A17167:185
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 Kings and Magistrates ought to compel their subjects unto goodness, and not suffer every man to make his own choice in following what seemeth best to him self.
¶That Kynges and Magistrates ought to compell their subiectes vnto goodnesse, and not suffer euery man to make his own choyse in folowing what seemeth best to him selfe.
This also seemeth very unreasonable to the Romish sort, and peradventure unto others also that have a misliking of this case, that the Queen hath laid penalties and punishments upon such as disobey, and hath executed the same upon those that have continued in obedience to the sea of Rome. For some are of opinion that no man ought to be compelled to do good, or unto true Religion, or unto faith: but every man ought to be left at his own liberty, to follow what soever seemeth best to himself & his own conscience: that is to say, that no man should be called to account, of what Religion he is, nor examined at all, no though he were a Papist, but be let alone with his own conscience: And therefore that no man ought to be punished for breaking the Religion of the Gospel, or for neglecting good laws, which he himself esteemeth not to be good. Truly, as concerning compulsion to well doing, or to faith and Religion, the Donatists heretics taught in old time like as these afore mentioned and as the Anabaptists do at this day, that no man ought to be compelled to faith or to goodness, but every man to be left to his own conscience. Against those Donatists S. Austen hath disputed abundantly, yea and that by the Scriptures and by evident reasons agreeing with the Scriptures. In which respect I think his Record is to be believed, & therefore I will now allege certain things out of him, that make peculiarly for the present case.