Thus hast thou, if thou please (gentle reader) to know what orders and sectes of religions haue been set vp by the pope, the catalogue and number of them all, so farre as we could searche them out: not onely in bookes printed of late in Germany, namely by the reuerend father Martine Luther: but also conferred with an other English booke, whiche came to our handes, conteynyng the same lyke notes of auncient antiquitie, the number of whiche rablement of religious persons came to. 101. Nowe as I haue reckened vp the names and varieties of these prodigious sectes: it cōmeth to minde consequently to inferre the prophecy of Hildegardis, aswell against the whole route of Romish prelates, and the fall of that churche, as especially agaynst the begging Friers, and such other vnprofitable belyes of the churche. This Hildegardis is holdē of the papistes thē selues to be a great prophetisse, whose prophecy procedeth in this maner: first agaynst the priestes and Prelates of the Romishe churche, as foloweth.

HIldegardis a Nonne, & (as many iudged a prophetisse) liued in the yeare. 1146. In her prophecies she doth most greuously reprehend, not only the wicked & abhominable lyfe of þ^e spirituall papists: but also þ^e cōtempt of ecclesiastical office, and also the horrible destruction of þ^e church of Rome. In a certain place she hath these wordes. And now is þ^e law neglected among þ^e spiritual people which neglect to teach and do good things. The masters likewyse and the prelates do sleepe, despising iustice and laying it aside. In a certaine vision: the church appeared to her in the shape of a womā, complaining þ^t the priests had berayed her face with dust, and rent her coat, &c. and that they did not shyne ouer þ^e people, neither in doctrine neither in example of lyfe: but rather contrarywyse, that they had driuē the innocent lambe from them. She said moreouer, that all ecclesiastical order did euery day become worse and worse, and that priestes did not teach but destroy the law of god. And for these horrible crimes and impieties, she threatneth and prophecieth vnto them gods most heauy wrath and displeasure, and doleful punishments. There is no cause why the spiritual papistes should flatter themselues vppon this: that she promiseth againe to the ministers of the church those good things to follow, lyke as Ioannes de Rupe scissa doth, and other such lyke prophets: for they say it will come to passe that thei must repent before the tymes be amēded. By which thing (vndoubtedly) they meane, the godly ministers in þ^e reformed churches, which for the most part were of the spiritual number, and yet dyd forsake the dishonest life, and those wycked idolatries. Now, where as the priests and monkes that is, the hole rable and spiritualtie do account Hildegard for a true prophetisse: they ought to consider that by her they are most seuerely accused: not as by a woman, but as by God hymselfe. And I pray you, what abhomination, impietie, and idolatrye hath beene committed since that tyme by the spiritualty? I wil note here a certayne prophecy of hers, taken out of the common places of Henry Token, because we see it manifestly fulfilled in our tyme. She prophecieth of the reformation of religion, and saith that it shall be most godly.

Then shal the crowne of Apostolical honor bee deui-ded, because there shall be found no religion among the apostolical order, MarginaliaA prophecy for the decay of the Romysh church.and for that cause shal they despise the dignity of that name, and shall set ouer them other men and other Archb. In so much, that the apostolike see of that tyme (by the diminution of his honour) shall haue scarse Rome, and a few other coūtries therabout vnder his crowne. And these thinges shal partly come to passe by incursion of warres, and partlye also by a common councel, and consent of the spiritual and secular persōs. Then shall iustice florishe, so that in those dayes mē shal honestly apply themselues to the auncient customes and discipline of auncient men, and shal obserue them as the auncient men did. The glose agreeth. &c.

These thinges thus premised, now wil we come to the prophecy of the foresayd Hildegard concerning the foresayde begging Friers aboue mentioned: reciting her words: not only as they are found in a booke printed of late in Germany, but also as I my selfe haue sene & red, agreeyng to the same booke worde for worde, & yet haue the same to shew: written in olde parchmente leaues in such sort as the thyng it selfe most euidently declareth a great antiquity of tyme. The wordes of her prophecy be these.

MarginaliaHildegard prophesieng of friers and monkes.In those dayes shall ryse a senceles people, proude, greedy, without fayth, and subtile, the which shall eate the sinnes of the people, holding a certayne order of foolish deuotion vnder the fayned cloke of beggery: preferring them selues aboue all other, by their fayned deuocion: arrogant in vnderstanding, and pretended holines: walking without shamefastnes, or the feare of God: in inuenting many new mischiefes strong and stout. But thys order shall be accursed of all wyse men, and faithfull Christians: they shall cease from labour, and geue them selues ouer vnto idlenes: chusing rather to lyue thorowe flatterye, and begging. Moreouer, they shall together study, how they maye peruerslye resist the teachers of the truth, and stay them together with the noble men. How to seduce and deceiue the nobility, for the necessity of their liuing, and pleasures of this world: for the deuyl will graft in them foure principall vices (that is to say) flattery, enuy, hipocrisy, and slaunder. Flattery, that they may haue large giftes geuen them. Enuy, when they see giftes geuen vnto other, & not vnto them. Hipocrisy, that by false dissimulation, they maye please men. Detraction, that they maye extoll and commende themselues, and backbite others, for the prayse of men, and seducing of the simple. Also, they shall instantlye preache, but withoute deuotion or example of the Martirs: and shall detract the secular princes, taking awaye the Sacramentes of the church from the true pastors, receiuing almes of the poore, diseased, and miserable, and also associating them selues with the common people: hauing familiaritye with wemen, instructing them how they shall deceiue their husbandes and frendes by theyr flatterie and deceitful wordes, and to rob their husbāds to geue it vnto them: for they wyll take all theefe stollen & euyll gotten goodes, & say: geue it vnto vs, & we wyll pray for you, so that they being curious to hyde other mens faults, do vtterly forget their own. And alas, thei wyll receyue all thinges, or rouers, pyckers, spoylers, theeues and robbers, of sacrilegious persons, vsurers, adulterers, heretickes, schismaticks, apostataes, whores and baudes, of noble men, periurers, marchantes, false