A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two years ago…A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two yeres agoe…

Not unfitly are diverse godly and learned men of the Church reported to have said, that among the latter Bishops of Rome that are worthy to be reckoned among Shepherds, Gregory is the last. For as for the hindermost sort that have followed after him, they were not sheep feeders but sheep biters, a few excepted, for through their neglecting of Gods word, and their earthly affections, they have not only in wonderful wise darkened the clearness of the christian doctrine with mens inventions and traditions, but also defiled and marred the simplicity and pureness of Gods service, with unclean superstitions, differing little or nothing from the heathenish & wicked Idolatries. Many of them have openly defended corrupt doctrines, and the Idols themselves, and other abominations, and therewithal have forced them upon the people. Othersome of them treading all discipline and honesty under foot, have wallowed themselves in filthy and unlawful lusts, in riot and lechery, in unchasteness, in adultery and whoredom, in incest and other horrible offences, as it were in the mire of Cocytus, and the pool of Stix. Others of them have not refrained themselves from poisonings, from Necromancy, or fellowship with Devils, from magic, damned in all ages, from murdering, and from treasons. All of them for the most part, and specially the latter Bishops of Rome, being blinded with devilish desire of sovereignty, and swollen and puffed up with such pride as the like was never heard of, have not been ashamed before God, nor before his angels and the whole world, to advance themselves into that ⟨image 42⟩seat by simony, and to entangle themselves in secular kingdom, and therewithal to withdraw themselves from the subjection of kings and princes ordained by God, to usurp other mens rights, to bear both the persons of spirituality and temporality, and to challenge to themselves the jurisdiction of both the swords, to suffer no man to be equal with them, and much less to be above them: also to deny duty and honour unto their betters, and to such as are ordained of God, or rather to take it from them to them selves: to reign over the Princes themselves, and to appoint them laws, and finally to trample them under their feet, contrary to Gods commandment and the example of the Apostles.

NOt vnfitly are diuerse godly and learned men of the Church reported to haue sayd, that among the latter Byshops of Rome that are worthy to be reckoned among Shepherdes, Gregory is the last. For as for the hindermost sort that haue folowed after hym, they were not sheepefeeders but sheepebyters, a few excepted, for through their neglecting of Gods worde, and their earthly affections, they haue not onely in wonderfull wise darkened the clearnesse of the christian doctrine with mens inuentions and traditions, but also defiled and marred the simplicitie and purenesse of Gods seruice, with vncleane superstitions, differing little or nothing from the heathenish & wicked Idolatries. Many of them haue opēly defended corrupt doctrines, and the Idolles themselues, and other abhominacions, and therewithall haue forced them vppon the people. Othersome of them treading all discipline and honestie vnder foote, haue wallowed themselues in filthy and vnlawfull lustes, in ryot and lecherie, in vnchastnesse, in aduowtrie and whoredome, in incest and other horrible offences, as it were in the myre of Cocytus, and the poole of Stix. Others of them haue not refrayned themselues from poysonynges, from Necromancie, or felowshyp with Deuilles, from magik, damned in all ages, from murtheryng, and from treasons. All of them for the most part, and specially the latter Bishops of Rome, being blinded with diuelish desire of soueraintie, and swolne and puft vp with such pride as the lyke was neuer heard of, haue not bene ashamed before God, nor before his aungels and the whole world, to aduaunce themselues into that