For when as one Iohn Bishop of Constantinople would néedes be called oeconomicall Bishop and be ac∣knowledged for vniuersall Bishop to haue supremacie, iu∣risdiction, and dominion ouer all Churches and Byshops of Churches in the whole world: Gregorie withstode him sharpely and stoutly, like as Bishop Pelagius had done a∣fore him. He wrate many and sundry Epistles concernyng that matter to Maurice the Emperour, to Constance the Empresse, to Iohn himselfe the Bishop of Constantinople, and to the Bishops of Antioche and Alexandria. Among o∣ther thinges he denieth that any man ought to be an vni∣uersall Bishop sauing Christ, & that any Bishops vsurped that title afore him. For he sayth, that the title is, straunge, foolish, proude, péeuish, wicked, and heathenish, wherunto to consent, were euen as much as to renounce the fayth. A∣gayne speakyng of Iohn of Constantinople, Out of the same dust (sayth he) in which he sate, and out of the same lowlynesse which he pretended, he hath taken presumptu∣ousnesse, so as he assayeth to ascribe all thinges to himselfe, and by haultinesse of stately spéech indeuereth to subdue all Christes members to himselfe, which cleaue alonely to their owne head, that is to say, to the same Christ. Anon after comparing with Lucifer, he writeth: Lucifer sayd, I will clymb into heauen, I will exalt my throne aboue the starres of the skie. For what els are all thy brethren the Byshops of the vniuersall Church, but starres of heauen? whose life together with their toung shineth among mens sinnes & errours, as it were in the dareknesse of the night. Before whom when thou couetest to preferre thy selfe by title of preheminence, and to treade their name vnder foote in comparison of thine owne, what els sayest thou, but I will clymb vp into heauen &c. Finally writing to the same Iohn Byshop of Constantinople, all thinges (sayth he) that were forespoken, do come to passe. The kyng of pride is néere at hand, and (which is a shame to be spoken) there is an army of Priestes in preparing for him. For they which