A defence of the Apologie of the Churche of Englande conteininge an answeare to a certaine booke lately set foorthe by M. Hardinge, and entituled, A confutation of &c. By Iohn Iewel Bishop of Sarisburie.

M. Hardinge.

Here is mutche adoo aboute nought, and a number of bitter woordes pyked out of S. Gregorio•• Epistles, pretended to be writtē against the Bishop of Rome, to no purpose. For if wee say,* 1.1 as wee may saie truely, that he chalengeth to him selfe no sutche name, then what hath this Defender to saie? Let him shew vs how many Bishops of that see euer tooke the name of the Vniuersal Bishop vpon them, specially as Gregorie vnderstandeth it to signifie. If he can shewe none, why blotteth he so mutche paper with so impudent lies?

* 1.2 In deede the six hundred and thirty Fathers of the general Councel of Chalcedon gaue to Pope Leo that name, as Gregorie in three sundrie Epistles writeth, and certaine other in theire writinges haue attributed to the Pope the same. But that either Leo, or any other his Successoura 1.3 affected so to be called, Gregorie denieth••b 1.4 And that any since Gregories time to our dayes euer called or wrote him selfe Vniuersal Bishop, we denie.

VVhereas Pelagius, and Gregorie, writinge againste the Presumption of Iohn the Bishop of Con∣stantinople for takinge vpon him this name, are mutche alleged by the enimies of Vnitie, againste the Authoritie of Peters Successour ouer the whole Churche: we saye, that they folowinge the sleppes of theire Predecessours refused the name of Vniuersal Bishop in sutche sense, as Pelagius, and specially Gregorie oftentimes declareth, that where one is called Vniuersal Bishop, he semeth to be called

* 1.5 Bishop alone,* 1.6 so as Bishoprike should be taken away from al others. But they refused not so to be cal∣led after this meaninge, as though by that refusal the Auctoritie of the Bishop of Rome should be re∣strained, and not extende ouer the whole Churche. They denie, that any man might so be Vniuersal Bi∣shop, as he should be also the peculiar ruler, and Gouernour of euery particular Churche. For so al other Bishops had ben in vaine: and that is contrary to Christes Institution, who ordeined al the Apostles to be Bishops. To saie al in few, they refused the name that might odiously be taken, they refused not the Primacie* 1.7 whiche Christe to them had committed. Therefore Gregorie writinge to Morice the Emperour, alleaginge the woordes that make for Peters Auctoritie ouer the whole Flocke of Christe, saithe of Peter,* 1.8 The Charge of the whole Churche and Principalitie is committed to him, and yet is he not called Vniuersal Apostle. VVhere it is plaine, that Gregorie doth both affirme the charge of the whole, and denieth the name of Vniuersal. Let these Defenders graunte the thinge, and we striue not for the name.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vntruthe. For Platina saithe, Bonifacius 3. Obtinuit à Pho∣ca, Magna tamē Contentione.
• * 1.2

  There appea∣reth no sutche mater in al that Counc••l.
• a 1.3

  Vntruthe, As appear••th by the Former Au∣thoritie of Pla∣tina.
• b 1.4

  Vntruthe, As further appea∣reth by the An∣sweare.
• * 1.5

  Vntruthe, and most Vaine fan∣tasie. For no Bi∣shop of Constā∣tinople euer dreamed of sutche Autho∣ritie.
• * 1.6

  Vniuersal
• * 1.7

  Vntruthe. For Christe neuer erected any sutche Primacie.
• * 1.8

  The like vvhole Charge vvas geuen to Paule, Iohn, and Mathevve: as shal appeare.