CHAPTER I: The House by the Bridge.
"Holy Church has never forbidden it," said John Clarke, with a very intent look upon his thoughtful, scholar's face.
A young man who stood with his elbow on the mantelshelf, his eye fixed eagerly on the speaker's face, here broke in with a quick impetuosity of manner, which seemed in keeping with his restless, mobile features, his flashing dark eyes, and the nervous motion of his hands, which were never still long together.
"How do you mean?
Never forbidden it! Why, then, is all this coil which has set London aflame and lighted the fires of Paul's Yard for the destruction of those very books ?" "I did not say that men had never forbidden the reading of the Scriptures in the vulgar tongue by the unlettered.

I said that Holy Church herself had never issued such a mandate." "Not by her Popes ?" questioned the younger man hastily.
"A papal bull is not the voice of the Holy Catholic Church," spoke Clarke, slowly and earnestly.

"A Pope is not an apostle; though, as a bishop, and a Bishop of Rome, he must be listened to with all reverence.

Apostles are not of man or by man, but sent direct by God.

Popes elected by cardinals (and too often amid flagrant abuses) cannot truly be said to hold apostolic office direct from the Lord.