For whereas some use to make so great a vaunt, that the Pope is only Peter’s successor, as though thereby he carried the Holy Ghost in his bosom, and cannot err, this is but a matter of nothing, and a very trifling tale.  God’s grace is promised to a good mind, and to one that feareth God, not unto sees and successions.  “Riches,” saith Hierom, “may make a bishop to be of more might than the rest:  but all the bishops,” whosoever they be, “are the successors of the Apostles.”  If so be the place and consecrating only be sufficient, why then Manasses succeeded David, and Caiaphas succeeded Aaron.  And it hath been often seen, that an idol hath stand in the temple of God.  In old time Archidamus the Lacedaemonian boasted much of himself, how he came of the blood of Hercules.  But one Nicostratus in this wise abated his pride:  “Nay,” quoth he, “thou seemest not to descend from Hercules.  For Hercules destroyed ill men, but thou makest good men evil.”  And when the Pharisees bragged of their lineage, how they were of the kindred and blood of Abraham:  “Ye,” saith Christ, “seek to kill me, a man which have told you the truth, as I heard it from God.  Thus Abraham never did.  Ye are of your father the devil, and will needs obey his will.”

Yet notwithstanding, because we will grant somewhat to succession, tell us, hath the Pope alone succeeded Peter?  And wherein, I pray you?  In what religion? in what office? in what piece of his life hath he succeeded him?  What one thing (tell me) had Peter ever like unto the Pope, or the Pope like unto Peter?  Except peradventure they will say thus:  that Peter, when he was at Rome, never taught the Gospel, never fed the flock, took away the keys of the kingdom of heaven, hid the treasures of his Lord, sat him down only in his castle in S. John Lateran, and pointed out with his finger all the places of purgatory, and kinds of punishments, committing some poor souls to be tormented, and other some again suddenly releasing thence at his own pleasure, taking money for so doing:  or that he gave order to say private masses in every corner:  or that he mumbled up the holy service with a low voice, and in an unknown language:  or that he hanged up the Sacrament in every temple, and on every altar, and carried the same about before him whithersoever he went, upon an ambling jannet, with lights and bells; or that he consecrated with his holy breath, oil, wax, wool, bells, chalices, churches, and altars, or that he sold jubilees, graces, liberties, advowsons, preventions, first fruits, palls, the wearing of palls, bulls, indulgences, and pardons; or that he called himself by the name of the head of the Church, the highest bishop, bishop of bishops, alone most holy:  or that by usurping he took upon himself the right and authority over other folk’s churches; or that he exempted himself from the power of any civil government; or that he maintained wars, and set princes together at variance:  or that he sitting in his