No, the sword hurts... and that is precisely where those 'proto-protestants' were through those 1650 years... under the sword of Rome, or the Roman church (same difference).
The romans fed Catholics to the lions.
actually the protestants murdered thousands of Catholics during the reformation and burned churches. There are many Catholic martyrs from England and other countries that took the reformation too far.
The one and true Catholic Church started at the time of Christ where Christ gave the first Pope, Peter, the priestly authority to run the church. The violent johnny come latelies missed the first 1500 years and watered down the faith to suit their needs.