Two treatises the first, of the lives of the popes, and their doctrine. The second, of the mass: the one and the other collected of that, which the doctors, and ancient councils, and the sacred Scripture do teach. The second edition in Spanish augmented by the author himself, M. Cyprian Valera, and translated into English by John Golburne. 1600. — Dos tratados. English Come, and I will show thee the condemnation of the great Whore, which sitteth upon many waters. And verse 15. The waters which thou sawest, where the Whore sitteth, are people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. The second edition in Spanish augmented by the author himself, M. Cyprian Valera, and translated into English by John Golburne. 1600. Edited for semi-modern English by Calvin George A note by the editor It has been my pleasure to have edited this book to implement semi-modern orthography in order to make it more readable for modern readers. It could be edited further, as my part was not done professionally, but rather as a labor of love. To someone who has not seen the original, it may seem that this semi-updated spelling edition is still very hard to read, with all the inconsistent capitalizations and verbs that end in -th and -st and some unrecognized words that were left as is; however, I believe this edition is a step in the right direction, and would greatly aid someone who might desire to pick up where I left off. I was also privileged to have edited the original Spanish edition in a similar fashion as well. The reader may be interested in learning that John Goldburne translated Valera’s book Dos Tratados into English in the year 1600 while serving a long prison sentence. Another translation into English was done by a certain J. Savage and published in London in 1704. Savage may have been unaware of Goldburne’s translation. The appendix A Swarm of False Miracles was not included in this project. Calvin George Literaturabautista.com The epistle to the Christian reader Had it not been for the great necessity, which our country of Spain hath to know the lives of the Popes, that knowing them, it may beware them, and not esteem their authority, which against all rights divine and human, they have usurped over the consciences which Jesus Christ our redeemer, with his death and passion hath freed, I should never (Christian Reader) have entered a labyrinth so confused, and rugged, as is to write the lives of Popes. For thou must know, that the Romans themselves concord not nor agree in the number of the Popes. Some set down more, and others less. And hence it cometh that so little they agree, touching the time that they poped (Let it be lawful for me, as of a king, he is said to reign to say of a Pope to Pope) Some of these self-same also, that all confess to have been Popes of some of them say great lauds and praises, extolling them to the heavens. Of these selfsame, say others filthy things, casting them down to hell. An example of the first S. Gregory (As saith Friar Juan de Pineda 3rd part chapter 8. ¶1. of his Ecclesiastical Monarchy) was the 66th Pope, etc. And not the 63rd, as saith Mathew Palmer. Nor the 64th, as saith Panvino. Nor the 65th, as saith Marianus. Nor less 62 as saith S. Antoninus, Thus far Pineda. Gelasius 1, after Platina, is the 51st Pope. After Panvino, the 50th. And after George Cassander, and Carranza the 49th. Also Paul the second, after Platina is the 220th. Carranza counteth him for the 219th. But Mejía for 218th, and Panvino for 215th. Five less than Platina. According to this account, Sixtus 5, which in the year 1588 tyrannizeth in the Church, should be after Platina the 236th Pope; after Carranza 235. After Mejía 234th. And after Panvino 231st. Most Popish authors be all these. Some Spaniards, and others Italians. And had we alleged more authors, more disagreement and contrariety should we have found. Of this diversity springeth the disorder, which is in the time that some Popes Poped. For they which reckon least Popes put the years which they take from 4 or 5 Popes (whom they reckon not) to other Popes. Carranza in his Summa conciliorum, speaking of Boniface the third (this was the first Pope as in his life shall be shown) saith these words. There is diversity among writers how long time Boniface the third was Pope. For of Platina is it gathered, that he was nine months. Others say 8 months and a half: others a year, and 25 days; Others a year, 5 months, and 28 days. Others say, that he died, having been Pope 8 months and 22 days. Thus far Carranza. The same might we say of many other Popes. For example of the second, will we put Liberius and Formosus, besides many others that we might set down. Liberius and Formosus some of the papists themselves, do canonize, and others do curse them. Platina saith: that Liberius was an Arian Panvino saith: that he was holy. Read his life, which of diverse authors we have gathered. As touching Formosus Stephen 6 or 7 condemned him. So did also a Council held in the time of this Stephen condemn him. But Romanus successor of Stephen and Theodorus. And John 10 or 9 condemned Stephen, and justified Formosus. And this did not these three Popes only, but a general Council of 74 Bishops, held in the time of John 10 did also the same. But all this notwithstanding, the third time, that Sergius was Pope, he took part with Stephen against Formosus Condemning that which 3 Popes, and the Council had done, and was most cruel, against the body of Formosus, untombing it, and doing that unto it, which upon his life, we will declare. Read their lives (Christian Reader). Dogs shalt thou see that tear in pieces, and eat one another: Not men shalt thou see: but devils incarnate. Thou must also understand, that in the names of some Popes, there is great disagreement. Pope John the last, Platina calleth the 24, and in order 214. Carranza calleth him 24. But the 213th in order, But Mejía calleth him the 24, Panvino going another direction saith 22, or 23, and saith that he is the 209th in order. Thus taketh he from out the Catalogue. Five Popes: two whereof be Johns: And it is also to be noted, that from John 8, which was a wicked woman. All the Johns almost, have been pestilent fellows. Read their lives. Three causes there be, why some do number less Popes. The first is, because some Popes a very small time Poped. The second is, because many reckon not for Popes, all those that were not canonically elected. The third is, because some will not hold them for Popes, who albeit they were canonically elected, yet in there Popedom wickedly governed. For the first reason, many reckon not for Pope, Stephen 2, who but three, or as some say, 4 days Poped. For the second reason exclude they all those, whom they call Antipopes, chosen in the time of the Schism. 30 Schisms counteth Panvino to have been, wherein at one time were 4 Popes, another time 3, another 2. Here hence is it, that they count not John 18. Whom others call 17 nor Clement 7 nor Clement 8. And therefore Clement 9 they call 7, nor Benedict 5 nor Benedict 7 called they 6, nor Benedict 13. For these two reasons exclude they all they that by wicked arts, deceit, force, gifts, or promises were made Popes. Such do the Councils and decrees of the Popes themselves not hold for Popes. Read that which the Council of Lateran held in the time of Nicholas 2 ordained touching this matter. And so many hold not for pope, Constantine 2. Who being a layman and without any orders, was by force made Pope. Should this decree be observed, neither Silvester 2, the great enchanter, nor Boniface 8, nor Gregory 7 nor an infinite number of Popes, which by wicked arts, etc. Were made Popes should be called Popes and so very few should remain in the catalogue of the Popes. The third reason why some be not counted Popes, is that albeit they were canonically chosen, yet, during their Popedom, either in life, or in Doctrine, or both in life and Doctrine were they abominable. For this cause some count not Lando. Read his life. For the same cause, some reckon not John 8 as she was a whore before, and when she was Pope. Were this reason ought worth, very few should be counted for Popes. For all the Popes in general from Boniface 3 until Sixtus 5 who now tyrannizeth, have either in life or doctrine been wicked. And so, ought not to be counted. Boniface 8, of whom say all, that he entered like a fox, lived like a lion, and died like a dog. And alone was not he, that did this: he had many companions. These be the causes, why some reckon less Popes, then others. And in these names, Stephanus, John, Clement, Benedict, Constantine, and Felix, shall be found this abridgement of Popes. There are no lives of kings nor Emperors, were they Christians, pagans, Jews, Turks, Scythians; or of whatsoever other nation, so confusedly and diversely written, as are the lives of the Popes. And that which is more to be marveled, written, imprinted, and approved by the papists themselves.