ting the wordes aboue sayd for the magnifiyng of hys owne priuiledge and authoritie geuen him of God, would not haue suppressed and passed ouer their primacie vnspoken of, with whome hee maketh here comparison: for then it might be thought he were enuious, and to pyke away authoritie frō other to himselfe vnlawfull: that can not so be. Moreouer he sayth a litle after the wordes afore rehearsed, that he reproued S. Peter euen before his face.MarginaliaH erome. Whrupon S. Hierome expoundyng the same Epistle,MarginaliaPaule equall to Peter. saith (as I remember) that Paul would not haue bene bold so to do, except he had knowen himselfe equall to Peter.

MarginaliaApostles equall together without any difference of superioritye. In the wordes also of Paul aboue written, this might be noted as seruyng to my purpose, that Peter had no preeminence or primacie aboue the other,MarginaliaIames named before Peter. for Iames is named afore hym, which Paule would not haue done, (I thinke) knowyng Peter to be Iames superiour. Therfore he making no such varietie in order, put Iames afore, saying: And Iames, Peter and Iohn, that appeared the principals (quoth he) gaue vnto me and to Barnabe their right hands in signe of felowshyp.MarginaliaContention about superiority whence it procedeth. Yet notwithstandyng Paule loued good order (I suppose) as well as any that now are, which contendeth so sore for superiour rowmes and preeminencie, claymyng to be the Apostles successours. I would it were so much for the common wealth of Christen people, as it is suspect that they do it for vayne glory, and worldly luker. According to this, shall you find Actes xi. where is shewed,MarginaliaAct. 11. that after Peter by instinct of the holy Ghost, had gone vnto one of the Gentiles called Cornelius a petie Captaine, hauyng the gouernaunce of an hundreth men, teachyng him the wayes and doctrine of Christ, and Baptising him and other with him assembled, being like as he afore was, Paganes: the Apostles and other Christen brethren that were in Iewry, hearyng thereof,MarginaliaEmperours geue more obeysance to the Pope, then euer did the Apostles vnto Peter. when Peter came into Hierusalem, they which held vpō Circumcision, made none obeysaunce vnto him (albeit I thincke verely he had more holines then euer had any other Pope) as the Emperour is fayne to do to the Pope at his coronation, fallyng downe to kysse þ^e popes feete, or to hold the Popes styrrup while he mounteth vpon his horsebacke, according to the forme of law written, I am not certaine whether in the Decrees or els in the Decretals, or in both rather (for such ordinaunces are inuiolable and worthy to be principally recorded)MarginaliaDifference betwene Peter, and the Pope. but they reasoned sore and disputed both agaynst S. Peter, and also his doyng, saying: you haue gone amongest them that you ought not haue had to do with, ne to haue medled among them, that are men vncleane bycause they are vncircumcised: yea and that is more, you haue eate and drōke with them.MarginaliaPeter was content to be charged of the brethren.
The Pope requireth his feete to kissed of Emperours. Peter mildly and coldly made aunswere agayne, rehearsing all the maner of his doyng in order shewyng: that he was so instruct to do by mighty and cleare reuelations of God, and not by his owne fantasie and pleasure.

Which aunswere beyng heard, the other that afore had made sore obiections agaynst him (which were both of the Apostles and other Christen brethren) were content, holdyng their peace without any more complainyng, and gaue glory therfore to God, saying: Then hath God graunted also vnto the Gentiles to take repentaunce, and so to come to eternall lyfe.MarginaliaPeter vicar of Christ no more than other Apostles. Where in you may see, that the other Apostles were as bold with Peter, as before is shewed of Paule, to dispute agaynst him. Neither were they therfore by Peter reproued of inobediencie. He did not alledge any preeminence or authoritie, to rebuke them for their complayning, as one would say: why should you that are my sheepe, cōtrolle me, that am the head of the church and your pastor, or Christes generall vicare, hauyng both iurisdiction temporall, and spirituall: with such other like? but shewed them it was the will of God, that he had done, goyng to the Gentiles to tell them of eternall life, which God pleased to geue to them as well as to the Iewes. In token wherof the holy ghost did sensibly come among them, and so were they Baptised.

MarginaliaVicar of Christ. Thus may you see, that if Peter were the Vicare of Christ, euen so likewise was Paule, and all the other Apostles. And I do not thinke contrary, but that Peter and all other of the Apostles were Christes Vicares, if you meane by this word Vicare, a deputie or such like for to preach his Euangelie (which is an office of all other most soueraigne) to Minister Sacramentes, and to do such other diuine seruice in Gods Church. And thus were they worthy to be called (as the Scripture nameth them) Christes true Apostles, Bishops, Priestes, Legates, or any such like. Which authoritie was geuen thē by Christ after his resurrection, when he sayd vnto them these wordes: Peace be amongest you. Like as my father hath sent me, so do I sent you. Take you the holy Ghost: whose sinnes soeuer you shall forgeue, are forgeuen them: and whose sinnes you shall retaine, are retained.MarginaliaLuke. 24. And the same authoritie did they receiue when Christ spake vnto all the church, after the mynde of S.Augustine and other, in Peter, saying: Peter feede my sheepe.MarginaliaIoh. 21.

MarginaliaTo the 44. article.
Successour of Peter. In the. xliiij. where you aske, whether I beleue, that the Pope ordinatly chosen for a tyme (his proper name being expressed) be the successour of S. Peter? I saye, that it seemeth to me a thing of no great value, whether a man beleue so or no. I can not see that it should be nōbred amongest the articles of oure fayth. Notwithstanding I will shewe my rude thought in it, which is this.

MarginaliaHow the Pope may be a successour of Peter. The Pope may succeede in S. Peters stead or office, and do the same duely and diligently feeding Christs flocke, and shewing vertuous ensample of liuing to the same, and so doing, he maye and ought to be thought and named a true successor of S. Peter. And thus is your Lordship, S. Peters successor, performing the condicions aforesayd, with other like properties requisite to your order and duety:MarginaliaEuery good Bishop may be successour of Peter. yea, and as many other as do truely their duety and duely the office of a Bishop. And otherwise may not the Pope be called the successour of Peter, for because he is entred into S. Peters office, not regarding to do that is requisite for the same, ne folowing the trace of vertue, but the contrarye. And then is he wrongfully named, if at any time such be, which is not vnpossible. For what should men call those Peters successors, that play the pageantes and folow with the condicions of Cayphas, Simon Magus, or Iudas? Such verely if any be, can not rightwisly claime to be Peters successors, nor more then the ngiht may claime to be successor of the daye: for Peter was neuer so minded, ne taught them so.MarginaliaThe Pope rather may be Peters aduersarie, then his successour. Yea, they ought rather to be called Peters aduersaries, for somuch as they doe not his will, that is shewed by his own actes and writing, but worke against the same. Of suche maye be sayde: Non Sanctorum filij sunt, qui tenent loca Sanctorum, sed qui exercent opera eorum. That is to saye, they are not all Sainctes children, that occupye the roumes of Sainctes, but they are theyr children, that exercise their workes.MarginaliaHierome.
As the night is the successour of the day, So is the pope successour of Peter except he follow the steppes of Peter. Yea, of such maye be sayde, that is written of S. Hierome. All Bishops (quod he) are not Bishoppes. Marke you wel Peter, but marke also Iudas. Behold Steuen, but behold Nicolas. Ecclesiasticall dignity maketh not a Christen man. Cornelius the Centurion beyng yet a pagane, was made cleane thorow the benefit of the holy Ghost. Contrariwise, Daniel being a childe, condemneth Priestes, or auncient men. It is no easye thing (sayeth he) to stande in the roume of Peter and Paule, and to keepe the seat of them now reigning with Christ: For vnsauery salte is nought elles worth, but to be throwen out of the doores, and troden downe of hogges. This saieth S. Hierome.

MarginaliaAugust.
Let vs marke not how the byrde speaketh, but how he fedeth. Wherunto agreeth well S. Augustine. Euery one (quod he) that saith vnto you, Pax vobis, ought not to be heard, or to be belued, as a doue.MarginaliaThe Crow fedeth vpon carion, the Doue not so. Crowes be fedde of dead carion: and so is not a doue: but liueth by the frutes of the earth. Her liuyng is pure, innocent, and hurtlesse. Wherby you may see, that ill Bishops are no Bishops, and that they which folow no Saincts in vertuous liuing, are not the sucessors of Sainctes, but vnsauerie salt, that is, neither of the Church, ne shall come in heauen to reigne there with Peter and Paule, but be throwen out with great contempt. For God knoweth a doue from a crow, and an innocent liuer from a deuourer of carion. But such as declare and shewe good deedes, as the Sainctes did, be their children and successors, and shal with them reigne in heauen.

So that to conclude, I saye, that the Pope ordinatlyMarginaliaHow the pope is the successour of Peter, and how not. chosen is the successor of S. Peter, folowinge S. Peters godly liuing. And els, except he study to do diligently, that he may be so called worthily, it shall be but a vayne name. For rather maye he ells be reputed an Image of a Pope, or of a Bishop accordinge as suche be called of the Prophet: O Pastor and Idolum: O Idoll shepeheardes.MarginaliaZach. 11.

MarginaliaTo the last article. In the. xlv. where you aske, whether euer I haue promised at any tyme by an oth, or made any cōfederacy or leage with any persone or persones, that I woulde alway hold and defend certein conclusions or articles seeminge to me and to my complices ryght and consonante vnto the faith?MarginaliaIoh. Lambert required to detect his felowes. and will that I shoulde certifye you of the course and forme of the sayde opinions and conclusions by rowe, and of the names and surnames of them that were to me adherent, and promised to be adherent in this behalfe: I saye, that I do not remember, that euer I made pact or confederacye with any persone or persones, ne made anye promise by othe, that I would alwaye holde and defende anye conclusions, or articles seeming to me and other, right and consonant to the faith, vnlesse it hath chaunced me to say in this forme; that I would neuer with the aide of God, forsake ne decline from the truth, neither for feare, nor yet for loue of a man or men.

Thus I haue perhaps sayd in some time, or some place, because I haue in deede so intended, and do entend, Gods grace assistinge me. But I can not yet tell you, whether I haue so sayed or no, nor to what persons, ne at what tyme, neyther in what place. Neither I do recken me to haue anye complices, but suche as do loue me, and I thē, for God and in