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.…

You have heard now, good men and brethren, most faithful citizens of the church, and inhabitants of the ⟨image 125⟩Christian common weal as much as I thought good at this present to speak, and necessarily too advertise you touching the Pope of Rome and his imperial lordliness. And I doubt not but it is apparent enough unto you, how the top gallant of this See, hath climbed up to all her stately power and loftiness at the first, without all warrant of Gods law, without any just reason or ground, but clean contrary to the express words of Christ, contrary to the natural and lively purport of the Gospel, contrary to the most ancient canons, and contrary to the public liberty and freedom of the church. You do understand, if you will make a just computation of the years, what •ime, and by whose practise this notorious Monarchy was erected at the first, by what policies and drifts, by what crafty kind of deceivableness, and hypocrisy, by how manifold flippery devises, it crawled up unto so monstrous a mass by little and little, and being mounted aloft, and by process of time enthronized in state, into how incredible a mountain of sovereignty, it hath swollen and puffed it self up. You do see how wickedly and treacherously the Pope of Rome & his deer darlings the Cardinals, have not only raked up that kingdom, which they do most injuriously detain, but also to what end and with what affection they maintain the same at this present, not that truth may reign, but that true religion may be brought to nought. You do see that, as long as this Monarchy may bear universal controllership, there is no place of refuge, left for sincere religion, for freedom of consciences, nor yet for free coū cell and sound advise in Churches.

You haue heard now, good men and brethren, most faithful citizens of the churche, and inhabitauntes of the ⟨image 125⟩Christian common weale as much as I thought good at this present to speake, and necessarily too aduertise you touching the Pope of Rome and his imperiall lordlines. And I dout not but it is apparaunt inough vnto you, how the toppe gallant of this See, hath climbed vp to all her stately power and lof••nesse at the first, without all warrant of Gods lawe, without any iust reason or grounde, but cleane contrary to the expresse wordes of Christ, contrary to the naturall and liuely purport of the Gospell, contrary to the most auncient canons, and contrary to the publique libertie and freedome of the church. You do vnderstand, if you wil make a iust cōputation of the yeeres, what ime, and by whose practise this notorious Monarchie was erected at the first, by what pollicies and driftes, by what craftie kinde of deceiuablenes, and hypocrisie, by how manifolde flippery deuises, it crawled vp vnto so monstruous a masse by litle and litle, and being mounted aloft, and by processe of time enthronized in state, into howe incredible a mountaine of soueraintie, it hath swollen and pufte it selfe vp. You doe see how wickedly and treacherously the Pope of Rome & his deere dearlinges the Cardinalles, haue not only raked vp that kingdome, which they doe most iniuriously deteigne, but also to what end and with what affection they maintein the same at this present, not that truth may raigne, but that true religion may be brought to nought. You do see that, as long as this Monarchie may beare vniuersall controllership, there is no place of refuge, left for sincere religion, for freedome of consciences, nor yet for free coū cell and sounde aduise in Churches.