The Apologie, Cap. 5. Diuision. 4.
And although the Popes had neuer hitherunto leasure to con∣sider diligently and earnestly of these maters, or though some other cares doo now let them, and diuers waies pulle them, or thoughe they coumpt these to be but common and trieflinge studies, and no∣thinge to appertaine to the Popes worthinesse, this maketh not why our mater ought to seeme the woorse. Or if they perchaunce wil not see that, whiche they see in deede, but rather wil withstande the knowen Cruthe, ought wee therefore by and by to be coumpted Heretiques, bicause wee obey not theire wil and pleasure?
M. Hardinge.
Sith Christe hath geuen to the Pope in Peter,* 1.1 whose laufull successour hè is, commission to feede his Sheepe: Holesome feedinge beinge thend of that commission, it is not to be doubted, but he that ordeined thend, hath also ordeined meanes belonginge to thend. Therefore it is not the dutie of a good and humble sheepe, to geue foorthe a malicious surmise, that the shepheard wil not see that he seeth in deede, but rather wil withstand the knowen Truthe. And what so euer sheepe be disobedient, and refuse to heare the voice of their sheepeheard, whom Christe hath made ouer them, the same be not of Christes folde. And mainteininge contrary Doctrine to their shepeheardes true Doctrine. iustly may they be accoumpted Heretikes.
The B. of Sarisburie.
To be Peters lauful Successour, it is not sufficient to leape into Peters stalle. Lauful Succession standeth not onely in possession of place, but also, and mutche rather in Doctrine and Diligence. Yet the Bishoppes of Rome, as if there were nothinge els required, euermore put vs in minde, and tel vs many gaye tales of theire Succession, Pope Symmachus saithe, In Papa si desint bona acquisita per meritum,* 1.2 sùfficiunt quae à loci Praedecessore praestantur:* 1.3 If the Pope wante vertūes,* 1.4 and goodnesse of his owne,* 1.5 yet the vertues that are geuen him by (Peter) his predecessour,* 1.6 are suffi∣cient. And the Glose vpon the same: Petrus fecit Papam haeredem bonitatis suae: Peter hath made the Pope Heire of his goodnesse.
But S. Hierome saithe farre otherwise: Non sanctorum filij sunt, qui tenent lo∣ca sanctorum: They be not euermore Holy mennes Children, that sitte in the roumes of Holy menne. Likewise saithe Alphonsus de Castro, a special assistante of that syde, Quamuis teneamur••••x Fide credere, verum Petri Successorem esse Supremum totius Ec∣clesiae Pastorem, tamen non tenemur eadem Fide credere, Leonem, aut Clementem esse verum Petri Successorem: Notwithstanding we be bounde by Faithe to beleue, that the true Successour of Peter is ye highest Shepheard of the whole Churche: yet are we not bounde by the same Faithe to beleue, that Leo, or Clement (being Eishoppes of Rome) are the true Suc∣cessours of Peter.
The woordes,* 1.7 that Christe spake vnto Peter, importe no Souerainetie, but