A vindication of the Animadversions on Fiat lux

But you lay more weight on what you cull out in the next place, which as you have laid it down is, That these now Christened Pagans advanced the Popes authority, when Christian Religion Was now grown degenerate, and say, now we come to know how the Roman Bishop became a Patriarch above the rest, by means namely of the new converted Pagans. But I wonder you speak so nicely in their chief affair. As though that were the Question whether the Bishop of Rome according unto some Ecclesiastical constitutions were made a Patriarch or no, and that whither he were not esteemed to have some kind of preeminence in respect of those other Bishops, who upon ⟨p. 435⟩the same account were so styled. When we have occasion to speak of this Question we shall not be backward to declare our thoughts in it. For the present you represent the Pope unto us as the absolute Head of the Church Catholic, the supreme Judge of all controversies in Religion, the sole fountain of Unity, and spring of all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, &c. Nor did I say that your Pope was by these Nations after their conversion advanced unto the height you labour now to fix him in, but only that his Authority was signally advanced by them, which is so certain a Truth that your own Historians and Annalists openly proclaim it, and you cannot deny it unless you would be esteemed the most ungrateful Person in the world. But this is your way and manner; all that is done for you is mere duty, which when it is done you will thank no man for. Are all the Grants of Power, Privileges and Possessions made unto your Papal See, by the Kings of this Nation both before and since the Conquest, by the Kings of France, and Emperors of the Posterity of Charles the Great, by the Kings of Poland, Denmark and Sweden, by the Longobards in Italy not worth your thanks? It is well you have got your ends; the net may be cast away when the fish is caught.

But you lay more weight on what you cull out in the next place, which as you have layed it down is, That these now Christened Pagans advanced the Popes authority, when Christian Religion Was now grown degenerate, and say, now we come to know how the Roman Bishop became a Patriarch above the rest, by means namely of the new converted Pagans. But I wonder you speak so nicely in their chief affair. As though that were the Question whether the Bishop of Rome according unto some Ecclesiastical constitutions were made a Patriarch or no, and that whither he were not esteemed to have some kind of preheminence in respect of those other Bishops, who upon