The first part of the Christian instruction, and general so[m]me of the doctrine, contained…The firste parte of the Christian instruction, and generall so[m]me of the doctrine, conteyned…

¶ Of the manner of the proceeding of the Papists in their Councils, and of their presidents, and of the princes Ambassadors that are sent thither, and of their instructions, and of the practise of the Pope and his, and of the disputations that they have there.

¶ Of the manner of the proceeding of the Papistes in their Councels, and of their presidentes, and of the princes Ambassadours that are sent thither, and of their instructions, and of the practise of the Pope and his, and of the disputations that they haue there.

D. The Council being appointed and called, if the Pope, the Emperor, the Kings and the Christian princes be not there present, they have then there their Ambassadors & Legates, to represent their persons, they have also their instructions, to lead them according to that y• every of them hath in charge: if yt Pope be not present to preside, then his Legates do preside. These worthy men, before they come thither, do first ask, as it is mete for such Prophets as they are at the mouth, not of the sovereign god, but of the Pope their God upon earth: to understand of him how he will have them to conclude in the Council. For seeing that he is God, he hath also his holy spirit agreeable to his deity. And when they are in this sort well instructed of yt will of their God, then go they on inspired with his sprite, & do put forth to the Council those articles which they have in charge from their God to propone, whose kingdom & glory they have chiefly in recommendation. When this is don, then they dispute of them in sone great haul and there those that will dispute are heard, not to find out thereby the truth, & to conclude according to the same, but to make a countenance to hold some form of a lawful Council, in the which it was accustomed to give audience to all that would ⟨p. 145⟩come, as well of yt laity as of men of the church, for the conclusion that shall be made, is already determined, in the secret Council of the God of the earth, which governeth that Council by his holy spirit: albeit it he remain still enclosed and hidden in the secret chamber of his breast and heart, and of his authorised Apostles, until the time convenient. Then his Legates which are the first borne of his children and creatures, declare the will of their holy father, and their God. T. Here is a goodly order of proceeding.

D. THe Councell being appoynted and called, if ye Pope, the Emperour, the Kinges and the Christian princes be not there present, they haue then there their Ambassadours & Legates, to represent their persons, they haue also their instructions, to lead them according to that y• euery of thē hath in charge: if yt Pope be not present to preside, then his Legates do preside. These worthy mē, before they come thither, do first aske, as it is mete for such Prophets as they ar at ye mouth, not of ye soueraign god, but of the Pope their God vpon earth: to vnderstand of him how he will haue thē to conclude in ye Councel. For seing yt he is God, he hath also his holy spirite agreable to his deitie. And when they are in this sort well instructed of yt will of their God, thē go they on inspired with his sprite, & do put forth to ye Councel those articles which they haue in charge from their God to propone, whose kingdoō & glory they haue chiefly in recōmēda ciō. Whē this is don, thē they dispute of thē in sōe gret haul and ther those yt wil dispute are heard, not to find out therby ye truth, & to conclude accordyng to ye same, but to make a countenance to hold some forme of a lawfull Coūcel, in ye which it was accustomed to geue audience to all yt woulde ⟨p. 145⟩come, as wel of yt laitie as of mē of ye church, for ye cōclusiō yt shall be made, is already determined, in the secret Councell of the God of the earth, whiche gouerneth that Councell by his holy spirit: albeit it he remayn stil enclosed and hiddē in the secret chamber of his brest and harte, and of his authorised Apostles, vntill the tyme conuenient. Then his Legates whiche are the first borne of his children and creatures, declare the will of their holy father, and their God. T. Here is a goodly order of procedyng.

¶ Of the prudence that is required in the disputations, of the Councils of the Papists, and how dangerous it is, for those that be honest to be there.

¶ Of the prudence that is required in the disputations, of the Councels of the Papistes, and hovve daungerous it is, for those that behonest to be there.

D. IN the mean time it behoveth those that dispute, to have good regard, in what manner and form they frame their arguments & syllogisms, and how they propone their disputations. For if they do not conclude, according to the manner, form and shape of that conclusion, which is already made between the holy father and his Legates, or if they cast not their conclusion in the same mould, they will forth with give them to understand, that they are not seen at all in that Dialectica and Logic, which is required of them. Whereof it followeth that either their conclusions are despised, as those of vain men, which speak in the air, or else if they do somewhat press or touch the honour of that God, which reigneth in that same Council, the danger is very great, for those that shall make any such conclusions. For afterwards they must needs of force dispute with fagots, executioners, and fire. For that is the last refuge, whereunto these worthy pillars of mother holy Church have their recourse, & the God in whom they have greatest hope, to wit the God of the Chaldees and Persians: as we have seen by experience in the persons of John Hus, and Jerome of Prague, at the Council holden at Constance, about an hum dread or six score years passed. For he that agreeth not to the conclusion of that Antichrist, and of his spirit, the same ⟨p. 146⟩doth sin against the holy Ghost, wherefore the sin is not to be forgiven, & there may be neither Pardon, nor Indulgence found, whereby to purge the Church, saving only by fire. T. Surely here is a goodly proceeding, and very meet for the Vicar of Jesus Christ and his Apostles.

D. IN the meane tyme it behoueth those yt dispute, to haue good regarde, in what maner and forme they frame their argumentes & silogismes, and how they propone their disputacions. For if they do not conclude, accordyng to the maner, forme and shape of that conclusion, whiche is already made betwene the holy father and his Legats, or if they cast not their conclusion in the same moulde, they will forth with gyue them to vnderstand, that they are not sene at all in that Dialectica and Logicke, whiche is required of them. Wherof it foloweth that either their conclusions are despised, as those of vayne men, whiche speake in the aire, or els if they do somewhat presse or touche the honor of that God, whiche raigneth in that same Councel, the daunger is very great, for those that shall make any such cōclusions. For afterwards they must nedes of force dispute with fagots, executioners, and fire. For that is the last refuge, whereunto these worthy pillers of mother holy Churche haue their recourse, & the God in whom they haue greatest hope, to witte the God of the Chaldees and Persians: as we haue sene by experience in the persons of Iohn Hus, and Hierosme of Pragne, at the Councell holden at Constance, about an hū dred or sixe score yeares passed. For he that agreeth not to the conclusion of that Antichrist, and of his spirite, the same

¶ Of the resolutions and conclusions of the Papistical Councils, and what personages they are that have voices in them: and what school masters the Bishops have there, & what order they do there observe.

¶ Of the resolutions and conclusions of the Papisticall Councels, and vvhat personages they are that haue voyces in thē: and vvhat scoole masters the Bishops haue there, & vvhat order they do there obserue.

D. Now when the disputation is ended, they must needs come to the resolution and final conclusion: which is not done openly, nor by the consent of all, but is done in the Conclave, in a secrete place, where none are admitted to come, but the Popes Legates, the Patriarchs, the Bishops, and the generals of the Monks. These do there conclude what soever pleaseth them, without having any regard at all to any thing, that hath ben debated of, in the Council, but to that, whereunto every one of them pretendeth, & those who have sent them thither. And for so much as the greatest part in manner of the Cardinals and Bishops, that do there assemble together, to make up a number, are oftentimes but well fed and fat beasts, shod and horned, & fat Asses, & Mules laden with benefices, they must have some keepers & Muleteers to govern and to direct them. And because they are in such matter much like unto little children, they have need of school masters to instruct & teach them, & to supply their ignorance. T. And who be those Ass keepers & muleteers that thou speakest of? D. They are often times a certain number of hooded Monks, and belly Divines, which often times are in manner as ignorant as their scholars, & as very Asses, & Mules as the Asses & Mules that they govern & lead, saving that the one sort is more heavily laden than the other with benefices, & that the one sort have a little more sense & knowledge, & the others more farms & Lordships, ⟨p. 147⟩but their consciences are all one. T. Then are these men to the Cardinals & Bishops, in stead of the holy ghost, by whose inspiration they speak, being instructed by them. D. It is true: but this holy Ghost, is but a little portion & a dependence of the universal spirit of the holy father, of the which the Legates are filled. For all these hooded belly divines, pretend none other thing, but to fish for some Mitre, Cross, some good be nefice or fat prebend, wherefore they are there as kitchen dogs, waiting for some soap. These are the dumb dogs of whom the Prophet Isaiah doth speak. T. Then ¹they do not greatly care whether they do bark at the wolf and byte him: or no. D. They are not there for any such purpose: for their being there is only to flatter, to please and to procure their worldly honour and profit, and to have their portion of the pray which those wolves do get.

D. NOw when the disputaciō is ended, they must needes come to the resolucion and finall conclusion: whiche is not done openly, nor by the consent of all, but is done in ye Conclaue, in a secrete place, where none are admitted to come, but the Popes Legates, ye Patriarches, the Bishops, and the generals of the Monckes. These do there conclude what soeuer pleaseth them, without hauyng any regarde at all to any thyng, that hath ben debated of, in the Councell, but to that, wherunto euery one of them pretendeth, & those who haue sēt them thether. And for so much as the greatest part in maner of the Cardinals and Bishops, that do there assemble together, to make vp a nomber, are oftētymes but well fed and fatte beastes, shodde and horned, & fatte Asses, & Mules loden with benefices, they must haue some kepers & Muletters to gouerne and to direct them. And bycause they are in such matter much lyke vnto litle children, they haue nede of scoole masters to instruct & teache them, & to supplie their ignoraunce. T. And who be those Asse kepers & muletters that thou speakest of? D. They are often tymes a certayne nomber of hooded Moonckes, and bellye Dyuines, whiche often tymes are in maner as ignoraunte as their scollers, & as veri Asses, & Mules as the Asses & Mules yt they gouerne & lead, sauing yt the one sorte is more heuyly laden thē ye other wt benefices, & that the one sort haue a litle more sence & knowledge, & the others more farmes & Lordships,

And therefore they teach the Novices to set their sail according to the wind which they see doth blow, and according to the spirit by the which they know that the Legates are governed, & those who sent thither both them, and the Bishops, to the end that there might be there agreement of spirits, & that all those particular spirits might agree & resolve with that universal spirit which doth there preside, wherefore they have not at any time so great dissension and division, but that they may well say in their conclusions: It hath seemed good to the holy Ghost and to us, to wit that holy Ghost, which presideth over them.

And therfore they teach the Nouices to set their sayl accordyng to the wind which they seedoth blow, and accordyng to the spirite by the whiche they know that the Legates are gouerned, & those who sent thyther both thē, and the Bishops, to the end that there might be there agremēt of spirites, & that all those particular spirites might agree & resolue with that vniuersall spirite which doth there preside, wherfore they haue not at any tyme so great dissention and diuision, but that they may well say in their conclusions: It hath semed good to the holy Ghost and to vs, to witte that holy Ghost, whiche presideth ouer them.

¶ Of the matters of discord that may be in the Councils of the Papists: & of the causes of the agreement that is among them: & how dangerous it is for those that do maintain the cause of the truth.

¶ Of the matters of discorde that may be in the Councels of the Papistes: & of the causes of the agreement that is amōg them: & hovv daungerous it is for those that do maintaine the cause of the truth.

T. I Think for all that they have not always the best agreement: of the world among them. D. If there be any discord of opinion among them, it is not commonly for any matter that concerneth the honour of God, the edification of his ⟨p. 148⟩Church, & the salvation of the Christian people: but rather for their ambitions and honours, preeminences, benefices & particular affairs. For in manner all those that come thither, are assured the one of the other, and there is nothing in the world that they have less care for: then for God, & for the honour of his Church, and the salvation of their own souls, & of the Christian people, wherefore in this respect they fear not one an other. For there are seldom any other there, but Scribes & Pharisees, Sadducees & Herodians, Hypocrites and Epicures, Gluttons & Drunkards. Whoremasters & Sodomites, Players & Hunters, with such like, very ignorant in divinity, & of very filthy and detestable life, & should be all excommunicated, & accursed and deprived from their offices, if they should be judge according to the rigour of the ancient Councils, & of their own decrees, which do excommunicate ¹& accurse & also judge all such men unworthy, of any Ecclesiastical office. And if there be any other, they are very thin sown. There are very few among them, that are accounted for heretics, as was Joseph of Arimathea in the Council of the Jews, because that he would not consent to the death of Jesus Christ. And if that by adventure there be any one, from whom their happeneth any little word to escape, better ²then from the rest, how little so ever it smell of the smoke of the truth, y• man y• shall have pronounced it, shall be received among them, as Nicodemus was among the Jews, how little a word soever he speak in the favour of Jesus Christ, he shall be in great danger either to be banished from that holy company, & deprived from his benefices, & that at the least, or else if need be: he shall be in danger of the fire: or else to swallow certain pills of a very hard digestion, which shall much annoy his stomach and cause him to loose his voice.

T. I Thincke for all yt they haue not alwayes the best agremen: of the world among them. D. Yf there be any discorde of opinion among thē, it is not cōmonly for any matter that concerneth the honor of God, the edification of hys

And I know that there are in the world Godly men, who can testify in deed, how they have wrought in such matters, not many years passed, and can say of all that hath ben done even to this present in the Council of Trent, but how so ever it be, ⟨p. 149⟩if they can not easily agree in their Conclave, and that there be any one that will not forthwith & frankly agree to that which that holy father will have concluded there, the Legates dare boldly say to such as shall stand against it: Conclude as you list, but the matter shall pass in that sort: as it is said that the Cardinal of Monte (which is now remounted by means of the Papacy, and called Pope Julie) did lately at the Council of Trent. And because he was so faithful a Legate, and that he hath not only in that, but in all other things showed him self, worthy of the seat in the which he now sitteth, it hath framed better with him then with others, which have ben esteemed men, of to much honesty to be in such a company, of whom some have been glad to flee, and others have had given them for their recompense, drugs of very hard digestion.

And I know that there are in ye world Godly men, who can testifie in dede, how they haue wrought in such matters, not many yeares passed, and can say of all that hath ben done euen to this present in the Councell of Trent, but how so euer it be, ⟨p. 149⟩if they can not easily agree in their Cōclaue, and that there be any one that will not forthwith & franckly agree to that whiche yt holy father will haue cōcluded there, the Legates dare boldely say to such as shall stand agaynst it: Conclude as you list, but the matter shall passe in that sort: as it is said that the Cardinall of Monte (whiche is now remounted by meanes of the Papacie, and called Pope Iulie) did lately at the Councell of Trent. And bycause he was so faithfull a Legate, and that he hath not onely in that, but in all other thinges shewed him selfe, worthy of the seate in the whiche hee nowe sitteth, it hath framed better with him then with others, whiche haue ben estemed men, of to much honesty to be in such a companie, of whō some haue bene glad to flee, and others haue had gyuen them for theyr recompense, drogues of very hard digestion.

¶ Of the practises of the Pope, to have the determination and conclusions of the Councils, and the places wherein they are holden, at his vvill and commandment.

¶ Of the practises of the Pope, to haue the determination and conclusions of the Councels, and the places vvherein they are holden, at his vvill and commaundement.

T. Here are very dangerous practises. D. There are yet moe, among the which there is one chiefly that helpeth to bring the conclusion to what pass so ever they pretend, which is not unfitting nor unmeet for their purpose. T. Which is it? D. It is that if the holy father be advertised, that it is to be feared that such conclusion as he would have should be hindered (albeit it be not much to be feared, considering that which hath ben already spoken) he will forthwith make new Bishops as many & more than shall need, to cause the matter to pass more surely on his side, he will take simple Curates, Chaplains, & simple Monks, & he will make them Bishops in hast, the one of Nazareth, the other of Hebron, y• other of Bethlehem, & the other of an other title, & all without any Bishopric, they shall come as thick as flies, to make a non ber of voices: & they shall have pensions & wages of two or three crowns a month, as scholars or soldiers, to entertain ⟨p. 150⟩them, there during the Council. And if the place be anything suspected & not fit for his purpose, & that he have a desire to have the Council put over to some other place, which may be more for his purpose, he will have immediately ready some well learned Physician if need require, who shall have his ready framed reasons, to show how that the air is not good in that place, but it is dangerous to such as shall continue long there, & that it shall be better to appoint some other place, as it was practised not long ago. T. By that that I can understand, all is done there of purpose. The whole is nothing else but a very Comedy or play, in the which the blind are set upon high scaffolds, to lead the blind, & to play their part, according to their scroll & schedule, which is given them. D. Behold here their manner of working.

T. HEre are very daungerous practises. D. There are yet moe, amōg the whiche there is one chiefly that helpeth to bryng the conclusion to what passe so euer they pretend, whiche is not vnsittyng nor vnmeete for their purpose. T. Whiche is it? D. It is that if the holy father be aduertised, that it is to be feared that such conclusion as he would haue should be hindred (albeit yt be not much to be feared, considering yt which hath ben already spoken) he will forthwt make new Bishops as many & more thē shall nede, to cause ye matter to passe more surely on his side, he will take simple Curates, Chapellains, & simple Mooncks, & he will make them Bishops in hast, the one of Nazareth, the other of Hebron, y other of Beethlē, & the other of an other title, & all wtout any Bishopricke, they shal come as thicke as flyes, to make a nō ber of voyces: & they shall haue pensions & wages of two or three crownes a moneth, as scolers or souldiers, to entertayne

¶ Of the ignorance of the Popish Bishops, and how far they are of from that, that the word of God and the ancient Canons require of them.

¶ Of the ignoraunce of the Popishe Bishops, and hovv farre they are of from that, that the vvorde of God and the auncient Canons require of them.