The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

the dreadful increase of Paganitie, and power of the Infidels and miscreants, and all by the practise and procurement of the Bishop of Rome chiefly, is in the histories and chronicles written by the Bishop of Romes own favourers and friends, to be seen, and is well known unto all such as are acquainted with the said histories. The ambitious intent and most subtle drifts of the Bishops of Rome in these their practises, appeared evidently by their bold attempt in spoiling and robbing the Emperors of their Townes, Cities, Dominions, & kingdoms in Italy, Lombardy, & Sicily, of ancient right belonging unto the Empire, & by the joining of them unto their Bishopric of Rome, or else giving them unto strangers to hold them of the Church & Bishops of Rome as in capite, and as of the chief lords thereof: in which tenure they hold the most part thereof even at this day. By these ambitious & in deed traitorous means, and spoiling of their sovereign lords, the Bishops of Rome of Priests, and none other by right then the Bishops of one city and diocese, are by false usurpation become great lords of many dominions, mighty Princes, yea or Emperors rather, as claiming to have divers princes and kings to their vassals, ⟨p. 603⟩liege men, and subjects: as in the same histories written by their own familiars and courtiers is to be seen. And in deed since the time that the Bishops of Rome by ambition, treason, & usurpation achieved and attained to this height and greatness, they behaved them selves more like princes, kings, & Emperors in all things, then remained like priests, bishops and ecclesiastical, or (as they would be called) spiritual persons in any one thing at all. For after this rate they have handled other kings & princes of other Realms throughout Christendom, as well as their Sovereign lords the Emperors, usually discharging their subjects of their oath of fidelity, and so stirring them up to rebellion against their natural princes, whereof some examples shall in the last part hereof be notified unto you.

the dreadfull encrease of Paganitie, and power of the Infidelles and miscreantes, and al by the practise and procurement of the Byshop of Rome cheefely, is in the histories and chronicles written by the Byshop of Romes owne fauourers and frendes, to be seene, and is well knowen vnto all suche as are acquainted with the saide histories. The ambitious intent and most subtill driftes of the Byshops of Rome in these their practises, appeared euidently by their bolde attempt in spoyling and robbing the Emperours of their Townes, Cities, Dominions, & kingdomes in Italie, Lumbardie, & Cicilie, of auncient right belonging vnto the Empyre, & by the ioyning of them vnto their Byshoprike of Rome, or els geuing them vnto straungers to holde them of the Churche & Byshops of Rome as in capite, and as of the cheefe lordes thereof: in whiche tenure they holde the most part therof euen at this day. By these ambitious & in deede trayterous meanes, and spoylyng of their soueraigne lordes, the Byshops of Rome of Priestes, and none other by right then the Bishops of one citie and diocesse, are by false vsurpation become great lordes of many dominions, myghtie Princes, yea or Emperours rather, as claymyng to haue diuers princes and kinges to their vassals,