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.

The Interpreter, not without the wil and aduise of this Defender, hath altered the Sense of the Latine,* 1.1 as the Authour of the Latine hath altered the woordes of S. Hierome. For neither spea∣keth S. Hierome of Bishoppes in the plural number, neither saithe the Latine Apologie, that the Bi∣shoppes be al of like Preeminence, whiche this Translation hath, but of the same Merite, and of the same Priesthood. VVith the woorde Preeminence guilefully shifted into the sentence in place of this woorde Merite, these false players thought to winne the Game. That is, that al Bishoppes, after the minde of S. Hierome be of like Preeminence, and so that al be of like Power, and auctoritie▪ and none aboue other.

Concerninge the place alleged,* 1.2 S. Hierome in an Epistle to Euagrius speakinge against that, a particular custome of the Churche of Rome shoulde Preiudicate the Auctoritie of the whole worlde, in preferringe Deacons before Priestes, compareth Bishoppes of great Cities and litle Townes togea∣ther, and saithe, that as touchinge the Honour, Dignitie, and Power of Bishoply Order and Office. and of Priesthood, as good and as greate a Bishop in that respect is the One, as the other: and that the Bishop of Eugubium, and Rhegium, two litle Townes in Italie, and of Thebes an other litle Towne in Egypte, are Bishoppes and Priestes, and haue as greate* 1.3 Merite in regarde of any their Ver∣tues, and as greate Power concerninge the order of Priesthood, as the Bishoppes of Rome, of Con∣stantinople, of Alexandria. Yet as touchinge Power and Auctoritie of regiment, the Patriarkes of Constantinople, Alexandria, and Antiochia be aboue Bishoppes of other Dioceses, and the Bishop of Rome Peters Successour is* 1.4 aboue al. For we beinge many are one Body in Christe, and euery man a∣monge our selues one an others members. This knotte requireth a mutual consent of the whole Bod••e, but chiefly the concorde of Priestes:* 1.5 amonge whome although dignitie be not common to them al, yet order is general, as Leo writeth. For euen among the moste Blessed Apostles (saithe he) in likenesse of Honour there was oddes of Power. And whereas the Election of them al was equal, yet to One was it geuen to be ouer the reste. Out of whiche platte rose the distinction also of Bishoppes, and with

greate Prouidence it hath benne disposed,* 1.6 that al shoulde not take al vpon them, but that in euery prouince there shoulde be one, who might firste geue his sentence amonge his brethren: and againe that in the greate Citties some shoulde be ordeined for takinge vpon them matters of greater care, through whome the charge of the vniuersal Churche shoulde haue course to the one see of Peter, and that nothinge shoulde euer dissent from the Head.

Howe greate, and Honorable so euer the roume is, that any Bishop is placed in, be he Archbishop, Metropolitane, Primat, Patriarke, or Pope himselfe: He is nomore a Bishop, then any other of those, who occupie the lowest roume.* 1.7 The diuersitie consisteth in this, that they are called to parte of charge in sundry proportions, as the Bishoprikes are greater or lesser: the Pope hath committed vnto hima 1.8 the charge of the whole Folde of Christe, and hath the fulnes of Power. For if al were of like Power, as these Defenders teache, Vnitie coulde not be mainteined. VVhereforeb 1.9 by very order of Christe himselfe it hath benne ordeined, that maters touchinge Faith and Religion; at least sutche as be weighty, be referred to that one Prince of Pastours, who sitteth in the chaire of Peter, the Highest Bishop, whiche hathc 1.10 alwaies benne done and obserued from the Apostles time to our daies by Ca∣tholikes, and not seldom also by Heretikes.

The sentence that this Defender alleageth out of S. Cyprian, it seemeth he vnderstoode it not. Ye saie, that a piece of that one Bishoprike is perfitly and wholy holden of euery particular Bi∣shop. But what meane ye by that? If by this woorde, In solidum, perfitly and wholy holden, ye meane, that euery particular Bishop without is a Bishop dependinge of any other, then ye speake against the woordes yee bringe out of S. Cyprian.* 1.11 VVho saithe, that as there are many beames of one Sunne, many boughes of one roote▪ many Riuers of one Fountaine: so there are many Bishoppes of one Bishoprike. Therefore this Bishoprike is vnto particular Bishoppes, as the Sunne, as the Roote, as the Fountaine.d 1.12 VVhat the Fountaine, roote, and Sunne of this Bishoprike is, S. Cyprian declareth a litle before, she winge that it was saide to Peter, To thee I wil geue the ketes of the King∣dome of Heauen. And, Feede my sheepe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vntruthe: Reade the Ansvveare.
• * 1.2

  Hieromes place discussed.
• * 1.3

  This vvas no parte of the questiō.
• * 1.4

  Vntruth: For the B. of Rome is equal vvith the other foure Pa∣triarkes, as shal ap∣peare.
• * 1.5

  Epist. 84. Amonge Bi∣shoppes is diffe∣rence of Povver vvith likenesse of Honour.
• * 1.6

  Equalitie of Bi∣shoppes.
• * 1.7

  The diuersitie bitvveene Bi∣shops, vvherein it consisteth.
• a 1.8

  Vntruth: For Christe neuer gaue the Pope a∣ny sutche charge.
• b 1.9

  Vntruth: For Christe neuer gaue sutche or∣der.
• c 1.10

  Vntruth: For it hath not alvvaies benne ob∣serued.
• * 1.11

  De Simplicitate Praelatorum.
• d 1.12

  Vatruth, impudente aboue mea∣sure.