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…

And therefore during the time of the¹ Counsels, before, and after them, have bin many battles, murders, and foul wastings committed, nether were these things done only against the Saracens and unfaithful men: but with much more extremity and cruelty against Christians, which would be indeed, and named Christians, and not papists, and which disallowed and also be wailed the pride, and tyranny of the Pope, his great and manifest abuses and depravations of holy things. Wherefore in the old time it grew into a proverb: Every council breedeth war: which is to be understood of Papistical counsels, and found indeed to be true by proof.

And therefore during the time of the¹ Counsels, before, and after them, haue bin many bateiles, murthers, and foule wastings committed, nether were these things done onely against the Sarracens and vnfaithfull men: but with mutche more extreamitie and crueltie against Christians, which would bée indéed, and named Christians, and not papists, and which disallowed and also be wayled the pride, and tyrany of the Pope, his great and manifest abuses and deprauations of holy thinges. Wherefore in the ould time it grewe into a prouerbe: Euery counsell breedeth warre: which is to be vnderstoode of Papisticall counsels, and found indéed to be true by proofe.

1. 1Counsels cause wars. and persecutions.Counselles cause wars. and persecutions.

For that I may pass over in this place, wars and most bloody persecutions of faithful men, but enemies to the Sea of Rome, which were waged ⟨p. 111⟩and committed in the reign of Pope Innocentius the third and certain other Popes next ensuing: let us only examine those things which are not far past the memory of men that are alive. The