A17167:25
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 foresaid unmeasurable power of the Romish Bishop, is not proved by these words of the Lord unto Peter: Peter lovest thou me? feed my sheep.
¶That the foresayd vnmeasurable power of the Romish Bishop, is not proued by these wordes of the Lord vnto Peter: Peter louest thou me? feede my sheepe.
Hitherto you have patiently heard the Popes sentence or declaration by his Bull, against the most virtuous Queen of England. &c. and now I pray you be so good as gently to hear me also. I will briefly and plainly show, how there is no truth, substance, or soundness in this Bull, and that the cause which the Hope maintaineth and pleadeth against the most noble Queen, is evil and unjust: but the case on the Queens side very good and rightful. And I will begin at that unmeasurable power of the Pope, which he boasteth of, and by force whereof he taketh upon him to be judge in this case. For that being once overthrown: all the whole Bull falleth to the ground, together with the judgement builded upon this ruinous foundation, and so shall the Pope sit in that seat of his, not a terrible or just judge, but an Idol, to be despised, yea and to be spit at of all good men, and his sentences shall be no more the thunderbolts of Jupiter, but counterfeit flashes glistering out of a basin, in no wise worthy to be regarded.1 Then let that most holy or rather most profane father tell us, where or by what words, our Lord delivered unto Peter alone, and unto Peters successor the Bishop of Rome, that his fullness of power: that is to say, his supreme and most absolute power, as well in spiritual as in temporal matters. Let him tell us where or by what words, the Lord created the Bishop of Rome prince over all nations and over all kingdoms. I am not ignorant of your stinking ⟨p. 3⟩and unsavoury fables in this behalf. I am not ignorant what Decretals have been put forth by Gregory the ix. Boniface the viij. Innocent the 4. Clement the v. John the xxij. and such other like to these, conspirators & Catilines companions. As for me, I will not hear those decrees or Decretals, which the famous Lawyer Marsilius of Padua, no less aptly than truly said to be neither Gods laws nor mans laws, but proclamations of plain universal sovereignty. You say that without any parable at all, Christ our Lord gave the fullness of power which ye brag of, to Peter, and to Peters successor the Pope. Bring forth therefore some evident record of this your allegation, out of the new Testament. Truly ye be not able to bring forth one tittle, or one jot of this your allegation.