A17167:126
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.
¶That the latter Bishops of Rome degenerated utterly from the first and middlemost Bishops of Rome, and that they usurp the cursed title of full power, against all right and reason.
¶That the latter Byshops of Rome degenerated vtterly from the first and middlemost Byshoppes of Rome, and that they vsurpe the cursed title of full power, agaynst all right and reason.
Not unfitly are diverse godly and learned men of the Church reported to have said, that among the latter Bishops of Rome that are worthy to be reckoned among Shepherds, Gregory is the last. For as for the hindermost sort that have followed after him, they were not sheep feeders but sheep biters, a few excepted, for through their neglecting of Gods word, and their earthly affections, they have not only in wonderful wise darkened the clearness of the christian doctrine with mens inventions and traditions, but also defiled and marred the simplicity and pureness of Gods service, with unclean superstitions, differing little or nothing from the heathenish & wicked Idolatries. Many of them have openly defended corrupt doctrines, and the Idols themselves, and other abominations, and therewithal have forced them upon the people. Othersome of them treading all discipline and honesty under foot, have wallowed themselves in filthy and unlawful lusts, in riot and lechery, in unchasteness, in adultery and whoredom, in incest and other horrible offences, as it were in the mire of Cocytus, and the pool of Stix. Others of them have not refrained themselves from poisonings, from Necromancy, or fellowship with Devils, from magic, damned in all ages, from murdering, and from treasons. All of them for the most part, and specially the latter Bishops of Rome, being blinded with devilish desire of sovereignty, and swollen and puffed up with such pride as the like was never heard of, have not been ashamed before God, nor before his angels and the whole world, to advance themselves into that