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.

The B. of Sarisburie.

Here M. Hardinge chargeth vs with twoo of his owne common faultes: First with Corruption: nexte with Ignorance. With Corruption, in the woordes, and sense of S. Hierome: with Ignorance, in the place of S. Cyprian. But if wee be hable sufficiently, and truely to answeare bothe, I truste, M. Hardinge shal haue no great cause, mutche to vaunte him selfe, either of his plaine dealinge herein, or of his knowledge.

And here, to dissemble these childishe causilati••ns of the altering of Numbers, the Singulare into the Plural: and of the changinge of this woorde, Merite, in∣to this woorde, Preeminence: whiche greate faulte, if it were any, by M. Har∣dinges owne Confession, proceeded onely from the Interpreter, and not from the Authour: I saie, to dissemble, and to passe by al these séely quarrels, what S. Hie∣rome meante hereby, Erasmus a man of great Learninge, and iudgement, expoun∣deth thus:* 1.1 Hieronymus aequare videtur omnes Episcopos inter se, perinde quasi omnes ex aequo Apostolis successerint. Nec putat vllum Episcopum alio minorem esse, quód sit humilior: aut Maiorem, quód sit Opulentior: Nam aequat Eugubiensem Episcopum cum Romano, Deinde non putat, Episcopum quouis Presbytero praestantiorem esse, nisi quód ius habeat Ordinandi: Hierome seemeth to matche al Bishoppes togeather, as if they were al equally the Apostles Successours. And he thinketh not any Bishop to be sesse then other, for that he is poorer: or greatter then other, for that he is richer. For he maketh the Bishop of Eugubium (a poore towne) equal with the Bishop of Rome. And farther he thinketh, that a Bishop is no better then any Prieste, sauinge that the Bishop hath Authoritie to Order Ministers.

But S. Hieromes woordes are plaine of them selfe, and haue no neede of o∣ther Expositour.* 1.2 Thus he writeth: Quid facit, excepta Ordinatione, Episcopus, quod Presbyter non faciat? Nec altera Romanae Vibis Ecclesia, altera totius Orbis

existimanda est. Et Galliae, & Britannia, & Aphrica, & Persis, & Oriens, & India, & Omnes Barbarae Nationes Vnum Christum adorant: vnam obseruant regulam Ve∣ritatis. Si Authoritas quaeritur, Orbis maior est Vrbe. Vbicunque fuerit E∣piscopus, siue Eugubij, siue Constantinopoli, siue Alexendriae, siue Tanai, eiusdem Meriti, eiusdem est Sacerdotij. Potentia diuitiarum, & paupertatis humilitas vel sub∣limiorem, vel Inferiorem Episcopum non facit. Coeterùm omnes Apostolorum Suc∣cessores sunt. Quid mihi profers Vnius Vrbis consuetudinem? What doothe a Bishop, sau••nge onely the Orderinge of Ministers, but a Prieste maye doo the same? Neither maye wee thinke that the Churche of Rome is one, and the Churche of al the worlde biside is another. Fraunce, Englande, Aphrica, Persia, Leu••nte, India, and al the Barbarous Nations woorship one Christe, and keepe one rule of the Truthe. If vvee seeke for Authoritie, The whole worlde is greater then the Cittie of Rome. Where so euer there be a Bishop, be it at Eugubium, be it at Rome, be it at Constantinople, be it at Rhe∣gium, be it at Alexandria, be it at Tanais, they are al of one woorthinesse, they are al of one Bishoprike. The Power of the Richesse, and the basenesse of Pouertie, maketh not a Bishop either Higher, or Lower. For they are al the Apostles Successours. What bringe you me the Custome of Rome, beinge but one Cittie?

Nowe, if M. Hardinge wil steale awaie in the darke, as his manner is, and saie, that S. Hierome spake onely of the Merite of Life, or of the Office of Priest∣hoode, sette some man telle him, that this was no parte, neither of the question mooued, nor of the answeare of S. Hierome: And S. Hierome in plaine, and expresse woordes saithe, Si Authoritas quaeritur, If vvee seeke (not for Merite of Life, but) for Authoritie in gouernmente, therein the whole worlde is greatte, then the Cittie of Rome. M. Hardinge imagineth, S. Hierome spake onely of, I knowe no what: but S. Hierome him selfe saithe, he speaketh namely of Authoritie.

And whereas M. Hardinge is so highly offended with the chaunginge of this woorde, Merite, into this woorde, Preeminence, and saithe farther, that these False Platers thought thereby to winne the game, it maye please him to remem∣ber, that, howe so euer the game goe, S. Hierome him selfe plainely plaide the selfe same game: I meane, that S. Hierome vsinge this woorde, Merite, without question meante, Preeminence. For thus he saithe, Potentia Diuitiarum, & Pau∣pertatis humilitas, vel Sublimiorem, vel Inferiorem Episcopum non facit: The Power of Richesse, and the basenesse of Pouertie maketh not a Bishop either Higher, or Lower. M. Hardinge mighte easily hauè seene, that Higher, and Lower, perteine not to Merite of Life, but to Preeminence. Therefore lette him looke better vpon his Booke, before he thus lightly condemne others for corruption.

I graunt, it is true, as M. Hardinge saithe, This quarrel first beganne aboute a particulare Custome of the Churche of Rome, where as the Dra••ons Vaunted them selues, and would be placed aboue the Priestes. But here M. Hardinge, as his manner is, willingly dissembleth, and suppresseth somewhat. S. Augustine more liuely,* 1.3 and fully expresseth the same. For thereof he writeth thus: Quidam, qui nomen liabet Falcidij, Duce stultitia, & Romanae Ciuitatis Iactantia, Leuîtas Sa∣cerdotibus, & Diaconos Presbyteris coaequare contendit: One Falcidius, Foolishnesse, and the Pride of the Cittie of Rome leadinge him thereto, laboureth to make the Deacons Equal with the Priestes.

This lewde disorder S. Hierome controlleth by the Examples of other Churches, and saithe, that therein the Authoritie of the whole worlde is greatter, then the Authoritie of the Churche of Rome: Of whiche also he seemeth to speake scornefully, and with some disdeigne. For thus he saithe, Quid mihi profers V∣nius Vrbis Consuerudinem? What bringe you me the Custome of (Rome, beinge but)

One Cittie? By whiche woordes it seemeth,* 1.4 he made smal accoumpte of the Cittie of Rome.

But M. Hardinge saithe, The Primates had Authoritie ouer other Inferiour Bishops I graunte: they had so. How be it, thei had it by agreemente, & Custome: But neither by Christe, nor by Peter or Paule, nor by any Kighte of Goddes Woorde.* 1.5 S. Hierome saith, Nouerint Episcopi, se magis Consuetudine, quàm Dispo∣fitionis Dominicae Veritate, Presbyteris esse Maiotes, & in cōmune debere Ecclesiam ••e∣gere: Let Bishoppes vnderstande, that they are aboue the Priestes, rather of Custome, the•• of any Truthe, or Right of Christes Institution: and that they ought to rule the Churche al to∣geather. And againe, Idem ergo est Presbyter,* 1.6 qui Episcopus: Etantequam Diaboli instinctustudia in Religione fierent, & diceretur in populis, Ego sum Pauli, Ego Apollo, Ego Cephae, Cōmuni Presbyterorum Consilio Ecclesiae gubernabantur: Therefore a Prieste, and a Bishop are bothe one thinge: And, before that by the inflaiminge of the Diuel, partes were taken in Religion, and these woordes were vttered emonge the people, I holde of Paule, I holde of Apollo, I holde of Peter, the Churches were gouerned by the Common Aduise of the Priestes.* 1.7 S. Augustine saithe, Secundum honorum vocabula, quae iam Ecclesiae vsus obtinuit, Episcopatus Presbyterio maior est: The office of a Bishop is aboue the office of a Prieste, (not by Authoritie of the Scrip∣tuces, but) after the Names of Honour, whiche the Custome of the Churche hath nowe obteined.

As for Pope Leo,* 1.8 his owne Authoritie in his owne cause cannot be greate. The Emperoure saithe, Nemo debet sibiius dicere: Noman maie minister Lowe vn∣to him selfe. And it is noted thus in the Decrées, Papa non debet esse Iudex in cau∣sa propria: The Pope maie not be iudge in his owne cause.

It is wel knowen,* 1.9 that the Pope hath sought for, and claimed this Vniuersal Authoritie these many hundred yeeres. Pope Innocentius was therefore reproo∣ued of Pride, and worldly Lordlinesse by the whole Councel of Aphrica:* 1.10 Pope Bo∣nifacius 2. condemned ••. Augustine, & al the saide whole Councel of Aphrica, & called them al Heretiques, and Schismatiques, for the same, and said, they were al* 1.11 leadde by the Diuel: Pope Zosimus, to mainteine this claime, corrupted the Holy Councel of Nice: S. Hilarie, and other Learned Bishoppes of France, for vsurpinge sutche vnlawful Authoritie, charged this same Pape Leo, of whom we speake, with Pride, and Ambition.

But, gentle Reader, that thou ma••ste the better vnderstande, what credite thou oughtest to geue to this Pope Leo, specially settinge foorthe his owne Au∣thoritie, I beséethe thée, consider, with what Maiestie of woordes, and howe far aboue measure, he auanceth the Authoritie of S. Peter. These be his woordes: Christus Petrum in Consortium Indiuiduae Vnitatis assumpsit: Christe receiued Peter in∣to the Companie of the Indiuisible Vnitie:* 1.12 Authoritate Domini mei Petri Apostoli: By the Authoritie (not of Christe, but) of my Lorde Peter the Apostle: Deo Inspirante, & Beatissimo Petro Apostolo: By the Inspiration of God, and of S. Peter the Apostle: Deus à Petro, velut à quodam Capite, dona sua velut in Corpus omne diffudit: God frō Peter, as from the Heade,* 1.13 hath powred cut his giftes into al the Body: Nihil erit ligatum, aut so∣lutum, nisi quod Petrus ligauerit, aut soluerit: There shalbe nothinge bounde, or loosed, but that Peter shal binde, or loose: Nunc quoque Petrus pascit Oues, & mandatum Domini Pius Pastor exequitur:* 1.14 Euen nowe Peter feedeth the Sheepe, and as a Godly Shephearde, he fulfilleth the commoundement of his Maister. Sutche immoderate, and ambitious Dignitie Leo was contente to yeelde to Peter, to thende that the pos∣session, and fruite thereof might redounde whelely vnto him selfe.

Some others haue thought, that as wel these Epistles of Leo, as also others

moe,* 1.15 of other the Ancient Bishoppes of Rome, haue benne interlaced, and falsi∣fied by the ambitious Popes, that folowed afterwarde. Whiche thinge is the more likely,* 1.16 bothe for that the selfe same woordes be likewise alleged, partely vn∣der the name of Pope Iulius, partely vnder the name of Pope Nicolas: and also for that Pope Zosimus, whiche was the fifthe before Leo, as it is saide before, doubted not for an aduantage to falsifie the Holy Councel of Nice.

Verily, when the Councel of Chalcedon had offered vnto this same Leo the Title of Vniversal Bishop, as Gregorie witnesseth, he vtterly refused it, and woulde none of it.

Nowe touchinge that S. Hierome saithe, the poore Bishop of Eugubium, and the Bishop of Rome are bothe of one Authoritie (For of Authoritie he spea∣keth,* 1.17 as it is prooued before): S. Cyrian also saithe the same, that the Authori∣tie of the Bishoppes in Aphrica is as good, as the Authoritie of the Bishop of Rome: and calleth them al Lewd, and Desperate Personnes, that wil, as M. Har∣dinge doothe, safe the contrarie.

Therefore, whereas M. Hardinge saithe, By very Order of Christe him selfe it hath benne Ordeined, that maters touchinge Faithe, and Religion be referred to that One Prince of Pastours, who sitteth in the Chaire of Peter, the Highest Bishop, and that the same hath alwaies benne donne, and obserued from the A∣postles time vntil our daies: He bringeth vs twoo manifest Vntruthes togeather, without any manner proufe at al, onely auouched vpon him selfe. For it appea∣reth not, that Christe euer tooke this Order, or euer made any sutche mention, ei∣ther of any sutche Prince of Pastours, or of Peters Chaire. And in the Coun∣cel of Aphrica it was decreed, that no maters shoulde be remooued from thence to Rome.* 1.18 The woordes of the Councel are these, Ad transmarina Iudicia qui pu••a∣uerit appellandum, à nullo intra Aphricam in Communionem suscipiatur: Who so euer shal thinke be ought to appeale to the Judgementes beyond the Seas (that is, to the Bishop of Rome) let no man within Aphrica receiue him to the Communion.

Touchinge that M. Hardinge calleth the Pope the Prince of Pastours, he mighte haue remembred, that the righte of this name belongeth onely vnto Christe.* 1.19 S. Peter saithe, That when Christe, the Prince of Pastours shal appeare, ye maie receiue the Vncorruptible Crowne. Nowe, to infea••fe the P••pe with Christes peculiare Titles, a man mighte thinke it were greate blasphemie. Certainely S. Cyprian saithe,* 1.20 Nemo nostrum Episcopum se esse Episcoporum consti∣tuit: None of vs appointeth him selfe Bishop of Bishoppes: mutche lesse the Prince of al Pastours. And in the Councel of Constantinople it was Decreed, that the Bishop there shoulde haue Euen, and Equal Authoritie with the Bishop of Rome.

As for the other Authoritie of S. Cyprian, M. Hardinge saithe, wée vnder∣stoode it not: and therefore he willeth vs, to looke better vpon our Bookes. The counsel is good. But if M. Hardinge wil graunte, that S. Cyprian him selfe knew, what he him selfe wrote, and vnderstoode his owne meaninge, it shalbe suf∣ficient. Verily the woordes that he vseth, séeme not so darke. For thus he writeth: Episcopatus Vnus est, cuius à singulis in solidum pars tenetur: Ecclesia Vna est, quae in multiudinem lati••s incremento Foecunditatis ex••enditur: Quomodò Solis multi radij, sed lumen Vnum: & ramiarboris multi, sed robur Vnum: The Bishoprike is One, a parte whereof of euery seueral Bishop is possessed in whole. The Churche is One, whiche by her greate increase is extended vnto many: As in the Sonne the beames be many, but the lighte is one: and in a Tree the boughes be many, but the body is One.

If there appeare any greate darkenesse, or doubte in these woordes, S. Cy∣prian him self in other places thus expoundeth his owne meaning in plainer wise:

Vna est Ecclesia à Christo per totum Mundum in plura membra diuisa:* 1.21 Item Episcopa∣tus Vnus,* 1.22 Episcoporum multorum concordi numerositate diffusus: There is One Churche diuided by Christe into many Members throughout the worlde: Likewise One Bishoprike powred farre abroade by the agreeable multitude of many Bishoppes, Againe, Ecclesia Vna est,* 1.23 & connexa, & cohaerentium sibi inuicem Sacerdotum glutino copulata: There is One Churche, ioined, and fastened in One, by the consente of Bishoppes agreei••ge to∣geather. Againe, Quando Oramus, non pro Vno Oramus, sed pro toto populo:* 1.24 Quia totus populus Vnum sumus: When wee praie, we praie not for One, but for the whole people: For wee the whole people are but One. Againe, immediately before these woordes, whiche, M. Hardinge saithe, wée are not hable to vnderstande, he saithe: Hanc Vnitatem firmiter tenere,* 1.25 & vendicare debemus, maximé Episcopi, qui in Eccle∣sia prae••idemus: vt Episcopatum quoque ipsum Vnum, & Indiuisum probemus: This Vnitie muste wee holde, specially Bishoppes, that fitte as Rulers in the Churche: that wee maye declare our Bishoprike to be One,* 1.26 and without diuision. Againe, Etsi Pasto∣res multi sumus, Vnum tamen Gregem Pascimus: & Oues Vniuersas, quas Christus Sangume suo, & Passione quaesiuit, colligere, & fouere debemus: Notwithstandinge wee be many Shepheardes, yet wee Feede but One Flocke: and wee are al bounde to gea∣ther vp, and to nourrishe al the Sheepe, that Christe hath wonne with his Bloude, and Passion.

If either the Authour of the Apologie, or the Interpreter vnderstoode not S. Cyprian, yet, M. Hardinge, ye maye geue S. Cyprian leaue, to vnderstande him selfe.

And in this sense S. Hierome saithe,* 1.27 Communi Presbyterorum Consilio Ec∣clesiae gubernabantur: The Churches were ordred (not by the Vniuersal Authoritie of the Bishop of Rome, but) by the Common Aduise of the Priestes. Likewise S. Cyprian saithe,* 1.28 Ideircò copiosum est Corpus Sacerdotum, Cōcordiae mutuae glutine, atque Vni∣ratis vinculo copulatum, vt si quis ex Collegio nostro Haeresim facere, & Gregem Chri∣sti laccrare, ac vastare tentauerit, subueniant coeteri: Therefore is the Body, or com∣panie of Priestes so copious, ioined togeather with consente of Concorde and Vnitie, that if any one of our Companie entreprise to raise an Heresie, and to scatter and waste the Flocke of Christe,* 1.29 the reste shoulde healpe. So likewise S. Basile: Interrogate Patres Ve∣stros, & renuntiabunt vobis, quòd etiamsi loci situ diuisae inter se sint Paroeciae, tamen veluti Coronamento quodam Vnitae, vna{que} sententia gubernatae fuerunt. Assidua qui∣dem populi fuit inter se commixtio: Ipsi verò Pastores tanta praediti fuerunt mutua in∣ter ipsos Charitate, vt alius alio Praeceptore, ac Duce vsi fuerint: Aske of your Fathers, and they wil telle you, that although Bishoprikes be diuided, and sundred by distance of place, yet were they euer knitte togeather as with a Garlande, and euer ruled by One Ad∣uise. In deede the People was euer mingled togeather: But the Bishoppes were al so ioined in Charitie, that euery of them was contente to be taught, and to be leadde by other.

Therefore, as many Faithes in sundrie Faithefulles are but One Faithe: as many Churches are but one Churche: as many Baptismes are but one Bap∣tisme: Euen so, saithe S. Cyprian, many Bishoprikes are but One Bishoprike: and therein, as wel the Bishop of Rome, as also euery other seucral Bishop, hath his portion.

I saie, The Bishoprike of Rome is not this Whole Bishoprike, but a Parte: Not the Body of the Sunne, but a beame: Not the stemme of the Trée, but a braunche.

And thus, by S. Cyprians minde, neither doothe one Bishop holde of an o∣ther: Nor is any One Bishop Heade of the Whole: Nor is One Bishop al in al: but al Bishoppes are onely One.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••rasm, in Schol. in Epist. ad Eua∣grium.
• * 1.2

  Hierony. ad E∣uagrium.
• * 1.3

  August. in quaes. veter. & Noui Testament. quae. 101.
• * 1.4

  Pope Leo.
• * 1.5

  Hieronym. in E∣pist. ad Titum. Cap. 1.
• * 1.6

  Hieronym. eod. loco.
• * 1.7

  August. Epist. 19.
• * 1.8

  ff. Li. 2. De Iu∣risdict. omnium Iudicum.
• * 1.9

  16. q. 6. Consue∣tudo: In Mar••gine.
• * 1.10

  Concil. Aphri∣ca. Ca. 105. Su∣perbum saeculi typhum. Inter Decretaé Bonifacij 2.
• * 1.11

  Instigante Diabolo. Leo Epist. 89.
• * 1.12

  Leo Epist. 89. Leo Epist. 52. Leo Epist. 89. Leo in cadem Epist.
• * 1.13

  Leo in Sermo. De Natali Petri & Pauli.
• * 1.14

  Leo in Sermo. 3. In Anniucrsario die Assumptionis.
• * 1.15

  Equalitie of Bi∣shoppes.
• * 1.16

  Epist. Iulij 1. Extra De Elect. Fundamenta. Concil Aphrica. Cap. 105. Gregor. Lib. 4. Epist. 36.
• * 1.17

  Cyprian. Lib. 1. Epist. 3. Nisi paucis de∣speratis, & per∣ditis.
• * 1.18

  Concil. Aphri∣can. Cap. 92.
• * 1.19

  1. Petr. 5.
• * 1.20

  In Concil. Car∣thaginen. Concil. Constan∣tinop. 2. Ca. 36. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Cyprian. De Simpl. Praelator.
• * 1.21

  One Bi∣shoprike.
• * 1.22

  Cyprian. Lib. 4. Epist. 2.
• * 1.23

  Cyprian. Lib. 4. Epist. 9.
• * 1.24

  Cyprian. In O∣ration. Domi∣nicam.
• * 1.25

  Cyprian. De Sim¦pli. Praelat.
• * 1.26

  Cyprian. Lib. 3. Epist. 13.
• * 1.27

  Hieronym. in E∣pist. ad Tit. Ca. 1.
• * 1.28

  Cyprian. Lib. 3. Epist. 13.
• * 1.29

  Basili. ad Neo∣caesarienses.