An answer to a certain book, writtenAn answere to a certeine booke, written

Other arguments might I use against this common opinion of Peters sitting and dying at Rome. But as you lose all, if you can not prove him to have been Bishop there, so though you could prove it, and we should of necessity confess it, yet had you gained nothing at all. For though it must needs follow if Peter were not Bishop of Rome, that all your religion is false flowing from that head, yet being granted that Peter had been Bishop there, it maketh neither hot nor cold for proof of any point in question between us.¹ Of this therefore no more now.

Other arguments might I vse against this common opinion of Peters sitting and dying at Rome. But as you lose all, if you can not prooue him to haue bene Bishop there, so though you could prooue it, and we should of necessitie confesse it, yet had you gained nothing at all. For though it must nedes follow if Peter were not Bishop of Rome, that all your religion is false flowing from that head, yet being graunted that Peter had bene Bishop there, it maketh neither hotte nor colde for proofe of anie point in question betweene vs.¹ Of this therfore no more now.

1. 1pag. 133. Livi. decad. 4. lib. 5.pag. 133. Liui. decad. 4. lib. 5.

The largeness of the challenge containing in number seven and twenty articles of controversy, you labour to extenuate, by an old history recorded in Livy of Titus Falminius host, who by diverse manners of dressing and preparing one only kind of meat, furnished his table with great variety of dishes. And would ⟨p. 151⟩you bear us down, Master Rainolds, that this multitude of articles is but of one matter, drawn forth into sundry parts, by skilful varying and mincing the same? If any will look upon them, he shall soon be able to control you. The first of Private mass, the second of receiving in one kind, the third of common prayers in an unknown tongue, the fourth of the Popes supremacy, the fifth of the real presence, the seventh of elevation, the eight of Adoration, the ninth of Hanging the Sacrament under a Canopy, the tenth of Accidents without subject, the fourteenth of worshipping Images, the fifteenth of reading the scriptures in the vulgar tongue, the seventeenth of the sacrifice of the mass: can you deny that these controversies, being the arguments of several articles, are diverse and differing one from an other? And are not these weighty points, general heads, principal questions, great mysteries, and keys, as Master Jewel calleth them, of your religion? some of the other articles (I grant) have more affinity together, yet not so great, except in one or two, but that they may in reason and nature be distinguished, and stand each by them