And be it also, that our most merciful father do as yet hold back his long lingering revenge, shall we Christian Princes, and nations therefore (whom this Babylonicall Strumpet hath so long bewitched with her poisoned doldrenche of abominable fornication) beholding with our eyes so many Christian Countries, so •••iercifully and monstrously rent a sunder, wittingly and willingly suffer our selves to be led thus continually by the lips, & muzzled with such mockeries? If the ancient nobility of the Romans could think it a matter much inconvenient to tolerate the haughtiness of Lucius Tarquinius a king yea their natural Liege, lawful Lord & King, ranging somewhat more insolently then was seemly: what should move us kings, and princes authorised in our estates by God him self too think that either we may, without due remorse of conscience any longer wink at, or without manifest prejudice of the universal Church, behold or bear with this pompous pontifical arrogance far exceeding all kingly,1 yea chrise more monstrous then Tarquin's pride, I say not in a king, but in a beggarly Prelate, unmeasurably vaunting himself, not only beyond the pride of Tarquin, but also above all humane power, nay rather above all whatsoever is called God? For what greater arrogance of any mortal man, since the first creation of mankind, hath ever bin heard of, or what more grievous injury ever offered to the church of god, or Fistula more contagious might be imagined, than that in this equal, & even estate of bishoplike function, one only Bishop so to raise his crest, as ye challenging to himself ⟨image 7⟩universal Dictatorship, he should so overcrow his fellow servants, as that all other Bishops and Councils, should swear humble submission unto him, unto whose authority all humane creature should assubiect it self: at whose heck Princes must yield their Sceptres and Seigniories: yea Emperors also must of fine force, stowys to the ground, and give their necks to be trodden upon? Which malapert sauciness being of it self no less absurd, then execrably heinous, is so altogether void of all feeling of common sense, so also in all respects contrary to the nature and office of Bishoplike Pastorship, as that nothing may sound into mens ears more detestable, or permitted of us, more perilous.
And be it also, that our most merciful father do as yet hold back his long lingering reuenge, shal wee Christian Princes, and nations therfore (whom this Babylonicall Strumpet hath so long bewitched with her poisoned doldrenche of abhominable fornica•ion) beholding with our eyes so many Christian Countries, so •••iercifully and monstrously rent a sunder, wittingly and w•llingly suffer our selues to bee led thus continually by the lips, & mooseled with such mockeries? If the aun•ient nobilitie of the Romanes could think it a matter much inconuenient to tollerat the hautines of Luci•s Tarquinius a king yea their natural Liege, lawful Lord & King, raunging somwhat more insolently then was seemely: what shoul• mooue vs kings, and princes authorised in our est•tes by God him selfe too thinke that either wee may, without due remorse of conscience any longer winke at, or without manifest preiudice of the ••iuersall Churche, behold or beare with this pompous pontificall arrogancie farre exceeding all kingly,1 yea chrise more monstrous then Tarquines pride, I say not in a kyng, but in a beggerly Prelate, vnmeasurably vaunting himselfe, not only beyonde the pryde of Tarquine, but also aboue al humane power, nay rather aboue all whatsoeuer is called God? For what greater arrogancie of any mortal man, since the first creation of mākind, hath euer bin heard of, or what more greeuous iniurie euer offered to the church of god, or Fistula more cōtagious might be imagined, thē that in this equal, & euē esta•e of bishoplike fūctiō, one only Bishop so to raise his crest, as ye challēging to himself ⟨image 7⟩vniuersall Dictatorship, he shoulde so ouercrow his fellow seru•nts, as that all other Bishops and Councels, shuld sweare humble submission vnto him, vnto whose authoritie all humane creature shoulde assubiect it selfe: at whose hecke Princes must yeeld their Scepters and Segniories: yea Emperours also must of fine force, stowys to the grounde, and geue their neckes to bee troden vpon? Which malaper• saucinesse being of it self no lesse absurde, then execrably haynous, is so altogeather voyd of all feeling of common sense, so also in all respects contrary to the nature and office of Bishoplike Pastorship, as that nothing may sounde into mens eares more detestable, or permitted of vs, more perillous.
- 1The pomp of the Pope.The pompe of the Pope.
