"Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, and Vicar of Jesus Christ."

Q. Will you relate to the court what you know of the assumed power of such as are connected with, and who receive their authority from him, as Christ's Vicegerent on earth, as Cardinals, Priests, &c.?

And

A. I took notes of what several of them have published to the world, and I recollect that Peter de Besse, a priest, wrote a book, which he called The Royal Priesthood, and that in the second chapter he thus speaks: "St. "Peter addeth, that all Priests are Kings, in "token whereof they wear the crown." in the third chapter he says, "The Priesthood "and the Godhead are in some things to be "paralleled, and are almost of equal great"ness, since they have equal power." Againhe adds, "Seeing that the Priesthood walketh "hand in hand with the Godhead, and that "Priests are Gods, it goes far beyond the kingly power, and priests are far above "kings." And he then calls them "masters of kings, surpassing as much in dignity the "royal office, as the soul surpasses the "body!"

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He then declares, what he had taken from the writings of Cardinal Baronius, "Incredi"ble things, but yet true, that the power of "the priests is so great and their excellency so noble, that heaven depends upon them."

In the same place, comparing priests with Joshua, he saith, "Joshua stopped but the sun, "but these stay Christ, being in heaven in the "midst of an altar. The creature obeyed the "first, but the Creator obeys the last, the sun "the one, and God the other, as often as they 66 pronounce the sacred words." On the whole he concludes, that "Whatever God is in heaven, the priest is the same on earth.”

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Q. Did this priest publish this to the world as the sentiments of an individual, or was it generally understood, that priests in general have this authority delegated to them by the prisoner at the bar?

A. Priests derive all their power from him, and act by his commission. As a proof that the sentiments I have delivered from this one, are such as are received by men of this description, when this book was published in Paris, the approbation of the Faculty of Divinity was given to the whole, and prefixed in the front of the book. This body of men act in conjunction with the prisoner.

Q. (From a Juror.) Did you ever hear others speak in like manner?

A. Yes. I have heard many declare as bad, if not worse.

Q. Did any of them write the same?

A. They did. Gabriel Biel, another Priest, said, that "the Angels, citizens of heaven, "dare not aspire to the authority of the Priest"hood:" and again, "Passing by the bands of

"Angels, let us come to the Queen of heaven "and Lady of the world. The same through "the plenitude of Grace she goes beyond all creatures, yet she yields to the Hierarchs "of the Church in the execution of the mystery committed unto them." And again he says, "Christ is incarnate and made flesh in "the hands of the priests, as in the Virgin's "womb, and that priests do create their Crea"tor, and have power over the body of "Christ."*

Antichrist. (To the last witness.) You have omitted to produce the authority, on which Father de Besse, declared the power of priests. You should have noticed that he produced a portion from the New Testament, and founded his power on the Act Matt. xvi. 18.

Witness, Historical Truth. It is true, I did see a reference to that Act, but I think that if it should be read, it would, if possible, make bad worse.

Antichrist. Let the act be read.

Lord Chief Justice. It shall be read.

The Clerk of the Crown then read the statute. Matt. xvi. 18. "And I say also unto "thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock "I will build my church; and the gates of hell "shall not prevail against it."

Lord Chief Justice. What is there in this statute, to authorize either you, or your priests

*See his 4th Lesson in the Canon of the Mass.

to assume your power, and commit rebellion against our Sovereign?

Antichrist. Christ said these words to St. Peter and St. Peter gave this power to me at Rome. I do not consider it rebellion, when I have such authority to act upon.

Lord Chief Justice. What an awful delusion you must lie under! To suppose, that our Sovereign Lord the King, should commission Peter to empower you to establish your throne, in open rebellion against his crown and dignity! I hope you don't wish to say that Peter is a traitor? He is too well known in this court to be suspected of rebellion. We shall be able to prove that he never gave you any commission or authority.

Antichrist. If he was present he would confess, that what I say is true.

Court. He is in court; and we have no objection to his being the next witness called.

Simon Peter, the Apostle, was then called, who quick as vivid lightning appeared. It was truly gratifying to see this witness, with so much of heaven in his countenance, while the court and large concourse of people assembled, were wonderfully delighted. He was examined by the Attorney General.

Q. Are you the Apostle Peter, servant of the Most High God?

A. I am; and by the grace of God I am what I am. To my Sovereign Lord I am indebted for the honor of my employment,

Q. As we have frequently been told by the prisoner, that you have some knowledge of him and that you gave hin his authority, we have taken the liberty to call on you to satisfy the court on this subject, believing you will confirm the high opinion they entertain of you. Look at the prisoner at the bar. Do you recollect ever having seen him before?

A. No, I do not know him. I never saw him before in my life.

Ant. Don't you recollect seeing me at Rome?

Peter. No. I could never see you at Rome; for I never was there.

Ant. Do not you recollect, that you sat in St. Peter's Chair at Rome, as Prince of the Apostles?

Peter. No. I know nothing of Rome; nor have I the smallest knowledge of you. I am really a stranger to your very language; I do not understand what you mean either by St. Peter's Chair or Prince of the Apostles.

Att. Gen. The Apostle Peter will please to notice, that the prisoner, when he established his throne at Rome, presumed to declare, that you received orders from our Lord the King, to invest him with power over all the world; he therefore styled you Prince of the Apostles, and said, that you sat in his chair as such. And he presumes to be your successor, the Vicar of Christ, &c.

Pet. I am totally unacquainted with him