A17167:157
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.
Furthermore we have notable examples of those Emperors and Princes,1 which (according to the Prophesies) came into Christs Church and renounced their heathenishness, and showed themselves faithful foster fathers, overseers, and defenders of the Church. Among the first in account is Constantine who for his noble acts and manifold virtues was surnamed the great.2 This man closed up the temples of idols, and abolished all heathenish sacrifisings. In Nice a city of Bithynia he called a Council, the greatest of all Counsels and of most authority, And there he rebuked the Bishops sharply and laid his commandment upon them, & set order in the matters of the Church. Eusebius in the life of Constantine, is not afraid to term this Prince a Bishop, because he did most diligently look to the matters of the Church. If any man require the authors words, thus they be. Constantine (saith he) employed his care upon the Church of God. And because many were at odds among themselves in divers places: he being ordained ⟨image 52⟩a common Bishop by God, summoned a Diet of Gods Ministers. Neither disdained he to be at it himself, & to sit among them, & to become a fellow of theirs, & to dispose to all of them the things that made for the peace of God. Thus much saith he. Behold, here is a Council called, not by the Pope, but by the Emperor. Whereupon when one Ruffinus objected a certain Council against Jerome, he answered, saying: show thou me what Emperor commanded it to be assembled. Moreover the strife of the Bishops had burst further out, if this Emperor had not bridled them, and brought them to order. This Prince by his intermeddling in matters of Religion & of the Church, did within a while not only salve them but also greatly further them. Which thing the Emperors, Valentine, Gratian, and Theodosius did in likewise, as it appeareth in the beginning of Justinian's Code. And the Emperor Theodosius in Novellis tit. 2 concerning Jews, Samaritans, &c. confesseth to Florentius, that the searching out of Religion is the chief charge and greatest care that belongs to the Majesty of an Emperor. Also the Emperors Leo and Anthemius, in L. omnes .C. concernyng Bishops and Clerks, have set down by name, that Civill Magistrates were and ought to be judges of the Bishops. And before the reign of these, Archadius and Honorius, in L. Quicunque .C.