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.…

But what hellhound now,¹ what Beelzebub prince of darkness hath so bewitched you with mad frenzy, that you should so monstrously with so horrible ou•rage rush upon the godly servants of Christ, contrary to the express word of your God, yea without all regard of charity or shame, and in stead of a christian shepherd become a most butcherly bloodsucker of your own brethren, for whose safety Christ himself did vouchsafe to give his own life? for what man is able either by speech to express, or record in memory the infinite thousands of most holy martyrs devoured with unspeakable cruelty, and savagely tortures, which within very few years, by the murdering practises of your execrable cormorants within Christendom, with unquenchable and Wolvish Tyranny not as yet ceasing to embrue it self with all manner of horror, upon the silly flock and sheep of Jesus Christ: I would very fain learn this one thing of you, by what law at the length, or by what interest do you presume too challenge too your selves so merciless an in•ole•cie in devouring the faithful worshippers of Christ ye proud Prelates. Forsooth by the law I suppose,² which the Scribes and Pharisees denounced long sithens, We have a law, and by our law ⟨image 23⟩they must die. In deed you have a law for burning of Heretics decreed at the request of Pope Innocent the third: And in your Court all be deemed heretics, whosoever be of opinion, that the true means too attain salvation, ought too be sought and taught out of Christs Gospel, and not out of the Popes decrees.

But what helhounde nowe,¹ what Beelzebub prince of darkenesse hath so bewitched you with madde frensie, that you shoulde so monstruously with so horrible ou•rage rushe vpon the godly seruantes of Christe, contrary to the expresse woorde of your God, yea without all regard of charitie or shame, and in steede of a christian shephear• become a most butcherly bloodsucker of your owne brethren, for whose safetie Christe himselfe did vouchsafe to giue his owne life? for what man is able eyther by speach to expresse, or recorde in memorie the infinite thousandes of most holy martyres deuoured with vnspeakeable crueltie, and sauagely tortures, which within very fewe yeres, by the murthering practises of your execrable cormerauntes within Christendome, with vnquenchable and Wooluishe Tyranny not as yet ceassing to embrue it selfe with al maner of horrour, vpon the silly flock and sheepe of Iesu Christe: I woulde very faine learne this one thing of you, by what lawe at the length, or by what interest doe you presume too challenge too your selues so mercilesse an inolecie in deuouring the faithful worshippers of Christe yee proude Prelates. Forsooth by the lawe I suppose,