But O immortal God, and will the Bishop of Rome accuse us of Treason? Will he teach the People to obey & follow their Magistrates? Or hath he any regard at all of the Majesty of a Prince? ⟨p. 395⟩Why doth he then, as none of the old Bishops of Rome ever did,1 suffer him self to be called of his flatterers, Lord of Lords, as though he would have all Kings and Princes, who, and what so ever they be, to be his underlings? Why doth he vaunt him self to be King of Kings, 2and to have Kingly Royalty over his Subjects? Why compelleth he all Emperors, and Princes to swear to him fealty, and true obedience? Why doth he boast, that the Emperors Majesty is a thousandfold inferior to him:3 & that for this reason specially, because God hath made two lights in Heaven: and because Heaven and Earth were created, not in two Beginnings, but in one? Why hath he, and his fellows (like Anabaptists and Libertines, to the end they might run on more licentiously and carelessly) shaken of the yoke, & exempted them selves from being under all Civil Power? Why hath he his Legates (as much to say, as most subtle spies) lying in wait in all Kings Courts, Councils, and Privy chambers? Why doth he, when he list, set the Christian Princes one against an other, and at his own pleasure trouble the whole world with debate and discord? Why doth he Excommunicate, and command to be taken as a Heathen and a Pagan, any Christian Prince, that renounceth his Authority? and why promiseth he his Indulgences and his Pardons largely to any, that will (what way so ever it be) kill any of his enemies? Doth he maintain Empires, and Kingdoms? Or doth he once desire, that common quiet should be provided for? You must pardon us, good Reader, though we seem to utter these things more bitterly and bitingly, then it becometh Divines to do. For both the shamefulness of the matter, and also the desire of rule in the Bishop of Rome is so exceeding, and outrageous, that it could not well be uttered with other words, or more mildly.4 For he is not ashamed to say in open assembly, that all Jurisdiction of all Kings dependeth of him self. And to feed his Ambition, and greediness of rule, he hath pulled in pieces the Empire of Rome, and vexed and rent whole Christendom asunder:
But O immortal God, and wil the Bishoppe of Rome accuse vs of Treasone? Wil he teache the People to obeie & folowe theire Magistrates? Or hath he any regarde at al of the Maiestie of a Prince? ⟨p. 395⟩Why doothe hee then, as none of the olde Bishoppes of Rome euer didde,1 suffer him selfe to bee called of his flatterers, Lord of Lordes, as though hee woulde haue al Kinges and Princes, whoe, and what so euer they be, to bee his vnderlinges? Why doothe hee vaunte him selfe to bee Kinge of Kinges, 2and to haue Kingely Roialtie ouer his Subiectes? Why compelleth he al Emperours, and Princes to sweare to him fealtie, and true obedience? Why dooth hee boaste, that the Emperours Maiestie is a thousandfolde inferioure to him:3 & that for this reason specially, bicause God hath made two lightes in Heauen: and bicause Heauen and Earth were created, not in twoo Beginninges, but in one? Why hathe hee, and his felowes (like Anabaptistes and Libertines, to the ende they might runne on more licenceously and carelessy) shaken of the yoke, & exempted them selues from beinge vnder al Ciuil Power? Why hathe hee his Legates (asmutche to saie, as moste suttle spies) lieinge in waite in al Kinges Courtes, Councelles, and Priuie chambers? Why doothe he, when he liste, sette the Christian Princes one againste an other, and at his owne pleasure trouble the whole worlde with debate and discorde? Why dooth hee Excommunicate, and commaunde to be taken as a Heathen and a Pagan, any Christian Prince, that renounceth his Authoritie? and why promiseth he his Indulgences and his Pardons largely to any, that wil (what waie so euer it be) kil any of his enimies? Doothe hee maintaine Empires, and Kingedomes? Or doothe hee once desire, that common quiete shoulde bee prouided for? You muste pardonne vs, good Reader, though wee seeme to vtter these thinges more bitterly and bitingly, then it becommeth Diuines to doo. For bothe the shamefulnesse of the matter, and also the desire of rule in the Bishoppe of Rome is so excedinge, and outrageous, that it coulde not wel be vttered with other woordes, or more mildely.4 For he is not ashamed to saie in open assemblie, that al Iurisdiction of al Kinges dependeth of him selfe. And to feede his Ambition, and greedinesse of rule, hee hathe pulled in peeces the Empiere of Rome, and vexed and rent whole Christēdome asunder:
- 1Augustin. Steuchus.
- 2Antonius de Rosellis.
- 3De Maior & Obedien. Solitae. De Maior. & obedien. Unam Sanctā. in sexto.De Maior & Obedien. Solitae. De Maior. & obedien. Vnam Sanctā. in sexto.
- 4Clemens. 5. In Concil. Viennen. Leo papa. 3.
