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.…

We speak not this, as though we were willing to have any jot of Peters due authority impaired, who doubtless was one of the chiefest Apostles: but because you do so blockishly patch up that mootheaten beggarly cloak of being Prince of Apostles, too colour that disguised visor of your pretensed fullness of absolute power, and there withal make the whole Church of Christ your bond maiden and thrall. For this cause thought I good too beat upon this point so much, not against Peter, but against you for him, & on his behalf. Which Peter if were now in Rome even at this instant, would so nothing at all acquaint himself with any those braveries, wherewithal you now blaze forth his arms ⟨image 36⟩as that he would more bitterly and chidingly inveigh against you, then he did once against Simon Magus. Whom as he condemned with his money and merchandise, so would he much eagerly curse you all in the same bitterness of speech, Thy money be with thee to thy utter destruction. ¹For what think• you, would he accept of those royalties of S. Peter? would he presume to intermeddle with the two Swords of Civill and Ecclesiastical government, or fullness of Dominion? would he require to be installed in the highest place, as Judge over the Clergy? or would he take upon him so much, as though it we not possible for him too err, and as though the treasury of all wisdom and understanding were to be sought from him as from out the only Treasurer thereof, as though the spirit could find no certain and constant place of abode, but within his only breast• would he ever endure too be called or worshipped as King of kings, Prince of princes, or chief head of the Church? would he ever take upon him too maunt so high, and in such arrogant wise, as to tread so proudly up on the necks of Emperors with his feet, as Pope Alexander the 3. did?² would he compel kings & Potentates to kiss his hands and feet? would he vaunt himself to be greater then all Councils above all churches, and Lord over all the people of Christendom? would he dare to be so blasphemous as Hostiensis and the forgers of •he Decretals, ³