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…

Let us proceed further, that we may also espy, how truly the Pope of Rome vaunteth himself alone to be ordained prince over all nations and all kingdoms. Here again I am not ignorant what the decrees and decretals chiefly of those Bishops whose names I have cited afore, do crake and belch out with open mouth concerning ⟨p. 19⟩this matter. But we will have no toys, we will have them show us by Christs express words, that the Bishops of Rome are lawfully ordained Princes over all nations and all Realms, by the ordinance of Christ our Lord, not by the ordinance of any men.

LEt vs procede further, that we may also espye, how truly the Pope of Rome vaunteth himself alone to be ordeined prince ouer all nacions and all kyngdomes. Here agayn I am not ignorant what the decrées and decretalles cheefly of those Byshops whose names I haue cyted afore, doe crake and belk out with open mouth concernyng ⟨p. 19⟩this matter. But we will haue no toyes, we will haue them shew vs by Christes expresse wordes, that the Byshops of Rome are lawfully ordeyned Princes ouer all nacions and all Realmes, by the ordinance of Christ our Lord, not by the ordinance of any men.

A few years past, Austin Steuchus of Eugubie the Library keeper of the sea of Rome, and besides that, a Bishop also, a man otherwise that had read much, but yet for all that, smally seen in the holy Scriptures, and moreover a most filthy flatterer of the Romish Bishops, did put forth a book against Laurence Valla, in the defence of Constantine's Donation, worthy to be spitted at of all godly men, and meet to be trampled in the mire with dirty feet. In this book, among other things, in the xv. Division. First of all (saith he) it stands you in hand to know, that Constantine did not give by name those few Townes, and those few Cities which are called the patrimony of the Church, but he gave the whole West part of the world, and so departing from the City, did as it were give place to a greater Prince then him self (that is to wit to the Pope) assuring him self that Rome it self was the head and dwelling place of godliness, wherein it were unlawful for any man to reign, besides the sovereign of Religion for any two men to reign in that one City to which he knew Peter the Prince of the Apostles and head of Religion to be come, he counted it a heinous matter, specially if the earthly Prince should bear the chief sway in the City. And in his xvi. Division, It could not be saith he) that two princes should reign in one City, specially in this respect, that worldly matters would have overmatched holy matters. Namely it would have happened, as it is in the Proverb, that rivers should have run against their streams. Also in the 90. Division: This is the Majesty and prerogative which Peter gave unto Rome, that like as she was Lady of all lands, so she should reign over all Religion, and all things should be ruled at her beck.