M. Hardinge.
VVhat he is.* 1.1 we knowe not, * nor you neither, Sir Defender. This we knowe, that in these woordes moste impudently you belie the Pope. For neuer was there Pope that commaunded either Frenche Kinge, or Emperoure to doo the seruice you speake of. Parte of that I haue readen pertei∣ninge hereunto, I will here recite.
The woorthiest and greatest Prince that euer was in Earthe, Constantine the Greate, to wit∣nesse openly the reuerence whiche he bare in his harte to Christe our Sauiour, and to S. Peter, whose Successoure the Pope is, as likewise Christes Vicar in Earthe, disdained not to honour S Syluester Pope in his time, with doinge‡ 1.2 the office of a footeman to him, and with leadinge his Horse by the Bri∣dle. VVherein he seemeth, as firste of all Emperours he professed the Faithe of Christe openly, so firste of all Princes to haue geuen to the posteritie an example of Humilitie. That no man doubte of it, this muche I finde recorded by an olde Father of the Greeke Churche, Matthaeus Hierom••nac hus, as vttered by Constantine him selfe:* 1.3 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . VVhiche ••n Englishe is this muche. Submittinge our selfe to the office of a foote man, and holdinge his Horse by the Bridle, wee leade him foorthe out of his sacred Palais, in the woorship and reuerence of S. Peter.
That sithens bothe Emperoures, and Frenche Kinges of Humilitie and deuotion, and to wit∣nesse their humble obedience to Christe in his Vicar, haue donne the like seruice, yea though the Pope shewed him selfe neuer so vnwillinge thereto: wee finde it reported in sundrie good recordes. * 1.4 But that he euer commaunded any suche seruice to be donne vnto him, ye can neuer she we it by any indifferente and credible witnesse. Paulus Aemylius an Italian of Verona, in the seconde Booke of his Chronicles, whiche bothe diligently and eloquently he wrote of Fraunce, describeth howe honorably Pipine that woorthy Kinge of Fraunce receiued Steuen the Pope, that succeded Za∣charias, when he came into his Realme. He bothe killed his feete, and wente by him at his Horse bridell.
The like honour of holdinge the Stirope would Charles the fifthe the late greate Emperoure haue downe at B••non••a to Pope Clement the seuenth, had not the Pope with mutche adoo put him from it.