In conclusion, we have departed from
him, to whom we were not bound, and who had nothing to say for himself,
but only I know not what virtue or power of the place where he dwelleth,
and a continuance of succession.
And as for us, we of all others most justly have left him. For our
kings, yea, even they which with greatest reverence did follow and obey
the authority and faith of the bishops of Rome, have long since found and
felt well enough the yoke and tyranny of the Pope's kingdom. For the
bishops of Rome took the crown off from the head of our King Henry the
Second, and compelled him to put aside all majesty, and like a mere
private man to come unto their legate with great submission and humility,
so as all his subjects might laugh him to scorn. More than this, they
caused bishops and monks, and some part of the nobility, to be in the
field against our King John, and set all the people at liberty from their
oaths, whereby they ought allegiance to their king; and at last, wickedly
and most abominably they bereaved the king, not only of his kingdom, but
also of his life. Besides this, they excommunicated and cursed king
Henry the Eighth, that most famous prince, and stirred up against him,
sometime the Emperor, sometime the French king: and as much as in them
was, put in adventure our realm to have been a very prey and spoil.
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