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…

Note also, that when the contention began about images, how of six Christian Emperors, who were the chief magistrates by Gods law to be obeyed, only one, which was Theodosius, who reigned but one year, held with images. All the other Emperors, and all the learned men and Bishops of the East Church, and that in assembled councils, condemned them, besides the two Emperors before mentioned, Valen•, and Theodosius the second, who were long before these times, who straitly forbade that any Images should be made. And universally after this time, all the emperors of Greece (only Theodosius excepted) destroyed continually all images. Now on the contrary part, note ye, that the Bishops of Rome, being no ordinary magistrates appointed of God, out of their diocese, but usurpers of princes authority contrary to gods word, were the maintainers of images against Gods word, and stirrers up of sedition and rebellion, and workers of continual treason against their sovereign Lords, contrary to gods law and the ordinances of all humane laws, being not ⟨p. 70⟩only enemies to God, but also rebels and traitors against their Princes. These be the first bringers in of images openly into Churches, these be the maintainers of them in the Churches, and these be the means whereby they have maintained them •to wit, conspiracy, treason, and rebellion against God and their princes. Now to proceed in the history, most worthy to be known. In the nonage of Constantine the sixth, the Empress Irene his mother, in whose hands the regiment of the Empire remained, was governed much by the advise of Theodore Bishop, and Tharasius patriarch of Constantinople, who practised and held with the Bishop of Rome in maintaining of images most earnestly: By whose counsel and entreaty, the Empress first most wickedly digged up the body of her father in law Constantine the fifth, and commanded it to be openly burned, & the ashes to be thrown into the sea. Which example (as the constant report goeth) had like to have ben put in practise with Princes corpses in our days, had the authority of the holy father continued but a little longer.

Note also, that when the contention beganne about images, howe of sixe Christian Emperours, who were the chiefe magistrates by Gods lawe to be obeyed, onelye one, whiche was Theodosius, who raigned but one yere, helde with images. All the other Emperours, and all the learned men and Bishops of the Easte Churche, and that in assembled councels, condemned them, besydes the two Emperors before mentioned, Valen, and Theodosius the seconde, who were long before these tymes, who strayghtly forbad that any Images should be made. And vniuersally after this tyme, all the emperours of Grece (only Theodosius excepted) destroyed continually all images. Nowe on the contrarie parte, note ye, that the Byshoppes of Rome, beyng no ordinarie magistrates appoynted of God, out of their diocesse, but vsurpers of princes aucthoritie contrarie to gods word, were the mainteyners of images against Gods word, and stirrers vp of sedition and rebellion, and workers of continuall treason against theyr soueraigne Lords, contrary to gods lawe and the ordinaunces of all humane lawes, beyng not