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.…

Hitherto have I disclosed the maskings of the Popish religion, though not all that I could, yet as many as will serve our present purpose sufficiently enough. Now that I may be so bold to lead the Pope home too his own person: I will call him back to the very root of his progeny and stock, even to Saint Peter himself: whom as he vaunteth to be the founder of his Sea, so will I vouch the same against him for a witness too confound his doctrine. This therefore do I demand of this good Sire: whether Saint Peter ought to be numbered in the number of the Apostles? I perceive he doth not deny it. I proceed then, and demand further: whether Saint Peter were one of the same number of Apostles to whom it was spoken:¹ Go ye into the whole world preaching to every creature. If you grant it, as ye can not well deny it: I ask now whether the order Apostolic be the self same estate which beareth to name Bishops? If the functions be several, how could both the estates be given to one self person:² to wit that Peter should exercise the office both of an Apostle, and of a Bishop? Then do I desire to know: If Christ did send out Peter together with the other Apostles into ⟨p. 71⟩the whole world, how shall it appear, that the Lord allotted him to some one certain place, where h•e might sit, who without any mention of place at all, was sent of the Lord to go, not to sit: into the world, not into a City: unless peradventure we ought too recount the City of Rome to •ee the whole worlds and that w•oe so sitteth at Rome may be supposed to go ab•••de into the whole world. Not so. But you will say: That Peter did install Linus to be Bishop of Rome. It may be so: and what hereof at the length?

Hithertoo haue I disclosed the maskinges of the Popish religion, though not al that I could, yet as many as wil serue our present purpose sufficiently ynough. Nowe that I may bee so bolde to leade the Pope home too his owne person: I will call him backe to the very roote of his progeny and stocke, euen to Saint Peter himselfe: whome as hee vaunteth to bee the founder of his Sea, so will I vouche the same against him for a witnesse too confounde his doctryne. This therefore do I demaunde of this good Syre: whether Saint Peter ought to bee numbered in the number of the Apostles? I perceaue hee dooth not deny it. I proceede then, and demaunde further: whether Saint Peter were one of the same number of Apostles to whome it was spoken: