A Modal for the French king, or The memorable acts of Henry the Eight extirpating popery and introducing the Protestant religion, collected out of the most authentick records of the most memorable things, referring to the reformation, for publick good.

A Letter of the University of Cambridge against the Usurped Power of the Bishop of Rome.

UNiversis Sanctae Matris Ecclesiae filiis, ad quos praesentes Literae perventurae sunt, coetus omnis regentium & non regentium Academiae Cantabrigiensis, salutem, in omnium sal∣vatore Jesu Christo.

Cum de Romani Pontificis potestate, &c.

Translated into English thus.

TO all and singular Children of the holy Mother Church, to whose hands these presents shall come, the whole Society of Regents and not Regents of the Vniver∣sity of Cambridge, sendeth greeting in our Saviour Iesus Christ.

Whereas now of late it hath risen up in question among us concerning the Power of the Bishop of Rome, which he doth both claim to himself by the holy Scripture, over all Provinces and Nations in Christendom, and hath now of long time exercised in this Realm of England: And forasmuch as our Censure concerning the cause is requi∣red, to wit, Whether the Bishop of Rome hath any Power or Authority in this Kingdom of England allotted to him by God in the Scripture, more than any other forein Bishop, or no? We thought it therefore good reason, and our duty for the searching out of the verity of the said Question, that we should imploy therein our whole endeavour and study, whereby we might tender and publish to the world what our reason and censure is touching the premisses.

For therefore we suppose that Vniversities were first pro∣vided and instituted of Princes, to the end that both the people of Christ might in the Law of God be instructed, and also that false Errors (if any did rise) might through the vigilant care and industry of learned Divines be discussed, extinguished, and utterly rooted out. For the which cause we in our Assemblies and Convocations (after our accu∣stomed manner) resorting and conferring together upon the Question aforesaid, and studiously debating and delibe∣rating with our selves, how and by what order we might best proceed for the finding out of the truth of the matter; and at length choosing out certain of the best learned Do∣ctors and Batchelors of Divinity, and other Masters, have committed to them in charge, studiously to insearch and peruse the places of holy Scripture, by the viewing and conferring of which places together, they might certifie us what is to be said to the Question propounded.

Forasmuch therefore as we having heard and well advi∣sed, and throughly discussed in open Disputations, what may be said on both parts of the foresaid Question, those Reasons and Arguments do appear to us more probable, stronger, truer, and more certain, and sounding much more near to the pure and native sense of Scripture, which do deny the Bishop of Rome to have any such power given him of God in the Scripture. By reason and force of which Arguments we being persuaded, and conjoyning together in one Opinion, have with our selves thus decreed to an∣swer unto the Question aforesaid, and in these writings thus resolutely do answer in the name of the whole Vni∣versity, and for a Conclusion undoubted do affirm, approve, and pronounce, That the Bishop of Rome hath no more State, Authority, and Iurisdiction given him of God in the Scriptures over this Realm of England, than any other extern Bishop hath. And in testimony and credence of this our Answer and Affirmation, we have caused our common Seal to be put to these our foresaid Letters ac∣cordingly.

At Cambridge in our Regent House, Anno Dom. 1534.

Notes

• A Letter of the Universi∣ty of Cam∣bridge.
• The Censure of the Uni∣versity of Cambridge against the Popes Supre∣macy.
• The Bishop of Rome hath no more State in England than hath any other Bishop.