They will say to this, I guess:  “Civil princes have learned to govern a commonwealth, and to order matters of war, but they understand not the secret mysteries of religion.”  If that be so, what is the Pope, I pray you, at this day other than a monarch or a prince?  Or what be the cardinals, who must be none other nowadays, but princes and kings’ sons?  What else be the patriarchs, and, for the most part, the archbishops, the bishops, the abbots?  What be they else at this present in the Pope’s kingdom but worldly princes, but dukes and earls, gorgeously accompanied with bands of men whithersoever they go; oftentimes also gaily arrayed with chains and collars of gold?  They have at times, too, certain ornaments by themselves, as crosses, pillars, hats, mitres, and palls—­which pomp the ancient bishops Chrysostom, Augustine, and Ambrose never had.  Setting these things aside, what teach they?  What say they?  What do they?  How live they?  I say, not as may become a bishop, but as may become even a Christian man?  Is it so great a matter to have a vain title, and, by changing a garment only, to have the name of a bishop?

Surely to have the principal stay and effect of all matters committed wholly to these men’s hands, who neither know nor will know these things, nor yet set a jot by any point of religion, save that which concerneth their belly and riot; and to have them alone sit as judges, and to be set up as overseers in the watch-tower, being no better than blind spies; of the other side, to have a Christian prince of good understanding and of a right judgment to stand still like a block or a stake, not to be suffered neither to give his voice nor to show his judgment, but only to wait what these men shall will and command, as one which had neither ears, nor eyes, nor wit, nor heart; and whatsoever they give in charge, to allow it without exception, blindly fulfilling their commandments, be they never so blasphemous and wicked, yea, although they command him quite to destroy all religion, and to crucify again Christ Himself:  this surely, besides that it is proud and spiteful, is also beyond all right and reason, and not to be endured of Christian and wise princes.  Why, I pray you, may Caiaphas and Annas understand these matters, and may not David and Ezechias do the same?  Is it lawful for a cardinal, being a man of war, and delighting in blood, to have place in a council? and is it not lawful for a Christian emperor or a king?  We truly grant no further liberty to our magistrates than that we know hath both been given them by the Word of God, and also been confirmed by the examples of the very best governed commonwealths.  For besides that a Christian prince hath the charge of both tables committed to him by God, to the end he may understand that not temporal matters only, but also religious and ecclesiastical causes, pertain to his office:  besides also that God by His prophets often and earnestly commandeth the king to cut down the groves, to break down the images and altars of idols, and to write out the book of the law for himself:  and besides that the prophet Isaiah saith, “A king ought to be a patron and a nurse of the Church:”  I say, besides all these things, we see by histories and by examples of the best times that good princes ever took the administration of ecclesiastical matters to pertain to their duty.