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Noʹlo Episcopaʹri. [I am unwilling to accept the office of bishop.]

A very general notion prevails that every bishop at consecration uses these words. Mr. Christian, in his notes to Blackstone, says, “The origin of these words and of this vulgar notion I have not been able to discover; the bishops certainly give no such refusal at present, and I am inclined to think they never did at any time in this country.” When the see of Bath and Wells was offered to Beveridge, he certainly exclaimed, “Nolo episcopari:” but it was the private expression of his own heart, and not a form of words, in his case. Chamberlayne says in former times the person about to be elected bishop modestly refused the office twice, and if he did so a third time his refusal was accepted. (Present State of England.)

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Nod
Nod (The Land of)
Noddy
Nodel
Noël
Nokomîs
Nolens Volens
Noli me Tangere
Noll
Nolle Prosequi [Dont prosecute]
Nolo Episcopari. [I am unwilling to accept the office of bishop.]
Nom
Nomads
Nominalists
Non Angli sed Angeli, si forent Christiani
Non Bis in Idem (Latin)
Non-Com. (A)
Non Compos Mentis or Non Com
Non Con
Non Est
Non mi Recordo