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

Consider the affection and obedience of kings and princes toward the Pope / Consider the minds and dispositions of Bishops / Colleges / and of the infinite black cloud of them / that live in monasteries / how that the princes are ready in armour / And the Bishops with their company ⟨p. lij⟩bestow their labours and wits for the Pope / Not for the faith and word of God (for that is nothing spoken of) but only to defend these faces / riddles / and laws / looking for no nother reward / But that they think that they serve god / and please him in so doing. Then shalt thou perceive what it meaneth that the power of this wretched monster / must be strengthened / by another's power and not by his own. And truly this abomination was not so mete for any time as for the end of the world / for what is more abominable and monstrous / then that such a kingdom should be of most might / whose prince is most wretched / slothful / and unprofitable?

Consider the affection and obedience of kinges and princes toward the Pope / Consider the mindes and dispositions of Bisshops / Colleges / and of the infinite blake cloude of them / that lyve in monasteryes / how that the princes are ready in armure / And the Bishopes with their companye ⟨p. lij⟩bestow theyr labours and wittes for the Pope / Not for the faith and worde of God (for that is nothing spoken of) but onely to defende these faces / rydles / and lawes / lokinge for no nother reward / But that they thinke that they serve god / and please him in so doinge. Thē shalt thow perceave what it meaneth that the power of this wretched monstre / must be strengthed / by anothers power and not by his awne. And truely this abomination was not so mete for any time as for the ende of the world / for what is more abominable and mōstruous / then that soch a kingdome shuld be of most might / whose prince is most wretched / sleuthefull / and vnprofitable?

But this king is more vicious then Sardanapalus / more delicate then the Sybarites / Only borne to riot and idleness Not mighty in war policy / armour nor learning. Nether in the gospel / faith / prayer / nor manners (but rather abominable in their contraries). And yet through one face and riddle ruleth empires / kingdoms / and all powers / having in his jurisdiction our goods / bodies / and souls to use and abuse / them to his wretched pleasure / Giving nothing again / but than kes / & the benediction of the apostolic feet / that is to say the smoke and vanity of all