The tragedies of tyrants Exercised upon the church of God, from the birth of…The tragedies of tyrantes Exercised vpon the church of God, from the birth of…

But in the beginning of this book, we have declared that there be sundry understandings and distinctions, not only of faith, and Religion: but of the Church also, over which the ungodly seek to rule. There is also very great difference between the ancient Church of Rome, and the first Bishops thereof: and the Church of Rome, Pope, Cardinals, and bishops which be now at this day.

But in the béeginninge of this booke, wée haue declared that there bée sundrie vnderstandynges and distinctions, not onely of faith, and Religion: but of the Church also, ouer which the vngodlye séeke to rule. There is also very great difference béetwéene the auntient Churche of Rome, and the firste Bisshoppes thereof: and the Churche of Rome, Pope, Cardinalles, and byshops which be now at this day.

The ancient Bishops of the Church¹ of Rome, which lived and sate there from the year of Christ. 70. unto y• year 314. and during the time of Constantine the great were in number. 32. who were all faithful in their calling, profiting the Church by teaching, and other means, and for christ and his Gospels sake were martyred and slain. They meddled not at all with the civill government there was no Court of Rome, no senate of scarlet Cardinals, no guard for the body, no other superfluities, which now adays are frequented by Popes. Histories of credit do confirm this same, such as were not written in flattery of the Popes. Also the name of Pope at that time was not proper only to the Bishop of Rome: but other Bishops also abroad in other Provinces were called by the same name. For Aurelius and Cyprian, Bishops of Carthage Ambrose Bishop of Milan, and other Bishops in other places, were also called Popes. And likewise Saint Jerome termeth S. Augustine which was Bishop of Hippo, in certain Epistles ⟨p. 93⟩by the name of Pope. For this²