calleth him in his epistle, the vicar of Christ, &c. But that any of these termes were so perculiarly applyed to the byshop of Rome, that other bishops were excluded frō the same, or that any one byshop aboue the rest had the name of Oecumenical, or vniuersal, or head, to the derogation of other bishops, or with such glory as is now annexed to the same: that is not to be founde neyther in histories of the old tyme, nor in any example of the primitiue church, nor in the testimonies of auncient approued doctors. First before the councell of Nice, it is euident by Pope Pius the second, MarginaliaEx epist. Pii secūdi. 301.that there was no respect had to the church of Rome, but euery church then was ruled by his own gouernance, til the yeare of our Lord. 340. Then folowed the councel of Nice, wherin it was decreed, that through out the whole vniuersitie of Christs church, which was now far spred ouer al the worlde, certaine prouinces or precinctes to the number of foure were appointed, euery one to haue his head church, and chiefe bishop, called then Metropolitaine, or Patriarche, to haue the ouer sight of such churches as dyd lye about hym. MarginaliaThe foure Patriarches appoynted by the counsell of Nice.In the number of whiche Patriarches or Metropolitains, the bishop of Rome had the first place. 2. The bishop of Alexandria was the second. 3. The bishop of Antioche the third. 4. The byshop of Hierusalem was the fourth Patriarke. MarginaliaEx concil. Nicen,Afterward in the number of these Patriarches, came in also the byshop of Constantinople in the roume of the byshop of Antioche. MarginaliaEx conci. Constantinop. 1 cap. 36.So these foure or fyue Metropolitanes or Patriarches had their peculiar circuits and precinctes to them peculiarly appointed, in such sorte, as one of them shuld not deale within an others precinct, & also that ther shuld be emong them equalitie of honor, wherupon we reade so oft in the decrees of the old coūcels, τὰ ἴσα πρεσβεῖα τῶν θρόνων, καὶ τῆς τιμῆς, that is, equal degree of thrones, and of honour amonge priests and ministers. MarginaliaEx concil. Constātin. 2. cap. 36.Again speaking of the said Patriarches or primates, we reade in the. ij. and. iij. chap. of the councell of Constant. ἐπισκόπους ταῖς ὑπερορίοις ἐκκλησίαις μὴ ἐπιέναι, μηδὲ συγχέειν τὰς ἐκκλησίας., that is. That byshops should not inuade the dioces of other bishops, without their borders, nor confound together churches, &c. MarginaliaEx concil. Const. cap. 2. 3.Moreouer the old Doctors for the most and best part, do accord in one sentence, that al bishops placed whersoeuer, in the church of God, be eiusdem meriti & honoris, et successores Apostolorum, that is to be of one merite, of lyke honour, and all to be successors together of the Apostles. Also, he that is the autour of the boke called Dionisius Areopagita, calleth all the bishops, ὁμοταγεῖς καὶ ἰσοτίμους, that is, of equal order, and of lyke honor, &c. All this while the bishop of Rome was a Patriarch, and a Metropolitane or bishop called of the first sea, but no Oecumenical bishop, nor head of the vniuersall church, nor any such matter: In so much that he, with al other bishops, was debarred from that, by a plain decree of the councel of Carthage, can. 39. in these wordes: ὧστε τὸν τῆς πρώτης καθέδρας ἐπίσκοπον μὴ λέγεσθαι ἐξαρχὸν τῶν ἱερέων, ἤ ἄκρον ἱερέα, ἤ τοιουτότροπον τι πότε. , that is. MarginaliaEx concil. Carthag. can. 39.That the byshop of the first seate shal not be called the prince of priests, or the hyghe priest, or any such thing. an.

And least any here should take occasion of caueling, to heare hym called, byshop of the first sea, here is to be expounded, what is ment by the bishop of the first see, & wherfore he was so called, not for any dignity of the person, either of him which succedeth, or of him whom he is said to succede, but onely of the place wherin he sitteth. This is plainlye proued by the councell of Calchedon, cap. 28. Wherin is manifestlye declared the cause why the sea of Rome, emong all other patriarchall seas, is numbred for the first sea by the auncient fathers. for why, saith the councel, καὶ γὰρ τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς πρεσβυτέρας ῥώμη διὰ τὸ βασιλεύειν τὴν πόλιν ἐκείνην οἱ πατέρες ἐικότως ἀποδεδωκάσι τὰ πρεσβεῖα.. MarginaliaEx concil Calchedon, cap. 28.that is, for þ^t our forefathers did worthelye attribute the chiefe degree of honour to the sea of olde Rome, because the principall reigne or Emperye was in that Citie, &c. The same also is confirmed by Eusebius Cæsariensis, declaryng, quòd excellentia Romani Imperij extulit papatum Rom. Pontificis supra alias ecclesias. That the excellencie of the Romaine Empery did aduaunce the popedome of the Romaine bishop aboue other churches, &c. Ex Gab. Biel. MarginaliaEx Gabri. Biel. lect. 23.Moreouer, saith the said Cæsariensis: Nicena synodus hoc contulit priuilegiū Roma. pontifici, vt sicut Romanorū rex Augustus præ cæteris appellatur: ita Rom. pontifex præ cæteris episcopis papa vocaretur. That is. The councell, saythe he, of Nice gaue this priuilege to the Bishop of Rome, that like as the Kyng of the Romaines is named Emperour aboue all other Kynges, to the Byshop of the same citie of Rome should be called Pope aboue other bishops, &c. By these places hetherto alledged (and such other, many more thē be here alledged) it appeareth that though these titles of superioritie had ben attributed to the byshop of Rome, yet it remaineth certaine, that the said bishop receiued that preferment Iure non diuino, sed humano, by mans law, not by the law of God. And so is the distinction of the Popes proued false, where is said: Romanā ecclesiā non a concilio aliquo, sed a diuina voce primatum accepisse, that the church of Rome, toke not his primacie by any councel, but onely by the voice of God. And this is to be said although it were true, these titles and termes were so geuen to the byshop of Rome in the olde time, yet how and by whom they were geuen, ye see. Now to try this matter, as ioyning an issue with our aduersaries, whether these forsaid titles of soueraintie, were applied in the olde time of the primitiue church, to the bishop of Rome, as to be called the vicar general of Christ, the head of the whole churche, & vniuersall bishop, remaineth to by proued. Wherunto this in my minde is to be answered, that albeit the byshops of Rome, of some perauenture were so called by the names of heygher preeminence of that citie, of some goinge about to please them, or to craue some helpe at their hands, yet that calling 1. fyrst was vsed then but of a few, 2. neither yet was geuen to many. 3. thyrdly was rather geuen, then sought for, of the most. 4. fourthly, was not so geuen that it maketh or can make any generall necessitie of law, why euery one is so bound to call them, as the bishop of Rome nowe seeketh to be taken & called, and that by necessitie of saluation, as the decree of Pope Boniface. 8. wytnesseth the same, where is said, quòd sit de necessitate salutis, vt credatur primatus ecclesiæ Rom. & ei subesse. That it standeth vpon necessity of saluation, to beleue the primacie of the church of Rome, and to be subiect to the same, &c.

As touchyng therfore these titles and termes of preeminence aforesaide, orderlye to set foorth and to declare what histories of times doo say in that matter, by the grace of Christ. Marginalia1.First we will see what be the titles, the bishop of Rome doth take and chalenge to hym self, and what is the meanyng of them. Marginalia2.2. When they first cam in, whether in þ^e primitiue time or not, & by whom. Marginalia3.3. How they were first geuen to the Romaine bishops, that is, whether of necessarye duetie, or of voluntarye deuotion, whether commonly of the whole, or particularly of a few, and whether in respect of Peter, or in respect of the citie, or els of the worthines of the bishoppe which ther sat. Marginalia4.4. And if the foresaid names were then geuen of certaine bishops, vnto the bishops of Rome: whether were all the said names geuen, or but certaine, and what they were. Marginalia5.5. Or whether were they then receaued of all bishops of Rome, to whome they were geuen, or els refused of some. Marginalia6.6. And finallye whether they ought to haue ben refused beynge geuen, or not. Touching the discourse of which matters, although it appertaineth to the profession, rather of Diuines, then Historicians, and would require a long and large debating: yet for so much as both in these, & diuers other weyghtie controuersies of Diuinitie, the knowledge of times and histories, muste nedes helpe diuines disputyng about the same, so muche as the grace of Christ shall assist me therin, I wil ioyne to the seekyng out of truth, such helpe as I may.

MarginaliaWhat names and titles be attributed to the Bishop of Rome.
Ex. 6. decret Lib. 1. de elect & electi potestate. tit. 6. an. ca. 27 in proemiogloia.And first to beginne with the names and titles, now claimed & attributed to þ^e sea & byshop of Rome, & what they be, is sufficiently declared aboue, that is: the chiefe priest of the world, the prince of the church, byshop Apostolical, the vniuersall head of the church, the head and byshop of the vniuersal church, the successour of Peter, moste holye Pope, the Vicar of God on earth, neither God nor man, but a mixte thinge betwen both: the Patriarch or Metropolitane of the churche of Rome, the bishop of the first sea &c. MarginaliaThe forme of þ^e Popes regalitie to hys titles apperteyning.Vnto the which titles & stile is ānexed a triple crown, a triple crosse, two crossed keies, a naked sword, seuenfold seales, in token of the seuenfold giftes of þ^e holy Gost, he being caried pickbacke on mēs shoulders, after the maner of Heathen kinges, hauing all the Empire, and the Emperour vnder his dominion: and that it is not conuenient for anye terrene prince to reigne there, where he sitteth, hauing the plenarye fulnes of power, as well of temporall things as spiritual thinges in his handes, that al thinges are his, and that all suche Princes as hue geuen him anye thinge, haue geuen him but his own, hauing power at his will and pleasure to preache indulgencies and the crosse agaynst christen princes what soeuer: MarginaliaRegalia Sancti Petri.And that the Emperour, & certain other princes, oughte to make to him confession of subiection at their coronation: hauing authority to depose, and that he de facto, hath deposed Emperours & the king of Fraunce: Also to absolue the subiectes from their alleagiance to their princes: