An apology, or answer in defence of the Church of England concerning the state…An apologie, or aunswer in defence of the Church of England concerninge the state…

Gregory, even as though he had seen and perceived aforehand the ruin of things, writing unto John the Bishop of Constantinople, who first of all men toke upon him to be called by a name that never was ⟨image 36⟩heard of before,¹ the universal Bishop of the whole Church of Christ, said thus. If the Church shall depend upon one man, the whole shall fall to ground. And who is it, that hath not seen this thing done long ago? It is now long ago that the Bishop of Rome hath brought to pass that the whole Church should depend upon him alone: wherefore it is no marvel, if the same now long ago be wholly fallen to ground. Bernard the Abbot writing four hundred years past: There is nothing,² saith he, pure and sound in the Clergy: only there remaineth that the man of sin should be discovered unto the world. The same man upon S. Pauls Conversion: It seemeth, saith he, that persecution is now ceased: no, rather now beginneth persecution, even at their hands, which bear chief rule in the Church. Thy friends & thy neighbours hath drawn near, and stand up against thee. From the sole of the foot unto the crown of the head, there is no soundness at all. Iniquity hath issued out from the Elders, Judges & thy vicars, which seem to govern thy people. We can not now say, As the people are, so is the priest. for the people are not in the state, as the priest is. Out alas, O Lord God: they be in persecuting of thee, the Chief, that seem to love the chief preeminence in thy Church, and to bear the chief rule. The same upon the song of Solomon:³ All friends are become all enemies: all familiars, all adversaries: & the servants of Christ serve Antichrist. Behold in my peace is my most bitter bitterness. Roger Bacon a man of great fame,⁴ after that with a sharp oration he had reproved the miserable state of his time: These heaps of errors, saith he, do seek after Antichrist.

Gregory, euen as though he had seene and perceyued aforehand the ruine of things, writing vnto Iohn the Byshopp of Constantinople, who first of all men toke vpon hym to be called by a name that neuer was