The tragedies of tyrants Exercised upon the church of God, from the birth of…The tragedies of tyrantes Exercised vpon the church of God, from the birth of…

Moreover, through the immoderate,¹ and unlawful power or rather tyranny of y• Popes, no less also by other means, bloody persecutions and murders have risen. For after that, as we have ⟨p. 106⟩shown before, they had mightily usurped upon all Ecclesiastical and Civill jurisdiction, and power also over counsels: then might they afterward institute and ordain all orders of the Church the doctrine of faith and religion, rites and customs in the Church, at their own will and pleasure. And hereof arose persecutions. For who so ever resisted: those they cried out upon for heretics, and under that pretence persecuted them. And this same (besides the wars of the Popes) I term properly the Papistical persecution against Christians, and the Christian Church, which was moved against the godly and faithful only for their faiths sake, as it was sometime in the primitive Church. Wherefore, like as at the beginning, the first faithful were persecuted by the Emperors of Rome: even so towards the end of the world, the faithful of the latter times do suffer persecution by the Popes of Rome. But undoubtedly the Lord will come shortly to judge both the quick, and the dead.

Moreouer, through the immoderate,¹ and vnlawfull power or rather tyranny of y• Popes, no lesse also by other meanes, blooddy persecutions and murthers haue risen. For after that, as wée haue ⟨p. 106⟩shewen béefore, they had mightely vsurped vpon all Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill iurisdiction, and power also ouer counselles: then might they afterward institute and ordeine all ordres of ye Church the doctrine of faith and religion, rites and customes in the Churche, at theyr owne will and pleasure. And hereof arose persecutions. For who so euer resisted: those they cried out vppon for heretickes, and vnder that pretence persecuted them. And this same (béesides the warres of the Popes) I terme properlye the Papisticall persecution agaynste Christians, and the Christian Churche, whiche was mooued againste the godlye and faithfull onely for their faithes sake, as it was sumtime in the primitiue Church. Wherfore, like as at the beeginninge, the first faithfull were persecuted by the Emperours of Rome: euen so towards the ende of the worlde, the faithfull of the latter times do suffer persecution by the Popes of Rome. But vndoubtedlye the Lorde will come shortlye to iudge both the quick, and the dead.