under colour and pretence of the profession of Christianity: That is more plainly thus: Though he do not openly oppugn and resist the doctrine of Christ, but maketh profession thereof, reserving both the titles and names: yet shall he bring impiety into the room of the doctrine of piety, which he dissembleth, and shall draw men by little and little, out of the King's high way of faith, by his ordinations and traditions. And of this judgement is Hilary, who thus writeth against Auxentius: He shallbe contrary unto Christ, under the show of preaching the Gospel: that our Lord jesus Christ may then be denied, when men suppose that he is preached. And Chrisostome also is of the same mind, in his 49. Homily upon Matthew.  
As for his double authority, Spiritual 
Twofold authority.  and Temporal, it appeareth by the two kinds of his names: as, first that he is called a king by Daniel, and is reckoned amongst those ten earthly kings (of whom consisteth the Roman Monarchy) and must spring up in the midst of them, arising up from a very low degree, till at length he subdue all the other kings unto himself, Dan. 7. 24. & cap. 8. 11. & cap. 11. 36. Secondly, this is he whom Zacharie calleth the foolish shepherd, cap 11. 15. And whom john nameth a false prophet, Revel. 16. 13. etc. 19 20. & chap. 20. 10.  
Touching his signs and miracles, 
Miracles.  the Apostle Paul is witness, 2. Thes. 2. 9 & Christ, Mat. 7. 22. & john, Revel. 13. 13. & 16. 14.  
And that he vaunteth himself as 
A vaunt as God.  God, it is taught unto us, Dan. 7. 8. The mouth speaking presumptuous words: etc. 11. 36. He shall advance & extol himself above every God. & 2. Th. 2. 4. He shall exalt himself above all that is called God, or is worshipped. And to conclude, in Dan. 7. 25. He shall imagine that he is able to change both times and laws, at his own pleasure.  
For his idolatry, it is taught by Dan. 11. 36. He shall do worship unto the 
His Idolatry.  god Maozim, that is, the god of defences, &c: as also Revel. 17. 2. & 18. 3. 9  
What his hypocrisy is, we learn 
Hypocrisy.  Dan. 7. 8. His eyes are as the eyes of a man: & v. 25. He shall speak words against the most high: & Revel. 13. 11. He shall have two horns of a lamb, but shall speak like a dragon: that is, he shall cover a wolf under a sheep's skin: & 2. Tim. 3. 5. Having a form or show of godliness, etc.  
Further, his pride & ambition is 
Pride.  manifest, Dan. 7. 20. He had a mouth speaking presumptuously: & ch. 8. 25. He shall extol himself, etc. 1. Tim. 3. 2. There shall be men both arrogant and proud: & 2. Pet. 2. 10. They shall despise government (that is, the civil magistrate, ordained by God) bold, and presumptuous, and such as stand in their conceit: in which manner also Jude writeth, vers. 8.  
His blasphemy: that is to say, that 
Blasphemy.  he should be a blasphemer & anatheist; we see it, Dan. 11. 39 He shall speak against the God of gods: & Revel. 13. 6. He shall speak blasphemy against God.  
His licentiousness, to wit, that he 
Licentiousness.  should be above all, lawless, making & breaking laws at his pleasure, is taught us, 2. Thes. 2. 4. Dan. 7. 25. He shall suppose that he is able to change both times & laws: & chap. 11. 3. He shall do even what he list.  
His single life is setdown, Dan. 11. 37. 
Single life.  He shall not regard nor understand the desires of women: where is meant, as Jerome saith, that under pretence of holiness, he should be an enemy unto marriage: so in the 1. to Tim. 4. 3. He shall forbid to make marriages. As for his filthy fornication, and licences to use and follow outrageous and dissolute lusts, we find it, 2. Pet. 2. 10, 14.  
24 Concerning his abstinence from certain meats, and his fasts, we have 
Abstinence.  that also, 1. Tim. 4. 3. They shall command to abstain from meats. Where the meaning is not simply to be understood of abstistinence from all kind of meats: (for this would never have been effected, nor yet could possibly be observed) but only of making some choice and difference of meats. Yet of his excess and effeminate and dainty life, we are taught, Revel. 18. 3, 9 and in 2. Pet. 10. and in the Epistle of Jude and the 8. verse.  
Touching his covetousness and his riches, we may read Dan. 1. 1. 39 He shall divide the earth for gain: as also Revel. 18. 3. 2. 
Covetousness.  Pet. 2. 3. 14.  
Of his craftiness, vanity, lying, and impudency, is mention made in the 8. of Dan. 25. Deceit shall prosper in his hand, 
Craft.  and he shall extol himself in his heart: and in the 23. verse of the same, it is said that he is of a fierce, impudent, and shameless countenance.  
His cruelty (which is especially bend against the Saints) is taught, Dan. 7. 21. I saw that horn make war against 
Cruelty.  the Saints: and in the 25. verse. He shall grind to powder the Saints of the most high: and chap. 8. 24. & 11. Revel. 11. 7. etc. and chap. 17. 6. & the 19 19  
Concerning his founder & principal author, to wit, that he was to appear by little & little, by the craft of Satan; 
His author.  who hath thought of this mystery, and hath had it in hand, ever since the Apostles time, we do learn in the 2. to the Thess. 2. where it is said, Whose coming is by the operation and working of Satan: and in the 1. Tim. 41. where the doctrine of Antichrist is called the doctrine of devils: and in the 13. of the Revel. 4. where the dragon is called author and cause of the whole state of Antichrist, which is conveyed into the Roman Empire: and in the 18. where Babylon, that is, the seat and kingdom of Antichrist, is called the habitation of devils, the house of foul spirits, and a cage of every unclean and foul bird, chap. 18. 2. The which the Lord will suffer and permit so to be, till his wrath be accomplished, Dan. 11. 36. The faithful be tried, and they which are tried, be made manifest, Dan. 12. 10. & 1. joh. 2. 19 and that the contempt of the earth may thus be punished, according to that of S. Paul, 2. Thes. 2. 10, 11.  
Now for the time, to wit, that he should then appear, when the Roman 
The time of his appearance  Empire should be distracted & dismembered, it is taught, Dan. 7. 8. 24. & 2. Thes. 2. 7. For both Tertul. & Jerome, & others more, do interpret that place of Paul of the division and ruin of the Roman Empire: as also Revel. 13. 11. 12. For although the mystery of iniquity began to work, as yet secretly underhand, &, as it were, by undermining, even from the days of the Apostles, 2. Thes. 2. 7. 1. joh. 2. 18. yet afterwards Antichrist was to issue & break forth with full stream, & evidently to show himself, as it were, proceeding out of the ruins of the Roman Empire, 2. Thes. 2. 7. And this time john seemeth to note, Revel. 13. 18. when he faith, that Antichrist should come 666 years after, to wit, after the birth of Christ: His words are these, Let him that hath wisdom count the number of the years: for it is the number of a man, & it is 666.  
Concerning the place, that he was 
His place.  to spring out of the ruins of the Roman Monarchy, & so should appear in the Roman Empire; it appeareth also by Daniel & Paul, as we have touched heretofore: as also by the 17. of the reve. 3. where the purple whore, who deceiveth the people, is said, to sit upon the beast with ten horns. For that beast with ten horns signifieth the fourth Monarchy, to wit, that of Rome, Dan. 7.  
As for his throne & seat, to wit, that 
His throne.  he shall sit in the city of Rome: first, Daniel witnesseth the same, when as he placeth this seat betwixt 2. seas, (for Rome & Italy are situated twixt 2. seas) Adriaticum & Tyrrhenun. Secondly john, when he maketh mention of Babylon, as Rev. 14. 8. & 16. 19 & 18. 2. By which places the ancient doctors of the Church (& especially Jerome) do understand Rome, as also by that place, 1. Pet. 5. 13. & further, when john doth call it the city with 7. hills, & the queen of all, as it is Rev. 17. 9 18. For Rome was then called by those names, even by profane writers. Finally, when as he saith, Rev. 17. 1. that the whore shall sit upon many waters (that is, above much people & many nations, as himself in the 15. verse expoundeth himself) & in the great city which hath the rule over the kings of the earth.  
Now that he should sit in the temple of 
He sits in the Church.  God, that is, in the Church, it is taught us, 2. Th. 2. 4. for by this sitting here, is not meant corporal & bodily placing, but a certain dominion: and by temple is meant, neither that of jerusalem (which long ago was overthrown & razed, & which is never again to be repaired, according to that prophecy in the 9 of Dan. 27.) nor yet any other external building, but only the Church, which is the temple & house of God. 1. Tim. 3. 15. And therefore hereby is signified, that Antichrist should publicly usurp the chief jurisdiction & authority in the Church of God; yet should he not profess any open & flat denial of Christ, but only he should bring in extreme impiety, under the pretence of the doctrine of Christ.  
Further, that he is to continue until 
His continuance.  the very last end & day of the world, it is taught 7. Dan. 26. & 8. 25. & 11. 45. & 12. 1, 2. Rev. 19 21. & 20. 10. In which places so soon as the end of Antichrist is rehearsed, immediately followeth mention of the last resurrection, and not a word of any other worldly kingdom.  
Concerning the event or issue, to wit, 
The event or his revelation  that he should be revealed & discovered in the last times of the world, & that his kingdom is to be battered & thrown down by the preaching of the Gospel, the Apostle witnesseth 2. Th. 2. 3. & john meaneth the same thing, by the ruin & fall of Babylon, Revel. 14. 8. & 16. 19 & 18. 2. And to conclude, john prophesied the same of him, Reu. 14. where three Angels, that is, three Teachers, are appointed to reveal Antichrist, to whom are added other two in the 18 of the Revelation, as also in the 17. vers. 16. 17. where he saith, The ten horns which thou sawest &c. that is, many Princes and Estates of the Roman Empire, shall revolt from the whore, and shall give her kingdom unto the beast.  
For although at all times, there shall always be some, who shall oppose themselves to Antichrist, to his corruptions and idolatry, and speak against the same, Revel. 10. 11. & 11. 3. & 12. 7. Yet here by is insinuated, that in this last time of the world Antichrist was more fully and clearly to be revealed by the great and singular goodness of God: by men endued with the spirit of Elias and Enoch: and that the doctrine of Christ should be brought to light, and Antichrist grievously tormented.  
36 Finally, touching his destruction 
His destruction.  and end, that is, that he should be utterly abolished by Christ himself at the last day, at his glorious and royal appearance, (who is now indeed revealed to be the Antichrist) and be punished eternally, is taught us, 2. Thess. 2. 8. and may be gathered out of the 7. chap. of Dan. 26. & 8. 25. & 11. 45. and 12. 1. and out of the Revelat. chap. 19 20, 21. & 20. 10. as we also spoke a little before, touching the continuance of the kingdom of Antichrist.  
For although the kingdom of Antichrist shallbe shaken before the last day and coming of Christ, and shall be pulled down, as it were, by piecemeal, by reason of therevolting of Provinces: yet there shall alway remain a state and form thereof: but even this also shall be utterly abolished, in the last time of the world.  
This is our definition of Antichrist, and the declaration of the same definition out of the old & new Testament. But the Papists define it after a 
The Papists description of Antichrist.  far other manner: to wit, that Antichrist is one singular & particular man, who should arise of the Tribe of Dan, and be circumcised: who (being accepted of the jews for the Messiah) should reign and tyrannize at jerusalem the space of three years and six months, and whom Christ should at the length kill in mount Olivet, whilst he intendeth to ascend up into heaven: Which definition of theirs will be more examined in our disputations.  
That the Pope is Antichrist.  
HItherto we have declared, what Antichrist is: now we will show who he is, and to whom this definition before set down will best agree.  
Therefore we affirm, that the Pope of Rome is that Antichrist: & thus 
The proof that the Pope is Antichrist.  we prove it. For to whomsoever the definition of Antichrist doth agree, it necessarily followeth, that he is Antichrist: but this definition of Antichrist hath agreed fitly to the Pope of Rome, ever since the death of Gregory the great, and the slaughter of the Emperor Mauritius.  
41. For the Pope of Rome (ever since the death of Gregory and Mauricius) is the man, who by continual succession and set order, hath been precedent 
The proof of the assumption by view in particular. 1 Aman, 2 Whoruleth a state.  to a certain body or state of men, and hath given them his mark: wherein the Monks and Clergy shavelings, (like unto the crowned locusts) have their shaving as crowns upon their heads, that they might signify thereby, that they are kings and priests, and their routs dispersed and spread in all places of Christendom, and those many waters, upon which the great whore the mother of the fornications of the earth, seemeth both to sit and reign, Revel. 18.  
The Pope also professeth Christianity, 
3 The Pope's profession of Christianity, to which he is indeed an adversary.  saying, that he is the follower and the Vicar of Christ: as do also his chief servants at this day, who give themselves a new name, jesuits: he also retaineth the Bible, that is, the scriptures written by the Prophets and Apostles; and the Sacraments also instituted by Christ, and yet he is an adversary to Christ and to his doctrine.  
43 For though Christ alone be the head of the Catholic or universal 
1 He challengeth the offices of Christ.  Church, being always present to govern the same, Ephes. 1 21, 22. & 4. 15▪ & 5, 23. Coloss. 1. 8, Though he be also the only spouse of the Church. 2. Cor. 11, 2. Ephes, 5. 29, Finally, though he be also the only prince, the chief shepherd, and the high priest unto his Church. 1. Pet. 2. 5. and chap. 5. 4. Heb. 6. 20. & chap. 7. 26. & chapt. 9 11. Always living to make intercession for us. Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 7. 25. Yet notwithstanding the Pope of Rome doth arrogate this office, and these properties unto himself, and vaunteth himself, that he is the chief head, high priest, and sacrificer, and the Ecumenical and general Bishop, Pastor and doctor of the whole Church here upon earth. For so saith Clement, Pastoralis, de Sentent. & re judic. A pastoral charge is enjoined to us of God over all Nations of Christendom, etc. C. 1. extravag. de empt, & vend. We being governors of the universal Church by the Lord's appointment etc. etc. reg. extravag. de prebend. Being called to the government of the universal Church by heavenly ordinance. & C. 1 de treuga & pace. Being called to the government of the universal Church by the mercy of God, so disposing it. C. 3. de Elect. The holy Church of Rome, which (by the Lord's appointment, being as it were the mother and mistress of all the faithful, which belong to Christ) hath obtained of God superiority over the rest. & distinct. 22. Sacrosancta. This Apostolicallchayre, to wit, Rome, is appointed the head and principal, and as it were, the Hinge: for as the door is turned and governed upon the hinge; so all Churches are to be ruled by the authority of this. & Cap. unam sanctam, extravag. de mator. & obed. Therefore there is one body of one and the same only Church, & one bead, not two, far that were monstrous, to wit, Christ and the vicar of Christ, Peter and Peter's successor. & Cap. fundament. de elect. 6. So likewise at this day, the Pope in his bulls challengeth authority over all Churches of every people and nation. So also doth he call the Church his spouse and bride. C. quoniam de imminut. in 6. saying after this manner, We being loath to neglect the righteousness of ourselves, & the Church our spouse. In like manner also he speaketh, cap. inter corporalia etc. licet in tantum de translat. Episc.  
Secondly, the Pope hath violated and corrupted almost all the doctrine 
2. The Pope hath corrupted the doctrine of Christ, as appeareth by the opposition of these particulars.  of Christ, so that he is not only an heretic, but an Archheretique, the ringleader, and the Patriarch of heretics: for he hath not only maintained one error only against the foundation, but hath heaped up many one upon the neck of another, and defended them with might and main, as may be plainly understood by this comparison and opposition of the doctrine of Christ and the Pope.  
The scripture, or rather Christ 
Voluntary worship.  in the scripture teacheth, that God is in vain worshipped with the precepts of men, Matth. 15. It condemneth voluntary service. Col. 2. 2, 3. Further it declareth, that all things necessary to salvation, are committed to writing by the Apostles, & are to be sought for in their writings, 2. Tim. 3. 6. & that he is Anathema, that is, accursed, who teacheth or bringeth any other doctrine. Gal. 18. But the Pope doth urge the traditions of men, bringeth in a will-worship, and letteth not to say, that the scripture is obscure, maimed, and imperfect: as it is in the counsel of Trident. Sess. 4. 1. and else where.  
The scripture teacheth, that there 
2. One God.  is but one only God, who knoweth all things, is almighty. and the governor of the world, and all things therein, Deut. 6. 4. Mark. 12. 29. 1. Kings 8. 39 2. Cron. 6. 30. Esa. 40. 13. Rom. 16. 27. 1. Tim. 6. 15. and in other places beside. But the Pope, making as it were, a division of the divine Majesty, doth transfer the same unto certain petty gods, and associates unto him. For look how many he hath canonised for saints, so many hath he erected to be gods, and lords, and rulers of the world. Amongst which, one is over the rain, another is for fair weather: one for diseases, another for health: finally, one for this cause, another for that, they having their tasks and offices assigned severally unto them.  
The scripture teacheth, that God alone is to be called upon, Deut. 6. 13. 
3. Invocation of God.  Math. 4. 10. Act. 10. 25. & 14. 11. Revel. 19 10. & 22. 9 But the Pope, he prayeth unto the dead, and teacheth that they are to be prayed unto.  
The Scripture teacheth, that we 
4. Idols.  should abhorred idols, Exod. 20. 4. Deut. 4. 23. 1. joh. 5. 21. Revel. 18. 4. But the Pope doth erect and set up idols every where to be worshipped.  
The Scripture teacheth, that 
5. One high Priest.  now there is one only high Priest and Sacrificer, to wit, Christ; and that there is but one only Oblation, Heb. 6. 20. and 9 26, 28. and chap. 10. 12. But the Pope hath substituted an infinite number in stead of Christ, who do every day offer to God a real and propitiatory sacrifice, to wit, the body and blood of Christ in the Mass.  
The Scripture teacheth, that 
6. One Mediator.  there is one only Mediator and Intercessor betwixt God and man, to wit, the man jesus Christ, 1. Tim. 2. 5. 1. joh. 2. 1. Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 7. 24. and 9 24. But the Pope hath suborned almost an infinite number of dead men, to be mediators, intercessors, and spokesmen, and especially the Virgin Marie in stead of Christ, as is in the Council of Trident.  
The Scripture teacheth, that all 
7. Christ's power.  power in heaven and earth is given and granted unto Christ, and that he is exalted above all principalities, and is appointed Lord of all things, Math. 28. 18. Act. 2. 36. Ephes. 1. 21. Further, that he is the head of the militant Church here upon earth, as was said before. Whereupon Gregory the great saith, That he is the forerunner of Antichrist, who soever should challenge unto himself the title of general Bishop: who (that he might leave unto his successors an example of humility) was the first that called himself the servant of the servants of God.  
And likewise the Council of Carthage, and Pelagius the Pope, were of the mind, dist. 96. can. Nullus. But the Pope, he placeth Christ (who is now in heaven exalted unto the right-hand of his Father) not only inferior to his Father (with the Arrians) but also somewhat inferior to his mother, and willeth that she should by her mortherly authority and privilege, to command her Son, etc. And for himself he standeth upon it, that he is the universal Bishop here upon earth, and the head of the whole Church.  
The Scripture teacheth, that a 
8. Free-will.  man being dead in his sins, is not able so much, as to understand any thing of himself, that is, hath no free-will in those matters that be spiritual, and appertain to salvation, Ephes. 2. 1. Colos. 2. 13. Roman. 8. 6. 1. Corinth. 2. 14. 2. Corinth. 3. 5. 2. Tim. 2. 15. 1. joh. 13. But the Pope, he attributeth so much unto free-will, that he seemeth to come very high to the heresy of Pelagius; as may be gathered out of the 28. chap. of Augustins book, de Heresibus.  
The Scriptures teach, that Christ 
9 Satisfaction.  only hath satisfied for our sin. 1. joh. 2. Roman. 3. 25. and 5. 8. joh. 1. 29. Math. 20. 28. Hebr. 10. 14. But the Pope teacheth, that we must by our ability, merit, satisfy, and answer the justice of God.  
The Scripture teacheth, that we are only justified by faith in Christ, and that freely, unto life eternal, and that our salvation is to be accounted and esteemed as obtained by the only mercy of God, Esay 43. 25. joh. 3. 6. Act. 10. Eph. 2. 8. Heb. 24. But the Pope, he teacheth that we not only have not our salvation by faith alone, but that we may merit and deserve everlasting life by our works and demerits.  
Further, that there is in the mass application 
10. Justification.  made of all Christ's benefits, ex opere operato, that is, by the deed done, or for the works sake. Finally, that the mass being applied in the behalf of others though they be unrighteous persons (so that themselves put no bar, and be no hindrance of the same) doth merit the remission both of the guilt, and of the punishment thereof.  
The Scripture teacheth, that justifying 
11. justifying faith.  faith is a sure confidence reposed in Christ, or else thus, a sure confidence of the remission of our sins, for Christ's sake, Rom. 4. 19 etc. But the Pope, he teacheth that faith is nothing, but a knowledge of the history, and a doubtfulness of the remission of sins.  
The Scripture teacheth, that even 
12. Observation of the law.  the regenerate man, whilst he is in this life, can not perfectly observe and fulfil the Law of God, Roman. 7. Luk. 17. 10. Philippian. 3. 12. Act. 15. 10. But the Pope affirmeth, that he is able: consenting with the Pelagians.  
The Scripture teacheth, that 
13. The kingdom of Christ.  the kingdom of Christ is not of this world. Further, that the ministery of the Apostles and their calling, is not civil and worldly, joh. 18. 36. Mark. 20. 25. Luk. 22. 25, 27. In like manner the Canons of the Apostles command, that he should be removed and deposed from his office, who so ever should bear both civil and ecclesiastical jurisdiction. But the Pope who boasteth that he is the Vicar of Christ, and the Successor of Peter, doth arrogate to himself both civil and ecclesiastical authority, as hereafter we will show more at large.  
The Scripture saith, there are 
15. The two Sacraments.  only two Sacraments of the new Testament, properly so called: Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord: of which the one is ordained, Math. 28. and Mark. 16. The other, Math. 26. Mark. 14. Luk. 22. 1. Cor. 11. But the Pope holdeth that they be seven.  
The Scripture teacheth, that 
15. The vulgar tongue to be used in the Church.  the vulgar tongue with an evident, significant, a loud and distinct pronunciation is to be used in the Church, or the meetings of the godly, that whatsoever is spoken, might be easily understood, and approved by the people. 1. Cor. 14. 9 And Lustinian doth make a decree very agreeable to the Scripture in this behalf, in Constit. 123. & 146. But the Pope will have all things read in the latin tongue.  
The Scripture teacheth, that men 
16. Who are to be baptised  are to be baptised for the remission of sins. Mat. 28. 19 not bruit creatures, and things without life. But the Pope doth not only baptise men, but also wood, and stones, and bells, etc.  
The Scripture teacheth, that the bread both is, & remaineth in the Lord's 
17. the bread in the lords Supper.  Supper. 1. Cor. 10. 16. & 11. 26, etc. But the Pope teacheth, that it is transubstantiated, and changed into the body of Christ.  
The Scripture teacheth, that 
18. The lords supper is no sacrifice.  bread in the Lord's Supper is a token of remembrance, or a sign of the body of Christ, once offered up as a sacrifice for us, and that the body of Christ once given for us, and his blood shed, is not offered again upon the altar by us in the supper, but is eaten and drunken for the confirmation of our faith in Christ, and for to stir up thanksgiving in us, Hebr. 9 28. and 10. 12. Make 26. 26. Luke 22. 19 But the Pope converteth this Sacrament into a sacrifice, external, real, and propitiatory: And he daily in his mass offereth up this bread, turned into the body of Christ upon the altar, for the quick and the dead: and being offered, he shuts it up in a box, and carrieth it about and worshippeth it. Cap. peract. dist. 2. de Consecrat. and as in the Council of Trident, and the jesuits Catechism is to be seen. Further, he offereth this sacrifice, or permitteth it to be offered for corporal necessities: Whereupon it is, that there be Masses for them that sail upon the sea, or travel upon the land, either on foot, or horseback, women with child and in travel, for them which are barren, or are sick of tertian or quartern agues, for merchants that they may have prosperous traffic.  
The Scripture teacheth, that Christ in the institution and celebration 
19 Christ's body.  of the holy Supper, had and retained, and still hath and retaineth, a true body of the same substance with ours, Matth. 26. 26. Luk. 24. 39 1. Cor. 11. 26. But the Pope feigneth, that the body of Christ is invisible, and insensible, and so altogether diverse and unlike unto ours, and such a one as may be in many places at one time, that is to say, that a body is present, but not as a body in deed.  
The Scripture teacheth, that not 
20. All aught to take, eat, and drink.  only the Ministers of the word, but others also which be faithful, aught to take, eat, and drink, the bread and wine in the lords Supper, Luk. 22. 17. 1. Corinth. 11. 20. But the Pope will, that only the Priests shall take, eat, and drink, the rest are only to be spectators, and to look on; as in the private Mass.  
The Scripture teacheth, that in the Lord's supper the wine as well as the 
21 The bread and wine are to be distributed to all.  bread is to be administered and distributed, 1. Cor. 11. 26. But the Pope barreth the laity from the use of the Chalice, and of the wine, as in the Council of Const. 13.  
The scripture teacheth, that there be only two places appointed for the 
22 Two places for the souls,  souls of the dead after this life: to wit, heaven for the faithful, hell for the unbelievers. Mark. 16. 16. Luc. 16. 22. joh. 3. 18. & 4. 36. & 5. 24. etc. But the Pope he feigneth a third place, where the souls of them that are defiled with venial, that is, with small sins, are to be purged before they ascend up into heaven: which for this cause he calleth the fire of purgatory. Concil. Trident. Sess. 6. cap. 30. & Sess. 22. cap. 2. & cap. 3. & Sess. 25.  
The scripture teacheth, that marriage 
23. Marriage honourable for all men.  is not only seemly and honourable for all sorts of men; but also even almost necessary for the avoiding of fornication. Heb. 13. 4. 1. Cor. 7. 2. & 9 Again, it would have a Bishop to be the husband of one lawful wife & not to have concubines. 1. Tim. 3. 2. But the Pope forbiddeth marriage to his clergy & Nuns, & bindeth them with an oath unto perpetual single life.  
The scripture teacheth, that the use of all meats is now free, Col. 2. 16. 
24. Meats are free.  Rom. 14. 1. Tim. 4. 3. etc. and that also there is flesh of fishes, 1. Corinth. 15. 39 But the Pope teacheth that the eating flesh upon certain days is forbidden since the coming of Christ. Dist. 35. And that they do not eat flesh who do eat fish. Further he doth (as did Montanus the heretic) appoint laws concerning certain fasting days, and that without either prayer or repentance.  
To conclude, histories do record, 
Pope's have erred.  that Pope Honorius fell into the heresy of the Monothelites. 2. Tom. Con. 8. Syn. Constant. act. 17. that Gregory the seventh fell from the true faith. Lib. 1 Alphonsi de Castro Minonta contra Heres. in the Chronicle of Abbas Vrbergens. that Pope Liberius was an Arrian. And that Pope Anastasius favoured the Nestorians, and erred from the faith. Lib. 1. Alphonsi de Castro. Minonta contra Heres. That john the 22 held and maintained that the souls were mortal, and died with the bodies, until the day of the resurrection, in Sermone quodam pascali joh. Gerson. For which cause that Pope is called a devil incarnate. In Concil. Constant. Sess. 7. Lastly, that Marcellinus the Pope sacrificed unto Idols. C. nunc autem. dist. 21.  
Furthermore, the Pope is the 
4. The Pope hath two sword.  man who vaunteth upon his twofold supreme authority, spiritual and temporal, and of both his swords, spiritual and temporal or material: and doth arrogate unto himself both jurisdictions. As touching them both, thus they are jointly proved by that which is said. C. unam sanctam extra wag. de maior & obed. We are instructed by the word of the Gospel that there be two sword, the one spiritual, the other temporal; in this power and authority of the Pope. Again, therefore both the swords are in the power of the Church, that is, both the spiritual and the material sword, etc. Fundament. de elect in 6. The Pope of Rome hath the Monarchy or sole government of both the jurisdictions spiritual and temporal. Whereof we have a notable example in Boniface the 8. who in the first year of his jubilee in the year of our Lord 1300, having upon him both the emperors rob, and the priests attire, and showing himself openly in the Church of Peter and Paul, and having both a key and a sword, he cried as loud as he could, Behold, here be two sword. c. unam sanct. Extravag. de maiorit. & obed. as also in julius the second, who was a better soldier than a Priest, and of whom Mantuan writeth thus:  
Ensepotens gemino, cuius vestigia adorant  
Caesar, & aurato vestiti muricereges.  
which is in English.  
He powerful is by twofold sword,  
to him all men do stoop;  
Both Emperor and stately kings,  
with all their glorious troop.  
Concerning his spiritual authority, 
Spiritual.  are these testimonies, Clement. in Pastoral. descent. & re jud. etc. Primum extravag. de empt. & vend. and others, of which we spoke before: & for the temporal jurisdictions, these are witnesses 
Temporal.  sufficient, as Cap. Constan. dist. 96. where the ensigns, titles, palace, city, province, right and power of the Emperors are bestowed upon the Pope of Rome: that he hath the rule of all the West parts. Et cap. 1. in fine extravag. de matorit. & obed. Where it is said without doubt, whosoever denieth that the temporal sword is in the power of Peter, doth give small heed unto the word of the Lord, which saith, Put up thy sword into the sheath.  
He also vaunteth of himself, with signs and miracles, as is well 
5. The Pope's miracles.  known both by the books and practice of the Papists, but they are lying & deceitful, as the Apostle speaketh, and are wrought to seduce and draw men into error and superstition: and further they are either mere fables, or else, juggling sleights: Fables, as those which are reported of Mary of Lauritane, as they call her, which a certain jesuite hath declared to be false and feigned in a certain book, set forth at Lipsia after that he had denounced jesuitisme: so also they which are recited in the books of the Franciscans & Dominicans, & especially in the books which are of the conformities of the Franciscans. juggling sleights; as those which are wrought, either by the delusion of Satan, or by the close and crafty conveyances of the Monks: as in the apparitions of souls, which made report of purgatory, and desired that Masses might be said and celebrated for them, and in the healing of diseases at the Chapels I or images of saints, and in conjurations. For Satan (God in his just judgement so permitting it to be) afflicted men with peculiar diseases, and again ceased to afflict them, when they were making their vows at the Chapels or images of saints, so that they were supposed to be cured by the making of their vows, and delivered by the help of the saints. And thus he, playing with the exorcists, doth voluntarily yield unto them, though he seem to be cast out by force, and he ceaseth to torment a man, who is bodily possessed, that by this means (these errors being confirmed) he may instead of their bodies besiege, win, and possess their souls.  
He boasteth himself as God, 
6. The Pope as God.  whilst that he challengeth unto himself the name and authority and the works which are proper unto God.  
He arrogateth to himself the 
He challengeth God's own name.  name of God, Cap. satisf. dist. 96. where he saith, It is evident enough that the Pope neither is as all, neither can be either freed or bound by any temporal authority, who (as it is very manifest) was called God by the godly prince Constantine: Sith that it is evident, that God can not be judged of men. Et cap. quanto. & seq. extr. de translat. Episcopi. For no man but God doth separate them, whom the Pope of Rome doth separate, not by human, but rather by divine authority. So likewise the Pope is God on earth, according as Baldus hath it, he is a certain divine power, and hath, as it were, the resemblance of a visible God; and what he doth, he doth it as God, not as man according to Gomazius: of which there is a more large discourse in the book which is called Recusatio concilij Trident. published in the name of the protestant princes and states. Anno 64.  
Furthermare, he doth challenge the power and the works of God: as 
2. God's power and authority.  he will be both indeed and estimation as he is also accounted of very many, not only the head of the whole Church as was before said: but also the head and lord of all kings and monarchs 
Head of the Church.  of the world. Extravag. de maiorit. & obed. in the end. Moreover, we declare to every human creature, that he is subject to the Pope of Rome: this we do profess, determine, & pronounce, that it is altogether a matter necessary to salvation. Cap. super gentes extra. de consuet. The Bishop of Rome is appointed by the Lord above all nations and kingdoms. Cap. si Imperatore dist. 96. God's will is, that the powers secular should be subject unto the Church, or the Priests. Cap. nunquam eadem. dist. 96. It is a custom, that princes should submit their heads unto the Bishop's girdle, and not judge of their lives. Cap. solita. de maiorit. & obed. God made two great lights in the firmament, the greater light to rule the day, & the less light to rule the night: both of them great, but the one greater. Therefore hath God made two great lights for the firmament of heaven, that is, the universal Church, to wit, he hath appointed two high states or dignities, which are these, the authority of the Pope, & the power of the king. But that which ruleth the day, that is, in matters spiritual, is the greater: that which governeth carnal affairs, that is, the less: That it may appear, that look what difference there is betwixt the sun & the moon, so great odds there is betwixt Popes & Kings. C. fundament. de elect. in 6. Papa nulli homini subest. Finally, the Emperor is bound to take an oath of allegiance & obedience unto the Pope: the form whereof is extant, cap. 1. de jurejurando. etc. tibi domino. dost. 63. & clement. unica. de jurejurando. And so it is said lib. 1. ceremoniarum Pontificialium. cap. 7. The Pope in the night of the birth of our Lord doth hallow the sword, which he afterward giveth unto some Prince, in token of the infinite power which is given unto the Pope, according to that saying, All power is given unto me in heaven & in earth: & that also, He shall rule from seato sea, & from the river to the end of the earth. So it is also in the Gloss of the Canon law, to wit, that the Pope is all things, & above all things: that he is the lord of lords, & hath the right of the king of kings over his subjects: that he may turn round into square: that he is the cause of causes; & therefore no inquiry is to be made into his authority, because there is no cause of the first cause, that the whole world is the Pope's diocese: that his authority extendeth unto things in heaven & earth, and under the earth: that he may command the Angels: that he hath so great power both in Purgatory & also in hell: that he can by his pardons, deliver as many souls as he will which are in those places, & place them presently in heaven, & in the seats of them which be blessed: as it is said in the Bull of Clement the sixth: that he hath such power in heaven, that he may canonize whom he will that is dead for a saint, though all Bishops and Cardinals were against it. And who can reckon up all his blasphemies? To conclude, Sixtus quintus, to omit the rest, doth at this day thus begin in one of his Bulls. The authority granted to blessed Peter, and to all his successors, by the infinite power of the everlasting King, excelleth the power of all earthly kings and Princes.  
Secondly, for that he will be accounted the highest judge, who neither 
2 The Pope the highest judge.  can err in making decrees concerning faith, or laws concerning manners: neither yet ought to be judged of any. And for that he setteth up himself above all even the general counsels, and ordaineth new sacraments, and transformeth and altereth those which Christ did institute. He imposeth new laws upon men's conscienees, as for those which Christ made, he doth ratify and repeal at his pleasure. as Cap. nunc autem. dist. 21. The chief seat, that is, the chair of Rome, is not indeed of any. Can. si Papa. dist. 40. If the Pope should draw by heaps innumerable people with him into hell, no mortal man presumeth or taketh upon him to reprehend his faults: for that he is to judge all men, and himself to be judged of none. Can. cuncta. & seq. 9 q. 3. Every Church in the world knoweth, that the holy Church of Rome hath authority to judge of all persons, & no man may censure her judgement. Can. nemini. 17. 4. It is permitted to no man to judge of the Apostolical seat, or to retract that sentence, because of the primacy of the Church of Rome. cap. proposuit. de concept. praebend. According to the largeness of our authority, we may dispense with & above law. cap. significasti. de elect. & elect. potest. All councils both are called, & have their strength by the authority of the Church of Rome: & the authority of the Bishop of Rome is manifestly excepted in their constitutions. cap. regula. dist. 17. No council is, or shall ever be established, which shall not be confirmed & supported by the Pope's authority. And so the Gloss saith again, that the Pope's pleasure is heavenly: and for this cause, he may change the nature of things, by applying those things which are substantial in one thing, unto another. That he hath allaws in the closet of his breast: that he hath the same consistory, which God hath, and the same judgement seat with Christ: that he can make any thing of nothing, and make that to be a sentence or judgement, which is none: that in what so ever he pleaseth, his will is to him in stead of reason, and yet no man may say: Why dost thou thus? that he may dispense beyond law, & make justice of injustice, by concealing and altering the laws: that he can do all things (sin excepted) whatsoever God himself can do: that he must be judged of none: that if he should throw down heaps of souls into the hells, yet none may demand of him, Why dost thou it? that he may dispense against both Apostle, and Apostolical Canon: that he is above law: that what soever is done of the Pope, is to be supposed is done of God: that he is all, and above all: that he may do all things above law, contrary to law, and without law. ad cap. quanto de translat. Episcopi, & cap. proposuit. de concess. praeb. and else where, etc.  
Thirdly, for that he taketh and usurpeth 
3. He disposeth kingdoms.  power & authority, to transfer kingdoms, which is the only work of God as Clement. unica de jureiur ando, in priu. The Roman Emperors have the approbation of the B. of Rome, for the person which is to be preferred unto the dignity of the Imperial Mie: as also the anointing, consecration, & the crown of the Empire. Clem. Past. de sent. & re iudic. in fine. The Pope hath superiority over the Empire, & when the Empire is void succeedeth the Emperor. C. venerabilem de elect. The right & authority to choose a king to be Emperor, appertaineth unto the Bishop of Rome. & cap. 2. de sent. & re iudic. in 6. The Pope may depose the Emperor. Can. alius 15. quaest. 6. Zacharie the Pope deposed the French king from his kingdom, & substituted Papin into his room. So Pope Hadrian saith as Arentinus reporteth, Lib. 6. in Epist. ad Archiepisc. Trevicens'. Mogunt. & colonians. From whence hath the Emperor his Empire unless it be from us? therefore he ruleth by us. Again, whatsoever the Emp. hath, he hath it wholly from us. Further, behold, the Empire is in our power to give it, to whomsoever we wil Therefore are we appointed of God, above nations & kingdoms, that we may destroy & pull down, build & plant. And thus say the Canonists, that the Emp. is the Pope's vassal, and that he hath the Empire of him in name of Homage.  
The acts of the Bishops of Rome afford us plentiful examples; who have either proclaimed as deposed & at their 
Examples.  pleasure tumbled them from their thrones, or else crowned Emperors, & kings, and princes. So dealt Innocentius with Otho the 4 Emperor of that name: Gregory the 7 with Henry the 4. Paschalis the 2 with Henry the fift: Hadrian the 4 and Alexander the 3, with Frederick the first: Innocentius the 3 with Philip the son of Frederick: Gregory the 9 with Frederick the 2: Innocentius the 4 with Conrade the 4: Alexander the 2 with W. king of England: Boniface the 8 with Philip Pulcher the K. of France: whom they did excommunicate, & either did depose, or laboured to depose them from their Empire & kingdoms. And at this day Sixtus the 5 doth deprive the king of Navarre and prince of Condie of their kingdom, prerogative, & all hope of succession, & absolveth the subjects from the oath of allegiance & obedience, & inciteth the French king to persecute them with violence, fire, and sword. So Leo the third created Charles the great Emperor, he anointed him, and sat the diadem upon his head, & so transferred the Empire unto the Frenchmen from the Grecians, among whom it had continued 500 years. john the ninth, made three Emperors one after another, & gave the Imperial crown unto Carolous, Calons, to Ludovicus Bulbus his son, and to Charles the third, son to Ludovicus Germanicus. john the thirteenth, created Otto; and Clement the fift created Henry Emperor & called him Augustus. But above all, the act of Gregory is famous, who took away the Empire from Henricus the Emperor, & gave it to Rodolphus, adding this verse,  
Petra dedit Patro, Petrus diadema Rodolpho.  
This diadem the Rock to Peter gave,  
And Peter grants that Rodolph shall it have.  
The same Pope is an idolater, 
He is an idolater.  worshipping strange gods, that is, such a thing for God, which is no God. First, in the bread of the Eucharist: where Innocentius the fourth, was the first who established transubstantiation, & the worship of that bread. Honorious the 3, vouchsafed it a peculiar place where it should be set, that the God of bread might have a 
Breaden God.  temple & palace. To conclude, lest any thing should be wanting unto idolatry, Vrbanus the fourth, Anno Christ. 1263. appointed a feast unto the body of Christ, and the carrying about of the Eucharist in procession, and gave very large indulgences there withal. Secondly, in the calling upon the saints departed. For he persecuteth the saints whilst they live on earth, and killeth them, whom being dead, he worshippeth in heaven. Wherein he is like unto hunters, who do therefore hunt that they may kill and eat, and eating do commend the meat, and are encouraged to follow their game again. And also he is like to eraftie and close merchants, who whilst they are to buy, dispraise that which afterward they do commend, when they have bought it, according as it is said, Prov. 20. 14. It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer. Finally, he is like to the Scribes and Pharisees of whom mention is made, Mat. 23. 29. 30. Thirdly, in the worship of images and monuments & relics of Christ, and the saints, in that which they call holy water: in the hallowed and consecrated oil, and wax candles: in the sign of the cross: in the baptizing of bells: in Annulets & Pomanders, & such like. The which Idolatry is gone so far, that there hath not been greater, no not among the heathen  
The Pope is also an hypocrite, worshipping the true God indeed; but 
His hypocrisy  only in external rites, performed ex opere operato, by the work done, and instituting new kinds of worship: as in the sacraments, in the sacrifice of the Mass, in the vigils or saints evens, in Canonical hours, in chanting in the Church, in fasts, in choice of meats, single life, religious pilgrimages, anointing, the order of Monastical life, (whereof there be more kinds (if they were told) then there are of fowls (which yet also have difference by their colours, & so great multitudes (if they were mustered together) that they would seem to be the army of Xerxes) In works of supererogation, in alms, in mumbling of prayers, and in the number of them, in their apparel, or holy habits, in the shaving their hair, their burning tapers, the ornaments of the Churches, the multitude of feasts, whereof there is neither measure nor end. But yet he is indeed profane, wicked, & an Atheist, because he getteth this kingdom by magic or Simony, or else by threats, sedition, and tumult, & both he himself beareth & also suffereth others to bear the titles & names of holy offices, without the thing itself. For if you do take a view either of the ministery of the word & sacraments, or of the whole government of the Church, it appeareth that the bishops & others besides, do not execute any part of their own function, but are wholly employed about temporal affairs, contrary to the word of God & the ancient canons.  
We have examples hereof in Gregory the 5, who being carried with a devilish desire of authority, did first by bribes obtain the Archbishopric of Rhein's, and afterward got by the devils assistance the Popedom itself: on this condition, that after his death the devil should wholly have him, as Platina recordeth. In Gregory the 7, who being a Magician, caused that stones fell down from above when Henry the 3 Emperor was praying in the temple: & when he was seeking answers from God against the Emp. he cast the sacrament of the body of the lord into the fire, as Platina doth witness. In john the eight, or rather jone, a woman, who dissembling her sex, obtained and exercised the Popedom, until such time, as her tranell did bewray what she was: as again Platina and very many others do witness. In john the thirteen who gave himself unto Satan corporally, as it is registered in Fasciculo Temporum. In Sylvester the second, of whom johannes Stella the Venetian writeth, that he was appointed Pope by the assistance of the devil, on this condition, that after his death he might have him wholly, both soul & body, by whose subtlety he attained to so great promotion. In Benedictus the ninth and Gregory the sixth: and moreover in Sixtus the fourth (as the said Cardinal Benno witnesseth) who being at Florence in the Church, when (after a watch word given) the Eucharist was taken away, he would (by his conspirators) have killed the two brethren julianus and Laurentius Medici's: and did indeed slay the one and wound the other: as Raphael Volateran recordeth in the 5 of his Geography. In Leo the tenth, who is reported to have answered unto Peter Bembus, when he alleged a saying out of the Gospel: What dost thou allege or tell me of that fable?  
He is also blasphemous, in that he claimeth for his own that which 
His blasphemy.  is Gods, doth speak against God: namely, when he saith, that he is God, and of equal power with Christ, & the head and spouse of the Church: the which we have more fully opened before Further, when he affirmeth that the Scripture is obscure, and imperfect, and doubtful: and that he may interpret it as he listeth, and may make new articles of faith, and yet he neither erreth herein nor is to be controlled by any, As also when he boasteth, that he can grant indulgences and pardons, and remission of all sins to whom soever he will.  
He is also ambitious and proud, both in his words and deeds, because 
His ambition.  he, being even sick of an unsatiable thirst after honour, and unlawful desire of lordliness, doth set up himself above the Church, above councils, above all magistrates, and accounteth all Emperors, kings and princes which are in Europe, to be but his vassals, his tenants, and almost his slaves and drudges he treadeth them under his feet. Of which pride and arrogancy of his, we before brought testimonies even out of the Canon law: but now we will bring others like unto them, out of the book which is called Liber ceremoniarum Romanae curiae: Where it is said, that all men of what honour or pre-eminence soever they be, so soon as they come within the sight of the Pope, aught to bow their knees thrice, observing equal distance of pace, and to kiss his feet. Further, when the Pope doth get up on horseback, the greatest prince of them which be present though he be a king or Emperor must hold the Pope's stirrup, & then lead the horse by the bridle a little on the way. But if that the Pope be not carried on horseback but on his chair, whether he be king or Emperor that is present it skilleth not, they must carry the seat itself with the Pope in it, a while upon their shoulders. Again, that the prince of the city (into which the Pope shall enter) though he be a king, shall lead the pope's horse by the bridle: or if the pope be carried in his chair, shall (together with the chief of his Nobles) carry the same a good way: then, when the pope commandeth him, the king shall take his horse & ride according unto his place. Further, the Emperor must at the baket hold water for the pope to wash his hands. And moreover, when the pope hath a feast, the Emperor or else the king of the Romans must carry the first mess or service. And to conclude, the pope doth no reverence at all to any man, only he raiseth up himself when the Emperor kisseth him. For examples these are chief to be noted: first of the pope in general, who offereth his feet to be kissed of the Emperor, kings princes, Cardinals, 
Examples of his ambition.  bishops, & the rest. Then specially of pope Sylvester of whom it is reported that (for the honour of S. Peter) Pseudoconstantinus or that feigned Constantine held his horse bridle in his hand when he took horse and played the gentleman usher or sergeant before him. Dist. 96. Thirdly of pope Hadrian the fourth, who was very angry with Frederick the Emperor, and did in reproach object unto him, that when as he would have held his stirrup at his lighting down from his horse, he came and held not the further stirrup as he should, but the other. And that he also had set the emperors name before the pope's in certain letters which were sent unto him. Fourthly of Alexander the third, who set one foot in the neck of Frederick the Emperor, when he was prostrate and suppliant at his feet in the Cathedral Church of Venice, that he might have his excommunication released, and commanding, that the verse of Psalm should be song of his priests, Thou shult walk upon the Serpent, and the Basilisk: thou shalt tread under foot the Lion and the Dragon. Fiftly, of Boniface the eight, Anno 1300, who showed himself at Rome in a great assembly of the people (by reason of a jubilee then solemnized) the first day of the solemnity with all the ornaments of the Pope, and the next day he came forth clad with the emperors rob, or coat armour, and commanded a drawn sword to be carried before him, himself crying with a loud voice, I am both Pope, & Emperor, & have authority both in heaven & earth: & within few days after did proudly reject Albertus, who was created Emp. by the electors of the Empire, & desired to be confirmed by him: Affirming moreover that no election could be authentical, which was made without his authority, sith that he alone had the authority of both the swords, which when Albertus Crautzius superintendant of the church of Hanburgh reciteth, he maketh this exclamation; O Peter, behold thy successor, &, O Saviour Christ, behold thy Vicar: behold the pride of the servant of thy servants, unto what height he is now come.  
He is also lawless, because he doth what he listeth, he abolisheth the 
The Pope is lawless.  laws which Christ hath made, & maketh new at his own pleasure: and because he will be judged of no man but advanceth himself above law, as we showed heretofore. Whereof we have example in the forbidding of the marriage of Priests, and certain meats, & of the chalice in the Lord's supper, which is contrary unto the revealed will of God and of Christ our Lord. Further, in dispensing with degrees contrary to the law of God and nature: as that Pope Martin the fift gave dispensation that a man might take his own sister to wife: And that others have dispensed, that any man might marry two sisters, his father's sister, or his mothers, or any woman two brethren, her uncle by her father's side or by her mothers, and that (which some also of the schoolmen do teach upon the 4. sent. dist. 34. & Caietan secunda secundae. Thomae. quaest. 154 Art. 9 (to wit that the Pope may dispense with all degrees, excepting the marriage of the father and the son, with the daughter and the mother.  
He is also a single man but yet a filthy fornicator, because that, he in forbidding marriage unto his clergy, & the Nuns, commandeth single life. The authous & defenders of the which law, are these especially. Siricius the pope. C. plurimos. dist. 82. Greg. 7. Calixtus 6. Presbyteris. dist. 27. Leo. dist. 32. per totum. Innocentius c. proposuisti. dist. 82. etc. Sacerdoticus. & seq. dist. 31. Leo the tenth & other more. But on the contrary, he permitteth concubines, brothel houses, whoredoms, & filthy lusts, or at least doth tolerate them, & filleth all Christendom with whores, with Bastards, with buggers, and others more of the same stamp, as it is known full well, and yet further by giving dispensation, he permitteth incestuous marriages: and that which is more than all the rest, he maketh a gain and raiseth a yearly rent of the common stews.  
So john 13 being found with a quean was run through of the husband of the same harlot. Further, how great was the chastity and honesty of Alexander the sixth, it appeareth by this epitaph made for his daughter.  
Hic jacet in tumulo Lucretia nomine, sedre  
Thaïs', Alexandri silia, sponsa, nurus.  
Here lies entombed Lucretia  
by name: but we her saw  
Thais in life; Alexander's  
child, spouse, daughter in law.  
So john Casus Archbishop of Beneventum the pope's legate among the Venetians, hath commended & published in print that horrible kind of lust and venery, which is not at all to be reported: yea, & that who is called P. john the 8, was both a woman and an harlot, & as she went to the palace of Laterane, she travailed in the third year of the Popedom, & died of that travel in the same place, whereupon Mantuan in his time writeth after this manner:  
Jpudor in villas, si non patiantur easdem  
& villae vomicas, Roma est iam tota lupanar.  
O shame to village pack away  
If it may be found dear,  
Rome is a stews: now chastity  
hath no abiding there. 
His abstinence and riot.   
He also abstaineth from certain meats, & yet exceedeth in all kind of excess: because he forbiddeth flesh & all things which have generation by seed, or do savour of flesh, as milk, cheese & eggs to be eaten on set days, underpain of deadly sin, to satisfy for sin, & to deserve the grace of God, & life everlasting: but he granteth all the dainties & delicates whatsoever, de consec. dist. 3. de esu carnium. & dist. quia. & eadem dist. 5. quadr. & dist. 4. c. denique etc. & 13. quaest. 2. animae. And yet he will for money dispense for the self something.  
He is covetous, because he useth 
He is covetous.  Simony, that is, buying, selling, & making a marchaudise of things spiritual: he giveth nothing, but selleth all things, as, the grace of God, the sacraments, good works, heaven, & life everlasting, & out of all of them he piketh out gold and silver, and raiseth his gain for heaven, hell, the earth, yea time itself, and all creatures whether they have life or be without life, as wine, bread, oil, linen, milk, butter, cheese, water, salt, fire, perfumes, the stews, etc. So that, there was never heard of either any greater, or more abominable merchandise. Whereupon his merchants & brokers, that is, the Monks, the Bishops, & Cardinals, are not only become rich, but are even princes upon the earth. So likewise doth he make a gain of Masses, satisfactions, pardons, burials, and Church livings: to wit, by selling of benefices, annates, or vacations: preventions, resignations for favour, commendatus, dispensations for age, for orders, for irregularity, for blemish of body, for redemptions of the Bishop's pall and the Bulls. Further, by reservation of cases, by marriage causes, by sins and offences, to wit, when as licence for sins and all kind of mischiefs are bought and sold after a certain price and rate: and by other cases and causes of the like nature: which, if we should reckon up one by one, would be very tedious, because they want both measure and modesty: and there is no great necessity so to do: for that there is a book extant of these things, which hath this title. Taxae Cancellariae Apostolicae, & Taxae sacrae Poenitentiariae, itidem Apostolicae cum not abilibus juxta stylum hodiernum curiae Romanae. In which book thus there is a sentence worthy the remembrance set down in these words. And mark this diligently, that such immunities and dispensations are not granted unto them which be poor: For they, because they be not rich, can not be comforted. Hereof cometh it to pass, that an infinite mass of gold and silver is brought unto Rome, which afterward the Pope, Cardinals, and the rest of the same rabble do consume in their stews and brothelhouses, and do riotously spend, as it were in the bottomless gulf of their unsatiable gluttony & sensuality, to the great shame & ignominy of Christianity: So Franciscus Petrarch hath left it in record, that in the treasure house of Pope john the 22, there was found (when he was dead) by his heirs, 25 thousand thousand crowns, that is, 250 tun of gold. And of Boniface the eight (who was taken prisoner & spoiled at the commandment of Philippus Pulcher, the French King) we find it registered, that all the kings of the world were not able to disburse so much out of their treasury within the compass of one year, as was taken and carried out of the Pope's palace: wherefore there have always been some at all times, who both detested that in satiable hunger, and uncontented desire, and greediness of riches, and also lotted not to enueigh against the same: hereupon Mantuan saith thus:  
— venalia Romae.  
Templa, Sacerdotes, Altario, Sacra, Corona,  
Jgni●, thura, preces, Coelum est venale, Deusque.  
which is in English thus.  
Churches and Priests, Altars and Princes  
at Rome are to be sold.  
Kingdoms and rites, incense and heaven.  
yea, God, Rome is so bold.  
And another thus.  
Curia Romana non carpit ovem sine lana  
Dantes exaudit, non dantibus ostia claudit.  
which may be thus translated.  
The Romish court doth make no pay  
Of sheep that fleece do want:  
No man can speed unless he pray,  
Bring gifts and take our grant.  
And again another speaketh after this manner: The treasure house Apostolical is like unto the sea, into which all floods do run, and yet it doth not overflow: for even so thousand weights of gold are brought into this out of divers parts of the world, and yet it is not filled.  
He is also crafty, deceitful, 
His craftiness and false dealing.  false, and given to lying: crafty he is, for that he blindeth truth and falsehood together: deceitful and a liar he is, in that his feigned service, to wit, when as he entitleth his lordliness with a name of service, (that is, when he calleth himself the servant of servants) under pretence of humility, according to the example of Gregory the great, who for this end called himself the servant of the servants of God, that he might give his successors a pattern of lowliness: and yet in words and deed, he proudly exalteth himself above all kings and princes, desiring to be the lord of lords, as we declared at large heretofore: in so much, that he indeed retaineth the bare name and title, but usurpeth a stateliness, altogether disagreeing from the title: so further in the feigned donation of Constantine, as is mentioned in Cap. Constantinus, dist. 96. he produceth a forged instrument of Constantine his deed of gift, in which he affirmeth, that the city of Rome, with Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Spain, Germany, and Britain, were given unto him by that Emperor.  
Again, he is taken in manifest contradictions, in that he sometime affirmeth, 
His lying and contradictions The deed of gift for his jurisdiction and authority.  that the same deed of gift was made unto Sylvester the Pope by Constantine, sometime before Sylvester by the same Constantine, sometime by Ludovicus Pius son to Charles the great, cap. Constantinus. dist. 96. & cano. futura 12. quaest.  
In that he saith, sometime that Constantine, sometime that Christ, sometime that Peter, gave unto him that power and authority, as in the same place. cap. Constant. dist. 96. & cap. sacrosancta. dist. 22. etc. unam sanctam. extrav. de maiorit, & obed.  
In that sometime he avoucheth, that principality is granted unto him by 
Primatie.  Constantine, that he should be the head over all Churches and Priests: cap. Constantinus. dist. 96. Sometime he affirmeth, that no man is to be called the prince of the Priests, or high priest, or universal bishop. Cap. multi dist. 40. & cap. primae sedis, & duobus. ce. seqq. dist. 99 In that sometime he saith, that Apostles, and especially Peter and Paul are equal and alike, 2. q. 7. Can. 33. & can. 37. & 24. q. 1. can. 18. Sometime that both he preferreth Peter before the rest of the Apostles, and ascribeth the primacy to him alone, & cap. sacrosancta. dist. 22. and else where.  
In that he saith, that the election 
Dignity.  of the Pope ought to be made by the consent and approbation of the Emperor, and that the Pope is in subjection to the emperors laws and statutes, and that the Emperor excelleth him in temporalities, c. 22. & 22. dist. 63. etc. 9 & 3. dist. 10. & 2. q. 7. can. 1. Nos si incompetenter, & 25. q. 1. sat agendum, & c. solitae de mai orit. & obeà. Sometime he subjecteth the Emperor unto himself, advanceth himself above him, & above all kings, & exempteth himself from all judgement of men, as was said before.  
In that he sometime denieth, that 
Succession.  succession is ordinary & tied to a certain place, bringing this place out of Jerome: They are not the sons of the saints, who possess the places of the saints, but they which do the works of the saints, etc. c. 1, 3, & 4. dist. 40. etc. 2. Sometime he avoucheth the contrary, as c. 2. dist. 40.  
In that sometime he wills, that priests & bishops should only be occupied in matters 
The matters in which he dealeth.  spiritual, not temporal. dist. 36. & 38. commanding also, that he should be removed from his function, who beareth both civil & Ecclesiastical magistracy, at one & the same time in Can. Ap. quos approbat, Can. 8. Sometime he challengeth both the powers, and both the sword unto himself and to his Bishops, as was showed heretofore.  
In that he granteth sometimes, yea commandeth marriage unto Priests. 
Marriage of Priests.  C. si quis docuerit. dist. 28. & C. quoniam Dist. 31. & C. si quis nuptias. dist. 3 Sometimes he doth altogether forbid them marriage, as we showed before.  
In that sometime he commandeth the entire and perfit use of the Sacrament 
Use of the sacrament in both kinds.  of the supper of the Lord: excommunicating them also which otherwise shall do. De Consec. c. comperimus. dist. 2. Sometimes he forbiddeth the people to receive the Cup. In Concil. Constant. sess. 13.  
In that he willeth sometime, that all 
Communication.  should communicate in the supper of the Lord, that is, should take, eat, and drink, and doth excommunicate them who do otherwise. De consecrat. c. per Acta dist. 2. sometimes he debarreth the Laity, and defendeth, that this is only lawful for the priests, ut inprivata Missa.  
In that he saith, that the Pope is to be judged of no man, unless he be found 
The Pope not to be judged.  to err from the faith. c. si papa. dist. 40. Sometimes he saith, that the Pope Discorus is excommunicate, though he hath not erred in the faith. Quaest. 2. Can. sane profertur. vers. item Romanorun. Furthermore, in that he maketh his 
Promise breaking.  promise, but keepeth it not: saying, that promise is not to be kept with heretics, as in council. Constant.  
In that he sometime affirmeth, now 
Of Pope joan  denieth very impudently by the jesuits and others, that Pope john the eight was a woman, & that the chair of inquiry, (by which the Pope created is 
Sedes testiculatrix.  pronounced capable or uncapable) was used since that time, which is contrary unto so many evident testimonies of Historiographers, (and even of them who have been Papists) both old and new: as Marianus Scotus, Anno 1080 orthereabout, Sigebert the Monk. anno 1110. Martinus surnamed Polonus, Anno 1278. Martinus Minorit. Anno 1350. Franciscus Petrarch, Anno 1370. johannes Bocatius, who lived at the same time. Raphael Volateran. Anno 1490 or there about. Further, of Platina, Sabellicus, Aeneid. 9 Tritem. in hist. Monaster. Hirsaugiensis. johan. Stella of Venice, Nauclerus, Albertus, Crantzius, and the author of Fasciculus Temporum. Baptista, Mantuan, Caelius Rhodignius, and of others, who do bear witness of this feminine or woman Pope, whose entire records are not long since put forth into print.  
In that he hath not only put counterfeits in stead of the right books (especially in the Monuments of the Fathers) but doth also corrupt, cancel, chop and change them, as may appear both in that he corrupteth the Latin Bible, and obstinately defendeth the corruptions: which do many times disagree from the Hebrew and Greek copies: and in that he now altereth and changeth the writings of the fathers, which being thus made unperfect, he setteth forth, and allegeth them as they are set forth according to these Editions. Example whereof (to omit others, which might plentifully be brought in this place, and have been also alleged by others heretofore) we have afforded unto us by john Gibbons an English jesuite doctor of divinity, and professor at Triens, in disputatione de sanctis. Thes. 207. alleging a place out of Augustine, Lib. 8. cap. 27. de civitate Dei. for his own purpose, but as it seemeth out of an imperfect and counterfeit copy: in this manner. We appoint Churches, and orders of Priests, and holy rites, and sacrifices unto the martyrs, not for that they be good, but because their God is ours, etc. Whereas other editions are thus. Yet do not we appoint temples, orders of Priests, holy rites, and sacrifices unto the saints, etc. And the scope and drift of Augustine will not admit of that sense which the jesuite would have: but doth necessarily require this which is all in all our Copies.  
Further, in that he feigneth many relics of the saints, which neither are nor possibly can be true, unless we would grant that there be many bodies, many heads, many arms, of one saint or holy man. For if so be that all the relics of the Saints were brought together, the bodies of the saints would not be only very vast for their quantity of huge bigness, and very monstrous for the number of the members: but also oftentimes there would be more bodies than one of one and the same Saint.  
In that he counterfeiteth miracles, which neither are, nor have been wrought, as was showed before.  
In that he pretendeth the name of Christ & the salvation of the Church: But indeed doth seek his own honour and commodity. For he calleth them the Riches of the Church, and Patrimony of Christ. But did Christ possess any such things? Thou bearest the name and title of Bishops, but altogether void of the substance. Thou hearest the name of patriarchs, Superintendentes, abbots: but if thou take away the outward vizard and ceremony, what will remain? Thou hearest the names of the Fraternities: and they are schisms or divisions. Thou hearest of the orders and contemplative life: what is it but confusion and senselessness? Thou hearest of continency: and it is nothing but riotousness. Thou hearest of the poverty, especially of the Monks, and what is it but deliciousness? Thou hearest of chastity and single life, and what is this but filthy lechery? Thou hearest of humility, and it is pride and arrogancy. Finally thou seest the sheeps skin, but there is a wolf lurking within it. For he indeed professeth humility, but exalteth himself above all others: he voweth chastity, but useth adultery: yea and more is further from all honesty: no man (as it is full well known unto all men) doth more defile himself with all kind of villainy: he celebrateth a feast, and yet he playeth the glutton in the same.  
Again, he is cruel, as those terrible excommunications and edicts do show, which 
His cruelty.  he maketh against Emperors, kings, & others: as do also his factions, his wars, his butcherly massacres, with the persecutions and most extreme torments of the faithful: which are in truth more than I am able to rehearse in any short space. For how many factions, wars, & massacres hath the Pope of Rome caused among Christian princes, in all parts of Christendom within these 500 years, for the maintenance & increase of his power? How much blood hath he shed? when as he in the mean season like to a Fencer having set others together by the ears, is a beholder of these bloody sports: Or as another Nero, beholding in his turret the city set on fire, which himself had fired, doth feed and please his mind, and delight his eyes with such a hideous and pitiful spectacle. What mischief did he work in that voyage to jerusalem, for the recovery of the sepulchre of the Lord, the city jerusalem, and the holy land? which was first begun by Gregory the 8: one, who was more cruel and abominable than Nero himself: and after prosecuted by Vrbanus, the dear and most near friend which Gregory had: wherein the West fought against the East very dangerously, & the Christian soldiers so used the matter by spoiling & killing Christians, jews, & others, & by committing other outrages, that all the wars which were made by the Romans being Gentiles, may (in comparison of that) be called Christian, godly, and holy.  
How madly and furiously have the Counter pope's raged together, even that they might dispatch one another, only to serve their own ambition? To conclude, how many and how great persecutions hath the Pope caused within this 60 years? what torments hath he inflicted upon men faithful, and holy, whom he proclaimed as heretics, especially in France, and the low Countries. For because that he is cruel, he doth persecute the saints, but he worshippeth them when they be placed in heaven. For this is the property of a bloody and cruel man, to injury those which are his equals, or them who are his inferiors & whom he may hurt: but as for them who are his betters, & whom he can not hurt, but feareth lest himself be hurt by them, these he reverenceth.  
He also appeared by little & little by the 
His appearance.  craft of the devil, which mingleth truth and falsehood together, which is a cunning cozening and sophistical subtlety. For a lie is weak of itself & can not stand: therefore these cozening mates do underprop their lies with such propositions & assertions, as be either true, or else have a show of truth. Therefore sathan by little & little brought in the corruptions of doctrine & manners, & confirmed them more and more by sophistry & hypocrisy, till at length this kingdom did fully appear.  
He also hath been extant since the division 
His time.  & overthrow of the Roman Monarchy, and since the expiring & date of those 666 years: that is since the death of Mauritius the Emperor: when the Emperor Phocas (who slew his father) made this decree, that the Church of Rome should be head over all other Churches, and that the Bishop of Rome (who then was Boniface the third) should be head over all Bishops, & be the Catholic and general Bishop. And always since, especially since the time of Charles the great, he hath gotten strength and grown greater and greater.  
He appeared in the temple of God. that is, in the Churches, and there he still sitteth and 
His place.  ruleth, feigning that he is the Vicar of Christ and the successor of Peter: for there was the true Church where the Pope of Rome first appeared as Antichrist, and afterward there remained the name, the title, & the print of the Church, there was the bible, that is, the book of the Prophets & Apostles, there remained the true doctrine concerning God, concerning the trinity of the divine persons, & concerning the person of Christ, there remained baptism together with the creed of the Apostles: and though the Popedom was not then, no more then in truth it is now the Church, yet the Church was, and did as it were, lie hid in the Papacy.  
He sitteth at Rome betwixt two seas, Tyrrhenum & Adriaticum, for here is the seat of the Pope, wherein oftentimes, (for sometimes the place is changed) he dwelleth bodily.  
He is discovered in these last days of the world, first by john Hus, secondly by Martin Luther, 
The discovery of the pope.  & other excellent men, whom God raised up, who having found out Antichrist even in the time of his merchandise, and as we say, with the manner, have put him to shame, by showing his impiety and endeavour against Christ, and have kindled the light of the gospel in all places, especially in Germany though the Pope & other the Lords of Christendom, being utterly against it, have threatened banishments, punishments, wars and overthrow: who would not suffer the religion (which had continued so many ages) to be overthrown, to the great trouble & destruction of all Europe. For so soon as men which were not given unto pleasures (as Epicures are) did see but a spark of light shining unto them, they being very much grieved with that darkness & servitude (wherewith they had been so many years oppressed) and being enticed with the beauty & sweetness of truth, they joined themselves unto the sincere teachers of truth, not having regard of other matters whatsoever. By which means, the purity of doctrine was every where propagated & spread abroad, the Churches were established & restored unto their former beauty, first in Germany, Switserland, then in England, Scotland, France, Flanders, Denmark, & other provinces. And though that unlucky contention concerning the supper of the Lord, did straightway begin, amongst the preachers of the Gospel, even in the beginning thereof, and continueth also unto this day (Satan endeavouring thereby to hinder and stay the cause of the gospel) yet we are to think thus: First, that Satan hath not now begun, but hath practised long ago, to set at variance the holy servants of God, as Paul and Barnabas, and again the same Paul and Peter with others more: secondly, that as concerning the foundation of the doctrine & religion of Christ, & all things necessary unto salvation, there hath always been and still is, an agreement betwixt those men, who are the restorers of this gospel which now beginneth to take life again. For having confuted merit, and trust reposed in works wherewith miserable men were bewitched in time of Popery, both parties agreed, that our whole salvation consisteth in the merits of Christ: only the difference is in the supper of the Lord, concerning the corporal presence, and the bodily eating, and that the same is common unto the godly and the wicked (as the one part defendeth) and so not necessary unto salvation. Thirdly, it is no great marvel, if in the beginning of reformation, & as it were, in the dawning of the day, all things were not at the first well considered: for it can scarcely be declared what a deep gulf of ignorance was in popery, and what an horrible darkness by reason of errors. And doubtless, it was a very great miracle wrought by God, that those first doctors of the gospel could arise from thence, in so little and short space. And although the jesuits which are lately sprung up, endeavour to heal this wound of Antichrist, yet shall they never fully cure the same.  
Finally, he shallbe destroyed in the last day of Christ, when he returneth to judgement, 
The destruction of the Pope.  and shallbe cast into the lake of fire and brimstone according unto the prophecy before declared. In the mean season, we are patiently to bear that persecution wherewith he oppresseth us, and we must not for his tyranny leave or forsake the profession of the truth.  
Which things sith they are all true, it followeth, that the Pope since the death of 
The conclusion.  Gregory the great, and the murder of Mauritius the Emperor, is that Antichrist whom we have before described out of the Prophecies of the Prophets and Apostles. For whether they consider the doctrine or behold the manners and actions of the Pope, they all agree unto these prophecies: and though heretofore there were controversy touching primacy, & there were divers errors (and they not small) concerning the doctrine: yet afterward, the desire of bearingsway, did more break forth, Idolatry, and impiety was increased, and at the length Boniface the third obtained of Phocas the Emperor, that whosoever should be the Bishop of ancient Rome, should also be esteemed as universal Bishop, that Rome should be accounted the head of all Churches, and that this privilege might be traduced to their successors: and within a while after, others of them challenged both the swords for themselves, established this by decree, that the Mass was a sacrifice propitiatory for the living and the dead: and to conclude, they made Rome a sanctuary for Idols.  
Hitherto we have showed, who this great Antichrist is. But as in the former question, the Papists do differ from us, what Antichrist should be, so likewise in this latter, who Antichrist should be: for as they do define Antichrist otherwise then we, so do they utterly deny that the Pope of Rome is that Antichrist. For the Pope with his adherents (now playing the part of Antichrist) doth feign another Antichrist, and teacheth that he is yet to come, lest he himself should be thought to be the Antichrist indeed. Of whose opinion and their reasons we will say more as occasion shall be offered: for the manner of our positions will not now permit us to speak of the same.  
God the Father grant for our Lord jesus Christ's sake, that men may learn to know and to abhor that Antichrist, the most dangerous enemy of Christ and the Church: and may likewise learn more and more to love and worship Christ.  
FINIS.