I Am glad Patricke , wee haue slipped the rest of our company , we may now conferre betweene our selues , and no man to molest vs .

I thanke God Sir Tady , I haue nothing to say that I care who doth heare , and therefore in companie or out of companie all is one to me .

And I am indifferent too for that , but beecause you asked mee whether I had forsaken my spirituall function or nay , what was your meaning in that demand ?

Nothing but this ruffling sute of apparel , that I see on your backe , with your gylt Rapier and Dagger hanging by your side , methinkes it is more gentleman-like then priest-like , and this makes me to thinke you haue giuen vp your order , and that you are become the same in profession , that you make shew to be by your attyre .

Alas Patricke necessitie hath no lawe , it is not my cause alone that is driuen to this distresse , there bee many hundreds in Ireland besides my selfe , that are glad to disguise themseues from the rygour of those lawes that haue beene lately contryued and pronounced against vs :

I doe not know what lawes they be that you doe terme to be so rigorous , I heare of no lawes that doe exact any blouddy executions or any other tragical tyranies , as burning , massacring murthering , torturing , or any other such vnchristian-like cruelties :

Do you not heare of the Proclamation now lately published through the whole Realme of Ireland , that is set foorth against Catholickes , either to enforce them against their consciences , or to hazard themselues into vnknowne danger :

If your cause of complaint proceeded but from that , I see you can exclaime vppon light occasion , and coulde you but call to remembrance the persecutions , the tortures and torments , that from time to time hath bin prosecuted by poplings , against the true professors of the Gospell , and that you were but handeled , as you handeled them : you had then cause indeede to complaine for somewhat .

And do you thinke our causes to be so light , when we shall be compelled against our consciences ?

And when your Pope takes vppon him to depose Kings , to interdict Realmes , to authorize rebellion , to dispence with subiectes for their obedience to their soueraigne , doe you not thinke it high time for Princes to looke about them ?

And I thinke as high time for vs to looke to our selues , but Catholickes I can tell you , are neyther children nor fooles , they will not be easely dasht out with a Proclamation .

Belike they doe thinke to dash out the Proclamation in this disguised sorte to keepe themselues vnknowne .

You need not doubt but that wee meane to shift for our selues , and not to runne into wilfull danger , so long as wee may preuent it .

But doe you thinke that this disguising of your selues , will serue your turne to preuent it ?

It hath serued our turne for fourtie yeares together , & why should it not doe so still .

Because these matters wil be more narrowly looked vnto , and if you remember your selfe well , there is an edict in the proclamation that euery Iustice of assise shal giue it in charge to the Iury that must both make inquiry and present it .

But from whence will you fetch your Iurates that will present against Catholickes , you may well fetch them from Geneus , but they will be very hardly found in Ireland .

Why doe your Iurates of Ireland make so litle account of an oath that they will forsweare themselues ?

What account should they make of an oath that is taken to the preiudice of one Catholick to another , when they haue so many dispensations in a readinesse , and doe know where they may be absolued for more oathes in one houre , then they be able to sweare in seuen yeares .

If dispensations be so ready as you speake of , how comes it to passe , that in euery corporate towne in Ireland , the Mayor and Sheryues hadde sometimes rather to goe to pryson then to take the oath of obedience to the King ?

the Mayor and Sheryues of euery towne corporate , is inioyned for that houre to the seruice of the prince , and how can a man more honestly expresse his zeale to the pope , then flatly to deny his seruice to his prince ▪ I say that Catholicke that will offer himselfe to prison in such a case ( as yearely they doe almost in euery towne ) is worthy to attaine that estimation that he himselfe doth so much desire ?

And what is that to be accounted a reble , a traytor , and a false hearted villayne to his prince .

No syr he doth it out of the loue he beareth to the Pope , & therefore amongest Catholickes to be beloued , honored , esteemed , cherished , and to be reputed for a patron , a protector , and a demy saint so long as he liueth , and after his death to be canonized , numbred and regestred in the Popes Calender .

Why then ●o commit a papist to pryson , is rather a grace then a disgrace vnto him .

I tell you it is a glory vnto him , he doth reioyce in it , hee doth triumph in it , he doth knowe himselfe to bee renowned by it .

But doth your townes-men that bee thus ill affected to their prince , indure anie great penurie during the time of their imprysonment ?

Now God and our blessed Lady defend it , no sir , they liue in pleasure , they lie well , they fare well , they are frequented by their friends , and rather then they should liue in lacke , the whole cittie where they dwell will contribute towardes their charges .

But is not this a gratious clemencie in a soueraigne , that will suffer those corporations to houlde or inioy any liberties or priuiledges , that are thus opposite to himselfe and repugnant to his lawes ?

Speake not of clemency Patricke , where the priestes that shoulde sacrifice for the sinnes of the people are constrayned to liue in a disguised sort , but not in open show :

And by this counterfeit shift of disguising themselues , they march vp and downe the streets of Dublyne , and where they list besides seducing the people , without impeachment .

And from whence is that but by the mighty power of God that is able to protect his seruants although in the Lions denne , and therefore he that hath any wit in his head , will neuer seeke to apprehend , trouble or molest any Catholicke priest .

Whereof should we stand in feare or doubt ?

Of more enemies then friendes bee sure of that . And name mee but any one manne that hath most buisied himselfe in those matters , that hath gotten eyther gaine or grace : and lette it bee that a Catholicke priest bee sometimes apprehended ( as God bee thanked for it , it is seldome seene in Ireland ) doth he not vse his priestly dignitie , in as large and as ample manner as if hee were at libertie , in what pryson can you shutte him vppe , but there he maketh holy water , holy bread , holy falt , holy candell , and for those that haue continuall accesse vnto him , aswell men , women and children , he confirmes them still and reconciles them to the pope .

But doe you reconcile so many to the Pope when you be in prison as you speake of ?

Both in pryson , and out of prison we reconcile as many , as will heare or beleeue vs .

What to be traytors to the prince ?

No syr but to vow themselues to the pope , without any intended treason to the prince .

But this reconciled sort must in the end become traitors to the prince , whether they ment it at the first or nay , for when it pleaseth your holy father to depose the prince , and to excommunicate as many as will acknowledge him for a lawfull magistrate ( as many times he hath done ) what shall your reconciled sort do then ?

If a prince bee a heriticke shoulde wee communicate with him ?

We may then condemne his heresie , but we must pray for his person , as the Apostle hath taught vs : I exhort you therefore , that first of all supplications , prayers and intercessions be made for Kings , and so for all that are in authoritie .

That is meete , so long as they be good christians .

The aduertisement was written from Paul to Tymothy , and at that time when princes were both infidels and Idolators :

I thinke those kings that be pagans , are rather to be prayed for , then those that be heretickes .

The church of Christ hath prayed for those princes that were heretickes , & that in the middest of their impietie and hottest tyrany : Constantius for one that was an Arian , and yet was prayed for by the decree of a common Counsell .

Perhaps they might do this in the beginning of his raigne before his heresie was discouered .

Perhaps there are none but papists that would appose any such doubtes , and what are they but traytors that woulde teach subiectes to rebell ?

It is no treason to say the Pope may depose princes , when he hath receiued that power from Christ .

If you coulde but proue that , we might the better beleeue you in some other matters :

Hath he not the keyes of the kingdome of heauen ?

So hath euery other person that is a minister of the word of God , but what haue they to do with the kingdomes of the earth : our Sauiour beeing demaunded by Pilate what kingdome it was that hee claimed , openly avowed : My kingdome is not of this world but the Pope that takes vppon him but to be his Vicar , woulde dispose of all the kingdomes in the world .

May not the shepheard reclaime the sheepe if he will not be ruled ?

So he may sell the sheepe to the Butcher if he bee fat , but what is that to your Pope , woulde you haue him to doe the like by princes ! I hope you vnderstand Syr Tady , that all similitudes be no sylogismes .

For all this I cannot thinke it any treason to defende that the pope may lawfully depose any prince , for tyrany or heresie .

I cannot let you to thinke what you list , but I can tell you truly it is treason by the lawes of the Realme , to subiect eyther the princes sword or his crowne to the Popes courtes , or in any sort to his vsurped power .

The time hath beene when Princes might in no wise meddle with ecclesiasticall persons , and I warrant you the Pope will neuer giue his consent that any prince of them all shoulde haue lawfull authoritie to punish a priest .

God be thanked of a good amendment , Princes are beecome to be more wise , and I thinke you haue heard of some prety store of your trayterous priestes that haue already hopped as far as from Tyber to Tyburne , and there is some hope that shortly more will follow .

I haue hearde of some that suffered martyrdome , but I know you will say they were executed for treason , when in truth it was but for the testimony of their consciences .

And if it be a matter of conscience for priests and Iesuites to vndermine a princes estate , and to stirre vp their subiectes to rebell , to goe about to plucke the crowne from their heades and to wrest the scepter out of their handes , then you say truth , they suffered for their consciences , but if your priestes and Iesuytes , were sent from Rome as Pioners to make ready the way for the Popes Bull , that should haue disinherited the Prince , and giuen his crowne to another , as was apparantly proued and confessed by themselues , I wonder with what faces papistes can excuse those iustly condemned traytors , and to intitle them for martyrs .

I cannot tell what was proued against them , but I am sure they were cruelly executed , but what should I neede to speake of matters that were done so many yeares past , when we haue examples here at home , that be yet bleeding new , of two holy martyrs that were executed at Dublyne , but vpon Candlemas eaue nowe last past , the one a reuerend and a learned By shop , inuested many yeares sithens to the Bishopricke of Downe by the Popes holinesse , the other a holy Catholicke priest , that did both together suffer martyrdome in a most constant manner onely for their consciences , and for the testimonie of the Catholicke faith .

Now fye of the diuell , and out vppon popery , is it possible that any papist should be found so foolish to bring this matter into question , vnlesse to shame himselfe , or to make his religion ridiculous ? but doe you call him a reuererid and a learned ●yshop , that was a very blocke , without wit learning or honesty , hee shewed it in the manner of his life , but neuer more manifest then at the houre of his death .

It is truth , he had his inuestment by the Pope , for those Balamite Idyotes , be fit instruments to spread the Popes doctrine , especially in Ireland , where the poore people are so infected with this Locust vermine of priests and fryars , that they will sooner beleeue an Asse that comes from Rome with a Popes Bull , then an Angell of heauen , that shoulde bee sent with the light of Gods word .

Now for your holy priest that accompanied your learned Bishop , me thinkes our papistes of Ireland should make intercession to our Lady , that his name might neuer more be hadde in remembrance , that at the time of his death , did shewe himselfe to be the very disgrace of popery , and an vtter reproch to the religion he professed .

Why Patricke although the priest did shew himselfe to be in some little astonishment with the terrour of the death hee was to indure , yet he died constantly without revolting from his religion , and the Byshop and hee together indured their martyrdome with patience enough .

I wonder with what shameles faces papists can auow those to be martyrs , and to die for the testimony of their consciences , that were both of them euycted of high treason , and no matter of religion inforced against them : was not your Byshop indited of sixteene seuerall articles of treason , all of them openly confessed by himselfe , and he condemned by his owne confession ?

And yet I hope you will not deny , but that all his articles , which you say were so many treasons , tended all to the aduancement of the holy church of Rome : which euery honest man is bound in conscience to doe .

If all our priestes in Ireland that doe teach that doctrine to the poore silly people of that country , were drawne hanged & quartered as your Byshop was , the kings maiesty would be both better beloued , and more dutifully serued in Ireland then nowe he is .

Then I perceiue you do stil thirst after bloud : is not your insatiate desire yet glutted enough , with the death of those two worthy martyrs , especially of that reuerend Bishop , who was so dearely beloued through all the partes of Ireland , aswell for his learning as for the seueral seruices he had performed to the holy church of Rome .

Sir Tady I protest I do thirst after no mans bloud , neither doe I knowe any one papist in Ireland that I would seeke his life or wish his death , but do rather both pittie him & pray for him , but I wonder you are not ashamed to intitle those for martyrs , that were openly knowne traytors ; And what were those holy seruices that you say your Bishop was so dearely beloued for , were they not his seditious practises , that for many yeares together was still stirring vppe of the people to armes and rebellion ? were not these the articles wherewith he was accused , the which himselfe confessed , and for the which he was iustly condemned ? what other wit learning or honesty was in him , that you so much magnifie ?

I hope you will not deny him to be learned .

I will deny him nothing that was his due , his learning was fit to concurre with that authority the Pope had giuen him , that was to stirre vp the people to treason , and rebellion , for anie other litterature , if ought were in him , it might haue beene begged for a concealment , for he neuer shewed it .

Why doe you slander the dead , he shewed himselfe to be a great scholler at the very houre of his death .

Good sir Tady doe me the fauour to tell me wherein .

Being ready to mount vp the ladder : when he was preased by some standers by to speake , did he not itterate , and reitterate Sine me quaso , Sine me quaso , so distinct and plainely , that euery latinist might well vnderstand him : this was a signe he was learned , and that he could speake Latine .

And here we see the end of this great learned Bishop , that had liue ▪ in conspiracie for many yeares against his prince , and being condemned to the gallowes for his treason as hee was wel worthy , had nothing to say in his owne excuse but Sine me quaso .

What woulde you haue him to say in such a case , but to giue himselfe to prayer and contemplation .

But what bragges be these that are made of his witte and learning , that had liued like a rauening Woolfe , and dyed like a dumbe dogge .

Before I answere your demand , I holde it best to make a true relation of the maners and behauiours of the people that so followed him to the place of execution , strange and foolish I confesse to bee rehearsed , but because you haue vrged it , thus it followeth .

The 28. day of Ianuary now last past , the Bishop with his companion the priest , being brought to an araignment at the Kings bench barre at Dublyne , were there condemned of treason , and adiudged to be executed the next saturday following , which was the first of February being Candlemas eue : which day being come , in the morning something timely , by a Catholicke consent , a priest or two of the Popes broode , were sent with holy water and other like holy stuffe , to sanctifie and hallow the gallowes where they should be hanged .

Loe here the pietie that is in popery , I haue many times heard speaking of hallowed bread , of hallowed water , of hallowed ashes , of hallowed beades , and of such other like hallowed trash , but I neuer heard of a payre of gallowes that were hallowed before , but these gallowes being thus sanctified , and made holy afore hand , about 2. of the clocke in the afternoone , the traytors were deliuered to the Sheryues of Dublyne that were to see execution , who placing them in a small carre , and being assisted with a conuenient guarde , as they passed along through the streetes of Dublyne , diuerse citizens ( whereof some that were of good sort and fashion ) as the Bishop passed by , fell downe vppon their knees in the durt and mire , crauing his fatherly blessing & benediction , but the poore regardles wretch , sitting still like a blocke woulde neither vouchsafe them worde , nor so much as to turne his head aside to looke at them , or once to lift vp his eyes to heauen , or to make shew eyther of deuotion or of anie religion at all , what was in him , so that he might haue bin a Papist a Turke or a Iew , for any thing that could haue bin discerned by him , either by his wordes or by his showe : And now being come to the place of execution , it is truth he was followed with troopes of citizens , both men and women , and not of the inferior sort alone , but of the better , & amongst the women , of the best mens wiues within the cittie of Dublyne : that kept such a scriking , such a howling , and such a hallowing , as if Saint Patricke himselfe had bin going to the gallowes , they could not haue made greater signes and showes of griefe and sorrowe : but when they saw him turned from of the gallowes , they raised the Whobub , with such a maine cry , as if the rebels had beene approched to robbe and rifell their cittie .

Now to answere to your question , if I should say that this deploring of a traytor , with such signes and showes of sorrowe , did argue but little loue to his maiestie , perhaps I might offende a great number of papistes , but this I dare bouldly affirme , that those fooleries , that were vsed both before and after the execution , argued but little wit ; and I thinke the recitall of it woulde make the papistes themselues to laugh at the folly of popery , for marke what followed .

The executioner had no sooner taken of the Bishops heade , but that the townes men of Dublyne , began to flocke about him : some taking vp the head with pitious aspect , accompanied with sobs and sighes , that of my conscience were breathed out from their verie soule .

Some kissed it with as religious an appetite as euer they kissed the Paxe .

Some cut away all the haire from the head , which lousie commoditie , they religiously reserued , for a lousie relique .

Some others were practising to steale the heade away , the which beeing espyed by the executioner , hee gaue notice of the matter to the Sheryues of Dublyne .

Now when he began to quarter the body , the women thronged about him as fast , and happy was shee that coulde gett but her handkercheife dipped in the bloud of the traytor : And the body being once disseuered into foure quarters , they neither left finger nor toe , but they cut them off , and carried them away : And to shew their Catholike zeale , they tare his garments into tatters , and some others that could get no holy monumentes that appertayned ▪ to his person , with their kniues they shaued of chippes from the hallowed gallowes : neyther would they so much as omitt the halter wherewith he was hanged , but it was gathered vp to be reserued for holy vses .

I might speake heere of the Bishops breeches that the executioner sould for fiue shillings to a fellow that carrying them into the towne , and tearing them into fitters made as good a market of them amongst the Catholikes of Dublin , as if they hadd beene pardons newe come from Rome : the poore hangman againe who but laying his cloake a little apart whilst hee was doing of his office , it was stolne away from him , and could not be heard on till within two or three dayes , and then it was knowne to be cut into shreadds , and so sold amongst the Papistes for holy reliques at a very deare rate , thinking it had beene some vestment belonging to the Bishop .

I am sorry for my country-men that are so blind and blockish but see what followed : the same night after the execution was done , they flocke together afresh both men and women , with holy water , holy candle : and congregating themselues at the holy gallowes , in the place of execution , they spent the fore part of the night in heathenish howling , and performing many popish ceremonies , and after midnight , beeing then Candelmas day in the morning , hauing there priests in a readines they had Masse , and as some say Masse after Masse : day light beeing come they departed to their owne houses , all of them made as holy towardes God , as they had shewed themselues dutifull to the King .

You haue made a long discourse to little purpose , for say you what you can , it will neuer be beleeued amongst the Catholickes in Ireland , but that these men dyed holy Martyrs , & suffered for matters that did concerne the Church ; now for temporall Magistracie to haue foueraigntie in spirituall regiment is very vnnaturall , say you what you can .

Who should else mayntaine and vpholde godly lawes but the Prince ? who should banish and displace false religion together with the spreaders and dispersers of the same but the Prince ? who should punish malefactors against God , as heretickes , blasphemers , Idolaters , and such other like which is to be done in euery Christian common wealth , but the Prince .

But if the priest doth preach errour in stead of truth , may not the Prince both banish the doctrine , and punish the teacher ?

The Pope is the onely decider of those doubts , it is hee that must iudge betweene truth and errour .

But if the Pope doth finde an errour , and doth command the Prince to punish it , may he not then doe it with authority ?

If the Pope doth commaund , there is no question but the Prince must obey .

Then Kings and Princes must doe more for the Pope , then they may do for Christ , but if Princes may not iudge of the truth , what meant Dauid in his second Psalme to say : Bee wise yee Kinges , vnderstand yee Iudges , and serue the Lord .

Well , let be that Princes may commaund , yet I say still the Church must appoynt them what they must commaund .

But what doe you meane by the Church , that you say must thus direct the Prince ?

What should I meane but the Church , that is the Pope , his Cardinals , Bishops , Priestes , and all other persons ecclesiasticall .

But what meant Saint Paul Actes . 20. when hee called the Elders of Ephesus , and willed them to feed the Church of God , what meant he by the Church , the priests , or the people ?

Perhaps hee ment them both , aswell ▪ the people as the priestes .

Canne you finde in any one text of Scripture , where the Church is taken for the priestes without the people ?

But yet the priestes are onely called Churchmen .

Why now you haue answered the matter soundly , hereafter when they tell vs that the Church doth consist in the whole congregation of the faithfull , we may then answer them , that the priestes onely were called churchmen , and therefore they must commande Kinges and Princes , what they must doe , and what religion they must establish .

It is very true , for who should iudge of religion but the Priest .

But that princes should haue power to compell mens consciences , I say is a thing most vnreasonable .

And that euery ignorant and obstinate person shoulde make a conscience of euery popish fantazy is a thing most intollerable .

Doe you terme it to bee fantasticall that our progenitors , haue professed , and that we our selues were baptized in ?

This is your common inchantment , wherewith you bewitch a number of seely soules , bearing them beleeue , that in bap tisme , they haue vowed themselues to your Romish religion : but in whose name were you baptized , was itin the popes , or in Peters or in Paules ▪ if in no other then in the nameof Christ alone , then are you made the sonnes of God , and not the slaues and vassels of Rome , and as in baptisme , you receiued no mans marke but his , so you stand bound to regard no mans voyce but his .

Yet I say still that it standes with no reason , that a prince may forcibly compell any man against his conscience .

But I say still that a Prince may forcibly compell his subiectes from Idolatry and heresie , to the sincere seruice of God , & the scriptures doe furnish vs with sundry presidents tending to that purpose , amongst the rest take this one : Iosiah was highly commended for making the people of Ierusalem , & all that were ●ound in Israell to serue the Lorde .

Iosiah compelled the people to serue the Lorde according to the truth , but doth it therefore follow , that euery prince , may inforce a religion , that is but fitting to his owne will and fancie ?

It doth therefore followe , and by the circumstance of the whole chapter , it doth appeare , that euery christian Prince throughout his realmes and dominions , may roote out heresie , Idolatry , superstition , and hauing againe restablished the true and sincere worship of God , may compell and inforce his subiects both to obey and submit themselues vnto it .

But the religion which we professe , is the true auncient & Apostolicke religion , first deliuered by Christ himselfe vnto Peter , and by Peter himselfe to his successors the Bishops of Rome .

Indeede your Pope in his doctrine , dooth as rightly succeede Saint Peter at Rome , as the Turke doth succeed Saint Iames at Ierusalem , and as the Scribes and Pharises did Moses , in whose chayre they sate , when they crucified the Sonne of God .

I hope you make no doubt but that the Pope is Saint Peters successor , and that the chayre wheron he now sitteth at Rome was first Saint Peters seate .

I vnderstand not what you meane by the Popes chayre , & by Saint Peters seate , whether you meane it by any Throne or Tabernacle , or by some other Tribunall , or what manner of stoole it should be , that you call Saint Peters seate .

I beleeue you well , for Protestants ( God knowes ) are not onely ignorant , but they are likewise blind and senfeles in those thinges , that doth appertaine to the misteryes of the Catholicke Church , but for your better satisfaction , and to giue you true weeting of Peters Seate what it is : you that are so full of scripture cannot be ignorant where Christ in the 23. of Mathewe tolde his Disciples that the Scribes and Pharises did sit on Moses chayre , & willed them therefore ( in respect of their place ) both to heare and beleeue them , being as they were successors vnto Moses ▪ then the like of Rome where Peter was sometimes Bishop , and where he constantly preached Christ crucified , must therefore necessarily be the Seate of Peter , and this holy Sea of Rome is it , which Peter hath left to his successors , and we may as truly say that the Pope doth now sit on Peters Seate , as Christ told his Disciples , that the Scribes and Pharises did sit on Moses Chayre .

There haue beene many papistes that haue taken great paynes to proue that Peter was Bishop of Rome , but there was yet neuer any one of them coulde make it so apparant , but that wee might deny & that by good authority , that peter was euer at Rome at all : but let it be granted that Peter were at Rome , doth it therefore follow that the Sea of Rome must be Peters Seate ? Peter preached in many places before hee came to Rome ( if euer hee were there at all ) as it appeareth in the Actes of the Apostles , and by the testimonie of your owne Legende , Peter was a long time at Antioche , and why should not Antioche , or any other place where Peter taught and preached , challenge a superioritie as far foorth as Rome ?

I see I must render you a reason for the matter , will it please you now to vnderstand , that besides Peters being at Rome , Peter likewise dyed at Rome , and suffered vnder Nero , & therfore the place more holy , and worthy of authoritie .

May it please you now to heare me to render you the like reason , our Sauiour Iesus Christ was crucified and dyed at Ierusalem , for the sinnes of the worlde , and therefore in the worke of our redemption , his power is more ●ull and ample at the citie of Ierusalem , then it is in any other place where he hadde formerly taught and preached .

Thus you would conclude that Saint Peters seate , consisted in nothing more then in the preaching of the Gospell . And by this you woulde depriue him not onely of his Patrimony , but also of his Dignity : Saint Peter is little beholding to Protestants , for of him that was called the Prince of the Apostles , they would make him to be but Minimus Apostolorum , but if to preach the Gospell , be to sit in Peters Seate , was it not Peter to whom Christ especially recommended the feeding of his flocke ? And what is meant by the feeding of the sheepe , but the preaching of the word , and ministring of the sacraments , which as it was commended to Peter especially , so it remaineth a precept for euer to the Popes that are his successors ? And was it not to Peter againe to whom Christ sayd I haue prayd for thee Peter that thy faith might not fayle ? what malitious impietie then in Protestantes , to spurne against that Principality , that Christ himselfe hath confirmed , not onely to Peter himselfe , but to the rest that bee his successors in the holy sea of Rome .

First for this prioritie that papistes would so faine ascribe to Peter aboue the rest of the Apostles , I say our Sauiour Christ hath long sithens determined , when in the 10. of Saint Markes Gospell , hee told them that there shoulde bee no precedencie amongst them , nor the one to bee accounted more worthy then the other , and therefore flatly decreed betweene them that hee that would aspire to be greatest , the same should be least : now for Saint Peter , esteeme him as you please , choose how you will account him to be either Maximus or Minimus .