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 I will refer this manner of accusation unto that place of my •reatie, wherein shall be uttered the grievous complaint of all nations touching your unmeasurable cruelty, and I will bend my pen too that wherein your senseless insensibility seemeth as worthily to be scorned, as your Tyranny too be detested. For what kind of foolishness, or rather madness is this, according to the old Proverb, to kick against the prick, and •o• offer •ambate against God? wherein the more fiercely ye urge, the more deeply ye wound your selves: the which as hath heretofore usually happened too all Tyrants in like manner impugning the Gospel of Christ: ⟨p. 19⟩So also may ye right well perceive (if I be not deceived) that the selfsame may not only even now of all likelihood chance unto you, after their example, but is already also for the more part come upon you. For who is so senseless, that entering into due consideration of the matter it self, viewing with upright eye the beginnings and proceedings of our cause, doeth not evidently see, how those your stately turrets mounted up aloft, from so fickle & slippery foundation, are of themselves fallen to the ground without any resistance or humane force:¹ on the other side how our simple buildings, though in outward appearance very slender and weak, have been raised up even from the first foundation hitherto, maugre the malice of all Emperors, of all Kings, of all Popes, yea of all potentates and people almost: and how by simple degrees, by little and little, have with a wonderful overspreading surrounded all nations of the world, and be now at the length advanced and had in prise in princes Palaces & Courts. All which may be sufficient arguments to induce you to know that God himself doth march in field for us, & from above deride all your treacheries to scorn: and withal that the trueth it self is of so forcible power, as that no manner of humane forces whatsoever, no not the gates of Hell can possibly overthrow it.

But I will referre this maner of accusation vnto that place of my •reatie, wherein shalbe vttered the greeuous complainte of all nations touching your vnmeasurable crueltie, and I will bende my penne too that wherein your senselesse insensibilitie seemeth as woorthily to bee scorned, as your Tyranny too bee detested. For what kinde of foolishnesse, or rather madnesse is this, accoring to the olde Prouerbe, to kicke against the pricke, and o offer ambate against God? wherein the more fiercely ye vrge, the more deeply yee wound your selues: the which as hath heretofore vsually hapned too all Tyrantes in like maner impugning the Gospell of Christe: