The Pope Confuted, Part 1 (2 of 2)

The Pope Confuted · Part 1 (2 of 2)

But leauing Fraunce a whiles, let vsus cast our eyes nowe vponupon Germany, where also I knowe not whether more famous exploytes, as farre more euident demonstrations of Gods victorious conquestes, then those other spoken off before, be more euidently discernable. For who can be so wilfully obstinate against the trueth, so blockish of iudgement, so voyd of wyt, who duely entring into the practizes of the very same Saxons, whom ye your selues a litle earst dyd wage against the Bohemians, being at this presen…e muche more eagerly sharpened, and set on edge against your owne person: who also aduisedly beholdyng the friendly leagues of so many Princes, so many regions, and so many Cities linked together, with suche impregnable bondes of mutuall amitie, can not easily discerne, that this merueylous pla…e of so great conclusions coulde neuer hauehave beene so firmely combyned together, without Gods good will and heauenly wisdom, and therefore also to hauehave bene procured to this end chiefly and onelyonly, to snaffle and hale backe that brutishe and more then sauage outrage of your execrable, and moste barbarous beyonde all measure raging tyranny, and crueltie, verifiyng herein the Prophecie of the Propheticall Apostle in the Reuelation vttered concerning the kings that shoulde detest and hate that whorishe strumpet, Apoca. 17.and should make her desolate and naked, and deuoure her fleshe, and burne her to ashes. &c,

But why doe I heere mention kinges, people, nations and Empyres enflamed with …otte desire of reuenge against this Babylonicall Sea, sithens I may more easily referre you ouer to one onelyonly,Martine Luther. I say not a Monarche, but a silly, bare, vnweaponed Monke: as the which being p. 24ayded with no Garrison of Souldiours, voyde of money and men, without all helpe of humaine force, did so migh…ily cracke the credite of your Crowne through the onelyonly breath of the holy Ghost, and simple preaching of the worde onelyonly (as Dauid did heeretofore ouerthrowe Goliah) that no power of yours were it neuer so great, could once so muche as pinche him, not all the droaues and shauen swarmes of sworne Uotaries, Bishoppes and Cardinalles coulde suppresse him: no not all your most picked and choyse Champions were able once to quaile him. On the other side, hee poore silly contemptible man, onelyonly, and alone dyd so scatter abroade all your deuises, confounde your Counsels, ransacke your stately Turrets and blazing brauery of your magnificent Monarchy: finally, dyd so rase to the grounde that your Crowing Castle of Babylonicall presumption, that if hee preuayled not to the vtter extirpation thereof, yet hath hee thorowly crazed her best and stoutest Pillers, which being propt vpp at this present, with a very fewe rotten ruin…us postes, for a small season as it were, seemeth scarcely able to endure her fatall fal euen now prea…ing on apace.

These, euen these, yea and many other the lyke be manifest argumentes of Gods grieuous iudgement against you: which I suppose you doe plainely perceiue as precedent forewarninges of your fatall ende, yee Romishe Prelate. As for the successe of the sequele which hereafter will ensue, and seemeth euen nowe to boad farre more bl…stering broyle, I leaue here to prognosticate, neither do I disclose all that I may. This one thing dare I affi…me. Though all the Monarches of the world shold …olster you vpp, yea though Luther had neuer written against you, yet the very stones, beleeue mee, woulde hauehave cryed out agaynst you: and though the same Saxon had holden his peace, yet the verye stones would… not hauehave bene silent. Finally, though ye abounde in all pompe and felicitie of the worlde, and were magnified with as muche glory, as our Lorde Iesus refused at the handes of Satan shewed vntounto him long sithens, vppon the toppe of an high Mountayne: yet your so many, so monstruous mischiefes, treacheries, fraudes, lyes, deceiptes, treasons, your so manifolde murthers, massacres, spoiles, and pillages of people, bloody butcheries, sauadge slaughter of innumerable Martyres, your intollerable oppressions, vnspeakeable crueltie, vnmeasurable couetousnes, execrable hautines, and Luciferlike pryde, can by no meanes possibly escape the iust and most sharpe scourges of the almightie reuenge.

If our Lorde and Sauiour thought it not amisse in his Gospell to charge so grieuous a clogge vppon him, who so euer shoulde displease the least of those litle ones, that beleeued on him, as that it should be easier for him to be cast downe headlong into the bottome of the Sea with a Milstone about his necke: what shalbe saide of them, which doe proudely treade vponupon the neckes of the mightiest Emperours that beleeue in Christe, which thruste kinges out of their kingdomes, cursse Christian Cities and Nations to the pyt of Hell, procure the vtter distruction of all people great and small, deuour innocent blood, consume the bodies of holy ones to ashes, finally, pursue to the very roote all peace, amitie, and concord, from out the whole state of Christian societie. Wee reade in the Actes of the Apostles, that Herode, because at the fawning florishe of foolishe flatterers, filling his eares with these wordes:Acts .12. The voyce not of a man, but of God: he raised the Creste, and was puft vpp with pryde, nor woulde acknowledge him selfe to be a man, nor w…ulde giuegive God the praise, was m…st horribly plagued. Nowe if it may bee lawfull to make a comparison of like examples one with the other, which of these two shall wee say, p. 49was more insolently arrogant agaynst the glorie of God… Herode, or Nicholas Pope of Rome the fif…h of that name, who on a time in a publique Oration solemnely vttered by Ladislaus a King, was contented to accept this greeting: the woordes whereof I will set downe as the Historie recordeth them.Cocleus In the historie of the Hussians. 11… booke. Where (sayeth the King) shall I beginne mine Oration? I am not able to expresse worthie woordes wherewith I do adore thee the onelyonly prince of Christians, king of kings, and God on earth. &c. And againe… immediately after: I doe acknowledge this day the most happie of all others to hauehave shined vntounto vsus, wherein we hauehave obteyned from aboue, to beholde, and with sounde iudgement, and vndoubted fayth to woorshippe so mightie and so soueraigne a God, &c.

Not much vnlike herevnto was that glorious title attributed to Pope Iulius the seconde by Christofer Marcellus in a publique sermon,Ex Tomo 14. Conc. pag. 66…. Thou art our shepeheard (sayd he,) our Phisition, our gouernour, our honour, to be briefe, thou art an other God on earth, &c. Could euer any more blasphemous voyce be attributed to any person, or vouchsafed of any man, then that a mortall man shoulde bee woorshipped of a man for an immortall God on earth? which blasphemous speaches were y…t so not altogither refused of those prowde Peacockes, and so nothing at all reprehended, that Ladislaus was for none other cause at all, esteemed and dignified with the title of a Catholike king.

But what recken I vp one Nicholas, or one Iulius, as though this were the example of one, two, or three Popes onelyonly, as though it were not an easie matter, rather in this one Glasse to beholde the whole cluster of all the rest of the same crewe?The Pope… pride. who for the most part nooseled vppe in the same Stye, hauehave not spared to couple with their vnspeakeable pride, like vnshamefast shamelessenesse, as that they blushed nothing to offer t… the mouthes of most mightie Monarches, not their hands onelyonly to be kissed, but their filthie feete also, wherewith they scarcely dayned to touch the grounde: which shame not to rende in peeces the sinewes of Gods lawes, and so to embase them, as vile and of no valour in respect of their durtie decre…s, that they spare not to proclaime the breach of their Canons, for a speciall sinne agaynst the holie Ghost:…. Quest. …. …. which tremble not to chalenge vntounto themselues one selfe same consistorie equall with God: which commaunde all their actions whatsoeuer, to be exempt from all controlment of mortall men: which vaunte themselues to bee kings of all kings, and to beare soueraigntie ouer them as subiects: which enforce Kings and Emperors to attende and accomplishe their commaundementes: which vouchsafe their clawbackes not only to call them, but also to woorship them as Lordes of Lordes: which can suffer and allowe not onelyonly themselues to bee called blessed, but their Sea also most heauenly: finally which sitte in the Temple of God not to teach, but to reign… and to beare rule: to whome sufficeth not to bee named Ministers or Bishoppes, no, nor yet Archbishoppes, or Patriarches, vnlesse beeing inuested in the vniuersalitie of all power, they enforce to bee subiect also vntounto their luste and be…ke, of verie necessitie the vniuersal Church of God wheresoeuer ouer the face of the whole earth, yea and all humaine creatures withall,De Ma…rita…e: …na. vnderunder paine to bee excluded from all hope of Salua…ion, insomuch that they receyue of their owne Subiectes lesse obedience,Ex Tomo Concil. in oratione Stephan Patra… …is. than themselues do… owe of duetie to GOD himselfe.

Wherein I knowe not what I may imagine first, or whereat I may woonder s…fficien…ly: whether at the prodigious insolencie of the Popes, or the too much drowsie carelessenesse of the other Bishoppes: who contrarie p. 49to all equitie and right, contrarie to all authoritie of most sacred Scriptures, contrarie to the approued custome of their ancient predecessours, and prescript orders of the Primitiue Church, woulde so wilfully admit this so manifest an iniurie agaynst themselues, and so per…icious a plague agaynst Christes Church. And but that our Sauiour himselfe not onelyonly by most plaine president of his owne life, but also by expresse commaundement had restrayned his Apostles from this profa…e desire of Lordlinesse, and had called them backe to an vtter detestation of this worldly pompe, and most humble abacement of minde, with incredible loathsomnesse alwayes abhorring the things which were accounted mightie and gloriouse in this worlde:Luke. 1…Luke 1 Certes I should lesse hauehave wondered at this your greedy grasping (you men of Rome) af…er this vniuersal title of vniuersal regiment. But now what is there, I pray you, vnderunder the Sunne more repugnant to the rules and pre…eptes of Euangelicall doctrine? more cōtrarie to the perpetual cou…se of Chri…ts meaning, and directorie leuell of Christes Religion? more odious to the mildenesse of the spiri…e? whose voyce vttered in the most holy Bookes of the Gospel, if may not obtaine any credite and authoritie with you: let vsus at the least …rie t…e matter by the testimonie, and iudgement of the graue Fathers, and learned Doc…ours of the primiti…e Churche. Amonge…t al the which, what one did euer e…dewe you (Sir Pope of Rome) with this a…hominable, I woul…e say, honourable tytle of the vniuersall heade of all Christians, wheresoeuer vponupon earth? who euer did yeeld vntounto you, the iuris…iction of both s…ordes? who euer graunted vntounto you that speciall prerogatiue of summoning Councels? who euer limitted all the wor…de to bee your peculiar Diocesse? who euer subscribed to that fulnes of your absolute power ouer al other Bishops? who did euer pronounce, or so much as dreame, that you shoulde not onelyonly be greater, and better than all other Patriarches and Kings, and all and euerie humane creature, but also farre aboue all councels? who euer so much as in woorde hath vttered that the higher powers of all Emperours & kings (vntounto whom the heauenly Oracle hath commaunded all and euerie soule to bee subiect) should begge their estate to be authorised at your handes? who assigned you to be arbiters & iudges of purgatorie? who hath euer at any time lo…ked fast within the cubbard of your breast all maner of iurisdiction, or euer admitted you only expositor of Scripture and Lord of our fayth?

From amongest the whole antiquitie of those reuerende fathers before mentioned,The ancient fathers agaynst the Popes su…remacie. if you can vouche one credible person, besides them that eyther hauehave beene Bishoppes of Rome, or such as bee mates of your owne marke, ye shall winne the garlande. But if you cannot, as hitherto you hauehave not, then eyther must you of necessitie relent of your claime, or wholy relinquishe that ti…le, and vtterly disclaime from this chalenge of antiquitie. And bycause I will not ouerwhelme you with multitude of testimonies, which I might lawfully vrge agaynst you one after another: let it not bee yrkesome vntounto you Romanes, from amongest a great number to hearken vntounto one, to witte, your owne onelyonly Bishoppe of Rome Gregorie:Gregories testimony against the Popes supremacie. for I suppose none of you to bee ignoraunt of that which hee wrote vntounto Iohn Bishop of Constantinople, and to other Bishoppes concerning the same matter, whereof you mainteyne so hoate a contention: and (if I be not deceyued) you contende about the onelyonly and vniuersall prerogatiue of ecclesiasticall iuris…iction: which you doe so vnseparably glew fast to that Romish Chaire, that whosoeuer sit therein, must of necessitie beare soueraig…tie ouer all other Bishops, and must be reputed and taken for the highest heade of the vniuersall Churche. p. 27Wherein I pray you beholde, yee gentle companions, howe iniuriously and vnhonestly you abuse both the name of Christ, and the simplicitie of Christians, when as you require vsus to that, which we can neither with safe conscience yelde vntounto you, nor, if wee did so, you could accept without great iniury to others, and your farre greater infamy and shame, as shall appeare by this one wytnesse whome I hauehave cyted, to wytte, Pope Gregorye.

Who beyng on a tyme, in a Letter sent vntounto him from Eulogius Archbishopp, saluted by the name of vniuersall Pope, with great i…dignation reiecting that glorious greetyng of proude Prelacy, dyd so not accept of that which was offred, as that he woulde not admyt the worde of commaundyng:Gregory in his seuenth booke the 30. Epistle to Eulogius. very earnestly requiryng him that from thencefoorth hee shoulde neuer vse any suche voyce of commaunde, nor any other surname of glorious vniuersalitie in any his wrytings: Because (sayth hee) I knowe what I am, and what you bee: for in function you bee my brethren, in conuersation my fathers. And so lykewyse annexeth this sentence touchyng the title on this wyse, which I doe in this place more willingly set downe, because not only the proce… dyng of Gregory herein might appeare, but also the cause and consideration that mooued him theretoo.

Because (sayeth hee) so much is derogated from your dignitie, as is more then reasonably yelded to any other. I doe not desire to bee honoured in wordes, but in good lyfe: neyther doe I accompt that to be honour, wherein I doe knowe my brethren to bee any iotte abridged of their honour. &c. I would wishe therfore all such as with so gaye a countenaunce of religion doe striue so lustely about the prerogatiue of the Romish Sea, to hauehave an especiall regard and consideration of the wordes of Gregory in this place.

My honour (sayth he) is the honour of the vniuersal Church:Gregorie in the same place. my honour is the flourishing honour of my brethren: then am I honoured aright, when due honour is not denied to euerie particular brother. For if your holinesse do cal me vniuersall Pope, you renounce your s…lues to be the selfe same, which you yeeld vntounto me in name of vniu…rsalitie. But God forbid. Let speeches that puffe vp to arrogancie, and empaire Christian cha…itie, be abandoned, &c. And againe in another place, writing to the Bishop of Constantinople, requireth him to be well aduised what he enter vponupon, bycause in that presumptuous rashnesse the vnitie of the whole Church is peruerted vpside downe:Gregorie in the 4. booke the 38 Epistle to the Bishop of Constantinople. and thereby aryseth a flat denyall of the generall grace powred vponupon all indifferently. And forthwith after: For what else be your Bishoppes of the vniuersall Church, but the Starres of heauen, aboue whome whilest thou presumest to exalt thy selfe by prowde title of stately souereigntie, what emplie these woordes else, but that I will ascende into heauen, and will exalt my Seate aboue the Starres of heauen? &c. Adding moreouer in the same epistle no lesse wisely, then considerately an admonition both to himselfe, and the other Bishoppes. Let vsus bee afrayed (sayeth hee) to bee recounted of that number, which prowle for the highest Seates in the Synagogues, and gape after greetings in the ma…ket place, and to bee called of men Rabby: For there is but one maister, but all you be brethren.

What coulde hauehave beene vttered by Gregorie more distinctly, and more ap…ly for the purpose? of whose authoritie if you make any reckoning, as reason is you shoulde: why may not wee as lawfully vse the same authoritie ouer you, and by the same woordes exhort you (yee bre…thren and fathers of Rome) as wel as hee? First that no vaine opinion conceaued of that S…agelyke state make you stande too much vponupon p. 28the Slippers of reputation, as though the Chaire of estate, which you chalenge to bee at Rome, shoul…e make a difference betwixt your brethren and you (for by the place (sayeth Gregorie) you bee all brethren. Moreouer, that you esteeme not so highly of your owne honour, as that you become iniu…ious to the rest which are ioyned with you in the same felowshippe and equabilitie of dignitie: but iniuried they bee, by the testimonie of Gregorie, when your aduauncement ariseth by the abacement of your brethren, and when as the generall grace powred out vponupon all indifferently is abridged by you. Last of all, wee doe admonishe you not without cause with Gregories owne woordes: That you …xalt not your state so arrogantly aboue the Starres of heauen: that is to say, That yee extoll not your selues so loftily with a presumptuous brauerie of superioritie aboue other Bishoppes, least the olde Prouerbe maye bee verified of you at the length,Pro. 17.Prov 17 whereof Solomon maketh mention: Hee that buildeth his house too high, seeketh the ruine thereof. But why do I vouch this one testimonie of Gregorie onelyonly, when as neuer any one so much of all Gregories predecessours was euer heard of, which woulde take vppon him the name of vniuersall Bishoppe, or the heade of the vniuersall Church?

But loe here a sodaine rebounde backe againe to Saint Peter, not much vnlike the tale whereof report is made by Esope in his fables, of an Asse wrapt in a Lions skinne, looking as a Lion vponupon other little beastes what (say they) was not Peter the chiefe placed Bishop amongest the Apostles? Was not the principalitie ouer the rest,Greg…ry in his 4 booke the 38 Epi…tl… to Lu…o…. graunted him by the Lorde himselfe, whome wee doe succeede in the same succession of Sea? Whereof hearken I pray you what Gregorie teacheth plainly. Truly Peter the Apostle (sayeth hee) i… the first member of the holy and vniuersall Church, Paul, Andrewe, and Iohn, what els be they then par…icular heades of other seuerall Churches? And yet vnderunder one head they be all members of the Church… And to shut vpp all at a worde. The holy ones before the lawe, the holy ones vnderunder the lawe, the holy ones vnderunder grace, all these are members of the Church, appointed to consummate & make perfect the whole body of our Lord: and there was neuer any one that durst presume to call him selfe vniuersall, &c. Heare therefore, yea heare (ye Popishe Prelate) if credite may be giuen to Gregory, that besides Christe there is no heade of the Churche that ought to bee reputed for vniuersall, appliable neyther to Paul, neyther to Peter, nor to any other of all the Apostles. And dare you yet challendge to your selfe, that, which Gregory dareth not yelde to the chiefest Apostles, which also the scripture it selfe denieth vntounto them? Byd adue to those vaineglorious titles of proude hautinesse, which doe (as Gregory sayeth) buddle from out that fil…hie puddle of vanitie. Let vsus well consider of the matter it selfe.

And because the principall proppe of all your tottering Monarchie consisteth in Peter alone: may wee bee so bolde as to parle a fewe woordes with you touching Peter him selfe: whome to confesse, as you doe, to be a principle member of the Church,Peter was neither head of the Church, nor vniuersall Apo…l…. and the first that was called by the name of an Apostle: yet this wyll wee not graunt surely, that hee was heade of the Churche, or the vniuersall Apostle. The one whereof Gregory doeth discharge him off, the other the infallible trueth of the sacred Scripture doeth vtterly deny him. For what can be more manifest, or more substantiall, then that true saying of Paule, wherein he holdly pronounceth that the Apostleshyppe of Peter p. 24stretched not out generally ouer all:Galat. 2.Gal 2 but was streighted to the boundes of the Circumcised only, limitted thereunto, as it were by specially lotte: and that vntounto him selfe authoritie was geuen directly from the Lorde to bee an Apostle of the Gentiles: which also Christe himself & the holy Ghoste doe verifie to bee true by an vndoubted Oracle: when as leauing Peter in his natiue Countrey, hee commaunded Barnabas and Saule to bee separated vntounto him, for the woorke whereunto he had called them? Nowe what kinde of woorke was this else, but that they shoulde bee sente foorth a farre of vntounto the Gentyles? whereby appeareth without all controuersie: that this generall charge, and ouersight of the whole worlde was not more peculiarly layde vponupon the shoulders of Peter, then vponupon Paule, Barnabas and the other Apostles. Heereof also came it that to bee the Apostle of the Gentyles, was properly and peculiarly ascribed vntounto Paule, and not vntounto Peter by the generall testimonie of all men. In like maner Chrysostome making mention of Paul:Chrys…st. vponupon Paules Ep… stle to the Roman…s. And he tooke vntounto him as alotted the vniuersall Prouince of the whole, and in him selfe hee bare all men &c, And where is nowe that speciall Prerogatiue of superioritie which you Romish Rutterkins so gros…y rake too your rotten Sea, vnderunder the cloke of Peters authoritie. whereupon also you vaunt your selfe altogeather as vnadvisedly? God (saith Paule) doeth not accept of any person: and will hee accept of any place? Paule acknowledged no maner of Superiorie in Peter aboue the reste of the Apostles, testifiyng plainly that he auayled him nothing at al: and that they ioyned handes as fellowes of one societie. And will the successor of Peter bee so foole hardie, as to admit no mate in the ministery of Christes commission with him? what horrible iugling, lying and legerdemaine is this? what more then shamelesse and whorish impudencie is this?

But to surceasse those vehement, yet deseruedly imputable bitternesse of speache, let vsus de…le somewhat more mildely: and I will nowe so frame my ta…ke with you, not after any clamorous and brawling maner, wherewith neuerthelesse I might most iust…y exclaime against you, as against the most sworne enemie of Christ: but that I maye seeme too debate with you better then you doe deserue, coldly as it were, and with soft and calme woordes.The vniuersall Iurisdiction of the Pope confuted. And …irst this wyl iustifie against you: That …ur graunde Captaine, and most woorthie Soueraigne Authour of our redemption, left no such lawe, custome, nor President: neither was of any suche minde at anye time, that in his Churche any of his Ministers shoulde so stand vppon his Pantobles, as presuming vponupon any singularitie of Lordlinesse, shoulde bee so bolde too enter alone vponupon any soueraigntie, or stately controulership ouer the other ministers and pastours of Christe.Iohn .6. If these woordes spoken by Christe his owne mouth be true, As the liuing Father sent me, euen so do I also send you: Then must this also bee most true: that sithens by this speache hee noted no one particularly, therefore ought no person challendge any such prerogatiue, as to execute heere his office, as his onelyonly Uicar on earth. And yet I alleadge not this to the ende, I woulde perswade to disanull, or roote out of Gods Churche, receiued and approoued degrees, estates and orders of the Churche, nor those degrees of superiour placing in holy Churches discretely deliuered from the auncient Fathers, namely: That in eueryevery Diocesse shoulde bee some one superintendent ouer the inferiour Churches, vntounto whom the reste might resorte for Counsell and for auoyding of schismes. But what is this too that maiesticall royalltie of Sain… Peter? or too that prerogatiue of Uniuersalitie too bee resiaunt in one only Sea, which the Romane Prelate pruneth vponupon of the whole vniuersall Churche we gaynesay p. 30no decent, nor necessarie orders in execution of Ecclesiastical discipline. But these proude peacockes plumes and Luciferlike loftie lo…kes of this Uniuersall I…rarchie, neyther dyd Christ bring into the Churche nor the Apostles vsurpe at any time. What meaneth this, that our Lorde himselfe in his Gospell dyd vrge no one commaundement more precisely and more earnestly, amongst all other preceptes and documentes, then too drawe the mindes of his Disciples from al desire of glory, and ambition vntounto most humble abacement, lowlinesse, and humilitie? as when hee willeth them too bee contented with the lowest places at feastes and banquettes: when as in his owne person hee washeth their feete, alluring them thereby to followe his example? and againe where hee exhorteth them to bee as mildly minded as little children:Luke .14. and when as hee commaundeth them too shunne the first places in the Sinagogues,Iohn .13. and stately salutations in the Streates:Matth. 23.Matt 23 when as hee calleth them backe so busily,Luke .16. to abandon the pride and hautinesse of this worlde:Matth. 5.Matt 5 too eschewe the mightie thinges of this worlde, to imbrace the basenesse of the Spirite, and paciently to susteyne all iniuries of aduersaries? When as Peter also forbad so expresly: That yee become not Lords ouer the Cleargie, and Paule likewise, not too frame their life according to the fashiō of this world: I hauehave now declared sufficiently, howe that the very meaning of Christe, and the continuall course of his discipline in the holy Scriptures, coulde neuer digest that vniuersall and more then kingly ambitious seeking of superiorite of this Sea. Now would I faine learn what you ean replie against it: what answere yee can make, sir Pope? & what ye hauehave to alleadge, yea what can yee imagine to colour this glorious title withal? what? was not Peter (wil ye say) prince of the apostles? what a ieast is this? As though the apostles were not al of one spirit? all of one callyng? or as though ye can vouch any one place in all the Scriptures to iustifie that Peter was inuested in any superioritie of power, aboue the rest, which either he receiued at any time, or which Christe euer gaue him? Or as though the times were suche in theyr dayes, as woulde permit the holy Apostles to be so idlely disposed, as once to think or to dreame vpō any principalitie, being as then in hurly burly, turmoyled and broyled with daily feares and continuall perrils? Yet I wyl not denie, but Peter hath byn sundry times blazed out with that braue name of Prince of Apostles,In what sense Peter was calle… prince of the Apostles. in many mens writings and Commentaries, wherein I doe not altogether condemne the godly affections of those writers: but I note heerein theyr phrase of speache, which in my iudgement seemeth to bee none otherwise, then as the vsuall and dayly speach importeth, wherein we customably call him a Prince of his Arte, that excelleth in the facultie which he professeth singularly aboue others. The Grecians doe say thē Too beare the bell, which do surpasse all others in any maner of science. As if a question be mooued, who is the chiefe or Captaine of the schoole, some one or other is noted foorthwith: yet is hee not therefore a Prince ouer his fellowes, nor his fellowes subiect vntounto him. After the same maner of speach vsually and dayly in vre, wee call Cicero the Father of eloquence, and prince of the Latine excellencie:Peter called prince of the Apostles, as Cicero was called prince of eloquence, in re…pect of e…cellencie not of super…oritie. Homer the Captaine of Poeticall finnesse, vntounto whom notwithstanding wee attribute not for that cause, any preheminence or state of gouernment in common weales where they were cōuersant aboue that which was peculiar vntounto them.

And yet too returne againe vntounto Peter: where dyd Christe at any time euer dignifie Peter with anye suche Title of honour, as to name him prince of the Apostles? when? before what auditorie? in what Chapter? with what proofes and argumentes can you fortifie it too bee p. 55true? I will make thee (sayth Christe) a fi…her of men:Mat. 4.Matt 4 hee dooth not say, I will make thee a prince of men, or a Lorde of Fishers: neither was this spoken so precisely to Peter alone, but was also in the plural number vttered to the rest ioyning them in one,Luke 5.Luke 5 I will make you fishers of men. And although afterwardes powe… were giuen to Peter, by name, to become a fisher and a feeder, yet doeth this make him neuer a deale the rather a prince ouer men… then transforme men themselues into fi…hes and sheepe.Iohn. 21. Peter made fisher of men not prince of men.John 21 If the Lorde had vttered these woordes in that sense, meaning thereby to aduaunce Peter to chaire of estate: why did hee not also geue him togeather with that vniuersall principalitie, riches and power, meete for the dignitie and renowme of so mightie maiestie? But O most famous Prince of princes Peter, who beeing so poore a Peter was not able to blesse a poore begger with one crosse of coyne, when hee craued his almes. Nay rather, O sing…lar man of God, who as neuer gaped after any worldly riches, promotion, or pompe, refusing them vtterly as baggage and pelfe, so hee neuer affected anye Titles of singular preheminence, but despised them alwayes.

We speake not this, as though we were willyng to hauehave any iotte of Peters due authoritie empayred, who doubtles was one of the chiefest Apostles: but because you do so blockishly patche vp that mootheaten beggerly cloake of beeing Prince of Apostles, too couler that disguised visor of your pretensed fulnesse of absolute power, and there withall make the whole Churche of Christe your bond maiden and thrall. For this cause thought I good too beate vppon this point so muche, not against Peter, but against you for him, & on his behalfe. Which Peter if were nowe in Rome euen at this instaunte, woulde so nothing at all acquaint himselfe with any those braueries, wherewithall you now blaze forth his armes as that he woulde more bitterly and chidingly inueigh against you, then hee did once agaynst Simon Magus. Whom as he condemned with his money and merchandize, so woulde he much eagerly curse you all in the same bit…ernesse of speache, Thy money be with thee to thy vtter destruction. Actes .8.For what think… you, woulde hee accept of those royalties of S. Peter? woulde he presume to intermeddle with the two Swordes of Ciuill and Ecclesia…ticall gouernment, or fulnesse of Dominion? woulde he require to be enstalled in the highest place, as Iudge ouer the Cleargie? or would he take vponupon him so much, as though it weee not possi…le for him too erre, and as though the treasury of all wisedome and vnderstanding were to be s…ught from him as from out the only Treasurer thereof, as though the spirite could finde no certain and co…stant place of aboad, but within his only breast… woulde hee euer endure too bee called or worshipped as King of kinges, Prince of princes, or chiefe head of the Churche? woulde hee euer take vppon him too maunt so high, and in such arrogant wise, as to tread so proudly vp on the neckes of Emperours with his feete, as Pope Alexander the 3. did?Pope Alexander the 3. woulde hee compell kinges & Potentates to kisse his handes and feete? woulde he vaunte himselfe to be greater then all Councelles aboue al churches, and Lorde ouer all the people of Chri…tendome? woulde he dare to bee so blasphemous as Hostiensis and the forgers of …he Decretalles, H…stiensis.too affirme that God and the Pope had but one consistorie?Extrauagan d… e…ect… & electi po…state. and that the Pope is of power to doe all whatsoeuer God can doe, Sinne onelyonly excepte?

What? would he euer bee so carried away too beastly scraping of riches on heapes by right, or by wrōg to rake vp whole hoordes of mon…y, honors, possessions, gar…isons of at…endants? to prowle for the glory of this life, for the pompe and royaltie of the worlde, Miters, Crosses, p. 55Pillerz, Hats, Attires, Passes, precious stones, as these triple crowned Lordings vse to do? what is that most milde disciple of Christ, the very same Peter (I say) and his companiō Paul were aliue now, which hauehave so often, by so many their writinges allured vsus too humble ob…dience of Princes: woulde they euer hauehave saide as Pope Hadrian did:Hadri…n. That Emperours do …e…gn… by them? or as Clement the 5. in the Councell of Vien…a … Cl…m…nt. 5…That the interpretation of all lawes was res…aunt within their only breast? or woulde they euer ha…e beene so monstrously insolent, as hauing first suttlely s…ipe their no…ks frō out the collers of all priuiledges and immunities of ciuil magistrate, afterwardes presumptuously …o inforce Kings and Emperours vnderunder thei… yoke, and to mannage them lik… bondslaues? aduaunce to chaire of estate, depose, blesse, curse, commaunde, countermaund, rewarde, punishe, banish, restore, throwe vp, cast downe, tr…ade vponupon with …hie feete, and whit…e into the bottomel…sse …ytte of he… whom they listed, by their potencie papall? Finally to… passe ouer infinite like …reache…ies, wo… Peter or Paul vnderunder colour of Catholike obedience, hauehave euer …umbled togeather in so horrible a confusion, Peeres and people, kinges and theyr subi…ct…, yea prin…es against prince…, wi…h such deadly and bloddy battel…, and …ent asu…rer the communion, and peace of the Churche, with suche ciuill mutines, disordered discordes, seditious Butles, horrible warres, cruel cursinges as the Romishe Ru…ians hauehave doone, geeuing therin most exe…rable examples of horror to… to popular & common in all p…a…es at this present.

For what should I here rehearse the tragical furies of those s…aming firebrāds: as of Zacharie, …who supplā …ing y^e lawful king Chilpe…ick the French, planted Pipyne in place: Gregory, Pascalis, Innocent 2. Calixte 2. Alexander 3. Celestine 3. and of al other the rabble of rakebels, whom needeth not to name particularly one after other? For what shal I say of that Innocent the third, who first founded that Faggotlawe too frye the poore carkasses of Christians, who gathering together a garrison of Souldiers, with the ayde of xii. Abbottes, in most sauage maner, murdered at one time an hundred thousand of Albingenses, or thereaboutes. Of which number he broyled to ashes a hundred and lxxx persons: not because they reuolted from Christe, bu… only because they woulde not yeelde their necks to the Romish halter againe: when as also he became so treacherous a Traitor against his own Liege Lord the sonne of Barbarossa, as to threaten him eyther to bereaue him of his imperiall Diademe, or else that the Emperour should dispoyle him of his Papall Crowne. And afterwards to prooue his threatnings true, he procured Otto Duke of Saxon to bid him battell: by meanes whereof, how cruel, how many, & how mercilesse massacres ensued, what slaughter, what effusion and confusion of Christian blood, people and nations, I meane not here to stand vponupon. Thus dare I affirm vntounto your fac…, Innocēt, Thou didst neuer sucke such serpentine poyson & woluish bloodthirstinesse from thy predecessor Peter, nor hast euer read any the like horrours committed by any the Apostles. Saint Paule woulde neuer hauehave rebelliously reuoulted against his soueraigne, if he had liued then: nor masked in such mischieues against the godly.

Neither were their successours any better reclaimed of crueltie, to wit, Honorius. 3. Hon…rius. 3.Gregorie 9. Gregory. 9.Vrbanus 4. Vrbanus. 4.who because they would shew thēselues Curres of the same kinde, it is incredible to report, with what outragious tumul…es they troubled the Empire against Otto, Fredericke and Manfred, teazing Lantgraue kyng of Turinge against Frederick: and ioyning in Armes with Charles against Manfred. When Frederick was dead Conrade gouerned the Empire,Innocent. 4. whom Pope Innocent the 4. curs…d with Bel, Booke and Candle: Conrade p. 33being po…soned by Manfred succeded Conradine his sonne in the kingdome of Sicil and Sweueland: against whom Clemēt the fourth inwardly sw…lling with venemous crueltie,Clement. 4. caused Charles to wage warre, to the vtter vndoing of the said Conradine. Who a…ter many skirmishes being vanquished, & taken prisoner with Friderick Duke of Austriche, who came to aide him with his power: vponupon notice thereof giuen by Charles, receiued this comfort from the Popes holines, to witte, that they should be both chopt shorter by the heads. For this was the verdict of the Pope, most detestable of all creatures, more like a Tygre then a man. The life of Conradine (quod the Pope) is the death of Cha…les… the death of Charles is the life of Conradine. By meanes whereof it came to p…sse that both those innocent yong noble princes, two most anciēt & famous families, kings of Sweueland and Sicil, were not only ouerthrowen from their kingdomes, but also most cruelly bereft of life, to the vtter extirpation and roo…ing out of the whole race & po…eritie at one blowe, by one onelyonly cankred conceipt of a caterpiller pope.

These t…agedies being finished, Charles entreth vpō Sicil: the conquest whereof as was compast with crueltie… s… continued but a while in peace and tranquillitie. F… …s by the cursed crampes of that mercilesse brothel vnmerciful Innocēt, the forsaid Charles was allured first to raze out the whole race of Frederick, with the swallowing sword of furious French: after the same sort Hadrian & Nicolas. 3. procured the Germans, the Spanyards, & Peter of Arragon against the same Charles: who putting Charles to flight, & taking his sonne prisoner, brought the matter to such passe, as that at the sound of a bel,All the French in Sicile, yong and olde, were slaine at the sound of a bell. aboue 8000. Frenche (which were at that time in guarrison in Sicil) were miserably slayne, and hauocke made of man, woman & childe, without pitie or mercy.

And yet for all this could not this Scorpionlike serpent of Romish riot bee any thing appeased, for Pope Martin the 4. takes partie again with the French:Martin. 4… practiseth with Philip the French king, to pursue Peter king of Arragon: commaundes him to inuade his kingdome: him self soundeth the alarme, and giueth the onset. They rush eche vpō other as cruel Tigres, gr…edy of the pray: all handes be embrued with goare: amiddes which hurly burly, skarse one whole yere was ouer past before y^e pope Martine dieth.Honorius. 4. After whose death Honorius 4. the next successor, practised with Rodolphe king of Romans, to come speedely to Rome, and receiuing at his handes the name, and maiestie Imperiall, to chase the Frenche and Spanyardes out of Champaigne, Calabre, Apulia, and Sicil, and to vnite the same to the Roman Empire. By meanes of which tumulte of the Pop…, the whole na…ion of Italy, & state of Germany, had byn rēt in pieces, with horrible slaughter of the people, if death had not snatch… away that pestiferous Pope betimes.Nichol…s. 4. What should I rehearse here the furies of Nicholas 4. who bicause hee would not be altogether vnlike his forerunners, was cō tented to annexe to the infamous contum…ly of the popes maiestie, & to the euerlasting reproche of his own name, this shamelesse acte: To wit, To proclaime the great curse against the Earle of Tyrol, besides many o…he… his mischieuouse treacheries against him: vponupon none … cause, but onelyonly, bicause the Earle would not yelde ouer his true and lawful inheritance, to the Bishop of Tridēt, who made chalenge thereto contrarie to all …quitie, law, and Iustice.

But I can not say whether any one of all the rable afore rehearsed,Boniface. 8. may seeme to exceede Boniface the 8. in pride & in villanies: Who was so mōstrously puft vp with pride, & beyond all imagination, vnmeasurably sw…en with vnshamefast insolencie that he shamed not to interdict Philip the French king, by his legate, fortified with most arrogant bulles, commanding him, as hee woulde p. 34answere the authoritie Papane, to resigne the kingdome of Fraunce to the Sea Apostolike. What more impud…t demande could hauehave byn imagined of the most villanous Pyrate of the worl…? What more currish commande deliuered from any, though more madde then a march hare? What action more resembling the Turkish fury? certes there could nothing hauehave byn done, or deuised more disagreeable, and lesse beseeming an Apostle or the successor of an Apostle. In good felowship (pope of Rome) speak euen for the reuerence ye beare to S. Peter & S. Paul: Did the Apostle Peter giuegive euer any such president whiles he liued? Or if he liued nowe, would he commit any such outrage, as did Pope Clement 5. Clement .5.without all regarde of shame, who procuring the Emperour Henry 5. to mainteine most cruel battaile against Robert king of Apulia… whiles the two princes were by the eares, turned his tip pet, and ioyned in armes against the said Emperour, on the behalf of the said king? or would Peter hauehave byn euer s… mad, as with the next Pope folowing, Iohn the 22.Iohn .22. by b…ll proclaimed him self father and prince of all Christē dome, chiefe legate of the high God? or vaunted him selfe to be of full power and highest authoritie able to dispose kingdomes & Empires, where, and vponupon whom him listed? Who in the end of his bul gaue in special cōmandement to Lodowike the Emperour to relinquish the Empire within three monethes, and to resigne the name and title of a king: not presuming from thencefoorth to reenter vponupon any such dignitie, without his speciall license, & warrante: vponupon refusall whereof hee further chargeth all his nobles, & estates, aswel spiritual as temporal, to abā don their king, and compell him to yelde his necke, vnderunder the yoake of Apostolical obedience?

I should neuer skarsly finde an end of this beadrol, if I should decipher out of histories, al that I could, touching Vrbane the 6.Vrbane .6. Clement, Clement.Martine the 5.Martine .5 Pius the 2.Pius .2. Sixtus the 4.Sixtus .4. Iulius the 2.Iulius .2. Paule the thirde,Paulus .3. and such like, the number wherof being infinite, I passe ouer: if I should (I say) rippe abroade the wofull, and no lesse loathesome remēbrance of al their cruel tragedies, schismes, broiles, conspiracies, horrible treasons and rebellions, against kings & Emperours: Massacres, murthers, & pillages of people: practises of warre: subuersion of Monarches & nations: the remēbrance thereof would be no lesse loathsome then tedious. But I leaue all this to a more ample treatie, for the manifestation whereof, according to the marueilous varietie of their treacheries & abhominatiōs, I doute me, whether any time, toung, or pen may suffice. For what mischief hath at any time these many yeeres now, byn executed in all Christendome? what treachery or treason hath long sithence troubled, & wasted kingdomes, and Empires: which this holy famous successour of Peter, hath not either for the more part fathered, & furthered, or byn the chief procurer & piller? I beseech you, tel vsus plainely, holy father: What abhomination hath your Sea byn cleare of? What iniquitie wanted to fulfil your rage? what destruction did not your practises procure? What crueltie spared your Consistories to put in execution: how many slaughters of most innocent Christians, how many flames of skorched martyrs, how many bloody bucheries of your owne naturall brethren remaine at this present manifest testimonies of your infamo…s sauadgenesse, and damnable horror? To passe ouer in silence meanewhiles, those couert packes of your pestilent impietie, which for very shame I spare to speake. O most holy, yea, thrise most sacred successor of …hapostle Peter: Nay rather, O beastly, and shamelesse impudency of an harlot past all shame: O most insolent, and forlorne arrogancie of a most vile varlet, dare you for shame once take in your mouth the name of Peter, of Paul, of Christe, or of any of his Apostles, or of the catholike church by any meanes? Whose life is not onelyonly not correspo…dent, but the whole state, and course of doctrine, p. 35also direc…ly discrepant, from the liues, and preachings of Peter and Paul: who doest practise al wayes possible to shake asunder the prescript lawe of the Gospell, to chaunge the countenaunce of Christes schoole, to confounde the peace of Christians, and the libertie of Christian churches: and to deface the life of the godly, with shamefull slau…ders and lyes? For what els emporte? whereunto tende these your so many peeuish puppettes in your churches? your so many pelting patrones in heauen? so many blasphemous brayings in your prayers, and worshippings? so many sowterly sacrifices in Masses? so many sauadge sacriledges in sacramentes? such horrible bloodthirstinesse in your iudgements? such woluishe rauening in your decrees, but to forclose vsus all saluation in heauen, and all peace on earth? And yet after all those your abhominations, and cruelties, dare you be so presumptuously arrogant, as to take once the name of Christ in your mouth, holding al others in subiection, and chalenge to your selfe onelyonly the keyes and authoritie of lieutenantship by him whom you doe persecute in all your actions of life with fier & sword? And why do ye so at the length sir I beseeche you? is it because like a lazy lurdeine ye loiter in the chayre where Peter once sate?

A trimme and skilfull shift of lieger de mayne,The succession of the Pope discouered and confuted. I promise you, as though it maketh ought at all to the matter, in what place a man sit, so that he sit in Christ: that is to saye, so that he teache sounde doctrine. Or as though bicause in politique gouernements the ciuil law hath ordeined, that a king should succeede a king in his throane, as he is neerest of blood,2. Quest. 7. Omnes. the same course ought to be reteined in ecclesiasticall gouernement by like title of succession? It is not dignitie (sayth one) nor the place of the godly that maketh a bishop, but the good life: nor is eueryevery one to be accepted for a Doue, that can say, peace be vntounto you. The grace of God is promised to true holinesse and true faith, not to any chaire or succession: for the chaires do not make the churche, but be subiect to the ordinance of the church. Wherein consideration must be had, not of the continuance of the place, but of the sinceritie of the successor. For as Chrysostome teacheth, The chaire dignifieth not the prieste, but the priest dignifieth the chaire. The place doth not sanctifie the man,Dist. 40. but the man doth sanctifie the place. He that sitte…h worthely in the chaire, doth receiue the honor of the chaire: but hee that sitteth vnworthily, doth commit an heinous iniury against the chaire. &c. Ierome also vt…ering the like wordes almost:…erome writing to Helyodore. They bee not sonnes of saintes which sit in saintes places, but such as do practise the maners and liues of saintes. And therefore their grossenes is worthely to be scorned, which, as is vsually accustomed in state politique, so in the spirituall kingdome of Christ, do entangle the church of Christe by humaine constitutions to a carnall necessitie of externall succession, and enforce all iurisdiction so vnauoydeably to Peters chaire onelyonly, as that whosoeuer sit not therein, be he otherwise neuer so godly a pastor, may not be accompted Peters successor in any wise: and that whosoeuer sit therein, be he neuer so barbarous a brothell, neuer so swinish a pigge, altogether vnlike Peter in his whole course of conuersation, must yet of necessitie be suppreame head of the church, the true and vndouted successor of Peter, as it was concluded by that detestable decree of the coū cell of Constance:The councel of Constance. then the which what can bee vttered more blockish or brutish? As though the wisdom of God, whose propertie is, and alwayes hath byn most free to worke where it pleased, might be poss…bly empaled, or hedged in, by any ordināce of man, or limited to any certentie of place, as the which by extraordinarie meanes, vtterly breaking or inuerting ordinary courses of things doth many times dispose the riches of his grace, after a p. 36certein preposterous maner and waye, beyond all …ope, & contrary to the opinion of man, namely in things apperteining to God, not after the appointement of man, but according to his owne good will and pleasure.

On this wise in times past refusing Cayn, Ismael, & Esau and others, to whom the honor of priesthood & promised seed appertained by right of ordinary succession, he made choyse of Abel, Isaac, Iaacob, to whom the ordinarie succession was not dewe. So also reiecting the family of Saul, he translated the kingdome into the ofspring of Dauid. In like maner supplanting the synagogue of the Iewes, he planted the Gent…les in order, contrary to order, displacing the naturall oliues, and placing in the wilde. And will you so strictly vrge, and choake vp as it were, within so narrowe a pinfolde, the incomprehensible, & farre outstretched grace of Christ, to one place, and to one chaire: That where all other churches may erre, the onelyonly Romishe Churche may in no wise slippe her foote? which also may moreouer so replenishe that one Romishe vicar with al her absolute fulnesse, that she may not emparte any parcel thereof to any other pastours be they neuer so godly and true worshippers of Christ.The ordinary succession prefiteth nothing in the sight of God. If the case bee such that this ordinary antiquity of dayly succession do auayle so much before God, to the obteining of grace: Manasses did long sithence succeede Dauid, Ma…asses.Caiphas succeeded Aaron. Caiaphas.Certes the Iewes can con…ey vntounto themselues far more auncient pedigrees,The I…wes. and the same also neuer discontinued from Abraham, thē you can fetch from Peter:Iohn .9. Yea the Iewes blushed nothing at al to vrge Christ with the very same argumēt:Mat. 3.Matt 3 crying out with open mouth,Lu…e 2. we be the seede of Abrahā: Abraham is our father &c. But what coūter buffe did the scripture giuegive them for this? God is of power out of these stones to rayse vp childrē to Abraham. And so he did indeed. And is not God as mighty nowe, and as powerable to rayse vp successors of Peter whome he wil, and where he will? yes no doubt: and so he doth continually.

What? say they, did not the Scribes and Pharisees sitte in M…yses chaire,Mat. 23.Matt 23 whom Christe commaunded to hearken vntounto? He doth so commande in deede: but when they teache the truthe: neither doth he commaunde so, in respect of the chayre, but in respect of the doctrine. Moreouer why did Christe and his Apostles sequester them selues from the selfe same Iewes, Scribes and Pharisees, if that succession could not erre? What saye y…u to this, that Christe him selfe being reiected of the ordinary priestes, who enforced the selfe same argument, ought not to be hearkened vntounto, if your Romishe Pharisees may be credited in their lustie vaunte of succession? Goe to, and what shalbe sayde of the Apostles then, who hauing no maner of right in ordinary succession, were the first founders of the churche of Christe, and renounced vtterly the ordinary priesthood? To be briefe: If to sitte in a place, bee of such efficacie and force, I suppose the temple of God be farre more honourable then the chayre of Peter. And yet in this very temple of God, Antichriste must hauehave his chayre, according to the testimony of the propheticall scriptures. Shall Antichrist be therefore called holy Antichriste in respecte of his seate? To conclude: Let it be as forcible as it may for the church, to hauehave what seate, or what foundation it will, so that it holde fast the liuely spirite of Christe, his holy worde and sacramentes, by the which it is begotten sanctified, and made holy.

Iames .1.But you will saye, Peter taught at Rome: I heare you well,Ephe. 5.Eph 5 but taught hee no where els then in Rome?No resemblāce betwixt Peter and the Pope. Moreouer too confesse that hee taught at Rome, did hee teache there as an Apostle, or els as a Bishop? Let the bishop of Rome vnloose me this knotte. But this is out of all question: If Peter taught at Rome at all, standing or sitting in a chaire, surely he taught alwayes Iesus p. 37Christ. But you, holy father, sitting in the Romish chayre at Rome, what teache you, but the doctryne of deuils? Peter did boldly proclayme to the worlde the manyfest scriptures of God, which he receaued by diuine inspiration of the holy Ghost, being an eye witnes of the things which he heard and taught: But what doth your holines bray foorth else to the people, but fryuolous ceremonies, and fruitlesse traditions of men? If Peter came at any tyme to Rome, he came not thither, vnlesse he were sent by God, or called thither by men: and then also came too mynister, not to beare soueraignty: to work, not to skrape riches togither: as a trauailer, not as an ydle sitter. But who euer called you to this stately stage of chayre lordelynesse?The state of the chayre of the Romish Monarchy… Goo ye, saieth the Lorde, not into the Citie of Rome, but intoo the whole worlde: speaking not too Peter alone, but to all his Apostles: and preache, not the ceremonies of the lawe, not traditions of men, but the gladde tydings of sauing health: not to the Romaines only, but to eueryevery creature. In which vniuersall embassy Peter togither with the rest, of his fellowe labourers did mightely behaue himselfe in the ministery of the Gospel, according to his duety and the nature of his function: leauing no …otte of the vttermoste of his duety vndone, wherby in his wandring abroade amongst people and nations, hee might teache al that hee might, not onelyonly publiquely but priuately also in eueryevery house: might be earnest in season and out of season: might sowe abroade f…re and wyde, the most ioyefull message, and gladde tydinges of peace: might perfourme the woorke of a true Euangelist: might approue himselfe too bee a trusty seruaunt of Christ: might become an ouersear ouer the house of Israel, might receaue the woordes and embassy of God, and the same so receaued, might faythfully deliuer to the people: might shewe himselfe to bee salt of the earth, light of the woorde: not feeding himself, but the flocke: not seeking his owne glory or priuate l…cre, but the only honor of Christ: not entruding himselfe in to the publique affaires of ciuil pollicie, but seruing the Lorde: not exercising soueraigntie ouer the seruauntes of God, nor procuring that others shoulde mynister vntounto him, but that after his maisters example, hee might become seruaunt to others rather, and in no respect aboue any other, but acknowledging al other bishops to be equal with him: and in dignitie & name calling them fellow elders yelding his dewe obedience to Princes as being sent of God: giuing vntounto Cesar things apperteyning vntounto Cesar: whome also he disdained not to call by the name of his Lorde and Soueraigne.

Betwixt the Pope and Peter.On this wyse (except I be deceaued) Peter spent his tyme, which as was a charge of al others most laboursome, so was there in the worlde nothing more humble & base. If we leuel our Popes lyues now by this rule and perpendicular: I beseeche you, what one thing doo they in Rome now, wherein they may seeme not only not to be Peters successors, but meere straungers rather, and alyens vntounto him.Esay. 5. 2.Isa 5:2 Esay the prophet doth wonderfully commende the feete of the Apostles preaching vponupon the tops of mountaynes, and proclayming peace bringing glad tydings, and preaching saluation. Nowe as for these, whither go they? vntounto what people and nations flee they as clowdes? what peace proclaime they? Nay rather what peace do they not ouerthrowe? what good tydinges preache they? Nay rather of what mischief are they not the very authors? what wholesome doctryne teache they? the Gospel of Christ? nay rather they locke vp the Gospel fast in prison… They challenge to themselues the propertie of the keyes: but therewith they shut vp, not open the kingdome of heauen: They make themselues treasorers of woonderful, yea inestimable treasures of the Churche, as if they were the onelyonly treasorers of heauenly p. 38treasory: And what good or commendable iewelles of pryce doo these famous iewellers deliuer out of these treasories? Forsooth for pure gold, drosse & chaffe: Popishe pardones for the grace of God: for Christ his most precious blood, ragges and reliques of Saincts. Peter did gaine vntounto Christ at one preaching three thousande …oules: but howe doo these merchauntes choppe and chaunge their wares? what gaine yeelde they? nay what losse rather? It was not without cause that a certaine Israelite Prophet seemed so grieuously offended against that sorte of sheaperdes, which did feede themselues, and not the flocke:Ezechiel .34. which cloathing their bodyes with the woolle, & pampering their paunches with the milke, made litle accompt of the seely sheepe: the weak they strengthened not: the sick they healed not: nor boūd vppe the broken and brused: nor sought that which was lost: but with cruelty and with rigour did rule ouer them.

In like maner what doo these else then ply their paunches delicately, not caring what become of the flocke whereof not one so much becōmeth better by their industry not one restoared to health: not one a title so much the more learned towardes the kingdome of God: themselues teache nothing, nor can disgeste others that teache soundly and truly: the woorde of God they deliuer not, but keepe it close from the people: they take no paines at al, only they lie lazilie at home like dumme dogs lu…king in their Laterane, measuring and apporcioring by ynchmeale as it were all the compasse of purgatory, and all manner the punishementes thereof: where they plundge some poore soules intoo deepe pittes, boyling with fire and brimstone: other some for a fewe pence they plucke out againe. They appoint special and priuate Masses to be solempnly mumbled vp in all corners of their Churches: they sitte bussing about their holy mysteries, whyspering in an vnknowne tongue: the sacrament they blaze aloft, to the gaze of the people, not to be eaten, but to be worshipped of them: and the same also in open daylight they carry abroade a procession vppon a whyte ambling palfray attended with torchelight, belles, and banners, if any solemnytie or triumphe happē to be. With besmeared greasy fingers they consecrate oyle, waxe, salte, water, belles, chalices, altars and coapes. They make open markets of iubiles, Graces, immunities, expectations, preuentions, Annates, palles, bulles, indulgences and pardons.

What? do they thinke these knackes to be sufficient warrants towardes the creation of the vicar of Christ? or to the establishing of Apostolicke succession on earth? and that some one wretched caytif, not for any singular excellency of fayth, or vertue, wherein hee surpasseth others, but for a most fryuolous tytle of place, and chayre only, wherein hee may bee enstalled, which may aswell happen to the most doltish asse in the worlde, as to some woorthy or famous personage, may of right clayme soueraigntie ouer the Churche of God, for sitting in that chayre onelyonly, and therein vaunt himselfe to be the chiefe Prelate? Bishop of Bishoppes? and head of the whole vniuersal Church? Wherein hee may thinke it lawefull for him to do what him lusteth? through the which slipping his neck out of the coller of his dewe obedience to the higher powers, he may presume to enforce vnderunder his yoake kinges, and countreys, and therby set al nations in vproare, with fire and sworde: and vsurpe more then lordly controllership ouer al other Churches, and himself lyke a tragical king vppon a stage, sitting in a golden chayre, crowned with a tryple crowne, garnished in a coape of tyssue, with kingly scep…er in hād, twoo swords, and a golden Dyademe beset with pearle and precious stoanes, ryde lyke a lurdei… (lordling I would say) vponupon p. 39noble mens shoulders? O swee… Sainct Peter. Is this to succeede Peter in Apostleshippe? is this to sit in Peters chayre without any sparke of Peters qualities? or is it to sit in the chayre of pestilence? And what if the Turke spoyling the Pope of the same chayre should sit therein?It is not the chayre, but the good life that maketh a man Apostolical. would the dignitie of the place make him Peters successor foorthwith? or what if the Pope himselfe, as hee sitteth in Peters chayre, had also nowe in possession Peters fisherboate: shoulde hee therefore for Peters fisherboate, become any whi…e the more skilful fisherman? Wherein to my simple con…eite seemeth to hauehave chaunced too the Pope a matter not much vnlike to that, whereof wee reade mention made by Lucian, of one Neanthus the sonne of Pittacus:Neanthus sonn… of Pittacus. who hauing Orpheus harpe, altogither (…ccording to the olde prouerbe) an asse vponupon the harpe: conceauing a vaine & foolishe opinion of himselfe, was perswaded that immediatly vponupon the sounding of the harpe, hee shoulde make wooddes and rockes to runne hopping after him. This cockeborrel clowne theref…re w…ndering abroade ouer hilles and dales, and merueling that …he woodes, & rocks would no… sturre out of their place, at the so…de of the harpe, but stande stil as before vnmoueable, neuer left stryking, stre…ching, thumping, and sounding the harp, vntil at length, hee made himselfe to bee loathed of the brute beasts, with the h…rshe and confused noyse, & skraping the s…rings: and so became a pray to dogges, which tare him in pieces, and did gnaw his flesh and boanes into gobbets. And what els dooth this Romishe prelate present vntounto vsus with his stately stoole,The continuance of succeeding Bishops in the Church, is no sufficient cloke to coulor error. whervpon h…e doateth no lesse fondly franticke, …hen the seely caytif vpō his harpe? For what shold let it, but that Orpheus harpe may aswel make a cunning harper, as Peters chayre an holy bishop: if wee hauehave therein no further consideration then of the material chayre?

But heere loe againe a freshe reply of a long and neuer discontinued succeeding of bishoppes rusheth out against vsus: wherby they sucke out the very source, and welspring of their succession euen from the Apostles themselues: and to countena…ce out the matter amongest the auncient doctors are alledged as champions of valour, Tertullian, Irene, and Augustine, who doo not a little aduaunce the dignitie of ecclesiastical succession. They doo yeelde to the Church honor in deede: but how? and when? forsooth in their disputations to confirme the antiquity of the scriptures, against such as did vtterly deny them. Let vsus also consider the tyme when they did so: foorsooth euen then, when as the very auncient integritie of godlinesse, vertue, true religion, and sinceritie of doctryne was resiaunt in the succession of Bishoppes: and when as yet the Sea of Rome taught nothing else, but that which was agreable too the Catholicke doctrine, approued and allowed in Christian Churches. Hithertoo yet was no cause giuen why they shoulde make any special complaint against that Sea: the fundation whereof they had hearde say might bee attributed too Peter especially, by…ause they perceaued that the countenaunce thereof auailed much to the appeasing of schismes. But if Augustine and the other auncient Fathers were lyuing nowe, and shoulde heare and see these horrible heresies, monstruouse maskinges, and peeuishe puppettes, wherewith this holy Sea ouerwhelmeth the whole world at this present, they woulde chaunge their note, and sing a farre other manner of song of the intollerable pryde and ambition of this Sea: and woulde with no lesse vehemency of spirite, then other godly mynisters at this present,The ordinary succession of pope… hath bin discontinued & broken of. bende themselues tooth, and nayle against the same. And y…t touching that beadrol of succession wherevppon they bragge as neuer at any time discontinued: with what face dare these Romish Rutterkynes face it p. 40out with a carde of tenne as it were, which hath beene so many yeeres turmoyled with schismes, encombred with so many chaunces and chaunges of bishoppes, eche striuing against other for the title of that Sea: where many tymes three Popes, and for the more parte twoo Popes hauehave challenged the chayre: not vnlyke lusty gallaunces who bee ielouse of theyr paramoures: in so much that it coulde not bee easily discerned who ought to bee receaued for the true Pope: that I speake nothing meanewhyles of al those which by fraude, by symony, by violence, by murthers, by witchecraft, necromancy, and diuelishe practises, I say not, hauehave crept couertly in, but rudely rusht vppon the foresaide succession. To passe also ouer, that filthy discontinuance of the same Sea, wherin was chopt into chayre as successor, not Iohn a bishop, but Ioane that shamelesse strūpet: whose successors they must needes confesse themselues to bee euen as yet, if to deriue the succeeding order of successiue Prelates, from the direct lyne of the predecessors, bee of so greate emportaunce.

But of Peter and his succession ynough nowe: whome albeeit wee yeelde to hauehave sometyme sitte as Bishoppe in Rome (which maketh not so greatly to the purpose) yet what is that to the Pope of Rome nowe? forsoothe Christ gaue charge, you … s…a, of his sheepe to Peter. This is true indeede: but it was to the ende hee shoulde feede them, and not to plucke their skinnes from of their backes: But you feede not, but suck the blood of Christs sheepe, and yet requyre to be accompted Christes vicars and Peters successors? And thinke you in this so glorious a light of good learninge and Euangelicall doctryne, to finde such blo…kish bussardes, whome yee may persuade that your bragges bee true, wherewith yee may bee able too bleat? the eyes of men any longer with that glauering shadowe of vaine tytle and name? If you bee of that minde: by your leaue syr, you doo erre wonderfully, if at least the …ishop of Rome may, possibly erre. But I w…l not say you do erre, if you see it not… but I wil boldely affirme, you are starke madde rather. For what shal I say? doo yee not perceaue howe your councelles …ee discouered? da… yee not feele your craftes, fraudes, disceits, practi…es, robberies, lyes, filthinesse, crakes, vanities, errours, blasphemies, d…uises too bee l…ide open before al mens eyes? Is it not apparaunt vntounto you that mens consciences do nowe perfectly beholde your cankred malice and cursed conspiring against Christes Gospel? …hat I neede not meane whyles rippe abroade your dayly murthers aswel olde as newe, wherwith your vnquencheable tyranny of sauadge bloodthirstines seemeth as yet altogither insatiable. These outragies so many, and so manifest hee that seeth not with his eyes, him wil I not account so much blinde of sight as voide of vnderstanding: he that doth not detest them, him may I wel iudge, to bee not onelyonly not acquainted with any partaking of ciuil humanitie: but an vtter alyen and straunger to al vertue, godlynes, and pieti…. Your trayterous treacheries are more notoriously manifest to al people and tongues, then may any longer be coloured: more execrable then can bee borne withal. Your counterfayte hornes these many hundred yeeres nowe couer…d with cloudes w…erw…th you hauehave hidden a rauening blo…dsucker vnderunder the visor of a meek… lambe, be appara… nowe, yea beleue me, pope, they not only more apparā …ly glis…er in mens eyes, then the sunne shine in midday: but a…so are become very bables & mockeries in eueryevery mans month: in so much that no man is …o poore blinde but doth easily discerne… no man so blockishe, but dooth hartely la…gh them to sko…ne.

There was a tyme peraduenture heeretofore, whenas these foggy misles of blundered ignoraunce did dazel the p. 41eyes of men, when as that most happy facultie of imprinting & reading of purer sciences, most fatall to your sacred Sea, was not yet published abroade in the world, wherein some place and time might hauehave beene reserued to cloake your palpable darkenesse. But nowe sithens the gladsome dawning of mo…te resplendisaunt veritie discouereth it selfe, wherewith you may see mens vnderstanding illumined and eyes enlightned through Gods wonderful bountie and mercy: sithens remaineth no foxehole nowe in these Regions wherein you may shroude the daseled drowsinesse of your eluishe errors:The light of doctrine and trueth restore… what other hope may you conceiue of those rotten ragges of moste barbarous grossenes…e, and lothsome pilfe of filthie superstition, but that yee geue place vntounto fortune, and abide some better chaunce? And being conuinced with the truth it self, if ye can not be reclaimed to chaunge your mindes, yet for very shame chaunge your chaire at the least, and runne away into some desart, and from thence conueigh your selues into some vnknowne nations, who hauehave not hytherto tasted nor beene deluded, with those Romishe gewgawes, stagelike statelines, & masking myzemases: you can now no longer deceiue bs, as men that hauehave been more then enough ouerridden and galled with those your misdemeanours. Perhaps poore Christian carkasses may bee pinched with the crampes of your tyranny. Certes their heartes bee nowe so altogeather estraunged from that common Iuggeler Rome, and from that false fornicator Sea: as that no hope remaineth now, for euer recouering them againe. And to the ende yee doe no longer vainely stroke your selues yee Romane Bishoppes with false opinion of assured securitie: vnderstande yee for certaintie, that the worlde is turned quite contrary, wherein yee may see the heauenly trompe of the glorious Gospell preuailing against you, your craftie packing, your false forged doctrine, your hypocrital holynesse, your rauenous raging, your suttle masking can no longer nowe creepe in corners. The very vnlecred multitude of Chris…ians doth beginne nowe too open theyr eyes, & too beholde the lightsome brightnesse of the trueth. Gods people is otherwyse instructed nowe then heeretofore, when all the speaches of those Popishe Prelates were holden for Gospell, and when the chiefe foundation of religion was grounded not vponupon Gods worde, but vponupon the Popes authoritie. But nowe who can bee so witlesse a wayward, so senselesse a dottard, that canno… easily perceiue your errour in religion, your rebelling in conuersation, and your pride of life? who also beholdeth it, & doth not from the very bottome of his heart detest & abhorre you? And heerein surely the matter is come to a good issue, That suche a durtie religion is fathered vponupon so drowsie a dotterell: for suche is the religion, as nothing can be more superstitious, nothing more estraunged from Christe: Suche is your life, as nothing can bee more pernicious too the tranquillitie and peace of Christians.

Wherfore sith you can in no wise be ignorāt of the deadly hatred of all godly personages, set one fire against you, procured by your own mischieuous and infamous villanies, and which you hauehave long sithens deserued: What other Counsell will ye that I geue you, but as I said before, to make a necessarie choyse of one of these two: eyther to be of the minde to flee the Countrey wherein yee remaine now, or to chaunge the religion which you hauehave wickedly defiled? But being fully perswaded that you will accept neither of them, and perceiuing you too bee of that sorte, whome neither shame of the worlde can driue too your duetie, nor feare of God can restraine within the bounds of modestie, nor any maner of curtesie can reclaime from crueltie, wander on in your purposed race as much and as long as you will for mee: I wyll geue you p. 42…ee scope to raunge in that Maze of Turkishe impietie wherein yee ruffle: and too lulle your selues asleepe in those brainsicke broyles wherein yee triumphe, neyther am I any thing at al disquieted with your barking bulls and bloodthirstie curses,The Pop…s Bull…s against the faithf…l s…ruants of Christ… which you hauehave vomi…ed out so seditiously against Christian Churches, without any great daunger thanked be God. Nor am I ought terrified with your accusations as falsly forged, as fraught ful of poyson, neyther moued with these your filthie slanders and vnspeakeable raylings wherewith you hauehave currishely gnawne many Godly Princes,The slaunders of the Pope against the Queene of England… and of late also backbitten and slaundered the moste Soueraigne Ladie and Princely Paragon of England the Queenes Maiesties person chiefly, then also her noble kingdome and renowmed nation.

WIth infamous slaunders layde vntounto our charge by you (to speake no more now as of my …elf, but in the person of her highnesse:The Oration of Queene Elizabeth to the Pope. for so take it nowe as though not I, but the Queenes Maiestie called you too accounte for your shamelesse impudencie against her) if wee had receiued of any other besides this Romane Antichriste: we woulde thinke it not amisse to frame some more speciall speaches in defence of our innocencie. But as now what coulde hauehave beene more excellently applyed, to the right commendation of our renowme, what coulde hauehave been more effectually added to the increase of our euerlasting honour, then to bee thus accursed of you, being the moste cursed enimie of Christ aboue all other, with whō no man can possibly be in league, vnlesse he be a sworne enimie vntoo you: neither can any man be otherwise acceptable vntounto him, except hee bee at deadly foade with you? So that for this cause chiefly aboue all other, wee doe yeelde moste heartie and humble thankes too the high and euerlasting Maiestie, in that it hath pleased hym …o vouchsafe vsus this so great and vnspeakeable honor. For why shoulde wee not Iudge our selfe too bee highly honored in this behalfe, more then in any thing else togither with other godly and holy ones of my Lorde God for this, that t…is Sebah doe…h so vnmannerly rage against vsus, persecuting vsus so vnciuilly with his bulles, not so muche for any our deserte, as for the defence of Christe and his Gospel which we do prof…sse. In which kinde of crosse, whereas two things occurre to be duely considered of eche godly Christian: not onelyonly what iniury is offered, but also by whom, and for what cause it is susteyned: Then as often as we hauehave recourse to this last poynt, we are not a little recomforted against your cholericke curses, by the sweete speeches of the gladsome Gospel:Matth. 5.Matt 5 Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake: and when men curse you, speaking al euill against you, belying you for my sake… &c. With which kinde of persecution sithens yee are now purposed to proceed… against vsus, you could not by any meanes hauehave vttered any one more manyfest a token of true consolation, and certaine assurance of infallible comfort, then by this grosse rankor of minde conceiued against vsus: which doeth assure vsus of Christes vndoubted benignitie, high fauour & grace powred foorth vponupon vsus for the same. For if to be euil spoken of for doing good vntounto others be accounted for a princely ornament, euen with the most re…owmed Princes: and if there can bee no greater prayse attributed too any person then to be slaundered and reproched of the wicked: then questionles to bee maliciously & vndeseruedly maligned of this Antichristian Atheist, we think it not so much a cōmendation meet for a Princesse, as a renowme rather wel beseeming an Empresse, which also we do plainly confesse to be one of the fayrest flowers of our floorishing garland.

Wel then (ye Prelate of Rome) forasmuch as ye shame nothing after your wōted want of discretiō so vnaduisedly p. 43to scatter abroad all slanderous reproches against kings and queenes, tel vsus I beseeche you, what that so great haynousnes may be, that causeth you to bray out so vndiscretly against vsus. Wee heere say yee hauehave called vsus in your Bulles, Bondmaiden of all wickednesse: and accuse our kingdome too bee the refuge of all Heretiques. Good God, what strange and monstrous shamelesnes is this? Dare this Babylonicall Strumpet bee so voide of shame, as to condemne others of wicked life, which when shee hath throwne out all maner of cursed speaches and slaunders, that her lying choler can imagine, shall yet neuer bee able too discharge one halfe of her vgly abhominations, wherewith she swarmeth on all partes most horrible and euidently apparant? For what common Channel or Sincke can be more vnsauery then your life and Court? But as concerning your owne loathsome filthinesse, wee referre you ouer to answere for your selfe before the high Iudge. In the meane time too speake somewhat for our selfe, in fewe woordes be ye thus satisfied. First, that neither it is, nor euer hath beene any our nature or qualitie, to make boast of our good life before God, as the Pharisees vse too do: for wee dare not presume vppon any suche innocencie: And yet on the other side, wee wyll not so condemne our conuersation before men as we think it when it is at the worst to be in any respect so stained or blame worthie as yours is. Now when we name you, we meane not one particular person only, not Pius the 5. nor Gregory the 13, but we comprehend therein the whole rabble of that rebellions Gallantes altogether: neither do we simply condemne the whole Sea or succession of Romane bishop? namely that Sea which in the sweete nurcery of the pure and primitiue Church was euer highly commended & praysed by sundry mens writinges, and iudgementes: suche a one as the Poet Ennius maketh mention of,

L…ius.Autentike lawes, and sages gray,

Keepe Rome in state and ciuill stay.

But we speake of this Rome, which ruleth the roast a… this present, so fouly fallen from the aun…ient steppes of her auncestours, from faith, from grauitie, from religious life: not that other auncient Rome long sithens buried, raked in graue, and worne out of memory: but a certayne chaungeling fr…mshapen Rome, nowe of late start vp, so altogeather vnlike too that former, by howe much that first florished in grau…ty, discipline, vertue and trueth: and this other wallowing & weltring in vanitie, riotte, riches, pride, ambition, extortion, licentiousnesse, and filthie delightes of this worlde, seemeth vtterly forlorne, hauing no sparke of remembraunce or countenance almost of the auncient int…gritie, no partaking with Christe: nor any maner of affinitie with Christes Apostles.

In which Sea, I meane the Sea of this present age, wee may easily discerne the vsual practises of that Romishe Antichriste not vnknowne too the whole worlde. Neither doth this holy father therefore rayle vponupon vsus so barbarously, because he thinketh vsus to be so licentious in deede, as he slaundereth vsus maliciously in words, neither would he reprooue vsus one iot… the more for that cause, though we were in very deede much worse then wee are: nay rather wee shoulde bee so muche the more dearely be loued of him, by howe muche wee resembled him neerest in leawdnesse and loosenesse of life. But there lurketh an other snake in the greene grasse,The cause of the Popes malice against El…zabe…h Queene of England. which bicause he neither discloseth in his Bulles, nor the simplicitie of the godlye can easily discerne, we wil franckly make knowne to the whole worlde. And this it is: If wee woulde yeeld our p. 44person and our kingdome to the Romish Halter, and suffer the marke of the beast to be sealed vponupon our forehead, af…er the maner of some Princes, and with as great affection as they doe: Certes no kinde of inordinate licenciousnesse, were it neuer so abhominable, might be any such estoppel to barre vsus out of the number & Beadroll of his dearest Sonnes & Daughters: but shoulde bee beautified with as much of the Apostolike blessing, as the dearest dearling of all the crue. Now because wee hauehave shaken of these peeuish Papane fe…ers, and betaken our selues to that Emperiall standarde of true religion, vnderunder the which wee hauehave chosen to aduenture our life for Christes glory and honour, rather then to remaine in thraldom vnderunder the Pope: Heerof commeth it that we be reproched with this foule name, to wit, a Bondmaide of all treachery: this is it that makes him to boyle with so hotte hart-burning against vsus. And thus muche hytherto nowe of that which you may conceiue either vttered already against you by the renowmed Queene of Englande, or at the least as muche as her highnesse might iustly speake vntounto you: which neuerthelesse if had beene set downe by her owne penne, woulde hauehave beene muche more artificially and princely deliuered, if her highnesse woulde hauehave vouchsafed so much to hauehave embased her Maiestie, as too deale with such a monster,

Nowe I returne vntounto my selfe, and the publique defence of that little Ilande, which with cursed mouth you doe slaunder too bee the kingdome of Heretiques: expressing heerein the very shape and conditions of that frowarde Phormio in Terence, who alone marring the whole Action, and for the same cause apprehended too cleare him selfe before the Iudge, became first an accuser of others. Semblably and with no lesse shamelesse impudencie this Laterane not Terentian Phormio accuseth them for Heretiques & Apostataes. And why so I pray you? because they hauehave reuoulted from Christe at any time, denyed or shronke cowardly from faith? No, not so, but because they hauehave forsaken that sacred Sea of Romishe Churche, wherein they were once settled. Yea, is it so? Shall there bee no Church then, but that only Churche of Rome? Shal they bee all accounted to be without the body of Christe, which doe acknowledge Christe for their supreme head? What? is it of more emportance to be slaues vntounto the Pope, then to bee souldiers vntounto Chris…? No: But they affirme, that there is no Churche, where the Pope is not head. What Church then I pray you, was that in Asia and Palestine before Peter euer sawe Rome? Yea put the case Peter had neuer seene Rome in all his life: shoulde there therefore hauehave beene no Churche at all? Doth the state of Bishops make the Churche of Christe to be a Churche, or doth the authoritie of the Churche make Bishops? But they say there is no hope of saluation without the church: I do heare it, and confesse it to be true: yet this is no good argument to prooue, that there is no Church at al, except it be subiect to the Pope. I adde moreouer, That where they say, that there is no hope of saluation without the Church:How this saying [without the Churche, is no hope of saluation] must be con…trued. that this saying is to be construed to apperteine to that church only, which is the very vndoubted spouse of Christe, and which is also married vntounto Christe her husbande, not because saluation is so necessarily tyed to the Churche, as though the Churche bestowed it of her owne meere liberalitie and bountie: but for the mutuall & immutable coupling together of the head with y^e body. Whereby it commeth to passe, that whosoeuer is made partaker of sauing health in Christ being the head: the same can in no wise bee a straunger from the socie…ie of the Church. And againe, neither can such a one be an outcast from the Church, vnlesse hee bee first cast off by p. 45Christ the heade and prince of the Church.

Which beeing concluded vponupon: with what arguments nowe doth this counterfeyte successour of Peter conuince vsus for outcasts and Apostataes from partaking with the bodie, who through fayth bee engraffed into Christ? Who bee not seuered from the true and Catholike fayth of Christ? For if nothing else make an vtter separation from Christ, but obstinate rebellion from Christian fayth and Christian conuersation: what treacherous rebellion eyther in our doctrine, or in our maners can these Romanistes espie in vsus, so blame worthie, which may not much more iustly be rebounded vponupon their owne backes? Forsooth (say they) bycause wee holde not the Catholike fayth.The C…thol…k… fay…h. Go to then. Sith they stand… so nicely vppon this poynt: let vsus faythfully discusse, what maner of fayth that is which they call Catholike. If the same be the Catholike fayth which Athanasius dooth sette out in his Creede,Athanasius Creede. or which the Councell of Nyce did determine vppon for inuiolable… The Nycene Creede.From which article of the Creede can you shewe that they hauehave reuolted?

But here againe some iangling Iay of this Sea will vrge, that bycause they holde not the Catholike fayth of the Romaine Church,The Romish fayth. therefore they holde not the true Catholike fayth. Well sayde. Hereby then I do perceyue that it auayleth no whitte to bee accounted Christians and Catholikes, vnlesse they be Romanistes also. Let vsus learne therefore of these Romanistes, what it meaneth to be a Romanist. Truly I beleeue it is thi…: That the Pope of Rome must of necessitie be accounted for the very and vndoubted vniuersal Bishop of Bishops: the Pope of Rome must be esteemed chiefe head & generall Lorde of the whole Catholike Churche: vntounto whom and vntounto all whose commaundementes, statutes and decrees, all people and nations must bee buxam and bonnaire vponupon paine of damnation. Is it so in deede? whosoeuer reteigne not this fayth, though he holde fast and firmely m…in…eyne all other thinges agreeable with the holie ordinaunces of God, and all the Articles of the Creede, and fayth of the Church: shall not the same bee adiudged for Catholike? No, Sir I trowe. But if this be true: surely neyther the Churches of Alexandria, of Antyoche … of …erusalem, of Constantinople, of Affricke, nor yet that auncient Church of little Brytaine, shall be reckoned for Catholike. To what purpose then spake Basil these woordes, where making mention of the Church in his Epistles hee sayeth:B… in his 78. Epi…le. The Catholike and Apostolical Church abandoneth &c. When as yet notwithstanding in that Church of Greece, which hee auoweth to bee Catholike and Apostolike, the stately loftinesse of Rome had not so highly aduaunced it selfe? And therefore wee must needes scrape out of the Kale…der of Catholikes,The Catholike church amongst the Grecians e…empt from the Church of Rome. Basil, Athanasius, Nazianzen, Tertullian, Augustine, Cyprian, Eusebius, Theodorete, and all … the most famous Bishoppes of the Greeke and Latine Churches: all which though doubted nothing, but that they were true Catholikes, yet did no one of them professe himselfe to bee a Romanist after this rule. Neither can the grosse ignorance of manie learned Fathers be any wise excused, who first framed the Articles of our Creede vntounto vsus.We read in our Cree… the holy and Catholike Church, but not the Romain Church. For if no Church ought to be reputed for Christian or Catholike, but that which is of Rome: then were those auncient Fathers much to blame, who, in setting downe the Articles of the Creede, did neglect and so lightly passe ouer this vpstart Article of the Romish Sea: that where we bee commaunded to beleeue one holy Catholike and Apostolike Church, they did not in like maner commaund vsus to beleeue the Romaine Church withal.

Hereby you perceiue well ynough (holie Father) p. 46into what combersome straightes and abs…rdities, you hauehave whirled your selfe by your blinde vnaduised rashnesse. For first… if no certaintie of saluation bee to bee hoped for out of the Church, which Church must be without all question that same verie Church of Rome, as you frame your arguments, and that the Church of Rome be none other but the same which is …trayned and streighted to the vniuersal commaundes and decrees of the Bishop of Rome: now then you do exempt out of the priuiledge of the Church, not that one English Nation alone, foreclosing them all passable way to saluation, but togither with them also you do exclude out of the number of the Catholikes, infinit other famous learned Clearkes of the auncient and pure age of the Church, Doctours, Patriarches and Bishops, yea amongest these also all the Bishoppes of Rome as many as were Gregories p…edecessors. But what neede manie prooues in a matter of it selfe so manifest and well knowne? Undoubtedly sithence Christ woulde vouchsafe to lay the first foundation, yea and to builde vp that beautifull and euerlasting buylding of his owne hou…e vppon none other groundwoorke, than vponupon that cor…er stone of Christian fayth, and Christian confession: And if Paul doubted nothing to recompte the same fayth to bee the onelie and infallible shoote anker of saluation: by what lawe then will he adiudge them as outcastes worthie to be banished from the Catholike and Apostolike Church, which professe the self same fayth of Christ, that the Apostles and other Catholike Churches did profe…e?

But the Pope (I suppose) will denie,The onelyonly fai…h and do…trine of Christ doth vnite C…risti…s to the C…u…ch… That to beleeue in Christ, and to worship him in heauen as our onelyonly heade sufficeth to true fayth and saluation, vnlesse we doe withall professe the Pope of Rome to be chiefe heade of the Church here on earth, and our selues generally all to be members of the same Church. If it be so: that the fayth of Christ be not suff…cient ynough for the faythfull vntounto saluation, except the pompe of the Pope bee propt vp togither with the Maiestie of God: what can bee more agreeable with reason, then to make vsus here three Tabernacles,Three Tabernacles. one to Christ, an other to the Pope, and the thirde (and good will) to the Cardinals? To conclude: This also ministreth no small cause of maruelling, why the Pope doth not require vsus likewise to correct the fourme and wordes of our Baptisme: for as much as the fayth which we hauehave vowed to Christ in our Baptisme, auayleth nothing to enfranchise vsus, nor to make vsus free denezens of the Catholike Church, except to this necessitie of fayth, be tyed withall an other tagge of humble obedience to the Pope of Rome: That wee correct (I say) the wordes of our Baptisme, That whosoeuer bee baptized in the name of the Father, of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost, be baptized also in the name of our most holy Lorde the Pope. But if this bee true, the cer…entie whereof cannot be denied: That wee were neuer admitted into the participation of holy Churche in the Popes name, and that the want thereof is no maner of Estoppell to barre vsus any way from being vnited vntounto Christ as members of his bodie: howe dare that lying mou…h be so monstruously impudent, as to condemne the seruaunts of Christ for Heretiques to exclaime agaynst vsus as Apostataes and runnagates from the Church? to accuse kinges and Quee…es to bee supporters of Heretikes? Nay rather by what reason or Scripture will he defen…e himselfe so, that all the worlde may not plainly perceyue him to bee the verie selfe same, whome Saint Paule in his Epistle to the Thessalonians doth by most euident demonstration forewarne them shoulde come:…. Thessal. 2. who sitting in the Temple of God, shoulde keepe a sturre p. 47not as a minister of Christe, but most arrogantly vaunt himselfe to be as a God. Which woordes sithence doe so in all pointes accorde with the life and manners of the Pope, as that they can not seeme to signifie any other. Let the Pope bee throughly well aduised first, howe hee may bee able to cleare himselfe before God, before he accuse others before men. But an other time shal serue more fit for this treaty, hereafter more at large God willing.