A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two years ago…A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two yeres agoe…

¶To the right honourable and his singular good Lord Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester, Baron of Denbigh, Knight of the honourable order of the Garter, one of the Queens Majesties most honourable privy Council. &c. Arthur Golding wisheth health, prosperity, and abundance of Gods grace.

¶To the right honourable and his singular good Lord Robert Dudley Earle of Leicester, Baron of Denbigh, Knight of the honourable order of the Garter, one of the Queenes Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsell. &c. Arthur Golding wisheth health, prosperitie, and abundaunce of Gods grace.

What mischief hath of late years been attempted against this Realm, and how great a flame hath been kindled against the walls of the Church, through the great Treasons that have been practised to confound the whole state, by reason of the Popes most pestilent Bull: your Lordship right well knoweth: yea and it is even yet still so apparent (or rather present) in all mens eyes, as there is no wise man but he trembleth at the dreadful remembrance, nor simple & godly minded man, but he wondereth at the marvellous disappointing of the dangers, which were sundry times ready to have overwhelmed us, even in one moment, had not God reached out his merciful hand from heaven in the open face of the world to defend us. For it can not be denied, but that thereby, open defiance hath been made to faithfulness and allegiance: honesty and virtue were shamefully defaced: Religion and Justice were openly assaulted: neighbourhood and charity were treacherously despised: God and godliness were wickedly impugned: our most virtuous and renowned Princes Majesty was traitorously impeached; ⟨image 3⟩her rightful preeminence diversly assailed, her unblameable doings causeless defamed, her gracious clemency scornfully abused, her noble person privily pricked at, the welfare of the whole Realm dangerously hazarded, and the state thereof either entitled to inward Competitors, or proffered as a pray to foreign enemies. Is it not a strange case, that a Romish Bull (or to speak more rightly, a childish babble) should be able to work such inconveniences, even where the Gospel shineth most lightsomely? And yet we see, that not only some of the rude and witless sort, but also many of the greater sort, which thought: them selves no small fools, nor were in deed no young babes, were contented to become such Calves, as to run out of Gods blessing, into the warm Sun, and to turn their weapons into their own bowels, at the bellowing of an outlandish Bull, which notwithstanding was but a Leaden Bull, a paper Bull, a painted Bull, and had neither breath, moving, nor voice of it own, till the Calves them selves had breathed into it. But righteous art thou O Lord God, and rightful are thy judgements. They digged a pit for others, & are fallen into it them selves. They laid a snare for thine elected, and their own feet be snarled in it.