Of these things aforesaid (most gentle Reader) which I have truly and faithfully alleged out of the popish Chronicle writers, mayest thou evidently see, that the Romish and popish mass is not so ancient & of so great antiquity, as the Romanists and papists brag: but rather that it is a late and yesterday invention. Again that it was not instituted of Christ, nor of his Apostles, but first of all clouted together of certain Popes, every man bringing in his patch and at the last beautifying it with strange feathers like unto Aesop's crow. More than a thousand year was this monstrous mass in patching, before it could be brought unto any perfection,1 if that may receive perfection, that is most of all imperfect. Upon this wicked, superstitious and Idolatrous mass are ⟨p. 138⟩all monasteries, colleges, chantries, free chapels, fraternities, and all the sects of Antichrist that pope founded and builded, purgatory also and the whole papacy is confirmed and stablished by the Mass. So long as the Mass endureth, so long shall papism continue the Pope with his Cardinals, Monks, Fryers, Canons, Nuns, Ankers, Ankresses, with all their superstition and Idolatry. But if the mass once fall, then fall they also down to the ground. I will not say down to hell, from whence all these their false worshipping of god first of all came and had their beginning, according to the Prophecy, which thou redest in the Revelation of Saint John.2 And albeit that the tyrants of this world, and the hypocrites of the same, whose God is their belly, strive never so much for the defence and upholding of this their popish mass: they with sword, fire & halter: these with feigned holiness, crafty persuasions, painted eloquence, false allegations of the holy scriptures, & ancient writers, money, bribes, gifts, supplications, lamentations, &c. Yet shall it perish and come to nought ⟨image 170⟩with all the wicked patrons, defenders & fautors of the same, according to this prophecy of our saviour Christ:3 Every plant that my heavenly father hath not planted, shall be plucked up by the roots. And s. Paul saith, that the Lord shall slay the Antichrist that son of perdition with the breath of his mouth, that is to say, with his holy word.
Of these things aforesayd (most gentle Reader) whiche I haue truly and faythfully alleged out of the popyshe Chronicle writers, mayest thou euidently see, yt the Romishe and popyshe masse is not so auncient & of so greate antiquitye, as the Romanistes and papistes bragge: but rather that it is a late and yesterday inuention. Agayne yt it was not instituted of Christ, nor of hys Apostles, but fyrst of all clouted together of certayne Popes, euerye man bringing in hys patch and at the laste beautifying it with straunge feathers like vnto Esopes crowe. More than a thousand yeare was thys monstrous masse in patching, before it culd be brought vnto any perfection,1 if that may receaue perfection, that is most of all imperfecte. Uppon this wicked, superstitious and Idolatrous masse are ⟨p. 138⟩all monasteries, colleges, chauntries, free chappels, fraternities, and all the sectes of Antichrist yt pope founded and builded, purgatorye also and ye whole papacie is confyrmed and stablished by the Masse. So long as ye Masse endureth, so long shall papisme continue ye Pope with his Cardinalls, Monkes, Fryers, Chanons, Nunnes, Ankers, Ankresses, with all their superstition and Idolatrye. But if ye masse once fal, then fal they also down to the ground. I will not say down to hel, frō whence all these their false worshipping of god fyrst of all came and had their beginning, according to ye Prophecye, which thou redest in the Reuelation of Saint Iohn.2 And albeit yt the tirauntes of this worlde, and the hipocrites of the same, whose God is their bellye, striue neuer so much for ye defence and vpholding of this their popish masse: they wc sweard, fyre & haltar: these wc fained holinesse, crafty persuasions, paynted eloquence, false allegatiōs of ye holy scriptures, & aūcient writers, mony, bribes, gifts, supplicatiōs, lamētatiōs, &c. Yet shall it perishe and come to noughte ⟨image 170⟩with al the wicked patrons, defenders & •autors of ye same, according to this prophecy of our sauiour Christ:3 Euery plante yt my heauenlye fāther hath not planted, shal be plucked vp by ye rootes. And s. Paule sayth, yt the Lord shal slay ye Antichrist that sonne of perditiō with the breath of his mouth, that is to say, with hys holy worde.
- 1The•opish Mass is ye foundation of all superstition.The•opish Masse is ye foundation of all superstition.
- 2Apo. 17.18▪
- 3Math. xv. ii. Thes. ii.
