Nolo episcopari

The Latin expression nolo episcopari is the traditional formal refusal made by a cleric in the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches of an offer as appointment as a bishop. It means, literally, "I do not wish to be bishoped". A historical myth has arisen that it was customary and decorous for any candidate for a bishopric to decline the office twice by use of the expression, only a third use of which would indicate a true intention of refusal.

Henry Fielding in his 1749 novel The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling uses the phrase to show becoming modesty on the part of a lady asked for in marriage:

He soon found means to make his addresses, in express terms, to his mistress, from whom he received an answer in the proper form, viz: the answer which was first made some thousands of years ago, and which hath been handed down by tradition from mother to daughter ever since. If I was to translate this into Latin, I should render it by these two words: Nolo episcopari.

Sources

• The World of Dr. Justice, blogspot, Sunday, September 22, 2013, Phrase of the Day: nolo episcopari [2]