d for no use,
scant worth the casting on the dunghill?"

Well, yet then they will bring all matters before the Pope, who cannot
err. To this I say, first, it is a madness to think that the Holy Ghost
taketh His flight from a general council to run to Rome, to the end if He
doubt or stick in any matter, and cannot expound it of Himself, He may
take counsel of some other spirit, I wot not what, that is better learned
than Himself. For if this be true, what needed so many bishops, with so
great charges and so far journeys, have assembled their convocation at
this present at Trident? It had been more wisdom and better, at least it
had been a much nearer way and handsomer, to have brought all things
rather before the Pope, and to have come straight forth, and have asked
counsel at his divine breast. Secondly, it is also an unlawful dealing
to toss our matter from so many bishops and abbots, and to bring it at
last to the trial of one only man, specially of him who himself is
appeached by us of heinous and foul enormities, and hath not yet put in
his answer; who hath also aforehand condemned us without judgment by
order pronounced, and ere ever we were called to be judged.

How say ye, do we devise these tales? Is not this the course of the
councils in these days? Are not all things removed from the whole holy
council, and brought before the Pope alone? that, as though nothing had
been done to purpose by the judgments and consents of such a number, he
alone may add, alter, diminish, disannul, allow, remit, and qualify
whatsoever he list? Whose words be these, then? and why have the bishops
and abbots, in the last council of Trident, but of late concluded with
saying thus in the end: "Saving always the authority of the see apostolic
in all things?" or why doth Pope Paschal write so proudly of himself? "As
though," saith he, "there were any general council able to prescribe a
law to the Church of Rome: whereas all councils both have been made and
have received their force and strength by the Church of Rome's authority;
and in ordinances made by councils, is ever plainly excepted the
authority of the Bishop of Rome." If they will have these things allowed
for good, why be councils called? But if they command them to be void,
why are they left in their books as things allowable?

But be it so: let the Bishop of Rome alone be above all councils, that is
to say, let some one part be greater than the whole; let him be of