A17167:166
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.
The goodly Bull (a Gods name) proceedeth on still to lay together the rest of the articles of his accusation, against the Queens Majesty in these words. She hath (saith he) commanded her subjects to observe the wicked mysteries and ordinances which she her self hath taken up and observed according to Calvins setting forth. Also she hath set out books to her whole Realm, containing manifest heresy. But the lying and slanderous Bull shooteth wide all the field over. Perchance the Romish sort measure all men by themselves,1 and because they them selves hang wholly upon men, in so much as there be many thousands to be found among them, which both will be ⟨image 54⟩called, & have a pleasure to be called Benedictines of Benet, Franciscans of Francis, and diversly and sunderly after many others: and will both seem, to seem to live, and glory to live according to these mens ordinances rules, or appointments: therefore they imagine that we also would be called Lutherans of Luther, Zwinglians of Zuinglius, and Calvinists of Calvin, and that we hang wholly upon these mens ordinances: but it is not so. Paul the Apostle of Christ hath forbidden any such thing to be done in the Church,2 saying to the Corinthians. Every of you saith, I hold of Apollo, I of Cephas, and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you?3 or were you baptized in Pauls name? And again, when one saith, I hold of Paul, and an other, I hold of Apollo, are ye not fleshly? Therefore the true Christians will be named but only after Christ. As for the names of men, be they never so excellent, we acknowledge them not in this case, neither do we regard or receive their ordinances further forth, then they agree in all points with Gods word: and when we receive them, we receive them not for their sakes, but for Gods words sake. And the Queen of Englands Majesty never received of Calvin, or of any other excellent and well learned men any ordinances to follow, nor never regarded them: and yet by the way, if any of them have taught any thing out of Gods pure word, no godly man can take scorn of: for the Queen in that reformation of hers, had an eye only to the lively word of God, delivered unto us by the holy scriptures, and so she settled all matters of religion upon the very word of God, and not upon any men. David speaking of Gods word saith in the 119. Psalm: