Protestantism in England From the Times of Henry VIII - James Aitken Wylie

Christ had committed the administration of
spiritual things to Priests only, as for instance
preaching and the dispensation of the
Sacrament.[10] No man denies that, replied the
king, but it does not prove that their persons and
deeds are not under the jurisdiction of the prince.
Princes, said the bishops, are called filii Ecclesiae -
- sons of the Church. The Pope is their father, and
the Head of the Church; to recognize the king as
such would be to overthrow the Catholic faith. The
debate lasted three days.
The Bishops of Lincoln and Exeter were
deputed to beg an interview with the king, in order
to entreat him to relinquish his claim. They were
denied access into the royal presence. The clergy
showed no. signs of yielding; still less did the king.
The battle was between Henry and Clement; for to
give this title to the king was to dethrone the Pope.
It was a momentous time for England. In no
previous age could such a contest have been waged
by the throne; it would not even have been raised;
but the times were ripe -- although even now the
issue was doubtful. The primate Warham, prudent,
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