A pistle to the Christen reader The revelation of Antichrist. Antithesis

¹The .xj. is the worshipping of relics / truly this is a proper and most fruitful cloak of advantage.² Out of this were indented innumerable pilgrimages / ³with the which the foolish and unlearned people might lose their labour / money / and time / nothing in the mean season regarding their house / wife / and children / contrary to the commandment of god / or else might do much better deeds to their neighbours / which is the precept. As for the worshipping or visiting of relics is nothing but even the very mind and affection of men. They would make sanct Hierome / the beginner and author of this thing / which writing to vigilantius entē dead nothing but that men should not rebuke and despise relics. How be it they do so fare abuse his authority / that they will have no measure in worshipping them / they will have no work preferred above this. They will have none compared unto it. And it hath so prevailed / ⁴that it is come to vows which can not be dispensed with not of the Pope him self (except thou have a bag of money) But ⟨p. xxxj⟩what a foolish vow is it that is thus made against the precept of god. This painted and be wtifull face doth so fare deceive men that it is not counted an offence to leave the charge of his wife and children / but rather a great merit. O what a blindness is this. In this face I may number the sects of brotherhoods which were invented by the singular provision of satan to destroy the noble and chief brotherhood of faith & charity / ⁵for these also are confirmed and stablished / under the names of saints / and in the reverence and worship of relics. Of their ab•se it is spoken in another place / and need it were to make a hole book upon this monster.⁶

¹The .xj. is the worshuppinge of relickes / trewly this is a proper and most fruerfull cloke of avantage.