A17167:179
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.
And what speak they of Catholic ceremonies, whereas if they did term them aright,1 they should call them superstitious and Idolatrous ceremonies. These men bewray their own shamelessness matched with wickedness, chiefly in this point, that they foully deceive the simpler sort, by pretending the term Catholic unto all their errors. They stick to the term, and imagine I wot not what a singular holiness and truth in themselves, when in very deed they be not Catholics but Cacolykes that is to ⟨image 58⟩say, mischievous wolves or sheep biters, setting forth things particular and not universal, that is to wit, burdening silly souls with the Decrees and devises of certain men both few in number and which were conspired to do mischief.2 The Church is called Catholic that is to say Universal, because it is not only found in some one place: but also is spread abroad, both through the whole universal world, and through all ages: and also because there be no more Churches without this. For there is but one true Church, which is the Catholic Church. There is but only one body, under the one Christ, in whom only is salvation. Whereupon it followeth that there is no salvation but only in the Church. Therefore the Church of Rome, like as also the Church of Antioch, or of Alexandria, or of any other place, is not the Catholic Church. For they be but members of that universal body, if so be that they be by one faith and one doctrine knit into this universality as in the body under the head Christ. The Catholic Church then comprehendeth the Church of the fathers before Christs coming, and our Church after his coming and consequently all the Saints or faithful folks of all places & times, and (to conclude in one word) of times past, time present, and times to come: all which are one Catholic or universal body, under one Catholic or universal head Christ.3 And so the Catholic faith & doctrine is that which is preached and heard in this Catholic Church, attributing all things to Christ the only head of salvation, and depending wholly upon the word of God, and directing and governing all her matters by the same.4