30 September 2015 A.D. Jewel’s “Apology”—why is the bishop of Rome called the “lord of lords” claiming “that all jurisdiction of all kings doth depend upon himself?”, pp.81-83

30 September 2015 A.D. Jewel’s “Apology”—why is the bishop of Rome called the “lord of lords” claiming “that all jurisdiction of all kings doth depend upon himself?”, pp.81-83

Jewel, John. “The Apology of the Church of England.” Project Gutenberg. 5 Aug 2006. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17678/17678-h/17678-h.htm. Accessed 1 Aug 2015.

But O immortal God! and will the Bishop of Rome accuse us of treason?  Will he teach the people to obey and follow their magistrates? or hath he any regard at all of the majesty of princes?  Why doth he then, as none of the old bishops of Rome heretofore ever did, suffer himself to be called of his flatterers “lord of lords,” as though he would have all kings and princes, who and whatsoever they are, to be his underlings?  Why doth he vaunt himself to be “king of kings,” and to have kingly royalty over his subjects?  Why compelleth he all emperors and princes to swear to him fealty and true obedience?  Why doth he boast that the “emperor’s majesty’s is a thousandfold inferior to him:” and for this reason specially, because God hath made two lights in heaven, and because heaven and earth were created not at two beginnings, but in one?  Why hath he and his complices (like Anabaptists and Libertines, to the end they might run on more licentiously and carelessly) shaken off the yoke, and exempted themselves from being under a civil power?  Why hath he his legates (as much to say as most subtle spies) lying in wait in all kings’ courts, councils, and privy chambers?  Why doth he, when he list, set Christian princes one against another, and at his own pleasure trouble the whole world with debate and discord?  Why doth he excommunicate, and command to be taken as a heathen and a Pagan any Christian prince that renounceth his authority?  And why promiseth he his “indulgences and his pardons” so largely to any that will (what way soever it be) kill any of his enemies?  Doth he maintain empires and kingdoms? or doth he once desire that common quiet should be provided for?  You must pardon us, good reader, though we seem to utter these things more bitterly and bitingly than it becometh divines to do.  For both the shamefulness of the matter, and the desire of rule in the Bishop of Rome is so exceeding and outrageous, that it could not well be uttered with other words, or more mildly.  For he is not ashamed to say in open assembly, “that all jurisdiction of all kings doth depend upon himself.”  And to feed his ambition and greediness of rule, he hath pulled in pieces the “empire of Rome,” and vexed and rent whole Christendom asunder.  Falsely and traitorously also did he release the Romans, the Italians, and himself too, of the oath whereby they and he were straitly bound to be true to the “emperor of Greece,” and stirred up the emperor’s subjects to forsake him: and calling Carolus Martellus out of France into Italy, made him emperor, such a thing as never was seen before.  He put Chilpericus, the French king, being no evil prince, beside his realm, only because he fancied him not, and wrongfully placed Pipin in his room.  Again, after he had cast out King Philip, if he could have brought it to pass, he had determined and appointed the kingdom of France to Albertus King of Romans.  He utterly destroyed the state of the most nourishing city and commonweal of Florence, his own native country, and brought it out of a free and peaceable state, to be governed at the pleasure of one man: he brought to pass by his procurement, that whole Savoy on the one side was miserably spoiled by the Emperor Charles the Fifth, and on the other side by the French king, so as the unfortunate duke had scant one city left him to hide his head in.