A Discourse Wherein is plainly proued by the order of time and place that Peter was neuer at Rome Furthermore that neither Peter nor the Pope is the head of Christes Church Also an interpretation vpon the second Epistle of S. Paul to the Thessalonians the second Chapter ¶ Seene and alowed according to the order appointed ¶ Imprinted at London by Tho. East and H Myddleton for VVilliam Norton Anno salutis 1572. ¶ To the right honorable Sir Henry Sidney Knight of the honorable order of the Garter Lord President of the Marches of VVales and Lord deputie of Ireland R.T. Wisheth c. HE dishonesteth himself and so much as lyeth in hym diffameth his maister vvho hath bin prentise seuen yeares and at the ende of those seuen yeares neyther vnderstandeth his arte neyther can shewe any reason therof neyther is able to profite himselfe or others Are not we al bound yea do we not al promise in our baptisme and are commaunded of God to shew out the glories and vertues of him that hath brought vs out of darkenes into light But it is to be feared that a nomber of vs that professe Christ thoughe wee haue bin prentice to him seuen yeares perhappes seuen seuen and seuen neither haue so much knowledge as to instruct our selues neither to defend our maister Christ against the Turke Iewe heretique and antichrist VVill the Turke admit any man to his religion that neither can nor will defend Mahomet VVill the Iewe receiue any that is not furnished with the Scriptures falsely interpreted against Christ VVill Heretiques accept any man that is ignorant in their erronius opinions VVill Antichrist allowe any man which will not maintaine his Idolatry and superstâ—tion VVe professe Christ in woords and outward shewes notwithstanding we are not able too defend him in the middest of his enemyes Lacke of knowledge causeth many to hold their peace Ignorance is the root of errour the contempt of the study of Gods word is the high way to perdition VVho can please him whose will he knoweth not VVho can proceede in his Princes affaires that knoweth not his comission How can he execute his commission if he neyther reade it nor vnderstand it Is he a Gramarian that cannot speake congrue Latine A Logician that cannot reason probably A naturall Philosopher that knoweth not the generation and causes of Raine VVinde Snowe and such Meteorologicall things Is there any Surgen that hath not read Iohannes de Vigo or Alexander benedictus Or Phisitian that is ignorant in Hippocrates or Galen or Celsus and shall ignorance who is condemned of all artificers commend a Christian I therfore the least of all the members of Christ hearing dayly Antichrist and his artificers I meane the Pope and the Papistes so cunning in the Cannon lawe and Popish doctours that there is nothing in them that they do not both exactely vnderstand and also vtter to the maintenance of their head the Pope thought it necessary somewhat to say and too refel theyr errours Emong the which this is not the least that the Papistes go about to proue the Pope to be head of the Church which vnreasonable errour being plainely in these twoo little treatises confuted I haue thought good to dedicate the same vnto your Honour whose desire as I am throughly perswaded is too see the vtter confusion of Antichrist and the perfect establishement of Christes Religion And therfore the bolder to set those things forth vnder your Lord shippes protection which may please Christ displease Antichrist be acceptable to all Christians greuous to all Antechristians pleasant to all professoures of Christ bitter to al his aduersaries And as I truste a plaine ouerthrowe of the Romishe Church Your honours most humble â–ª R. T. A description of the Pope THough Poets pen hath fables feignd Of monsters maruelous Who diffring far from common kind were thought prodigious As Briarchus who had hands an hundreth as they tell And spitte forth fire from fiftie mouthes like flashing flames of hell Though Ephialtes with Othus of natures fierce and fell Did striue with stregth of stretcht out arme in Ioue his Throne to dwell Who heaped hilles on mountains high Ofâ—a on Pindus back And placed Pelion on them the Starry skie to sack Though these two impes of ougly shape whose father Neptune was Growing nine inches euery month in bignesse mounts did passe Though Poliphemus were as huge and ougly as the rest Who for his strength and sturdines might match him with the best And though Chimera a monster were of thrée conioynd in one The first a Lion next a Goate and third a fierce dragon Though Minotaurus were as hugh and monstrous in effect Whose sundry shape with nature fell his Parents did detect Though Cerberus that chorlish Cur and thrée hell headded hound A monster rare with other more which are in writers found Though these I say vnséemely shapes foule fashioned out of frame Dame nature made thus monsterous as wée haue learned by fame Yit I can shewe more monsterousnes comprised here in one Who for his huge prodigiousenesse may match them all alone But this is neyther God nor man as he himself doth tell He is a meane betwene them both yet rules both Heauen and Hell. In Purgatory puttes to paine in earth he beares great swaie The Heauenly Angels at his call are ready to obey Hée can forgiue mens sinnes on earth and scite hell houndes by poste And he can lose from lothesome lakes damnd soules and griesly ghostes He is a God the Papistes do affirme with wonders mo Whose bestely body being blasd iudge you if he be so His head a harmefull helmet is of poisen pestilent His eyes are like to flames of fire that are from Vulcane sent His eares they trust al tryfling tales and credit blasing brute And such againe as will not heare the iust and humble sute His nose doth snuf foorth hellish fumes his tung e is stinge of Death His face of mischéef mirrour is and poisoned is his breath His téeth do gnawe the blessed bones of such as are elect His mouth doth bable blasphemie and Gods word doth reiect His throte an open sepulchre doth swallow euery houre The silly shéepo and woolfes doth spare the lambes for to deuour Hys brest a chest and cofer is of al iniquitie His armes are strong Princes to strike if they not Christ deny His filthy fingers nimble are to scratch for nedlesse gaine Which wil be sure to snatch a share though other take the paine His legges are swift to shed the blood of Innocentes giltlesse His féete are ready Emperours neckes to tread down and oppresse His body is Pandoras boxe which plageth younge and olde And he prodigeous Antichrist whose déedes of Iohn are told Which beast although that he be strong yet standes on slppery ground Foq him this booke doth flatly foile and vtterly confound FINIS THE ARGVMENT FIrst I proue by Scripture that Peter could not be at Rome vntill the .6 or as
Apostles where was his swoord than where was his courageous stomacke Did not little Paule dryue great Peter awaye Wherfore yee see that the Pope founding his authoritie ambition vayne glory Supremacie dignitie and superioritie vppon Peter must needes fall it must needes bee grounded vppon errours and iniquitie That which hath twoo heades is monstruous but if Christ bée head as hée is the only head and the Pope also than is it a monstruous body But more monstruous is that body that hath thrée or foure heades for at once there were thrée or foure Popes together euery one called him self head Which of them was the head let them answer if they can if they can not let the head fall with the body If Rome make the Pope holy if the seate where the Pope is can not erre if his church bée catholique and vniuersall how chaunced it that at one time in the yeare of Christ 1411. Clement was Pope at Auenion in Fraunce Pope Vrbane at Roome Benedict the .xiii. succeded Clement at Auenion in Fraunce Gregorie the .xii. was the Pope at Rome Iohn Pope at Bononia and all deposed in the Councell of Constance One of these reuiled an other blasphemed an other cursed excommunicated calling one an other Antechrist Traytor Murtherer Sonnes of Beliall Seruantes of Satan Heretiques Scismatiques and Cruell Tyrauntes If the presence of Peter make the place too bée the best and of most authoritie why was not Hierusalem the chief Cittie the highe See and the Metropolitane of the whole worlde For there Peter preached first and conuerted many thousandes And ye can noâ— reade of one that hée conuerted at Roome when hée was neuer there as the former discours proueth Where gaue Christ and at what tyme the authoritie and prerogatiue of â—osinge and â—ynding Hée gaue it before his death and in Iurye than by good reason that tyme should bée better than this Iury holyer than Roome for many hundreth yeares after was Roome established Now bycause neyther tyme nor place is estemed among Christians but fayth in Iesu Christ there is the Church where Christians woorshippe him in veritie Then Rome is not too bée preferred before the whole world neyther a Cittie before Citties a Towne before Shyâ—es a small parte of Europe before Asia Africa and America Besides this why is not Antioche Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Bithynia Asia Egypte and Babylon too bee preferred seeing that there hée preached there hée planted there hée grafted there hee did sowe there hée watered there hée taught and instructed and brought the people from errour to truthe from Superstition to Religion from Tyrannie to Clemencie from Fraude too Synceritie from Dissimulacion and Hypocrisye too Ueritie from Auarice too Frankenesse from Wickednesse too Uertue from Earthly thinges too Heauenly thinges from the admiration of worldly pompe too the contemplation of heauenly thinges from Hell too Heauen from misery too felicitie and from earthly possession too the inheritaunce of Iacob too the bosome of Abraham too the possession of Isaac too the let of Danyell and too the Paradise of the blessed thief NOWE I haste too the confutacion of their Argumentes whereby they go about too proue that Peter and the Pope is the head of the Church But first I will declare a true history from tyme too tyme and that breifly what they were that were afore the Pope and howe the Churche of Rome came too such a prerogatiue and dignitie Christ him self disputed and reasoned with the Doctoures opposing aunswering and conâ—uting them So did Iohn the Baptiste so did the Apostles so did Stephan so Aquila Apollo and all other that had any of theise giftes which are repeted in sainct Paule And this order of euery man too vtter his gifte continued vntoo the tyme of Theodoret and vntoo the tyme of Gregorie the ninth Pope of that name as appereth by his lawe for hée made lawes that no Laye man should preache of whatsoeuer degrée hée were Noble man Gentle man and other An Elder and a Bishoppe were both one at the beginning Act. 20. vers 17.28 which two verses conferred will shewe you that there is no difference betweene an Elder and a Bishoppe The which Paule proueth and Hierom and Theodoret vpon the same chapter Paule in that place calleth Bishoppes Elders such as taughte the people and instructed them and Deacons such as prouided for the poore lyke too our Church Wardens Afterward they began too alter this order for Eusebius libro .4 .5 affirmeth that the Church was a virgin immaculate vntill the death of Iohn the Euangeliste and than errours to haue creeped in who dyed from the birth of Christ .xxv. yeares And about â— yeares after his death or before the Church began to haue one as cheef whom they called a President or one as an Ouersoâ—er of the people and here sayeth Beza the Deuill began to practise his peruersitie and laye the foundacion of his Tyrannye Euery Citie and Towne had a Bishoppe that taught them but emong them there was no Supremacie The Emperoures afterward which had certeyne principall Cities in euery Shyre one or more whereto all the countrie about resorted to the Law and to decide other matters gaue greater authoritie to the Bisshoppes of the Moother cities for so they were called then too the Bishoppes of other Uillages in the countrie And as they called the mother cities Metrapoleis or matrikous kathedras â–ª or meizonas poleis so dyd they call the Bishop or Minister thereof or Pastor protonton protenonta proestota or patriarchin or Metropolitin â–ª As they call the great Cities Moother Cities Moother Seates The first seates or greater Cities so did they call the priest therof or mynister or Byshop or pastour the first the chiefe the president a Patriarche or Metropolitane Wée reade in the councell of Nyce that Alexandria was chiefe ouer Egypt Lybia and Pentapolis and Antioche was chiefe ouer the countries about as Rome was in Italie Where was there any superioritie more at Rome then at Alexandria or at Antioche In the second councell holden at Constantinople it was decréed that the Bishop of Alexandria should gouerne the Cast countries that Antioche might haue that dignitie that was appointed in Nycene councell the Bishop of Thrace his countrie the Bishop of Pontus his the Bisshop of Rome Italie and so of all the rest Socrates in his historie repeteth seuerall Metropolitanes which are called Patriarches for they were booth of one Authoritie As Nectarius ouer Megapolis meaning Constantinople and Thrace Helladius ouer Pontus Basile ouer Cesarea of Cappadocia Otrius ouer Miletene in Armenia Amphilochius in Asia at Iconiam Optimus at Antioche of Pisidia Timothe to Alexandria of Egypt Pelagius to Laodicia Diodorus to Tharsus Meletius to Antioche The Bishoppe of Hierusalem to Hierusalem These same Metropolitanes they called also Archebishoppes They say the false framed Epistles ascribed to Clemens and
Hierom and others collect vntil the .8 yere of Claudius Secondly I proue by the order of time and place that he could not be at Rome vntill the second yeare of Domitian which was after the passion of Christ .52 or 53. yeares which should haue bin after the destruction of Hierusalem which was after Christ .73 yeares the 8. day of September In the second discourse I proue that neither Peter nor the Pope is the head of the Church confuting such obiections as they alledge to the contrary wherein yee shall finde their arguments refelled their Cannon law confuted the Popes errours in Doctrine detected their sillogismes answered and finally certain antitheses betweene Christ and the Pope prouing him Antichrist with an interpretation vppon the place of Paule 2. Thessalo 2. THE FIRST DISCOVRS wherein is proued that Peter was neuer at Rome PETER before Christes passion and deathe did not depart out of Iewrie but was eyther with Christe or with other of the Apostles or elles labored in his vocation for he was a fisherman as is proued by the Gospell of S. Mathew Cap. 4. versu 18. cap. 8. vers 14. cap. 10. vers 2. cap. 14. ver 28. cap. 15. ver 15. cap. 16. ver 16.17.22 cap. 17. ver 1.26 cap. 18. ver 21. cap. 19. ver 27. cap. 26. ver 33.35.37.69.75 Marc cap. 1. ver 16. cap. 3. ver 16. cap. 5. ver 37. cap. 8. ver 29. cap. 11. ver 21. cap. 13. ver 3. cap. 14. ver 29.33.37.54.66 cap. 16. ver 7. Luc cap. 5. ver 3.4.5.8.10 cap. 6. ver 14. cap. 8. ver 51. cap. 9. ver 28.32 cap. 12. ver 41. cap. 22. ver 31.34.55.60 Ihon cap. 1. ver 42. cap. 18. ver 11.15.16.17.18.25 cap. 20. ver 3.6 cap. 21. ver 2.7 ¶ VVhere Peter was the first yeare after Christes Ascension THE first yeare after the death and resurrection of Christ he was with the rest of the Apostles on the mounte Olyuet beholding the Ascension of Christe and then returned to Hierusalem lokinge for the descending of the Holy Ghost and there with the rest did chose Mathias in the place of Iudas and made an eloquent oration Acte 2. from the .14 vers vntoo the .41 And he taryed at Hierusalem and cured a lame man and in the Temple made an excellent Oration Then was he with the rest of the Apostles layde in prison and the next daye let out and examyned by what power they had cured the lame man vntoo whom Peter answered effectually neyther went hee out of Iudea that first yeare after Christes Ascension as apereth manifestlie From Hierusalem the Apostles sent Peter and Iohn to Samaria where Philippe the Deacon had layde the foundacion of Christes Religion and had conuerted the Samaritaines Peter and Iohn obteyned by prayer that they might receyue the Holy Ghost Peter and Iohn after they had preached in Samaria returned to Hierusalem and there hée remayned vntill the seconde yeare after Christes Ascension in the which yeare Paule was conuerted to the fayth as hée went to Damascus where he preached immediatly And in Arabia where hée preached thrée yeares and then returned to Hierusalem where Peter was with the reste of the Apostles Reade diligently the first chapter to the Galathians Uers. 16.17.18 Act. 9. Uer. 23.24.25 in the which verses conferred with the 17. and 18. vers of the first chapter to the Galathians yée shall vnderstande that after Paule had spent thrée yeares in preachinge in Arabia and at Damascus which is a Cittie of Syria neare vnto Arabia hée went being let downe by the wall in a basket from Damascus to Hierusalem where hée dyd fynde Peter and Iames with other Disciples Neyther was Peter at any tyme hithertoo out of Iurie In Iurie hée went about and came to Lydda a Towne of Iurie where hée cured Aeneas who had ben sicke of the pallesy eight yeares and at porte Iaphe in Iurie hée reâ—â—oâ—red Tabitha to lyfe From porte Iaphe Peter was sent for to Cornelius who was a Centurian at Cesarea a Cittie of Iurie also Peter when hée had instructed and baptized Cornelius and his howseholde returned to Hierusalem where the circumcysed reproued him for vttering the Gospell to the Gentyles who hée pacifyeth and persuadeth by his ‡ Oration This was the sixte yeare after Christes passion and the fifte yeare after Paules conuersion All that time that Paule was out of Hierusalem in â—harsis a Cittie of Lycia from whence Barnabas fetched him to Antioche a Cittie of Syria was Peter at Hierusalem and from thence went to the same citie of Antioche where Paule reproued him because that hée withdrewe himselfe from the Gentyles with whome hee did eate before that Iames came in with certeyne that were circumcised whom Peter feared to offend And this was seueÌ„ yeares from the conuersion of Paule And the eight from Christes passion which is not onely proued by order of tyme but also it is noted Galat. 2. Uers. 11.12 â—3 14 Act. 13. Uers. 2. All that tyme that Paule and Barnabas were with the Gentyles Peter remayned at Hierusalem till their returne sauinge that hée conueyed himself at that Easter wheÌ„ Herode Agrippa was there for Herod Agrippa came froÌ„ Cesarea to HierusaleÌ„ the feast of Easter what time he beheaded Iames layd Peter in prison as is euideÌ„t in the 1.2 3.4 â— 9. ver of y 12. Chapter of the Actes And this was the twelueth yeare from Christ his passion and the eleuenth from the conuersion of Paule Peter fearing the tyrannie of Herode Agrippa after that the Aungell had delyuered him out of prison conueyed himselfe out of the waye and as the texte sayeth into an other place vntill Herode Agrippa should departe from Hierusalem which was immediatly after Easter purposing in his mind to make warre with the Tyrians Sydonians or as Luke vttereth more effectually tynomachem And as God would the sayde Herode Agrippa a great defendour of the Iewes Lawes and Ordinances and a persecutour of Christians dyed miserably the â—ame 13. yeare after Christes passion which was the thirde yeare of the Emperour Claudius for Agrippa the same yeare of Claudius was striekeÌ„ with the Angel eateÌ„ with woormes dyed miserably Thus may you sée euideÌ„tly y Peter went notout of Iurie vntill the iiij yeare of Claudius nor the neyther vntil the death of Claudius as I shall proue a litle after Now you maye sée y Peter was at Hierusalem in Iurie the first ij iij. yeare of Claudius as is euidently proued by Luke in the Actes of the Apostles Nowe let vs consider what place this was that Luke sayeth that Peter câ—nueyed himselfe too lesse that they should saye that hée conueyed himselfe to Rome Surely hée hidde him selfe secretely in some place of Iudea â–ª vntill that Herode Agrippa should returne to Cesarea where he purposed to haue prepared an armie ageinst
the Tyrians and Sydonians Wherefore Herode Agrippa returned after Easter to Cesarea where he died miserably After the death of Herode Peter was out of daunger for Iudea was ruled by the Lieuetenantes of the Romaynes as Festus Lysias and Felix which did rather presse the Iewes than the Christians as the historie of Iosephus declareth wherefore those seuen yeares that Paule and Bernabas departed from Antioche of Syria vnto the Gentyles Peter was in Iudea yea hée was at Hierusalem the 16. yeare after Christes passion and the 15. of Paule his conuersion as is manifest ‡ for there maketh Peter an Oration to the brethren and this was the sixte yeare of Claudius as is proued by the historie of the Actes written by S. Luke What authoritie haue the Papistes which affirme and sweare that Peter went to Rome the second yeare of Claudius But let vs procéede in the historie of their errours in this matter I will discourse a little after Peter was appointed at that same tyme a teacher of the Iewes and Paule of the Gentyles For sayeth Paule Barnabas and I were charged to preache to the Gentyles and Peter Iames and Iohn to the Iewes Were not the Romaynes Gentyles Was not Paule and Barnabas charged with them Notwithstanding after that Peter and Iohn had sufficiently instructed the Iewes they also taught the Gentyles Wherefore vnto the sixt yeare of Claudius which was the 16. yeare from Christe his passion And the 15. from Paules conuersion Peter neuer departed out of Iury sauing only to Antioche of Syria as I haue noted before Nowe I will declare the reste of Peters peregrination partly by suche testimonies as cannot bée refelled partely by probable argumentes necessarie coniectures and sufficient reasons As Peter did write to the dispersed Brethren in Pontus Galatia Bithinia Capadocia and Asia so did hée preache in them all * Nicephorus writeth that Peter preached in Palestina Syria Phenice Pontus Galatia Capadocia Bithinia and to bée bréefe in all the quarters of Asia and Europe Wherefore after this councell which is in the 15. of the Actes hée went out of Iury into Pontus Galatia Capadocia Asia and Bithinia Them hée instructed them hée visited them hée furnished with the Gospell them hée exhorted to faith to good woorkes to obedience to temperancie to doo their deuties with them hée taried and was conuersant so longe vntill that they had layde a foundacion buylded substantially vpon it What a long tyme hée taryed in Pontus and what Cities and Townes hée did instructe and brought from superstition to Religion from idolatrie to the Truthe from errour too the right waye from crueltie too lenitie and from all iniquitie to all patience iustice and humanitie Hée maye easely coniecture who readeth and knoweth the descriptions of Countries What a number of goodly Cities farre distant one from an other were in Pontus howe many in Bithinia In them stoode Chalcedon Nicomedia Apamia Heraclea and the great cittie Nicea where that famous councell was holden called The Counâ—ell of Nice What shall I speake of Asia in it standeth Troia Assum Autandros Addramitium Ephesus where Dianas Temple was had in suche honour Arogilium â–ª Milet Guidus Troas with many other mencioned in the Actes of the Apostles Who dooth not knowe but that Galatia is as great as any of the others Unto this S. Paule did write in his epistle to the Galathians in this Countrie stoode Antioche of Pisidia where Paule made an eloquent Oration Some parte of Galatia differeth in longitude from other some of it twoo or thrée degrees in latitude fiue or sixe And Ephesus which standeth in Ionia â–ª a Region of litle Asia differeth from Antioche of Pisidia which is in Galatia in longitude seuen degrées in latitude twoo For Ephesus in longitude is 57.20 minutes in latitude 37. and 40. minutes And Antioche in longitude 62.30 in latitude 39.15 And there is no lesse distance in the Cities of Capadocia Wherefore to passe ouer and through them leauing any monumentes and foundacions of Religion hée must néedes haue taried there a long tyme Consider the long iorney the vntowardnesse of the people the hard harted paynime Priests olde rooted superstitions their Forefathers customes and yée shall and maye bée easely persuaded that hée must néedes continewe in these Countries a very longe tyme Thus writeth Mantuan The Cities of Assyria Peter conuerted to the fayth There 14. yeares he dyd bestowe As Mantuan proueth and sayth And after this did passe the sea Capadoces Bithine Pontus Galace and lesser Asia Preaching the Gospell gracious Let it bée that hée was not aboue seuen or eight yeares in all these countries notwithstanding wée must bringe the historie to the 24. yeare after the passion of Christe and to the 23. of the conuersion of S. Paule and this was the 14. yeare of the Emperour Claudius Wherefore by this description and order of tyme and place â–ª neyther could hée bée at Rome the second yeare of Claudius neyther in his time And if Peter should haue ben put to death at Rome the 14. of Nero as the papistes affirme then could not hée haue ben Pope at Rome 2â— yeares and 7 â–ª monethes but onely 14. yeares But now I will procéede and declare that hée could not bée at Rome none of these 14 â–ª yeares of Nero â–ª whiche when I haue proâ—ed what can the Romishe Catholiques or the Romish church haue wherewith to proue their Romishe Peter After Peter had watered the drye barren countries of â—onâ—â—s Galâ—tia Capadocia Bâ—thinâ—a and Asia with the streames of the Gospell hée departed from thence into Egyptâ— â–ª there to doo the like â–ª for hée was at Alexandria as Nicephorus reporteth there ordeyned S. Marke bishop or rather an Ouerséeeâ— and Teacher to the resâ—e And this agreeth with Dorotheus in the lyfe of S. Marke who off riueth that hée was cast downe vpon the grounde by the â—dolaters â–ª and trailed by a rope put about his necke from a streat of Alexandria called Boâ—kolou the hogge heard vnto the places called aggelon of Aungelles or messengers When Peter had visited this Alexandria in Egypt whose longitude is 60.30 and latitude 31. and had planted the Gospell hée went to Babylon a citie in Egypt also where the longitude is 62.15 and latitude â—0 â–ª from whence hée wrote his first Epistle by Syluanus â–ª declaring that the same doctrine and grace which they sâ—oode in and hée hâ—d preached vnto them was true infallible and immortall True ageynst the enemie infallible to their expectation immortall in contineuance comfortable for the Soule necessary to saluation And this Babylon is meaned to â—ée that famous Citie of Egypt nowe called in the Hebrewe tounge Câ—â—rum where the Sultane lieth the circuite about is 13. or 14. Geâ—mane myles From this Peter wrote this firste Epistle whiche is manifest by the 15. verse of the fifth chapter where hee sayeth
that the Churche of Babylon dyd salute them and his sonne Marke who as Dorotheâ—â— writeth was burned at â–ª Alexandria in Egypt â–ª Now muste yée graunâ—e that Peâ—ers iourney from Pontus Cappadocia Asia Bithinia and Galatia to Alexandria and Babylon in Egypt was very long for they differ in latitude 11. or 12. degrées and therefore the tyme must bée prescribed in suche sorte as hée might not only taste of Nilus as the prouerbe is but also teâ—che the ignoraunte instructe the simple persuade the stubbeâ—â—o plantâ— good doctrine and manners deteste and banishe superstition and Idolatrie â–ª 〈◊〉 as you may reade euery where they woorshipped Cattes Eaâ—ues Crocodilles Dogges and such other beastes and were giuen ouer to Magicke and all other iniquities â–ª This required a longe tyme an whole body a carefull 〈◊〉 singuler diligence 〈…〉 will and a continewall perâ—euerance I knowe some call thys Babylon Rome by an Allegorie and other some Babylon of Chalde but their proofe is easely reproued their assâ—rtion vncertaine their opinion wauering and their iudgement without reason or authoritie For all others write of Markes béeing at Egypt and at Alexandria and there to haue preached that some Gospell which hée hath committed to writing And for the familiaritie that was betwéene Peter and Marke Peter calleth him his sonne And in déed hée was his Sisters sonne adelphidous â–ª But what néedeth vs any more proofe of Peters being in Egypt when as Peters woordes proue it If Marke suffered his marâ—yrdome the eight yeare of Nero his raigne as Hierome writeth in Catalogo And Eusebius Lib. 2. Cap. 24. And notwithstanding was at Rome the second or third yeare of the sayd Nero as is manifeste For that yeare Paule wrote the Epistle too the Collossians from Rome Than of necessitie Peter must haue ben in Egypt â–ª before the eight yeare of Nero his raigne because that Peter béeing in Egypt â–ª sayeth that Marke dooth salute the dispersed â–ª Brethren of Asia If before the eight yeare Ergo hée must néedes haue ben in Egypt some parte of Nero if some parte then was not hée at Rome all the tyme of Nero if hée was not at Rome vnto the 14. yeare of Nero and 11. yeares before than quaileth the opinion of the papistes that saye that hée was Pope at Rome twentie fiue yeares .7 monethes 7. wéekes 7. dayes For Peter must néedes haue bene in Egypt before the death of Marke for if Marke had ben dead Peter would not haue said that Marke had saluted the dispersed brethren But that this matter maye bée playnly perceyued and the inconstancie of Romishe Registers detected their fraude espyed and their errours â—efelled Consider that Peter was the third yeare of Callâ—gula cast in prison by Herode the ninth yeare after Christes passion and the eight yeare of Paules conuersion wherfore Peter fearing the tyrannie of Herode as I sayd before conueyed himself out of the presence of Herode And all the whyle that Paule and Barnabas preached to the Gentiles Peter remayned in Iudea which was about seuen yeres And thus are wee comme to the sixthe yere of Claudius the sixtenth afer Christes passion and the fiftenth of Paules conuersion After this Councell how long I can not certenlye coniecture hée tooke his iourney into Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Bithynia Asia where hée taried seuen or eyght yeares and more as I haue specified before Others apointe but * fyue yeares put to seuen yeares in which they saye hée was at Antioche By this order of tyme wée haue brought it too passe euen according too the prescription of the Papistes and after suche an infallible supputation that it can not bée denyed vnto the sixth yere of Nero which was the .xxx. yere after Christes passion and .xxix. after the conuersion of sainct Paul. In so much that hée could neyther bee .xxv. yeres at Rome neyther seuen moonthes neyther seuen dayes neyther one yeare of Nero. If any man can refelle any parte of this discourse wée will geue him thankes partelie for that hée shall delyuer vs out of errour and also for that hée shall set foorthe the truthe If Peter lyued after the death of Nero as this Historye declareth howe coulde hée bée put too deathe by Nero I haue proued before that hée was at Babylon in Egypte which is distant from Rome ten or eleuen degrées in latitude and in longitude .xxx. which must néedes bée a longe and tedious iourney For Babylon of Egypt standeth in 62.25 30.0 and Rome 36.40 41.40 It apereth that Peter was at Corinthe also for it is written that some holde of Paule some of Apollo and other some of Cephas which was Peter If the Corinthians had neuer séene Peter neuer herd of him neuer had ben conuersaunte with him why woold they haue holden of him It may bée that hée went to Corinth when hée was in lesser Asia which differeth not from Corinth aboue six or seuen degrées in latitude and as much in a manner in longitude Let vs comme too an end If hée suffred not deathe at Roome where died hée It appereth that hée died at Hierusalem bycause that hée was appointed a teacher of the Iewes For Christe saieth that â—ée sent too the Hierosolymitanes Prophets wyse men and learned men and hée prophicied that somme of them they shoulde kill and crucefye by these hee meaneth the Apostles and other teachers Which of all the Apostles was crucefied at Hierusalem But somme must needes bée crucefyed there or els Christes woordes should seeme not too bée true Wherfore Hierâ—m Lyra with the interlyned Glose vppon this place affirme that Peter wes crucefyed at Hierusalem by the Iewes Thus mutch as concerning the historie lyfe peregrination and death of Peter Those presumptuous and legend lyes with Festiuall fables whiche they aduouch are dissonant contrary and varyable among them selues Somme saye as Eusebius that Peter came too Roome the secound yere of Claudius somme the thirde somme the fourth as Damasus when as all this tyme hée was noot out of Iury. The discorde of writers causeth suspicion Discorde is contrary too concorde Where is truthe if concorde bee absent Consider their discorde Eusebius sayeth that Peter raigned at Roome .xxv. yeares Hierom. xxvii Beda xxix Damasus affirmeth that hee came too Roome in the tyme of Nero which was the fourtenth yeare of his Raigne and notwithstanding was at Roome whole .xxv. yeres twoo monethes and seuen dayes Howe is it possible that Peter came too Roome in the tyme of Nero and suffred in the last yere of Nero and yet taried there xxv yeres and all in the tyme of Nero who reigned but .xiiii. yeres Mendacem memorem esse oportet Can you make .xxv. of xiiii or xiiii too bee .xxv Buechingerus sayeth that Peter was at Roome .xxv. yeres seuen monethes and eight dayes Somme saye that Peter suffered at Roome the .xxxiii. yeare after the death of Christe somme the
.xxxviii. yeare Nicephorus sayeth that Peter was the first Bishop of Roome Clement in the first booke Recognit sayeth that Barnabas was the first that was at Roome and the firste that planted any Churche there Hierom sayeth that Peter was Bishope in the East fiue yeares Beda seuen yeares Nicephorus sayeth that Peter went from Antioche too Roome and from Roome too Antioche and agein from Antioche too Roome where hee suffered Fabularum plena sunt omnia Quo teâ—eam nodo mutantem Prothea vultus Omnia transformat sese in miracula rerum Ireneus and Dorotheus saye that Marke was alyue after the deathe of Peter and Paule other saye that hee suffered the eight yeare of Nero. As they doo disagree in Peter so doo they in the rest of the first Popes And thinke yee not that they disagrace Peter in making him of an Apostle a Bishope of a Disciple of Christ a Pope of Rome But too our purpose somme saye that Peter made Linus Cletus and Anacletus Bishoppes of Rome Somme saye that they were his fellowes cohelpers their foundacions are weake they leane too a broken staffe Somme saye that Clement succeded Peter with Linus and Cletus as cohelpers which as the sayd Scotus writeth in Anacletus lyfe denieth that they were eyther Bishops or Popes There is no mention of Cletus in any good Author neyther can it bée proued sufficiently whether euer there were any suche or no. Somme saye that hée was Pope twelue yeares other somme seuen The olde writers place Anacletus immediatlye after Clement eyther despising Cletus or els forgetting him or els being ignorant of any such omit him I cease too nomber all the discordes for Roome it self woolde scarse holde them all Nowe as wée haue proued by the truthe of the history that Peter was neyther at Roome xxv yeres neyther dyed there So let vs proue the same by probable argumentes that they maye perceiue their Churche too bée buylded vppon the sande If Peter had ben at Roome Luke woolde haue specified it who describeth the Apostles Actes diligently and exquisitely It is euident both by Suetonius Tranquillus and others and also by S. Luke that Claudius the Emperour did charge all the Iewes as they loued their lyues too departe out of Roome if Peter had bin there than which was the tenth yeare of Claudius and the .xx. after Christes passion and the .xix. of Paules conuersion without doubte somme mention woolde haue ben made of his tarying there or of his departure Paule saluteth Aquila Priscilla by name who were at Roome before the commaundment of the Emperour why did hée not aswell salute Peter with whome hée taryed .xv. dayes at Hierusalem If Peter had ben there had herd the proclamation of Claudius which hée must néeds haue heard if hée had ben there hée woulde haue shaken the dust of his féete following the precept of christ And neyther could hée haue taried at Roome neyther hée woolde hée could not bycause of Tyranny woolde not because the citie was not woorthie of such a message as hée brought with him How can they now saye that hée taried there .xxv. yeres vii monethes vii dayes But why did they not make Paule the first Pope séeinge that hée was not only appointed too bée a teacher too the Gentiles but also Luke affirmeth that hée was at Roome and Eusebius maketh him the first Bishop of Rome They woold rather haue made Paule an Heretique if they had could because that hée inueyeth so much ageinst the Antechrist of Roome There was one brought before a Iustice of the West countrie for religioÌ„ who aunswereth béeing demaunded of a matter of religion that Paule sayeth so Paule sayeth hée if Paule were here hée should go the same waye that thou shalt go ye were both worthie to bée burned I wolde cary a fagotte to burne you both Paule béeing at Rome in the tyme of Nero wrote to the Colossians saying that Epaphras Luke Demas saluted them Was Peter inferiour to them was hée not worthie to bée named were his salutacions to bée despysed wherfore if hée had ben at Roome hée woolde haue made mention of Peter béeing head of the Apostles And to Timothe hée writeth that Demas was reuolted Crescens was gone into Fraunce Titus into Dalmatia desiring him to bring Marke with him bycause only Luke was with him If Luke was there only surely Peter was not there And Paule writing to PhilemoÌ„ sayeth that Epaphras his felowe prysoner Marcus Aristarchus Demas Luke his cohelpers saluted him If Peter had ben there béeing an earnest professor of Christ should not hée haue beÌ„ apprehended as sone as Epaphras should not hée haue ben as good a helper as Demas as Ariâ—tarchus as Luke was hée not woorthie of naming Hithertoo I haue obserued as appereth by the texte too proue euery thing by order of tyme and place and also by other circumstances now I thinke it good also to recite the order that Hierom other old writers obserue in this matter who gather their historie out of Luke and Paule as wée do which order though it be not so probable to somme notwithstanding it maketh better for our purpose For after the order which I haue described hitherto Peter was at Hierusalem the sixt yeare of Claudius the Emperoure the .xvi. yeare of Christes passion the .xv. yeare of the conuersion of sainct Paule But Hierom and others will haue the Councell which was holden at Hierusalem in the .xv. of the Actes to haue beÌ„ the .xvii. yeare of Paules conuersion and in the eightenth yeare from Christes passion in the eight yeare of Claudius And they are persuaded by the first chapter to the Galatians vers xviii by the second chapter vers j. where Paule expressely maketh mention of .iij. yeares spent at Damascus and in Arabia and after those .iii. yeares too haue comme too Hierusalem too the Councell the .viii. yeare of Claudius With what countenance than can the Roomish catholiques saye that hée went to Rome the second yeare of the Emperour Claudius If wée interprete the places of the first and second chapter too the Galatians as Charles Molyneus an Aduocate of the highe Senate Parliament of Paris dothe than must wée saye that Paule continued at Damascus in Arabia and his retourne to Damascus full fyue yeares than .xiiii. yeare after both Paule Peter too haue ben at the Councell Than must wée afâ—rme that Peter was at Hierusalem the .x. or .xi. yeare of Claudius which was the .xix. or .xx. yeare after Christes passion And in the .xvii. or .xix. yeare of Paules conuersion which was the .xi. yeare of Claudius Peter departed to Antioche where hée was theÌ„ reprehended of Paule Then both by Molyneus supputation and by the other which wée haue recited before Peter coulde not comme too Roome the second yeare of Claudius And
therfore whatsoeuer the Papistes buylde of Peter * it is soone shaken downe as grounded vpon the sandes If Peter continued full seueÌ„ yeares at Antioche in Syria as the Papistes affirme then coulde not hée haue ben at Roome vntill the .iiii. yeare of the Emperour Nero which was .xxvii. yeares after Christes passion By this discourse hée could not haue ben Pope at Roome .xxv. yeares as the Papistes dreame vnlesse that hé had lyued after Nero after Galba after Otho after Vitellius Vespasianus and Titus vnto the tyme of Domitianus as manifestly appereth by their Reignes For Nero reigned .x. yeares after the .iiii. yeares which I haue specified Galba .vii. monethes Otho .iii. monethes Vitellius .viii. monethes which was a yeare a half Vespasianus .x. yeares Titus .ii. yeares So that these .xxv. yeares that Peter should haue ben resident at Rome should haue â—atended too the .ii. yeare of the Emperour Domitianus So that Peter should not haue dyed in the tyme of Nero as the Papistes reporte who affirme with one voyce that Peter was crucefied at Rome with his héeles vpward his head downward the .xxxvii. yeare after Christes passion the .xiiii. yeare of Nero wheÌ„ as wée haue proued by their own reportes Chronicles Histories Authors that hée lyued .xv. yeares longer euen too the seconde yeare of the Emperour Domitian which was after the passian of Christ lii or liii yeares Hithertoo wée haue proued by the hiâ—tory and by argument and also by authoritie that Peter was neuer at Roome Now let vs confute their presumptions and obiections They obiect that the olde Authors saee that hée was there I answer that those olde Authors haue no staffe too stick too no scripture no sufficient authoritie not one woorde neyther out of the olde Testament nor of the newe Let vs confute Egesippus out of whom they haue all their fables whereby they woold proue Peter to haue bin at Roome First this fabulous and lying Egesippus is not hée that Eusebius maketh mention of Lib. fourth Cap. 8.22 For hée gathered his books out of the Ghospell â—ecundum Hebraeos Syros hée wrote commentaries wherin hée wrote the doctrine actes of the preaching of the Apostles in an homely simple stile inmanner of an history and did contend erfectually against Heretiques this fabulous Egesippus wrote in Greke Secondly this Author wryteth an highe stile affecteth an other kynd of phrase the other is an homely stile as HieroÌ„ noteth This suborned Egesippus wryteth fyue bookes of the destruction of Hierusalem out of Iosephus the other the actes of the church froÌ„ the passion of Christ to his own tyme which was after Christes natiuity about .145 yeares Thirdly the trew Egesippus wrote the actes of the preaching and doctrine of the Apostles out of the Ghospell secundum Hebraeos Syros this suborned Egesippus gathered his bookes out of Iosephus neyther doth Hierom nor Eusebius make mention of them Fourthly this Eusebius that wée haue maketh mention of Constantinople vnto the which the citie of Rome was equall in dignitie This was done in the tyme of the Emperoures Gratian and Theodosius in the yeare of Christ as Pantaleon noteth 383. The true Egesippus was about the yeare of Christe 146. and this Councell spoken of in the latter Egesypus was about the yere of Christ 383. so that now it is manifest that this latter Egesippus was 200. yeare and aboue after the former and therefore such a one as serued to set out fables for the mayntenance of the Pope his superstition reade more in Cornelius Gualterus vpon Egesippus and in Vilierius If a man doo well consider those fables that Egesippus writeth lib. 3. c. 2. how that Peter and Simon Magus dyd contende whyther of them should renine Nero his Cosen that was dead and how that if Peter could not doo it hée should dye for it and if Simon could not that Peter could doo it then Simon should suffer death And howe that Peter met Christ at the gates of Rome and asked of Christ Domine quo vadis And how that Christ answered I come ageyne to bée crucified and that Peter returned and was crucified with his héeles vpward It may bée easely coÌ„sidered that hée was one of the Popes friends c. Ireneus in the first chapter of his third booke writeth that Matthewe wrote his Gospell what tyme as Peter and Paule preached the gospell at Rome founded the hurch there If Peter was at Rome at that tyme when Mathewe wrote his Gospell then dyd not hée come to Rome in the second third or fourth yeare of Claudius as the Catholiques reporte For as yit Caligula was aliue and in the third yeare of his Empyre and reigne Matthewe wrote his Gospell Neyther was Paule at Rome in the tyme of Caligula in whose third yeare Matthew wrote his Gospell euen eight yeare after Christes ascension and 41. years after his natiuitie For it was 24. years after Christes deathe before Paule came to Rome Howe could Paule preache at Rome the eyght yeare after Christes ascenâ—ion when as hée came not to Rome vntill the 24. yeare after Christes ascension Could hée preache at Rome before that hée was there It was the seconde yeare of Nero that Paule came to Rome as shall appeare most manifestly to them that will conferre the 28. of the Actes of the Apostles with the order of tyme with the yeares of the Emperours and with Eusebius in Chronice and Hierome in the lyues of Ecclesiasticall writers Consider whether that Ireneus can make the 3. yeare of Caligula which was the eight yeare after Christes Ascension to bée the second yeare of Nero whiche was the 24. yeare after Christes ascension Nowe if Peter came not to Rome tyll Paule was there or if hée were there with Paule at any tyme then could not Peter bée there tyll the seconde yeare of Nero so that hée was neyther at Rome in the tyme of Caligula who reygned thrée yeare nor in the tyme of Claudius who reygned 14. yeare So that by this order and playne demonstration Ireneus woordes are neyther of force neyther woorthy to bée read much lesse to bée credited Hierome writeth that Peter came to Rome the second yeare of Claudius which is no trewer then this that the same Hierome sayeth that Peter was the prince of the Apostles Was hée the Prince of the Apostles when Paule withstoode and reproued to his face Galat. 2. ver 11. whom Christ called Satan who calleth himselfe but an Elder with the reste 1. Petr. 5. who was sent by the other Apostles Actes 8 Could Peter come to Rome the second yeare of Claudius when as Hierome himselfe in the same place sayeth that first hée went to Antioche where hée was Bishop and from thence hée went and preached to the dispersed Brethren in Ponto Gallatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithinia and then went to Rome the seconde yeare of Claudius and continewed there 25.
Althoughe Iohn the 3. After Christ .565 yeare and Gregorie the Pope after Christ .590 had apointed and decréed moste Prudently the Contrarie This saide Boniface apointed the Aultares to bée couered with white Linen clothes 28. Theodotus in the yeare of Christe .618 decréede that no man should mary his goddaughter 29. Boniface the 5. in the yeare of Christ 621. apointed Sanctuaries for Malefactoures that Coluthes shoulde not touche the Reliques of Martires Sacrilege to bée punished with the dart of excomunication and that Monkes being preistes might binde and louse 30. Honorius the firste in the yeare of Christe .626 made the Crosse of Christe a Saincte and tooke the Brasen Tiles of the Temple of Romulus and couered Saincte Peters Churche with them and builded many Temples 31. Theodocus in the yeare of Christ .640 the sonne of a Bishope was Pope at what tyme Carcombert King of England firste commaunded Lent to bée kept in Englande 32. Martine the firste in the yeare of Christe .650 compelled the Clergie to vowe chastitie 33 Eugenius the first in the yeare of Christe .660 apointed that Bishoppes should haue a prison to emprison the Clergie and that Bishoppes might not nor oughte not to conuert the goodes of the churche to their owne vses 34. Vitelianus in the yeare of Christ .661 brought firste into the Temples Musike and Orgaines 35. Donus in the yeare of Christe .681 deuided the Clergie into certein orders 36 Agatho the fyrste in the yeare of Christ .680 commaunded that all the Lawes of the Pope should bée taken as confirmed by the mouth of God. 37. Constantine the first in the yere of Christ .708 went towards Constantinople and in the iourney Iustinian the Emperour met him and kissed his féete He commaunded Images to be had in Temples and to be painted 38. Gregory the second in the yeare of Christ .715 forbad a man to mary Presbyteram Dyaconam Monacham and a spiritual godmother and made Leo the Emperour his subiects too rebell bycause the Emperour had pulled downe Images of Saincts out of Temples 39 Gregory the third in the yeare of Chryst .731 brought in Images againe cursed Leo the Emperour who resisted him and despising the Emperour caused Martellus King of Fraunce too make warre against the Lumbards 40 Stephanus the second in the yeare of Christ .751 caused Pipinus to inuade Lumberdie hée pardoned Pipinus againste his othe made vnto his king Childerique and this was the first Pope that was borne vppon mens shoulders and caused Images to be worshipped and much Idolatrie to be committed 41. Paule the first in the yeare of Christ .760 excomunicated the Emperour in hys tyme Starres did fall from heauen into the earth 42. Leo the thyrd in the yeare of Christ .800 after his banishment béeing restored too his Popeshippe by Carolus Magnus the Emperour made the Gange daies and Frankencense and preferred the degrées of the Popes before all the wrytings of the holy Doctours and affirmed that a crosse of wood made for Christes â—rosse did bléede the very true blood of Christ. 43. Gregory the fourth made all sowle daye 44. Sergius the seconde in the yeare of Christe .841 was the first that chaunged his name and cauled himselfe Sergius whose Christian name was Hogges mouth He crowned the Emperour Lodouike and caused the Sacrament too bée deuided intoo thrée partes 45. Leo the fourth in the yeare of Christ .846 made men kisse his féete no lay man to bée in the quieâ— at the masse tyme but the clarks And made Ethenwolfus of a monke king of England and therfore he rendred to the Pope of euery house in England a pennye 46. Iohan a woman Pope in the yeare of Christ .853 borne at Moguntia in Germany and called an English woman through the familiarite that she had with an English monke with whom she went to Athenes being appareled like a young man proceded and excelled in learning in so much that she was coÌ„secrated Pope gaue orders made Bishoppes Priests Deacons and Abbottes songe masse halowed Alters Fonts and Temples ministred the Sacrament crowned Lodouike the seconde Emperour of that name with hir hand and with sainct Peters blessing Ethelwolfus King of England reuerencing this holy mother I should say holy father the Pope euen the harlot of Babylon gaue the tenth part of his Realme to clarkes and monks to praye for his sowle This Pope was gotten with childe of one of hir Cardinalles delyuered a child as she went on procession and so died after she had bin Pope two yeare and a halfe Then â—he holy fathers made prouision leste they should be deceaued any more and did set him whome they would make Pope vppon a stoole that had a hole in it and caused a Deacon to put his hand vnder and to know whither he were a man or a woman Behold the Romish Church euen after mistres I. Pope had sayd a masse of the holy ghost did offend if it bée an offence too bée an harlot Funcius sayeth that it was done by the singuler prouidence of God to â—eclare the abhomination of the whoore of Babilon and the Sea of Rome 47. Nicolas the first decréed in the yeare of our Lord .861 that no Prynce not the Emperour should be present at any councel of the Clargie onlesse it be some chéefe pointe of the fayth He decréed that no lay man should iudge of the Clergies lyues nor dispute of the Popes power neither any Christian magistrate too haue power ouer any Bishoppe bicause the Bishppe was called God and compelled priests too lyue chaste and that none shall heare the masse of him that hath a concubine 48 Martine the second in the yere of Christ 882. was made Pope by Nigromancy 49 Stephanus the 6. in the yere of Christ 890. abrogated al y Actes of Formosus the Pope for on olde grudge he tooke his body out of his graue cut of two fingers of his right hand and threwe them into Tyber and buryed him emong the Laytie 50 Romanus in the yeare of Christ 896. disanulled the Actes of his Predecessour Stephanus and approued the Actes of Formossus 51 Christophorus â–ª in the yeare of Christe 903. did cast Leo intoo prison and handled him miserably 52 Sergius in the yeare of Christ 907. deposed the sayd Christopher and made himselfe Pope and for hatred tooke vp Formosus once again and set him in the Seate of the Pope as though hée had bin alyue and cut of his head eight yeares after hée was dead hée cut of thrée of his fingers and threwe his body into Tyber and commaunded all the Romanes to confirme this acte and too subscribe Hée first ordeyned candelles to bée borne vppon Candelmasse daye Hée begotte Iohn the 12. Pope of that name of an harlot called Marozia and did many such miracles 53 Laudo in