of Lincoln in sessions and sittings hath the pre-eminence of the other bishops, not in that he is the head and ruler of them, but for the dignity of the bishopric. [And therewith the people smiled]. Wherefore the doctors in their writings have spoken most reverently of this see of Rome, and in The prerotheir writings preferred it; and this is the prerogative which the doctors your lordship did rehearse the ancient doctors to give to the see of Rome. see of Rome.

and

gative that

give to the

continued in

trine, it was

worthy to be

reverenced.

Semblably, I cannot nor dare not but commend, re- So long as it verence, and honour the see of Rome, as long as it con- sound doctinued in the promotion and setting forth of God's glory, in due preaching of the gospel, as it did many years after Christ. But after that the bishops of that see, seeking their own pride, and not God's honour, began to set themselves above kings and emperors, challenging to them the title of God's vicars, the dominion and supremacy over all the world, I cannot but with St Gregory, a bishop of Rome also, confess that the bishop of that place is the very true Antichrist, whereof St John speaketh by the name of the whore of Babylon, and say with the said St Gregory, 'He that The bishop maketh himself a bishop over all the world, is worse than proved to be Antichrist.'

66

of Rome

Antichrist.

Augustine

his time.

Now, whereas you say St Augustine should seem not The place of only to give such a prerogative, but also supremacy to the answered. see of Rome, in that he saith, All the christian world is subject to the church of Rome, and therefore should give to that see a certain kind of subjection; I am sure that your lordship knoweth, that in St Augustine's time there were four patriarchs, of Alexandria, Constantinople, Antioch, Four patriand Rome, which patriarchs had under them certain countries; church in as in England the archbishop of Canterbury hath under him divers bishoprics in England and Wales, to whom he may be said to be their patriarch. Also your lordship knoweth right well, that at what time St Augustine wrote this book, he was then bishop in Africa. Further, you are not ignorant, that between Europe and Africa lieth the sea called Mare Mediterraneum, so that all the countries in Europe to him which is in Africa may be called transmarine, countries How beyond the sea. Hereof St Augustine saith, All the christian beyond the countries beyond the seas and far regions are subject to the subject to

countries

sea were

Rome.

be

and yet not

see of Rome'.' If I should say all countries beyond the sea, I do except England, which to me now, being in England, is not beyond the sea. In this sense St Augustine saith, All the countries beyond the sea are subject to the see of Rome;' declaring thereby that Rome was one of the sees of the four patriarchs, and under it Europe. By what subjection, I pray you? only for a pre-eminence, as we here in England say, that all the bishoprics in England are subject to the Rome may archbishoprics of Canterbury and York. For this preof churches, eminence, also, the other doctors (as you recited) say, that Rome is the mother of churches, as the bishopric of Lincoln is mother to the bishopric of Oxford, because the bishopric of Oxford came from the bishopric of Lincoln, and they were both once one'; and so is the archbishopric of Canterbury mother to the other bishoprics which are in her province. In like sort the archbishopric of York is mother to the north bishoprics; and yet no man will say, that Lincoln, Canterbury, or York, is supreme head to other bishoprics: neither then ought we to confess the see of Rome to be supreme head, because the doctors in their writings confess the see of Rome to be mother of churches.

supreme head of churches.

66

"Now whereas you say, I was once of the same religion which you are of, the truth is, I cannot but confess the same. Yet so was St Paul a persecutor of Christ. But to that you say, that I was one of you not long agone, in that I, doing my message to my lord of Winchester, should desire him to stand stout in that gross opinion of the supper of the Lord; in very deed I was sent (as your lordship said) from the council to my lord of Winchester, to exhort him to receive also the true confession of justification; and because he was very refractorious, I said to him, Why, my lord, what make you so great a matter herein? You see many Anabaptists rise against the sacrament of the altar; I pray you, my lord, be diligent in confounding of them;' for at that time my lord of Winchester and I

1 "Totus orbis christianus in transmarinis et longe remotis terris Ecclesiæ Romanæ subjectus est."

["Both once one." The see of Oxford was erected out of part of the ancient diocese of Lincoln, a. D. 1542. See Richardson's Godwin. ED.].

had to do with two Anabaptists in Kent. In this sense I willed my lord to be stiff in the defence of the sacrament against the detestable errors of Anabaptists, and not in the confirmation of that gross and carnal opinion now maintained.

falsely

charged to

substantiation at

Cross.

"In like sort, as touching my sermon which I made at Ridley Paul's Cross, you shall understand that there were at Paul's, canand divers other places, fixed railing bills against the sacrament, terming it Jack of the box,' 'the sacrament of the Paul's halter,' 'round Robin,' with such like unseemly terms; for the which causes I, to rebuke the unreverend behaviour of certain evil disposed persons, preached as reverendly of that matter as I might, declaring what estimation and reverence ought to be given to it, what danger ensued the mishandling thereof; affirming in that sacrament to be truly and verily the body and blood of Christ, effectually by grace and spirit which words the unlearned, understanding not, sup- taken in his posed that I meant of the gross and carnal being which sermon. the Romish decrees set forth, that a body, having life and motion, should be indeed under the shapes of bread and wine."

With that the bishop of Lincoln, somewhat interrupting him, said:

Ridley mis

replieth.

"Well, Master Ridley, thus you wrest places to your Lincoln own pleasure; for whereas St Augustine saith, that the whole christian world is subject to the see of Rome without any limitation, and useth these words, In transmarinis et longe remotis terris,' only to express the latitude of the dominion of the see of Rome, willing thereby to declare that all the world, yea countries far distant from Rome, yet nevertheless are subject to that see, yet you would wrest it, and leave it only to Europe. I am sure ye will not deny, but that 'totus mundus' is more than Europe."

Ridley:-" Indeed, my lord, if St Augustine had said, Ridley simpliciter totus mundus,' and not added in transmarinis," to the it had been without limitation; but in that he said, 'totus Augustine. mundus in transmarinis partibus,' all the countries beyond

the seas,' he himself doth limit the universal proposition, declaring how far he meant by 'totus mundus.""

Lincoln returneth to his oration.

And why

then do you

the city of Rome?

The bishop, not staying for his answer, did proceed, saying:

Well, if I should stay upon this place, I could bring many more places of the fathers for the confirmation thereof; but we have certain instructions, according to the which we must proceed, and came not hither to dispute the matter with you, but only to take your answers to certain articles; and used this in the way of disputation, in the which you interrupted me: wherefore I will return thither again.

"Ye must consider that the church of Christ lieth not hidden, but is a city on the mountain, and a candle on the candlestick. Ponder with yourself, that the church of Christ is catholica,' catholic,' which is deduced of Kaтd oλor, that is 'per omnia: so that Christ's church is universally spread throughout the world, not contained in the alligation of places, not comprehended in the circuit of England, alligate it to not contained in the compass of Germany and Saxony, as your church is. Wherefore, Master Ridley, for God's love be ye not singular; acknowledge with all the realm the truth: it shall not be (as you allege) prejudicial to the crown; for the king and queen their majesties have renounced that usurped power taken of their predecessors, and justly have Two powers; renounced it. For I am sure you know that there are two powers, the one declared by the sword, the other by the keys. The sword is given to kings and rulers of countries; the keys were delivered by Christ to Peter, and of him left to all the successors. As touching our goods, possessions, and lives, we with you acknowledge us subjects to the king and queen, who hath the temporal sword; but as concerning matters of religion, as touching God's quarrel and his England, word, we acknowledge another head: and as the king and how subject to the king, the queen their highnesses do, in all worldly affairs, justly challenge the prerogative and primacy, so in spiritual and ecclesiastical matters they acknowledge themselves not to be heads and rulers, but members of Christ's body. Why therefore should ye stick at that matter, the which their majesties have forsaken and yielded?

the keys

and the sword.

and how to

the pope.

Ridley ex

horted to

"Wherefore, Master Ridley, you shall not only not do submit him- injury to the crown, and be prejudicial to their majesties" pope. honour, in acknowledging with all Christendom the pope's

self to the

holiness to be supreme head of Christ's church here militant in earth, but do a thing most delectable in their sight, and most desired of his holiness. Thus if you will do, revoking together all your errors, acknowledging with the residue of the realm the common and the public fault, you shall do that all men most heartily desire; you shall bring quietness to your conscience, and health to your soul. Then shall we with great joy, by the authority committed to us from the cardinal's grace, receive you into the church again, acknowledging you to be no longer a rotten, but a lively member of the same. But if you shall still be singular, if you shall still and obstinately persevere in your errors, stubbornly maintaining your former heresies, then we must, against our will, according to our commission, separate you from us, and cut Fear of you off from the church, lest the rottenness of one part in set before process of time putrefy and corrupt the whole body; then must we confess and publish you to be none of ours; then must we yield you up to the temporal judges, of whom, except it otherwise please the king and queen's highness, you must receive punishment by the laws of this realm due for heretics.

punishment

him.

"Wherefore, Master Ridley, consider your state; remember your former degrees; spare your body; especially consider your soul, which Christ so dearly brought with his precious blood. Do not you rashly cast away that which was precious in God's sight; enforce not us to do all that we may do, which is not only to publish you to be none of us, to cut you off from the church; for we do not, nor cannot condemn you to die (as most untruly hath been reported of us), but that is the temporal judge's office; we only de- But that clare you to be none of the church; and then must you, ac- yourselves cording to the tenor of them, and pleasure of the rulers, abide ed unto their determination, so that we, after we have given you up to the temporal rulers, have no further to do with you.

"But I trust, Master Ridley, we shall not have occasion to do that we may. I trust you will suffer us to rest in that point of our commission, which we most heartily desire, that is, upon recantation and repentance to receive you, to reconcile you, and again to adjoin you to the unity of the church."

office you have assign

them.