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.…

But here lo again a fresh reply of a long and never discontinued succeeding of bishops rusheth out against us: whereby they suck out the very source, and wellspring of their succession even from the Apostles themselves: and to countenance out the matter amongest the ancient doctors are alleged as champions of valour, Tertullian, Irene, and Augustine, who do not a little advance the dignity of ecclesiastical succession. They do yield to the Church honour in deed: but how? and when? forsooth in their disputations to confirm the antiquity of the scriptures, against such as did utterly deny them. Let us also consider the time when they did so: forsooth even then, when as the very ancient integrity of godliness, virtue, true religion, and sincerity of doctrine was resiant in the succession of Bishops: and when as yet the Sea of Rome taught nothing else, but that which was agreeable too the Catholic doctrine, approved and allowed in Christian Churches. Hitherto yet was no cause given why they should make any special complaint against that Sea: the foundation whereof they had heard say might be attributed too Peter especially, because they perceived that the countenance thereof availed much to the appeasing of schisms. But if Augustine and the other ancient Fathers were living now, and should hear and see these horrible heresies, monstrous maskings, and peevish puppets, wherewith this holy Sea overwhelmeth the whole world at this present, they would change their note, and sing a far other manner of song of the intolerable pride and ambition of this Sea: and would with no less vehemency of spirit, then other godly ministers at this present,¹ bend themselves tooth, and nail against the same. And y•t touching that beadroll of succession whereupon they brag as never at any time discontinued: with what face dare these Romish Rutterkynes face it ⟨p. 40⟩out with a card of ten as it were, which hath been so many years turmoiled with schisms, encumbered with so many chances and changes of bishops, each striving against other for the title of that Sea: where many times three Popes, and for the more part two Popes have challenged the chair: not unlike lusty gallaunces who be jealous of their paramours: in so much that it could not be easily discerned who ought to be received for the true Pope:

But heere loe againe a freshe reply of a long and neuer discontinued succeeding of bishoppes rusheth out against vs: wherby they sucke out the very source, and welspring of their succession euen from the Apostles themselues: and to countenace 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 vs 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, byause 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,