POpe Sixtus, one of the most sham­lesse strumpets of all her whoorish predecessors, beginning her raigne in the yeare of our saluation 1585, and séeing her dignitie and reue­newes so farre inferiour to most Popes in time past, In times past the Popes had great fees out of all kingdomes in Europe, and this fran­ticke Sixtus had nothing but out of Spaine, Italy, and partes of Germany, thē woonder not that he fa [...]ed like one stark madde. beganne to growe so malancholie, that shee wanted little frō falling into an incurable frenzie: straight she sets all her wits abroach, laying sundry plots for the repayring of the decayed dignitie of the sometime flourish­ing chayre. The Diuell a diligent attendant on any sexe possessed with like cogitation, appeared vnto her in shape fittest to please the humour of so common a curtizan, and saluting her farre vnlike the churlish courtesie of his infer­nall Countrey, he gins reuiue her out of the dumpe with these friendly spéeches. How now braue Ladie (quoth he) what, all in your dumpes? Is this a moode beséeming the Quéene of new Babylon? Is this the countenance of her that should make all Nations of the earth drunke in her beautie, and bewitcht by her brauerie? May the Kinges of the earth (whom thou must allure to loue thée) like of a melancholly Ladie? Hath Fortune first called thée from a russet coole to a red hatt, and from that hatte to a tripled Crowne, and shouldest thou not knowe how to vse For­tune that standes wholy at thy becke? Or haue euer I sayled thée at the pinch, that thou shouldst any thing doubt now of my readinesse at néede? Nay frollike fayre Quéene and plucke vp your spirites: let not this successiue seate fall farther to decay in you, that whylome so flourished by your most famous foregoers: in sharpenesse of wit fewe of them euer came uéere you, and in pollicie who euer was [Page 2]comparable? They haue by degrées lost of late euery one a share, so that the famous chayre is become to the state as nowe to our gréefes we sée it in: how befitting will it then be for braue Sixtus to imploy her selfe, not onely to recouer that alreadie lost, but also in subduing that which as yet hath little bowed vnder any of their banners. Shall you who by the helpe of that mightie Monarch of Spaine, together with your owne industrie, The King of Spaine hath his voyce in the Popes election, and beareth grea­test sway of all other voyces. came to this haughtie seate, séeme to want eyther friends or pollicy, not onely to maintain it, but againe to lift it euē to the clouds? Cast off these dumpes (my loue) for shame, and practise without doubting to performe what so euer you enterprise. Doe you forget that it was at first a hundred times more diffi­cult to establish this chaire, when yet it was not, then it is now to maintaine it, hauing such helpes? Are the coffers so stuft to others, become so bare and emptie to thée? Let par­dons purchase golde, and sale of Bulles supply that want, rayse the price of thy pardons, and force men vppon payne of fire to take thy Buls, hast thou not asword as well as the keyes of Heauen? If men grow carelesse of thy par­dons, pardonne them perforce. Be of good cheare braue Quéene and let dispayre be farre from thée, vse my aduise and doubt not all shall be well. Her holinesse starting vppe as from a slumber, and doubting least shee dreampt, that which afterwardes she perceiued more plaine to be the ve­ry spéeches of her swéete heart in déede: after some louing imbrasinges, she burst foorth into this heauie reply. Mar­uell not my best beloued, and neuer fayling friend at néede, that you finde me driuen into this present dumpe, out of which your comfortable spéech and presence hath euen now set me frée. Our seate, sometime as you know the onely woonder of the world for brauerie and pompe, hauing euer since the preaching of that accursed Germayne Luther and his schollers daily diminished in dignitie, I find at my first entrie so vnlike to that it hath béene within the compasse of my owne remembrance, that our Monarchie séemes nowe scant a Molehill, to that it was woont to be in the [Page 3]time of some of our more then happy predecessors, selfe ease so possessing our latter Popes, that euery one hath lost his little, for sturring so little to stoppe the soare at the begin­ning: and by regarding too too litle the pompe and ease of vs their successor, I finde to my woe, this present seat so weake, that vnlesse I besturre mée better then they haue donne: I sée no remedie but seat and succession will ende both in me. Thus séeing (right trustie friend) this great charge as well for our selfe as our successors, depending wholy vpon our owne shoulders, woonder not to sée me so disquieted at the heart and vexed in mind, till I haue found some way how to repaire this our ouerruinated seat. That which at the first might haue béene stopt with a little and small charge, nowe by running so long vnstayed will cost millions and a whole Ocean of bloud: the effusion of bloud is our least care, but want of those millions stickes in our stomacke. Spaine, the Princes and Senioryes of Italy, the Bishoppricke of Colen, with fewe others remaine firme vnto vs, when as the rest of Europe is eyther fallen quite from vs, or at least so wauering, that in most néede we are likest to be deceiued by thē. If the Emperie should change from the house of Austria (as it is to be feared) and so fall to some of our professed enemies, He meaneth the king of Nauarre, now to the Popes griefe, the French king: whom the League so pursueth: but God is his de­fence. Here the Pope doubts not in vaine, for since this parlee be­tweene him and the diuel, the Polāders haue elected the valiant Prince Signis­mundus, son to the king of Sweden, a Protestant. Here for re­uerēce I must let passe the filthy railing speeches, that the quondam russer hooded Sixtus vomi­teth out of his stinking mouth, a­gainst our Princesse, whome God long preserue in despite of all her foes, for they are such as are not for any good subiect to write, nor for any chri­stian care to brooke the hearing. The discredi­ting of the Popes pardōs is no small hinderance to her Holines. what a blow were that to light on our ouerburthened shoulders. France for want of issue, hath for next successor * him that our heart most abhorreth, against whome wée haue sent foorth our curses and Buls, but he estéemes them all as bubbles and spéedes the better by how much the more he hath béene excommunicated and curst.

Poland that brooketh no successour by issue, by electi­on, I feare, may admit some Lutheran, and then all hope of succor from thence were cleane cut off. The Russies and Muscouites, howbeit they maintaine some of our supersti­tions, yet how slenderly they accompt of vs, it is al too wel knowne, and how soone they will quite reiect vs, who can tell? And in the meane time, what by the farre distance of the way, and by the little respect they haue vnto vs, wée [Page 4]haue no cause to trust to their aide. England, whom with her Quéene, our predecessors haue so long and déepely cur­sed, that there hath bin no malediction against her and hirs left vnpronounced, flourisheth nowe more then euer, ney­ther hath Pius Quintus and Gregorie, both of famous me­morie, notwitstanding all their costs and charges, bin a­ble to hatch so many English Seminaries, to infect that Countrie: but those Vniuersities of Cambridge and Ox­forde, so vnhappily for vs, maintained by that accursed Quéene, haue sent forth such an innumerable rable of mi­nisters, that not onely our English Seminaries, but all our learned Iesuites of all nations are so put to silence by their preachings and writings, that they haue not a word to say more in my quarrell: well they may brabble, but those bishops and ministers of England so beate them with their answeres, that they are almost beaten dumbe. And yet our English Seminaries haue waded further in our cause then any other Writers heretofore. And as for our pardons they are also growen so farre out of credit by the Writings and Sermons of English and other Ministers, which still teach men where they may haue pardons gra­tis, and onely for asking, that now there is such running to Christ for Indulgences, and plenarie remission that not one amongst twentie comes to me his vicar. Euery sowter is now growen so malapert, that he presumeth at the first iumpe to rush euen to Christ himselfe, without asking leaue of one or an other Saint in Heauen or Hell. Note that all Saints are not in heauen, for the pope hath canonized such a nūber of traitors, that hell is not vnfurnis shed of saintes such as they be. And this is the good that we get also, in that the Scripture is in so many vulgare tongues, for because Christ saith with­out exception, Come vnto me all ye that labour and are heauie laden &c. Euery Tinkar that is touched with a li­tle repentance, now by vnderstanding the Scriptures, ta­keth it to be spoken also vnto him, and so at the first dash runnes boldely to Christ, without offering one peny vnto me his porter, or to any other of his courte for his admit­tance. What hope resteth then in my bulles or pardons? Thus leauing to speake of many others that are almost as [Page 5]sharpe thornes vnto our sides, as the Quéene of England is. By this little I haue saide, I know thou canst come­cture of the rest, and so well waying the cares that vexe vs, togither with the ticklish state of our tottering chaire, cease to blame me for sitting so malecontent as lately you found me.

The Diuell that heard nothing all this while, but that he too well knew before, cuts off this concubines dolefull tale with a louing kisse. Peace, faire Quéene, quoth hée, and adde no further oyle ta my flame, thou renuest my so­rowes without telling mée any newes: Thou knowest to my power, I haue ayded the Sorcerers, Coniurers, and Inchanters of thy predecessors against our capitall enemie of England all that I might. But he whose name I trem­ble to rehearse, hath put such a hooke in my nostrelles, that I can goe no further then he lets me loose, it is in his hand to restraine my rage, and to giue me libertie to execute his wrath when he séeth time: but whusht, be still, séeing thy sorcerers by me, nor I by them can do no more then lifteth him that ruleth vs all, we must cast about, and bring the other tacke aboorde, wée must rake all the corners of hell for a new deuice, séeing all our former practises faile vs, we will prouide a remedy for all, and all shall be to our content Lady I warrant thée. With that togither they goe into hir holines priuy chamber, where they laid their heads to­gither. But what they did, or how they handled the mat­ter, I know not, but hir holines beganne to looke big, and waxe big, as though the Diuelles and she had made worke for the Beodles of Bridewell, and in lesse space by fiue mo­neths at least, then ordinary course, hir holines was deliue­red of hir vntimely birth: yet the childe being aliue, the tender care of the mother so fostred and brought it vp, that insmall time it wared very strong, yea, the monster be­came so mightie in so little space, that most Kinges of the earth stoode at the gaze, expecting with feare the euent of his power. While the dadde and damme beganne to rub the elbowe for ioy, and their hearts dauncing within them, [Page 6]saying one to another, This is he shall remedie all, and he shall aduance our seat higher by a degrée then euer it was: the damme sung lullabie, and the dadde rockt the cradle, so long, till neyther Rome, the cradle, nor all Italie could lon­ger containe him, for the stripling woulde abroad to search out aduentures: And therefore I will first shewe you his shape, as he was in his greatest pride. He had two heads, the one altogither like the sire, and the other like the dāme, which heads spake prowd blasphemies against heauen, and the ruler therof, their lookes loftie, euen like the sonne of pride and sinne, terrible like the séede of Serpents, and fierce like the red dragon.

From his right shoulder in steade of an arme, grewe out a mighty Prince with a crowne imperiall on his head, to looke to, full of all pompe and maiestie, séeming at the view by his rich shew to be sole commander of all the golde mines in the world, he had a sword in his hand more braue to looke to, then fearefull by any signe of manly strokes gi­uen therewith, The king of Spaine his late vsurping of Portingale, possesseth also all such partes of the East India as ea [...]st belonged to Portingale. the scabbard most richly beset with stone and pearle, as though the East India had lately become his slaue: he cried out in the Spanish tongue, so lowde, that not onely all Europe, but also great parte of Affrica trembled at the prowd noise, El mundo no me basta: which his spéech I take to be thus much in English, The world sufficeth me not. From his left shoulder procéeded also in place of the other arme, a prince to looke on very grimme, and sterne, with a coronet on his head, his armes thorow­ly imbrued in blood, his sworde died red in the same, as though he had lately come from the slaughter of an infinite number of séely lambes and shéepe: his sparkling eies sée­med all inraged in ire, his browe frowning nothing to the shewe but gastly death. In fine, he séemed wholie a hel­lish fury, prowdly roaring out in the French tongue this horrible spéech, En despit du Ciel. which I vnderstande thus in English, In despite of heauen. His body contai­ned in the place of heart, lyuer, lungs, guttes, gall, and o­ther entralles, a number of fat friars of all orders, priestes, [Page]monkes and Iesuites, some laying their heads together, as debating matter of great moment, some singing, and o­thers faring as merry as Crickets, the potte with Ʋinum theologicum, in the meane while hauing little rest, but stil walking from mouth to mouth, and tossed like a tenise bal, from hand to hand, as though they purposely meante to make themselues leane for the kingdome of heauen: there was in fine such a confused noise amongest them, of all the languages in our Europe, that with much adooe I coulde heare distinctly any of their seuerall spéeches, yet listening attentiuely to the English, which by meanes of the multi­tude of other languages was hardly discerned, I heard one cry flatly, Neuer such cause of ioy. Be like it was some English Iesuite that hoped shortly to become a Cardinall in England.

His taile was double like his necke, from which sproong out many madde heads, some séeming noble, many of good birth, but most, the scumme and outcast of the world, ready at an houres warning to serue the Diuell himselfe for mo­ney: all these well armed, and as it were, ready at a pinch to strike without respect of age or sexe: the Monster séem­ing not greatlie troubled in drawing them, by meanes of their great willingnes, to followe of their owne accorde: their noise was no lesse confused then that of the belly-gods before mentioned, saue that I heard not a worde of English amongst them, to my remembrance, but I heard an Ita­lian somewhat louder then the rest, all in a brauerie, and in the hoigh to say, Hor, ò mai, ricco, which I take to be thus much in English, Rich now or neuer.

Downe from his bréech on the right side stoode in steade of a legge, a Cardinall, prowde in his gesture, séeming to supporte his share of the great burthen, as though hee had scant sustained a fether, a braue lustie fellowe, princelike in countenance, casting a smirking looke from a wanton rol­ling eie, as though a window in Rome should scant escape his piercing sight, and in a pleasant vaine I heard hym vtter in Latine, Quis non portabit spe? which I thus con­strue, Who would not beare on hope?

On the other side, in steade of the monsters lefte legge [Page]stood, a no lesse frolike mitred Bishop, fat and better fedde by oddes then the Cardinall, his belly strouting out, as though it contained the better parte of a barrel of Renishe wine, wholy despising the cares of this worlde, as dedica­ting himselfe altogether to Tempus bonum, yet séeming to hope of farther preferment and ease, I heard him say thus in latine, Fero vt quiescam, meaning this, I beare nowe for after ease.

This Monster, in the shape prescribed, beeing then in his ruffe and greatest iollitie, put the worlde in such a maze that it was strange to heare euery seuerall mans opinion, especially when her holines (that disposeth of Baptisme at her pleasure) vouchsafed to baptise her childe with the name of Holy-League: then, how many men, so manie mindes, some sayde they neuer sawe so vgly a shape vnder so reuerent a name, some sayde the name and the person agréed as well as (kill Bull) for a gentle womans little fi­sting hound, that might be put in her gloue: others thought the better of the beast, for the respect of the name, and ma­ny were so madde as to thinke y ^e Monstar with the name, to be both from aboue, so were the multitude bewitched and wise men ledde into error: But all men that lookt nar­rowly into the proportion and force of euery limme, stoode more affrayde of his might then amazed at his shape: whether he was first to take his progresse, few men knew but euery man feared, for euerie one doubted his owne home: the greatest rumors went, that he would beginne first with France, Flanders, and Englande: yet Affrica doubting least he would take Barbarie in his waye listed not to be vnprouided for his entertaynement, neyther ment Asia to sléepe in securitie: The names of kings of the West India, who at thys present with all their sub­jectes liue in moste misera­ble bondage vnder the Spa­niards, and haue so done a long time, enduring more tormēts then may bee well named, in so muche that they are perswaded, that the Spa­niardes are a people ascen­ded out of hel for their sins. a horrible Monster (saye you) so to scare the thrée corners of the worlde: but had America béene also in peace, where to haue viewed him to the full, I doubt not but her prowdest * Cassiques would haue trembled at the sight: & so much the sooner, because the right arme spoke in y ^e Spanish tongue such terrible things, in which language the West India, (contayned in Ame­rica) [Page 9]suffered such proud threates, and therewithall such intollerable tormentes, that the poore Indians thinke ve­rily that there is no other language vsed in Hell among the diuels. But leauing those miserable Indians in their mi­serie and perpetuall slauerie, where they are constrayned dayly to heare the thrée throated Cerberus, barking out nothing but horror in the said language. This Monster hath begunne his stately march, and gone quite thorough Fraunce and Flanders, where in Fraunce with his lefte arme he did horrible things, the right arme afflicting Flan­ders with vnspeakeable miseries, and in the yeare 1588. being then in his full strength, who can declare the haugh­tie wordes he threw abroade, or describe the greatnesse of his lookes, the sea shooke, the earth trembled, the hugie whales that wonted to sporte vpon the rime of the water, durst not then approch within a hūdred fadom of the same, the heauens were threatned, and the whole earth should be subdued. Then he beginneth with Englande, and goeth rounde about Scotland and Ireland, but Iehouah be pray­sed, doing so little harme saue to himselfe, that hee was not a little before so admired for his shape, great wordes, and bigge lookes, as nowe generally scorned for so small perfor­mance, after so many braue brags and threats, the moun­taines birth prooued so séely a mouse, that all feare was tur­ned to laughter, and tremblings to shame for so doing. And I that saw the Monster newly crept out of the shell, & also in his greatest pride, had scantly knowne him in the latter end of the yere 1588. (saue by his deformitie) so founde I him dismembred, wounded, and humbled, beholding chil­dren that earst durst not looke him in the face, presume in sporte to plucke haires from his beard, and to daunce An­tike on his great toe. No lesse a change, me thought then to sée a mouse presume to take a nappe in a Cattes eare. Then entred I into consideratiō of the power of him that indéede is onely mighty, and cried, saying: To thée O Lorde belongeth all glory, power, and honor, and vnto men, shame and confusion: It is thou that throwest the [Page 10]proude euen to the dust, exalting the humble and méeke in heart, to thée be all praise for euer.

Now therefore hauing described him as I sawe him in his pompe and fury, I thought good to picture him out in such sort as you sée him in the beginning of the booke, being as lately he was séene by many: which may serue to re­uiue all such dastardes as were earst well néere dead, at the onely hearing of his name, and for the comfort of all such as still trusted in God without wauering, that the great bugge at last would prooue but a very scare Crowe.

I passing of late thorough a waste and desart wildernes, voyde of all gréene, and couered only with light sande, still remoouing at the pleasure of the vnconstant winde, by chance casting my eye on one side I behelde (vnlooked for) many people of sundry Nations gathered together, their confused noyse being no lesse strange, then to sée so desert a place so replenished with so many people, and to ridde my selfe of doubt I drewe néere, with desire to be satisfied of a matter so straunge in respect of the place, where soone I beheld lying vnder a great branchles shrubbe, the great Monster before rehearsed, and this great multitude inuy­roning him round and gazing vpon him with their neuer satisfied eyes: Some that expected he should haue wrought great wonders, stoode pittifully howling ouer him, others that had long feared and somewhat felt the force of his fu­rie, stoode giuing thankes to the almightie for so gratious a deliuerance: and others not caring which end of the staffe went forwardes, (for there were of all sortes) stoode laughing and grining and making mowes: which sorte would haue béene as readie to runne with the hound, had the hound still continued the chase, on hope to haue pykt the bones and fedde on the reuertion of the pray. This Monsters great heads that earst spake great blasphemies against heauen, lay now yéelding foorth against the same place (and him that ruleth therein) most bitter curses, in the anguish of their distempered braynes, and with déepe and hollowe grones, bewrayed to all men their sorrowes. [Page 11]His right arme hanging downe the head, his crowne stan­ding a one side, more after the falling then swearing fashi­on, with the rich stone and pearle of his scabbard fallen off in many places, and his golden chape quite fallen off and lost, yet there remayned many stones and pearles, with the golden hilt vppon the leaden blade, which blade at the first thrust turned directly to his owne bosome, and being at the first drawen séemed so vnsutable to the rich scabbard that men wondred to sée so braue a shew to couer so weake a weapon: his hautie spéech was altered from El mundo no me basta, to his doubtfull demaund: No aprouechando Tesoro, que hare? Which in effect is thus much (if my treasure auayle me not, what shall I doe?) (as though his infinite treasure wherein he trusted, had quite decea­ued him): And therewith he set such a sigh, as pearced to the quicke euery entraile & limme of the whole Monster, in such sort as the whole body became so loose with the feare, that it is doubted whether the laske may be stopt till guts and all goe together into the préeuie: but in the meane time there was old stopping of noases, & phogh quoth the beholders, what a stinking Holy-league is this? The left arme, that lately played such Rex in France, beeing the very butcher of this League, vpon the Saintes of God, was now cleane cut from the body, by * one, The last frēch king who per­ceiuing the purpose of this League, cau­sed the Duke of Guize to be murthered. who at the first sate as newter till he saw that the Monster in déed pre­tended in his sayd progresse to bereaue him also of crowne & life: then began Henry of Valoys to besturre him, as one to whom a crowne & life was more déere, then so to léese ei­ther of thē: and espying his time he layes so about him that eare euer the Monster was ware, he smote the left arme quite off his shoulders, which in y ^e fall brake his sword, vo­miting out with his blood, this frantick french Cruelle mort me preuient as much in english as (Cruell death preuents me) meaning (as it séemes) that sodaine death had preuen­ted his purpose, which reached euen to the kings own life, so that he gréeued more for not effectuating his purpose, then sorrowed for conceiuing so great a sinne in his heart.

The bedye, bowelles, and other inwardes of the monster, I sawe so chaunged from that it was (lately described) that what with their vinum Theologicum and ouer soone excesse in ioy, but especially their suddayne and vnexpected sorrowe, euen when they thought all should haue be'ene according to their longing, the whole sto­mach of the beast, was so ouercome, that his entrayles fell a sending vpwarde, and his stomach spewing out such blasphemie against Heauen, and such bitter curses against the Church of Christ, that the stintch thereof was, and yet is still ascending into the nostrelles of the Lorde: which stincke, though according to his long pa­tience he suffer for a season, yet let not his Church dis­payre, for at length when the stinch is at the greatest, he will so destroy the whole bodie of this monster, that not onely his curssinges and blasphemies shall cease to­gether with his tyranny and power, but euerie lymme shall suddainely vanish away, as the whole bodie was at the first ouer hastely begotten and hatcht into the worlde: But yet the number of Martyrs appoynted to suffer vnder Antichrist is not full. Well, this late my­rie bodie was againe of late so out of tune, and in so contrarie a note, that it made all the beholders much to maruaile, for in ste'ede of (Neuer such cause of ioy) (which was the spe'ech in the Monsters prosperitie) I heard playne mumbling amongest them (Neuer in like extremitie.) A soddayne chaunge, but what can not the Lorde bring to passe, howe can he'e turne the ioyes of the wicked into sorrowe, and the crosses of the god­ly into swe'ete ease: as this is the Lordes dooing, and it is woonderfull in our eyes.

His twofolde tayle trayling after and contayning such a number of people of all degre'es and ages, euen from Princes pe'eres, to the most abiectes people: the behol­ders also perceiued woonderfully altered: the one parte comming from the mothers head, were such as were woonderfully bewitched by the charmes of the great Sor­ceresse [Page 13]of Rome, and had quaffed de'epely out of her I­dolatrous cuppe, whereby some of all sortes became so superstitious, that they followed the League and Popes cause, of me'ere superstition onely: but these the simplest and smallest number: for the greatest number were wholely of the Diuell the Syre, without any religion or deuotion at all, drawen onely by desire of gayne and preferment, crying with the rest, Oh the holy League, the holy League: yet they as carelesse and voyde of ho­linesse and religion, as hee that neuer knewe the mea­ning of eyther: euen like the roagues, at the late defa­cing of Lincolnes Inne, which neyther cared for Pren­tises, nor had receiued any iniurie at the handes of anie Gentleman of the house, yet gladde of the least oppor­tunitie to robbe, spoyle and doe any mischiefe what so e­uer, had no thing in their mouthes, but, Oh the Pren­tises, the Prentises, downe with the house, kill the ras­kalles, &c.

Such, I say, were the greatest followers of this League, hoping vppon the soddaine of vagabonds, and lubbars, to become Lordes at the first dash, whereof, no doubt, In res [...]ect of their wonder­full mixture, and that with the vildest na­tions vnder heauen, as with the Ne­gro, the Iewe & the Moore, in such sort, that scant one among a hun­dred can proue him selfe free from one of these three sortes of peo­ple, especially in Granada, Murc [...]a, Iaen, Andauzia, &c, they heard large promises made to all the fol­lowers, which made the Spanish mungrelles, so hastie to cause their Courtizans and Wiues to followe into Fraunce their inuincible Armada, promising against their comming hether to haue prouided for their enter­taynement, the fayrest houses in London, vaunting be­fore the victorie, to sell veluets in Cheapeside by the Ra­pyer, and to measure out broade cloth by the pyke. But at length fayling of their purpose, and a cleane contrarie happe befalling their expectations: I sawe there their heads in ste'ede of helmets couered with coxecombes, and in ste'ede of battleaxes, bables in their handes, so looking heauily one on another, none being able to mocke his fel­lowe for his long noase: I listning to their chatte, heard an Italian saying softly to himselfe, Cattiuo contare, sen­ [...]al hosto. Which I take to be thus in english (ill recko­ning [Page 14]without the hoast.

The legges of this vgly shape, were as quite cham­ged as the rest of the members: the young lustie Cardi­nall on the one side, with the fatte fedde Bishoppe on she other, that earst vpon hope séemed to daunce vnder the ponderous burthen, were now readie to sinke right downe vnder the same, as not longer able (their hope lost) to support so great a waight: their shoulders were become crooked, and their eyes readie to starte out of their heads, staring as though they had béene sitting thrée dayes and nightes at the Stillyeard close by the Renish wine­fatte, their legges stoode trembling and quaking at the knées, as though they were euen readie to start one part from the other: and the faynting Cardinall faynting in his spéech, in stéede of his former, vsed these wordes: spem & laborem amitto, which I English thus (I léese both labour and hope). And the fatte mitred Bishoppe, making a mouth like an Oyster cryed out, Malè sit one­ri. As much to say (the Diuell take burthen and all) It should séeme euerie Cardinall hopes to be Pope, and e­uerie such Bishoppe a Cardinall at least, iustifying that saying, Nemo sua sorte contentus. Therefore it behoues all Cardinalles and such Bishoppes to laye to their hel­ping handes in time, eare they with the Popedome come all tumbling downe at once: And so they doe (say our Papistes) and though Pope Sirtus be dead, and so one of the Leagues heades be cut off, yet the Hydra neuer wanteth another to spring vppe in the place: And so it is most true, Pope Sixtus the fift is dead euen in the fifte yeare of his raygue, of whose death there goeth some doubt, some say that her Holinesse was poysoned, others that she dyed euen of very griefe that her mishapen Elfe had no better successe in his enterprise, eyther of these apinions beare shewe of trueth, and it may be thought for most certaine, that one of these two causes was her death: but sure, it is the Lordes dooing howe so euer it be, for he can vse what meane hée thinketh best, when [Page 15]he thinketh good to remooue so cruell a scourge from his Church, we are not to hope for any much better but a worse can not come out of Hell it selfe. Some say this newe Pope goeth about to bring foorth a newe League, others no, but that he will cure, refresh and patch againe together the olde League: hoping that du Mayne and the Duke de Parma, will supply more amply the place of the olde Leagues lest arme, both together, then the Duke of Guyze did alone: Once, old holde and kéepe there is and they that liue on the spoyle, crye out for a newn League out of hande, or that the olde may be repayred with all expedition: the Cloysterers with the whole rab­ble of the Romish Clergie doubt greatly least long delaye might bréede great daunger, and therefore these people prick the matter forward with no lesse haste thē their néed requireth spéede: but euery principall member of the olde League, finde themselues at this instant so tyerde, that they desire more a little present rest, then a great hope of much ease hereafter.

How so euer the matter falleth out, whether there bee a new League made or the olde renewed, let not the childe of God dispayre or doubt, God is still one and the same: no newe League can be made stronger, neyther the olde be renewed and made of greater force than the former: but could it be made a hundred times stronger, it is all one with God to ouercome with a great or small number the greatest hoast that euer was. Reioyce therefore O Sion for thy Redéemer liueth, and he that kéepeth Israell doeth neyther slumber nor sléepe. Let the vniuersall Church be ioyfull and sing prayses with one consent, for Babell is falling, & the mighty Giant that lately defyed heauen is o­uerthrowen on earth, his bowe is broken and his speare snapt a sunder, his ioints are become féeble, & the whole bo­die altogether out of temper: the Prince of glorie hath done it and the Lorde of Hoastes hath heard our prayers: the righteous God hath reuenged our wronges on the prow­dest of our foes, and declared to all the worlde how déere [Page 16]the bloud of his Saintes is alwayes in his sight. And as he hath ouerthrowen the first, so let vs not doubt but he will doe the next.

Blessed be his name for euer, and let all them that loue the peace of Ierusalem say Amen.