A17167:122
A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two years ago…A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two yeres agoe…
A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two years ago against Elizabeth the most gracious Queen of England, France, and Ireland, and against the noble realm of England together with a defence of the said true Christian Queen, and of the whole realm of England. By Henry Bullinger the Elder.A confutation of the Popes bull which was published more then two yeres agoe against Elizabeth the most gracious Queene of England, Fraunce, and Ireland, and against the noble realme of England together with a defence of the sayd true Christian Queene, and of the whole realme of England. By Henry Bullinger the Elder.
London: printed by John Day, 1572London: printed by Iohn Day, 1572
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Most noisome poison sprang of honey sweet. A right fair word is Rest, a pleasant name is peace. But yet from peace shall flow more loss, Dishonour, shame, reproach and misery, Then could from cruel war. For out of kind the ancient virtue shall degenerate &c.
Most noysom poyson sprang of honny sweete. A right faire word is Rest, a pleasaunt name is peace. But yet from peace shall flowe more losse, Dishonour, shame, reproche and miserie, Then could from cruell warre. For out of kynde the auncient vertue shall degenerate &c.
But howsoever the Bishops as well of Rome as of other Churches began to grow worse and worse, yet were they still ignorant of that Romish Monarchy or rather tyranny which is defended at this day. For that I may allege nothing hither out of the ancienter writers of Gods Church: doth not S. Hierome in his Epistle to Evagrius, and in his Commentaries upon S. Pauls Epistle to Titus, most manifestly make the Bishop of Rome and the very Church of Rome it self, equal with all other Bishops and Churches in the world? Doth he not openly say, that the Churches in old time were governed by the common advise of the elders? Doth he not most pithily show out of the Scriptures, that elders and bishops be all one thing? and that the one is not the name of age and the other of office? Doth he not plainly say that Bishops were preferred before elders, & elders made subject to Bishops, by custom of the Church and not by appointment of God? Wherefore it were truly a wonder, why Epiphanius against the Arians should reckon up this thing for an heresy, which Jerome urgeth with so many and so pithy words: but that ⟨p. 34⟩others give me warning that Epiphanius was to gentle in charging other folks with heresy. Truly in this case (to speak with reverence of so great a learned man) he wrongfully misreported the guiltless, contrary without authority of the holy Scripture. But if any man list to hear Jeromes own words, behold I will briefly rehearse the things that make to this purpose. We must not (saith he to Evagrius) esteem the Church of Rome to be one, & the Church of the whole world to be another. Both France, and Britain, and Africa, and Persia, and the East countries, and Inde, and all the barbarous nations, worship one Christ, & observe one rule of truth. If authority be sought, the world is greater than a City. Where soever is a Bishop, whether he be of Rome, or of Eugubie, or of Alexandria, or of Tanais, he is all one in merit, all one in Priesthood. The stateliness of riches or the baseness of poverty maketh not a Bishop either higher or lower? but all of them are successors of the Apostles.