that, which now the bishop of Rome claimeth to himselfe, charging them with the breach of order in these words: Ne dum priuatim aliquod daretur vni, honore debito sacerdotes priuarentur vniuersi  

;MarginaliaEx Registro Greg. lib. 4. Episto. 31.that is, least that while any singular thing is giuen to one person, all other Priestes be depriued of their due honour. And for the like case PelagiusMarginaliaEx Epist. 2. Pelagij. 2. Dist. 99. ca. Nullus.exhorteth that no Priest do giue to any one Archbishop, the name of vniuersall bishop, ne sibi debitum subtrahat cum alteri honorem offert indebitum   : That is, least (saith he) in so doing, he take from himselfe his due honour, while he yeldeth that, which is not due to another. And also in the same Epistle: Quia si summus Patriarcha vniuersalis dicitur, Patriarcharum nomen cæteris derogatur   . For (saith he) if he be called the chiefe vniuersal Patriarch, then is the name of Patriarchs derogated from other. &c. Wherfore as is said, seing the bishop of Rome is an Archbishop, as other be: Order giueth that he should haue the dignitie, which to Archbishops is due; whatsoeuer is added more, is derogation to the rest. And thus much concerning distinction of degrees, and order in giuing to euery degree, his place and honour.

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The second reason or answer to the obiectiō before moued, pag. 16. is this:MarginaliaThe second aunswere to the obiection before moued.that beyng graunted to the Papists, that the Doctours aforesaid, speaking of the principallitie of the church of Rome, doe meane not onely of the inward vertues of that church, but also of the outward authoritie and iurisdiction of the same, aboue other churches: yet the cause wherfore they did attribute so much to the church, is to be expēded, which was this, as before was alledged out of the Councel of Calcedon, cap. 28.MarginaliaEx Concil. Calced. cap. 28. διὰ τὸ βασιλεύειν τὴν πόλιν ἐκείνην  

, that is, for the rule and Imperie which that citie of Rome had then aboue other cities; which cause being outward & carnall, was neither then cause sufficient, and now ceasing, importeth not to vs the like effect, according as they say: Sublata causa, tollitur effectus   . So that by the reason therof, the foresaid principallitie of the church of Rome, did not hold the iure diuino, sed humano. And as it holdeth by mans law, so by mans law may be repealed againe.

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Wherfore, be it admitted that both the Pope sitteth and succeedeth in the chaire of Peter, and also that he is the Bishop of the greatest citie in the world: yet it followeth not therby that he should haue rule and lordship ouer all other bishops and churches of the world. For first touching the succession of Peter, many things are to be considered.MarginaliaCertayne demaundes for the Papistes to answere vnto.

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First, whether Peter sate, and had his chaire in Rome, or not?

Secondly, whether he sate there as an Apostle, or as a Bishop?

Thirdly, whether the sitting in the outward seate of Peter, maketh successour of Peter?

Fourthly, whether he sitteth in the chaire & seat of Peter, which sitteth not in the doctrine of Peter?

Fiftly, whether the succession of Peter maketh rather an Apostle then a Bishop, & so should we call the Pope, the Apostle of Rome, and not the bishop of Rome?

Sixtly, whether Ecclesiasticall functions ought to be esteemed by ordinarie succession of place, or by Gods secret calling or sending?

Seuenthly and lastly, whether it stand by Scripture, any succession at all to be pointed in Christes Church, or why more from Peter, then from other Apostles?

All which Interrogatories being wel discussed (which would aske a long proces) it should wel appeare what litle hold the Pope hath to take this state vpon him, aboue all other Churches as he doth. In the meane tyme, this one argument by the way may suffice in stead of many, for our aduersaries to answer to at their conuenient leisure. Which argument thus I forme and frame in Camestres.MarginaliaAn argument prouing the Popes of this latter Church of Rome not to be successours of Peter.

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Ca-	All the true successors of Peter, sit in the chaire of the doctrine of Peter, and other Apostles vniformly.
me-	No Popes of this latter Church of Rome, sitte in the chaire of Saint Peters and other Apostles doctrine vniformely.
stres.	Ergo, no Popes of this latter church of Rome, be the true successors of Peter.

And when they haue well perused the Minor of this argument, and haue well conferred together the doctrine taught them of S. Peter, with the doctrine taught now by the Popes, of iustification of a Christen man, of the office of the law, of the strength and largenes of sinne, of mens merites, of free will, of works of supererogation, of setting vp images, of vij Sacramentes, of auricular confession, of satisfaction, of sacrifice of the Masse, of communicating vnder due kinde, of eleuating and adoring the Sacramentall elements; of Latine seruice, of inuocation, of prohibitiō of meates and mariage, of vowing chastitie, of sectes & rulesof diuers religions, of indulgences and pardōs: also with their doctrine taught now of magistrates, of the fulnes of power, and regalitie of the sea of Rome; with many other like to these, &c. then will I be glad to heare what they wil say to the premisses.

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Secondly, if they would proue by the allegation of the Doctours, Irenæus, Ambrose, Augustine, Theodoritus aforesaid, the Bishop of Rome to bee the chiefe of all Bishops, therfore, because the citie wherof he is bishop, is the chiefe and principall aboue all other Churches, that consequent is to be denied. For it followeth not (taking as I said, the principallitie of that church to standδιὰ τὸ βασιλεύειν τὴν πόλιν that is, vpon the principal dominion of that citie) no more then this consequent followeth.

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London is the chiefe Citie in all England.

Ergo, the bishop of London is the chiefest of all bishops in the Realme.

Which argument were derogatory to the bishop both of Canterbury, and of Yorke.

Yea to graunt yet more to our aduersaries (which is all they can require) the minde of the foresaid Doctours Irenæus, Ambrose, Augustine, and Theodoritus, in giuing principallitie vnto Rome, to haue respect vnto þ^e vertue of succession from Peter, and not vnto the greatnes of the Citie: yet notwithstanding, for all this their argument holdeth not, if it be rightly considered, to say.MarginaliaA false consequent of the Papistes.

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The Apostolicall Sea of Rome, hauing successiō from Peter, with the bishops therof, was chief then of all other churches, in the primitiue tyme of these Doctours.

Ergo, the Apostolicall sea of Rome, with the Bishops therof, hauing successiō from Peter, ought now to be chiefe of all other churches in these our dayes.

This consequent might well follow, if the tymes were like; or if succession which gaue them the cause of principalitie, were the same now, which was then.MarginaliaAunswere to the consequent.But now the time and succession is not correspondent; for then succession in the time of these Doctours, was as well in doctrine Apostolicall, as in place Apostolicall.MarginaliaSuccession Apostolicall double wise to be considered.Now the succession of doctrine Apostolicall hath not long ceased in the sea Apostolicall: and nothing remaineth but onely place, which is the lest matter of true spirituall and Apostolical succession. And thus much to the authoritie and testimonie of these forenamed Doctors.

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Besides these obiections heretofore recited out of Irenæus, Ambrose, Augustine, and Theodoritus, our aduersaries yet obiect and heape vp against vs: moreouer, examples of the primitiue time of the church, testimonies of generall Councels, and opinions of auncient writers, taken out of the booke of Councels, & Epistles decretall; wherby their intent is to prooue, the foresayd termes (of the head of the church, ruler of the church, chiefe of all other Priestes) to bee appled not onely to Peter, but also to the Bishop of Rome within the compasse of the primitiue time. And here commeth in the testimonieMarginaliaTestimonies alledged for the principalitie of the Pope.cited of Vincentius Lirinensis. Of the Epistle of Paschasius and his fellowes, writing to Leo from the Councel of Chalcedon. The testimonie also of Iustinian the Emperour in his Codex: where Ioannes then Pope was called caput omnium Ecclesiarum Epist. inter claras cap. De summa Trinit & fide Cath: The testimonie also of Athanasius, with his fellow-bishops of Egypt, of Thebaida, and Libia, in their Epistles to Pope Marcus, Liberius & Felix. Likewise the testimonie of Hierome, In præf. in 4. Euang. Item Epist. 42 Tom. 1. Item Epist. 41. Tom. 2. Of S. Ambrose, 1. Tim 3 Of S. Augustine to Boniface. Ad Bonifac. contra duas Epist. Pelagian. Lib 1l cap. 1. Item, Lib. 2. De Baptism cap. 1. Of Theodoritus in his Epistle to Pope Leo, Epist. Commentar. in Pauli Epist. præfixa. Of Chrysostome, Epist ad Innocentium, Tom. 5. &c. By which testimonies our aduersaries would prooue S. Peter, and after him the. Bishop of Rome to be called and taken for head of the church, chiefe bishop, prince and ruler of the whole Clergy. To all which obiections fully and exactly to aunswer in order, would require a whole volume by it selfe. In the meane time, leauing the rest vnto them vnto whom it doth more properly appertain, briefly with this one short distinction,MarginaliaAunswere by a distinction.I answer these & all such other like places, where S. Peter with his successours are called t head of the church, chiefe of Bishops, Prince of the Apostles, &c. In which places, this worde head, chiefe, and Prince of the Apostles, may be taken two maner of waies: to note, either dominiō, or els commendation. For so we read sometime Caput, and princeps, to be wordes not of authoritie, but of excellencie;MarginaliaCaput and Princeps, haue a double vnderstanding. wherby is declared the chiefest and worthiest part among many parts, and not possessour and gouernour of the whole. Like as in the person of mā, the hed is the principal part of the whole body, being endued with reason, & furnished with moe excellēt senses, by the which þ^e whole body of mā is directed,

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