Book IX, Chapter 51

IF not with minds preiudicate, but holding in suspence
A while the Papacie, that takes and giues so much Offence,
With single hearts, and Eies, and Eares, al christian Princes would
Peruse the sacred Scriptures (as in verie deede they should)
Then might they iustly censure, how in […]owlines, or Pryde,
In Charitie, or Crueltie, how straite to God, or wide,
In Doctrine, and in Discipline, Rome hath, and now doth guide,
With still Prouisoes from the Laie the Scriptures light to hide,
Least should (as would, and cleerely doth) their Cosning be espide[…]
Wherby, euen ipso facto, is their Cause against them tride:

The sinne of Pride made Lucifer gainst God him selfe rebell,
And through that sinne he so sedu[…]'t that Adam also fell.
Then plaid he Rex ore all the Earth, except a faithfull Fewe:
Till Christ, incarnate, on the Crosse Synns Kingdome did subdewe.
Then Christ, was powrefull in the world, for Faith had practice right:
And what could more our Ghostly Foe then Faith & Practice spight?
His auncient Stratageme therefore to plant he casts anew,
And by the pride of only Workes from Faith a many drew.
Then were such Honors heapt on Popes, (Worlds-A[…]iects ere that time)
That Lucifer him selfe than they presum'd not more to clyme.
Their golden Legend, though not it autenticke be in aught,
To vs doth teach a Storie that to them might now be taught.

Theare was a Man of stature bigge, and bigge withall in minde,
For serue he would, yet One thā whō he greater none might finde.
He, hearing that the Emperor was in the world most great,
Came to his Court, was […]tertaynd, and, seruing him at meate,
It chanc't the Diuell was nam'd, wherat the Emperor him blest:
When as, vntill he knew the cause, the Pagane would not rest.
But when he heard his Lord to feare the Diuell his ghostly Foe,
He left his Seruice, and to seeke and serue the Diuell did goe:
Of heauen, or hell, God, or the Diuell, he earst nor heard nor carde,
Alone he sought to serue the same that would by none be darde.
He met (Who soone is mett) the Diuell, was intertayn'd, they walke,
Till, comming to a Crosse, the Diuell did fearefully it balke.
The Seruant, musing, questioned his Master of his feare:
One Christ, quoth he, with dread, I mind when doth a crosse appeare.
Then serue thy selfe, the Gyant said, that Christ to serue I'le seeke.
For him he askt an Hermit, who aduisde him to be meeke, found,
By which, by Faith, and works of Almes, would sought-for Christ be
And how & where, to practice these he gaue Directions sound.
Then he, that sko[…]nd his Seruice late to greatest Potentates,
Euen at a common Ferry now to carrie all awaites.
Thus doing long, as with a Child he ouer once did waide,
Vnder his Loode midway he […]aints, from sinking hardly stayde.
Admiring how, and asking who, was answered of the Childe,
As on his Shoulders Christ he bore, by being humblie milde,
So through Humilitie his Soule to Christ was reconcilde,
And, of his Carrage, Christo-fer should thenceforth be his name.
Then lett this popish Scripture, Popes, at least you Conuerts frame:
Of which Conuerting, Christo-fers yee thenceforth shalbe said:
If not, apply and perish in your Luciferring Traid.
Ye know, I know, that but in Christ may no Redemption be:
So your greate friend, our Gardner, on his death-bed could agree:
But to the Vulgars open not, gainst Rome, that gap, quoth he.
So miserable is your state who, seeing, will not see,
That Christofer, eare Christo-fer, was Atheist lesse than yee.

Well answered once a King of ours the Pope, that bod him free
Two Prelates, terming them his Sonnes: The King seem'd to agree,
But sent their compleat Armor: looke are these thy Sonne[…], quoth he.
False Hesket too not falsely spake, reporting lately this,
That such as Papists would seduce, and of seducing mis,
Are marked dead: For he to whom he so did say, feare I,
Earle Ferdinando Stanley, so dissenting, so did trie,
As other Peeres, heere, and els-where, haue found the like no lye.
Nor preached he the Pope amis, that did to him applie
This Tex, to witt: This is the Heire, come on and let him die,
Th' Inheritance let vs inioye: Nought seeke they els, for why?
Those bad be good that giue, those good be bad that Giftes deny,
From Annanias literall fault they Consciences would tye:
These death-eide Basilisques therefore in euerie Sense doe flie.
Be of Religion iumpe with them, in all their Toyes aff[…]e,
A Peter-Penny, if withhild, knocks all the rest awrye.
Hell, Heauen, Bulls, Pardons, Pope, and to be Pope, doth mony buy.
Yea, too blasphemous, they in[…]roch vpon the Deitie,
Though of these […]ifers haue been that perish through a Flie.
Each sinne gainst God, how vile so-eare, will Popes with Pardons fit:
Crosse but the Pope, pardon thou him, he will not pardon it.
For Faith his common Plea is sword and fire against his foes:
But who, but fooles, beleeue that Faith exacted is by bloes.
Than those three Mightie Emperors, Fift Charles, with Ferdinand,
And Maximilian, with the Pope did none more partiall stand:
Yeat suffred they the Consciences of Protestants in peace,
But Philip, nor the Pope will now their Inquisition cease:
Though Either suffer Iewes, and Stewes, because of Gaines increase.