A replie vnto M. Hardinges ansvveare by perusinge whereof the discrete, and diligent reader may easily see, the weake, and vnstable groundes of the Romaine religion, whiche of late hath beene accompted Catholique. By Iohn Iewel Bishoppe of Sarisburie.

The B. of Sarisburie.

I might wel passe al these authorities ouer without answeare, as beinge no parte of this question. For, I trust, the indifferent Reader of him selfe wil soone be∣léeue, we séeke no quarel against S. Peter, nor goe aboute to scanne his titles, or to abbridge him of his right. It is knowen that S. Peter by these Fathers here alle∣ged, Augustine, Hierome, Chrysostome, and Cyril, is called the Toppe, & Heade of the Apostles. And if néede so required, the same might be auoutched by authorities many moe. For who is he, that knoweth not this?

But M. Hardinge knoweth, the case is moued, not of S. Peter, but specially, & namely of the Bishoppes of Rome: And of them, he knoweth, he shoulde haue an∣sweared, if his minde had béene to deale plainely, &, as he saithe, fully to satisfie his Reader. Within the space of the first sixe hundred yéeres, there were in Rome .68. Bishoppes, for their Constancie in the Faithe, for their Uertue, & learninge farre excéedinge the reast, that haue béene sithence. The number of them beinge so great, their learninge so notable, their life so holy, it is maruel, M. Hardinge shoulde not be able to shewe, that any one of them al, in so longe a time, was once called the Heade of y^e Churche, & therefore should thus reast onely vpon S. Peter: who, when he receiued these Titles, was not Bishop of Rome: & of whom there is no question moued. Wherefore M. Hardinge may better consider his note in the Margin: & where as he hath written thus, Peter and his Successours called the Heade of the Churche ex∣pressely: He may rather amende it, and make it thus, Onely Peter, and not one of his successours, called Heade of the Churche expressely: So shoulde his note, and his texte agrée togeather: and so shoulde he not deceiue his Reader.

Here by the way, I must put M. Hardinge in remembrance: notwithstandinge, for his estimations sake, he would faine haue his foorth in these maters, yet should

he not therfore thus beguile the eies of the Simple,* 1.1 & thus misreporte, & falsifie the woordes of the Ancient Fathers.* 1.2 For alleging S. Hierome, he leaueth out woords, and altogeather dissembleth the whole meaninge: In S. Augustine he hath shifted, & placed one woorde for an other. S. Hierome in that place with great contention of woordes, commendeth S. Iohn aboue S. Peter, namely for that S. Peter was a Maried man, and S. Iohn a Uirgin. In the heate of his talke, he laieth this ob∣iection against him selfe.* 1.3 At dices, Super Petrū fundatur Ecclesia: licet id ipsum in alio loco super omnes Apostolos fiat, & cuncti Claues Regni Coelorum accipiant, & ex aequo super eos Ecclesiae fortitudo solidetur. But thou wilt say, The Churche was builte vpon Peter (and not vpon Iohn) Al be it in an other place the same is donne, (that is, the Churche is builte) vpon al the Apostles:* 1.4 and al receiue the Keies of the Kingedome of Hea∣uen: and the strength of the Churche is builte equally vpon them al. M. Hardinge thought it good, to skippe, & dissemble these woordes, not withstandinge they be ioyned alto∣geather in one sentence with the reast. It foloweth, Tamen proptereà inter duode∣••im vnus eligitur, vt, Capite constituto, Schismatis tollatur occasio. Sed cur non Iohan∣nes electus est virgo? Aetati delatum est: quia Petrus Senior erat: ne adhuc Adolescens, & pene Puer progressae aetatis hominibus praeferretur. Notwithstandinge the Disciples were al equal, yet therfore one is chosen amonge the twelue, that a Heade being appointed, oc∣casion of Schisme might be taken away. Thou wilt say againe, And why was not Iohn being a virgin, chosen to be this Heade? He answeareth, Christ gaue the preeminence vnto age. For Peter was an aged man: least that Iohn, beinge a younge man, and in manner a Childe, shoulde be placed before men of yeeres. This therfore is S. Hieromes meaninge, that Christe, to auoide confusion, whiche lightly happeneth in al companies, where as is none order, appointed S. Peter, for that he was the eldest man, to speake, & to deale for the reaste, as the Chiefe,* 1.5 & Heade of al his brethren. Which order also was after∣warde vniuersally taken throughout the worlde: that in euery congregation of Priestes, one shoulde haue a special preeminence aboue others, and be called Episcopus, the Bishop. This was thought a good politique way, to avoide conten∣tion in the Churche:* 1.6 and not, as M. Hardinge imagineth, To make one man the Vniuer∣sal Ruler ouer al the worlde. But touchinge this whole mater, I haue answeared more at large in the .15. Diuision of this Article.

In the allegation of S. Augustines woordes,* 1.7 M. Hardinge for his pleasure, hath vttered manifest corruption, in the stéede of this woorde, Eorum, purposely vsinge this woorde, Omnium. For where as S. Augustine saith, Ipsum constituit Caput eorum, Christe appointed him to be the Head of them, M. Hardinge thought it better to allege it thus, Ipsum constituit Caput Omnium: Christe appointed him to be Head of al.* 1.8 He saw right wel, that corrupte Doctrine woulde not stande without some corruption.

Further, I doubt not, but M. Harding dooth wel remember, that the question, that lieth betwéen vs, riseth not of any extraordinarie name, once, or twise, geuen vpon some special affection: but of the vsual, and knowen stile of the Bishoppes of Rome.* 1.9 For Theophrastus saith, Quae semel, aut bis accidunt, contemnūt Legislatores. The law makers haue no regarde to suche thinges, as neuer happen, but once, or twise. Neither what so euer name is geuen to any man of fauour, or admiration of his vertue, is therefore to be reckened, as his ordinarie title. S. Chrysostome writeth thus of the Emperour Theodosius, Laesus est, qui non habet parem vllum super terram, Summitas, & Caput omnium super terram hominum. He is offēded, that in the Earth hath no peere: the Toppe, and the Head of al men in the worlde. Eleutherius the Bishop of Rome, gaue this title vnto Lucius y^e Kinge of this Ilelande: Vos estis Vicarius Christi, You (beinge the King) are Gods Vicar.* 1.10 Chrysostome speakinge of Elias, calleth him Prophetarum Caput, The Head of the Prophetes. The Councel of Ephesus writing vnto the Em∣perours Theodosius, and Ualentinianus, expresseth Cyrillus y^e Bishop of Alexan∣dria

by this title,* 1.11 Caput Episcoporum cōgregatorum Cyrillus.* 1.12 Cyrillus the Heade of the Bishops there assembled. Likewise Gregorie intitleth S. Paule in this wise: Paulus ad Christum conuersus,* 1.13 Caput effectus est nationum. Paule beinge conuerted vnto Christ, was made the Head of Nations. And to take nearer view of the Bishop of Romes owne special titles, Pope Nicolas thereof writeth thus, Constat, Pontificem a Pio Principe Constantino Deum appellatum. It is wel knowen, that the Pope, of that Godly Prince Constantinus was called God. And further they say, Papa est in primatu Abel, in zelo Elias, in mansuetudine Dauid, in potestate Petrus, in vnctione Christus. The Pope in Primacie is Abel: in zeale is Elias: in mildenesse is Dauid: in power is Peter: in anointinge is Christe. These names, as I haue saide, of Affection, and fauour haue been geuen: yet wil not M. Hardinge therefore say, that, either the Emperour ought to be cal∣led the Head of al men vpon earth: Or the Kinge, Christes Uicare: Or Elias, the Head of the Prophetes: Or Cyrillus, the Head of the Councel: Or S. Paule, the Head of Nations: Or the Bishop of Rome, God, or Christe: as by an vsual, and ordinarie Title. And although, as I haue saide, S. Peters titles be nothinge incident to this Question, yet wée may examine M. Hardinges argument tou∣chinge the same.

Peter (saith he) was Head of the Apostles:
Ergo, He was Head of other inferiour people: And so Head of the Vniuersal Churche.

This is a deceiteful kinde of argument, and riseth by degrees, and steppes: and in the Schooles is called Sorites. In like sorte M. Harding might conclude thus:

Elias, as Chrysostome saith, was Head of the Prophetes:
Ergo, He was Head of the inferiour people: And so of the whole Vniuersal Church.

But the errour hereof wil better appeare by that argument, that The misto∣cles the gouernour of Athens sometimes made of him selfe, his wife, & his childe. Thus he saide:

The people of Athens is ruled by mee: I am ruled by my wife: My wife is ruled by my childe:
Ergo, The people of Athens is ruled by my Childe.

In this Reason, this one woorde, Rule, hath thrée significations. For The∣mistocles ruled, as a Gouernour: His wife, as a Shrew: his Childe, as a wanton. And therein standeth the errour of the argument. So likewise this woorde, Head, signifieth sometime the chiefe in learninge: sometime the chiefe in dignitie: some∣time the chiefe in Gouernement. And hereof also in reasoning riseth great errour. For it were greate folie to reason thus: Paule in learninge, and dignitie was the Head of al others: Ergo, He was the Head in Gouernment ouer al others.

Touching Uictor, that wrote the Storie of the Uandales, he is neither Scrip∣ture, nor Councel, nor Doctour, nor writeth the Order, or Practise of the primitiue Churche: nor is it wel knowen, either of what credite he was, or when he liued: nor dooth he cal the Bishop of Rome the Head of the Uniuersal Churche. Onely he saith, Rome is the Chiefe, or Head Churche of al others. Whiche thinge of our parte, for that time, is not denied: as may better appeare by that is written before in sundrie places of this Article.* 1.14 So dooth Prudentius cal Bethleem the Head of the World: Sancta Bethlem Caput est Orbis So likewise Chrysostome geuing instructions vnto Flauianus touchinge the Citie of Antioche, saith vnto him, Cogita de totius Orbis Capite. Thinke thou of (Antioche, that is) the Heade of al the Worlde. Hereby is meante a Head of Dignitie, or Honour: and not of Rule.

M. Hardinge findinge not one of the whole number of the Bishops of Rome, once named the Heade of the whole Churche, therfore thought it best to founde his proufe vpon S. Peter. And for that cause, others of his side haue auanced S. Peter aboue al Creatures. Boni••acius saith, That God tooke Peter in Consortium Indi∣uiduae

Trinitatis,* 1.15 into the Felowship euen of the Indiuisible Trinitie: and that from him, as from the Heade,* 1.16 he powreth al his giftes into the Bodie. Hereof M. Hardinge forceth his argument thus:

Peter was the Heade of the Apostles, and so of al other inferiours:
Ergo, The Bishop of Rome is the Heade of the Vniuersal Churche.

Thus, as Iulianus the Emperour in his phrenesie sometimes imagined, that the Great Aleranders Soule was come by Succession to dwel in him: euen so now the Bishops of Rome imagine by like fantasie, or phrenesie, y^t S. Peters Soule com∣meth by Succession to dwell in them: & that therefore they ought to haue, what so euer Title, or Interest Peter had. And for that cause they say, We are Peters Successours: euen as the Phariseis sometime saide, We be the Children of Abraham. But S. Iohn the Baptist saide vnto them,* 1.17 Put not your affiance in suche Succession. For God is hable euen of the stones to raise vp Children vnto Abraham. And when the Chil∣dren of Scaeua beinge Sorcerers,* 1.18 and Infidelles beganne to practise in the name of Christe, and Paule, the man possest made them answeare▪ Christe I know: and Paule I knowe: But what are you? Surely Peter was not the Heade of the Apostles, bi∣cause he was Bishop of Rome. For he was so appointed by Christe, in considera∣tion of age, and boldenes of Sprite, longe before he came to Rome: Yea, and had so béene, and so had continued, although he had neuer come to Rome. Therefore M. Hardinges argument is a Fallax, and in the Schooles is called Fallacia accidentis.

Thus, notwithstandinge S. Peter were Heade of the Church, yet cannot the B. of Rome therefore of right claime the same title.* 1.19 And albeit S. Peter of special re∣uerence, and admiration of his Sprite, and vertues, were sometimes so called, as S. Paule sometimes vpon like consideration also was, yet vnderstandinge this Chieftie for Uniuersal Power, and Gouernment, & Authoritie to commaunde, S. Peter neither was the Heade of the Uniuersal Churche in déede, nor was so estée∣med, or taken emonge his bretherne: as many waies it may wel appeare. And therefore S. Gregorie saithe,* 1.20 Paulus membra Dominici Corporis certis extra Dominū quasi Capitibus, & ipsis quidem Apostolis subijci particulariter euitauit. S. P••ule forbade, that the members of Christes Bodiè, shoulde not be subiecte particul••rely vnto any certaine Heades bysides the Lorde, no not vnto the Apostles themselues. So saithe S. Augustine, as it is before alleged,* 1.21 Nec Apostolus Paulus Caput est, & Origo eorum, quos planta∣uerat. Neither is Paule him selfe the Heade of them, whome he planted. Likewise againe he saithe, Paulus Apostolus, quanquam sub Capite praecipuum Membrum, tamen Mē∣brū est Corporis Christi.* 1.22 Paule the Apostle, although he be a special member vnder (Christ) the Heade, yet is he a member (& not the Head) of Christes Bodie. To conclude, S. Gre∣gorie saithe: Cer••è Petrus Apostolus primum membrum Sanctae, & Vniuersalis Ecclesiae est. Paulus, Andreas, Iohannes, quid aliud, quàm singularium sunt plebium Capita? Et tamen sub vno Capite omnes membra sunt Ecclesiae. At{que} vt cuncta breui cingulo locu∣tionis astringam, Sancti ante Legem, Sancti in Lege, Sancti sub Gratia: Omnes hi perficiē∣tes Corpus Domini, in membris sunt Ecclesiae constituti: Et nemo se vnquam Vniuersa∣lem vocari voluit. In deede Peter the Apostle is the Chiefe Member of the holy Vniuersal Churche. Paule, Andrewe, and Iohn, what are they els, but the Heades of seueral peoples? Yet notwithstandinge vnder one Heade they are al members of the Churche. To be shorte, The Sainctes before the Lawe: The Sainctes in the Lawe: the Sainctes vnder Grace: al accomplish∣inge the Lordes Bodie, are placed emonge the members of the Churche: And there was neuer yet none, that woulde cal him selfe Vniuersal.

Hereof we may wel conclude thus, S. Peter touchinge gouernement, & Or∣dinary Rule was not the Heade of the Uniuersal Churche. Ergo, Muche lesse is the Pope the Heade of the Uniuersal Churche.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Heade.
• * 1.2

  M. Hardinge misallegeth the Olde Doctours.
• * 1.3

  Hieronym. ad∣uersus Iouinia∣num. li. 1.
• * 1.4

  The Apostles al equal.
• * 1.5

  Hieronym. ad Nepotian. 7. quaest. 1. in Apibus.
• * 1.6

  Hierony. in E∣pist. ad Ti∣tum. Cap. 1.
• * 1.7

  Hierony. Contra Luciferian. M. Hardinge misreporteth S. Augustine.
• * 1.8

  Augustin. in qu••stio. Veter. & Noui Testa. questio. 75.
• * 1.9

  Pan. De Legib. & Senatus••on. & Lon. Con. Nam ad ea. Chryso••t. ad Po∣pulum Antio∣chen. Hom. 2.
• * 1.10

  Chrysost. in E∣pis. ad Roman. 11. Hom. 18.
• * 1.11

  Heade.
• * 1.12

  Cyrill. Tom. 4. Epist. 5.
• * 1.13

  Gregor. in. 1. Re∣gum. li. 4. ca. 4. Dist. 96. Satis e∣uidenter.
• * 1.14

  Prudentius i•• Enchiridio. Chrysost. Ad po∣pulum Antioch. Hom. 3.
• * 1.15

  Peter not Heade.
• * 1.16

  Extra, de ele∣ction. & electi potestate. Bonif. S. Fundamenta. Ab ipso, quasi quodam capite, dona ••ua omnia diffundit in Corpus.
• * 1.17

  Socra••es li. 3. Ca. 21.
• * 1.18

  Matthae. 3. Actor. 19.
• * 1.19

  Paule the Head as wel as Peter.
• * 1.20

  Cregor. li. 4. Epis. ••8.
• * 1.21

  August. contra literas Petilia∣ni. li. 1. ca. 5.
• * 1.22

  August. contra Epistolam Far∣••••niant. li. 2. c. 8. ••regor. li. 4. E∣pist. 38.