Rome, that other bishops were excluded from the same, or that any one bishop aboue the rest, had the name of Oecumenicall, or vniuersall, or head, to the derogation of other Bishopps, or with such glory as is now annexed to the same: that is not to be found neither in histories of the old tyme, nor in any example of the primitiue Church, nor in the testimonies of auncient approued Doctours. First becfore the Councell of Nice, it is euident by Pope Pius the ij.MarginaliaEx Epist. Pij. secūdi. 103.that there was no respect had to the church of Rome, but euery church then was ruled by his owne gouernance, til the yeare of our Lord, 340. Then folowed the Councell of Nice, wherin was decreed, that throughout the whole vniuersitie of Christes Church, which was now far spread ouer all the world, certaine Prouinces or precincts to the number of foure were appointed, euery one to haue his head church, and chiefe bishop, called then Metropolitane or Patriarch, to haue the ouersight of such churches as did lie about him.MarginaliaThe foure Patriarches appoynted by the Coūcel of Nice. Ex Concil. Nicen. Ex Concil. Constantinop. cap. 36.In the number of which Patriarches or Metropolitanes, the Bishop of Rome had the first place, The Bishop of Alexandria was the second. The Bishop of Antioche the third. The Bishop of Hierusalem was the fourth Patriarch. Afterward in the number of these Patriarches, came in also the Bishop of Constantinople in the roome of the bishop of Antioch. So these foure or fiue Metropolitanes or Patriarches, had their peculiar circuites and precincts to them peculiarly appointed, in such sort, as one of them should not deale within an others precinct, & also that there should be among them equalitie of honour, wherupon we read so oft in the decrees of the olde Councels, τὰ ἴσα πρεσβεῖα τῶν θρόνων, καὶ τῆς τιμῆς  

,MarginaliaEx Concil. Constan. 2. Cap. 36.that is, equall degree of thrones, and of honour among priests and ministers. Againe, speaking of the said Patriarches or Primates, we read in the 2. and 3. chap. of the Councel of Constant. ἐπισκόπους ταῖς ὑπερορίοις ἐκκλησίαις μὴ ἐπιέναι, μηδὲ συγχέειν τὰς ἐκκλησίας.   ,MarginaliaEx Concil. Const. cap. 2. 3.that is, That bishops should not inuade the Dioces of other bishops without their borders, nor confound togither churches, &c. Moreouer, the old Doctours for the most and best part, do accord in one sentēce, that all bishops placed wheresoeuer, in the church of God, be eiusdem meriti & honoris, & successores Apostolorum, that is, to be of one merite, of like honour, and all to be successors together of the Apostles. Also, he that is the Author of the booke called Dionysius Areopagita, calleth all the Bishops ὁμοταγεῖς καὶ ἰσοτίμους   , that is, of equall order, and of like honor, &c. All this while the Bishop of Rome was a Patriarch, and a Metropolitane or bishop called of the first sea, but no Oecumenicall Bishop, nor head of the vniuersall Church, nor any such matter. In so much, that he, with all other Bishops, was debarred from that, by a playne decree of the Councell 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.   ,MarginaliaEx Concil. Carthag. Can 39.that is, That the bishop of the first seat shall not be called the Prince of priests, or the high priest, or any such thing.

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And least any here should take occasion of cauilling, to heare him called bishop of the first sea, here is to be expounded, what is ment by the first sea, and wherfore he was so called, not for any dignitie of the persō, either of him which succedeth, or of him whom he is said to succeede, but onely of the place wherin he sitteth. This is plainly proued by the councell of Calcedone, cap. 28. Wherin is manifestly declared the cause why the sea of Rome among all other Patriarchall seas is numbred for the first sea by the auncient fathers. For why, saith the Councell, καὶ γὰρ τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς πρεσβυτέρας ῥώμη διὰ τὸ βασιλεύειν τὴν πόλιν ἐκείνην οἱ πατέρες ἐικότως ἀποδεδωκάσι τὰ πρεσβεῖα.  

,MarginaliaEx Concil. Calcedon. cap. 28.that is, for that our forefathers did worthily attribute the chiefe degree of honour to the sea of old Rome, because the principall raigne or Emperie was in that Citie, &c. The same also is confirmed by Eusebius Cæsariensis, declaring, quòd excellentia Romani Imperij extulit papatum Rom. Pontificis supra alias Ecclesias. That the excellencie of the Romaine Emperie did aduance the Popedome of the Romaine bishop aboue other churches, &c. Ex Gab. Biel.MarginaliaEx Gabri. Biel. lect. 25.Moreouer, saith the said Cæsariensis: Nicena synodus hoc contulit priuilegium Rom. pontifici, vt sicut Romanorum rex Augustus præ cæteris appellatur: ita Rom. pontifex præ cæteris Episcopis Papa vocaretur. That is, The Councell (saith he) of Nice gaue this Priuiledge to the Bishop of Rome, that like as the king of the Romaines is named Emperour aboue all other kings, so the bishop of the same citie of Rome should be called Pope aboue other bishops &c. By these places hitherto alledged (and such other, many more then be here alleaged) it appeareth that though these titles of superioritie had bene attributed to the Bishop 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,MarginaliaThe Popes decree proued false.where is said: Romanam Ecclesiam non a concilio aliquo, se a diuina voce primatum accepisse, that the church of Rome, tooke not his primacie by any Councell, but onely by the voyce of God. And this is to be said although it were true, that these titles & termes were so giuen to the bishop of Rome in the olde time, yet how and by whom they were giuen, ye see. Now to trie this matter, as ioyning an issue with our aduersaries, whether these foresaid titles of soueraigntie, were applied in the old tyme of the Primitiue church, to the Bishop of Rome, as to be called the vicare generall of Christ, the hed of the whole church, and vniuersall bishop, remaieth to be proued. Wherunto this in my minde is to be answered, that albeit the bishops of Rome (of some peraduenture) were so called by the names of higher preeminence of that citie, of some going about to please them, or to craue some helpe at their handes, yet that calling 1. First, was vsed then but of a few. 2. Secondly, neither was giuen to many. 3. Thirdly, was rather giuen, then sought for, of the most. 4. Fourthly, was not so giuen 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 now seeketh to be taken and called, and that by necessitie of saluation, as the decree of Pope Boniface 8. witnesseth, where is said, quòd sit de necessitate salutis, vt credatur Primatus Ecclesiæ Rom. & ei subesse.   MarginaliaBonifac. 8. Extrauag de maioritat & obedient Cap. Vnum.That it standeth vpon necessitie of saluation, to beleue the Primacie of the church of Rome, and to be subiect to the same, &c.

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As touching therfore these titles and termes of preheminence aforesaide, orderly to set foorth and declare what histories of times doe saye in that matter, by the grace of Christ. FirstMarginalia1.we will see what be the titles, the Bishop of Rome doth take and chalenge to himselfe, and what is the meaning of them. 2.Marginalia2.When the first came in, whether in the primitiue time or not, and by whom. 3.Marginalia3.How they were first giuen to the Romane Bishops, that is, whether of necessary duety, or voluntary 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 Bishop which there sat. 4.Marginalia4.And if the foresayd names were then giuen of certaine Bishops, vnto the bishop of Rome: whether all the saide names were geuen, or but certaine, or what they were. 5.Marginalia5.Or whether they were then receaued of all Byshops of Rome, to whō they were giuen, or els refused of some. 6.Marginalia6.And finally whether they ought to haue bene refused beyng giuen, or not. Touching the discourse of which matters, although it appertaine to the profession, rather of Diuines, then hystoritians, and would require a long and large debating: yet for so much as both in these, & diuers other weighty controuersies of Diuinity, the knowledge of times and histories, must needes helpe Diuines disputing about the same so much as the grace of Christ shall assiste me therein, I wil ioyne to the seeking out of truth, such helpe as I may.

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And first to begin with the names and titles, now claymed and attributed to the sea and Byshop of Rome:MarginaliaWhat names and titles be attributed to the Bishop of Rome. Ex 6 decret. Lib. 1 de elect. et electi potestate, tit. 6. [illegible text] ca. 17. in [illegible text]mio. glosa.and what they be, is sufficiently declared aboue, that is, the cheife Preist of the worlde, the Prince of the Church, Byshop Apostolicall, the vniuersall head of the Church, the head and Byshop of the vniuersall Church, the successor of Peter, most holy Pope, the vicar of God on earth, neither God nor man, but a mixt thing betweene both: the Patriarche or Metropolitane of the Churche of Rome, the Byshop of the first sea. etc.MarginaliaThe forme of the Popes [illegible text]litie to his [illegible text] appertayning.Vnto the which titles or stile is annexed a triple crowne, a triple crosse, two crossed keyes, a naked sword, seauenfold seales, in token of the seauenfolde giftes of the holy Ghost, he being carried pickbacke vpon mens shoulders, after the maner of heathen kynges, hauing all the Empire, and the Emperour vnder his dominion: & that it is not conuenient for any terrene Prince to reigne there, where he sitteth, hauing the plenary fulnes of power, as well of temporall things as spirituall things in his handes, that all thinges are his, and that all such Princes as haue gyen him any thing, haue giuen him but his owne, hauing at his will and pleasure to preach indulgencies, and the crosse against Christen Princes whatsoeuer:MarginaliaRegalia Sancti Patri.And that the Emperour, & certaine other Princes, ought to make to him confession of subiection at their coronation: hauing authoritie to depose, and that he de facto, hath deposed Emperors and the King of France: Also to absolue the subiects from their allegeance to their Princes, whom kings haue serued for footmen to lead his horse, and the Emperour to hold his stirrop, that he may and doth geue power to Bishops vpon the bodies of men, and hath graunted them to haue prisons, without whose authoritie no general Councell hath any force.MarginaliaEx frat. [illegible text] & alijs.And to whom appellations in all ma-

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