Certain comfortable expositions of the constant martyr of Christ, M. John Hooper, Bishop of…Certeine comfortable expositions of the constant martyr of Christ, M. Iohn Hooper, Bishop of…

Although before his time one Menna, and other archbishops of Constantinople, for the dignity of the imperial state being there, were called universal Patriarchs: yet that was by name alone, and without execution of authority in any foreign bishopric or Church. But such was the ambition of these bishops, that walked (as S. Paul saith) inordinately, that they would have the head and principality of religion and of the Church, at Constantinople, because there was the head and principality of the worldly kingdom, and so they began betime to confound the civil policy, with the policy of the Church, until they brought themselves not only to be heads of the Church, but also Lords of all Emperors and kings, and at the last of God and Gods word: as ruthfully it appeareth in mens conscience at this present day. Which abomination and pride Pelagius the second bishop of Rome,¹ both spake and wrote against, and would that he nor any man else should have the name of a general bishop.² And S. Gregory doeth confirm the same godly sentence of his predecessor Pelagius, and would not, when he was commanded by the Emperor, whom John the bishop had abused, take the Archbishop of Constantinople for the universal head, nor condescend unto the Emperors commandment, and wrote to the Empress that it was contrary to the ordinance of Christ and his Apostles, and contrary to the Council of Nice. He said also, that such new arrogance was a very token, that the time of Antichrist drew nigh. And Gregory did not only write ⟨p. 39⟩and speak against this arrogance and pride, but suffered also great danger (as Platina writeth,) and so did all Rome by the Lombards that Mauricius the Emperor made to besiege Rome, because Gregory refused to obey the Archbishop of Constantinople as the head of the Church.

Although before his time one Menna, and other archbishops of Constantinople, for the dignitie of the imperial state being there, were called vniuersal Patriarches: yet that was by name alone, and without execution of authoritie in any foreigne bishopricke or Church. But such was the ambition of these bishops, that walked (as S. Paule saith) inordinately, that they would haue the head and principalitie of religion and of the Church, at Constantinople, because there was the head and principalitie of the worldly kingdome, and so they began betime to confound the ciuil policie, with the policie of the Churche, vntill they brought themselues not onely to be heads of the Church, but also Lords of all Emperours and kings, and at the last of God and Gods word: as ruthfully it appeareth in mens conscience at this present day. Which abhomination and pride Pelagius the second bishop of Rome,