An apology or answer in defence of the Church of England with a brief…An apologie or answere in defence of the Churche of Englande with a briefe…

Yet notwithstanding, because we will grant somewhat to succession, tell ⟨image 122⟩us, hath the Pope alone succeeded Peter▪ and wherein I pray you, in what Religion? in what Office? in what piece of his life hath he succeeded him? What one thing (tell me) had Peter ever like unto the Pope? or the pope like unto Peter? except peradventure they will say thus: that Peter when he was at Rome, never taught the Gospel, never fed the flock, toke away the keys of the kingdom of heaven, hid the treasures of his Lord, sat him down only in his Castle in S. John Lateran, & pointed out with his finger all the places of Purgatory, and kinds of punishments, committing some poor souls to be tormented, and other some again suddenly ••leasing thence at his own pleasure, taking money for so doing: or that he gave order to say private Masses in every corner or that be mumbled up the holy service with a low voice and in an unknown language, or that he hanged up the Sacrament in every Temple and on every Altar, and carried the same about before ⟨image 123⟩him whether soever he went, upon an ambling Jennet, with lights and belles: or that he consecrated with his holy breath, oil, war, wool, belles, chalices, churches & altars: or that he sold Jubilees, graces, liberties, advowsons, preventions, first fruits, Palls, the wearing of Palls, bulls, Indulgences and pardons: or that he called him self by the name of the head of the Church, The highest Bishop, Bishop of Bishops, alone Most holy: or that by usurping he took upon him self the right and authority over other folks Churches: or that he exempted him self from the power of any civilly government: or that he maintained warr•, set Princes together at variance: or that he sitting in his Chair with his triple Crown full of labels, with sumptuous & Persian-like gorgeousness, with his Royal sceptre, with his Diadem of gold and glittering with stones, was carried about not upon Palfrey, but upon the shoulders ⟨image 123⟩of noble men. These things no doubt did Peter at Rome in times past, and left them in charge to his Successors as you would say, from hand to hand: for these things be now a days done at Rome by the Popes, and be so done, as though nothing else ought to be don.