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 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, ⟨p. 147⟩but their cōsciences are all one. T. Then are these mē to ye Cardinals & Bishops, in stede of ye holy ghost, by whose inspiratiō they speake, being instructed by thē. D. It is true: but this holy Ghost, is but a litle portiō & a depēdance of the vniuersall spirite of ye holy father, of the whiche the Legates are filled. For all these hooded belly diuines, pretend none other thing, but to fish for some Mitre, Crosse, some good be nefice or fatte prebend, wherfore they are there as kitchine dogges, wayting for some soope. These are the dumme dogges of whom the Prophet Esay doth speake. T. Then ¹they do not greatly care whether they do barcke at ye wolfe and byte him: or no. D. They are not there for any such purpose: for their beyng there is onely to flatter, to please and to procure their worldly honor and profite, and to haue their portion of the pray whiche those wolues do gette.

1. 1Isaiah. x••.Esay. x••.

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.

T. I Find it very strange, that the Bishops, which be there assembled, as leaders of the blind, & reformers of religion, to direct and instruct the poor Christian people, have need them selves of school masters, & other blind guides, to lead them. D. This doth not agree with that name of a bishop, which they bear ¹the which admonisheth them that their office is to be watch men over yt Lords flock. It is not according to that admonition, which S. Paul giveth them, saying, take good heed to your selves, & to the flock, over the which the holy Ghost, hath appointed you watchmen & keepers, to govern & feed yt Church of God, which he hath purchased with his blood. T. They have their worthy answer ready for it: to wit that they be not Bishops of that time, nor such as they were to whom S. Paul spake in this passage: and that they are not appointed by the holy Ghost to feed the flock of Jesus Christ. D. In that thou sayest very truth: for they are feeders & Pastors only to feed them selves, as were the false Pastors of whom the Lord complaineth by Ezekiel. ⟨p. 151⟩²Wherefore they need no great knowledge, nor yet to observe the Decrees & Canons of Pope Hilary the first, of Alexander the ii. of Innocent the vi. of Boniface the iii. of Gelase, & of Zozine, which have ordained that none should be received into any such office, unless he were very wise & known ³to be of good life & doctrine, and yt benefices of the Church should not be given, under pain of cursing, neither for favour nor gifts, nor to any other, then to men of such learning and life as is required for such offices, and that the sheep of Christ must be kept by their own Pastors, and not by hirelings and Vicars. T. We should find a great number accursed, if such Decrees should take place.

T. I Find it very straūge, that the Bishops, which be there assēbled, as leaders of the blind, & reformers of religiō, to direct and instruct the poore Christiā people, haue nede thē selues of scoole masters, & other blind guides, to lead thē. D. This doth not agree wt yt name of a bishop, which they bear ¹

¶ Of the final conclusion and resolution of the Council of the Papists, and the solemnity of the day whereupon it is done.

¶ Of the finall conclusion and resolution of the Councell of the Papistes, and the solempnitie of the daye vvhereupon it is done.

D. But we have left the best of the play untouched, which afterward is turned into a Tragedy: to wit, y• Sessions, in the which yt declaration of all the conclusions which they make in the Conclave, is openly published in the Church. T. I pray thee then go through & make an end of the play. D. The day whereon this is done, all they of the town where they are gathered to Council, must make a feast. The Cardinals and Bishops do assist all there, in their sieges & seats, clothed with their robes, & decked as it were bridegrooms. For it is there that the play must be plaid in deed. And for so much as they have had from else where before that time, & not from thence, the inspiration of their holy ghost, & that they be already resolved in that, that they go about, they do not then at all call for their belly divines & hooded men, whom before that time they had for their school masters, but in such sort as they call the rest of the hearers: for there they need them not. Notwithstanding this, to the end that they may give all men to understand, that the determinations which they have brought thither, already framed by them without the spirit of God, ⟨p. 152⟩before that ever they came thither, do proceed from God, and from his holy spirit, they begin with invocation of him, to wit with a fair blasphemy, to outrage the grace of him, and to renounce Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom it is given, for they sing a fair Mass of the holy Ghost, with such ceremonies and so great mockeries, and foolish toys, that the little children would be ashamed to see it. For the Mass must be Episcopal, now there are many mysteries and ceremonies in such Masses, moe then in those that are song by simple Curates and Priests. There is there also harmony, chanting, and great store of Music, even as there was in the solemn feast holden at Babylon, by the commandment of Nebuchadnezzar, to cause his great golden Image to be honoured. There is also a gay and pompous procession, in the which all the players, that play in that play, are clothed and disguised according to the parts that ¹they play. Then do they cry out for the holy Ghost (with whom they would not have to do notwithstanding) with very great desire Veni creator spiritus:

D. BUt we haue left the best of the play vntouched, which afterward is turned into a Tragedie: to witte, y Sessions, in the whiche yt declaratiō of all the conclusiōs which they make in ye Cōclaue, is opēly published in ye Church. T. I pray thee thē go thorow & make an end of ye play. D. The day wheron this is done, all they of ye towne where they are gathered to Coūcell, must make a feast. The Cardinals and Bishops doo assiste al there, in their sieges & seates, clothed with their robes, & decked as it were bridegromes. For it is there yt the play must be plaide in deede. And for so much as they haue had frō els where before yt tyme, & not frō thence, the inspiracion of their holy ghost, & that they be already resolued in that, that they go about, they do not then at all cal for their belly diuines & hooded men, whom before yt tyme they had for their scoole masters, but in such sort as they cal the rest of the hearers: for there they nede thē not. Notwithstandyng this, to the end that they may giue all men to vnderstand, that the determinaciōs whiche they haue brought thither, already framed by them without the spirite of God,

to the end that he may come and inspire them, to do that which is all ready done, when this is done, every mans opinion is asked, of those things which are there proponed. Upon the which every man playeth his part, according as he hath learned it, and answereth according to the conclusion, which is all ready made. Those which have better memory then the rest, and do trust thereunto, pronounce their sentence by hart, the others reed it according as it hath ben given them in writing, in the schedules that their school masters, and instructors have made for them. In the which often times there happeneth great inconveniences. For there are some that have so gross heads, and have so evil studied their roll, that they are marvellously troubled to reed it a right. And often times it is seen that diverse of them have one kind of Billet, for so much as one school master hath made them all, & hath given very one theme to his disciples.

to the ende that he may come and inspire them, to do that whiche is all ready done, when this is done, euerye mans opinion is asked, of those thinges whiche are there proponed. Vpon the whiche euery man playeth his part, accordyng as he hath learned it, and aunswereth accordyng to the conclusion, which is al ready made. Those whiche haue better memorie then the rest, and do trust thereunto, pronounce their sentence by hart, the others reede it accordyng as it hath ben gyuen them in writyng, in the cedules that their scoole masters, and instructors haue made for them. In the whiche often tymes there happeneth great inconueniences. For there are some that haue so grose heades, and haue so euill studyed their rolle, yt they are maruelously troubled to reede it a right. And often times it is sene that diuerse of thē haue one kinde of Billet, for so much as one scoole maister hath made them al, & hath geuen verye one theme to hys disciples.