Yet notwithstanding, because we will grant some what to Succession, tell 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 ⟨p. 726⟩down only in his Castle of 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 releasing thence at his own pleasure, taking money for so doing: or, that he gave order to say private Masses in every corner: or that he 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 him, whither soever he went, upon an ambling Jennet, with lights, and belles: or, that he Consecrated with his Holy Breath, Oil, Wax, Wool, Belles, Chalices, Churches, and 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 usurpation he took upon him self the Right & Authority over other Bishops Churches: or that he Exempted him self from the Power of any Civil government: or that he maintained Wars, and set Princes together at variance: or that he sitting in his Chair, with his triple Crown full of labels, with sumptuous and Persianlike gorgeousness, with his Royal Sceptre, with his Diadem of gold, and glittering with stones, was carried about, not upon palfrey, but upon the shoulders of Noble Men. These things, no doubt, did Peter at Rome in times paste, 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 done.
Yet notwithstandinge, bicause wee wil graunte somme what to Succession, tel vs, hath the Pope alone Succeded Peter? And wherein, I praie you, in what Religion, in what Office, in what peece of his life hathe he Succeded him? What one thing (tel me) had Peter euer like vnto the Pope, or the Pope like vnto Peter? Except peraduenture thei wil saie thus, That Peter, when he was at Rome, neuer taught the Gospel, neuer Fedde the Flocke, toke away the Keies of the Kingdome of Heauen, hid the Treasures of his Lorde, sat him ⟨p. 726⟩downe onely in his Castle of S. Iohn Laterane, & pointed out with his finger al the places of Purgatorie, and kindes of pounishementes, committinge somme poore Soules to be tormented, and other somme againe suddainely releasing thence at his own pleasure, takinge monie for so doinge: or, that he gaue order to saie priuate Masses in euery corner: or that he mumbled vp the Holy Seruice with a lowe voice, and in an vnknowen language: or, that he hanged vp the Sacrament in euery Temple, and on euery Aultar, and caried the same about before him, whither soeuer he wente, vpon an amblinge Iannet, with lightes, and belles: or, that he Consecrated with his Holy Breath, Oile, VVaxe, VVulle, Belles, Chalices, Churches, and Aultars: or that he solde Iubilees, Graces, Liberties, Aduousons, Preuentions, Firste fruites, Palles, the vvearinge of Palles, Bulles, Indulgences, and Pardons: or that he called him selfe by the name of the Head of the Churche, the Highest Bishop, Bishop of Bishoppes, alone moste Holy: or, that by vsurpation he tooke vpon him selfe the Right & Authoritie ouer other Bishoppes Churches: or that he Exempted him selfe from the Power of any Ciuil gouernemente: or that he mainteined Warres, and set Princes togeather at variance: or that he sittinge in his Chaire, with his triple Crovvne ful of labelles, with sumptuous and Persianlike gorgiousnesse, with his Roial Scepter, with his Diademe of gould, and glitteringe with stones, was caried about, not vpon palfraie, but vpon the shoulders of Noble Menne. These thinges, no doubt, did Peter at Rome in times paste, and leafte them in charge to his Successours, as you would saie, from hand to hande: for these things be nowe a daies donne at Rome by the Popes, and be so donne, as though nothing els ought to be donne.
