chefe, and to be at his commaundement to depose and erecte at his good will and pleasure: and that the stories make mention of his intollerable and insolent pride and tiranny, vsed ouer them in such sorte, as no king would haue vsed to his christian subiects, not yet a good maister to his seruantes, setting his fete in the Emperors necke, affirming that to be verified im him which was spoken only of our sauior Iesus Christ, in these wordes: Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis, et conculcabis leonem et draconem.
Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis, et conculabis leonem et draconem. Not translated. Thou shalt walk upon the adder and on the basilisk, and shalt tread down the lion and the dragon super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis et conculcabis leonem et draconem super aspidem et basiliscum calcabis conculcabis leonem et draconem Super ferocem leonem et aspidem incedes, conculabis juvenem leonem et draconem. [Note the omission ofbasiliscumin the Beza text and that it is also omitted in the KJ translation.] contra Petrum, contra Paulum, contra vetus, contra nouum testamentum ... plenitudine potestatis, tantum potest quantum deus. Not translated. contra Petrum, contra Paulum, contra vetus, contra nouum testamentum ... plenitudine potestatis, tantum potest quantum deus. Not translated.
While he in this sort made his answere, Storye and Martin diuers times interrupted him saieng he spake blasphemie, and woulde faine haue had the bishop to haue put him to silēce,
who not withstanding did not, but suffered him to ende his tale at full. After this they proceded to examine him of diuers articles, wherof the chefe were these: That at the time of his making and creating Bishop of Caunterbury, he was sworne to the Pope, and had his institution and inductiō from him, & promised to maintaine then the authoritye of that sea, and therfore was periured. Wher fore he shoulde rather sticke to his first othe, and retorne to his olde folde againe, thē to cōtinue obstinately in an othe forced in the time of schisme. To þt he answered, sauing his protestation, (which terme he vsed before all his answers) that at suche time as byshop Warram died, he was Embassador in Germanye for the king, who sēt for him thereupon home, and hauing intelligence by some of his frends (who wer nere about the king) how he ment to bestow the same byshoprick vpon him, and therfore counselled him in that case to make haste home, he fealing in him selfe a greate inhabilitie to suche a promotion, and very sorye to leaue his studye, and especiallye considering by what meanes he must haue it, which was cleane againste his conscience which he coulde not vtter withoute greate perill and daunger, deuised an excuse to the kynge of matter of great importaunce, for the wyche his lenger abode there was most necessarye, thinking by that meanes in his absence that the kinge would haue bestowed it vpon some other, and so remained there by that deuise one halfe yeare after the king had written for hym to come home. But after no such matter fel out, as he semed to make suspition of, the king sent for him again, reuoking him clean. So after his retourne, vnderstanding still the Byshopricke to be reserued for him, he made meanes by diuers of his best frendes, to shifte it of, desiring rather some smaller liuing, that he might more quietly follow his booke.
[Back to Top]And to bee briefe, when the Kyng hym selfe spake with hym, declaring his full intention for his seruice sake, and for the good opinion he conceiued of him was to bestowe that digty vpon him, after long disabling of him self, perceauing he could by no perswasions alter the kinges determination, he brake frankely his conscience with him, moste humblye crauing first his graces pardon, for that he shuld declare vnto his highnes. Which obtayned, he declared that if he accepted that office, then he must receiue it at the Popes hand, whych he neither would nor coulde doo, for that hys highnes was onely the supreme Gouernour of this church of England, as well in causes ecclesiasticall as temporall, and that the full right and donation of all maner of Byshoprickes and benefices, aswell as of anye other temporal dignities and promotions appertai-
[Back to Top]