Hillarius. I understand what thou wouldest say. The pope hath heaped up together all the merits of Jesus Christ, of the patriarchs, prophets, Apos;tles, Martyrs, confessors, virgins, saints & saints of paradise, & of all the Christian Church in a treasure, and a garner of which he alone hath the keys and can open or shut, & distribute little or much, when he will and as it pleaseth him. 1For he is the great locksmith. But all the others are but as his servants, of whom he limitteth the power and the office of every one, in such sort, that they cannot distribute, but that that he hath delivered unto them, and of whom they have the keys. Wherefore if it behoveth that he ⟨p. 286⟩have in the treasury & garner a great many of several chambers and cabins, of which many must have the keys every one his own, for to depart and bestow that whereof he hath the dispensation, without daring to touch the rest, except that sometimes, those little varlets and locksmiths do pick the lock and the door of the great locksmith 2and great treasurer, he knowing nothing thereof, and that he be not therewithal content: although that under his name and title, they streth forth their power, as seemeth good unto them, and do forge keys, bulls and pardons as many as they list, and always at the costs of the poor people. Now the great locksmith hath no limit, but that he hath always reasonable cause, for to give bulls and pardons as many as one would, so that money do come: or otherwise he will suffer the poor souls to be roasted and tormented in Purgatory, as long as the world shall continue, for want of one leaf of paper or parchment with a little wax and lead. As concerning the others which have the days limited that they may give pardons, I have a certain doubt, the which I would that I were resolved of it by thee Eusebius. For sith that the one hath power to give two or three thousand, an other two or three hundred, an other an hundred fifty, forty, thirty or twenty, either more or less. I would gladly know of thee what 3horologes & clocks, & what quadrants they have in purgatory, for to measure those days there. For sith that there is no sun, moon nor stars, what days & what years can they have? For the time is taken of the morning, of the heaven & of the course of the sun. But those which are in purgatory, have nothing of all this:
Hillarius. I vnderstand what thou wouldest say. The pope hath heaped vp together all ye merits of Iesus Christ, of the patriarchs, prophets, Apos;tles, Martirs, confessors, virgins, saints & saintes of paradise, & of al the Christian Church in a treasure, and a garner of which he alone hath the keyes and can open or shut, & distribute little or much, when he will and as it pleaseth him. 1For he is the great lockesimth. But al the others are but as his seruaunts, of whom he lymitteth the power and the office of euery one, in such sort, that they cannot distribute, but that that he hath delyuered vnto them, and of whom they haue the keyes. Wherefore if it behoueth that hée ⟨p. 286⟩haue in ye treasury & garner a great many of seuerall chā bers and cabins, of which many must haue the keyes euery one his owne, for to depart and bestow that whereoff he hath the dispensation, without daring to touche the rest, except that sometimes, those lyttle varlets and lockesmithes doe picke the locke and the dore of the great loksmith 2and great treasurer, he knowing nothing thereoff, and that he be not therewithall content: although that vnder his name and title, they streth foorth their power, as séemeth good vnto them, and doe forge keyes, bulles and pardons as many as they lyst, and alwaies at the costs of the poore people. Now the great lockesmith hath no lymit, but that he hath alwaies reasonable cause, for to giue buls and pardons as many as one woulde, so that money doe come: or otherwise he will suffer the poore soules to be rosted and tormented in Purgatory, as long as the world shall continue, for want of one leafe of paper or parchment with a lyttle waxe and leade. As concerning the others which haue the daies limitted that they may giue pardons, I haue a certeine doubt, the which I would yt I were resolued of it by thée Eusebius. For sith yt the one hath power to giue two or thrée thousand, an other two or thrée hundreth, an other an hundreth fiftie, fortie, thirtie or twentie, either more or lesse. I would gladly know of thée what 3horologes & clocks, & what quadrans they haue in purgary, for to measure those dayes there. For sith that there is no sun, moone nor stars, what daies & what yeres can they haue? For the time is taken of the morning, of the heauen & of ye course of ye sunne. But those which are in purgatory, haue nothing of al this:
- 1The great Lockyer or locksmith.The great Lockyer or locksmyth.
- 2Pick locks.Picke lockes.
- 3Clocks of Purgatory.Clockes of Purgatory.
