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.…

In which Sea, I mean the Sea of this present age, we may easily discern the usual practises of that Romish Antichrist not unknown too the whole world. Neither doth this holy father therefore rail upon us so barbarously, because he thinketh us to be so licentious in deed, as he slandereth us maliciously in words, neither would he reprove us one jot• the more for that cause, though we were in very deed much worse then we are: nay rather we should be so much the more dearly be loved of him, by how much we resembled him nearest in lewdness and looseness of life. But there lurketh an other snake in the green grass,¹ which because he neither discloseth in his Bulls, nor the simplicity of the godly can easily discern, we will frankly make known to the whole world. And this it is: If we would yield our ⟨p. 44⟩person and our kingdom to the Romish Halter, and suffer the mark of the beast to be sealed upon our forehead, after the manner of some Princes, and with as great affection as they do: Certes no kind of inordinate licentiousness, were it never so abominable, might be any such estoppel to bar us out of the number & Beadroll of his dearest Sons & Daughters: but should be beautified with as much of the Apostolic blessing, as the dearest darling of all the crew. Now because we have shaken of these peevish Papane fe••ers, and betaken our selves to that Imperial standard of true religion, under the which we have chosen to adventure our life for Christs glory and honour, rather then to remain in thraldom under the Pope: Hereof cometh it that we be reproached with this foul name, to wit, a Bondmaid of all treachery: this is it that makes him to boil with so hot hart-burning against us. And thus much hitherto now of that which you may conceive either uttered already against you by the renowned Queen of England, or at the least as much as her highness might justly speak unto you: which nevertheless if had been set down by her own pen, would have been much more artificially and princely delivered, if her highness would have vouchsafed so much to have embased her Majesty, as too deal with such a monster,

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 vpon vs so barbarously, because he thinketh vs to be so licentious in deede, as he slaundereth vs maliciously in words, neither would he reprooue vs 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,