A short description of Antichrist unto the Nobility of England, and to all my brethren and contreymen borne and dwelling therein, with a warning to see to, that they be not deceived by the hypocrisy and crafty conveyance of the Clergy.  joh. 10. 
He that is of God, heareth the word of God.   

OH Lord God/ although such lords have dominion over us/ as know the not/ yet grant that we may hope only in thee/ and keep thy name in remembrance. For behold the Lord will go out of his habitation and visit the wickedness of them that dwell upon the earth. 
Esa. 26.  He will discover the blood that she hath devoured/ she shall never hide them that she hath murdered. Muster you and gather you/ muster you and gather you? Take your counsel together. Yet must your counsel come to nought. Go in hand withal/ yet shall it it not prosper/ except Emanuel/ 
Esa. 8.  that is/ God be with us. For there is no prudence/ there is no wisdom/ there is no counsel against the LORD. ☞ ☜   

THere is nothing more perilous (right honourable Lords) ne yet more pernicious and evil to the Christian man's religion, than so to be corrupted, poisoned, and blinded in his understanding and judgement, that he esteemeth & judgeth evil in the stead of good, error in the stead of verity, cloaked superstition in the stead of Christ's true religion, painted hypocrisy in the stead of godly virtue, manifest and open idolatry in the stead of true worshipping of God, men's dreams and traditions in the stead of Gods most holy laws & ordinances, a comen custom (long time used of our forefathers) in stead of a sure ground and firm foundation of our christian faith, And finally to accept and take Antichrist, the Man of sin, and child of perdition (as Paul nameth him) in the stead of God and of Christ. Who nevertheless is most contrary to God, and most hateful enemy to Christ, in all his doctrines, works and conditions. Such erroneous, blind, and corrupt judgements, God (by his Prophet Esay) pronounces accursed saying: 
Esa. 5.  Woe be to you that say good is evil, and evil is good: light is darkness, and darkness is light. etc. Also the Apostle S. Paul fearing like error and corruption in judgement, to come to the Corinth's, through the wicked doctrine of subtle and false preachers, 
2. Cor. 11.  exhorteth the Corinth's to beware of deceivers, saying: I fear that it come to pass, that as the serpent deceived Eva through his subtlety, even so your wits should be corrupted from the singleness that you had toward Christ. For false Apostles (sayeth he) are deceitful workers, and fashion them selves like unto the Apostles of Christ. And no marvel for Satan himself is changed into the fashion of an Angel of light? Therefore it is no great thing, though his ministers fashion themselves like as they were the ministers of righteousness. Whose end shallbe according to their works.  
Even so (right honourable lords) I can not but fear lest your understandings and judgements, be now corrupted drawn and carried away from the simplicity and pureness of sincere understanding and godly judgement which late you had of Christ, thorough the crafty persuasions, deceitful and false illusions of Antichrist, that hath transfigured himself in to the fashion of an Angel of light. For I am not ignorant that now the monstrous beast antichrist, Satan's vicar general in earth and all his adulterous generation of vipers, that be his false Apostles, most subtle and crafty deceivers, and the most malicious enemies of God and Christ, cease not day nor night with false lies, coloured with cloaked hypocrisy, and deceitful and flattering persuasions, to deceive the queens majesty and all you, my lords, of her most honourable counsel, whereby they might draw her highness & all you, from the godly and most pure knowledge, which you had in little time past, received of Christ, in to their filthy puddles and vain inventions, that they of their own brains (without any authority of holy scriptures, have invented, to revive and to establish the usurped power and bloody kingdom of Antichrist in this realm. By whose false doctrines, all the people of this realm shall be drawn from God, and from our saviour Christ to trust in most vain and deceitful vanity.  
But if, your lordships would both way and ponder, that not only God by his holy prophets, and Apostles, but also Christ himself admonisheth and warneth you and all men, to beware of false preachers and of crafty and subtle deceivers: your Lordships would be much more circumspect and well ware, because that not only the Prophets and Apostles, but also Christ himself, (to whom you ought to give credence) hath warned you to beware of such deceivers.  
And namely because this deceit is not a manifest and plain deceit easily to be perceived, and known of all men, but so craftily coloured and subtly painted with dessebled persuasions, and of such as shall come even in the name of Christ, and of his holy church. And therefore they shall deceive many, sayeth Christ. saint Paul also sayeth: 
1. Tim. 4.  In the later times some shall depart from the faith, giving ear to the spirits of error and doctrines of devils. 
1. Cor. 11.  And the same sayeth that heresies must needs be, that the proved and godly may be known. saint Peter also sayeth: that there were wicked Prophets, 
2. Pet. 2  as there shallbe false masters among you that shall bring in sects of perdition, that shall deny the Lord that hath bought them. Also S. johan sayeth. 
2. joh. 4  antichrist is come, and that there be many Antichristes'. Considering that the Prophets of God, Christ, and his Apostles, have this certenly-and diligently admonished and warned you and all men, of false preachers and of leenge masters that depart from the faith/ and bring in sects of perdition/ and of such that will come in the name of Christ/ 
Math. 24  like as they did preach his true doctrine/ which nevertheless preach their own dreams and the doctrines of devils, denying the lord that brought them/ and in all things follow the spirits of error. 
1. Tim. 4.  It behoveth your Lordships, and it is the part and most bounden duty of every Christian man, diligently to search out these false Prophets, dying masters, and to labour studiously, to know which be the doctrines of devils, and spirits of error, according to the admonition and warning of the Prophets, of Christ/ and of the Apostles given to them, that they may circumspectly eschew and avoid them that they be not deceived by them and their doctrines.  
And because in the reign of Edward the sixth of famous memory, by the consent of his honourable counsel, there was a doctrine preached and religion received in this realm of England, which now is rejected and banished as a doctrine of the devil, and as heresy, and false religion: And another doctrine and religion received, to the former religion and doctrine, direct and manifest contrary: some men therefore will doubt, whether the first doctrine and religion be godly, or the later doctrine and religion received be the truer and better to be followed. I will commend unto your godly remembrances (right honourable lords) not such doctrines as any new writers call, of their own heeds, false doctrines, and doctrines of devils, or the doctrines of dying masters. But the same doctrines that Christ and his Apostles expressly call false doctrines, and the doctrines of devils. So that your lordships nor any other shall have any just cause to be ignorant what be the doctrines of devils, and who be wicked preachers, and dying masters, the wicked sect of Antichrist, & who also is the heed Antichrist. 
The people serve Antichrist and yet do not know him.  Although doubtless right honourable lords) I well perceive the multitude of the worldly people so plagued of God with blindness and hardness of heart, that all though they with all diligence study and obedience, daily do serve antichrist, the greatest adversary of God and of Christ: yet do they not know nor understand him to be antichrist christ, nor do perceive his crafty illusions, his hypocrisy, and disguised fashions. So that except a man consider & behold him assuredly by the light of God's word, he shall never understand, espy, nor perceive him, although he had a subtile and pregnant wit, as clear and well seeing eyes, and as crafty a brain as ever had man. He cometh in so disguised under the colour of holiness: Yea and that in the name of Christ, & under the pretence to condemn all false and erroneous doctrines and heresies. Which thing all Christian princes, and all other good men, willbe most diligent and glad to do. But herein he most subtly and shamefully beguileth all men. For he and his adulterous generation will challenge to him and to them authority & power only given to determe, discern, and to judge what is heresy, error, 
Antichrist in the name of heresy, condemneth the truth  & what is false doctrine. And by that means, be the doctrine never so true and godly (if it sound any thing against his usurped power, his pride, his profit, his ungodly decrees and laws made in general Counseils, and other his false and wicked determinations, and judgements) he will condemn it for heresy.  
And he that preacheth it, him will he accurse, calling him the enemy of God, and of all the holy church, a seditious person, not worthy to dwell in any comen wealth. But if Emperors, Kings & other civil governors & rulers, would examine his doctrines, and try them by the light of God's heavenly word, and prove all his other procedings, how they agree with the same. They should then soon perceive, understand, & know, that he himself (although he calleth himself the head of the church and Christ's vicar upon earth, the successor of the Apostles) yet should they find and prove him, to be the head Antichrist, the Arch-heretic, the man of Sin, and child of perdition: And all his sects, to be the sects of perdition, that depart from the faith, that also attend to the spirits of error, denying the Lord that bought them.  
But for as much (right honourable lords) as no man can well put any diversity betwixt two extreme contraries, except he perfectly understand and know both the contraries, I will first describe and set forth unto your good lordships, Christ (who is contrary to that wicked Antichrist) according as the holy scriptures, 
joh. 5.  which (as Christ sayeth) bear true witness of him. And then I will also paint in his lively colours, that Arch heretic antichrist, that extreme contrary to Christ. But no nother wise, than Christ and his Apostles in the holy scriptures have revealed and evidently expressed and declared him. So that the one contrary compared and set near to the other contrary, shall express, declare and set forth the other, more evidently, plainly, and more aparauntly.  
first, Christ is as much to say, 
Christ.  as anointed, (as jesues Christ was of God the father) not with oil & cream conjured of our Bishops, but with the holy Ghost, who in the holy scriptures, 
Psal. 44 and. 88  is called the oil of gladness: by whom God enlighteneth, instructeth and teacheth his holy Church, of the which he hath appointed and authorized, Christ to be the Supreme head, King, 
Phil. 2.  Hyghbisshop, and everlasting Priest. Who being equal with God his father, did vouchsafe of his mere mercy & good will, to descend from heaven, & took on him our vile nature: not forsaking his divine nature, but joining them together, (both natures remaining not diminished, hurt or altered) & became a perfit man, in all natural miseries like unto us except only sin. 
Ro. 5.8 Col. 2.  And even then when we were his enemies he revived us, and offered himself to God his father upon the cross, as a sacrifice to be slain for the redemption of our sins. 
Heb. 10  By which this his only one sacrifice once performed for us, (not for a little season, but for ever) he hath made holy and perfit them that be and shallbe made holy and perfit. And by this means he hath reconciled us to God his father, 
Eph. 2.  pacifienge his father's wrath, that then was against us, through his bloodshedinge, and painful death. And he that was without sin, became a full, 
2. Cor. 5.  just, and perfit satisfaction for our sins. 
Eph. 2. Col. 2.  And hath taken away the curse and condemnation of the law, delivering us from the cruel curse and judgement thereof. And after thorough his own power, he overcame death, and ascended to heaven, where he continueth our advocate, mediator, and only saviour from our sins. 
joan. 10.  Our only way and door by the which we must enter into eternal joys. To whom only, we be bound to give the honour and thanks for our redemption from sin, hell, 
Ezech. 43 Luk. 2.  and death everlasting: And therefore to obey and serve him all the days of our life in holiness and righteousness, according to our calling. Herein have I described and declared to your honourable lordships our redeemer and only saviour jesus Christ, and his only office and benefits most mercifully exhibeted and done to us. By the which description, your Lordships may/ with much more facility & ease, have certain & sure understanding & knowledge of Antichrist, the other extreme contrary to Christ.  
This antichrist must not be understanded and taken (right honourable Lords) for one natural man, 
what is Antichrist.  that by nature is as all other be, a miserable sinner, or that he should be a certain wicked person, that should be begotten betwixt a friar and a Nun, or betwixt a Monk and a Nun, according to old wives fables and winter tales. But this name antichrist, is the name of a mystery and office pertaining to a mystical body, whereof the principal minister is called the chief antichrist, as all the other members of the same faction, mystery and office, be also Antichristes'. All which receive power, authority, and office, from their heed antichrist, that in all his doctrines, manners, and living, is mere contrary to Christ. For even as that congregation is the mystical body of Christ, whereof he is the supreme heed, that hath received the true and sincere preaching of the law and of the gospel, and live according to the preaching of the same, and also have the sacraments duly administered unto them, according to Christ's institution of the same: 
The description of antichrist.  Even so is that malignant church and congregation the mystical body of antichrist, that hath not amongst them the true and sincere preaching of the Law and of the Gospel, ne yet the sacraments duly administered unto them, according to Christ's institution of them, ne yet according to the practice of the Apostles, nor of the primative church, nor the same can be content to live according to the rule and doctrine of God's heavenly word: nor suffer any other to live according to the same: but will compel them with torments to receive a new religion, that must consist other in vain things which be of no commodity or profit to any man either spiritual or temporal: or else it is manifest wicked and repugnant to God's holy word. And first touching their vain things, and deed ceremonies of their religion, that be of no commodity or profit to any man except only to the sluttish sect of perdition. I note all their popish traditions of confirmation of young children with oyntinge of oil and cream, and with a rag knit about the neck of the young babe, the christening of bells, the hallowing of oil and cream, the hallowing of churches of churchyards, of chalices, of vestiments, of altars, of aultare clothes, of salt, of bread, of fiere, of ashes, of water, of candles, of palm sticks, judas bells with candles blown out at the end of every Psalm and lesson, creeping to the cross with eggs and apples, dispelinge with a white rod, washing of altars. Of all which things the holy scriptures command not one to be done, although in this church of Antichrist they be straightly commanded to be used. And yet I know no wise man that will or can praise the commodity or profit that cometh thereof to any man, but only to the priest that hath the candles eggs. etc. that be offered unto him. And although there riseth not any commodity or profit other spiritual or temporal to any man: yet as I have said, they be straightly commanded to be observed/ contrary to God's commaunndement that sayeth: 
Deut. 12  That which I command you, that only take heed do to the Lord, Putth on nought thereto.  
Not withstanding which commandment/ because antichrist would partly set forth his own nature and property, that is, to be contrary and disobedient to God and Christ, he hath erected these new holy things, never of God commanded. And therefore as they be not of God, so be they of no commodity or profit to any of the people of God.  

why Antichrist commandeth vanities.  But yet there is some consideration wherefore antichrist hath commanded these vain things to be done. One is, that he would have his filthy generation to be had in estimation of the worldly babes, because that they have received such holiness from his holy fatherhood, that they may sanctify and make holy, that God hath hallowed already, like as the things of God's creation were not sufficiently hallowed thorough his eternal word whereby he created them. Exalteth not he himself above God, honourable lords, that taketh upon him to add holiness to that which God hath sufficiently hallowed? Be not these his hallowings of God's creatures a necessary point pertaining to the vocation of a spiritual pastor/ that hath cure and charge of souls? Or be they not necessary things to be done of a Christian man/ touching his vocation and duty to be done towards God and towards his neighbour And although they be worthy rather to be laghed at and mocked/ yet by these his vanities he occupieth the time hat should be spent in the instruction & teaching the people in the law and the Gospel.  
Moreover by these, as also by many other their doings/ they declare their diligent cure and study that they have to obey God's commandment given to them to instruct and to teach the people God's word, that leave the gospel unpreached and occupy the hearts and minds of the people with such trifles and vanities. But because these vain things do not sufficiently reveal this wicked antichrist and his sect. That he may be known of all men, I will commend to your memories (honourable lords) some of his false doctrines: Not such as I of mine own brain, call false doctrines and the doctrines of devils, and of such as depart from the faith, and be lying masters, and give ear to the spirits of error: But such doctrines as Christ and his Apostles note to be the doctrines of devils, and of such as by the same doctrines shall deceive 〈◊〉, and shall cause many to follow the sp●…tes of error. So that every man that heareth such doctrines preached, may boldly say, that the preachers thereof be false preachers and sects of perdition, that they be the adulterous generation of Antichrist, that these many years have deceived and bewitched the world.  
And although Christ and his Apostles have manifestly declared, and evidently set forth to the world the said doctrines to be the doctrines of devils and of them that depart from the faith, and the very self same doctrines whereby antichrist and his filthy sect should deceive many Yet such hath been the blindness of the world, that they can not understand nor perceive those doctrines, to be the same wicked doctrines, whereof, Christ and his Apostles admonished them & all men to beware: not only because he coloureth his doctrines with false painted gloss, 
joan. 3.  but also because the world loveth darkness more them the light, And also to verify Christ's words of prophesy to be truly fulfilled in them saying: I am come in my father's name and you receive me not. 
Jaon. 5.  But if another shall come in his own name, him will you receive.  
Now touching the false doctrines of antichrist saint Paul sayeth: 
1. Tim. 4  The spirit manifestly showeth that in the last times, certain men shall depart or go away from the faith, attending or giving ear to the spirits of error and doctrines of devils, prohibiting to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, that God hath created to be received of them that believe and know the truth, with thanks giving. By this doctrine of saint Paul manifestly appeareth (honourable Lords) that the forbidding of marriage is the doctrine of devils. For God in paradise first ordained marriage, saying: It is not good for man to be by himself alone. Let us make to him a helper to bear him company, & so forth as it appeareth in the text. 
Gen. 2.  Considering that God said: It is not good for man to be alone, doubtless it is not good generally, for man to be alone without his help. 
Esa. 45  And the Prophet Esay curseth all them that speak against their maker. Noman therefore durst be so bold to forbid marriage to any people except only Antichrist and his fluttish and shameless sect, which ever be against God and Christ. Also because it was not good for man to be alone without his wife in the state of innocency: It is not now good but much worse to be without a wife, when man is fallen by sin, being the flesh more frail & prone to sin. And therefore that man that hath not the especial gift of chastity and will live alone, & not take a wife. The same not only contemneth Gods merciful ordinance made for man in the state of innocency, but also despiseth God's loving benefit and remedy provided for the infirmity of man, whereby he might avoid fornication, & other wicked lusts forbidden by God: according to saint Paul's doctrine saying: 
1. Cor. 7.  To avoid fornication, let every man (excepting not priests) have his wife, and every woman (excepting not vowasses) have her husband. And because marriage is God's ordinance and merciful remedy provided for all men, ●hat have not the gift of chastity: It is therefore good for every man, that have not received the gift of chastity to have a wife, namely because it is Gods merciful provision and ordinance provided for the help of man, and commanded in the holy scriptures by Gods holy spirit, where no evil thing can be commanded.  
And also the same state of matrimony in Christ's religion is praised of the Apostle, saying: Marriage is honourable, 
Heb. 13.  & the bed not defiled. Christ also approving the same estate in that he was borne of a virgin in marriage, 
Luc. 1.  and not of a virgin out of marriage. 
joan. 2.  And also Christ himself in his godly presence honoured matrimony with a great miracle done in Cana, where he turned water in to wine. Abraham the father of all believers, and other the patriarchs and Prophets had lawful wives that were not disproved of God, nor was no impediment unto them, but that they had the spirit of prophesy & the faruoure of God. Wherefore then should our unlearned priests refuse to mary wives specially because all men perceive by their living, that they have not the gift of chastity? But for so much as Paul sayeth, honourable lords, 
Tit. 3  that all thing (namely of God's creation and ordinance) is pure and good to them whose consciences be pure and good. All men that know any thing in the holy scriptures know and certainly believe, that if our Antichristian priests were pure & clean towards God, his ordinance of matrimony would not be forsaken of them. But for as much as by the residue of their conditions and qualities, many think them to be such as Peter writeth of, 
2. Pet. 2.  that have eyes full of adultery and of the insatiable lust and offence, & so defiled with filthy lusts. To our English priests, godly matrimony is neither pure nor clean, and therefore are they unworthy of chaste matrimony, because their consciences be neither pure nor clean. And then be they so cast of from God that they can not judge chaste matrimony good for them, although they can not deny, matrimony to be God's ordinance, which can not be evil to a good man. And also they know that as good men, as any that the holy scriptures praise, were married, & had both wives and children.  

An objection.  But to this they say, that matrimony is godly so that it be by such as may lawfully marry. But because they have made vows to live sole and unmarried, they say, they may not take any wives of their own. But I desire them to show me whether God requireth of them any such vows to be made by them? 
Esa. 1.  And also I require of them to show me without any dissimulation, Answer. whether they would have made any such vow, if it were not for to be apt to have a benefice? And because the Pope, which maketh laws to fill hell/ by his most wicked decrees hath ordained that every Priest that should be apt to receive ecclesiastical promotion should be with in such orders, Note. that it should not be lawful for him to marry a wife, therefore make the priests their vows.  
But for a conlusion (right honourable lords) there is no prohibition nor for biding of marriage made to any persons but only to priests and vowesses. doubtless therefore that prohibition of marriage made to them, is the self same doctrine of devils that Paul speaketh of. And their vows be wicked, because the vows that they make be proud vows, that they can not tender to God, and such as they ought rather to ask of God, if he would give them. And therefore foolish vows be they, that displease God, 
Eccl. 5.  as the holy ghost sayeth. And if, your Lordships, would well consider, way, and ponder how much adultery, fornication, deflowringe of virgins, murder of infants, and of married men, whoredom and the filthy sin of buggery have be committed thorough these foolish & ungodly vows of sole living, & prohibition of matrimony made to priests & vowesses, I think, that neither your lordships, nor any christian man can otherwise, other judge or say, but that this forbidding of marriage, is the self same doctrine of devils whereof Paul speaketh As the same doctrine whereby the devil hath greatly, and will maintain and fill his kingdom. Beware therefore, my good Lords, of one of Antichristes' wicked doctrines. And note well whether ye have any in your English clergy that teach that doctrine, and stobernly defend the same And know ye them to be Antichristes' disciples. And although all the heavens cry out upon them, and all the earth wondereth at their abominable whoredom, adultery and fornication, yet be our priests permitted and suffered: nay rather compelled, to make soch wicked and foolish vows, therewith to mock the people, that they should not mistrust them with their wives, daughters, nor women servants, because, they say, they will have no nother wife but our Lady.  
But England can not be ignorant of the multitude of their whores and bastards. 
1. Cor. 5.  How this agreeth with Paul's doctrine, that commandeth us not to eat with such, judge you, my Lords, that should see it reform. And for your own honours provide that adultery may be punished with the same punishment that God ordained adultery to be punished. Do you doubt whether God did err in judgement? If you do not think iniquity in God, Wherefore do ye not follow him in judgement, that can not err nor command any unrighteousness.  
saint Paul (right honourable lords) setteth forth another doctrine of devils, the abstinence from meats in certain times and days, and for conscience sake: supposing the meat to be profane, and ungodly, and against God's will and pleasure to be eaten. Soch abstinence from meats Paul calleth the doctrine of devils, because it is mere contrary to Christ's words, and the holy scriptures. For meat, sayeth Paul, commendeth us not to God, 
1. Cor. 8.  neither if we eat be we the better, neither if we eat not be we the worse. 
Math. 15.  For that which entereth in to the mouth defileth not the man: but that which proceedeth out of the heart, sayeth Christ. Also Saint Paul exhorteth all men that they regard not such ordinances made by men, like as the ordinances made by God, saying: 
Collo. 2.  Let no man trouble your conscience about meat and drink. Wherefore, if you be deed with Christ (sayeth he) from the ordinances of the world, whic as though ye yet lived in the world, are ye lead with man traditions? touch not, taste not, handle not. All which perish thorough the very abuse, after the commandment & doctrines of men. Which things outwardly have a similitude of wisdom by superstition, & humbleness, & by hurting of the body, & in that they do the flesh no worship to the need thereof. S. Peter also thought it not meet for him to eat certain meats that were forbidden in Moses law to be eaten, as things that were unclean. 
Act. 10.  To whom in a vision was answer given, that he should not say that thing to be comen and unclean that God had purified, thorough his eternal word. 
Hebr. 13.  It is therefore good, sayeth Paul, to establish our hearts in grace and not in meats which profited not them that walked therein.  

1. Cor. 10.  Doubtless, honourable lords, Saint Paul would not have commanded generally that we should eat of all kind of meats that come to be sold in the shambles, asking no thing what they be, for conscience sake, if it had not been lawful by God's laws to eat of all kinds of meats, and that in all times and days so that they be eaten temperately, for the necessity of the body, and not for wanton lust to please the flesh, and also eaten with out offence of the weak brethren, & eaten with thanks giving for the same to God that feedeth all things But who (right honourable lords) hath foreboden these flesh meats, and whit meats to be eaten in Lent & other prescript times? Even he that hath usurped power to make offences & sin of that which God nor his Apostles, taught to be sin or offence. Of whom S. Paul warneth you to beware, & to mark them, & decline from them. For such sayeth Paul, 
Rom. 13.  sserue not our Lord but their bellies. And by pleasant words & blessings they seduce & beguile the hearts of innocentes.  
But wherefore hath our holy father made restraint of meats to be eaten in certain times for conscience sake, so manifest contrary to the doctrine of them that he boasteth to be his predecessors? Verily that he might set forth his usurped power. And also that (as S. Peter sayeth) he might make merchandise over us in covetousness. 
2. Pet. 2.  For money he will give licence to eat what you will, & to do what you will. And therefore all his laws made of restraint, & forbidding of those things that God left free, are but a plain art and craft devise made to beguile the people of their money. This, most honourable Lords, I have set forth two of Antichristes' false doctrines not after mine own fantesie, but as Paul nameth them the doctrine of devils, that you might not be any further deceived by the preachers of them. And also that you may assuredly, certify your consciences, that all they that preach and defend the same doctrines, been unfeignedly Antichristes' disciples, which be spirits of error, that have departed from the faith: or else the Apostles doctrine is erroneous and false: But that can not be true. Also our master Christ, admonisheth us to beware lest any manned deceive us. For many shall come, sayeth Christ, in my name saying: 
Mat. 24  I am Christ, & shall deceive many. Who is he that cometh in Christ's name saying, I am Christ? None doubtless, 
who be they that say they be Christ.  but he that usurpeth to him Christ's office, power, & holiness, which no man doth but the Romish Antichrist and his sluttish sect. Even they that usurp absolute power given to them to remit and to forgive sins to the people, 
Against them that usurp Christ's power and place.  which is the only power, grace and office of Christ, and not of any man. Wherefore that man that usurpeth upon him that office of Christ, is the very same that sayeth: I am Christ, that is, so anointed and authorized of God, that I have absolute power given me from God, to forgive sins, as Christ hath. For even in such manner of speaking all his filthy sect, sitting in their whorish confessions, boast themselves that they sit in Gods stydde and room to forgive the sins of such as confess their sins to them, saying in their false absolutions in a tongue that the confessed understandeth not. By the authority of Peter and Paul, and by the authority to me committed I forgive the thy sins to me confessed? But neither Peter, ne yet Paul, did forgive sins by their own authority, grace or power, but only by the preaching of the gospel. 
Act. 4.  As Peter sayeth: there is no nother name under heaven given unto men, neither is there any other by whom we must be saved, 
Act. 10  but the name of jesus Christ. For to him all the prophets bear witness (sayeth Peter) remission of sin to be had thorough his name. Also, sayeth Paul, be it known unto you men and brethren, 
Act. 13.  that thorough this man (meaning Christ) remission of sins is preached, and that by him all that believe are justified from all things from the which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. For he is the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the people/ sayeth joan baptiste. 
joh. 1.  And even so sayeth the Angel to our lady, 
Math. 1.  that he shall save his people from their sins. Wherefore neither by the authority of Peter/ nor of Paul, ne yet by any absolute authority to them committed, except by the authority of preaching of the gospel to the people, that truly repent, believing constantly to have remission of their sins by the death and bloodshedinge of jesus Christ, hath other bishop or priest any authority to forgive sin.  
Lament therefore (my Lords) the miserable state of this realm, considering that there can be no remission of sins given, but only thorough the preaching of the gospel, which none of our priests thorough all the realm do practise in their whorish confessions, nor yet know they what is a gospel, much less can they preach the gospel. Halas, by what means do these beasts of the belly give remission of sins to the people, when they speak not one word of Christ that the confessed doth understand or perceive. But in their absolutions they give penance to the confessed, fasting certain days, lyplabour in saying of things they understand not, masses to be said, and alms to be given for the satisfaction of their sins. Thus bury they Christ's passion, and death, and bloodshedinge, which only be our satisfaction for our sins. And no nother can be. And although God, by his prophet isaiah, commandeth all pastors that have the spiritual charge of souls, 
isaiah. 43.  to show unto his people their sins, saying: Cry and cease not. life up thy voice as a trumpet, 
isaiah. 58.  & show my people their sins. notwithstanding this commandment of God given to all them that have spiritual charge of souls, antichrist myndinge to show to the world, that he thinketh himself wiser than God, and that he can make more godly and wholesome provision for soul health than God, hath made a law that all people of every kind once in the year at the least, shall confess and show their sins to their own Pastor or curate. God commandeth that the pastor shall show to the people their sins. But antichrist commandeth clean contrary, that the people shall show their sins to their curates. By these means, the people for the most part believe that they have remission of their sins, because they have numbered their sins in to the ears of their confessor. Or else for what cause should we confess them to our curates? For every man knoweth what is sin, & that he shallbe damned if he forsake not his sin, if the priests execute the commandment of God given by isaiah. 
isaiah 58.  But the simple people think verily that when the curate pronounceth a certain sound and voice of words over their deeds which they think is an absolution from their sins, although they understand not one word what he sayeth, yet believe they that the words that he speaketh having his hand upon their heeds have virtue and power, to forgive to them their sins: even because the priest sitting in God's stead (as they think, and as the priests boast themselves to do) pronounceth and speaketh them. Wherein all be deceived lamentably.  

Assured means whereby every man may have remission of sins.  But doubtless, he that earnestly repenteth his sinful life, fully minded never after to return to the same, & then trusteth constantly to Gods promise made of remission of sins to him, for the passion & death of our saviour Christ/ the same hath remission of his sin althouth he never number them in to the ear of any priest. And then if he feeling and perceiving true, repentance and faith in his heart, will resort to any priest to receive absolution and remission of his sins, whereof he is assured by God's promise, the same declareth himself to mistrust Gods promise made to him of remission of his sins, and then is he an infidel, that by no means can have remission of his sins. And if he be not fully minded to forsake his former evil life, and never to return to the same again, then can he not have any trust to have remission of his sins, because that is promised to them only that for ever forsake their sins. And therefore, if he mindeth not to forsake his sins, he goeth in vain to his curate to have remission of his sins. And if he repenteth his sins and believeth, as I have said, then doth he evil to fatch remission of his sins, whereof he is assured already by God's promise to be forgiven. And therefore his going to his curate to be confessed is very vain and a point of infidelity.  
Oh that the curates of England, would they and observe God's commandment, given to them by the mouth of his prophet Esaia. But that will they never 〈◊〉. But their master Antichristes' commandments will they diligently obey, although they bring no commodity spiritual or temporal to any man, saving to their filthy paunches. Every man may well perceive, wherefore they be so greedy to hold and to maintain this whorish confession, 
Th' causes why the clergy so earnestly maintain auricular confession.  and authority to hear testamentary causes etc. Over & besides that they provide for themselves in their confessions, where they may be sped of a whore or two, all the year after. Yet by these their confessions, the chief Antichrist keepeth his sluttish sect of perdition in estimation with the comen people, in whose consciences they sit as God, and execute Antichristes' office, that is to fill hell with souls. And so in their confessions be ever ready to work sedition and treason against both Emperor king, and all other governors, of that Empire, realm, and dominion, that either contendeth or striveth with their holy father antichrist, or speaketh against his usurped power, his false and crafty deceated wicked doctrines, whereby he seduceth & beguileth all men for the most part: leading them with a false confidence and faith, to have remission of their sins, because they declare them to his filthy generation of serpents. And by these means innumerable souls be le●… 〈◊〉 to hell. And much sedition and treason is wrought, whereby much bloodshedinge and murder is brought to pass to the utter subversion and destruction of many Realms. As the last sedition stirred up in the North, in Somerset shire, & Devonshire, and in other parts of this Realm, be most miserable monimentes and witnesses. And this is not their only comen practise practised with us in England: but also the like practice, was practised with the Princes of Germany, that will never suffer their treasons to be out of man's memory.  
Wherefore this whorish confession, whereof proceedeth so much evil and mischief to all realms, which also bringeth no profit with it, but seduceth and beguileth many, aught to be banished and abolished, although they say, that they cannot well give medicine, or plaster, that shallbe wholesome or profitable, except they also know the particular disease and grief Which answer our holy father himself desproveth. For he giveth clean remission, a prenaet a culpa, that is from pain and sin, to them that never showed their offences to him, and healeth all sicknesses, and sores, with this one plaster, that is, all that be truly sorry and penitent for their sins, and be confessed to a priest have clean remission. As for faith in our saviour jesus Christ, it forceth not: so thou be confessed, it maketh no matter whether thou believe in Christ or no. And yet without Christ are we all for ever: remidiles damned.  
Why do ye, right honourable lords/ admit this blasphemous doctrine, of remission of sins without faith in Christ. All that be truly sorry for their sins, entending thorough God's help/ never to return to the same, and put their trust and faith in Christ's blood for the remission of their sins, have a general pardon granted unto them by God himself, by his promise, though they never come to priests ear, which is a sure bull, nor sealed with lead, but with the bloodshedinge of jesus Christ. And therefore, if our english priests would truly preach the law to the people openly, them should they show the people their sins, according to God's commandment, and give them the general plaster, that is, they must utterly forsake their sins, and trust to Christ's satisfaction made for the same, This may they do without carish confession. And this is the only true way to forgive sins, and of itself sufficient. Away therefore with this blasphemous care confession, and compel your priests to preach the law and the gospel. And so may, your lordships, avoid many evils and much wickedness that ensueth this whorish confession.  
And, good my Lords, beware of them that say, I am Christ, that is, so anointed of God with grace that every man may have of me, the same benefit that they may have of Christ. For they that come so in the name of Christ, saying. 
Math. 24  I am Christ, shall deceive many sayeth Christ, who can not speak untruly.  
Beware therefore, my lords, of another of Antichristes' false doctrines and practice. 
Another of Antichristes' false doctrines.  Another false doctrine of antichrist is that he hath invented and erected the new sacrifice to be made in the ydolotrous Mass for the souls of the quick and of the deed. 
2. Petr. 2  By the which sacrifice they make merchandise of men's souls for money. But for as much as Christ hath offered himself upon the cross to God his father, and become for us a perfit, 
Herald 7. et. 9  whole and sufficient sacrifice for our sins, ones for ever, wherewith he hath taken away our sins. By what means can our false sacrificers/ with their false sacrifice made in their ydolotrose mass (never commanded of God to be made, for the sins other of the quick, or of the deed) take away our sins. Considering that Paul sayeth: 
Hebr. 10  where is remission of sins there needeth no further sacrifice to be made for sins, but Christ with his only one sacrifice made to God his father for us hath taken away our sins, as all the holy scriptures bear manifest witness. And in the articles of our creed we confess the same. Wherefore this sacrifice made in the ydolotrouse mass, is most wicked and sinful, & can not by any means take away our sins: but is one of Antichristes' false crafts and subtle devices thereby to maintain his sluttish generation of infideles, to live ydly, proudly and lecherously. And by this their false sacrifice made in their ydolotrouse mass, they rob Christ not only of his honour of our redemption, and of the thanks dew for the same: But also they make many to have a false confidence and trust, to have their sins to be taken away thorough their false sacrifice made in their masses. Wherein they be lamentably deceived. And also they rob us of our money, & be the self same robbers that Christ sayeth do devour widows houses under the colour of long prayers, 
Mat. 23. Marc. 12.  and also that make ambergris of our souls in covetousness. 
2. Pet. 2  These be the same Antichristes', that confess not Christ to be comen in the flesh, & deny the Lord that bought them. 
1. joan. 4   
The self same sacrificers, right honourable lords, take upon them to be mediators and advocates with God for the people: not for love, 
An other of Antichristes' false doctrines.  as one man is bound to pray for an other. But these holy mediators and advocates will not pray but for money. That the common proverb may be verified in them. Where is no penny, there is no Pater noster. 
Prayer.  Prayer is of all things most spiritual. And no man can pray truly, except God teach him, 
Math. 6  As it appeareth by the Apostles that desired Christ to teach them to pray. And also, Paul sayeth: 
Rom. 8.  we can not pray as we ought to pray. Therefore, if our clergies sacrifices and prayers were spiritual, as in deed they be but very liplaboure and most deceitful babblings, they should commit Simony, for taking for a spiritual office a temporal reward. But money & all other things be spiritual when they meddle with them. They in them selves be so spiritual. But mediators, & advocates, will they be, although the holy scriptures say the contrary And that Christ is our only mediator & advocate as it appeareth joan. 14▪ &. 17. &. 1. Tim. 2. and. 1. jaan. 3 Yet will our wicked priests usurp unto them the only office of Christ: to be mediators and advocates. And thereby, say that they be Christ. But beware of them, honourable lords. For Christ biddeth you beware of them. For they shall deceive many sayeth Christ.  
Beware therefore of another of Antichristes' false doctrines. All christian men be bounden to believe that our saviour Christ in his natural body is ascended in to heaven, and there sitteth on the right hand of God the father, acccordinge as both Peter and Paul have taughters. 
1. Petr. 3. Coloss. 3.  And according to our comen crede. But antichrist, and his adulterous generation of infideles have taught another doctrine saying. Here is Christ and there is Christ. But none say here is Christ and there is Christ but these massmongers, which say that they (thorough their speaking of four words, scz, this is my body) do make Christ's body of bred, there to be really and bodily present upon every altar, in one instant, that they might offer him once again for a sacrifice, made for money but not for sin. This doctrine is to be much suspected to be a false doctrine, because that Christ commandeth you not to believe them, that so teach or say. And Peter sayeth that he is in heaven, and that the heavens shall there retain him, until all things be fulfilled. etc. 
Act. 3.   
Considering that he in his bodily presence is in heaven, and his body is like to our bodies in all natural things, except only sin. And our bodies can not be in diverse places at one time therefore nor Christ's body can be in divers places at one time. Wherefore, good my lords, be not any more ignorant who be false deceivers, wicked prophets, 
Christ's body is in secret places, that is in every pixt.  and lying masters the natural brood of antichrist The same sect sayeth, that Christ is in secret places, which be all they that say, Christ's natural body is in every pyx, hanging over every altar, beware of them. For Christ sayeth that by these words they shall deceive many, Which doctrines our English priests daily do preach.  
Now I will rehearse another of his false and wicked doctrines, 
Yet a false doctrine.  invented only thereby to maintain a number of idle harlots, and to lead innumerable souls thorough a false faith and vain trust, in to hell. This is his doctrine of purgatory the pike purse of all Christendom. And although the holy ghost sayeth/ that by mercy and saith sins be purged: Yet Yet hath this Antichrist found out a prison, 
purgatory.  which he calleth Purgatory, therein to punish souls, until other he, or some of his mark must make a sacrifice for his soul in his ydolotrous mass. But it were no good policy to trust to much to their sacrifice because there is no mention thereof made in any place of the holy scripture. Nor yet is it wisdom to trust much to their prayers, because the prophet saith, that the prayer of the wicked is not well heard of God, 
Psa. 108.  but rather to sin. Wherefore it is best for a christian man to trust unto God's mercy, and not to popish sacrifices nor prayers, which be neither mercy nor faith. And we be sure that neither the mercy of God nor faith in Christ, be in the Pope's hands to distribute where it pleaseth him. Wherefore he can not purge souls, neither of their sins nor of the pains dew for the same, by God's judgement. It belongeth only to God to purge souls from their sins. As the prophet sayeth. 
Psal. 48.  No man can deliver his brother, nor make agreament for him to God, for it costeth more to redeem their souls, so that ye must let that alone for ever. 
joan. 3. joan. 1. Ro. 8.  Christ sayeth, he that believeth, hath now eternal life, & is the son of God, coheir with Christ, to whom God hath promised remission of sins freely for Christ's sake. Therefore the Pope shall do him to much wrong, to punish him for his sins, to whom God hath forgiven them. And if he were a true vicar to God & Christ, he would not so cruelly punish his master's children nor loving servants.  
But that we may not trust unto this popish purgatory, whereof there is no mention made in the scriptures. Let us resort unto the holy scriptures wherein we may have a sure hope of a true purgation of our sins. S. joan sayeth. 
1. joh. 1.  If we walk in the light even as he is in the light, them have we fellowship with him: And the blood of jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin. Here may all Christian men have sure confidence, that if they walk in the light of God's word, that then Christ's blood purgeth them from all their sins. But many persons (the more it is to be lamented) so walck in the darkness of sin, & trust to have help thorough sacrifices made, & masses, that they can never come to Purgatory, but go assuredly to hell, where no purgation of sin can be: because Christ's sentence & judgement is given, that he that believeth not, is already condemned. And the holy scriptures say: where the tree falleth there he shall lie, whether it be at East, west, North, or South. 
Eccle. 11.   
Be not therefore deceived, honourable lords, nor trust to this false doctrine of purgatory, that sins should be purged with fire. A Christian man would not put fire in the stead of Christ's blood, where with our sins be purged only, As Paul sayeth, 
Hebr. 1.  Christ is the brightness of the glory of his father, and very image of his substance, bearing up all things, with the word of his power, that hath in his own person purged our sins. Except, therefore, our holy father will prove himself to be the natural son of God, even Christ himself, he purgeth not our sins. 
Apo. 1.  It is Christ that so loved us, that he washed us in his heart blood sayeth saint john.  
Considering, right honourable lords, that I have called to your memories certain of Antichristes' false doctrines, which I of mine own herd do not name to be doctrines of devils, doctrines of dying masters, and of subtle deceivers, and of them that depart from the faith, but out master Christ and his apostles (to whom all christian men 〈…〉 give credit) calleth them so, & the preachers of the same false Apostles, and such as with their false doctrines shall deceive many. Of whom Christ admonisheth you to beware, 
Mat. 24.  and the Apostle desireth you to mark & well to take heed of them and to decline or depart from them For they serve not Christ the Lord, but their belly. 
Ro. 16.  And yet (notwithstanding these loving admonitions and warnings given unto you (not by light preachers) but by Christ himself, and by his Apostles) the same doctrines be daily taught, preached/ allowed, and maliciously defended with you.  
Therefore have I according to my bound duty, set them forth, that you might beware of them, and of the preachers of them. So that ye may avoid the plague of God that hangeth over us, for our departing from Christ, and from his true doctrines unto the service and obedience of antichrist and of his false doctrines/ which be mere and plain contrary to Christ and his doctrines. By the which condition and sure mark, your lordships may well know them ever.  
And because I have rehearsed so many of Antichristes' false doctrines, that all men may well discern and judge the residue of his false doctrines by them that I have here written. I will now direct my pen to express and declare, a certain assured sign and token given by Daniel and also by Christ, of the time wherein Antichrist should come and rage's against Christ, 
Mat. 24.  Christ warneth us to look for him when we shall see abomination of desolation stand in the holy place. For the true declaration of the which text, it is to be noted, honourable lords, that the Apostle calleth us the temple of God saying: 
1. Cor. 3.  The temple of God is holy, which be you Considering that we be the temple of God, and the holy place. What more abomination of desolation can there be in the holy place, then to exile God out of his temple and holy place, not only by the working of manifold sins, filthiness, and detestable wickedness, whereof was never more plenty used: but also in the stead of God to receive antichrist the men of sin, and child of perdition, as Paul nameth him? Is not this to put man in God's stead, when we trust to receive remission of sins and eternal life of the Romish antichrist, and that in perchmeyne s●●●nes, considering that we hear not him preach any gospel to us, whereby our sins should be forgiven us, nor yet knoweth he any of our sins? If he can forgive us our sins, without hearing our sins numbered unto him; and without speaking with us, wherefore will not our priests forgive us our sins except they must hear them told in to their ears? Is not this abomination of desolation standing in the holy place? To give over our trust and confidence that we oughe to have of remission of our sins, at God's hands for Christ's sake only, and now to have confidence to have it at Antichristes' hands (for a little money) that is most contrary to God & to Christ in all things? Oh most abomination of desolation, standing in man's conscience, that should be the temple of God, and the dwelling place of the holy ghost. Is it not a foul abomination of desolation standing in the holy place? In the stead of Christ's only one sacrifice which he made of himself to God his father for us upon the cross, now to set up a new sacrifice to be made to God for us of a piece of bread and a cup of wine, and to lift up them to be showed to the people, to be gazed upon and to be worshipped, and not to be received, and to be eaten & drunken, according to Christ's institution and commandment? Is it not abomination of densolation standing in the holy church of God in the stead of the gospel to be preached and declared unto the people in such manner that they might receive comfort and hope thereby, to have the gospel and other parts of the holy scriptures/ to be read & song in a speech neither understanded not known of the hearers of them?  

Rom. 15.  saint Paul sayeth/ what so ever was written, was written for our doctrine and learning, that thorough patience and consolation of the holy scriptures we might receive hope. But Antichrist hath ordained a pain sound, to occupy the ears of the people calling it the gospel, although therebe no interpretation or declaration thereof made to the people. 
Ephe. 5.  For he & his filthy sect well know that the Apostle sayeth, that all things that be declared & opened bring light. Which antichrist & his filthy generation may not suffer nor abides because their works, 
joan. 3.  which be all wicked and done in darkness should by the light he made manifest and openly known to the world. For even as Christ came an to the world to give light to the world: Even so is antichrist came in to the world, to take away from the people the light that Christ brought in to the world.  

1. Cor. 14.  The Apostle commandeth that what so ever be done in the church, that it should be done to the instruction and edification of the congregation. For sayeth he, if any man speak with tongues, let it be by two or three at the most, and that by order, & let one interpretate or declare. And if there be no man there to let him keep silence and speak not to the congregation. Do not your lordships perceive plainly how antichrist & his filthy generation study and labour with policy to subvert all godly and profitable ordinances made by Christ and by his Apostles? Wherefore contrary to Paul's doctrine and the godly ordinances received, do ye suffer our priests to read a sing the holy scriptures daily in the churches to the people, in a tongue that they understand not, nor perceive that is spoken calling it God's service, & compelling the people to come to hear it? Who understandeth or is taught any thing thereby? They mock the people with a vain sound, whereby they have no lust, nor commodity, nor profit.  
Is not this Antichristes' ordinance of the holy scriptures to be read in a tongue or speech nor understand nor perceived of the people, 
 ●●.  contrary to the scripture that commandeth that the word of God should dwell in us abundantly, that we might teach the one the other: A wonderful crafty abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, depriving the people of the understanding of holy scriptures? And where Christ hath ordained certain Apostles, certain prophets, some Evangelists and doctors to finish a number of the elect, and to build the mystical body of Christ. In the stead of which ministers of Christ by antichrist are entered in thieves that receive and take great revenuwes and profits of the benefices: but they do no thing the office that Christ appointed and assigned unto the office to be done. Even ravening wolves that neither spare nor favour the flock of Christ. And no marvel it is, for in that they take the profits of their benefices, and do not the office there unto belonging, by Christ's sentence they be thieves by day and by night. 
joan. 10.  Whose office and coming, is not to feed and to favour the flock (sayeth Christ) but to steal, to kill, and destroy, as your lordships have thereof to much experience, and most certain proof.  
Is it not therefore abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, to see a thief and a murderer stand in the church of God in the stead of a true and diligent pastor and godly feader or bishop? Is it not abomination of deslation standing in the chief city of England, to sea franked fat Boor sitting at every sermon preached at Paul's cross, and the same not be found once in the year in the same pulpit, feeding the flock committed to his spiritual charge? Is it not abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, to see the holy scriptures in our native English tongue written upon every wall in the churches, now to be by commandment blotted out and in the stead thereof erected carved images of wood and of stone, by Gods own sentence accursed, and all they that make the same? And how they that cause them to be set up shall escape the same curse. I know not. They also upon palms sunday lift up a cloth and say, hail our king, to a Rood made of a wooden block. Doubtless, a worthy king for such a people.  
Now (right honourable Lords) I trust ye be not ignorant of the time wherein antichrist shall come, regne and rage against God and Christ. Even verily now, when there was never more abomination of desolation standing in man's conscience, and erected and set up in the temple and church of God. Where as, in the stead of a constant faith in Christ, is planted a most wicked faith & trust in the man of sin. And in the place of Christ's only one sacrifice made unto for us for ever sufficiently, is erected and set up a sacrifice made of bread and wine, daily to be made a sacrifice for us. And in the stead of the holy scriptures to be declared, that the people might understand the sense and meaning thereof, is erected and ordained the gospels and holy scriptures to be read and spoken in a tongue and speech that the people which hear the voice ●a●e no profit or comfort thereby. By this point of abomination of Desolation, all the clergy for forth themselves that they abhor no thing more then the light of God's word. 
joan. 3.  Which no man doth, but he that doth evil, sayeth Christ that lieth not.  
In the stead of pastors and spiritual teachers, be entered in thieves and most cruel murderers. And in the stead of the holy scriptures written upon the church walls in a speech that the people do understand and perceive, be erected and set up served images, accursed of God with the makers of them. So that in the stead of light and knowledge, is brought in and traded darkness and ignorancy which he the greatest policies and subtle crafts practised by Antichrifle and by all his filthy sect, whereby, he and they may bring souls to hell.  
Now it resteth to be noted (right honourable lords (wherefore the Apostle nameth Antichrist the man of sin, rather than a sinner, as all men be conceived, and borne in sin. Paul nameth him the man of sin, because from him, as from a fountain and heed well springe, floweth and springeth all notable and great sins and wickedness: as false doctrines, wicked laws and decrees, dispensations for buggery, fornication, and all kind of lust and lechery, for Simony and usury. Whereby all men be drawn and lead from their faith in God and in Christ, in to a false faith and trust in most vain trifles and vanities, whereby he practiseth to bring innumarable souls to hell.  
Also right honourable lords, where as God hath commanded all men to be obedient to the higher powers, 
Rom. 12. 1. Petr. 2  as to kings most excellent, or to such as be set in authority. Notwithstanding such commandment given from God, yet antichrist minding to declare himself and his sect to be adversaries to God and Christ, hath resisted and circumvented many Emperors & also kings, whom thorough most detestable treason, sedition and intestine war in their Empires, Realms and dominions, he hath deposed and deprived of their Empires and kingdoms, to the great dishonour and disoledience of God, & to the effusion of much christian blood, & the lamentable desolation of many widows, and miserable orbatinge of many Orphans and fatherless children. As the deposition of Chelpericus being French king from his kingdom, who was naturally borne, and descended from the noble lineage and house of the kings of France, and in his stead the erecting and making king Pipinus, which was not borne of any noble house, nor of the lineage of kings of France. The deposition and putting down the emperors Fredrick from his Empire. The deposition also of Otho king of the Longebardes, and of many other do manifestly bear witness  
Amongst the which, I will commend unto your lordship's memories, one lamentable history that is this. When Enrich the fourth Emperor of that name, attempted to have the election of the Romish bishop, as his noble progenitors before him had. One Hyldibrande a monk being then the Romish bishop, and named himself Gregory the seventh bishop there of that name, did fiercely withstand the said Enrich & stired up soch intestine sedition and wars in his dominion, that his people did seek means to choose a new Emperor/ which treason, being foreseen of the said Emperor and of his counsel, his enemies could not bring their wicked enterprise and purpose to effect. Then the said Monkish pope Gregory (whose covetousness, ambition, and pride, all the Italian writers can worthily testify, Amongst whom Beno the cardinal, most earnestly & plainly painteth and setteth forth the same) excommunicated the said Enrich and as many as did either aid him with power riches or victuals, And did further absolve and discharge all the subjects of the said Enrich of their obedience towards him, which they by God's laws did owe unto the said Emperor. And then, in open proclamations made in all the dominions of the said Enrich, he burdened and slandered the said Enrich with the most odious and grievous title and name, Heretic▪ and schismatic, enemy to God and to all holy church, whereby many of his friends and subjects (even all they in whose consciences did sit antichrist, occupy God's holy place) did fly and depart from the said Emperor. Whereby the power of the said Emperor was greatly decayed and minished. And then Hildibrande the monkish Pope bestered him busily, and caused one Rodulph duke of Sweuclande to be elected Emperor: Who after great bloodshedinge lost his life and Empire. After him, by Gregory's commandment one Herman Earl of Lucenburge was chosen Emperor, who after great manslaughter was slay in the wars and lost his life and Empire. And thirdly thorough treason wrought by Gregory, was one Marchio Echerte chosen to be Emperor, who after great slaghter of christian men lost not only his Empire but also his life, which cruel wars finished, with no little bloodshedding gave occasion to other princes, to fear to fight against the said Enrich, because of the great murder and death of these three noble princes. But yet the malice and cruel ambition of the heart of that monkish pope Gregory, could not be pacified, but that for his private lucre & honour he would maintain so bloody wars, never being moved to mercy nor pity with the destruction of so many cities and towns set a fire and miserably wasted, nor with the destruction, treading down and utter waste made of so many fields of corn and grass, nor yet with the shedding of so much christian blood, nor with the lamentation and mourning of so many widows for their husbands slay, nor with the grievous outerye of Orphans that died for lack of bodily food, nor for any evil that ensueth the furious wars, would this holy father leave of his working of sedition and treason.  
Oh horrible monster? Against nature he steered up Enrich the only son of Enrich the fourth to gather a great army against his own natural father, who neither for public nor private wrong done by his father to him, no any other evil was provoked thereto. Nevertheless he did not only unnaturally forsake his father, & withdraw his aid from his father in the time of need, but thorough the treason wrought by Gregory & by his help he circumvented his father and oppressed him with power, did take him prisoner in the wars, and lead him captive to prison, where he put his own father miserably to death.  
Behold, right honourable Lords, a tragedy more then cruel and bloody. Behold the charity of our holy fathers of Rome: By this fact they have setforth such example of wickedness, as never was before seen or heard of. If their sedition, treason, oppression, crafts and subtleties be well weighed and pondered of all wicked men they may most justly be called, not only a wicked sinner, but also the man of sin. From whom all the detestable and great sins of the world proceed although there should not be had in remembrance all their dispensations for the stews of whorish women and of filthy and abominable Sodomitical lusts, for simony, usury, and all other vices to regne in the world.  
Now, right honourable lords, I trust that I have sufficiently set forth this monstrous & furious beast Antichrist, as well by his false doctrines, that I have not feigned to be false of mine own brain and phantesye: but of the manifest saying of Christ & his Apostles, so plainly spoken that they be neither obscure, dark, nor hard to be understand. Who also have commanded all men to beware of them, & of the teachers of them, 
Rom. 16.  & so to depart & decline from them. I have also set forth his tyranny, his sedition, his treason, his crafty and false deceits, wherewith he hath circumvented, oppressed and deceived, many Emperors, kings and other noble rulers to whom Christ commanded him to obey, 
Mat. 17.  and gave him also a manifest and plain example when he paid tribute for himself and Peter. And by his own obedience used and practised unto the higher powers & unto their laws. He never gave him example, authority or power to depose other Emperor, king or any other civil rules. And therefore for this his disobedience towards God, and for all his other iniquities, he is justly called the man of sin, a child of eternal perdition. So that he is worse than a beast, or the most frantic mad man that ever was mad, that either will say or think, that he is other. Christ's vicar, or successor to the Apostle. But rather the devils vicar and successor, or cloth devil himself. For as by the fruit the tree is most certainly known, even so 〈◊〉, your lordships, by these his false doctrines & all other his wickedness, assuredly known him to 〈◊〉 man of sin very antichrist himself: And all his wicked generation to be the sects of perdition, the wicked brood of antichrist, most contrary to God and Christ.  
Wherefore he most falsely usurpeth to him the title and name of holy father, or of Christ's vicar in earth, or successor of the Apostles. But much more worthily and truly is called Antichrist the most malicious enemy and hateful adversary of Christ, as both his doctrines, his decrees & wicked laws, his pride exalting himself above all Emperors & kings, his dispensational for sin to be used in the church of God, his vanities where with he deludeth and bewytcheth the people▪ all his forged and feigned holiness, his hypocrisis, dissimulation, sedition, treason, most severe cruelty, and all other his wickedness and most detestable list of both him and all his fluttish generation of serpents, and filthy sect of infideles do manifestly prove and testify before all men. So that doubtless, the● can not be any thing more contrary to God and Christ, than he himself and his wicked broede do in all things.  
Considering that your lordship be not now ignorance (as my trust is what thing Antichrist is, but that you well understand and know that all they that be come in to the church to occupy an mystery, office or vocation contrary to God's word and Christ's ordinance and appointementes, or abuse his sacraments contrary to his ordinances, or that teach any false doctrine, or that take upon them any of Christ's honour or power, be very Antichristes', which is as much to say as against Christ.  
Wherefore, right honourable lords, I hope that God will open the eyes of your hearts that you may now at the last see and well perceive, by what craft, falseed and subtle devices, you have been deceived, & enticed to serve Antichrist in the stead of Christ: the devil in the stead of God: to follow false superstition, in the stead of Christ's true religion: hypocrisy and vanity, in the stead of the christian verity. And in conclusion, that you may well understand, that you of all men, have been most blinded in your judgements, most filthily corrupted, and your understanding and senses most shamefully deluded, beguiled and bewitched.  
Therefore, my good Lords, now renew your wits and understandings. And know you certainly that all your lordly lord bishops be of the natural broede of antichrist. Who with all subtlety policy and falsehood study and labour to obscure the light of God's word, 
why they make the nobles partakers.  and to subvert the ordinances of Christ and of his Apostles and obstinately defend their errors and evil doings and make you their ministers to murder your brethren for their faith, against your conscience to wrap you and your posterity in God's displeasure with them.  
And because your lordships shall not be deceived in them. I have given you the common token sign and mark, whereby you & all men can not but know them to be against Christ and his word. Where Christ said to Peter, feed, feed, feed, Which is to say: teach, teach, teach. They take teaching for no part of their office, but only to multiply a sort of blind ceremonies, to bring the people from knowledge of Christ, and to keep them under in ignorance with cruelty, And that they may bring that to pass, they labour to be lords and to have temporal offices contrary to God's word saying. The kings of the nations reign over them, 
Luc. 22  and they that bear rule over them be called gracious lords. But you shall not be so. That is you shall not take upon you to have civil governance and rule over the people, ne yet to be called gracious lords. S. Peter commandeth all bishops and such as have spiritual charge of souls committed to them, to feed the flock of Christ willingly (as Christ commanded him) and not to be lords over the parishes, but even as they were one of the flock.  
Yet your lordships well perceive that our bishops, not only take to themselves the name of lord and gracious lord: but also procure to have both civil governance and rule over the people, as to be Lord chancellor, Lord presidente, and to have the hearing of testamentary causes, of whoredom, of divorces, of slanders, which be no spiritual matters Except a man will so call them, because that they that boast to be spiritual only, do most use them. And as for preaching (where with Christ chief chargeth his ministers) is the least point of their charge. But they must attend upon bysshoppinge of children, christening of bells, of churches & churchyards, altars, and such other baggage and abominations as were never commanded of Christ, nor yet practised not known of his Apostles. Whereby they may easily be known not to be of Christ but against Christ and very Antichristes'.  
In like manner the persons, vicar's, and curates, that are admitted by them to have, enjoy and occupy, the commodity and profit of any spiritual benefice whereunto pertaineth cure and charge of souls, do not diligently reach the Law & the Gospel, but nosell the people with long Matenses, Masses and Even songs in a strange tongue. And where rich parishes be they rock them with mirrye singing and piping with such guegawes to please them withal, clean contrary to God's word and Christ's commandment, which sayeth. As my Father sent me, 
〈◊〉. 20.  even so do I send you. But his Father did send him to preach as it is plain Isaiah. 61. Mark. 1. Luke. 4. with the which commandment of Christ, given to all that have charge of souls, neither Emperor, King, nor Queen may lawfully dispense, or discharge. Wherefore as they be minisers contrary and not according to Christ's commandment. Even so be they Antichristes', that be ever against Christ, in all his doctrine and form of living. As Christ sayeth▪ he that is not with me, is against me. 
Matt. 12.  And how many so ever be come against me be s●…s by day and night. 
joan. 10.  And consequently. Christ minding to show unto you, the conditions whereby ye may ever know, who be spiritual thieves sayeth: the thief cometh not but to steal, to kill, and to destroy. Of their stealings, your Lordships be not ignorant. How many beneficed men be within this Realm as well bishops, as deans, archdeacons, persons, vicars, and prebendaries which take the profits from their benefices/ and do not feed their flock with the word of God? 
Mat. 4.  with out the which the souls of the flock can not live. Wherefore they steal the profits that do not the office.  
And of their cruel mortheringe (you have to much experience) & that neither of thief, mortherere, robber, or traitor: but of the best learned men of this realm or that ever were in this realm: Even of such as were able to reprove and controlle them in all things by God's word. Wherein they deceive and mock you, and all the people. And to prove them very thieves, And as, your lordships have to much experience of their stealing and of their mortheringe: Even so shall your lordships not sail to have more certain and sure experience, that they shall be most miserable destroyers of this realm of England, and that at soch time, when your lordships nor any of your posterity, shallbe able to provide any help or remedy to redress their destruction. For even as Christ's words be unfeignedly true that the thief cometh not for any purpose but to steal and to kill, so must the residue of his words, ever be found to be true, most certain and sure, that is, that he shall also destroy.  
And although you now do not regard nor believe Christ's words to be true, yet, when you think least thereon, your infidelity shallbe required with the feeling and painful suffering the destruction of you, and of your posterity, and the most miserable change and alteration of the state of this realm.  
This miserable mischief ensueth and cometh of this misorder that the governance of this realm, by your lordship's consents, hath be committed and done against God, in making a bishop (that by God's word and appointement was assigned to feed the flock committed to his spiritual charge) to leave his office, committed to him by God to be executed and done, to be a chancellor where by he was so occupied and busied in the hearing of the matters & affairs of this realm, that he could not attend his flock to feed them accorddinge to Christ's commandment. Whereby he was put out of that order and rule that God had appointed to him. Being out of the which order & appointment of God, he could never be commodietie or profit to this realm. For he was entered into the office not by the door Christ, but ascended by another way, & therefore was a thief, from whom no good counsel or any other godliness can proceed, nor more than of thorns may grapes be gathered. And that his doings will prove to well. For in that office he hath brought to pass by his counsel and persuasion, and by your lordship's sufferaunces, such incurable evil, that all England shall lament and bewail the same. Not only in killing the preachers and learned men of this realem, but also in the utter destruction of this Realm, & the alteration of the state and honour of the same.  
And although God hath delivered you of that spiritual thief. Yet be your lordships and all the Realm burdened with another in the same office, that shall do no less evil than the other hath done. If so much evil may be done. For as a joint ordained by God in the body, is appointed and set in a due order to help the body, which joint being out of that order that God hath set it in, can not be any commodity and help to the body, but great pain and trouble to the body. Even in like manner, if a bishop, that is appointed and ordained by God to teach his flock, be taken from that office where in God had assigned and ordered him: he can never be profitable but great hurt and pain to the body. For I think that there is no man that hath any knowledge in the holy scriptures or any good conscience toward God, but he well knoweth that a bishop that feedeth not his flock is a thief. Otherwise he believeth not Christ to be true in his words, And if he be a thief (as the truth sayeth he is) then is his coming for no nother purpose, then to steal, to kill and to destroy. And who so ever doubteth there of, doubteth whether Christ be true.  
And I fear me that because the governors have not believed Christ to be true, that they shall prove it true by experience, to their great pain. Soch shallbe the fruits of a bishop set in authority to be a counsellor for the temporal affairs of the Realm, that he is one of them that is come to steal, to kill and to destroy. Of whom God by his prophet isaiah, complaineth saying: 
Esay. 1.  Hear oh heavens, and hearken oh earth, for the Lord speaketh. I have noreshed and brought up children, and they are fallen away from me. How happeneth it that the righteous city which was full of equity, is become unfaithful as an whore? righteousness dwelled in her, but now mortherers. In times past, it was the office of Nero and of other tyrants to tormentt men to death for their faith: but now our english bishops have taken upon them to put the tyrants out of that office. For they themselves condemn both learned and unlearned for their faith, and make you, right honourable lords, to execute the office. That they might set forth to all men, that they be the very thieves, of whom Christ (that can not lie) speaketh. Whose coming is for no nother purpose then to steal, to kill, and to destroy.  
And yet to deceive the people, they be crept in under the cloak of my lord bishop, a reverend father. But to this my lord bishops and their accomplices say: that they kill none for their faith but for their heresy, which ought of all Christian men to be abhorred and avoided, according to the true saying of the Apostle, that commandeth saying an heretic, after he is twice reproved avoid him. 
2. Tit. 3.  But yet sayeth he not kill mine, but avoid him. As all the fathers of the primative church have showed manifest example in the exile of many that in very deed were heretics approved by god's word to be heretics, and yet were not persecuted to death for their heresies Until Antichrist of Rome the heed of all heretics by craft, guile and falsheed seduced and beguiled the Emperors and kings, and rob them of their dominions and powers, whereby the hath exalted himself not only above them, but also above God.  
And then became he a most cruel tyrant, and made laws of death, for all such as he and his filthy sect did adiuge heretics, Thereby colourably to murder and destroy, all such as did once speak or preach against his usurped power, or by any means reveyle his iniquity for that calleth he and all his filthy generation of infideles heresy.  
Which example of making of like laws our english bishops did compass and bring to pass about the year of our Lord 1420. then being a bishop Lord chancellor and another lord privy Seal, whereby being in great authority & high estimation amongst the nobles and counselours thorough flattery circumvented the king, and his counsel, and other of the nobles to make a law in England to suppress heresy sprung up in this realm. But what that heresy was that must only be adjudged, by the Antichristes' laws and by his sworn sect the generation of infideles, the enemies of God & adversaries of Christ. For as it is reported by chronicles, it was the revelation of Antichristes' iniquity, that he calleth heresy.  
Further to colour their cruel tyranny, they said with their forefathers the Bishops, Priests, Scribes, and Pharisees, and the rest of the jewish clergy: It is not lawful to us for to slay any man. And as for us, ye may trust well enough, we be to holy to deceive you. You may freely without scrupulosity of conscience, crucify whom so ever we commit in to your hands. For if he be not an evil doer, we will never deliver him unto you. your honours need never to examine the cause, but boldly burn him. Our souls for yours. His blood upon our heads. And by such subtle means made all Kings, and Officers of England, that have been since, their tormentors, and hang men. A goodly office that they have set all kings and you, right honourable lords, in. They have made the king and you their hang men, & not a whit better. And yet for all their warrantise & putting their souls for yours, & though ye wash never so clean your hand with pilate. when ye thus murder the innocentes for their saith in jesus Christ, be assured that God's curse will not depart from you & your houses excepce ye speedily repent.  
But how that law agreeth with God's word it shall appear. Even as God & the devil, Christ, and Antichrist, light, and darkness. First God by his Prophet isaiah sayeth: 
isaiah. 11.  they shall not hurt, nor shall they kill in all my holy hill. By this holy hill, meaning this his church. Wherefore if your lordly Lord bishops were true ministers in this church, they would not murder any man for his faith/ or for want of a good faith, which he can not have of his own power and study. The Prophet Hieremie sayeth also: 
jere. 7.  Behold these men say unto me, where is the word of the Lord. Let it come. Where as I never the less leading the flock in thy ways, have compelled no man by violence, for I never desired man's death. This knowest thou well. Here Hieremie sayeth that he leading the flock in the Lords ways, compelled none by violence to walk therein. This doctrine and example given by Hieremie agreeth but sclenderlye with Antichristes' canons, decrees, & laws, nor with the law newly revived by your lordship's consents, and last of all with your bishops mortheringe and tormenting of your learned men.  
Also when Christ going unto Jerusalem, joan and james entered in to a city of the Samaritans to make provision for Christ. But the citizens would not receive Christ. Wherefore joan and james returned to Christ, and showed to him the unkindness of the citizens saying unto him: Master will thou that we commaundye fire to come from heaven, and consume them? jesus turned to them/ and rebuked them saying: You know not of what spirit ye be. The son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.  
If your lordly lord bishops were Christ's true servants, then would they follow his doctrine and example. As Christ sayeth. He that serveth me, let him follow me. 
joh. 18. joan. 12.  And he that followeth me walketh not in darkness. But all men may perceive that this their mortheringe, is mere contrary to both Christ's doctrine and example, and utterly bewrayeth them to be the servants of antichrist. As Paul sayeth: 
1. Tim. 5.  Good deeds be manifest, and they that be evil can not be hid.  
The parable of Christ of the tars sowed by the enemy upon the good seed which the master would not have drawn up until harvest (lest drawing up the tars, 
Math. 3.  the good wheat should also have been drawn up) declareth manifestly, that Christ would not any man of an evil faith, to be killed for his evil faith. For if Paul had been tormented to death, for want of a good faith, when he was a persecuter of Christ's church. He then had never been the Apostle of the gentiles, ne yet the most laborious work man that ever wrought in Christ's vineyard. And if Saint Augustine had found so cruel tyrants to have persecuted him to death before he was converted by God at the preaching of S. Ambrose: them the church had wā●ed at this day, as godly a doctor & writer as ever wrote in Christ's church sense the Apostles.  
But over & besides Christ's doctrine and exmple, which be not any errors or uperfite doctrines, the Apostles doctrine is: that the servant of God should not strive, 
2. Tim. 2  but to be gentle to all men apt to teach, and one that can suffer, the evil with meekness, and can inform them that resist the truth. He sayeth not, can kill them that resist the truth, but can inform them. For neither he nor nay man can know when it shall please God to open the eyes of his heart, and to give unto him a perfit faith, which now is held captive in unbelief, at the will of the Lord. This doctrine of the Apostle, although you will not give credit thereto, yet proveth it manifestly before all men that your lordly lord bishops be not the servants of God, that should suffer the evil according to Christ's doctrine and example. And also this doctrine of the Apostle proveth, that your law revived, is against the doctrine of Christ and of his Apostle, And therefore is a wicked law invented by antichrist, and his filthy genration, and sluttish sect of infideles, to subvert & extinguish all godly knowledge & faith.  
Also the Apostle sayethrif there be any that obeyeth not our teachings, 
2. Thes. 3  send us word of him by a letter and have no company with him that he may be ashamed. And count him not as an enemy: but warn him as a brother. Perceive ye not, honourable lords, how contrary your bishops be to Christ, and how contrary they be to his doctrine, and to the doctrine of his Apostles, and also how wicked your law lately by your consents revived is, contrary to God's word?  
But good my lords, think not that you can gather grapes upon thorns. This their mortheringe of their brethren for their faith, declareth unto all men (whose understanding is not taken away by God) that they be the thieves of which Christ speaketh, 
joh. 8.  of whom can not come any good fruit. For murder is a work that proveth them to be the devils servants, who was a murderer from the beginning, sayeth Christ that lieth not. But as Abraham had two children, one borne after the flesh called Ishmael, 
Gal. 4.  and an other after the spirit called Isaac. As than he that was borne carnally persecuted him that was borne spiritually, even so is it now sayeth saint Paul  
Did Christ, my good lords, compel any man to come to his religion, with imprisonement, or with fire? Did Christ kill the jews, scribes, & pharisees that hearing his doctrine, and seeing also his wondrous miracles, not withstanding both would not believe in him? Is not faith, honourable lords, the only gift of God, liberally given to whom it pleaseth him? Can any man by his own industry, study, and labour obtain faith? If you will suffer your byteshepes so cruelly to murder men for want of such faith as it hath pleased them to devise, by like equity and Reason may you suffer them to murder all them that have not the liberal gift of God to make whole the sick. And also with more equity you yourselves may hang up the bishop of London and all your other bishops & priests as thieves and mortherers, that take charge of souls & receive the profits of their benefices, which have not the gift of God to preach the gospel to the flock, according to Christ's commandment. And by no less equity, all they must suffer death that have not the gift of chastity, although to deceive the people, they say, they have avowed it.  
And although, your lordships, as ye think, do not any violence against such as now suffer by force of that wicked law, that by your consents is revived, because your lordships have referred all the determination & judgement of heresy unto your byteshepes. Yet, be your lordships and all they that have consented to the reviving and making in force & strength of the said law, guilty of the blood and death of all them that have suffered death, shall suffer or do suffer, by force & s; trength of the said law. For not only all they that commit & do evil be worthy death (sayeth Paul) but also all they that consent thereto. 
Rom. 1.  Not only because the law by force whereof many suffer death was revived by your consents. But also because the same law is manifest wicked & unrighteous because it is contrary to the word of God. Wherefore it can not be but wicked. And therefore the same law whereby all they suffer unjustly, and the blood of them that suffer death, shallbe a witness before God against you of their torments and death. And then good, my lords, remember the sentence of God pronounced against all them that shed innocent blood unrighteously, not only that they be mortherers, who shall never inherit the kingdom of heaven. 
1. Cor. 5. Gene. 9  But also the holy ghost sayeth: he that sheddeth innocent blood of men, his blood shallbe shed again by men.  
If your lordships do not think God false in his promises, look most certainly for your blood (if ye do not unfeignedly & speedily repent) to be shed of men again.  
And although you would, not believe the promises of God to be true. Yet way you the late experience of that truth verified in the late dukes of Somerset and Northumberlande, whose doings to all them that did know them, do manifestly prove the said promises of God to be most certainly and truly verified in them. As they can not be otherwise in all men.  
And now, I trust your lordships do well understand and perceive, that this law by your consents lately revived, & made a law in force and stength, is contrary both to the doctrine and example of Christ and of his Apostles and Prophets. Wherefore it can not be but a wicked law. 
isaiah. 10.  Woe therefore be unto you that make wicked laws, sayeth God by his prophe Esaias,  
And if another magistrate should (by the provision of God) be called to reign ove us, who judgeth the form of religion last received of us, to be contrary to God's word, and therefore to be worthily abolished, then may he persecute all your bishops and then that now have consented to murder christian men for their faith, but nor because he perceiveth that they have no perfit faith, or else a wicked faith (for then should he commit like iniquity) but because the word of God sayeth: The same measure that you have measured to other, the same shallbe measured to you again. By this sentence, that is no wicked law, all your mortheringe bishops may justly be handles as they have handled them.  
This law of late, by your consents, revived and made in force and strength as a perfit law, doth not only reprove your lordships of your inconstauncie, who not long time before upon reasonable and godly causes, well weighed, freely disputed and reasoned, did disannul, make frustrate & void the same as a wicked law: but also this your sudden reinuinge of the same, declareth, that you care not what you do, be it never so wicked & contrary to God, so that you may avoid the displeasure of the magistrate and supreme evil governor. Whereby it appeareth manifestly that you regard more the displeasure of man then the displeasure of God. Doth nor your lordships consider that God saith by the prophet: 
Psal. 5.  The lord shall break the bones of them that do study to please men?  
Halas, right honourable lords, who har● so be witched you now, that you so suddenly aye fled from God's truth? 
Gal. 3.  (Your own connsciences so long time) approving the same. Before whose eyes jesus Christ was so lively preached, and so faithfully set forth. And nevertheless now, not only his doctrine, and the true and profitable use of the sacraments, be by your consents repelled for heresy, but also Christ himself in his holy members and mystical body most truly tormented and slain.  
Halas that foreign nations shall obsecre this inconstantie to your dishonours: namely to be so in constant and ●…inge in the principal points concerning a Christian man's religion and faith, considering that by your own consents the same religion now by you repelled as heresy, was by your commandemes set forth and commanded through all the Realm and dominions of England to be taught, and also to be received of the people.  
To what truth and to what religion may the subjects of this realm here after cleave, & assuredly without wavering follow, which do perceive that your lordships (contrary to your owne● commandments before made and directed to them) do fly and retiere from the doctrine and true use of the Sacraments that you in so little time past did most worthily approve to be most Godly and necessary to be taught and followed. God grant that the comens of this Realm that now murmur and grudge at this inconstancy and other your evil doings, do not hereafter burden you with the same. And especially for your flying from the true religion, which you did before all men approve to be most godly▪ From the which ye be now fled to the great dishonour of God. Wherefore God by his Prophet threateneth you to bring you to dishonour saying. I will give them honour that honour me. And they that dishonour me, 
1. Reg. 2.  them will I bring to dishonour. This promise will God keep with you. God therefore grant you grace truly to repent in season. Amen.  Hieremi. 5. 
Horrible and grievous things be done in the land. The preachers teach falsely, and the priests follow them, and my people have pleasure therein. What will come thereof at the last?  Hieremi. 7. 
From the least to the most, they hang all upon covetousness. And from the prophet unto the priest they go all about which falsehood and lie, and besides that they heal the hurt of my people with sweet words saying: peace, peace, when there is no peace at al. Therefore they must be ashamed, for they have committed abomination.  Hieremie. 23. 
Hear not the words of the prophets that preach unto you, and deceive you. For they speak the meaning of their own hearts, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.  Hieremie. 23. 
Yea the way that men take is wicked and their governance is nothing like the word of the Lord. For the preachers and the priests themselves are polluted hypocrites, and their wickedness have I found in my house, sayeth the Lord.  Hiere. 51. 
Babylon hath benin the lords hands a golden cup that maketh all lands drunken, of her wine have all people drunken, therefore are they out of their wits.  Hier. 51. 
Oh my people come out of Babylon, that every man may save his life from the fear full wrath of the Lord  Esaias. ca 10. 
Woe be to Assur that is a staff of my wrath, in whose hand is the rod of my punishment, for I shall send him among these hypocrites, among the people that have deserved my displeasure shall I send him, That he may utterly rob them, spoil them, and tread them down like the mire in the street. How be it his pretence is not so, neither thinketh his heart in his fashion. But he imagineth only how to overthrow and to destroy much people. For he saith be not my princes all kings.   

The contents of this treatise.  

1 Theridamas is no thing more perilous & heart to christian faith, than a corrupt judgement.  
2 The multitude of people serve antichrist nor understanding nor knowing him to be antichrist.  
3 Antichrist cometh in under the pretence to condemn errors and hersye, whereof he & his sworn sect willbe judges, and therefore condemeneth veritiein the side of heresy.  
4 A description of Christ and of his office.  
5 The revelation of Antichrist and of his condition.  
6 The vain things that Antichrist hath ordained.  
7 antichrist erecteth a new religion wherein he breaketh God's commandment.  
8 The world receiveth Antichrist rather then Christ, and what is the cause.  
9 Christ and his Apostles call certain doctrines the doctrines of devils.  
10 Nether bishop nor priest hath any authority to forgive sins, but by preaching the gospel.  
11. Anriculer confession is contrary to the doctrine of isaiah.  
12. The priests absolution spoken in a speech not known of the confessed, can not profit them.  
13. Certain causes wherefore bishops & priests do maintain whorish confession  
14. A token given by Christ of the time when Antichrist shall come.  
15. divers abominations stand now in the temple of God, And what is the temple of God.  
16. The causes wherefore Paul nameth Antichrist rather the man of sin then a sinner.  
17. How the queens majesty is circumvented to make a law to establish the Pope's usurped power.  
18. What bishops be thieves, mortherers and destroyers.  
19 No man should die for his faith.  
20. Who be guilty of the death of all them that have suffered death by the wicked law lately revived & made in force.