A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith

Far was it from their custom, to be absent from their charge and office, or to have a Vicar under them: and yet less to keep them in the courts of kings and Princes, and to be charged with Abbeys and Bishoprics. But after the horrible confusion was come, then their charges and offices were converted into dignities, and my Lord the Pope desired no better, then by these traffics and means to entertain himself with Kings and Princes, even by the means of his Cardinals, who of good right he calleth his Creatures. And nevertheless, of such gre• force is the Trueth, that in the year • ▪ •8. the principal among them, yea, na••ly the same which at this time, or of late was Pope, and called Paul the fourth▪ declareth freely to Pope Paul the third, that to be a Bishop and Cardinal, were things utterly not to be suffered. The book is ⟨image 182⟩imprinted, and open to be seen. What lacketh it then, that they be not judged by their own mouths? I leave out to speak of their Buggeries, Avarices, Simonies, Treasons, poisonings, and other Cardinal virtues, used of many among them, which all the world stinketh with the sight and knowledge thereof. To speak of their estate (although they were the most honest men in the world) yet I say▪ they have no approbation nor just title, neither in the scripture, or in Council, neither Decree, or ancient Doctor: although they set them selves above the Metropolitans & Bishops.

Farre was it from theyr custome, to bée absent from theyr charge and offyce, or to haue a Vicar vnder them: and yet lesse to kéepe them in the courts of kings and Princes, and to be charged with Abbyes and Byshoprikes. But after the horrible confusion was come, then theyr charges and offyces were conuerted into dignities, and my Lorde the Pope desyred no better, then by these traffykes and meanes to entertaine himselfe with Kings and Princes, euen by the meanes of his Cardinalles, who of good ryght he calleth his Creatures. And neuerthelesse, of suche gre• force is the Trueth, that in the yeare • 8. the principall among them, yea, naly the same which at thys tyme, or of late was Pope, and called Paule the fowrth declareth fréely to Pope Paule the thyrde, that to bée a Byshoppe and Cardynall, were thinges vtterlye not to be suffered. The booke is