Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 1

A copy of the Bull of Pope Leo x. no less sclaunderous then barbarous, against Martin Luther and his doctrine. Leo Papa .x.

LEo Episcopus seruus seruorum Dei ad perpetuam rei memoriam: Exurge Domine & iudica causam tuam. Memor esto impropriorum eorum quae ab insipientibus fiunt tota die. Inclina aurem tuam ad preces nostras, quoniam surrexerunt vulpes querentes demoliri veneam, cuius tu torcular solus calcasti, & ascensurus ad patrem, eius curam, regimē, & administrationem Petro tanquam capiti, & tuo vicario eius{que} successoribus instar triumphantis Ecclesiae commisisti. &c.

The said sclaunderous and barbarous Bull of Pope Leo the x. against Luther, in English, with the answer of Luther joined to the same.

LEo Bishop, servant of the servants of God, for a perpetual memory hereof. Rise up O Lord, & judge thy cause: Remember the rebukes wherewith we are scorned all the day long of foolish rebukers. Incline thy ear to our prayers: for Foxes are risen up, seeking to destroy thy vineyard, the vinepresse whereof thou only hast trodē, and ascending up to thy Father, hast committed the charge and regiment thereof unto Peter as chief head, and to thy Vicar and his successors. The wild Bore out of the wood seeketh to exterminate and root up thy Vineyard. Rise up Peter, and for this thy pastoral charge committed to thee from above intend to the cause of the holy Church of Rome the mother of all churches, and of our faith, which thou by the commandment of God didst consecrate with thine own blood: against which (as thou hast foretold us) false liars have risen up, bringing in sects of perdition, to their own spedy destruction. Whose tongue is like fire, full of unquietness, and replenished with deadly poysō: who having a wicked zeal, and nourishing contentions in their harts do brag and lie against the verity.

Rise up Paul also, we pray thee, which hast illuminate the same Church with thy doctrine and like martyrdom. For now is sprong up a new Porphecy, who, as they said Porphyry then unjustly did slander the holy Apostles, so semblably doth this man now slander, revile, rebuke, byte, and barcke against the holy Bishops our predecessors, not in beseeching them, but in rebuking them. And where he distrusteth his cause, there he falleth to opprobrious checks & rebukes, after the wonted use of heretics, whose uttermost refuge is this (as Jerome saith) y ^t whē they see their cause go to wrack, then like Serpentes they cast out their venom with their tongue, and when they see themselves, near to be overcome, they fall to railing. For though heresies (as thou sayest) must needs be, for the exercise of the faithful: yet least these heresies should further increase and these Foxes gather strength against us, it is needful that by thy means and help, they be suppressed and extinguished at the beginning.

Finally let all the whole universal Church of God's Saynts and Doctors rise up, whose true expounding of holy Scripture being rejected, certain persons (whose hearts the father of lies hath blinded) and wise in their own conceits (as the manner of heretics is) do expound the scriptures otherwise then the holy Ghost doth require following only their own sense of ambition and vain-glory: yea rather do wrast and adulterate the Scriptures: so that as Jerome saith, now they make it not the gospel of Christ, but of man, or which is worse of the devil.

Let all the holy church I say, rise up, & wi • h the blessed Apostles together make intercessiō to almighty God, that the errors of all schismatics being rooted & stocked up, his holy Church may be conserved in peace and unity.

For of late (which for sorrow we cannot express) by credible information and also by public fame it hath come to our ears, yea we have seen also & read with our eyes, diverse and sundry errors, of which some have been condemned by counsels and constitutions of our predecessors containing expressly y ^e heresies of the Greeks & of the Bohemians: some again respectively, either heretical or false, or sclaunderous, or offensive to good ears, or such as may seduce simple minds: newly to be raised up, by certain false pretensed Gospellers: who by curious pride seeking worldly glory against the doctrine of the apostle, would be more wise then becometh them, whose babbling (as S. Jerome calleth it) without authority of the Scriptures, should find no credit, unless they should seme to cōfirm their false doctrine even with testimonies of the scripture, but yet falsely interpreted. Which worketh us so much the more grief, for y ^t those heresies be sprong in y ^e noble nation of the Germans, unto the which natiō we with our predecessors, have always borne special favor and affection. For after the Empire was first translated by the Church of Rome, from the Greeks unto the Germans, the said our predecessors and we, have always had them as special fautors & defenders of this our Church, and they have always shown themselves as most earnest suppressors of heresies: as witness whereof remain yet those laudable constitutions of the Germane Emperors, set forth and confirmed by our predecessors, for the liberty of the Church, and for expulsing heretics out of all Germany, and that under grievous penalty and loss of all their goods and lands. Which constitutions, if they were observed this present day both we and they should now be free from this disturbance.

Furthermore, the heresy of the Hussites, Wicleuistes, & of Jerome of Prague, being condemned and punished in the Coūcel of Constance, doth witness y ^e same. Moreover doth witness the same, so much blood of y ^e Germans spilled fighting against the Bohemians. To conclude, the same also is confirmed & witnessed by the learned & true confutatiō, reprobation and condemnation set forth by the Universities of Colene and Leuven in Germany against the foresaid errors. Many other witnesses also we might allege, which here, least we should seme to write a story, we preterm •• .

Wherefore we for the charge of our Pastoral office committed unto us, can no longer forbear or wink at the pestiferous poison of the foresaid errors: of the which errors we thought here good to recite certain. The tenor of which is this, as followeth.

It is an old heresy to say, that the Sacraments of the new 〈◊〉 doth give grace to them, qui non ponunt obicem. i. which have in themselves to the contrary, no let.

In a child after his Baptism, to deny that sin remaineth, is to tread down Paul and Christ under foot.

The origene of sin, although no actual sin do follow • fter, doth stay the soul leaving the body, from the entrance into heaven.

Vnperfite charity of a mā departing, must needs bring with it great fear, which of it self is enough to deserve the pain of Purgatory, and stoppeth the entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

To say that penance standeth of three partes, to wit, contrition, confession, and satisfaction, is not founded in holy Scripture nor in ancient, holy and Christian Doctors.

Contritiō, which a man stirreth up in himself, by discussing, remembering, and detestinge his sins, in reuoluing his former years in bitterness of soul, and in pondering the weight, number and filthiness of his sins, the leesing of eternal bliss, and getting of eternal damnation: this contrition maketh a man an hypocrite and a great sinner.

It is an old proverb, & to be preferred before the doctrine of all that have written hitherto of contrition: from henceforth to transgress no more. The chiefest and the best penance is a new life.

Neither presume to confess the venial sins, nor yet all thy mortal sins, for it is impossible to remember all the mortal sins that thou hast committed, and therefore in the primitive Church they confessed the mortal sins, which only were manifest.

While we seek to number up all our sins sincerely unto the priest, we mean nothing else herein, but that we will leave nothing to the mercy of God, to be forgiven.

In confession no man hath his sins forgiven, except he believe, whē the priest forgiveth, the same to be remitted: yea otherwise his sin remaineth vnforgeuē, unless he believe the same to be forgiven. For else remission of the priest, and giving of grace doth not suffice, except belief come on his part that is remitted.

Think not thy sin to be assoiled, for the worthiness of thy contrition, but for the word of Christ: Whatsoever thou losest. &c. When thou art absolved of the priest, trust confidently upon these words, and believe firmly thyself to be absolved, & then art thou truly remitted.

Admit the party that is confessed were not contrite (which is impossible, or that the priest pronounced the words of losing, not in earnest, but in jest: yet if the party believe that he is absolved, he is truly absolved in deed.

In the sacrament of penance and absolution, the Pope or bishop do no more, then any inferior priest can do. Yea and where a priest is not to be had, there every Christian man, yea or Christian woman standeth in as good stead.

None ought to say to the priest, that he is contrite, neither ought the priest to ask any such matter.

It is a great error of them which come to the holy housel trusting upon this, that they are confessed, that their conscience grudgeth them of no deadly sin, that they have said their prayers, and done such other preparatives before: all those do eat & drink to their own judgment▪ But if they believe there to obtain God's grace, this faith maketh them pure and worthy.

It were good that the church should determine in a general council, lay men to communicate under both kinds: & the Bohemians so doing, be therein neither heretics, nor schismatics.

The treasures out of which the Pope doth grant his Indulgences, are not the merits of Christ, nor of the Saints.

Indulgences and pardons be a devout seducing of the faithful, and hindrance to good works: and are in the number of thē which be things lawful, but not expedient.

Pardons and Indulgences to them which have them, avail not to remission of the punishment due before God, for actual sins committed.

They which think that Indulgences are wholesome and cōducible to the fruit of the spirit, are deceived.

Indulgences are only necessary for public transgressions, & are only granted to them that are obstinate and impacient.

Indulgences and pardons are unprofitable to 6. sortes of persons. 1. to them that be dead, or lie in dying. 2. to thē that be we •• and infirm. 3. to such as have lawful impedimentes. 4. to thē that have not offended. 5. to such as have offended▪ but not publicly. 6. to those that amend and do well.

Excommunications be only outward punishments, and do not deprive a man of the public spiritual prayers of the Church.

Christians are to be taught rather to love excommunication, then to dread it.

The bish. of Rome, successor of Peter, is not the vicar of Christ, ordained by Christ and S. Peter, to have authority over all the churches in the world.

The words of Christ to Peter, Whatsoever thou loosest, &c. Math 16. extend no further, but only to those things, which be bound of Peter himself.

It is not in the hands either of the church, or of the Pope, to make articles of the faith, yea, or laws either of manners, or good works.

Albeit the Pope with a great part of the church, teaching so or so, did not err therein: yet is it no sin nor heresy for a man to hold contrary to them, namely in such things, which are not necessary to salvation, so long as it is not otherwise condemned or approved by a general Council.

We have a way made plain unto us, to infringe the authority of Councils, and freely to gainestand their doings, and to judge upon their Decrees, and boldly to speak our knowledge whatsoever we judge to be true, whether the same be approved or reproved by any general Council.

Some of the articles of John Hus condemned in the Council of Constance, are Christian, most true and Evangelical, whom the universal Church cannot condemn.

In every good work the just man sinneth.

Every good work of ours, when it is best done, it is a venial sin.

To burn heretics, is against the will of the spirit.

To fight against the Turks, is to repugn against God, visiting our iniquities by them.

Freewill after sin, is a title and name only of a thing, and while a man doth that which lieth in him, he sinneth deadly.

Purgatory cannot be proved out of holy scripture, which is Canonical.

Souls in Purgatory be not certain of their safety, at lest not all, neither is it proved by reasons or by scriptures, that they be utterly out of the state to deserve, or increase charity.

Souls in Purgatory do sin without intermission, so long as they seek rest, and dread punishment.

The souls being delivered out of Purgatory by the prayers of the living, be less blessed, then if they had satisfied for themselves.

Ecclesiastical prelates & worldly princes should not do amiss, if they would scour away all the bags of begging Friers.

All which errors there is no man in his right wits, but he knoweth the same in their several respects, how pestilent they be, how pernicious, how much they seduce godly and simple minds, and finally how much they be against all charity, and against the reverence of the holy Church of Rome, the mother of all faithful, and maistreesse of the faith it self, and against the sinews and strength of ecclesiastical discipline, which is obedience, the fountain and wellspring of all virtues, and without the which every mā is to be convinced easily to be an Infidel.

We therefore desiring to proceed in the premisses more earnestly, as behooveth in things of most importance and meaning, to cut of the course of this pestiferous and cankered disease, lest it should spread it self further in y ^e Lord's field, like hurtful brambles or briars, and using upon the said errors, and every of them diligent trial, debatyng strait examination, ripe deliberation. And further, weighing and thoroughly sifting all and every of the same together w ^t our reverend brethrē, the cardinals of the church of Rome, the priors of the orders regular, or ministers general, also with diverse other professors and masters of Divinity, & of both the laws, and those the best learned: do find the foresaid errors or articles respectively, as is aforesaid, not to be the catholic, nor to be taught as Catholic, but to be against the doctrine or tradition of the catholic Church, a • d against the true interpretation of holy Scripture, received by the same: to whose author Augustine thought we ought so much to lean, that he would not (as he said) have believed the Gospel, if the authority of the Church had not thereto moved him.

For by these errors, or at least by some of them it followeth consequently, that the same Church which is guided by the holy Ghost, now doth, & ever hath erred, which is utterly against that which Christ at the time of his ascension (as we read in the holy Gospel of Matthew) promised to his Disciples, saying: I am with you until the ende of the world, &c. and also against the determination of the holy Fathers, against the express ordinances or Canons of Councils and head bishops, whom not to obey, hath always been the cause and nurse of all heresies and schisms, as Cyprian doth witness.

Wherefore by the counsel and assent of the said our reverend brethren, upon due consideration of all and singular the premisses, by the authority of almighty God, & of the blessed Apostles of Peter and Paul, and our own, we do condemn, reprove, and utterly reject all and singular the Articles or errors aforesaid respectively, as some to be heretical, some to be slanderous, some offensive to godly ears, or else seducing simple minds, and repugnant to the catholic truth, and by the tenor hereof, we here decree and declare that they ought of all christen people both men and women, to be taken as damned, reproved, and rejected. And therefore forbidding here under pain of the greater curse and excommunication, loosing of their dignities, whether they be Ecclesiastical or temporal, and to be deprived and made incapable of all regular orders & privileges, given and granted by the Sea Apostolic, of what condition so ever they be: also of loosing their liberties to hold general schools, to read and profess any science and faculty: of loosing also their tenures and feo • ements, and of inhabilitie forever to recover the same again, or any other: moreover, under pain of secludyng from Christian burial, yea and of treason also, and incurring such pains and punishments expressed in the law, as are due for all heretics and fautors of the same: we charge and command all and singular Christian people, both men and women, as well of the laity, as of the Clergy, both secular & also regular, of what order so ever they be, and brieflye all other persons, of what degree or condition so ever they be, or in what dignity so ever they are placed, either ecclesiastical or temporal: as first y ^e cardinals of the holy church of Rome, Patriarchs, Primates Archbishops, Bishops, with the prelates and heads of the churches Patriarchal, Metropolitan, or other cathedral Collegiate, and other small and inferior churches: to all clerks and other persons ecclesiastical, as Abbots, Priors, or ministers general or particular, brethren or religious men, exempt and not exempt: also Universities of schools, and all other, as well secular priests, as regular, and religious persons of all orders, yea of the begging friers also. Item, kings, Electors of the Imperial crown, princes, Dukes, Marquesses, Barons, captains, conductors and seruitures, and all Officers, Judges, Notaries, whether they be ecclesiastical or secular: comminalties, universities, dominions, cities, castles, lordships, and places, with the inhabiters of the same: and finally all other persons whatsoever, ecclesiastical or regular, dispersed in whatsoever places through the whole universal world, or which shall be hereafter dispersed, but especially in high Almany, that they shall not presume publicly or privately under any manner of pretence or color, colourably or expressly, or how else soever, to hold, maintain, defend, preach, or favor the foresaid errors or any of them, or any such perverse doctrine.

Ouer and besides, for so much as the foresaid errors, and many other are contained in the books or writings of the foresaid Martin Luther, therefore we condemn, reprove, and utterly reject, and hold for utterly condemned, reproved, and rejected the foresaid books, and all the writings of the said Martin, with his preachings, in what tongue so ever they are found, wherein the said errors or any of them is contained willing and commanding under the virtue of holy obedience, and incurring the penalties aforesaid, to all and singular christen people, both men and women above rehearsed, that they presume not by any manner of ways, directly, or indirectly, colourably or expressly, privily or apertly, either in their houses, or in other public or private places, to read, hold, preach, print, publish, or defend, either by themselves or by others, but straight ways after the publishing hereof, they do burn or cause to be burned the said errors, by their Ordinaries diligently being searched out, and solemnly presented in the sight of the whole Clergy of the people, under all and singular the penalties aforesaid.

Now as touching the said Martin, O good lord, what have we left undone? what have we left unattempted? what fatherly charity have we not shown, whereby to have reduced him from these errors? For after that we did cite him, thinking to proceed with him more favorably, we invited and exhorted him as well by diverse tractations had with our Legate, as by our own letters, that he would relinquish the foresaid errors, or else having safe conduct offered to him, with money necessary for his journey, to come to us without any fear or dread, which perfect charity ought to cast out, and so after the example of our savior, and his Apostle S. Paul, he would speak, not in corners and in secret, but openly to our face. Which if he had done, of truth we think no less, but that reformyng himself, he would have recognised his errors, neither should have found so many faults in y ^e court of Rome which he being seduced with the rumors of malicious people, more thē he ought, doth so much reprehend. Where we would have taught him to see more clearly then the light day, that the holy fathers of Rome our predecessors (whom he without all modesty, most injuriously doth rail upon) did never err in their Canons and constitutions (which he so much depraveth.) For as saith the prophet: Neither is there Rosine or Physician lacking in Galaao. But he hath always shown himself disobedient, and refused at our Citation to appear, and yet to this present day continuing still in his stubborn mind and heart indurate, hath remained now more then a year under our curse, yea & moreover, adding mischief to mischief (which is worst of all) he hearing of this our Citation, burst out into a presumptuous appellation from us, unto the next general Council, against the constitution both of Pope Pius the second, and Pope Julius the second, our predecessors, which so decreed, that all they which so did appeal, should be punished as heretics.

In vain also he seeketh refuge to the general Council, which professeth himself not greatly to regard such councils. So that now we might lawfully proceed against him, as against one notoriously suspected of his faith, yea a very heretic in deed, without any further citation or delay, to the condemnation of him, as of an heretic, and to the severity of all and singular pains and censures afore written. Yet we notwithstanding by the counsel of our brethren aforesaid, following the clemency of almighty God, which will not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should convert and live, and forgetting all injuries heretofore done unto us and to the See apostolic, have thoght good to use all favorable means toward him that we might, and so to work (as much as in us lieth) that he by this way of mansuetude, might be brought to reformation: so that he forsaking his former errors, might be received as the lost child, and return home again into the lap of his mother the Church.

Wherefore in most hearty wise we exhort and beseech the said Martin and all his adherents, receivers, and fautors by the bowels of the mercy of our God, and by the sprinklyng of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom, and by whom, is made the redemption of mankind, and the edification of holy mother church, that they will cease to disturb the peace, unity, and verity of the said Church, for the which our savior so instantly prayed to his father, and that they will abstain from such pernicious errors aforesaid. Who in so doing shall find with us (if they shall obey, or shall certify us by lawful witnesses, to have obeyed effectually herein) the affection of fatherly charity, and a full fountain opened of all mercy and clemency: willing and charging the said Martin notwithstanding, from henceforth that he utterly desist in the mean time from all preaching and office of preaching. Or else if the love of Justice and virtue shall not restrain the said Martin from sin, neither the hope of our pardon shall reduce him to repentance: to the intent that the terror of punishment and of discipline may bridle him, we require and admonish y ^e said Martin and his adherents, abbettors, fautors, and receyuers, by the tenor hereof, in the verity of holy obedience, & under incurring all the penalties aforesaid, districtly charging and commanding that within forty days (whereof twenty we assign for the first twenty, for the second, and the other twenty for the third & peremptory term) immediately following after the setting up of these present letters, that the said Martin, his abettors, fautors, adherēts and receivers aforesaid, do surcease from the foresaid errors, and from the preching, publishing, maintaining and defending of the same: also from setting out of book or scriptures upon the said errors or any of them: & furthermore, that they burn, or cause to be burned all and singular such books and scriptures as contain the foresaid errors or any of them by any manner of way.

Also that the said Martin do utterly revoke those errors and assertions, and so to certify us of the reuokyng thereof by public testimony in due form of law, signed by the hands of two prelates, to be sent unto us within the term of other like xl. days, or else to be brought by him unto us, if he himself will come (which would please us much rather) with a full safeconduct above mentioned, which from henceforth we are content to offer unto him, to the intent that no scruple of doubt touching his true obedience, should hereafter remain.

Contrarywise, if the said Martin (which God defend) his abettors, fautors, adherents, and mainteiners aforesaid, shall otherwise do, or shall not fulfill to every effect and purpose, all and singular the premisses within the term aforesaid, we thē following the doctrine of the apostle, which teacheth us to avoid an heretical person, after the first and second correction, as well now as before, and as well before as now, declaring by our authority the said Martin, his abettors, fautors, adherents, mainteiners, and receyuere▪ as withered branches not remaining in Christ, but teaching and preaching contrary doctrine, repugnaunt to the Catholic faith, slanderous and damnable, to the great offense of God's majesty, to the detriment and slander of the universal church and catholic faith, and despising the keys of the church: to be, and to have been notorious and obstinate heretics, do condemn the same for such by the tenor hereof, willing and commanding them to be holden and taken for such of all christen people aforesaid.

Ouer and besides, we forbid under the incurring of all and singular the penalties afore expressed, in so doing, that no man presume by any manner of way, directly or indirectly, secretly or expressly, privily or apertly, to read, hold, preach, praise, print, publish or defend, either by thenselves, or by any other the said books and writings, not only those wherein the errors aforesaid are contained, but also all others whatsoever have been or shall be set forth, written, or made by the said Martin, vehemently suspected as a pernicious enemy of the Catholic faith, to the intent y ^t his memory may utterly be rooted out from the fellowship of all Christian people, or rather with fire to consume them as is afore declared.

We admonish moreover, all and singular Christ's faithful people, under the said pain of the great curse, to avoid or cause to be avoided so much as in them doth lie, the foresaid heretics not obedient to our commandments, and to have no fellowship or any conversation or communion with them or with any of them, neither to minister to thē things necessary.

And moreover, to the more confusion of the said Martin, with his abettors, adherents, and retainers aforesaid, thus being declared and condemned as heretics, after the expiring of the term aforesaid, we command all and singular Christ's faithful people, both men and women, as Patriarchs, Archbishops, Prelates of Churches, either Patriarchal, Metropolitan, and other Cathedral, Collegiate, and other inferior Churches, to Deans & Chapters, and other Ecclesiastical persons secular, and of all other orders, even of the begging Friers also, namely, of that congregation, where the said Martin is professed, or hath his abode: also to regular, exempt, and not exempt. Item, to all and singular Princes, what dignity or calling so ever, either Ecclesiastical or Temporal they be of: to Kings, Princes, Electors, Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Barons, Captains, Conductors, Seruitours, Comminalties, Universities, Dominions, Cities, Lands, Castles and places, or the Citizens and inhabitauntes thereof: and briefly, to all and singular other aforesaid, through the Uniuersall world dispersed, specially in Almany, that they and every of them, under all and singular penalties aforesaid, do personally apprehend the said Martin, his abettors, adherents, receyuers, and fautours, and to retain them being apprehended, at our instance, and to send them unto us (who in so doing, for their good work shall receive of us and the Sea Apostolic, condign reward and recompense) or at least, that they utterly drive them, and everyone of them, out of their Metropolitan, cathedral, Collegiate, and other Churches, Houses, Monasteries, Conuents, Cities, Dominions, Universities, Comminalties, Castles, Lands, and places respectively, as well the Clergy men, as the regular and lay men, all and singular aforesaid.

Those cities, dominions, lands, castles, villages, comminalties, holds, towns, and places where so ever they be situate respectively, Metropolitan, Cathedral, Collegiate, and other Churches, Monasteries also, Priories, Couents, and religious and devout places, or what order so ever (as is aforesaid) unto the which it shall chance the said Martin to come, so long as he or they shall there remain, and three days after their departing from thence, we here give over to the Ecclesiastical interdiction.

And that the premisses may be known to all men, we command moreover all Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Prelates of Patriarchal, Metropolitan, & other cathedral & collegiate churches, to Deans and Chapters, and other persons ecclesiastical, & of what order else soever aforesaid, to regular brethren, religious monks, exempt & not exempt aforesaid, wheresoever they dwell, and especially within Almany, that they and every of thē under like censures and pains, do publicly denounce, & cause and command to be denounced of others, the said Martin w ^t all and singular his foresaid adherents, which shall not obey our commandments and monitions, within y ^e term aforesaid, upon every Sunday, and other Festival days, within their churches, when as the greatest concourse of people shall resort to divine service, to be declared and condemned for heretics, and that all Christ's faithful people shall avoid them under the said censures and penalties, as be afore expressed, and that they do set up these presents, or cause to be set up, or the transcript of them made under the form hereafter ensuing, in their churches, Monasteries, houses, Conuents, and other places there openly to be seen and read.

Item, we do excommunicate and curse, all and singular persons, of whatsoever state, degree, condition, preeminence, dignity, or excellency they be, which shall procure or cause to be procured by themselves or other, privily, or apertly, directly or indirectly, secretly or expressly, whereby these presents, or the copies transcript, or the examples of them cannot be read, set up, and published in their lands and dominions, &c.

Let no man therefore be so bold to dare, to infringe, or with rash presumption, to contrary this writing of our damnation, reprobation, rejection, decree, declaration, inhibition, will, commandment, exhortation, beseching, request, admonition, assignation, grant, condemnatiō, subjection, excommunication & curse. And if any person & persons dare presume to attempt the same, let him know and be sure, that he shall incur the indignation of almighty God, and of his blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.

Geuen at Rome at S. Peters, an. 1520.17. Calend. Iulij, and of our Popedom, the viii. year.

JESUS. Martinus Lutherus Christiano Lectori, gratiam Christi in salutem aeternam.

FAma peruenit ad me, Christiane Lector, exijsse Bullam quandam aduersum me, pene in omne terrá, prius quam ad me, in quem vnice fuerit, & cui maxim erat inferenda, veniret. Forte, quod noctis & tenebrarum scilicet filia, timult lucem vultus mei. Hanc tamen ipsam noctuam, vix tandem multum adiuuātibus amicis, in imagine sua, datum est videre, &c.

Here followeth the same answer of Martin Luther against the execrable Bull of Pope Leo, in English.

MArtin Luther to the christiā reader, wisheth the grace of Christ to eternal salvation. I heard a fanie a far of (Christian reader) that a certain Bull was past out against me, and sent almost over all the world before it came to me, against whom it was especially directed, & to whō most chiefly it appertained. For what cause I cannot tell, except peradventure it was for that the said Bull like unto a nightcrow, and as a bird of darkness hatched in the night, durst not fly in y ^e day, nor abide to come in my sight. Notwithstanding the said night foul after long time, by help of friends was caught at length & brought unto me in his own likeness to behold. Which causeth me yet to be uncertain what to think, whether my papists do dally & jest with me, in setting out such famous libels without any name against me: or whether in truth and earnest they play the mad men so against me at Rome, or no. For first, neither do I see here the style (as it is called) nor y ^e process of the court of Rome observed. And again (which maketh me more to doubt) herein be brought & condemned such articles which it is plain and manifest to be most Christian: whereby it seemeth to me most like, the said monster to be hatched by John Eccius, a man wholly compact and framed altogether of lies, dissimulations, errors, & heresies.

The said suspicion this also partly confirmeth, for that I hear it so bruted abroad, that y ^e said Eccius is thought and said to be the Apostle of such a goodly Bull. And not unlike, when none could be more meet an Apostle for such an Apostleship then he. And in deed I heard no less long since, that a Bull was in working against me at Rome, partly by the workmanship of Eccius: which because (as the style and composition thereof declareth) it displeased the good and learned men there, was therefore deferred and should have been suppressed.

But whatsoever the matter be, it seemeth to me not unlike wheresoever this apostle Eccius beareth rule, there to be the kingdom of Antichrist, and all kind of madness there to reign. In the mean time I will so deal, that I will not seem to believe Pope Leo the x. with his learned cardinals to be the authors of this furious madness: which I do not so much for the honor of the Sea of Rome, as because I will not be puffed up to much with pride, and seem to myself as one worthy to suffer such, so great, & so glorious things for the verity of God. For if it were so in deed that the bishop of Rome did so furiously rage against me, who were then so happy before God as Luther, to be condemned for so manifest a truth of such a proud Prelate? Wherein what were more to be wished for of me, then that I should never be absolved, reconciled, nor have any part with that so doltish and unlearned, wicked, and furious Antichrist? Happy were that day, happy were that death, and to be received with all joy and thankfulness to God, if it might be my hap at any time in such a cause as this is, to be apprehended and to suffer death. But give the honor of this cause unto others, and let this matter find his Martyr worthy for the same: I for my sins am not worthy to come to that honor.

Let other men therefore think of these Romanists what they list: Thus I think, that whosoever was the author of this bull, he is a very Antichrist, and against Antichrist, these things I write, to redeem the verity of Christ, so much as in me lieth, which he laboreth to extinguish. And first, that he shall obtain no part of his will in anything against me, here I protest before God and our Lord Jesus Ehrist, and his holy angels and all the world, that I dissēt with all my heart from the condemnatiō of this bull, which Bull I also do curse and execrate as an enemy, a Church robber and blasphemy against Christ the son of god our Lord. Amen.

Furthermore I hold, defend, and embrace with the full trust of my spirit, those articles in the said Bul condemned and excommunicate, and affirm that the same oughe to be holden of all faithful Christians, under pain of eternal malediction, and that they are to be counted for Antichrists, who so ever have consented to the said Bull, whom I also together with the spirit of all them which purely know, & do utterly shun them according to the precept of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. And let this stand for thy revocation, O Bulla vere Bullarum filia. i. O thou Bull which art the very daughter of all vain bubbles.

This my confession and protestation made (for witness whereof I take all them that shall read these presents) before I proceed to defend & declare these foresaid Articles, I will first begin, with certain arguments for the confutation of the said Bull: whereof the first I will take of the blind ignorance of this blockish Antichrist. For the Apostle Peter so commandeth, that we should be ready to render a reason of that faith and hope which is in us. And the apostle Paul willeth a bishop to be mighty to exhort in sound doctrine & to refute the gaynesayers. And these things be they, which now 3. years ago, I have desired & looked for out of Rome, or from them which take part with Rome. Which things also we do read to be observed most diligently amongst the ancient fathers, whensoever they condemned heresies. Neither do we read that the apostles did ever decree anything in their Counsels, but they first alleged the holy Scripture. So I also when I waited that they would answer me with grapes, and to inform me with true testimonies of the scripture, behold they bring to me sower and wild grapes, condemning me with nothing else but bare words, whereas I have fortified my matter with plain scriptures.

I say unto thee. O thou most unlearned Antichrist, hast thou joined such brain • ike rashness together with such barbarous ignorance, that thou wilt presume to think all mē to be turned into stocks & blocks, and to think that thou with thy bare and naked words only canst triumph against the invincible force and power of God's holy word? Hast thou learned this manner of condemning of the magistralities of Colen and Louaine.

If this be the manner of the Church to damn errors, only to say. I like it not, I deny it, I will not: what fool, what patch, what asse, what block cannot condemn after this manner? Is not thy whorish face ashamed in the public sight of the church, to dare once to set the trifling vanities only of thy naked and bare words against the thunderboirs of God's eternal word? O impudent condemnation and right seemly for Antichrist, which hath not one jot or title to bring against such evident scriptures inferred against him, but only with one word cometh and saith, I condemn thee. And why then do we not believe the Turk? Why do we not admit the Jews? Why do we not honor the heretics which also condemn our writings as well as he, if it be enough only to condemn? unless we do not therefore peradventure give place unto them, because they condemn us not utterly without some scriptures and reasons: but these men after a new found fashion, utterly without all scriptures or reason do condemn us. What then shall I think to be the cause why they proceeded against me with this their Bul condemnatory, so vain, so ridiculous, so trifling, but only their mere blockishness, whereby they seeing my allegations to be true and not able to abide, nor yet to confute the same, thought to terrify me with the vain ratlyng of their rottē parchment. But I tell thee Antichrist, that Luther being accustomed to war, will not be terrified with these vain bulls, and hath learned to put a difference between a piece of paper, and the omnipotent word of God.

Of the like ignorance proceedeth this also, that they against their own conscience, durst not particularly digest all and singular the Articles in their orders: for they feared least they should note him for an heretic, whom they were not able perhaps to convince either to be erroneous or offensive, & therefore they have found out this Adverb respective: & after the numbering of the articles, then come they & say that some be respectively heretical, some erroneous, and some offensive, which is as much to say, as we suppose some to be heretical, some erroneous, & some slanderous, but we cannot tell qui, quales, quanti. i. Which, what manner, and how great they are. O dastardly ignorance, how slippery and cowardly art thou? how art thou afraid of the light? how doest thou turn and return all things, least thou shouldst be taken like a Proteus: and yet for all that thou shalt not so escape, yea in thy wilynes thou shalt the rather be overtaken and subverted.

Come out therefore O thou asseheaded Antichrist, and show forth thy wisdom, and dispose thy matters in order. Tell us if thou canst, what sayest thou or meanest thou, when thou sayest this article is heretical, this is erroneous, this is offensive. For it becometh such a worshipful condemner to know what he condemneth. And to shameful it is to condemn an article for heretical, and yet cannot name the same. Neither will I be answered herewith respectively, but I look to be taught simply and plainly, for I am one of Occams faction which contemneth these respectiues, and love to have all things simple & absolute.

Thou seest therefore (good Reader) the ignorant dotage of this Antichrist, how craftily, & yet grossly he thinketh to walk in a net under his adverb, respectively, who not only • oth not teach the truth, and cause of his condemning, but neither also dare prove any error, nor show forth what it is that he condemneth, and yet must he needs condemn. Is not this trow you a proper kind of damning, to damn and cannot tell what he damneth? Is not this a fine manner of loquution, passing all Rhetoric, to speak, & yet not to know what he speaketh, what purgatories might we wish sufficient to purge the doltish brains of these Bull bragging bedlems? with such blindness & doltishnes are all the adversaries of God's truth worthy to be plagued.

But I know whereupon all this grief riseth. The origin whereof is this: Eccius mine old adversary remembering how he was put to shame enough at Lypsia when he rousing himself upon his stage, and frothing at the mouth like a Bore, with a furious mouth called me 3. hundred times heretic, for the Articles of Hus, and yet afterward was not able to prove the same, whereas the sentence condemnatory of the Council of Constance, alleged by me otherwise then Eccius looked for, noted there, no certain article for heretical: and also the same condemnation much like to this of ours, with the like foolishness called some of his Articles heretical, some erroneous, & some offensive, and Eccius hearing this, being confounded in himself for his impudent rashness: perceived that he had called me heretic falsely and untruly: he thought then to heal this his wound again at Rome, and there to stablish his false and impudent lying. But the lying sophister shall not prevail by the help (I trust) of Christ, for I ask and require yet still, y ^t they absolutely, not respectively, distinctly, and not confusedly, simply, & not dissemblingly, plainly and not obscurely, particularly & not in general, do show what is, and what is not heretical. But when will they so do? When Christ and Belial, or when light and darkness shall agree together.

And what shall I do then in the mean time? First I will contemn these dastardly dotipoles and unlearned Papists and apostles of Antichrist. And I will scorn them as Helias did, and say: if Baal be God, let him answer, pe ••• uenture he is drunk, or busy in his journey, Cry out higher, for he is a God and peradventure heareth. For what other thing do these Bull bragging Asses deserve else, which condemn that they know not, and confess also their own ignorance?

Secondly, I will not be troubled nor disquieted for the matter, neither am I to be counted heretic, erroneous▪ or offensive, so long as I shall not be proved and plainly convicted with simple and manifest words in what Article I am so judged. Neither do I here charge my Papists, these blockheds, that I will put them to their proofs, but only that they will show me at least my error that is, that they will show me if they know what it is that they themselves do prattle of, or have any feeling of their own doings. For so long as they assign me no heretical Article, I am at free liberty to deny what Article so ever they lay unto me to be heretical, and say it is Catholic.

Agayne, what a rudeness is it in this wicked & doltishe Antichrist worthy to be laughed at, where as these drummedaries do distinct heretical Articles from those that be erroneous, and the erroneous from offensive, and those again from slanderous? By the which subtle distinction of those grosseheaded dolts, this we do gather, that that article which is erroneous, is not heretical, and if it be not heretical, what doth it then appertain to these Ecclesiastical condemners, which ought to condemn those things only, which be heretical. For that which is not heretical, is catholic, as Christ himself saith: He that is not against us is with us. Yea I would wish, that these jolly Sophisters would show me in all the Church an Article that is erroneous, and not heretical: for if it be erroneous, it differeth nothing from heretical, but only in stiffness of defending. For all things be equally either true or false, although affection in someone thing which is true or false, may be greater or lesser. Ye see therefore again, how these men for all their braggyng Bulls, are not able to produce me one Article which is erroneous and not heretical, and yet like wise brainsike men, they will needs babble they know not themselves what, condemning that which they find erroneous and not heretical: which cannot stand either in matter or in words so that such as are the Articles: such is the condemnation.

The like wisdom also they show in affirming that to be Scandalous, which is neither heretical nor erroneous. That Article I would fain see either in my books or in the words and works of any writer else from the beginning of the world to the latter end. What made my papists then to excogitate these so prodigious monsters, but only their monstrous fury and madness? Unless peradventure they mean those Articles so to be Scandalous, as commonly all true and Catholic Articles are wont to be. For what is more scandalous then Ueritie? Yea only truth and verity is scandalous to all proud and senseless persons, and is said of Christ, 1. Cor. 1. We preach (saith S. Paul) Christ crucified, a stumblynge stone to the Jews, and to the Gentiles foolishness. And in Luke 2. He is set to be the fall and rising up of many in Israel. Wherefore, where as my Papists do distinguish scandalous Articles from heretical and erroneous, and forasmuch as that which is not heretical or erroneous, must needs be Catholic and true: it followeth thereof, that these scandalous Articles be understanded and condemned of them for such as be very Catholic and sound. O worthy commendation & me • te for the Papists.

Mark here good Reader, the impiety of these blind Bussards, whether they roll themselves, how they deride and mock themselves, how easily they are taken in their own words, how fond and foolish they are in their studies not only in not proouyng any error or slander in these Articles, but also in going about only to express them, how they cast out things impossible and most foolishly repugnant to themselves. Where is then thou most presumptuous and shameless Bull, thy doltish respective now become? whether respectedst thou? Verily into the bottomless pit of impiety, and thine own brutish stoliditie.

The like also is to be said touching the Articles offensive, which must be neither slanderous, neither erroneous, nor heretical, seeing they are distincted by such great Rabbin's. Who will not now marvel at the depe & profound wisdom of these Papists, which could find out that to be offensive in the Church, which is neither false, neither heretical nor slanderous, but true, sound, Catholic and edifieng, and yet must that also be condemned? And who would not now desire & covet to be condemned also of such harebrained Idiotes, who by their own condemning do utter themselves to approve things damnable, and to condemn things justifiable, that is, which openly show themselves, to their own great ignominy and shame, to be more senseless then stocks, rocks, or blocks. Go ye now therefore, O ye impious and brainless Papists, and if ye will needs write: show yourselves more sober: for this Bull (it appeareth) was spewed out in youre night feasts amongst other drabs and harlots, or else huddled up in the Caniculare days or mad midsomer Moon: For never were there any dissardes that would show them selves so mad.

Lette us now return this dirt of Antichrist, and cast it in his own teethe, and of his own words let us judge him and condemn him, that hereafter he may learn to take better heed, and be better advised in his lying. For as the Proverb saith, a liar had need to have a good memory. If some Articles be offensive, and other heretical, and thou condemnest him which is no heretic, and consequently a true Catholic, although he be six hundredth times offensive. Doth not thy shameless mouth then condemn thyself, not only of heresy, but of extreme impiety, blasphemy and treason against God's holy truth, showing thyself to be the man in deed which is the adversary, and is extolled above all that which is called God, or is worshipped? Art not thou then the man of sin, and the son of perdition, which denieth God his redeamer, and taketh away the love of truth, to stablishe the setting forth of his error, for men to believe iniquity, as Paul foretold? For if the Article be not heretical, it cannot be offensive or slanderous, but only to such heretics as Antichrist is, and Sathanistes of all piety. See theeefore howe his shameless and moste foolish Bull, whiles it condemneth in me one thing to be heretical, and another offensive, doeth manifestly declare the authors thereof to be true heretics and the enemies of God in deed. So that now it may appear, that there is no knowledge nor counsel against the Lord, seeing blind impiety is thus caughte in the words of his own mouth: so truly it is said, that he which casteth up a stone on high, it falleth down again upon his own pate.

And (which is chiefest of all) by this their wicked contradiction it cometh to pass, that the cogitations of their own hearts be revealed, and that they them selves chiefly do utter and disclose their own wickedness which they covet most to conceal, that all men may see how ready they are to condemn all verity even at once. For when they affirm such Articles to be heretical, which neither they can, nor know, nor yet dare show or name to be heretical, what have we thereby to understand, but that they are the adversaries of Christ from the bottom of their hearts, and ready to impugn all truth, and yet notwithstanding with their damnable hypocrisy they pretend themselves to be condemners of heresies? Learn, learn, ye beetell headed Asses with your blustering bulls, learn I say, what it is, Christ to be a sign of contradiction and a stone of offense. Howe soon and easily is all your inward impiety and your ignominy disclosed with the same covert of words, wherewith in vain ye went about to cloke the same? Thus then have we here proved by this first and manifest argument, that the foresaid Bull proceedeth from none other, then very Antichrist himself, the chiefest adversary of God and of all godliness. And now let either Eckius or the Pope acknowledge if he dare, and then consider what opinion we ought to have of him, or what name to give him: in whom all cursed names, as in one heap, do concur together and agree, as impiety, blasphemy, ignorance, foolishness, hypocrisy, lying, briefly, Satan himself with his Antichrist.

Neither doeth this impiety anything less appear in that also which I will now say. For this worshipful Bul decreeth in plain and moste impudent words, that those Books also of mine ought to be burned, in the which are no errors contained, to the end that the memory of me may be utterly rooted out.

Canst thou O Christian Reader, now doubt that the great Dragon of hell himself speaketh in this Bull? It is an old Proverb, that the Ass singeth therefore evil fauoredly, because he taketh his note to hye. So this Bull in like manner should have piped more tunably, if he had not set by his blasphemous throat so open against heaven, so impudently and deuelishly condemning also the manifest and evident truth. For hitherto Satan when so ever he oppressed the truth, did it under the color of truth: but this man of sin, the Adversary which is extolled above God, without all color, not privily but apeartly, and that in the open Church of God, without all shame taketh upon him to condemn, and commandeth to be burned the sincere veritye of Christ, known and allowed both of him and of all others. What could be more done amongst the Turks? What place is this worthy off (I pray thee) but the deep dungeon of Hell? And are ye not afraid ye Antichrists, with your brutishe Bulls, lease stones and trees should swear with blood, at the moste horrible sight of this your execrable impiety and blasphemy?

Where art thou now good Emperor Charles? Where are ye Christian Kings and Princes? Ye have given your name to Christ in Baptism, and can ye now abide these infernal voices of such an Antichrist? Where be ye Bishops? Where be ye Doctors? Where be all ye that confess Christ? Can ye hold your peace at these horrible and prodigious monsters of the Papists, O miserable Church of God, which art made now so great a scorn, and a very mocking stock of Satan. O miserable are all they which live in these times. The wrath of God is finally come upon the Papists, enemies to the cross of Christ and verity of God, resistinge all men, and forbidding the truth of Christ to be taught and preached, as S. Paul said of the Jews. Admitte I pray you, that I were such a one in deed, as that cursed and malicious Bull doeth make me to be an heretic, erroneous, schismatical, offensive, scandalous, in certain of my books: yet why should the other books of mine be condemned, which are Catholic, Christian, true, edifying, and peaceable? Where have these wretched Papists learned this religion, that for the persons cause being evil, they should damn and burn the holy and sound verity of God? Can ye not destroy men, but you must also destroy the truth? Will ye pluck up the good wheat also with the cockle? Will ye scatter also the corn away together with the chaff? And why then receive ye Origen in his Catholic books, and do not utterly reject him all together? Yea, why suffer ye wicked Aristotle (in whom is nothing taught but errors) and do not at lease in some parte condemn him? Why burn ye not and set on fire, the wicked, barbarous, unlearned, and heretical Decretalles of the Pope? Why do ye not all this, I say, but only for that ye are set in this holy place, for none other cause, but only to be that abomination spoken of in Daniel, which should put down truth and set up lies, and the operation of error. For this thing and none other, becometh the seat of Antichrist.

Wherefore this I say to thee (Pope Leo the tenth and to you Lord Cardinals, and all other whosoever is in any parte or doing in that Courte of Rome) and this I speak boldly unto your faces, if this Bull hath come out in your name, and by your knowledge, and if ye will so acknowledge it for your own: then will I likewise use my power, by the which I am made in my Baptism, y ^e son of God, and coheyre with Christ, being founded upon a sure rock which neither feareth the gates of hell, nor heaven, nor earth, and say, monish and exhort you in the Lord that you will reform yourselves and take a better way, and refrain heeeafter from those diabolical blasphemies and to much exceeding presumptuous impeties, and this I allege: That unless ye so do, know it for certain, that I with all them that worship Christ, do recount youre seat, possessed and oppressed of Satan himself, to be the damned seat of Antichrist, which we not only do not obey, and will not be subject nor concorporate unto, but also do detest and abhor the same, as the principal & chiefest enemy of Christ, being ready in this our sentence and profession, not only to suffer gladly your fond foolish censures, but also do pray you heartily that you will never assoil us again, nor ever number us in your fellowship, and moreover to fulfill your bloody tyranny, do willingly offer our selves to die for y ^e same. And according y ^e to power & might, y ^t the spirit of Christ, and efficacye of our faith can do in these our writings, if ye shall persist so still in your fury, we condemn you, & together with this Bull, & all the Decretal, we give you to Satan, to the destruction of flesh y ^t your spirit in the day of our Lord may be delivered: in the name which you persecute of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For our Lord Jesus Christ yet liveth and raygneth (in whom I do nothing doubt) who I firmly trust will shortly come and slay with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming, this man of sin, and son of perditiō, for as much as I cannot deny, if the pope be the author and doer of these misshapen and monstrous doings, but he is the true, final, most wicked, and that famous Antichrist: that subuerteth the whole world by the operation of his delusions, as we see it in all places fulfilled and accomplished.

But whether doth the burning zeal of charity carry me. Neither am I as yet fully persuaded this to be the popes Bull, but to proceed from his wicked Apostle Eckius, who with his fathers, fariously gaping at me like a gulf, would swallow me clean up: • inging with the wicked thus: Let us swallow him up quick and whole like hell, and like one descending down into the pit. For little careth this furious ma • brain, howe the verity of God be extinguished (ye he would count that for a lucre) so he might • ill his malicious desire with the blood 〈◊〉 his brother. O miserable state of the Church at this time▪ worthy to be bewailed w ^t tears o • blood. But who heareth our groanings, or who comforteth our weepings? The fury of the Lord seemeth to be inoxorable against us.

Ouer and besides, what a ridiculous toye, or pretty figment have they invented, whereby belike to sport thenselves with some merye matter amongst their earnest business, writing that besides other great frendshippe, which they have shown unto me: they have also offered to support me with money, and to bear my charges with their liberality, in my journey to Rome. Will ye see what a charity is newly come upon the City of Rome, which after it hath pilled and polled the whole world of their money, and hath consumed & wasted the same by intolerable tyranny, now cometh, and to me only offereth money? But this impudent lie I know with whose hōmer it was coined, Caietanus the Cardinal, a man borne and formed to lie for the whetstone after his worshipful Legacy depeached in Germany coming home to Rome, there he forged & feigned that he promised me money, whereas he being at Anspurge, was there in such miserable penury, & so pinching in his house, that it was thought he would have famished his family. But thus it becometh the Bull to be vere Bulla, that is a thing of naught, void of all truth and wit.

And so these great judges & condemners after all this, yet have authority to command us to believe them to say truth, when they do nothing but lie, and that they are good Catholics, when they be stark heretics, and that they are true Christians, whē they play the very Antichrist, and all by the virtue of this universal: Quodcunque ligaueris. &c. i. Whatsoever thing thou bindest. &c. So that where nothing is excepted, they think they may do all things. Who not only do lie most loudly and manifestly, but also (which passeth all impudency) do vaunt and commend their liberalitye before y ^e people to bring me more in hatred, making men falsely to believe that they offered friendship and money unto me: Whereas these tyrants of Rome, if they had had any truth, goodness, or godliness in them, should have taken some better hede in their doing and speaking, so that no adversary might conceive any suspicion of evil against them. But now if there were no other matter else to bring this Bull out of credit, only this gross & foolish lie were sufficient to declare how light, vain, and false this Bul is. What? would Rome (think ye) offer money to me? And how then cometh this, which I know to be moste certain, that out of the bank (as they call it) two or three hundred crowns were assigned in Germany to be disposed and given to ruffians and catchpoles, to murder Luther: for these be the reasons & arguments, whereby now fighteth, reigneth and triumpheth the holy Apostolic sea, the mistress of faith & mother of all churches, y ^t which long since should have been proved to be the very • eat of Antichrist, and manifold ways heretical, if she had fought with the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God: whereof she herself is nothing ignorant, & therefore because she would not be brought to that issue, thus she fareth and taketh on like as she were mad, in the Church of Christ, confounding and consuming all things with wars, murders, bloodshed, death, and destruction, and yet for all this they must needs be counted most holy fathers in God, & vicars of Christ, and Pastors of his flock.

But go to (that I may also dally with them a while) let them, yet send me the money they speak of: for as touching their promise & safeconduct (because I will not overcharge them) that I gladly resign to them again, seeing I have no great need thereof, so that y ^e moni may come to my hands. But here I must require so much as may suffice me: to wit, that I may be furnished with fifty thousand footmen, and ten thousand horsemen, to conducte me safe to Rome, and so for any other promise of safe conduct I will not trouble them. And this I require, because of the danger that is in Rome, which devoureth up her inhabitauntes, neither keepeth, nor ever did keep promise with any: Where these most holy fathers do slay their beloved children in the charity of God, and brethren destroy their brethren to do service to Christ, as the manner is and style of Rome. In the mean time I will keep myself free and sa •• from the Citation of this most reverend Bull. O ye miserable varlets, which are so confounded with the truth and with your own conscience, that neither ye can lie handsomely, neither dare ye speak the truth, and yet neither ca ye so keep yourselves quiet, to your perpetual ignominy and confusion.

Furthermore, here in this Bull is brought in a strange fashion of style, not heard of before. For where Augustine would have said, that he would not believe the Gospel, except he had ben moved by the authority of the church, now cometh in this goodly Bull, and maketh this Catholic church to be a few reverent Cardinals his brethren, & priours of regular orders, Masters of Divinity and doctors of the law, out of whose counsel the said Bull boasteth her self to be borne and brought forth, a blessed babe (forsooth) of such an universal Church, O happy travel (no dout) of this Catholic church, never seen nor heard of before, and such as Augustine the valiant impugner of sects, if he did see, would not doubt to call it the Synagogue of the devil. See therefore the madness of their Papists. The universal Church is a • ewe Cardinals, Priours and Doctors, scarcely perhaps 20. persons in all, when also it is possible enough that never one of them all is the menber of one chapel or altare. And whereas the Church is the communion of Saints, as we say in the Creed, out of this communion of saints, that is, out of this universal church, all they then must needs be excluded, whosoever be not in the noneber of these 20. persons: and so whatsoever these holy men do think or judge, by and by the universal Church must needs hold and believe the same, albeit they be liars, heretics, and Antichrists, thinking and iudginge nothing but that which is abhominable.

Would there ever any man think such doltishnesse and madness to be in Rome? Is there any brain in these men's heads think ye, or heart in their bodies? Agustine speaketh of the church dispersed through the whole world, confessing the gospel with one consent. Neither would God that any book else should be received with such consent of the whole world as the holy scripture (as the said Augustine in his confessions affirmeth) least by the receiving of other books, schisms might take occasion to rise, according as the wicked Sea of Rome hath long sought by her decrees, & hath, for a great part, brought the same to pass already. But yet the universal Church did never agree thereto. For in the East, West, & South there have ben Christians, which being content only with y ^e gospel, have not regarded how Rome hath gone about of a particular church, to make herself an universal church, & accuseth other churches as schismatical whē as she hath cut of her self from the universal Church, and striveth in vain to draw the whole universal church to her, being the mother and fountain of all schisms, and all by the means of this tyranny.

Let no man therefore ever think that this true Catholic Church aforesaid, will believe or maintain those things which this detestable Bull here pratleth, when as neither that which is the very true Church of Rome, indeed doth her self so think, neither taketh that by and by to be Catholic, whatsoever is known to proceed from y ^e Church of Rome. For as I said, there is no book which shall be called Catholic hereafter, as neither it hath been heretofore, besides only the holy scripture. For the church of Rome it may suffice to glory her self to be a little parcel or piece of the universal church, and so let her vex her self only with her own decrees.

Neither let any man think this to be the Bull of the catholic church, but rather to proceed out of the Court of Rome. For such wisdom and religion may well beseem that seat of Satan, which seeketh to be counted for the whole universal Church, and obtrudeth her foolish and wicked Bulls most arrogantly and vainly to the whole world in y ^e stead of sincere catholic doctrine. Whose pride and presumption hath grown so far, that she trustinge upon her own power, without all learning and holiness of life, taketh upon her to prescribe laws to all men of all their doings and sayings, as though for dominion only and loftines of spirit, she were to be counted the house and church of Christ, where as by this means Satan also the prince of the world, or the Turk might be counted the Church of Christ. Again, neither the Monarchies of the Gentiles can abide mighty Princes to reign over them w ^t out wisdom and goodness. Furthermore, in the Church the spiritual man only judgeth all things, & is judged of no man, and not the Pope alone or the Court of Rome, unless they be spiritual.

But against all this their rash presumption, I boldly set the invincible Champion of the Church S. Paul, who 1. Cor. 14. saith: If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first man hold his peace. Here have ye plainly that Pope or any other elder, what so ever he be, ought to keep silence, if any thing be revealed to other in the Church, that is inferior. I therefore upon his authority contemning the presumptuous proceeding of this swelling Bull, do confidently take upon me to defend the Articles, caring nothing for the bare condemnation of any person, yea of the Pope him self with his whole Church, unless he shall inform me by the Scriptures. Whereof the first Article is this.

A copy of the Bull of Pope Leo x. no less sclaunderous then barbarous, against Martin Luther and his doctrine. Leo Papa .x.

LEo Episcopus seruus seruorum Dei ad perpetuam rei memoriam: Exurge Domine & iudica causam tuam. Memor esto impropriorum eorum quae ab insipientibus fiunt tota die. Inclina aurem tuam ad preces nostras, quoniam surrexerunt vulpes querentes demoliri veneam, cuius tu torcular solus calcasti, & ascensurus ad patrem, eius curam, regimē, & administrationem Petro tanquam capiti, & tuo vicario eius{que} successoribus instar triumphantis Ecclesiae commisisti. &c.

The said sclaunderous and barbarous Bull of Pope Leo the x. against Luther, in English, with the answer of Luther joined to the same.

LEo Bishop, servant of the servants of God, for a perpetual memory hereof. Rise up O Lord, & judge thy cause: Remember the rebukes wherewith we are scorned all the day long of foolish rebukers. Incline thy ear to our prayers: for Foxes are risen up, seeking to destroy thy vineyard, the vinepresse whereof thou only hast trodē, and ascending up to thy Father, hast committed the charge and regiment thereof unto Peter as chief head, and to thy Vicar and his successors. The wild Bore out of the wood seeketh to exterminate and root up thy Vineyard. Rise up Peter, and for this thy pastoral charge committed to thee from above intend to the cause of the holy Church of Rome the mother of all churches, and of our faith, which thou by the commandment of God didst consecrate with thine own blood: against which (as thou hast foretold us) false liars have risen up, bringing in sects of perdition, to their own spedy destruction. Whose tongue is like fire, full of unquietness, and replenished with deadly poysō: who having a wicked zeal, and nourishing contentions in their harts do brag and lie against the verity.

Rise up Paul also, we pray thee, which hast illuminate the same Church with thy doctrine and like martyrdom. For now is sprong up a new Porphecy, who, as they said Porphyry then unjustly did slander the holy Apostles, so semblably doth this man now slander, revile, rebuke, byte, and barcke against the holy Bishops our predecessors, not in beseeching them, but in rebuking them. And where he distrusteth his cause, there he falleth to opprobrious checks & rebukes, after the wonted use of heretics, whose uttermost refuge is this (as Jerome saith) y ^t whē they see their cause go to wrack, then like Serpentes they cast out their venom with their tongue, and when they see themselves, near to be overcome, they fall to railing. For though heresies (as thou sayest) must needs be, for the exercise of the faithful: yet least these heresies should further increase and these Foxes gather strength against us, it is needful that by thy means and help, they be suppressed and extinguished at the beginning.

Finally let all the whole universal Church of God's Saynts and Doctors rise up, whose true expounding of holy Scripture being rejected, certain persons (whose hearts the father of lies hath blinded) and wise in their own conceits (as the manner of heretics is) do expound the scriptures otherwise then the holy Ghost doth require following only their own sense of ambition and vain-glory: yea rather do wrast and adulterate the Scriptures: so that as Jerome saith, now they make it not the gospel of Christ, but of man, or which is worse of the devil.

Let all the holy church I say, rise up, & wi • h the blessed Apostles together make intercessiō to almighty God, that the errors of all schismatics being rooted & stocked up, his holy Church may be conserved in peace and unity.

For of late (which for sorrow we cannot express) by credible information and also by public fame it hath come to our ears, yea we have seen also & read with our eyes, diverse and sundry errors, of which some have been condemned by counsels and constitutions of our predecessors containing expressly y ^e heresies of the Greeks & of the Bohemians: some again respectively, either heretical or false, or sclaunderous, or offensive to good ears, or such as may seduce simple minds: newly to be raised up, by certain false pretensed Gospellers: who by curious pride seeking worldly glory against the doctrine of the apostle, would be more wise then becometh them, whose babbling (as S. Jerome calleth it) without authority of the Scriptures, should find no credit, unless they should seme to cōfirm their false doctrine even with testimonies of the scripture, but yet falsely interpreted. Which worketh us so much the more grief, for y ^t those heresies be sprong in y ^e noble nation of the Germans, unto the which natiō we with our predecessors, have always borne special favor and affection. For after the Empire was first translated by the Church of Rome, from the Greeks unto the Germans, the said our predecessors and we, have always had them as special fautors & defenders of this our Church, and they have always shown themselves as most earnest suppressors of heresies: as witness whereof remain yet those laudable constitutions of the Germane Emperors, set forth and confirmed by our predecessors, for the liberty of the Church, and for expulsing heretics out of all Germany, and that under grievous penalty and loss of all their goods and lands. Which constitutions, if they were observed this present day both we and they should now be free from this disturbance.

Furthermore, the heresy of the Hussites, Wicleuistes, & of Jerome of Prague, being condemned and punished in the Coūcel of Constance, doth witness y ^e same. Moreover doth witness the same, so much blood of y ^e Germans spilled fighting against the Bohemians. To conclude, the same also is confirmed & witnessed by the learned & true confutatiō, reprobation and condemnation set forth by the Universities of Colene and Leuven in Germany against the foresaid errors. Many other witnesses also we might allege, which here, least we should seme to write a story, we preterm •• .

Wherefore we for the charge of our Pastoral office committed unto us, can no longer forbear or wink at the pestiferous poison of the foresaid errors: of the which errors we thought here good to recite certain. The tenor of which is this, as followeth.

It is an old heresy to say, that the Sacraments of the new 〈◊〉 doth give grace to them, qui non ponunt obicem. i. which have in themselves to the contrary, no let.

In a child after his Baptism, to deny that sin remaineth, is to tread down Paul and Christ under foot.

The origene of sin, although no actual sin do follow • fter, doth stay the soul leaving the body, from the entrance into heaven.

Vnperfite charity of a mā departing, must needs bring with it great fear, which of it self is enough to deserve the pain of Purgatory, and stoppeth the entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

To say that penance standeth of three partes, to wit, contrition, confession, and satisfaction, is not founded in holy Scripture nor in ancient, holy and Christian Doctors.

Contritiō, which a man stirreth up in himself, by discussing, remembering, and detestinge his sins, in reuoluing his former years in bitterness of soul, and in pondering the weight, number and filthiness of his sins, the leesing of eternal bliss, and getting of eternal damnation: this contrition maketh a man an hypocrite and a great sinner.

It is an old proverb, & to be preferred before the doctrine of all that have written hitherto of contrition: from henceforth to transgress no more. The chiefest and the best penance is a new life.

Neither presume to confess the venial sins, nor yet all thy mortal sins, for it is impossible to remember all the mortal sins that thou hast committed, and therefore in the primitive Church they confessed the mortal sins, which only were manifest.

While we seek to number up all our sins sincerely unto the priest, we mean nothing else herein, but that we will leave nothing to the mercy of God, to be forgiven.

In confession no man hath his sins forgiven, except he believe, whē the priest forgiveth, the same to be remitted: yea otherwise his sin remaineth vnforgeuē, unless he believe the same to be forgiven. For else remission of the priest, and giving of grace doth not suffice, except belief come on his part that is remitted.

Think not thy sin to be assoiled, for the worthiness of thy contrition, but for the word of Christ: Whatsoever thou losest. &c. When thou art absolved of the priest, trust confidently upon these words, and believe firmly thyself to be absolved, & then art thou truly remitted.

Admit the party that is confessed were not contrite (which is impossible, or that the priest pronounced the words of losing, not in earnest, but in jest: yet if the party believe that he is absolved, he is truly absolved in deed.

In the sacrament of penance and absolution, the Pope or bishop do no more, then any inferior priest can do. Yea and where a priest is not to be had, there every Christian man, yea or Christian woman standeth in as good stead.

None ought to say to the priest, that he is contrite, neither ought the priest to ask any such matter.

It is a great error of them which come to the holy housel trusting upon this, that they are confessed, that their conscience grudgeth them of no deadly sin, that they have said their prayers, and done such other preparatives before: all those do eat & drink to their own judgment▪ But if they believe there to obtain God's grace, this faith maketh them pure and worthy.

It were good that the church should determine in a general council, lay men to communicate under both kinds: & the Bohemians so doing, be therein neither heretics, nor schismatics.

The treasures out of which the Pope doth grant his Indulgences, are not the merits of Christ, nor of the Saints.

Indulgences and pardons be a devout seducing of the faithful, and hindrance to good works: and are in the number of thē which be things lawful, but not expedient.

Pardons and Indulgences to them which have them, avail not to remission of the punishment due before God, for actual sins committed.

They which think that Indulgences are wholesome and cōducible to the fruit of the spirit, are deceived.

Indulgences are only necessary for public transgressions, & are only granted to them that are obstinate and impacient.

Indulgences and pardons are unprofitable to 6. sortes of persons. 1. to them that be dead, or lie in dying. 2. to thē that be we •• and infirm. 3. to such as have lawful impedimentes. 4. to thē that have not offended. 5. to such as have offended▪ but not publicly. 6. to those that amend and do well.

Excommunications be only outward punishments, and do not deprive a man of the public spiritual prayers of the Church.

Christians are to be taught rather to love excommunication, then to dread it.

The bish. of Rome, successor of Peter, is not the vicar of Christ, ordained by Christ and S. Peter, to have authority over all the churches in the world.

The words of Christ to Peter, Whatsoever thou loosest, &c. Math 16. extend no further, but only to those things, which be bound of Peter himself.

It is not in the hands either of the church, or of the Pope, to make articles of the faith, yea, or laws either of manners, or good works.

Albeit the Pope with a great part of the church, teaching so or so, did not err therein: yet is it no sin nor heresy for a man to hold contrary to them, namely in such things, which are not necessary to salvation, so long as it is not otherwise condemned or approved by a general Council.

We have a way made plain unto us, to infringe the authority of Councils, and freely to gainestand their doings, and to judge upon their Decrees, and boldly to speak our knowledge whatsoever we judge to be true, whether the same be approved or reproved by any general Council.

Some of the articles of John Hus condemned in the Council of Constance, are Christian, most true and Evangelical, whom the universal Church cannot condemn.

In every good work the just man sinneth.

Every good work of ours, when it is best done, it is a venial sin.

To burn heretics, is against the will of the spirit.

To fight against the Turks, is to repugn against God, visiting our iniquities by them.

Freewill after sin, is a title and name only of a thing, and while a man doth that which lieth in him, he sinneth deadly.

Purgatory cannot be proved out of holy scripture, which is Canonical.

Souls in Purgatory be not certain of their safety, at lest not all, neither is it proved by reasons or by scriptures, that they be utterly out of the state to deserve, or increase charity.

Souls in Purgatory do sin without intermission, so long as they seek rest, and dread punishment.

The souls being delivered out of Purgatory by the prayers of the living, be less blessed, then if they had satisfied for themselves.

Ecclesiastical prelates & worldly princes should not do amiss, if they would scour away all the bags of begging Friers.

All which errors there is no man in his right wits, but he knoweth the same in their several respects, how pestilent they be, how pernicious, how much they seduce godly and simple minds, and finally how much they be against all charity, and against the reverence of the holy Church of Rome, the mother of all faithful, and maistreesse of the faith it self, and against the sinews and strength of ecclesiastical discipline, which is obedience, the fountain and wellspring of all virtues, and without the which every mā is to be convinced easily to be an Infidel.

We therefore desiring to proceed in the premisses more earnestly, as behooveth in things of most importance and meaning, to cut of the course of this pestiferous and cankered disease, lest it should spread it self further in y ^e Lord's field, like hurtful brambles or briars, and using upon the said errors, and every of them diligent trial, debatyng strait examination, ripe deliberation. And further, weighing and thoroughly sifting all and every of the same together w ^t our reverend brethrē, the cardinals of the church of Rome, the priors of the orders regular, or ministers general, also with diverse other professors and masters of Divinity, & of both the laws, and those the best learned: do find the foresaid errors or articles respectively, as is aforesaid, not to be the catholic, nor to be taught as Catholic, but to be against the doctrine or tradition of the catholic Church, a • d against the true interpretation of holy Scripture, received by the same: to whose author Augustine thought we ought so much to lean, that he would not (as he said) have believed the Gospel, if the authority of the Church had not thereto moved him.

For by these errors, or at least by some of them it followeth consequently, that the same Church which is guided by the holy Ghost, now doth, & ever hath erred, which is utterly against that which Christ at the time of his ascension (as we read in the holy Gospel of Matthew) promised to his Disciples, saying: I am with you until the ende of the world, &c. and also against the determination of the holy Fathers, against the express ordinances or Canons of Councils and head bishops, whom not to obey, hath always been the cause and nurse of all heresies and schisms, as Cyprian doth witness.

Wherefore by the counsel and assent of the said our reverend brethren, upon due consideration of all and singular the premisses, by the authority of almighty God, & of the blessed Apostles of Peter and Paul, and our own, we do condemn, reprove, and utterly reject all and singular the Articles or errors aforesaid respectively, as some to be heretical, some to be slanderous, some offensive to godly ears, or else seducing simple minds, and repugnant to the catholic truth, and by the tenor hereof, we here decree and declare that they ought of all christen people both men and women, to be taken as damned, reproved, and rejected. And therefore forbidding here under pain of the greater curse and excommunication, loosing of their dignities, whether they be Ecclesiastical or temporal, and to be deprived and made incapable of all regular orders & privileges, given and granted by the Sea Apostolic, of what condition so ever they be: also of loosing their liberties to hold general schools, to read and profess any science and faculty: of loosing also their tenures and feo • ements, and of inhabilitie forever to recover the same again, or any other: moreover, under pain of secludyng from Christian burial, yea and of treason also, and incurring such pains and punishments expressed in the law, as are due for all heretics and fautors of the same: we charge and command all and singular Christian people, both men and women, as well of the laity, as of the Clergy, both secular & also regular, of what order so ever they be, and brieflye all other persons, of what degree or condition so ever they be, or in what dignity so ever they are placed, either ecclesiastical or temporal: as first y ^e cardinals of the holy church of Rome, Patriarchs, Primates Archbishops, Bishops, with the prelates and heads of the churches Patriarchal, Metropolitan, or other cathedral Collegiate, and other small and inferior churches: to all clerks and other persons ecclesiastical, as Abbots, Priors, or ministers general or particular, brethren or religious men, exempt and not exempt: also Universities of schools, and all other, as well secular priests, as regular, and religious persons of all orders, yea of the begging friers also. Item, kings, Electors of the Imperial crown, princes, Dukes, Marquesses, Barons, captains, conductors and seruitures, and all Officers, Judges, Notaries, whether they be ecclesiastical or secular: comminalties, universities, dominions, cities, castles, lordships, and places, with the inhabiters of the same: and finally all other persons whatsoever, ecclesiastical or regular, dispersed in whatsoever places through the whole universal world, or which shall be hereafter dispersed, but especially in high Almany, that they shall not presume publicly or privately under any manner of pretence or color, colourably or expressly, or how else soever, to hold, maintain, defend, preach, or favor the foresaid errors or any of them, or any such perverse doctrine.

Ouer and besides, for so much as the foresaid errors, and many other are contained in the books or writings of the foresaid Martin Luther, therefore we condemn, reprove, and utterly reject, and hold for utterly condemned, reproved, and rejected the foresaid books, and all the writings of the said Martin, with his preachings, in what tongue so ever they are found, wherein the said errors or any of them is contained willing and commanding under the virtue of holy obedience, and incurring the penalties aforesaid, to all and singular christen people, both men and women above rehearsed, that they presume not by any manner of ways, directly, or indirectly, colourably or expressly, privily or apertly, either in their houses, or in other public or private places, to read, hold, preach, print, publish, or defend, either by themselves or by others, but straight ways after the publishing hereof, they do burn or cause to be burned the said errors, by their Ordinaries diligently being searched out, and solemnly presented in the sight of the whole Clergy of the people, under all and singular the penalties aforesaid.

Now as touching the said Martin, O good lord, what have we left undone? what have we left unattempted? what fatherly charity have we not shown, whereby to have reduced him from these errors? For after that we did cite him, thinking to proceed with him more favorably, we invited and exhorted him as well by diverse tractations had with our Legate, as by our own letters, that he would relinquish the foresaid errors, or else having safe conduct offered to him, with money necessary for his journey, to come to us without any fear or dread, which perfect charity ought to cast out, and so after the example of our savior, and his Apostle S. Paul, he would speak, not in corners and in secret, but openly to our face. Which if he had done, of truth we think no less, but that reformyng himself, he would have recognised his errors, neither should have found so many faults in y ^e court of Rome which he being seduced with the rumors of malicious people, more thē he ought, doth so much reprehend. Where we would have taught him to see more clearly then the light day, that the holy fathers of Rome our predecessors (whom he without all modesty, most injuriously doth rail upon) did never err in their Canons and constitutions (which he so much depraveth.) For as saith the prophet: Neither is there Rosine or Physician lacking in Galaao. But he hath always shown himself disobedient, and refused at our Citation to appear, and yet to this present day continuing still in his stubborn mind and heart indurate, hath remained now more then a year under our curse, yea & moreover, adding mischief to mischief (which is worst of all) he hearing of this our Citation, burst out into a presumptuous appellation from us, unto the next general Council, against the constitution both of Pope Pius the second, and Pope Julius the second, our predecessors, which so decreed, that all they which so did appeal, should be punished as heretics.

In vain also he seeketh refuge to the general Council, which professeth himself not greatly to regard such councils. So that now we might lawfully proceed against him, as against one notoriously suspected of his faith, yea a very heretic in deed, without any further citation or delay, to the condemnation of him, as of an heretic, and to the severity of all and singular pains and censures afore written. Yet we notwithstanding by the counsel of our brethren aforesaid, following the clemency of almighty God, which will not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should convert and live, and forgetting all injuries heretofore done unto us and to the See apostolic, have thoght good to use all favorable means toward him that we might, and so to work (as much as in us lieth) that he by this way of mansuetude, might be brought to reformation: so that he forsaking his former errors, might be received as the lost child, and return home again into the lap of his mother the Church.

Wherefore in most hearty wise we exhort and beseech the said Martin and all his adherents, receivers, and fautors by the bowels of the mercy of our God, and by the sprinklyng of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom, and by whom, is made the redemption of mankind, and the edification of holy mother church, that they will cease to disturb the peace, unity, and verity of the said Church, for the which our savior so instantly prayed to his father, and that they will abstain from such pernicious errors aforesaid. Who in so doing shall find with us (if they shall obey, or shall certify us by lawful witnesses, to have obeyed effectually herein) the affection of fatherly charity, and a full fountain opened of all mercy and clemency: willing and charging the said Martin notwithstanding, from henceforth that he utterly desist in the mean time from all preaching and office of preaching. Or else if the love of Justice and virtue shall not restrain the said Martin from sin, neither the hope of our pardon shall reduce him to repentance: to the intent that the terror of punishment and of discipline may bridle him, we require and admonish y ^e said Martin and his adherents, abbettors, fautors, and receyuers, by the tenor hereof, in the verity of holy obedience, & under incurring all the penalties aforesaid, districtly charging and commanding that within forty days (whereof twenty we assign for the first twenty, for the second, and the other twenty for the third & peremptory term) immediately following after the setting up of these present letters, that the said Martin, his abettors, fautors, adherēts and receivers aforesaid, do surcease from the foresaid errors, and from the preching, publishing, maintaining and defending of the same: also from setting out of book or scriptures upon the said errors or any of them: & furthermore, that they burn, or cause to be burned all and singular such books and scriptures as contain the foresaid errors or any of them by any manner of way.

Also that the said Martin do utterly revoke those errors and assertions, and so to certify us of the reuokyng thereof by public testimony in due form of law, signed by the hands of two prelates, to be sent unto us within the term of other like xl. days, or else to be brought by him unto us, if he himself will come (which would please us much rather) with a full safeconduct above mentioned, which from henceforth we are content to offer unto him, to the intent that no scruple of doubt touching his true obedience, should hereafter remain.

Contrarywise, if the said Martin (which God defend) his abettors, fautors, adherents, and mainteiners aforesaid, shall otherwise do, or shall not fulfill to every effect and purpose, all and singular the premisses within the term aforesaid, we thē following the doctrine of the apostle, which teacheth us to avoid an heretical person, after the first and second correction, as well now as before, and as well before as now, declaring by our authority the said Martin, his abettors, fautors, adherents, mainteiners, and receyuere▪ as withered branches not remaining in Christ, but teaching and preaching contrary doctrine, repugnaunt to the Catholic faith, slanderous and damnable, to the great offense of God's majesty, to the detriment and slander of the universal church and catholic faith, and despising the keys of the church: to be, and to have been notorious and obstinate heretics, do condemn the same for such by the tenor hereof, willing and commanding them to be holden and taken for such of all christen people aforesaid.

Ouer and besides, we forbid under the incurring of all and singular the penalties afore expressed, in so doing, that no man presume by any manner of way, directly or indirectly, secretly or expressly, privily or apertly, to read, hold, preach, praise, print, publish or defend, either by thenselves, or by any other the said books and writings, not only those wherein the errors aforesaid are contained, but also all others whatsoever have been or shall be set forth, written, or made by the said Martin, vehemently suspected as a pernicious enemy of the Catholic faith, to the intent y ^t his memory may utterly be rooted out from the fellowship of all Christian people, or rather with fire to consume them as is afore declared.

We admonish moreover, all and singular Christ's faithful people, under the said pain of the great curse, to avoid or cause to be avoided so much as in them doth lie, the foresaid heretics not obedient to our commandments, and to have no fellowship or any conversation or communion with them or with any of them, neither to minister to thē things necessary.

And moreover, to the more confusion of the said Martin, with his abettors, adherents, and retainers aforesaid, thus being declared and condemned as heretics, after the expiring of the term aforesaid, we command all and singular Christ's faithful people, both men and women, as Patriarchs, Archbishops, Prelates of Churches, either Patriarchal, Metropolitan, and other Cathedral, Collegiate, and other inferior Churches, to Deans & Chapters, and other Ecclesiastical persons secular, and of all other orders, even of the begging Friers also, namely, of that congregation, where the said Martin is professed, or hath his abode: also to regular, exempt, and not exempt. Item, to all and singular Princes, what dignity or calling so ever, either Ecclesiastical or Temporal they be of: to Kings, Princes, Electors, Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Barons, Captains, Conductors, Seruitours, Comminalties, Universities, Dominions, Cities, Lands, Castles and places, or the Citizens and inhabitauntes thereof: and briefly, to all and singular other aforesaid, through the Uniuersall world dispersed, specially in Almany, that they and every of them, under all and singular penalties aforesaid, do personally apprehend the said Martin, his abettors, adherents, receyuers, and fautours, and to retain them being apprehended, at our instance, and to send them unto us (who in so doing, for their good work shall receive of us and the Sea Apostolic, condign reward and recompense) or at least, that they utterly drive them, and everyone of them, out of their Metropolitan, cathedral, Collegiate, and other Churches, Houses, Monasteries, Conuents, Cities, Dominions, Universities, Comminalties, Castles, Lands, and places respectively, as well the Clergy men, as the regular and lay men, all and singular aforesaid.

Those cities, dominions, lands, castles, villages, comminalties, holds, towns, and places where so ever they be situate respectively, Metropolitan, Cathedral, Collegiate, and other Churches, Monasteries also, Priories, Couents, and religious and devout places, or what order so ever (as is aforesaid) unto the which it shall chance the said Martin to come, so long as he or they shall there remain, and three days after their departing from thence, we here give over to the Ecclesiastical interdiction.

And that the premisses may be known to all men, we command moreover all Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Prelates of Patriarchal, Metropolitan, & other cathedral & collegiate churches, to Deans and Chapters, and other persons ecclesiastical, & of what order else soever aforesaid, to regular brethren, religious monks, exempt & not exempt aforesaid, wheresoever they dwell, and especially within Almany, that they and every of thē under like censures and pains, do publicly denounce, & cause and command to be denounced of others, the said Martin w ^t all and singular his foresaid adherents, which shall not obey our commandments and monitions, within y ^e term aforesaid, upon every Sunday, and other Festival days, within their churches, when as the greatest concourse of people shall resort to divine service, to be declared and condemned for heretics, and that all Christ's faithful people shall avoid them under the said censures and penalties, as be afore expressed, and that they do set up these presents, or cause to be set up, or the transcript of them made under the form hereafter ensuing, in their churches, Monasteries, houses, Conuents, and other places there openly to be seen and read.

Item, we do excommunicate and curse, all and singular persons, of whatsoever state, degree, condition, preeminence, dignity, or excellency they be, which shall procure or cause to be procured by themselves or other, privily, or apertly, directly or indirectly, secretly or expressly, whereby these presents, or the copies transcript, or the examples of them cannot be read, set up, and published in their lands and dominions, &c.

Let no man therefore be so bold to dare, to infringe, or with rash presumption, to contrary this writing of our damnation, reprobation, rejection, decree, declaration, inhibition, will, commandment, exhortation, beseching, request, admonition, assignation, grant, condemnatiō, subjection, excommunication & curse. And if any person & persons dare presume to attempt the same, let him know and be sure, that he shall incur the indignation of almighty God, and of his blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.

Geuen at Rome at S. Peters, an. 1520.17. Calend. Iulij, and of our Popedom, the viii. year.

JESUS. Martinus Lutherus Christiano Lectori, gratiam Christi in salutem aeternam.

FAma peruenit ad me, Christiane Lector, exijsse Bullam quandam aduersum me, pene in omne terrá, prius quam ad me, in quem vnice fuerit, & cui maxim erat inferenda, veniret. Forte, quod noctis & tenebrarum scilicet filia, timult lucem vultus mei. Hanc tamen ipsam noctuam, vix tandem multum adiuuātibus amicis, in imagine sua, datum est videre, &c.

Here followeth the same answer of Martin Luther against the execrable Bull of Pope Leo, in English.

MArtin Luther to the christiā reader, wisheth the grace of Christ to eternal salvation. I heard a fanie a far of (Christian reader) that a certain Bull was past out against me, and sent almost over all the world before it came to me, against whom it was especially directed, & to whō most chiefly it appertained. For what cause I cannot tell, except peradventure it was for that the said Bull like unto a nightcrow, and as a bird of darkness hatched in the night, durst not fly in y ^e day, nor abide to come in my sight. Notwithstanding the said night foul after long time, by help of friends was caught at length & brought unto me in his own likeness to behold. Which causeth me yet to be uncertain what to think, whether my papists do dally & jest with me, in setting out such famous libels without any name against me: or whether in truth and earnest they play the mad men so against me at Rome, or no. For first, neither do I see here the style (as it is called) nor y ^e process of the court of Rome observed. And again (which maketh me more to doubt) herein be brought & condemned such articles which it is plain and manifest to be most Christian: whereby it seemeth to me most like, the said monster to be hatched by John Eccius, a man wholly compact and framed altogether of lies, dissimulations, errors, & heresies.

The said suspicion this also partly confirmeth, for that I hear it so bruted abroad, that y ^e said Eccius is thought and said to be the Apostle of such a goodly Bull. And not unlike, when none could be more meet an Apostle for such an Apostleship then he. And in deed I heard no less long since, that a Bull was in working against me at Rome, partly by the workmanship of Eccius: which because (as the style and composition thereof declareth) it displeased the good and learned men there, was therefore deferred and should have been suppressed.

But whatsoever the matter be, it seemeth to me not unlike wheresoever this apostle Eccius beareth rule, there to be the kingdom of Antichrist, and all kind of madness there to reign. In the mean time I will so deal, that I will not seem to believe Pope Leo the x. with his learned cardinals to be the authors of this furious madness: which I do not so much for the honor of the Sea of Rome, as because I will not be puffed up to much with pride, and seem to myself as one worthy to suffer such, so great, & so glorious things for the verity of God. For if it were so in deed that the bishop of Rome did so furiously rage against me, who were then so happy before God as Luther, to be condemned for so manifest a truth of such a proud Prelate? Wherein what were more to be wished for of me, then that I should never be absolved, reconciled, nor have any part with that so doltish and unlearned, wicked, and furious Antichrist? Happy were that day, happy were that death, and to be received with all joy and thankfulness to God, if it might be my hap at any time in such a cause as this is, to be apprehended and to suffer death. But give the honor of this cause unto others, and let this matter find his Martyr worthy for the same: I for my sins am not worthy to come to that honor.

Let other men therefore think of these Romanists what they list: Thus I think, that whosoever was the author of this bull, he is a very Antichrist, and against Antichrist, these things I write, to redeem the verity of Christ, so much as in me lieth, which he laboreth to extinguish. And first, that he shall obtain no part of his will in anything against me, here I protest before God and our Lord Jesus Ehrist, and his holy angels and all the world, that I dissēt with all my heart from the condemnatiō of this bull, which Bull I also do curse and execrate as an enemy, a Church robber and blasphemy against Christ the son of god our Lord. Amen.

Furthermore I hold, defend, and embrace with the full trust of my spirit, those articles in the said Bul condemned and excommunicate, and affirm that the same oughe to be holden of all faithful Christians, under pain of eternal malediction, and that they are to be counted for Antichrists, who so ever have consented to the said Bull, whom I also together with the spirit of all them which purely know, & do utterly shun them according to the precept of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. And let this stand for thy revocation, O Bulla vere Bullarum filia. i. O thou Bull which art the very daughter of all vain bubbles.

This my confession and protestation made (for witness whereof I take all them that shall read these presents) before I proceed to defend & declare these foresaid Articles, I will first begin, with certain arguments for the confutation of the said Bull: whereof the first I will take of the blind ignorance of this blockish Antichrist. For the Apostle Peter so commandeth, that we should be ready to render a reason of that faith and hope which is in us. And the apostle Paul willeth a bishop to be mighty to exhort in sound doctrine & to refute the gaynesayers. And these things be they, which now 3. years ago, I have desired & looked for out of Rome, or from them which take part with Rome. Which things also we do read to be observed most diligently amongst the ancient fathers, whensoever they condemned heresies. Neither do we read that the apostles did ever decree anything in their Counsels, but they first alleged the holy Scripture. So I also when I waited that they would answer me with grapes, and to inform me with true testimonies of the scripture, behold they bring to me sower and wild grapes, condemning me with nothing else but bare words, whereas I have fortified my matter with plain scriptures.

I say unto thee. O thou most unlearned Antichrist, hast thou joined such brain • ike rashness together with such barbarous ignorance, that thou wilt presume to think all mē to be turned into stocks & blocks, and to think that thou with thy bare and naked words only canst triumph against the invincible force and power of God's holy word? Hast thou learned this manner of condemning of the magistralities of Colen and Louaine.

If this be the manner of the Church to damn errors, only to say. I like it not, I deny it, I will not: what fool, what patch, what asse, what block cannot condemn after this manner? Is not thy whorish face ashamed in the public sight of the church, to dare once to set the trifling vanities only of thy naked and bare words against the thunderboirs of God's eternal word? O impudent condemnation and right seemly for Antichrist, which hath not one jot or title to bring against such evident scriptures inferred against him, but only with one word cometh and saith, I condemn thee. And why then do we not believe the Turk? Why do we not admit the Jews? Why do we not honor the heretics which also condemn our writings as well as he, if it be enough only to condemn? unless we do not therefore peradventure give place unto them, because they condemn us not utterly without some scriptures and reasons: but these men after a new found fashion, utterly without all scriptures or reason do condemn us. What then shall I think to be the cause why they proceeded against me with this their Bul condemnatory, so vain, so ridiculous, so trifling, but only their mere blockishness, whereby they seeing my allegations to be true and not able to abide, nor yet to confute the same, thought to terrify me with the vain ratlyng of their rottē parchment. But I tell thee Antichrist, that Luther being accustomed to war, will not be terrified with these vain bulls, and hath learned to put a difference between a piece of paper, and the omnipotent word of God.

Of the like ignorance proceedeth this also, that they against their own conscience, durst not particularly digest all and singular the Articles in their orders: for they feared least they should note him for an heretic, whom they were not able perhaps to convince either to be erroneous or offensive, & therefore they have found out this Adverb respective: & after the numbering of the articles, then come they & say that some be respectively heretical, some erroneous, and some offensive, which is as much to say, as we suppose some to be heretical, some erroneous, & some slanderous, but we cannot tell qui, quales, quanti. i. Which, what manner, and how great they are. O dastardly ignorance, how slippery and cowardly art thou? how art thou afraid of the light? how doest thou turn and return all things, least thou shouldst be taken like a Proteus: and yet for all that thou shalt not so escape, yea in thy wilynes thou shalt the rather be overtaken and subverted.

Come out therefore O thou asseheaded Antichrist, and show forth thy wisdom, and dispose thy matters in order. Tell us if thou canst, what sayest thou or meanest thou, when thou sayest this article is heretical, this is erroneous, this is offensive. For it becometh such a worshipful condemner to know what he condemneth. And to shameful it is to condemn an article for heretical, and yet cannot name the same. Neither will I be answered herewith respectively, but I look to be taught simply and plainly, for I am one of Occams faction which contemneth these respectiues, and love to have all things simple & absolute.

Thou seest therefore (good Reader) the ignorant dotage of this Antichrist, how craftily, & yet grossly he thinketh to walk in a net under his adverb, respectively, who not only • oth not teach the truth, and cause of his condemning, but neither also dare prove any error, nor show forth what it is that he condemneth, and yet must he needs condemn. Is not this trow you a proper kind of damning, to damn and cannot tell what he damneth? Is not this a fine manner of loquution, passing all Rhetoric, to speak, & yet not to know what he speaketh, what purgatories might we wish sufficient to purge the doltish brains of these Bull bragging bedlems? with such blindness & doltishnes are all the adversaries of God's truth worthy to be plagued.

But I know whereupon all this grief riseth. The origin whereof is this: Eccius mine old adversary remembering how he was put to shame enough at Lypsia when he rousing himself upon his stage, and frothing at the mouth like a Bore, with a furious mouth called me 3. hundred times heretic, for the Articles of Hus, and yet afterward was not able to prove the same, whereas the sentence condemnatory of the Council of Constance, alleged by me otherwise then Eccius looked for, noted there, no certain article for heretical: and also the same condemnation much like to this of ours, with the like foolishness called some of his Articles heretical, some erroneous, & some offensive, and Eccius hearing this, being confounded in himself for his impudent rashness: perceived that he had called me heretic falsely and untruly: he thought then to heal this his wound again at Rome, and there to stablish his false and impudent lying. But the lying sophister shall not prevail by the help (I trust) of Christ, for I ask and require yet still, y ^t they absolutely, not respectively, distinctly, and not confusedly, simply, & not dissemblingly, plainly and not obscurely, particularly & not in general, do show what is, and what is not heretical. But when will they so do? When Christ and Belial, or when light and darkness shall agree together.

And what shall I do then in the mean time? First I will contemn these dastardly dotipoles and unlearned Papists and apostles of Antichrist. And I will scorn them as Helias did, and say: if Baal be God, let him answer, pe ••• uenture he is drunk, or busy in his journey, Cry out higher, for he is a God and peradventure heareth. For what other thing do these Bull bragging Asses deserve else, which condemn that they know not, and confess also their own ignorance?

Secondly, I will not be troubled nor disquieted for the matter, neither am I to be counted heretic, erroneous▪ or offensive, so long as I shall not be proved and plainly convicted with simple and manifest words in what Article I am so judged. Neither do I here charge my Papists, these blockheds, that I will put them to their proofs, but only that they will show me at least my error that is, that they will show me if they know what it is that they themselves do prattle of, or have any feeling of their own doings. For so long as they assign me no heretical Article, I am at free liberty to deny what Article so ever they lay unto me to be heretical, and say it is Catholic.

Agayne, what a rudeness is it in this wicked & doltishe Antichrist worthy to be laughed at, where as these drummedaries do distinct heretical Articles from those that be erroneous, and the erroneous from offensive, and those again from slanderous? By the which subtle distinction of those grosseheaded dolts, this we do gather, that that article which is erroneous, is not heretical, and if it be not heretical, what doth it then appertain to these Ecclesiastical condemners, which ought to condemn those things only, which be heretical. For that which is not heretical, is catholic, as Christ himself saith: He that is not against us is with us. Yea I would wish, that these jolly Sophisters would show me in all the Church an Article that is erroneous, and not heretical: for if it be erroneous, it differeth nothing from heretical, but only in stiffness of defending. For all things be equally either true or false, although affection in someone thing which is true or false, may be greater or lesser. Ye see therefore again, how these men for all their braggyng Bulls, are not able to produce me one Article which is erroneous and not heretical, and yet like wise brainsike men, they will needs babble they know not themselves what, condemning that which they find erroneous and not heretical: which cannot stand either in matter or in words so that such as are the Articles: such is the condemnation.

The like wisdom also they show in affirming that to be Scandalous, which is neither heretical nor erroneous. That Article I would fain see either in my books or in the words and works of any writer else from the beginning of the world to the latter end. What made my papists then to excogitate these so prodigious monsters, but only their monstrous fury and madness? Unless peradventure they mean those Articles so to be Scandalous, as commonly all true and Catholic Articles are wont to be. For what is more scandalous then Ueritie? Yea only truth and verity is scandalous to all proud and senseless persons, and is said of Christ, 1. Cor. 1. We preach (saith S. Paul) Christ crucified, a stumblynge stone to the Jews, and to the Gentiles foolishness. And in Luke 2. He is set to be the fall and rising up of many in Israel. Wherefore, where as my Papists do distinguish scandalous Articles from heretical and erroneous, and forasmuch as that which is not heretical or erroneous, must needs be Catholic and true: it followeth thereof, that these scandalous Articles be understanded and condemned of them for such as be very Catholic and sound. O worthy commendation & me • te for the Papists.

Mark here good Reader, the impiety of these blind Bussards, whether they roll themselves, how they deride and mock themselves, how easily they are taken in their own words, how fond and foolish they are in their studies not only in not proouyng any error or slander in these Articles, but also in going about only to express them, how they cast out things impossible and most foolishly repugnant to themselves. Where is then thou most presumptuous and shameless Bull, thy doltish respective now become? whether respectedst thou? Verily into the bottomless pit of impiety, and thine own brutish stoliditie.

The like also is to be said touching the Articles offensive, which must be neither slanderous, neither erroneous, nor heretical, seeing they are distincted by such great Rabbin's. Who will not now marvel at the depe & profound wisdom of these Papists, which could find out that to be offensive in the Church, which is neither false, neither heretical nor slanderous, but true, sound, Catholic and edifieng, and yet must that also be condemned? And who would not now desire & covet to be condemned also of such harebrained Idiotes, who by their own condemning do utter themselves to approve things damnable, and to condemn things justifiable, that is, which openly show themselves, to their own great ignominy and shame, to be more senseless then stocks, rocks, or blocks. Go ye now therefore, O ye impious and brainless Papists, and if ye will needs write: show yourselves more sober: for this Bull (it appeareth) was spewed out in youre night feasts amongst other drabs and harlots, or else huddled up in the Caniculare days or mad midsomer Moon: For never were there any dissardes that would show them selves so mad.

Lette us now return this dirt of Antichrist, and cast it in his own teethe, and of his own words let us judge him and condemn him, that hereafter he may learn to take better heed, and be better advised in his lying. For as the Proverb saith, a liar had need to have a good memory. If some Articles be offensive, and other heretical, and thou condemnest him which is no heretic, and consequently a true Catholic, although he be six hundredth times offensive. Doth not thy shameless mouth then condemn thyself, not only of heresy, but of extreme impiety, blasphemy and treason against God's holy truth, showing thyself to be the man in deed which is the adversary, and is extolled above all that which is called God, or is worshipped? Art not thou then the man of sin, and the son of perdition, which denieth God his redeamer, and taketh away the love of truth, to stablishe the setting forth of his error, for men to believe iniquity, as Paul foretold? For if the Article be not heretical, it cannot be offensive or slanderous, but only to such heretics as Antichrist is, and Sathanistes of all piety. See theeefore howe his shameless and moste foolish Bull, whiles it condemneth in me one thing to be heretical, and another offensive, doeth manifestly declare the authors thereof to be true heretics and the enemies of God in deed. So that now it may appear, that there is no knowledge nor counsel against the Lord, seeing blind impiety is thus caughte in the words of his own mouth: so truly it is said, that he which casteth up a stone on high, it falleth down again upon his own pate.

And (which is chiefest of all) by this their wicked contradiction it cometh to pass, that the cogitations of their own hearts be revealed, and that they them selves chiefly do utter and disclose their own wickedness which they covet most to conceal, that all men may see how ready they are to condemn all verity even at once. For when they affirm such Articles to be heretical, which neither they can, nor know, nor yet dare show or name to be heretical, what have we thereby to understand, but that they are the adversaries of Christ from the bottom of their hearts, and ready to impugn all truth, and yet notwithstanding with their damnable hypocrisy they pretend themselves to be condemners of heresies? Learn, learn, ye beetell headed Asses with your blustering bulls, learn I say, what it is, Christ to be a sign of contradiction and a stone of offense. Howe soon and easily is all your inward impiety and your ignominy disclosed with the same covert of words, wherewith in vain ye went about to cloke the same? Thus then have we here proved by this first and manifest argument, that the foresaid Bull proceedeth from none other, then very Antichrist himself, the chiefest adversary of God and of all godliness. And now let either Eckius or the Pope acknowledge if he dare, and then consider what opinion we ought to have of him, or what name to give him: in whom all cursed names, as in one heap, do concur together and agree, as impiety, blasphemy, ignorance, foolishness, hypocrisy, lying, briefly, Satan himself with his Antichrist.

Neither doeth this impiety anything less appear in that also which I will now say. For this worshipful Bul decreeth in plain and moste impudent words, that those Books also of mine ought to be burned, in the which are no errors contained, to the end that the memory of me may be utterly rooted out.

Canst thou O Christian Reader, now doubt that the great Dragon of hell himself speaketh in this Bull? It is an old Proverb, that the Ass singeth therefore evil fauoredly, because he taketh his note to hye. So this Bull in like manner should have piped more tunably, if he had not set by his blasphemous throat so open against heaven, so impudently and deuelishly condemning also the manifest and evident truth. For hitherto Satan when so ever he oppressed the truth, did it under the color of truth: but this man of sin, the Adversary which is extolled above God, without all color, not privily but apeartly, and that in the open Church of God, without all shame taketh upon him to condemn, and commandeth to be burned the sincere veritye of Christ, known and allowed both of him and of all others. What could be more done amongst the Turks? What place is this worthy off (I pray thee) but the deep dungeon of Hell? And are ye not afraid ye Antichrists, with your brutishe Bulls, lease stones and trees should swear with blood, at the moste horrible sight of this your execrable impiety and blasphemy?

Where art thou now good Emperor Charles? Where are ye Christian Kings and Princes? Ye have given your name to Christ in Baptism, and can ye now abide these infernal voices of such an Antichrist? Where be ye Bishops? Where be ye Doctors? Where be all ye that confess Christ? Can ye hold your peace at these horrible and prodigious monsters of the Papists, O miserable Church of God, which art made now so great a scorn, and a very mocking stock of Satan. O miserable are all they which live in these times. The wrath of God is finally come upon the Papists, enemies to the cross of Christ and verity of God, resistinge all men, and forbidding the truth of Christ to be taught and preached, as S. Paul said of the Jews. Admitte I pray you, that I were such a one in deed, as that cursed and malicious Bull doeth make me to be an heretic, erroneous, schismatical, offensive, scandalous, in certain of my books: yet why should the other books of mine be condemned, which are Catholic, Christian, true, edifying, and peaceable? Where have these wretched Papists learned this religion, that for the persons cause being evil, they should damn and burn the holy and sound verity of God? Can ye not destroy men, but you must also destroy the truth? Will ye pluck up the good wheat also with the cockle? Will ye scatter also the corn away together with the chaff? And why then receive ye Origen in his Catholic books, and do not utterly reject him all together? Yea, why suffer ye wicked Aristotle (in whom is nothing taught but errors) and do not at lease in some parte condemn him? Why burn ye not and set on fire, the wicked, barbarous, unlearned, and heretical Decretalles of the Pope? Why do ye not all this, I say, but only for that ye are set in this holy place, for none other cause, but only to be that abomination spoken of in Daniel, which should put down truth and set up lies, and the operation of error. For this thing and none other, becometh the seat of Antichrist.

Wherefore this I say to thee (Pope Leo the tenth and to you Lord Cardinals, and all other whosoever is in any parte or doing in that Courte of Rome) and this I speak boldly unto your faces, if this Bull hath come out in your name, and by your knowledge, and if ye will so acknowledge it for your own: then will I likewise use my power, by the which I am made in my Baptism, y ^e son of God, and coheyre with Christ, being founded upon a sure rock which neither feareth the gates of hell, nor heaven, nor earth, and say, monish and exhort you in the Lord that you will reform yourselves and take a better way, and refrain heeeafter from those diabolical blasphemies and to much exceeding presumptuous impeties, and this I allege: That unless ye so do, know it for certain, that I with all them that worship Christ, do recount youre seat, possessed and oppressed of Satan himself, to be the damned seat of Antichrist, which we not only do not obey, and will not be subject nor concorporate unto, but also do detest and abhor the same, as the principal & chiefest enemy of Christ, being ready in this our sentence and profession, not only to suffer gladly your fond foolish censures, but also do pray you heartily that you will never assoil us again, nor ever number us in your fellowship, and moreover to fulfill your bloody tyranny, do willingly offer our selves to die for y ^e same. And according y ^e to power & might, y ^t the spirit of Christ, and efficacye of our faith can do in these our writings, if ye shall persist so still in your fury, we condemn you, & together with this Bull, & all the Decretal, we give you to Satan, to the destruction of flesh y ^t your spirit in the day of our Lord may be delivered: in the name which you persecute of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For our Lord Jesus Christ yet liveth and raygneth (in whom I do nothing doubt) who I firmly trust will shortly come and slay with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming, this man of sin, and son of perditiō, for as much as I cannot deny, if the pope be the author and doer of these misshapen and monstrous doings, but he is the true, final, most wicked, and that famous Antichrist: that subuerteth the whole world by the operation of his delusions, as we see it in all places fulfilled and accomplished.

But whether doth the burning zeal of charity carry me. Neither am I as yet fully persuaded this to be the popes Bull, but to proceed from his wicked Apostle Eckius, who with his fathers, fariously gaping at me like a gulf, would swallow me clean up: • inging with the wicked thus: Let us swallow him up quick and whole like hell, and like one descending down into the pit. For little careth this furious ma • brain, howe the verity of God be extinguished (ye he would count that for a lucre) so he might • ill his malicious desire with the blood 〈◊〉 his brother. O miserable state of the Church at this time▪ worthy to be bewailed w ^t tears o • blood. But who heareth our groanings, or who comforteth our weepings? The fury of the Lord seemeth to be inoxorable against us.

Ouer and besides, what a ridiculous toye, or pretty figment have they invented, whereby belike to sport thenselves with some merye matter amongst their earnest business, writing that besides other great frendshippe, which they have shown unto me: they have also offered to support me with money, and to bear my charges with their liberality, in my journey to Rome. Will ye see what a charity is newly come upon the City of Rome, which after it hath pilled and polled the whole world of their money, and hath consumed & wasted the same by intolerable tyranny, now cometh, and to me only offereth money? But this impudent lie I know with whose hōmer it was coined, Caietanus the Cardinal, a man borne and formed to lie for the whetstone after his worshipful Legacy depeached in Germany coming home to Rome, there he forged & feigned that he promised me money, whereas he being at Anspurge, was there in such miserable penury, & so pinching in his house, that it was thought he would have famished his family. But thus it becometh the Bull to be vere Bulla, that is a thing of naught, void of all truth and wit.

And so these great judges & condemners after all this, yet have authority to command us to believe them to say truth, when they do nothing but lie, and that they are good Catholics, when they be stark heretics, and that they are true Christians, whē they play the very Antichrist, and all by the virtue of this universal: Quodcunque ligaueris. &c. i. Whatsoever thing thou bindest. &c. So that where nothing is excepted, they think they may do all things. Who not only do lie most loudly and manifestly, but also (which passeth all impudency) do vaunt and commend their liberalitye before y ^e people to bring me more in hatred, making men falsely to believe that they offered friendship and money unto me: Whereas these tyrants of Rome, if they had had any truth, goodness, or godliness in them, should have taken some better hede in their doing and speaking, so that no adversary might conceive any suspicion of evil against them. But now if there were no other matter else to bring this Bull out of credit, only this gross & foolish lie were sufficient to declare how light, vain, and false this Bul is. What? would Rome (think ye) offer money to me? And how then cometh this, which I know to be moste certain, that out of the bank (as they call it) two or three hundred crowns were assigned in Germany to be disposed and given to ruffians and catchpoles, to murder Luther: for these be the reasons & arguments, whereby now fighteth, reigneth and triumpheth the holy Apostolic sea, the mistress of faith & mother of all churches, y ^t which long since should have been proved to be the very • eat of Antichrist, and manifold ways heretical, if she had fought with the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God: whereof she herself is nothing ignorant, & therefore because she would not be brought to that issue, thus she fareth and taketh on like as she were mad, in the Church of Christ, confounding and consuming all things with wars, murders, bloodshed, death, and destruction, and yet for all this they must needs be counted most holy fathers in God, & vicars of Christ, and Pastors of his flock.

But go to (that I may also dally with them a while) let them, yet send me the money they speak of: for as touching their promise & safeconduct (because I will not overcharge them) that I gladly resign to them again, seeing I have no great need thereof, so that y ^e moni may come to my hands. But here I must require so much as may suffice me: to wit, that I may be furnished with fifty thousand footmen, and ten thousand horsemen, to conducte me safe to Rome, and so for any other promise of safe conduct I will not trouble them. And this I require, because of the danger that is in Rome, which devoureth up her inhabitauntes, neither keepeth, nor ever did keep promise with any: Where these most holy fathers do slay their beloved children in the charity of God, and brethren destroy their brethren to do service to Christ, as the manner is and style of Rome. In the mean time I will keep myself free and sa •• from the Citation of this most reverend Bull. O ye miserable varlets, which are so confounded with the truth and with your own conscience, that neither ye can lie handsomely, neither dare ye speak the truth, and yet neither ca ye so keep yourselves quiet, to your perpetual ignominy and confusion.

Furthermore, here in this Bull is brought in a strange fashion of style, not heard of before. For where Augustine would have said, that he would not believe the Gospel, except he had ben moved by the authority of the church, now cometh in this goodly Bull, and maketh this Catholic church to be a few reverent Cardinals his brethren, & priours of regular orders, Masters of Divinity and doctors of the law, out of whose counsel the said Bull boasteth her self to be borne and brought forth, a blessed babe (forsooth) of such an universal Church, O happy travel (no dout) of this Catholic church, never seen nor heard of before, and such as Augustine the valiant impugner of sects, if he did see, would not doubt to call it the Synagogue of the devil. See therefore the madness of their Papists. The universal Church is a • ewe Cardinals, Priours and Doctors, scarcely perhaps 20. persons in all, when also it is possible enough that never one of them all is the menber of one chapel or altare. And whereas the Church is the communion of Saints, as we say in the Creed, out of this communion of saints, that is, out of this universal church, all they then must needs be excluded, whosoever be not in the noneber of these 20. persons: and so whatsoever these holy men do think or judge, by and by the universal Church must needs hold and believe the same, albeit they be liars, heretics, and Antichrists, thinking and iudginge nothing but that which is abhominable.

Would there ever any man think such doltishnesse and madness to be in Rome? Is there any brain in these men's heads think ye, or heart in their bodies? Agustine speaketh of the church dispersed through the whole world, confessing the gospel with one consent. Neither would God that any book else should be received with such consent of the whole world as the holy scripture (as the said Augustine in his confessions affirmeth) least by the receiving of other books, schisms might take occasion to rise, according as the wicked Sea of Rome hath long sought by her decrees, & hath, for a great part, brought the same to pass already. But yet the universal Church did never agree thereto. For in the East, West, & South there have ben Christians, which being content only with y ^e gospel, have not regarded how Rome hath gone about of a particular church, to make herself an universal church, & accuseth other churches as schismatical whē as she hath cut of her self from the universal Church, and striveth in vain to draw the whole universal church to her, being the mother and fountain of all schisms, and all by the means of this tyranny.

Let no man therefore ever think that this true Catholic Church aforesaid, will believe or maintain those things which this detestable Bull here pratleth, when as neither that which is the very true Church of Rome, indeed doth her self so think, neither taketh that by and by to be Catholic, whatsoever is known to proceed from y ^e Church of Rome. For as I said, there is no book which shall be called Catholic hereafter, as neither it hath been heretofore, besides only the holy scripture. For the church of Rome it may suffice to glory her self to be a little parcel or piece of the universal church, and so let her vex her self only with her own decrees.

Neither let any man think this to be the Bull of the catholic church, but rather to proceed out of the Court of Rome. For such wisdom and religion may well beseem that seat of Satan, which seeketh to be counted for the whole universal Church, and obtrudeth her foolish and wicked Bulls most arrogantly and vainly to the whole world in y ^e stead of sincere catholic doctrine. Whose pride and presumption hath grown so far, that she trustinge upon her own power, without all learning and holiness of life, taketh upon her to prescribe laws to all men of all their doings and sayings, as though for dominion only and loftines of spirit, she were to be counted the house and church of Christ, where as by this means Satan also the prince of the world, or the Turk might be counted the Church of Christ. Again, neither the Monarchies of the Gentiles can abide mighty Princes to reign over them w ^t out wisdom and goodness. Furthermore, in the Church the spiritual man only judgeth all things, & is judged of no man, and not the Pope alone or the Court of Rome, unless they be spiritual.

But against all this their rash presumption, I boldly set the invincible Champion of the Church S. Paul, who 1. Cor. 14. saith: If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first man hold his peace. Here have ye plainly that Pope or any other elder, what so ever he be, ought to keep silence, if any thing be revealed to other in the Church, that is inferior. I therefore upon his authority contemning the presumptuous proceeding of this swelling Bull, do confidently take upon me to defend the Articles, caring nothing for the bare condemnation of any person, yea of the Pope him self with his whole Church, unless he shall inform me by the Scriptures. Whereof the first Article is this.

EDmundus permissione Diuina Lond. Episc. Dilecto nobis in Christo Richardo Cloney literato, Apparitori, nostro generali salut. grat. & benedictionem. Cum nos 13. die mensi • instantis Octob. circa noctem, literas serenissimi, &c.

The same in English.

FOr as much as the 13. day of this present, we have received the letters of our sovereign Lord, by the grace of God King of England, &c. to us di • ected and containing in them the commandment of his Majesty, by us to be executed in tenor of words which here I send unto you: we therefore willing and desiring according as our duty bindeth us, to put the same in execution with all diligence possible according to the effect and tenor thereof, do charge and straightly command you by the tenor hereof, in the Kings behalf, and for the fidelity which we have in you assuredly approved, that you incontinent upon the receipt hereof, do effectually warn all and singular Parsons and Vicars of this City of London, and of all our diocese, that they immediately upon the sight and intimation of these present Articles and interrogatories here under written, do cause diligent and effectual inquisition thereof to be made, to wit:

Whether there be used or continued any superstition, hypocrisy or abuse within any their parishes or Cures, contrary to any ordinance, injunction, or commandment given or set forth by the Kings Majesty or by his authority.

Item, whether they have in their Churches, or within their parishes, any shrines, coverings of shrines, tables of feigned miracles, pilgrimages, Images and bones resorted and offered unto and other monuments and things wherewith the people have been illuded, or any offering or setting up of lights, or candles, other then be permitted by the Kings Majesty's Injunctions, or whether the said Injunctions be duly observed and kept in their Parishes or Cures, or else transgressed and broken, and in what part. And further, after the said Inquisition thus by them and every of them respectively being made, that you do certify us, or our Vicare general, what is done in the premisses, upon the even of Simon and Jude, or thereabout, under the peril thereof following. Dat. 14. die Octob. an. 1541. & nostrae translat. 2.