court which onely is nowe seene at Rome. Neither doo I here accuse the faultes of men: but I shew that the Papacie it selfe is directly con∣trary to the true order of a Chirche.
But if we come to the persones of men, it is well enough knowen [ 27] what maner of vicars of Christ we shall fynde. Iulius forsoothe, and Leo, and Clement, and Paule, shalbe pillers of the christian faith, and the chiefe expositours of religion, whiche neuer knew any other thyng of Christ, than that whiche he had learned in Lucians schole. But why doo I recken vp thre or fower Popes? as though it were doutfull, what maner of forme of religiō the Popes with their whole college of Cardi∣nals haue sins long ago professed, and at this day doo professe. For first this is the principall article of that secret Diuinitie that reigneth amōg them, That there is no God: the seconde, That all things that are wri∣ten and taught concernyng Christ, are lies and deceits: the third, That the doctrine of the life to come, and of the last resurrection, are more fa∣bles. They doo not all thinke so: and fewe of them speake so. I graūt. But this hath long ago begon to be ye ordinarie religiō of Popes. Wher¦as this is very well knowen to all that knowe Rome, yet the Romishe Diuines ceasse not to bost, that by Christes priuilege it is prouided, that the Pope can not erre, because it was said to Peter: I haue praied for thee, that thy faith should not faint. What, I pray you, winne they by mocking so shamelessely, but that the whole world may vnderstand, that they are come to that extremitie of wickednesse, that they neither feare God, nor stande in awe of men?
But let vs imagine, that the vngodlynesse of those Popes whom I [ 28] haue spoken of, is hidden, because they haue neither published it by pre∣chinges, nor by writinges: but onely haue bewrayed it at their table, and in their chamber, or at least within walles of houses. But if they will haue this priuilege to be of force, whyche they pretende, they must nedes wipe Iohn the .xxii. out of the number of Popes, who openly af∣firmed that soules are mortall, & that they die together with the bodies vntil the day of resurrection. And, that you may perceiue that the whole See with her principall staies was then wholly fallen: none of all the Cardinals withstode so great a madnesse, but the schoole of Parise mo∣ued the king of Fraunce to compell him to recant it. The king forbade his subiectes to communicate with him, vnlesse he did out of hande re∣pent: and the same, as the maner is, he proclaimed by a heralde. The Pope compelled by this necessitie, abiured his error. This example maketh that I neede not to dispute any more with my aduersaries a∣bout this that they say, that the see of Rome and the Bishops thereof, can not erre in the fayth, because it was saide to Peter, I haue praied for thee, that thy faith may not fainte. Truely he fell with so fowle a kinde of fall from the right faith, that he is a notable example to theim that come after, that they are not all Peters whiche succede after Peter in the bishoprike. Howbeit this is also of it selfe so childishe, that it ne∣deth no answere. For if they will drawe to Peters successours whatso∣euer was spoken to Peter, it shall ••olowe that they are all Satans, for asmuche as the Lord said this also to Peter. Go behinde, thou Satan, because thou art an offence to me. For it shalbe as easye for vs to turne backe this later sayeng against them, as it shalbe for them to obiect the