FOr so moche that somme controuersie , at the fyrste sight of certayne bokes , of late put forthe concernynge the bysshoppe of Rome , called the pope , rose amonge the people , some meruaylynge , that we shulde so sodeynely relynquysshe and forsake that custome , that had so longe continued , and some were so blynded , that they thought it shulde be ageynste our feythe , to forsake the pope ( but I thynke they , that so supposed , dyd put more their trust in the pope , then in Christe . ) And the moste parte of that sorte made none other reason but this : That if we do well nowe , thus to forsake the pope , then all our forefathers dyd amisse , and so dyd we also , tylle this presente tyme , which were vnder obedience and subiection of the byshoppe of Rome , named pope : and they beleued , that he had auctoritie and power to make lawes , & to bynde & leuse what , & whom he wold . This was the greattest reson that many men made : whiche I suppose they dyd eyther of affection , orels throughe ignoraunce . I haue thought it therfore very expedient to labour for my power , to answere and partlye to satisfie their doubtes , to the intent that after they knowe the truthe , they shulde be ashamed so to clatter in corners ageinst it , and also ( all thynges knowne ) against theyr owne profite . And shortly to answere vnto theyr fore made reason , I saye that if our forefathers dyd beleue the pope to haue had suche a power and auctorytie gyuen hym by god , that he myght make lawes , and order all mattiers and businessis of Christendome , after his owne luste & pleasure ( like as verye many of theym haue done this . viii . C. yeres and more ) then were they blynd and in a wrong beleue , whiche thynge I thynke verely they dyd not , but that al our fore fathers , as many as were lerned and wyse , knewe it for certeyne , that all suche auctorytie and power , as the pope had , more then al other byshops or ouer and vppon the same , was not immediately gyuen hym by god , but he had it granted him by kynges and princis , and the consente of men , or els came by it by wronge vsurpation and tirrannye . For the same fathers knewe righte well , that by the lawes of god , all bysshoppes were , and yet nowe be in power and auctoritie equall , and that the byshop of Rome in al poyntes of our fayth , and belefe is subiecte vnto holye scripture and the generall counsell , and may by the auctoritie of the same as wel be deposed for sufficient causes , as any other byshoppe may : And this right welle maye they knowe that rede suche holy fathers , as bothe for lyfe and lernynge haue ben euer moste approued in Christis church , as saynt Ciprian , saint Hierom , saint Ambrose , seint Augustine , with other lyke . The whiche thyng surely coulde neuer haue bene tru , yf that the pope ( as som papistes both write & sai ) be heed of the church & may do in erth what he wyl , & al be it that many good simple & vnlerned folke haue thought the gret vsurped power of the bishop of Rome , to haue ben giuen to hym by the lawe of god , ( hervnto induced by such as sekinge their owne profyt , in the mayntenance therof , haue ben accounted lerned ) yet was not this mater vnto them damnable nor they therfore so moch to be blamed , but rather suche as haue seduced them herin . But this not withstandynge , to sey truely in this matter , that is not so moche to be regarded , what our fore faders haue done , as what they oughte to do . For as their good examples must be folowed , so theyr yuel muste be fled . Almighty Eze . 20. god , by the mouthe of his prophette Ezechiel , saythe : Walke not in your fathers rules , neither kepe their iudgementis , ne be not poluted with their idols : for I am youre lorde god , but walke ye in my commandementis ( seyth he ) and kepe my iudgementis , and fulfyl 1. Cor . 11. them . &c. Also sainct Paule , one of our best fore fathers , biddith vs folowe him , euyn as he folowid Christ . Marke nowe . He saythe , euyn as he folowed Christe : meanynge , that in no case we shulde folowe hym , where as he swarued from Christe . Wherfore if any of our fore fathers , of ignorance , or for their owne glorie or lucre , haue brought any custome in to Christis churche , contrarie to truthe and his holy doctrine : we oughte of duetie ( refusinge suche erroneous custome ) to folowe the truthe . For if sainct Paule hym selfe ( whiche with a feruent zele kepte his fathers tradicions and lawes , ye and fiersely persecutid the transgressors of the same ) had walked styll in his fathers steppes , and hadde not forsaken them to come to the truthe : he had neuer ben saued . Herunto accordeth sayncte Augustins wordis , in his second boke intitled De unico baptismo , Truthe ones knowen ( saith he ) custome must giue place to the truthe . For who douteth that custome ought to gyue place to the truthe ones publyshed ? Nor let no man preferre Custome afore reson and truthe : for alweys Reason and truthe putteth custome out of place .

To this sayenge of saint Augustine C●si consuetud . di . 8. agreith saint Gregori , writing thus : If percase thou leyest ageynst vs custome , it muste be regarded , that our Io . 8. lorde seyth : I am the wey , I am the truthe , I am the lyfe . He sayde not , that I am olde vsage and Custome , but the Truthe . And certaynely ( as sainct Cyprian sayth ) euery custome , be it neuer so olde , neuer so common & general , is to be vtterly forsaken for the truthe sake : and that vsage , that is contrarie to the truthe , is vtterly to be destroyed . Wherfore not withstandinge any vsage or custome , it is laufull , and standeth very well with goddis worde , the truthe ones knowen , to withdrawe our obedience from the byshop of Rome : by ouer moche obedience vnto whom of longe seson we haue ben seducid and ledde out of the right wey , and haue alowed many of his vices for high vertues .

Herof saincte Gregorie warneth vs 2. q . 7. c . Admonendi . to take heede , sayenge : Subiectes ought to be admonished , not to be obedient vnto their prelatis more than is expediente , lest whiles they endeuoir them selfes to be obedient to men more than nede is , they shulde be compelled to reuerence , alowe , & preyse theyr vices .

Se here , saint Gregori aloweth not suche obedience , wherby prelatis vices shulde be meynteyned . And surely in suche thinges , wherin they openly sclaunder the churche , it standeth right wel with the lawe of god , openly to reproue them : and from this the bishop of Rome , all though he were ten tymes called Pope , is not except : orlels we muste nedes graunte , that saint Paule did amisse , whiche reproued Peter ( that is callid the prince of Gal. 2. the apostols ) euen in the face , that is to sey , before the holle congregacion of the churche . If saynt Paule dyd thus to saint Peter , that was instituted by Christe hym selfe , and whanne saincte Peter erred not in his feythe , but for eatinge of meatis prohibite to the iewes , whiche was but a ceremonie , and at that tyme hauynge no strengthe : howe moche more thanne ought the pope to be reproued of all good christen people , the whiche beinge chosen and institutid by men , without myracle or reuelacion ( I wyll not sey ofte tymes by symonie ) dothe not only fle from the folowing of our sauiour Iesu Christe , and his blessed apostoll Peter , whose successour the pope and papistis seye that he is , but also he excludeth clene Christe with his mekenes , pouertie , and obedience , expressed in the holy euangelistis , and for Christe he wolbe knowen , and for Christis lawes , he bryngethe forthe lawes and traditions of his owne diuisyng , the whiche wollen hym to be lorde and syre ouer all , to be stronge , riche , and myghty , and that all men shulde be obedient to his wyll .

And all thoughe some bringe in , in this place here , this texte , Credo sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam , it can litel help their argument . For I suppose , that there was neuer wise man so farre ouer seen , neither of our forefathers , nor of those that be in our tyme , that beleued , that the Pope is the catholyke holy Churche : but they knewe well , that he is but a membre therof , and the childe of our mother the holy churche ( if he be a true christen man ) and brother to euery christen man .

And for a playne proffe that this is true , our sauiour Iesu Christ taught vs al to praye one prayour : Our father matt . 6. that arte in heuen . &c. Then seinge that we all haue but one father , whiche is in heuen , and one mother the holy churche in erthe , it is manifeste and clere to all the worlde , that the pope and we be al bretherne ( if he be a true christen man . ) And then seinge the Pope is oure brother , why shulde not he haue & abyde brotherly correction , accordinge to the lawe of the gospell , where Christe saythe : If Mat . 18. Luc . 17. thy brother offende thee , correcte hym betwene the and hym alone .

And if some wyl yet sey ( supposinge that he hath suche auctoritie of god , as he presumeth to haue ) that the pope ought not to be thus layde vnto , and so sharply constrained to shewe to the worlde , what auctorite he hath to do , as he longe hath done , as for example , to dispence in any case ageynst the lawe of god : then the apostols and Act 11. brethern ought not in Iudea to haue layde it to saint Peters charge , when he was come to Hierusalem , and constrayne hym to shewe the reason why he viseted and taught Cornelius the gentile , with whome by the iewes lawes he ought not to haue companied .

And therfore let no man thynke , but that our forefathers toke the pope alweye to be a man , a synner , & suche a one as might well erre , & suche a one as ought moche rather to be examined of his lyfe and state , then the holy apostel Peter for viseting of Cornelius : yea & our fore fathers neuer toke hym for any other but suche one as might wel and ought to be refourmed , corrected , ye and clene deposed and put downe , as many popis haue ben in tymes paste , by kyngis & princis , wherof no man is ignorant , that hath redde the stories that intreate of the businesse of Christendome . And therfore no man ought to marueile & mutturre in corners , as thoughe we shulde nowe attempt a thinge in Englande , whiche our fore fathers had neuer attempted in tymes paste .

For vndoubtedly all men , that were before tyme , whiche were wise & well lerned , and that knewe Christe & his doctrine , and that willed Christe and his doctrine to reigne , & to be knowen & folowid of al christen people , did abhorre the pompose and worldly state of the pope , and his tradicions , that he made to vpholde the same : & they sparid not to speke and write ageynst his abhominable abusions : and for that cause they were alwey put either to silence orels to dethe , by the great princis of the worlde , at the instance of the pope & his papistis , of whome there is spronge vp to great a numbre in euery region and countrey : and al that was by reason that the noble princis them selfe were vnlernid , and coude not iuge in suche matters , but they gaue alwey credence to the falce , subtyle , and slye persuasions of the pope and his bolsterers . But nowe thankes be to almyghtie god , frome whom cometh al goodnes , the father Iac . 1. of lightis , the princis hartis beginne to be lyghted with the knowledge of Christis doctrine , and they begynne to perceyue , what wey this wily wat hath walked all this longe while : and what great hurte , wronge , & oppression they haue sufferedde : And howe moche more iniury he entended to do to our mooste gratious soueraygne lorde the kinge , whose highnes , with his moste honorable counsaile , haue bene constrayned , by theyr great labour and study , to trie out the truthe . For if they them selfe hadde not , by theyr diligente studie , sought out his false fraude , the popishe forme shuld neuer haue ben refourmedde , nor it shulde neuer haue ben knowne , that the pope is but a byshop in his owne diocese , and that he ought to preache and teche the people , & that he ought not to occupie lordeshyppes of this worlde , but vtterly to refuse al worldly honoure , delite , or pleasure , in ryches and renome , as Christe and his blessed apostols did , whom he ought to folowe .

¶ AND farthermore to sey , that the kingis highnes is displeasid , bicause the Pope wyll not folowe his gracis mynde in his moste weyghtye cause : is a sayenge bothe false and vntrue , and it besemeth no louynge subiecte so to surmise . For the verie truthe is , that his grace hath of longe season vtterly refused the popis iudgement in his great and waighty cause , and not nowe sodaynely , as these men imagin : and hath committed the handlynge therof vnto all the beste lerned vniuersities , and to all the beste lerned men in christendome , as vnto suche that for theyr lerninge coude best iudge in goddis lawe , wheron his gracis cause holly hangeth , neuer intendynge to stande to the popis iudgement , onlesse he iudged the same , that the lawe of god wolde hym herin to do , and that not bycause of his power and auctorite , but for the truthes sake . To the whiche lerned men and vniuersities determination ( as a prince moste iuste and vertuous ) he alwey offered hym selfe to stande and abyde , and accordynge therto hath nowe prosecuted his cause . whiche thinge ye maye well witte his grace wolde neuer haue doone , excepte he hadde seen the lawe of god clerely on his side : Nor so many vniuersities & excellente lerned men , wolde neuer haue so determined , excepte it hadde stande styffely with the lawe of god .

If his gracis matter had not ben , as afore is sayde : it had ben farre more easye for his highnes , if he had rekenid the popis auctorite sufficient therfore , to haue shortly corrupted hym , beinge but one man , the which thing is easy to be done : then with so great and importable charges , and with so longe tracte of tyme , to haue sought for the truthe in so many vniuersitis , in whiche are so many men of diuers opinions and wittes . AND accordinge to the truthe , thus wel and orderly knowen , his gracis cause hath ben by sufficient auctoritie of the churche of Englande , fully ended and determined : wherin no man ought to doubte , the holy goste to be resident , as well as at Rome : as ryghte well maye appere by the epistole of Affricane councell , writen vnto pope Celestine .

¶ AND yet for further contentacion of al men , so that none either lerned or vnlerned , shulde be with his gracis moste iuste cause and doinge herin offended , consydering that a great parte of the worlde did beleue , as many yet dothe ( other wyse then treuthe is ) that the pope bi goddis lawe hath auctoritie aboue all other bishoppes , to here and determine causes within this realme of Englande : his highnes attemperinge hym selfe to the infyrmitie of the multitude , where he myghte lefully haue withstanded by his owne auctoritie , the popis vsurped iurisdiction ( wherby he wolde haue enforced our soueraygne to the breche of the lawe of god ) and might right wel vnto hym haue sayde : we muste rather obeye god then men : he Act. 5. hath frome all suche vsurpacion and other iniuries , wherwith the Poope wolde , if he had bene suffered , haue aggreued his highnesse : Frome all these ( I sey ) he hath appeled vnto the generall councell , and is herin ( lyke a tru christened and a good catholike prince ) very well contented to abyde suche determination , as the sayd councelle nexte to be assembled in our sauioure Iesu Christe , shall ordeyne .

Nothinge herby doubtinge the iustenes of his cause , so manifest to al the worlde : nor herby bringinge his said iuste cause , all redy well and sufficiently determined , into controuersie and new sute : the whiche to do is not his gracis purpose .

¶ AND admitte that the pope had as great auctoritie , as he vsurpeth , and as the papistis wold fayne beare men in hande that he hath : yet coude he lette no man to appele from hym : for that were clerely ageynst the lawe of Nature , whiche is not contrarie to the lawe diuine . For then a man beinge harmed or wrongid by the pope , eyther in bodye , membres , or fame , shulde not in this case be holpen nor eased . And if it be leful for any christen man , what so euer he be , to appele to the councell generall , as it is in dede : then what iniurie dothe the pope to our souerayne , whiche dothe all that he can to driue hym from his appele ? Yea what iniurie intendeth he to all men , whiche labourynge to make oure prince and kynge a president , woll in tyme to come , suffre no man to appele from his cursed courte ?

¶ AND though it were so , that the pope ( admittynge hym to haue suche auctoritie ) dyd to no man , but accordynge to the wyll and worde of god : yet he can not chose , but is bounde to shewe the reason why he so dothe , before the Churche , whiche the general Councell , gethered in the holy goste , dothe represent : lyke as saincte Peter in Hierusalem , where the churche was , dyd mekely make answere vnto Act. 11. those that were of the circumcision , whiche disputed ageynste hym , sayenge : Why hast thou entred in amonge , and eaten and dronke with those that be not circumcised ? To this the holy apostoll dyd not onely , humblye and mekelye answerynge , shewe them the cause why he dyd it : but also he gaue a lesson to all them , that shulde folowe hym , humblie to do like wise : Be ye redy alwey , sayth 〈…〉 Pe●… i . 3. he , to answer & satisfie euery man that asketh you a reason of your feythe & hope , with mekenes and reuerence .

¶ BY al these reasons it is to you euident , that our souerayne hath now righte good cause to open vnto you , what maner of persone the byshoppe of Rome is , the whiche after manye monitions , refuseth at length to here the churche , that is to wytte the Generall councell , but woll hym selfe be iudge at his owne pleasure : he forcethe not for the doctrine of Christe , nor for the example of Peter , nor his teachinge , but sayth he woll be obeyed , and accordynge to his lawes , the whiche be none other but his owne wyl , he wol haue vs do .

¶ MORE ouer , if any papiste wyll come yet forthe and tell you , that the pope may do what he wyl , and maye bynde and leuse what he lysteth here on erthe , bicause Christe sayde to Peter , Matth . 6. I wol gyue to the , the keys of the kyngedome of heuen : lette hym not therwith blynde and deceyue you .

For saincte Augustine , spekynge of these keys in his fyrste boke De doctrina christiana , sayth thus : Those keyes he gaue to his churche , that what so euer the churche wolde leuse in erthe , shulde be lowsed in heuen : and what so euer the churche shulde bynde in erthe , shulde be bounde in heuen .

Nowe it is wel proued to you before , that the pope is nother the churche , nor the heed therof , but a membre ( if he be a christen man ) and the childe of our mother the holy churche .

¶ AND ferther if any wyll yet telle you , that at the leeste wyse the Pope hath the keye of diuine knoweledge , wherof Christe speketh Luce . xi . whether he so haue or no , ye shal perceyue it thus : The glose seythe , that this keye is the humilitie of Christe , the whiche who so hath , hath the gaate open to the vnderstandinge of scripture . Nowe take heede and se whether the Pope haue this humilytie : Christe the very sonne of god , dydde Philip . 2. humble hym selfe euyn to the veray dethe , yea to the shamefull dethe of the crosse : The pope ( ye se very well ) woll be exalted aboue all other , in so moche that kynges , princis , dukes , and lordes muste kneele to hym and kysse his feete , and do to hym all the honoure and worshyppe , that can be deuised in this worlde . Wherfore it appereth playnely , that he hath not this keye of knoweledge , whiche is Christis humilitie .

¶ ALSO this keye of knoweledge may be taken and called the feythe , accordynge as Esaye , the prophette Esaie . 7. saythe : Except ye woll beleue , ye can not vnderstande . Nowe marke wel whether the Pope haue this keye of feythe or no . Christe saythe , that he Mat . 17. that hath as moche feythe as a lytell mustarde sede , shall be able to commande mountaynes to remoue from one place to an other : and ther shuld be nothynge impossible vnto hym . And agayne Christe sayth : All thynges Mar. 19. are possible to him that beleueth . And agayne yet he saythe in an other place : He that beleueth in me , shall Io . 14. do the warkes that I do , and greatter then those . This is to vnderstand , that if the pope were ioynid to Christ in his feythe , as the apostols were , he shulde be able to do lyke as the apostols dyd , that is to wytte , by his preachynge of the gospell truely , he shulde conuerte and turne nations of mysbeleuynge people , to the feythe of Iesu Christe . Whiche thynge all the worlde seeth playnly he doth not : but by his pryde , his tyrannye , and mooste greuous exactions he hathe and dothe ( I feare me ) compell great multitudes of people and hole countreys & nations , to forsake the feithe of Christe . Wherfore seinge he hath nother the keys of heuen , nor the key of diuine knoweledge , nor the key of feythe : I can perceyue none other , Mat . 5. Mar. 9. but that he is the vnsauery salt , wherof our sauiour Christe speketh in the gospell , whiche is no better worthe , but to be throwen out of the doores , and to be trodde vnder mens feete .

AND nowe to come to a conclusion of this lytell treatise : Where as it hath ben spoken of many and diuers , that it was a mery world before men spake of any suche mattiers , that is to witte , to haue any reformation amonge theim of the clergie , and before that men beganne to sette lyght the pope , and to call hym the bishop of Rome : that is as wyse a sayenge and opinion , as this is of them that sey , sens the crienge downe of Galy halfpens , the lernynge of Duns neuer prosperedde , And also sens Tenterdyn steple was builded , Sandwiche hauen hath euer more decayed . But I praye you beholde , howe the fauourers of blynde abusion wolde fayne blowe abrode smokie and mystie reasons to darke & dymme mens eies with all . They sey it was merie before suche mattiers were moued , but they tell not what tyme it was , with whome , nor wherin it was merie . And if they meane , that the nobilitie and commons of this realme of Englande hadde more riches , and greatter plentie of foode and vitaile , and lyued in moche more welthe , and more at theyr hartis ease in lauful libertie : then lette them consider , that this was before the pope and his clergie were growen so great , so stronge and myghty , and to so huge possessions and riches , as they welde at this daye : for before that tyme they preached the gospelle trewlye , they were meke and lowly spirited , and sufficiencye was to them abundaunce , they were charitable , they were milde and mercifull , and gaue good example , and men gladly folowed them , then reigned loue & liberalitie , then there was peace and vnitie , that causedde great plentie in euery place : But after they were ones endowed with possessions , and theyr myndes inordiatly drowned in them , and that Couetousnes beganne to crepe in amonge them , after that ( I saye ) folowed all mischiefe and miserie , all wretchednes and penurie : The pope , he polled a pace for his parte : yea whome wolde it not make right soroweful & heuy in harte to remembre , what ryches this cursed caytiffe the pope hath polled out of this realme by the space of these thre hundred yeres , ye within these . xl . yeres , or within these . xx . yeres ? What pilleth he yerely ? what myscheuous meanes doth he inuent and seke out , to robbe and spoyle vs of our welthe ? What lawes hath he deuysed , what legations , what and howe many dyuerse courtes ? What dispensations , what pencions out of abbeys exempt , what peter pens out of parishes , what reseruacions , what constitutions , what citations , what suspencions , what pardones , what kynde of cursynges , & blessynges & absolucions ? what wyles , what gyles , what fraudes , what diuilishe deceytes and snares , are daylie couertly couched to catche coyne frome the peple ? Oh good lorde , how the pope and his minysters dayly deuyse and practise to polle and pylle the people of this realme of theyr money ? And yet I speke nothinge of the great vnquietnes and vexacion that many sely soules haue , ouer and besides the losse of theyr goodes . He the moste vnhappy patrone and his , be the very cause of all our miserie , of all our scarsitie , and of all our vexacion and trowble . Who be the occasion and styrrers vppe of warre and stryffe in Christendome , but the pope and papistis ? Looke who so lysteth , and he shall surely fynde , that the pope and his , to saue and kepe vppe styll theyr pompose and worldly state , haue alwey ben the inuenters of myschieffe and destruction of people , by theyr vngodlye instigations of pryncis to warre . Yea if the trouthe shulde be shewed of the great ruyne that hath rysen by them and theyr meanes , in Christendome , it wolde abhorre any man , were he neuer so partiall on the popis syde , eyther to rede or here it . But I woll lette that passe , I am right sory , that we shulde haue cause to shewe you so moche of hym as I haue done , saue alonely I wolde all suche as be blynded , or be ignorant , shulde perceyue : that our moste gratious soueraygne lorde the kynge , is moste specially mouedde to do as he dothe , of his princely pitie and zele , that his highnes beareth to his true and louynge subiectes . Surely I say , this his tyrannie and pyllage in maner constraynethe the kynge his grace , to delyuer this his realme from the captiuitie & bondage of the pope : and kepe within the sayd realme ( for the welthe and safegard of the same ) the great and huge somes of money , that were wont to runne to Rome .

¶ AND if it be not sufficient inough to persuade some of you , to se and so clerely to beholde , howe clene contrarie to the lawe of god the pope demeneth hym selfe , the which he is bounde in all that euer he may do , to folowe : then at the leeste wyse lette the great miserie and pore state , that this most noble , and sometyme the moste florishynge realme of Christendome , is broughte into by the pollynge of the pope , moue and sturre you to stande styffely with our moste benigne and louynge souerayne lorde and prince , that is fully bente and gothe aboute to ridde his realme of this thraldom , and to restore and brynge it agayne out of pouertie to plentie , and frome rauyne to riches , and from trowble and greuous vexacion to quietnesse and reste , and so finally to al the former welthy state . Whervnto as good and trewe subiectes , with all youre hartis ye are also bounde by the lawes of god , his quarel beinge thus iuste , and he intendynge so greate a commoditie to all the realme . Accordyng as the holy apostol Paule sayth : Let Ro . 13. euery soule be subiecte to the high powers : for the powers that be , are ordeyned of god . So that he that resisteth the high power , resisteth the ordinance of god . And they that resiste , seke theyr owne damnacion . Loke howe straytely the apostoll byndethe vs to the obedience of our prince : for in the same chapitre he nameth none other powers , but onely of princis .

And the holy apostol Peter likewise ● . Petri , 2. dothe commande vs to demeane ourselfes lyke lowely and obedient subiectes , whether it be to the kyng hymselfe , as to the moste chiefe and excellent of all , orels to the dukes and gouernours , that are sent by hym . And consequently he saythe : Honour the kynge . Nowe seinge that we be commanded by the holy scripture , to loue , to obey , and honour our prince , not only outwardly in bodies , but also inwardly in our hartes , withoute any dissimulacion or feynynge , and that bicause he is the minister of god , and dothe represent and occupie the place of god here in erthe : howe moche more then are we bounde to loue , to obeye , to honoure , and ayde oure moste gratious prince , with all oure very hartis , whiche specially for our sakes taketh so great peyne , and that so diligentely dothe seke the meanes howe to ridde vs out of bondage , out of miserie , out of nede and vexacion , that we be broughte into by the couetousnes of the brybynge byshoppe of Rome ( the whyche by that name of Pope polleth and pylfereth awey the riches of this realme ) and that so moche myndeth to restore vs to all oure olde welthynes and libertie ageyne ?

THVS ye se playnly proued to you by reason and auctorite of holy scripture , that we do none other wyse in oure tyme nowe , then oure wise and well lerned fore fathers dyd , though the tyme then wolde not suffre them to bringe to passe their well intended purpose . And it is shewed , that the olde holy doctours of Christis churche afferme , that nother custome , nor vsage shulde be regarded , when the truthe ones appereth , but the truthe shulde be enbraced and folowed .

AND also it is wel proued that our prince & souerayne dothe it not nowe for or of any yuell wyl or displeasure : for they that eyther so thynke or sey , do thynke and sey vntrewly , and besydes that , in theyr so doinge , they greatly offende god . for it is writen : Gen 22. Eccl 10. Thou shalte not speke yuell by the prince of the people . And agayne it is writen : In thy thought thou shuldest not detracte the kinge .

AND it is like wyse manifestly proued , that thoughe the pope hadde as great auctoritie , as he vsurpeth and taketh on hym to haue : yet coulde he let no man to appele from hym .

AND it is lyke wyse proued , that the pope is neyther the catholyke holy churche of Christe , nor yet the heed of the same , but if he be a Christen man , he is the childe of our mother the holy churche , and brother to euery christen man .

AND finally it is like wise shewed , that the miserie , nede , pouertie , and scacitie , that we be in , cometh all together by the pope and his meanes . Frome whome and whose captiuite , Christe delyuer vs , that boughte vs on a tree . Amen .