The Pope confuted The holy and apostolic Church confuting the Pope. The first action.…The Pope confuted The holy and apostolique Church confuting the Pope. The first action.…

What? do they think these knacks to be sufficient warrants towards the creation of the vicar of Christ? or to the establishing of Apostolic succession on earth? and that some one wretched caitiff, not for any singular excellency of faith, or virtue, wherein he surpasseth others, but for a most frivolous title of place, and chair only, wherein he may be installed, which may aswell happen to the most doltish ass in the world, as to some worthy or famous personage, may of right claim sovereignty over the Church of God, for sitting in that chair only, and therein vaunt himself to be the chief Prelate? Bishop of Bishops? and head of the whole universal Church? Wherein he may think it lawful for him to do what him lusteth? through the which slipping his neck out of the collar of his dew obedience to the higher powers, he may presume to enforce under his yoke kings, and countries, and thereby set all nations in uproar, with fire and sword: and usurp more then lordly controllership over all other Churches, and himself like a tragical king upon a stage, sitting in a golden chair, crowned with a triple crown, garnished in a cope of tissue, with kingly sceptre in hand, two swords, and a golden Diadem beset with pearl and precious stones, ride like a lurdei• (lordling I would say) upon ⟨p. 39⟩noble mens shoulders? O swee•• Saint Peter. Is this to succeed Peter in Apostleship? is this to sit in Peters chair without any spark of Peters qualities? or is it to sit in the chair of pestilence? And what if the Turk spoiling the Pope of the same chair should sit therein?¹ would the dignity of the place make him Peters successor forthwith? or what if the Pope himself, as he sitteth in Peters chair, had also now in possession Peters fisherboate: should he therefore for Peters fisherboate, become any whi••e the more skilful fisherman? Wherein to my simple conceit seemeth to have chanced too the Pope a matter not much unlike to that, whereof we read mention made by Lucian, of one Neanthus the son of Pittacus:² who having Orpheus harp, altogether (•ccording to the old proverb) an ass upon the harp: conceiving a vain & foolish opinion of himself, was persuaded that immediately upon the sounding of the harp, he should make woods and rocks to run hopping after him.