An apology, or answer in defence of the Church of England concerning the state…An apologie, or aunswer in defence of the Church of England concerninge the state…

¹For as to that which certain men are wont so much to speak of, that the Pope only is Peters successor, as though that by reason thereof he carieth the holy ghost in his bosom, and can not err: it is a foolish and a trifling tale. The grace of God is promised unto a well disposed mind, and to him that feareth God: not unto Chairs & Successions. Riches saith S. Hierome, may make a Bishop of greater power: but all Bishops what so ever they be, are the successors of the Apostles: If the place and the instalment alone be sufficient, both Manasseh succeeded to David, & Caiaphas to Aaron: and oft times an idol hath stand up in the temple of God. Archidamus a Lacedaemonian was wont to avaunt him self much, because he was come out of the stock of Hercules: whose arrogance Nicostratus daunted in this wise: As for thou, saith he, seemest not to be come of Hercules: for he killed evil men: whereas thou of good men makest men evil. And what time the Pharisees boasted their succession and kindred, & blood of Abraham: you, saith Christ, do seek to kill me, a man that have spoken that truth unto you, which I have heard of God. Thus did Abraham never: you are of ⟨p. 65⟩your father the Devil, & his will you will obey. Nevertheless that we should grant some thing unto succession: Doth the Pope only succeed Peter? In what thing I pray you? in what Religion? in what use of service? in what part of his life doth he succeed him? What thing had ever either Peter like the Pope, or the Pope like Peter? Except peradventure they will say this: that Peter whiles he was at Rome never taught the Gospel: never fed his flock, that he toke away the keys of the kingdom of heaven, hid the treasures of his Lord: only that he sat him down in Lateran, and with his finger did set an order for all the rooms in purgatory, and for all kinds of punishment: as for the poor unhappy souls, some he assigned unto punishment, some again for money he toke out by and by at his pleasure: also that he toke order for private masses, that they should be said in every corner. That he whispered the holy mysteries with a low voice and in a strange tongue: set up the Sacrament in all Churches and upon every altar: & carried it wheresoever he went, with lights and sacring belles, before him, upon an ambling Genet:

¹For as to that whiche certayne menne ar wonte so muche to speake of, that the Pope only is Peters successor, as thoe that by reason thereof he carieth the holy ghoste in his bosome, and can not erre: it is a folishe and a triflying tale. The grace of God is promised vnto a well disposed minde, and to him that feareth God: not vnto Chayres & Successiōs. Riches sayth S. Hierome, may make a Byshoppe of greater powre: but all Byshops what so euer they be, ar the successors of the Apostels: If the place and the enstalment alone be sufficient, bothe Manasses succeded to Dauid, & Caiphas to Aaron: and ofte times an idole hath stande vp in the tēple of God. Archidamus a Lacedemonian was wōt to auante him selfe muche, bicause he was come out of the stocke of Hercules: whose arrogancie Nicostratus daunted in this wise: As for thou, saythe he, semest not to be come of Hercules: for he killed euill men: whereas thou of good men makest men euil. And what time the Pharisees boasted their succession and kinred, & bloud of Abraham: you, sayth Christ, doe seke to kill me, a mā that haue spoken that truth vnto you, whiche I haue hearde of God. Thus dyd Abraham neuer: you ar of