¶ The Triades or Trinites of Rome/ translated in to english. ❧ ❀ Them that sin rebuke openly/ that other may fear and dread. .1. Timo. v. The preface Gentle reder/ ye shall have here gathered together those things/ the which be either set by/ used/ or hated at Rome. That place truly may be called Rome/ where such enormities be much used. For so/ after the mind of Nicolas de Lira and other saint Peter in the end of his first epistle/ i Pet. v. called Rome by the name of Babylon/ because it was in Idolatry/ lechery/ and pride. etc. at all points like to it. And as it may be now called (for the same things/ ye/ & other moche worse/ if worse may be) Sodoma or Gomurra/ were it not that they diffrens in this one only point/ which is abundance of breed & wine. For as in Gomurra & Sodom was great plenty of food for every man/ so likewise in Rome is the contrary thereof/ penury & scarceness of victual/ ye of all goodness/ howbeit in that thing/ I think they agreen each with other/ so that Rome may well be called Gomorra. Things gathered together/ I say/ to th'intent that vice once known/ it may the better be eschewed/ and not of malice/ as many (who now be rubbed on the gall) say. For if it come of malice open lie to reprove vice in them/ whom he that hath but half an eye/ may see daily without all shame/ & eke the dread & fear of god still to continue & delight in their sin & abominations. Than surely/ if it were not to sin against the holy ghost to speak such a blasphemy/ I would say that all the prophets/ that all Christ's disciples/ ye/ that Christ himself: Alas that I am compelled now to open my lips to pronounce this word/ Esa. xiii. malicious/ Hier. l. li who is all good & full of the contrary to malice that is charity/ for my excuse. Dan. iiii Did/ I pray you/ Esaias/ i. Cor. iiii v. vi. Hieremias/ & Daniel/ reprove the babiloniens/ Actuum. v. & also their king Nabugodonosor of malice? Math. xxiii. Rebuked saint Paul the corinthians of their light judgement & Luc. x. of fornication of malice? Mat. xi. Was saint Peter induced to blame Ananias & his wife Saphira/ of craft & avarice by malice? Ye/ to be short/ did not Christ lay hypocrisy to the scribes & Pharisees charge/ & that openly? Did he not upbraid the city of Corozaim/ and other? but I hope ye will not say/ inflamed with malice. I pass over the malice/ that saint Jerome/ saint Chrysostom/ & Gyldas monacus/ usen in reproof of sin/ writing to bishops/ to monks/ & to all other kind of people (whereof their works be full) lest I should seem to fear/ that this already written were not of strength enough to persuade you/ that it is not of malice. But how sir? Some man will say/ no man doubteth of the goodness of these men But think ye/ that the writers now a days be of that sort? Whether they be of that sort or no/ I will nothing dispute/ but me thinketh because it is an indifferent thing/ & may be lightly done/ ye are blame worthy them so to judge For Christ saith: Mat. seven Nolite judicare, et non iudicabimini. Which doctors expound to be mente of indifferent things. Again/ either these things be faults or not faults: that they be faults/ ye will not again say I trow. That there be no such faults there used: I report me to your own conscience/ if this prove it not/ mark than commonly the living of these Rome ronners/ who although/ that a very few of them will deny it to be so at Rome by their mouth/ Shall I warrant you/ confess it openly in their living/ Than me seemeth that it were better to go about amendment/ than in dispraising & laying malice to the authors charge/ seem rather to hold and defend abusion/ than here of correction/ for we should rather consider what is written than the writer. And to conclude/ if no man should rebuke sin other than such/ whom the romans call Missi. Missus Seute The son should sooner lack her light & lease her heat/ than they the desire & pleasure to continue their abomination. And more over Pasquyll the plain saith/ if he should not speak against prelate's vices in Rome openly/ but to themselves privily in their chambers/ that the moan would sooner turn him from an hard stone in to mellow wax/ than he should be suffered to come in to one of their Palacyes: and because I think that pasquil saith troth I have turned this book out of latin in to english as followeth/ for reformation of sin. Finis. ¶ The Triades/ and commodities of Rome. Three things there be that maintain the dignity of the city of Rome. The first/ the authority of the bishop of Rome. the ii The relics of saints which they show for money. The three selling of pardons. It is great jeopardy to go to Rome/ and that for three things/ the which Romeronners commonly bring from thence. A corrupt consciences/ a proud stomach/ & a beggars purse. Rome is to be shonned because it is of these three things/ the destruction & breach/ as of a good conscience: of good zeal to Christ's religion/ and of a man's oath & fidelity. These things be mocked at Rome/ the example of good men/ Saint Peter's fashion both in living/ and also his going about from place to place to preach the word of god/ and the judgement at domes day. These three every man may see at Rome/ antycke or old bylding/ poysonning on the other and ruin in monasteries & churches. Three things be banished Rome/ Symplicyte/ chastity and honesty. Three things daily be sold at Rome/ Christ's passion/ benefices/ and women. The romans hate to here of these three things/ as of a general counsel/ a reformation of the clergy/ and that ley men should have the scripture in their mother tongue/ or to be learned. They be sore gerued with three things at Rome/ that Christian Princes should be at concord/ that the people should be brought out of their blindness/ & that their juggling should be espied. Three things be chiefly in price or value at Rome. The first/ fair women. The second goodly & fat horses. The. iii. the pope's bulls. These three be set nought by at Rome/ good maidens/ empty purses/ nor a good & well learned man/ promoted or to be in power and authority. commonly of every man/ these three things be used at Rome The pleasure of the body/ gorgeous apparel/ pride & hautenesse of mind. They that be not idle nor well occupied at Rome/ do these three things/ jest up and down/ hunt harlots/ and haunt taverns. These three things be the delicate dishes of poor men at Rome/ Rotes/ onions/ & garlic. And with these three things be fatted the rich men at Rome. The labour & sweet of the poor men/ usury/ and the pilling and polling of christian people. At Rome dwellen these three as citizens/ Simon Magus/ judas/ And the people of Gomor and Sodom. He hath need of three things that hath business in the law at Rome/ of money enough/ of hired friends/ and of lies. There be but three things that rule all at Rome/ As great gifts and rewards/ carnal favour/ power & will. Three things at Rome do promote every man. Bribes/ flattery/ and unshamefast boldness. Three causes there be why so many desired to go to Rome, The first/ because they may be made priests there for money/ be they never so foolish or unlearned. The second is great lucre in selling there pardons & good deeds when they come home/ & the third liberty to live as they list themselves/ Capilanus honoris is the pope's chapelayne which is thereby exempt from the bishops jurisdiction. be it never so noughti/ as done these Capilani honoris. These three things were the cause that the bishop of Rome did bring a great part of Christendom in to his subjection. The wanton living of princes/ the sophistry of the freres/ which caused good learning to cease/ and superstition taught of blind priests to the unlearned people. These three things will cause the tyranny of Rome to cease The study of holy scripture/ the new Testament well translated in the mother tongue/ a decay of flatters/ for whom it is unpossible to continued/ the pope decaying. Three things be the founders of Rome/ injust war/ the craft that hath been used to get money for the building of saint Peter's Church/ and in time past/ hypocrisy/ or feigned holiness. Three nets wherewith they fish at Rome/ Pardons/ the jubilee/ and the faculty & power granted to legates & cardinals in every country. Three things be ever in hand at Rome/ but never finished. The bliss & immortality of the soul/ the making up of Saint Peter's church/ and to go in war against the Turks. These three things ye shall scant compel a roman to do/ to keep his promise and faith/ to wait on any man with out promise or hope of promotion/ and the third to give the way to any man. Rome hath great plenty of these three things/ whores/ priests/ and scribes. A short mass/ old gold/ and a delicate life. Of any of these three things are most set by at Rome. The romans claim three things only to themselves The great bishop/ the cunning in poisoning/ and a crafty way to get great sums of money. These three things be not so comen in no city of the world/ as in Rome. Men of all countries/ the universal study of avarice/ and men that can tell money in all languages. The romais in especial hate three things. That the election of bishops should be in temporal princes hands. The statutes of mortemaine/ & premunite/ & that priests should be put to answer before a lay judge. Riding on moylles/ Currours or posts/ and blessings/ be three common things at Rome. Ye shall see at Rome everywhere these three: Holy places Strumpets/ and goodly old building. These three be banished Rome. Primativa ecclesia. Truth/ and preaching of bishops. The three instruments of avarice at Rome/ wax/ parchment/ and led. Three things be despised at Rome/ Poverty/ the fear of god/ and rightwiseness. He that will learn three proper things/ Let him go to rome/ To make delicate banquets / how to deceive/ and the abuse of the flesh. Three things be well clothed and trimmed at Rome/ priests/ Moyllis/ concubines/ and harlots. Three things they do not be leave at Rome. Animarum immortalitatem, conionem sanctorum, et inferiorum penas. They brag at Rome moche of three things/ and yet they have them not. Love to god and to their neighbour/ faith/ and innocency. Three things be at Rome/ howbeit they are but seldom seen. Old gold/ the pope/ And beautiful wives. Three things be very dear at Rome: Offices/ equity or Right/ and friendship. Three things ye may kiss at Rome/ if ye intent to offer. The auters/ Cheeks/ for so they kiss there/ and with labour & rewards/ the pope's fet. Three things be commonly seen in the church of Rome/ namely in abbeys & colleges. Tables/ wherein be written miracles/ a box at every imamages foot to drown in money/ and very little wax/ ye/ scant a light before the sacrament. Three things do reign at Rome. The pope/ poison/ & cursing. Rome is vexed with three evils/ with hot sicknesses as the pestilence ague. etc. with poverty/ and fraud or disobeyed. Three discommodites of Rome/ dearth of victual/ falsehood/ and the intemperate air. And these three things were not/ Rome should decay/ bulls/ advocates/ and procurators. Three things never come oft enough to Rome/ bishops paul's/ Mensis papales, et anuates. ¶ Lenuoye Now let us pray All that we may Of god/ grace to obtain Our lives to amend And heaven at our end Which is bliss certain For to be angry It is but a folly I tell you by saint Paul For all men thinketh That an horse wyncheth When he is rubbed on the gall It is not speaking No/ nor yet threatening That will make me to cease But good living And true teaching Will make me hold my peace Sirs/ wherefore If ye will no more Of this gladly to here ye must begin A new song to sing In Christ's quere Which if ye do Or help thereto I tell you verily I will not write Nor yet indite Against you truly But contrary If Christ and you vary By him I swore I will not spare To paint your flowers even in your own colours. Finis ¶ Printed at London by Tho. Godfray. ¶ Cum privilegio regali.