n quiet should be provided for? You must pardon us,
good reader, though we seem to utter these things more bitterly and
bitingly than it becometh divines to do. For both the shamefulness of
the matter, and the desire of rule in the Bishop of Rome is so exceeding
and outrageous, that it could not well be uttered with other words, or
more mildly. For he is not ashamed to say in open assembly, "that all
jurisdiction of all kings doth depend upon himself." And to feed his
ambition and greediness of rule, he hath pulled in pieces the "empire of
Rome," and vexed and rent whole Christendom asunder. Falsely and
traitorously also did he release the Romans, the Italians, and himself
too, of the oath whereby they and he were straitly bound to be true to
the "emperor of Greece," and stirred up the emperor's subjects to forsake
him: and calling Carolus Martellus out of France into Italy, made him
emperor, such a thing as never was seen before. He put Chilpericus, the
French king, being no evil prince, beside his realm, only because he
fancied him not, and wrongfully placed Pipin in his room. Again, after
he had cast out King Philip, if he could have brought it to pass, he had
determined and appointed the kingdom of France to Albertus King of
Romans. He utterly destroyed the state of the most nourishing city and
commonweal of Florence, his own native country, and brought it out of a
free and peaceable state, to be governed at the pleasure of one man: he
brought to pass by his procurement, that whole Savoy on the one side was
miserably spoiled by the Emperor Charles the Fifth, and on the other side
by the French king, so as the unfortunate duke had scant one city left
him to hide his head in.

We are cloyed with examples in this behalf, and it should be very tedious
to reckon up all the notorious deeds of the bishops of Rome. Of which
side were they, I beseech you, which poisoned Henry the Emperor even in
the receiving of the sacrament? which poisoned Victor the Pope even in
the receiving of the chalice? which poisoned our King John, king of
England, in a drinking cup? Whosoever at least they were and of what
sect soever, I am sure they were neither Lutherans nor Zuinglians. What
is he at this day, which alloweth the mightiest kings and monarchs of the
world to kiss his blessed feet? What is he that commandeth the emperor
to go by him at his horse bridle, and the French king to hold his
stirrup? Who hurled under his table