Above all other most specially the first Christian Emperor* Constantine the great. Who being fully instructed of the most godly and learned Bishops of his time, * what authority the successor of Peter, had by * commission of our Saviour Christ, thought good by his * Imperial Commandment and decree, to confirm, ratify, and for his own person to yield unto‡ blessed Sylvester then Pope, and to his successors Bishops of Rome, the same Authority, and Superiority, not only over Bishops and Patriarchs, but also Power and Honour, higher and greater, then that of Kings, and Emperors. The words of* his solemn decree in that behalf made, are these, which as they are found in sundry other Greek writers, so most plainly in‡ Matthaeus Hieromonachus. [Greek or Hebrew]. Which in our tongue is this much to say. We give in decree and commandment to all Lords, and to the Senate of our Empire, that the Bishop of Rome, and the successor of S. Peter chief of the Apostles, have Authority and Power in all the world more then that of the Empire is, and that he be honoured and worshipped more then the Emperor, and that he be Head of the four Patriarchal seats, and that things appertaining to the right faith, be of him judged and determined. Justinian the Emperor likewise made an express decree, that the most holy Pope of the elder Rome (for these be his very words) be taken, according to the determinations of the holy councils, to be the *first and principal of all Bishops. It were not hard to allege much more for proof hereof, of good and sufficient authority: but in a matter not doubtful this may suffice.
Aboue al other moste specially the firste Christian Emperoure* Constantine the great. VVho being fully instructed of the moste godly and learned Bishops of his time, * what authoritie the successour of Peter, had by * commission of our Sauiour Christ, thought good by his * Emperial Commaundemente and decree, to confirme, ratifie, and for his own persone to yelde vnto‡ blessed Syluester then Pope, and to his successours Bishoppes of Rome, the same Authoritie, and Superioritie, not onely ouer Bishoppes and Patriarkes, but also Power and Honour, higher and greater, then that of Kinges, and Emperours. The wordes of* his solemne decree in that behalf made, are these, whiche as they are found in sundrie other Greeke writers, so moste plainely in‡ Matthaeus Hieromonachus. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. VVhiche in oure tounge is this mutche to saie. VVe geeue in decree and commaundemente to al Lordes, and to the Senate of our Empire, that the Bishop of Rome, and the successour of S. Peter chiefe of the Apostles, haue Authoritie and Power in al the worlde more then that of the Empire is, and that he be honoured and worshepped more then the Emperoure, and that he be Head of the foure Patriarchal seates, and that thinges apperteininge to the right faithe, be of him iudged and determined. Iustinian the Emperour likewise made an expresse decree, that the moste holy Pope of the elder Rome (for these be his very woordes) be taken, accordinge to the determinations of the holy councels, to be the *firste and principal of al Bishoppes. It were not hard to alleage mutche more for proufe hereof, of good and sufficient authoritie: but in a matter not doubtfull this may suffise.
- *Untruths, without any word or show of truth.Vntruthes, vvithout any vvorde or shevve of truthe.
- ‡Untruth. For Sylvester was dead long before these matters are imagined to be done.Vntruthe. For Syluester vvas dead long before these maters are imagined to be donne.
- *This solemn Decree is nothing else, but a solemn folly.This solemne Decree is nothinge els, but a solemne folie.
- ‡For shame: hath the Pope none other Record to prove his Charter by, but only one poor, hungry, forged Grecian, that never saw Rome?For shame: hath the Pope none other Recorde to proue his Chartar by, but onely one poore, hungrie, forged Grecian, that neuer savve Rome?
- *First, and principal in Councils, we confess: But Lord and Master of all other Patriarchs, that would be proved.Firste, and principal in Councelles, vve confesse: But Lorde and Maister of al other Patriarkes, that vvoulde be proued.
