The Apologie, Cap. 7. Diuision. 2.
What is he at this daie, whiche alloweth the mightiest Kinges and Monarches of the worlde to kisse his blessed Feete?
M. Hardinge.
It is he (saie we) that humbly for his owne persone refuseth suche honour, that calleth, and thin∣keth him selfe, Seruum Seruorum Dei, the seruant of the seruantes of God. But when he seeth the greate powers and Princes of the worlde humble them selues to Christe, Lorde of all Lordes, and Kinge of all Kinges, in the person of him, whose Vicare on Earthe he is, and chiefe deputie in those thinges, that be to God warde: not vnmindefull what he is of him selfe, for the roomes sake that he beareth, and for his honour whose vicegerent he is, the rather also for* 1.1 example of Humilitie and Obedience, so to be taken and learned of others of inferiour degree: he suffereth that honour to be done, whiche is more then a mere man can require. Neither is this the pride of Popes at these daies onely, as ye obiect, but the example of suche humilitie in Princes we can proue to be auncient.
The greate Kinge Charlemaigne, who afterwarde was create Emperoure, coulde not be with∣holden by the Pope Adrian the firste,* 1.2 but at the firste meetinge he woulde kisse his feete. Many other Emperours and Kinges haue of olde time done likewise. And lest the Soueraintie of suche Honour exhibited vnto him shoulde in his owne conceite lifte him higher then for the degree of humaine condition,‡ 1.3 to that purpose serueth the stoole of naturall easement at his creation, whereof your sur∣mise is* 1.4 very vile, to temper the highnesse of that vocation with the base consideration of humaine infirmities and necessities.
The B. of Sarisburie.
What thinge is there, either so vile, or so horrible, but by sutche proper excuses maie soone be smoothed? Chrysostome saithe, Haec, etsi minima esse videantur, ta∣men magnorum sunt causae malorum.* 1.5 Nam & Ciuitates, & Ecclesias saepe numerò euer∣terunt. Propterea nec à lachrymis abstinere possum, cùm primos istos consessus & salutationes audiam, ac in mentem veniat, quot, quantá hinc mala in Ecclesia Die orta sint: These thinges, notwithstandinge they seeme smal, yet are they the causes of greate euils. For oftentimes haue they ouerthrowen bothe Citties, and Churches. There∣fore I cannot absteine from weepinge, when I heare of these Superiorities, and Salutati∣ons: and consider, how many, and howe greate euils haue growen thereof in the Churche of God.* 1.6 S. Hierome, mutche mislikinge the state of his time, saithe thus, Episcopi, velut in aliqua sublimi specula constituti, vix dignantur videre mortales, & alloqui conserous suos: The Bishoppes, as if thei were placed in somme high Castle, scarce∣••y vouchesaue to looke vpon poore mortal menne, and to speake vnto their felowe seruantes.