vertuous neuer so good and holy and sit neuer so lowe But what saieth the spirite of God He that is proude and will not obey the highe pristes commaundemeÌ„t for it is onelye one that is to saye the chief priest whom he speaketh of there let him die And be ye sure the death in hell is prepared for all suche at the ende ¶ The fifte probation Not onely Ireneus S. Ciprian and S. Augustine declaclare the preeminence of sainte Peter and his successors how the establyshement of our hole fayth doeth depende thereupon and all heresies do springe of the coÌ„trarie but also all and euerye one of Peter his successours in that seate haue confirmed and established y t hyghe Authoritie which thinge they would neuer haue done being so holy men many of them eueÌ„ martirs of Christ withoute anye spotte of ambition no nor could haue ben suffred to haue done if they had not had that verye preeminence by Christe hym selfe But now let vs here some of their testimonies ¶ Anacletus the Martyr disciple and successor to S. Peter in hys sea Let all harde causes which be of greate importaunce be brought before the apostolical sea of Rome as vnto the head there to be determined and defyned For so Christe hym selfe dyd ordeyne it and so woulde haue it For onelye he dyd appointe that the Apostolical sea of Rome shoulde be the chiefe and heade and euen the verye henge of all For as by the henge the doore is gouerned and ruled so by Christes appointment all churches muste be gouerned and ruled by the authoritie of the Apostolicall sea of Rome ¶ Euaristus hys successor in in the sea of Rome also a holy martyr Your wysedomes desyryng of vs to be instructed folowiÌ„g the ecclesiasticall rule haue referred al to the Apostolical sea as vnto the heade rather willyng in doutful thynges to be taught what to kepe theÌ„ rashlye by vsurpation to presume after your owne phancies ¶ Alexander martir and next successor to Euaristus in the sea of Rome Relation is made saith he vnto this holy sea whereunto the decisinge of all great ecclesiastical coÌ„trouersies by christe him selfe was geuen he saying to Peter the prince of the Apostels thou art Peter c. That certen enemies of christ do presume to accuse the Priestes of God before the publyke and comen iudges ¶ Sixtus martir and next successor in the sea of rome Sixtus Bushop of the vniuersall and apostolicall church vnto al bishoppes sendeth gretinge c. If any of you be iniured or wronged it shalbe lawfull for him to appeale to thys holy sea apostolyke to haue refuge here vnto as vnto the head For the holye aposteles willed bade that all Bishoppes should be defeÌ„ded and holpen in their right by the authoritye of this holy sea ¶ Thelespherus Igenius holy martires in the same sea apostolike next successoures vnto Sixtus the one after the other These .ii. holy martires iÌ„ their epistels haue euen the same 〈◊〉 effecte that their predecessour Sixtus did publishe Pius the next successouâ— This moste holye father about the obseruing the feast of Ester thus doth wryte vnto al places of christendome We by oure apostolike authoritie do institute decree that ye kepe the feaste of Ester as we receued of oure elders haue appointed vnto you RemeÌ„ber y t you the meÌ„bers by no meanes must disseÌ„t froÌ„ vs beyng youre head seynge Christe commanded thys oure Apostolicall sea to be the head of all seas c. ¶ Victor a holy Martyr and after successor in the same Thys holy martyr and Bisshoppe of Rome concernynge the breakers of the ordour taken for the sayd feast of Easter sendeth a sharpe excomunication agaynste all the transgressours ¶ The same Victor in a certen epistel vnto Theophilus and to all other in Alexandria The Ecclesiastical decree receyued eueÌ„ froÌ„ Peters tune coÌ„cerniÌ„g appellatioÌ„s to be made vnto y e appostolical sea of rome oughte to be obserued so that we wyll that you defyne nothynge therin wythout our authoritie seyng that Christ sayd only to Peter whose place we nowe kepe what so euer thou losest in earth c. Marke here now I besech you All these holy mens testimonyes and iudgementes concernynge thys oure matter of the primacy These meÌ„ sought not their own as Paule hath to the Philippians but that whiche was Iesus Christes These men receyued it by succession as ye haue hearde one euer of another goynge before euen receyued it as it were by hande And euer synce these holy fathers thus dyd beleue and thus dyd teache all christendoÌ„ hath and stil doeth beleue and teache the same doctrine As I coulde proue and trye froÌ„ thys holy martir Victors tyme eueÌ„ tyll this daye But no man I thynke will denye that for all y e difficultie as heretikes take the matter is to proue it in the begynnyng But that I trust in God is here now sufficiently proued And yet beside all these testimonies S. Clement saieth that S. Peter hymselfe with his owne mouth gaue hiÌ„ that highe authoritie aboue al other Symon Peter saieth he before his death toke me by the hande sayinge these wordes to all the people then present This man I leaue to be Bishoppe of this city of Rome I geue to hym the power that christ gaue to me to lose bind that whatsoeuer he decreth in earth the same shalbe decreed and approued in the heauens Nicen councel also in the .xviii. Canon commaundith all appellations to bee made to the sea of Rome Therefore here now I would wish y t the SwiÌ„glians Ecolampadians Lutherans withal y e whole rable which counte all equal would trye their doctrine w t this se howe they stande together in fygure They saye the Popes Authoritie was but a thynge inueÌ„ted of late daies that only by man but this proffe here trieth y t it was fouÌ„ded euen froÌ„ the beginning that by christ Se nowe who here in is to be beleued y e truth or falsed right or wrong God or the deuyl ¶ The sixt probation All which professe christ truly are membres of Christes ecclesiastical body vnder hym as head whether they be priestes or lay men Emperours kinges or byshoppes this no maÌ„ denieth I am sure but they caÌ„ not be couÌ„ted to be vnder christ as their cheif head which wilfully do breake the order that he toke when he was here in earth whiche order was that Peter should be lafte as head vnder him ouer all hys flocke as I haue and shall proue it sufficieÌ„tly in this smal boke by gods mercyful assistance whether they be of y e laitie or of the clergie If thou wilt be one of christes shepe whether thou be kiÌ„g or eÌ„peror y â— must be vnder his shepeherde It were a moÌ„struous â—yghte to se the shepe rule the shepherd Nowe yf ye say thautoritie of Emperours
to forgeue sinners afterward and to beare with the flocke Christe called Peter the stone where vpon he builded his church Peter receiued of hym y e keies of power like as Paul did the keyes of science More ouer who knoweth not saithe he that Saint Peter was the chiefe of al the appostels Seing now that thus manye holy martires and confessours of christes church receiued this doctrine one of an other as by hande euen from the beginninge and first foundacioÌ„ of the church and seinge againe that not only y â— Latine church but y e greke church also as appeareth bothe by these fornamed wryters and likewyse by many holy counceles euer receiued Peter and euery one of his successours as chief head and ruler ouer al can he then be couÌ„ted a christin man that wyl not onlye denye but that wil doubt of this receiued trueth euen from Christe Now to the obiections Here nowe folowe sundrye obiections inuented againste thautoritie of Peter his successours in citinge and answerynge to them I kepe no ordour bycause thinuentours of them did breake all faytheful and comelye order that ought to be kepte in the ecclesiasticall hierarchie misticall bodye of Iesus Christ That obiection whiche firste came in place is first answered vnto And here gentel reader by these obiections ye shal plainly perceiue that like as coper gildid ofte semeth to be gold but if it be rubbed hardlie tried it wil vtter him self to be copper and then lesse to be set by eueÌ„ so the falsitye gilded colored w t wittye and rethorical perswacioÌ„s appereth ofte to the symple to be the veritye and trueth but opened tried by the scriptures verities thereof shall appere but copper counterfete And I trust in Iesus Christ that the crafty deceite in this matter of y e primacy which in these yeares past hath killed a thousaÌ„de soules is here in fully detected and disclosed So that no man shall haue cause hereafter to set by theÌ„ onles he wil forsake golde and chose copper ¶ The first obiection The saing of Christ Math. xvi blessed art thou SimoÌ„ c. the rest that foloweth in the text is not saye they to be appropriate peculierly to Peter but to al the Apostels whome Christ generallye did aske the question and for whom Peter generallye gaue aunswere Againe christ did not builde his churche vpon Peter but vpon Peters faith and vpoÌ„ Peters confessioÌ„ yea vpon Christ him selfe For none can put anye other fundation sayth Paule but that whiche is set already whichis Iesus christ ¶ The answere It must nedes be appropriate peculierly onlye to Peter for the whyche knew no mans mynde but his owne tolde but onely his owne faith They all had not then one faith in christ as appeareth â—i Iudas which beleued not as it is in Iohn y e vi It rwas not reueled to them al as yet but suppose it had beÌ„ yet that Peter was not preuie of Euery maÌ„s herte was only knoweÌ„ to god Wherefore Peter answered but for him selfe onlye And therefore it is to be thought saithe Hilarius that at that time y e other Apostels were not as yet so firmely established in that sure senteÌ„ce and belefe now coÌ„fessed by Peter yea he made answere streight way without respect to his felowes eueÌ„ as tholy ghost moued him and so likewise y e aunswere was made to him againe alone callyng him by his fathers name saying to him in the singuler number tibi to the and not vobis to you he blessed not theÌ„ al but he gaue y e blessiÌ„g to him alone by name As before Iohn the first he sayed to hym and not to Andrewe or other thou shalt bee called a stone so now here he saithe to veryfye hys promesse before made thou art a stone not as before y u shalt be calde a stone vpon whyth I wyl builde my church That whyche I haue by nature that is to saye to be the foundacioÌ„ that do I now perticipate with y e. This was the true vnderstanding of this foresayde text Mathewe the .xvi. in the primatiue church as now shal apeare most plainlye by these testimonies folowinge ¶ Anacletus disciple and successour to S. Peter Anacletus the seruaunt of Iesus Christ by gods calling set in the see apostolike and appointed there vnto by S. Peter prynce of the Apostelles seÌ„deth greting to all Byshops and to the residue of Christes flocke c. The holye and appostlyke church of Rome receiued the primacy and power aboue all churches and vpon al faithful people he doeth exempte neither Kyng nor Emperour euen of our Lord our sauiour not of the Apostels he sainge to Peter thou arte a stone vpon this stone I wil builde my churche c. And I wyll geue to thee the keyes of heauens c. and sone after he saith amonge y e holy Apostels there was diuersitye of power for although al were apostels yet by god him self Peter was made head yea this Thappostels theÌ„ selues would haue that Peter should be the head and should haue the rule and principalitye of Thappostelshype ¶ Anacletus also in another epistel to the catholyke churche In al difficulties questioÌ„s of greate importaunce let the censure be referred vnto y e see apostolyke For y t Christe him self willed wheÌ„ he said to peter thou arte a stone vpon this stone I wil builde my churche c. Hereby appereth not onlye Anacletus owne iudgement in this matter but also what was then the commen takinge of it by the commen censure of the vniuersal churche Whyche thing also appereth by Saint Clemens testimonie others euen then at the same time in the primatiue church ¶ S. Clement in the first epistel to S. Iames. By Christes owne mouthe saith he Peter was y e chiefe of thapostels vnto whom god y e father had reueled his sonne Iesus Christes vnto whome Christe gaue thee blessynge Math. the .xvi. This was the iudgemeÌ„t then yea and if you loke further ye shall see howe thie toke this truth as it wer by hande one of another ¶ Tertulian which was shortlye after Was anye thinge hid from Peter as it is in the .xxiii. probation whiche was called the stone whereupoÌ„ Christes churche was builded to whom the keyes of heauens were geueÌ„ and whyche had power to lose and bynde in heauens and in earthe Now ye here the commen faithe hereof at that time in the vniuersal church ¶ Here also what OrigeÌ„ saith yea heare the censure and iudgement of the vniuersal church herein in Origens time and that in the Greke church Peter saith he vpon whom christ builded his church wrote but onely .ii. epistels Also he saith wheÌ„ christ committed the charge of fedinge his shepe to Peter and that vpoÌ„ him euen as vpon the earthe he woulde buylde his churche he moued him to no other vertue but only to loue and charity
muche more large power conteyned For therein is comprehended the fulnesse of all ecclesiasticall power and dignitye whiche euen then in the xvi of Mathue Christe gaue onlye to Peter sayinge tibi to thee and through hym to all his successours He promissed theym onelye to him but his promissinge or his sayinge as I saide was his doinge Eius dixisse est fecisse that it is so by goddes helpe I shall nowe trye by sufficient testimonye But first note that when christ had spoken of the churche and that the gates of hell shoulde not preuayle agaynste it he no further continued hys promisse to the church but turned then his speache to Peter sayinge I wil giue to thee the keyes so that the churche receyueth them throughe Peter to whom in his own person then they were geuen as to the heade and foundacion of the churche vnder Christe But now let vs heare testimonies hereof ¶ Tertulian libro de prest haer Was there anye thinge hid from peter as ye haue it twise before whiche was called the stone of the foundacion of the church Which had the keyes of heauens geuen him and power to lose and binde both in heauens and in earthes Tertulian here speaketh of that Christ sayde to Peter after he had geuen him the blessynge Mathue the .xvi. that which I do nowe thou knowest not and yet he graunteth there that Peter had receiued the keyes before which can be no time els but euen when the promisse of geuinge them was made as wil appere by conferrynge the textes the places and the times together ¶ S. Ambrose also in the xx of Luke Peter which came later first entred into the sepulchre as he which had receyued the keyes of the kingdome to open vnto other Marke here Sayncte Ambrose saythe likewise that the keyes were geuen to Peter before the passion whyche must nedes be euen at the promisse Math .16 or els neuer as shal appeare by reding the processe of the ghospell S. Ambrose also in libro de Isaac c. Christ sayd to Peter thou canst not folowe me nowe c. but he had before geuē to him the keyes of the kingdome of heauens c. Loe all this was before the passion Therefore we must nedes graunt that he gaue the keyes when he promyssed them seinge none can shew any other time of geuing them ¶ S. Aug. con 124. de tempore In declaringe the geuinge of the keyes Mathew the .xvi. he saith Christ gaue the keyes then to Peter and therfore he saith tibi dedi claues regni celorum I haue geuen to thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauens the like S. Aug. hathe tract 50. in Ioa. et li. 2. contra gau dentii epistolam S. Hilari in psa lii S. Hilari saith that christ toke not away the keyes from Peter whē he denied him here we see S. Hilari iudgeth that the keyes were geuen before the passion but that must be when he promyssed them Mathew the .xvi. c. S. Hilari in psal .cxxxi. Christ saide to Peter come after me sathā or aduersarye to whome he had geuen the keyes before But that must nedes be when he promyssed them seing this foloweth euen streight after in the same chapiter the .xvi. of Mathew Chrisostome in explicando propitius esto tibi c. Math .xvi. He saith O Peter what is this thou which haddest a heuenlye reuelacion and the keyes geuen to thee of the heauens arte thou so sone fallen so sore By al these auncient writers it appeareth y t the keyes were geuen whē they were promessed and that Christ gaue them presentlye in saing I wil geue thee the keyes And this hath caused that euer since y e keyes iustlye haue bene put vnto all Peters successours to none other As for the power to minister the sacramēt of penaūce and to forgeue sinne was geuen after the resurreccion both to the Apostels and to the .27 Disciples as a parte of the keyes and yet as vnder Peter he beynge the head But who I praye you is so foonde to saye that the .27 Disciples receiued the keyes equallye with Peter ¶ The .xi. obiection Christ said to al indifferentlye what so euer ye shal bynde vpon earth shal be bounde in heauen and what so euer ye lose vpon earthe shalbe losed in heauen ¶ The answere That power geuen Math .xviii. was as appereth by the processe but to excommunicate the wicked and to lose thē from it againe if they were trulye penitent whyche power Paule caused the Corinthians to execute vpon y e fornicatour And here note wel that it was not without great cause that Christe vsed here the plurel number saynge what so euer you bynde c. For one dyd neuer thys at that tyme onelye Peter the heade excepte but it was geuen to the churche and rulers of the congregation beyng for that cause gathered together as ye rede .i. cor .v. It is in no place of the gospel wherby any one may excōmunicate onely Peter for him and hys successours except which beīg head had it geuē to him alone with the keyes and therefore he alone put it in executiō vpō Anani vpon Saphire vpō Simō Magus c. How be it if a man should graunt that y e power of losing and bindinge Mat. xviii was spokē to the apostels as before Mat. xvi to Peter yet must we nedes confesse as appeareth in the answers to y e .iii. last obiectiōs that to Peter as to y E head the power was geuen to other but as vnder him stil kepinge obseruing a due order which order is broken if Peter the other Apostels and the .72 disciples or the successours of euerye of these had like power geuen in al thinges ¶ The .xii. obiection The .viii. of thactes Peter and Iohn were sent by thother apostels to Samaria but y e senders seme to be greater then they whiche be sent c. ¶ The anwere When by Philip the dracon the people of Samaria were cōuerted to y e faith by y e cōsēt of all y e apostles the holye ghoste being y e chief author Peter as whose authoritie was greatest was chosen as beinge thought moste mete to goe to confirme them with tholye spyrite the matter and case then requirynge the chiefe power What did this againste Peters authoritye or to the derogation of his high power and preeminece It semeth rather to sette fourth his excellent priuelege bycause none was thoughte yea euē to the holy gost which was the chiefe sender so mete as Peter he being the head of al to goe to destroye the great member of the deuil Simon Magus a thinge of passinge difficultie which required Peters presēce This was an argument of tharians the father sent the sonne ergo the sonne was lesse then the father How be it Herode sent y e .iii. Kinges to Christ yet he was not greater then they May not y e King and the Counsel of a Realme
chiefe Kinge Adam oure firste parent was al naked bare whiche thinge can not proue that all Kinges since should be as pore euen so in y e primatiue church to shew the pouertye of the Apostles can not proue that nowe all should continewe in lyke state no more then it wil folow that a childe newlye borne wrapt in ignoraunce in unbecillytye and want of al perfection lackinge knowledge lackinge streÌ„ght not hable to staÌ„d speke or go c. should stil continewe in the same miserable estate Marke wel this similitude seinge Paule lickeneth y e mistical body vnto y e natural bodye of man This both well proue that al ought not to be brought to the weake and vnperfite estate of the primatiue churche whych yet heretikes for a confusioÌ„ euer desired to haue But here note also y t we must not chaunge that which was then in the primatiue churche but wel consider that more perfeccion hath bene stil added thervnto Sit profectus inquit aug fidei ac religionis noÌ„ permutatio Againe though Christ as man cam in al humilite for our redeÌ„tioÌ„ for our instruction yet as maÌ„ he was king lord of al hauing so writteÌ„ in the hemme of his garment king of kinges lord of lordes And in y t he dyd nether chose rich priÌ„ces to be hê discip nor willed his disci after to passe of earthly riches he declared plainly by facte y t which he taught in worde sayinge be not careful for erthly thinges but first seke y e kingdome of heuen al these shalbe cast vnto you he y t prouideth for the birdes of y â— ayer will also prouyde for euerye one accordinge to theyr vocation he y t prouided for princes theyr domynyons prouided also for Peter hys successours theyr dominioÌ„s he y t prouided princes to laye their goodes at Peters feete hath euer since ê“uided for Peters see will do stil to y e ende He biddeth al be pore in spirit but as for to be pore in goodes no maÌ„ is coÌ„mauÌ„ded but rather coÌ„trari seiÌ„g he bade al meÌ„ make freÌ„des of y e wicked MaÌ„mon that it is more blessed to geue sayth he theÌ„ to receiue Happy is he whoÌ„ god at theÌ„d shall try to haue ben a good bayliffe or a faithful stuard here iÌ„ these trifeling thinges For hauing much no maÌ„ shalbe reproued but for euil kepinge getting or spending daÌ„nation shal come He is most mete to haue worldly possessioÌ„s riches dignities whiche bothe caÌ„ will best bestow them whether he be of the clergye or of the laity but all y e matter of the laytye agaynste the clergye these .xx. yeares mo hath euer still bene to take awaye the double honoure that Paule speaketh of then it woulde sone folowe that al godlines should shortlye after ceasse seing honos alit artes and as Martial saith Sint mecenates noÌ„ desunt flacci marones ver giliumque tibi vel tua rura dabuÌ„t ¶ The .xxxiiii. obiection Christ came not to beare rule but to be in all subiection he would his Disciples to folowe his stepes both Peter other Thinke that Christes wordes were not contrarye to his doinge c. ¶ The answere Christ came first most humbly for our erudicion but afterwarde he boldlye sayde all power is geuen to me both in heuen in earth God the father then did exalt him causing al in heauen hel and earth to bende and bowe vnto him and then he gaue to his disciples power to worke miracles to forgeue sinnes c. Then he appointed Peter to be porter of heauen gates then he made him chiefe shepherd ouer al his flocke c. Yea and yet beside this Christ in the time of al his subiection and basing him selfe would be taken counted to be Master ouer his flocke ye cal meÌ„ Master saith he and so I am c. What then I praye you maketh it against Christes Mastershipe or superioritie that he so to teache humility humbled him selfe yea or what proueth that lesson or that example against Peters primacie Surelye nothing at all ¶ The .xxxv. obiection Beatus Rhenanus gethereth thus of Tertulian Tertulan saith he couÌ„ted the see of RoÌ„e amonge the chiefe sees but he did not say it was the chieffest of al. Therefore he beleued not that it was the chiefest of al. ¶ The answere Rhenanus was not counted in all pointes catholike that iustlye Therfore it makethe small force for his collection How be it if he were either happye or blessed accordyng to his name or els had my lerninge in tharte of dialecte he woulde not collect or gether his argumeÌ„t in the negatiue per locum abauthoritate The philosopher dyd not saye this ergo the philosopher thought not this to be true S. Paule did not say tholye ghoste proceded from the father and the sonne therfore Saint S. Paule thought not or beleued not y t tholy ghost did procede froÌ„ y e father y e sonne A wise reason wel releshed ¶ The .xxxvi. obiection Ephes the .ii. al the apostels are shewed to haue like dignitye where Paule sayeth y t the ephesians be builded vpon the foundacioÌ„ of the apostels c. And Sayncte Iohn sayth the churche hath .xii. foundacions and in them the names of the xii apostels written c. The aunswere Sayncte Hierome saythe that vpon the appostelles the church was builded whych indede was onely buylded vpon christe as vpoÌ„ y e chiefe rocke vnder christ priÌ„cipally vpoÌ„ pet christ by his own power vpholdeth y e bylding is y e chief head as he is the chiefe lyght y e chief shepherd c. and vnder him he appointed Peter next in dignitye notwithstandinge all the Apostels in a maner of speaking be called the foundacioÌ„s ¶ The .xxxvii. obiection In the sixt councel at Cartage it was decreid that no appeale ought to be to Rome but ought to be determined with in the countrye ¶ The answere We rede in Socrates historye that there was a determination made for constitucions prouincial at y e councel of CoÌ„staÌ„tinople And the same be stil allowed approued But ther be none of theÌ„ which be to y e derogation of the see of Rome For there it was decreed also that next to Rome as chiefe Constantinople should haue his see Now if y e greke church decreed as ye saye at y t couÌ„cel to haue al causes w tout appellation to Rome to be finished there w tin y e same prouince we must eyther saye that it was to be vnderstanded in inferioure causes or els y t that restraint notw tstanding they still did acknowledge their obedineÌ„ce to y e see apostolike of Rome For els how could this their doing agre w t y e appellations had froÌ„ y t beginning as appereth in y e v. probatioÌ„ to y e see of Rome Therfore thê councel being catholike did decree nothynge against y e faith of
vertuous liuers to the outwarde apperaunce to take his parte beynge his Angels transfygured in to the Angels of lyght So that as â–ª then they dyd euer slaunderouslye blaspheme and reuyle the true christians and woulde theyr own decrees and lawes to be called the trueth their errours the veritie and them selues to be couÌ„ted godly that their churche was the catholyke church and they y â— Catholikes and earnest defendours of the trueth euen so was it fullye and whollye within this Realme of Englande in all the miserable yeres nowe paste As then the Arians called theyr secte when they suffred for their heresies holye martirs euen so now at this time theritikes cal their champions which stande obstinate to the fire holy martirs not markinge if I maye speake a word or two by digressioÌ„ that the kinde of death maketh not the Martir but the cause not markinge that euen among the HetheÌ„ many haue willyngly suffered deathe and yet no christen man so folysshe as to call theym Martyrs of God not markynge agayne that I one of Kent which said christ toke no flesh of y â— virgin deniyng therby his manhode had fauourers whiche bothe thought sayd when she was burnt that she was the Martir of God but then surelye the deuil shalbe called a confessor whiche confessed that Christe was the sonne of God Whose confession was then as true as truly made as either Iâ—â—s of Kent or els as any of theirs whiche as obstinate heretykes breake the vnitie of the church diuide Christes cooâ—e and yet crie the Lordes worde the lorâ—des worde wrestinge our lordes holy worde to their condeÌ„nation Howbeit we may well perceayue that it is no more wonder to se an obstinate heretyke stande stiffe to the fier then it is to se a man kill haÌ„ge or drowne him selfe The same deuill which causeth the one caÌ„ soone cause the other But of this matter I will speake another time Nowe therfore to retourne from whens I haue a litle while digressed we may easely coniecture that thonlye cause of al these mischiefes and miseryes that we of late haue suffered hath bene the breache of thunity of Christes church When we ones fledde forth of Peters shippe then we fell streyght way headlong into al licentious libertie then we forsaked vtterly al general counsels all ordinaunces froÌ„ the beginniÌ„g kept in christes church al iudgemeÌ„tes vpon scripture saue our owne then of singularytye we did select and chose a new fayth euery daye chaunginge and alteringe and no maruayle after that our noble Prince through counsel of some wicked men aboute him toke that in hande whiche neuer true catholike king did vsurpe before him that is to sai to sit in Peters chere Since what time oh good lord what misery haue we fallen into as wel bodylye as gostlye But nowe thankes be to Iesus Christ which through his mercye hathe broughte vs againe vnto our mother y e catholyke church euen into Peters ship and Iesus longe preserue her amoÌ„ges vs by whose meanes we were brought agayne into it Now we se that God suffereth as he didde in tharians time heresies ofte to floryshe for a seasoÌ„ but yet euer iÌ„ time of mercy he remembreth vs agayne and wil not heresie stil to preuaile but y t we may haue good coÌ„fort say w t AthaÌ„ Nolite turbari freÌ„s nubecula est et ci to pertraÌ„sit Let not your hartes faile you brethreÌ„ be not dismaied saieth he this heresie is but lik a litle cluod it wil sone vade away Nowe we se also that it was not withoute great cause that S. August sayde that amongest other thinges the succession of the bishops of Rome froÌ„ Peters time did kepe him in the true fayth as Ireneus had grauÌ„ted loÌ„g before Now we se y t y t faith is to be receiued beleued holden whiche hath bene kept of al meÌ„ at al times in al places of christendome since y e begiÌ„niÌ„g and y t we must leaue onely to y e generalitye to the antiquity to the conseÌ„t of the fathers al stil agreiÌ„g iÌ„ one For experience sheweth no 〈◊〉 onely y e scripture stories doctors y t as heretikê be euer ful of diuissioÌ„ scisme eueÌ„ oft amoÌ„ges theÌ„ selues as appereth by Luther EcolaÌ„padiê° Carolostadiê° SwiÌ„gâ—â—ê° c. being liuely figured iÌ„ y e coÌ„fusioÌ„ at BabiloÌ„ so are the catholikes euer most surely knit iÌ„ this vnitye wherunto tholy ghost stil doth moue suÌ„dry waies perswade meÌ„s coÌ„sciences Furthermore we se clerely what wickednes misery it is stil to waÌ„der iÌ„ palpable darknes froÌ„ error to error being ones out of y e vnity for which christ praied saying O father graunt y t as y â— I be one so mai these which beleue iÌ„ me be one ioyned knit together iÌ„ one faith iÌ„ one coÌ„fessioÌ„ in one loue in one grace pietye Nowe we se the cause why we fell from this vnitie and vpon what grounde We se the cause was nothing els but to maintayne wyckednes and synne We se what was the progresse and what styll folowed of it that is to saye more synne and more errour vpon errour and heresye vpon heresie We se also that the ende was almost vtter destruction of all together bothe bodely gostly extreme pouertie extreme miserie euen as people quite forsakeÌ„ of god Finally therfore we se y t there is no way so easie for the deuil to bringe in all kindes of heresies errours diuisions scismes contentions strifes and mischiefes as is to denye the vnitie of Christes churche and to forsake the head therof the Popes holines All heresies spriÌ„g hereout saith Ciprian And for this cause I haue nowe right honourable lorde and most holy father taken this worke in hande and haue dedicate the same vnto your fatherhode a chiefe and head pyller of Christes churche to the entente it myght do more good and the soner be embraced of al catholike people within this realme And herein accordynge to my small talent I haue not onely declared by sundry probations some apparent and some demonstratyue the moste hyghe authoritie aboue al other both spirituall and temporal geuen to Saincte Peter and to hys successoures for euer but also haue answered to all the comeÌ„ obiections whiche I haue eyther heard or redde deceitfully inuented agaynst the sayd authoritie Beseching your grace well to accepte this my small labour and construe all to the best for Iesus sake Whom I beseche longe to preserue your noble and vertuous estate in continuall honoure ioye and prosperytye to the great comforte and profit of all true faythful people within this realme and after this life to graunt you eternal glory in heauen wyth god almighty and his holy aungels Amen ¶ Here do folow sundrye probatioÌ„s wherof some do set forth onlye S. Peters preeminence aboue the other apostles some declare the most high authoritye and power geuen by
probation which was but one pece named drachma in value a payse grote payd onelye for the head of euery house Christ caused Peter to gyue .ii. peces in sygne and token sayeth he that Christ then was y e heade of the house that Peter was after to be iÌ„ his stede to supply his rowm wherfore as al then were conteined in Christ so after y e asceÌ„sion al were coÌ„teined in Peter whom Christ appointed to be head ouer theÌ„ al. And like as Moyses when he asceÌ„ded commytted all the cure to AaroÌ„ so did Christ wheÌ„ he asceÌ„ded coÌ„mit all the cure to Peter saying thrise fede fede fede ¶ The .xvii. probation Many priueleges which S. Peter had aboue other geuen hiÌ„ by Christ plainly declare hê primacy one is he gaue Peter power to lose bind iÌ„ y e heueÌ„s to other but iÌ„ one heueÌ„ which thing plainelye decareth sayth Origen a man of no small authoritie vpoÌ„ y t same place Peters preeminence aboue al the rest An other priuelege is that thaÌ„gel after christes resurrection onlinamed peter saying go tel to the disciples and to Peter whiche was not as some saye onlye to comforte him lest he shoulde haue dispaired seinge Christes first appering to him was sufficient comfort for him but it was as auncient writers doo testifye to shew his primacy â–ª like as that was to se how al the .iiii. euangelistes so exactly do set forthe his .iii. denials An other priuelege is that Peter thoughe he came to the Sepulchre after S. Iohn yet he went fyrste into it he went fyrste to Christes place whyche after hym shuld be first chief iÌ„ y e church It was also a great â—uelege y t last of al christ said only to Peter folowe me by which wordes sayth ChrisostoÌ„ he shewed agayne both his great loue and charge that Peters cure should be greater then all the rest Here now then I will demaunde certayne questions if Peter should not haue bene y e chiefe of all and that euen by Christes will why then didde Christe onelye geue to him a name deriued forth of hê own name Why was heâ— named first in al places Why was the churche promissed to be buylded vppon him Why gaue Christ onely to hym the keyes of the heauens Why ioyned he onelye Peter with him in paying the tribute Why prayed he onely for Peter committinge the charge of his brethren to him Why did he fyrste appeare to Peter alone Why did he byd Peter folow him in kinde of deâ—th And why was onely Peter crucified as christ was Why had he al these priueleges Euen bicavse he was head of all And this is the censure and iudgemente of all the whole churche of Christe and of all the holy Saynctes Martirs and Confessoors euen since christes time hitherto The .xviii. probation Peter alone euer as head spake for al as it is both in the ghospel and in Thactes both before christes ascension and after his sayinges doinges also sufficieÌ„tly set forth his primacy and declare euidently y t he had the keies only y t he had y â— blyssing onely that al was there spokeÌ„ by christ to him as by priuelege only this caused hiÌ„ euer still to take vpon hiÌ„ as he did and that in sundrye places of thactes as iÌ„ the chosinge of Mathias to supplye Iudas rowme iÌ„ excusiÌ„g thappostles froÌ„ droÌ„keÌ„nes in making the sermon at receiuinge tholy ghost when he couerted 3000. at once to christ And here marke y t Peters name alone as it is in the probation next before is expressed Why shuld he so haue bene seperated froÌ„ thother but for preeminence superiority Againe he alone healed the lame man Iohn being then preseÌ„t saying that which I haue I geâ—â— the vsinge the singuler number at what time he alone made y e .iii. sermon al being then present where also ye se that the firste miracle after Christes ascension was wrought by Peter and al the sermoÌ„s yet stil made by Peter He also aunswered the rulers for healing y e lame maÌ„ â–ª he alone vsed thauctority in punishiÌ„g Anany Saphire likewise iÌ„ subduing simoÌ„ Magus c. besyde thê all the other apostels are put w tout names in their doiÌ„ges by thandes of thappostels sayth luke many miracles wer wrought c. but Peters name is still expressed peters shadow saith he cured many wher as thappostels w t laying on haÌ„des healed them And here marke also iÌ„ y t point y e diuersity Yea Peters â—emineÌ„ce playnly appeared both in y e visioÌ„ actes y e .x. where he only had then shewed vnto hiÌ„ y e receiuiÌ„g vnitiÌ„g of y e heatheÌ„s also iÌ„ y e .xv. of y t actes iÌ„ pacifiiÌ„g y e strife about y e Legals where Peter as first chiefe yea y t in y e presence of Iames beinge Bishop there answered to the matter gaue hê seÌ„tence fyrst vnto whoÌ„ Paule Barnabas w t other did coÌ„sent then S. Iames which there by Peter as ChrisostoÌ„ witnesseth was appointed bishop last of all recited the decree as it was mete for hiÌ„ to do being bishop there But of thê ye haue more declared in y e answere to y e .xii. .xiii obiections And therfore now to our purpose do not these thiÌ„ges I pray you sufficientlye proue Peters superiority and â—eminence yea did not Peter in al these if I mighte not rather say y e holy ghost speaking in Peter shewe him selfe to be chefe of thappostels to haue â—emineÌ„ce aboue theÌ„ al Surely if it had not bene his office appointed to him by God he wold not stil haue ben so bold yea so malapert arrogaÌ„t as at euery time to take y e preemineÌ„ce vpoÌ„ him namelye as to speake first iÌ„ an other maÌ„s see the bishop being present ¶ The .xix. probacion The working of sundry miracles which be set forth iÌ„ thactes plainly declare Peters superiority primacy Did not 3000. people as ye heard turne to Christ froÌ„ infidelity heariÌ„ge but one sermoÌ„ of his yea thê was a greater miracle accordiÌ„g to christes ê“misse theÌ„ euer Christ hiÌ„ selfe wrought either in raysing Lazarus or other Christ raised but one theÌ„ bodily Peter here raised 3000. ghostly Againe did not tholy ghost descend vpoÌ„ al y t heard Peters sermoÌ„ Did not he heale y e lame maÌ„ Eneas beiÌ„g sick of y e palsye Did not he raise Tabitan Did not hê shadow heale many What like do ye rede of thother apostels May we not theÌ„ wel coÌ„clude y t Peter had y e superiority preemineÌ„ce of al other eueÌ„ geueÌ„ to hiÌ„ by Christe Did not he here iÌ„ these exaÌ„ples put hê authority sufficiently in executioÌ„ seing tholy ghost did coÌ„firme establishe y e same w t so many wonders miracles ¶ The .xx. probation It doth greatly proue Peters authoritie that Christ after his ascencion did
only shew to him as to the heade and chiefe of all the vision of ceasing the legals and that in the storye folowinge prayer was made of thole coÌ„gregacion for Peter where as we rede not y e like done for any other ¶ The .xxi. probacion S. Dionise S. Paules dissciple nameth Peter supremuÌ„ the highest also he nameth hym culmen the toppe aboue all other ¶ The .xxii. probation S. Clement disciple and successor to S. Peter saith y t christ gaue not equall power lyke authoritie to all the Apostels indiffereÌ„tly But he appointed one y t is to saye Peter aboue al other And after S. ClemeÌ„t Ireneus affirmeth the see of Rome to be the head see of all other c. ¶ The .xxiii. probation Tertulian asketh whether anye thing was hyd from Peter the stone where vpoÌ„ Christ dyd builde his church Christe gaue to him saith he to be the stone or rocke of his churche he gaue to him y â— keyes of the kiÌ„gdome of heaueÌ„s he gaue to him power iÌ„ heaueÌ„s which all seynge he gaue to Peter alone who wil deny him to be chieffe of al the other he alone was ordeined to be the stone to him alone y e keyes were geuen he alone receiued the power in the heauens ¶ The .xxiiii. probation Origen saith let none saye Iohn was greatter then Peter which both is called and is the top of al other Agayne he saith Christe sayd to the great foundacioÌ„ of the church to the moste sure stone where vpon he did founde his churche O thou of lytle faith why didest thou doubte ¶ The .xxv. probation S. Ciprian that holye Martir saâ—th that the vnity of the churche dothe depende of the vnity of Peters authoritie and he sayth also that vpoÌ„ Peter whom Christ did chose first not in calling but in dignity he buylded his churche and he answered for all oft times Again he saith y t the see of Rome is y e roote mother of al churches al heresies schisms do spring onely of that that men will not obey the head bishop And moreouer he sayth y t christes churche was to be builded vpon Peter What can be said more playnly then this for the confirmacioÌ„ of Peters authorytye and his successours ¶ The .xxvi. probacion S. Hillari doth highly set forth S. Peters authoritie his dignity calling him y e foundatioÌ„ of Christes church And so likewise doth Ciril callinge him the prince head of thappostels And also in an other place saying In petro taÌ„que in petra lapideque firmissimo suaÌ„ esset edificaturus ecclesiam In peter as in the rocke and moste sure stone Christ would buylde his churche Rursê° apostoli inquit post ascensionem Petrum loco domini habuerunt et in signum huius subiectionis prius seorsum ei datae vel promisse sunt claues c. ¶ The .xxvii. probation Chrisostome in sundry places doeth greatlye extolle Peters authorytye In one place he saithe Peter was y e head of thapostels In an other place he saith Peter a pore fessher a simple man Christ made the shepherd the mouth of Thappostels master of the worlde and head of his church whom for this cause Paule went to Ierusalem for to se c. Would he then haue hys churche to haue a head since to be withoute God forbid ¶ The .xxviii. probation The holy father Athanasius writinge to Liberius affirmeth that the cure of the vniuersal church was committed to him as it was to al his predecessours successours also in y e see of Rome And in many mo Epistels which the said Athanasus sent vnto Marke vnto Felix other he proueth very largelye the lyke primacye of Peter and al his successours ¶ The .xxix. probation Eusebius affirmeth Peter to be greatest to be chefest principal of all Thappostels And Sozomneus also an olde godlye Historiographer euen about the time of IuliaÌ„ thappostata writeth y t the Byshop of Rome had cure and charge ouer al Byshopes bothe of the Easte and of the weste church bicause of the excelleÌ„ce dignitye saith he of his see Wherefore socrates an other auncieÌ„t and holy Historiographer affirmeth that the holy Canons euen in the beginning did forbyd that any thinge should be concluded in any councel without the Byshope of Romes authoritye ¶ The .xxx. probation Holy Basil saith that Peter bycause he did excel other in faith therfore the church was builded vpon him And Theophilus also writeth that Peter to whome thee cure of all the church was committed asketh Christ whether he tolde that parable Lu. to them alone or to al ¶ The .xxxi. probation Saint Ambrose saith that Peter was the stone wherevpoÌ„ Christ did bild his church Christ saith he called him the stone bicause he firste laied the foundacion of faithe amonge the heathens and bycause like an immouable rocke coÌ„teineth or vpholdeth thole burden of Christes building Agayne he saith it was mete that Paule should desire to see Peter bycause he was first amoÌ„ges the Apostels to whome christ had geueÌ„ charge ouer hê churches ¶ The .xxxii. probation Saint Hierom calleth the Byshop of Rome the highest priest And in an other place he saith like as Plato was chiefe and Prince of al philosophers so was Peter of al y e Apostels vpon whome Christes church was builded with a stable and sure foundacioÌ„ whiche neither with violence of water nor other teÌ„pest can be ouerthroweÌ„ Also he wryting vnto Damasum sheweth that like as al peryshed whyche were forthe of Noes ship so do al now which be fourthe of Peters shyp the catholike churche Moreouer he affermeth that although after a maner vpoÌ„ all y e apostels the churche was builded so y t they be called the foundacions of it yet vpon Peter as chiefe after him â–ª christ chose him one as Prince heade ouer y e rest y â— therby al occasion of schsime might be clerely taken awaye Againe he saith in an other place peter was chief prince of Thapostels also he saithe y t Peter reproued S. Markê Gospel and coÌ„mitted it by his authoritie to the churche to be red as S. Clement saith he witnesseth in the sixt boke writen to S. Iames Thapostel ¶ The .xxxiii. probation Saint Aug. in many places doth highly set vp Peters authoritie aboue all others In Peter Thapostell saithe he the primacie ouer the rest of y e Apostels did haÌ„ge and that in high excellent grace Againe saith he who is ignoraunte y â— Peters priÌ„cipality of Apostle shipe is greatelye to be preferred to the offyce of all other Peter for the primacye of hys apostleshipp in that he had the keyes geuen to him did represent the whole churche Peter which after should be ruler of the churche was suffred to fall that he might lerne the rather thereby his owne weakenes