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 good fellowship gentle Reader, what stronger force of illusion could possibly be seen at any time? In so marvellous a confusion of thick and darkened clouds, what could be more easy, than for the unlettered, and unskilful multitude to wander up and down by whole heaps, into any amazed error whatsoever? even as a man having first piked an others eyes out of his head, might easily lead him then to break his neck where him ly•ted. Herein unless the most mighty Lord Creator of all things, and governor of all things, looking down from above, had put to his helping han•e in time, what could all the Counsels of men agreeing together in one, all their forces and powers conspiring together prevail against that so mightily fortified force of popish Monarchy, by such a continual course of succeeding years established? the proof whereof many great and probable arguments have heretofore declared. For how often hath attempts bee•e given, even of the most puissant Monarchies, Kings, and Potentates of the world, to snaffle this intolerable ambition of popane arrogance, ⟨p. 13⟩yet void of all success notwithstanding. For immediately upon an assay made, princes being s•a•ed, either through fear of further peril, or lead on •he blind side by crafty collusion, or zeal of Religion, or circumvented by traitorous re•cu•tyng of their Subjects at home, have surceased all the sort of them •rom further exploits.

In good fellowship gentle Reader, what •tronger force of illusion coulde possibly bee seene at any tyme? In so maruelous a confusion of thicke and darkened clowdes, what coulde bee more easie, than for the vnlettered, and vnskilful multitude to wander vppe and downe by whole heapes, into any amazed errour whatsoeuer? euen as a man hauing first pyked an others eyes out of his heade, might easily leade him then to breake his necke where him ly•ted. Herein vnlesse the most mightie Lorde Creator of all thinges, and gouernor of all thinges, looking downe from aboue, had put to his helping hane in time, what coulde all the Counsels of men agreeing togither in one, all their forces and powers conspiring togither preuayle agaynst that so mightily forifyed force of popishe Monarchie, by such a continuall course of succeeding yeares established? the proofe whereof manie greate and probable argumentes haue heretofore declared. For how often hath attemptes beee giuen, euen of the most puissant Monarchies, Kinges, and Potentaes of the worlde, to snaffle this intollerable ambition of popane arrogancie,