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…

for a Bishop as Augustine saith,¹ is the name of a work and not of honore: so that he may know & assure himself to be no Bishop that coveteth to bear rule and not to profit: as for to be head of the whole Church or an universal Bishop, it is no more possible for him or any other mortal man, then to be the bridegroom, the light, the salvation, the life of the Church, for these be the privileges and names of Christ only, and unto him alone properly and only they do appertain. Neither before Phocas the Emperors time, (who we know well enough by a most detestable murder, in killing the Emperor Maurice his Lord & master, aspired unto the Empire) that is to say, before six hundred & thirteen years after the birth of Christ, was there ever any Bishop of Rome that ever suffered himself to be called by so proud a name?² The Council also of Carthage did expressly forbid, that any Bishop should be called other the highest Bishop or the chief priest. And for the bishop of Rome, inasmuch as he will be called at this day after this sort, and challengeth ⟨image 12⟩to himself an authority not due unto him, besides that openly he doth contrary to the old Councils and contrary to the fathers: if he will believe his predecessor Gregory,³ he taketh to himself an arrogant, profane, sacrilegious & Antichristian name: he is the king of all pride: he is Lucifer, inasmuch as he preferreth himself before his brethren, he hath cast away faith, he is the fore runner of Antichrist.

for a Byshoppe as Augustine saith,¹ is the name of a worke and not of honore: so that he may know & assure himself to be no Bishop that coueteth to beare rule and not to profite: as for to be heade of the whole Churche or an vniuersall Byshop, it is no more possible for him or any other mortall man, then to be the bridegrome, the light, the saluacion, the life of the Church, for these be the priuileges and names of Christ onely, and vnto him alone proprely and only thei do appertaine. Nother before Phoeas the Emperours tyme, (whoe wee knowe well inoughe by a moste detestable murder, in killinge the Emperoure Maurice his Lorde & master, aspired vnto the Empire) that is to say, before sixe hūdreth & thirtene yeares after the byrth of Christ, was there euer any Bishop of Rome that euer suffered himself to be called by so proude a name?