Page:The Life of Sir Thomas More (William Roper, ed by Samuel Singer).djvu/143

 no more than the City of London, being but one poor member in respect of the whole realm, might make a law against an act of parliament to bind the whole realm:" so further showed he, that "it was both contrary to the laws and statutes of this our land yet unrepealed, as they might evidently perceive in, quod Ecclesia Anglicana libera sit, et habeat omnia jura sua integra, et libertates suas illesas, and also contrary to that sacred oath which the king's highness himself, and every other Christian prince always with great solemnity, received at their coronations. Alleging, moreover, that no more might this realm of England refuse obedience to the See of Rome, than might the child refuse obedience to his natural father. For, as St. Paul said to the Corinthians, I have regenerated you, my children in Christ; so might St. Gregory, pope of Rome, (of whom, by St. Augustine his messenger, we first received the Christian faith) of us Englishmen truly say, you are my children, because I have under Christ given to you everlasting salvation (a far higher and better inheritance than any carnal father can leave to his child), and by regeneration have made you spiritual children in Christ." Then was it by the Lord Chancellor thereunto answered: That, "seeing all the bishops, universities, and best learned men of the realm had to this act agreed, it was much marvelled that he alone against them