brewing, malting, and cooking, etc., then shall not I drive it long,
but soon die.


The Popes' Covetousness.

The covetousness of the Popes has exceeded all others', therefore,
said Luther, the devil made choice of Rome to be his habitation; for
which cause the ancients have said, "Rome is a den of covetousness,
a root of all wickedness." I have also read in a very old book this
verse following:

Versus Amor, Mundi Caput est, et Bestia Terrae.

That is (when the word Amor is turned and read backward, then it is
Roma), Rome, the head of the world, a beast that sucketh out and
devoureth all lands. Truly at Rome is an abominable trading with
covetousness, for all is raked to their hands without preaching or
church-service, but only with superstition, idolatry, and with
selling their good works to the poor ignorant lay-people for money;
therefore St. Peter describeth such covetousness with express and
clear words when he saith, "They have an heart exercised with
covetous practices." I am persuaded a man cannot acknowledge the
disease of covetousness unless he knoweth Rome; for the deceits and
jugglings in other parts are nothing in comparison of those at Rome;
therefore, anno 1521, at the Imperial Diet held at Worms, the State
of the whole Empire made supplication against such covetousness, and
desired that his Imperial Majesty would be pleased to suppress the
same.