borne to receaveorder or benefices Dispensation for pluralities of benefices Dispensation to make a man Bishop before he be 30. yeare old Dispensation to giue orders vnder age The Pope hath power to make and call a generall councill The Pope hath onely power to detriue an ecclesiasticall person and giue away his benefice being not vacant The Pope onely is able to absolue him who is excommunicat by name The Pope onely is to absolue him whom his Legat doth excommunicat The Pope judgeth onely in the causes of them that appeall vnto him and where hee judgeth no mar must appeale from him Onely hee hath authoritie to make Deacon Priest whom he had made subdeacon either vpon Sundayes or vpon other feasts Onely the Pope and none els at all times and in all places weareth the Palle The Pope only dispensses with a man either being not with murtherers or being vnworthie to bee made Bishop He onely either confirmeth or deposeth the Emperour when hee is chosen A man being excommunicat and his absolution referred to the Pope none may absolue that man but the Pope alon The same hath authotitie in any election before it be made to pronunce it non when it is made Hee doth Canonize Sancts and none els but hee Dispensation to how many dignities and personage in a Church and without charge and cure of the soule belongeth onely to the Pope To make that effectuall which is of none effect and contrarie-wayes belongeth onely to the Pope To plucke out a Monke out of his cloister both against his owne will and the Abbots pertaineth onely to the Pope His sentence maketh a law The same day in the which the Pope is consecrated he may giue orders Hee dispenseth in degrees of consanguinity and affinitie Hee is able to abolish lawes that is both civill and Canon where danger is of the soule It is in his dispensation to giue indulgences generall to certane places or persons Item to legitimate what person soever hee pleaseth as touching spritualities in all places as touching temporalities as honours inheritance To erect new religions to approue or reproue rewles ordinances and ceremonies in the Church Item to dispence and discharge and subject from the band of alledgence or oath made to any manner of person No man may accuse him of any cryme vnlesse of heresie and that neither except hee bee incorrigible The same is also free from all lawes so that hee cannot incur into any sentence of excommunication suspension irregularitie or into penelty of any cryme but into the note of cry me hee may well Finally Hee by his dispensation may grant yeato a simple Priest to minister the sacraments of confirmation to infants also to giue lower orders and to hallow churches and Virgins These bee the causes wherein I haue power to dispense and no man els neither Bishop nor metrapolitan nor legat without licence from mee AFter that I now sufficiently declared my power in earth in Heaven and in Purgatory how great it is and what is the fulnesse thereof in binding and loosing cōmāding permitting electing cōfirming deposing dispēsing doing vndoing I wil intreat a litle of my riches likewise and great possessions that everie man may see by my wealth and abundance of all things rents tyths tribute my silkes Purple myters Crownes of gold and silver Pearles and gumes lands and lordships how God heere prospereth and magnifieth his viccar in the earth For to mee pertaineth first the imperiall citie of Rome the Palace of Later an the Kingdome of Cicile is proper to mee Aprilia and Capua be mine also the Kingdome of England and Ir land bee they not brought to bee tributaries to mee 214. To these I admit also besids other Provinces and countries both in the occident and orient from the North to the South these dominions by name others moe 216. which Constantinus the Emperour gaue vnto mee not that they were not mine of before hee did giue them 217. For that I tooke them of him I tooke them not as a gift as is aforementioned but as restitution and that I randred them againe to Otho I did it not for my duetie to him but onely for peace sake what should I speake heere of my dayly enemies of my first fruits annates palles indulgences Bulls confessionals indulgences prescripts testamēts dispensations priviledges elections prebendes religious houses and such like which came to no small masse of money in so much that for a palle to the Arch-Bishop of Mentz which was wont to bee gotten for ten thousand 218 Florence now is growne to twentie seven thousand Florence which I receaved of Iacobus the Arch-Bishop not long before Basil counsell besids the friuits of other Bishoprickes in Germany comming to the number of fiftie whereby what advantage commeth vnto my Coffers it may partly bee conjectured But what shall I speake of Germany 219. when the whole world is my dyocie as my Cannonists doe say and all men are bound to belieue 220. except they will imagine as the Maniches doe two beginnings which is false and hereticall Moses sayeth In the beginning GOD made Heaven and earth and not in the beginnings 221. wherefore as I beginne so I conclude cōmanding declaring and pronouncing to stand vpon the necessitie of salvation for everie humane creature to be subject to mee
and set vp Otho Duke of Saxon. But when the said Otho began to bee so saucie to dispossesse the Bishops of their cities and lands which they had incrotched into their bands they could not beare that but incontinent they put him besides the cusheon The like also fell vpon Otho the 4. that followed after Philip who was suffered no longer then foure yeares to reigne about the yeare of the LORD 1209. At this time Fredericus 2. the sonne of Fredericus Barbarossa was but young whom the Bishops of Rome supposing to finde more mortified and tamed to their hand advanced to bee Emperour after his father But that fell out much contrarie to their expectation for hee perceiving the immoderate pompe and pryde of the Romane Bishops which hee could in no case abyde so netled them and cut their combs and waxed so stout against them intending to extirpe their tyranie and to reduce their pompous riches to the state and condition of the primitiue Church againe putting some of them to flight and prisoning some of their Cardinals that of three Popes one after another hee was accursed circumvented by tieason at last deposed and after that poysoned and last forsaken and died After this Frederick followed his sonne Conradus whom the foresaid Bishops for his disobedience soone dispatched exciting against him in mortall warre the Lantgraue of Thuring whereby at length hee was driven into his Kingdome of Naples and there deceast This Conradus had a sonne called Conradinus Duke and Prince of Swevill where this Conradinus after the decease of his father came to enjoy the Kingdome of Naples The Bishops stirred vp against him Charles the French Kings brother in such sort that through craftie conveyance both Conradinus which descended of the blood of so many Emperours and also Frederik Duke of Austria were both taken and after much wretched handling in their miserable indurance vnseeming to their state at length were both brought vnder the axe by the Popes procurement and so both beheaded and thus ended the imperiall stocke of Frederik the first surnamed Barbarossa The like also happened to Frederik the Emperour had almost fallen vpon Philip the French King by Pope Boniface 8. who because hee could not haue his commodities and revenewes out of France after his will sent out his bils and letters patents to displace King Philip aforesaid and to possesse Albertus King of Romans in his rowme And this hitherto of forraine stories Now touching our countrie Princes heere in England so speake somewhat likewayes of them did not Pope Alexander the third presumptuously taking vpon him where hee had nothing to doe to intermeddle with the Kings subjects For the death of Becket the rebell albeit the King fusficiently cleared himselfe thereof yet notwithstanding did he not wrongfully bring the said King Henry 2. to such pennance as it pleased him to enjoyne and also violently constrained him to sweare obedience to the Sea of Rome The like also was shewed before in this storie to happen to King Iohn his sonne for when the said King like a valiant Prince had held out the tyrranie of those Bishops eleven yeares together was not all the Churches of England barred vp and his inheritance with all his dominions given away by Pope Innocent the 3. to Lodovicus the French King and he afterward compelled to submit both himselfe and to make his whole Realme fedetary to the Bishops of Rome and moreover the King himselfe driven also to surrander his Crowne to Pandulphus the Popes Legate and so continued a privat person 5 dayes standing at the Popes courtesie whether to receive it againe or not And when the Nobles of the Realme rose afterward against the King for the same was not hee then glad to seeke and sue to the foresaid Pope for succour as by his owne letter taken out of the publicke rolles may appeare King Iohns supplication to Pope Innocent the third REverendiss domino suo patri sanctiss Innocentio dei gratia Ioanni eadem gratia R. Angliae c. Cum comites Barones Angliae nobis devoti essent antequam nos nostram terram dominio vestro subjacere curassemus ex tunc in nos specialiter ob hoc sicut publicè dicunt violenter insurgunt Nos vero preter Deum vos specialem dominum patronum habentes defensionem nostram totius regni quod vestrum esse credimus vestrae paternitati commissam nos quantum in nobis est curam solicitudinem istam vestrae resignamus dominationi devotius supplicantes quatenus in negotijs nostris que vestra sunt consilium auxilium efficax apponatis prout melius videritis expedire latores praesentium c. Teste meipso apud Dour 18. Septemb. 6. And yet notwithstanding that the said King Iohn did so yeeld to the Pope he was both persewed by his Nobles and also in the end w as poysoned by asubject of the Popes ownereligion a Monke of Swinsted as I haue sufficiently to proue not onely by William Caxton but also haue testimonie of the most part of Chronicles for the same a few onely excepted as of Thomas Gray in his French Chronicle also of another French Chronicle in meeter of Ranulphus Cestrenses Thomas Rudburne also doth witnesse the same So doth Richard Rid in novo Chronico ad tempora Hen. 6. the like also doth the Chronicle called Eulogium Monachi Cant. The words of Walter Gisborne an ancient Historiographer bee plaine No lesse is to be found in Ioan. Major de gestis Scotorum lib. 4. cap. 3. fol. 56. where hee not onely maketh mention of the Monke and of the poyson but also of the Abbot of his absolution and of the 3. Monks everie day singing for the said Monks soule To these I could also annex dyvers other wrytters both English and Latin without name which witnesse that King Iohn was poysoned one beginning thus Heere beginneth a booke in the English tongue called Bruce Another beginneth Because this booke is made to tell what tyme any thing notable The thrid in English beginneth the reigne of Britaine that now is called England c. Of Latin bookes which haue no name one beginneth thus Britannia quae Anglia dicitur ae Bruto nomen est sortita Another hath this beginning Adam pater gener is humani Besides this King Henry 2 and King Iohn his sonne what Kings haue heere reigned in England since their time vntill the reigne of King Henry the 8 who althogh they were prudent Princes and did what they could against the proud dominion of those Bishops were forced at length sore against their wils for feare to subject themselues together with their subjects vnder their vsurped authoritie in so much as some of them as M att Paris wryteth by King Henry the third were faine to stoup and kisse their Legats knee The image of Antichrist exalting himselfe in the Temple of GOD aboue all that is named God out of his owne decrees
the Apostles might by vertue of his office controle all others was content to come and giue answere before his inferiors objecting to him his going to the Gentiles yet other inferiors must not learne by this example to bee check-meat with their Prelats because Peter so tooke it at their hands shewing thereby rather a dispensation of humilitie then the power of his office by the which power hee might haue said to them againe It becometh not sheepe nor belongeth to their osfice to accuse their sheepheard 29. For els why was Dioscorus Patriarch of Alexandria condemned and excommunicated at Chalcedon not for any cause of his faith but onely that hee durst stand against the Pope Leo and durst excommunicate the Bishope of Rome for who is hee that hath authoritie to accuse the seat of S. Peter 30. Albeit I am not ignorant what S. Ierome wryteth that Paul would not haue reprehended Peter vnlesse he had thought himselfe equall vnto him 31. Yet Ieremy must thus be exponed by my interpretation that this equalitie betwixt Peter and Paul consisteth not in like osfice of dignitie but in purenes of conversation 32. For who gaue Paul licence to preach but Peter that by authoritie of GOD saying Separato mihi Paulum Barnabam Wherefore be it knowne to al men that my Church of Rome is prince and head ofall Nations 33. The mother of the faith 34. The foundation cardinall wherevpon all Churches doe depend as the doore doth depend vpon the hinges 35. The first of all other seats without all spot or blemish 36. Lady mistris and instructor of all Churches 37. A glasse and spectacle vnto all men to be followed in all whatsoever shee observeth 38. Which was never found yet to slyde or declyne from the path of Apostolicke tradition or to bee intangled with any newnesse of heresies 39. Against which Church of Rome whosoever speaketh any evill is foorthwith an hereticke 40. Yea a verie Pagan a witch and an Idolater or Infidell 41. Having fulnesse of power onely in her owne hand in ruling 42. Decyding absolving condemning casting out or receaving in 43. Albeit I deny not but other Churches bee partakers with her in labouring and carying 44. To the which Church of Rome it is lawfull to appeale for remedie from the Churches although it was otherwise concluded in the generall councill of Millevit an that no man fhould appeale over the Sea vnder the paine of excommunication yet my Glose commeth in heere with an exception Nisi forte Romanam sedem appellauerint Id est Except the appeale bee to the Sea of Rome 45. By the authoritie of which Church of Rome all Synodes and decryes of councils stand confirmed 46. And hath alwayes full authoritie in his hands to make new lawes decreements and to alter statutes priviledges rights or documents of Churches to separat things joyned and to joyne things separated vpon right consideration either in whole or in part either personally or generally 47. Of the which Church of Rome I am head as a King is over his judges 48. The vicar of S. Peter 49. Yea not the vicar of S. Peter properly but the vicar of CHRIST properly and successour of Peter 50. Vicar of IE sus CHRIST 51. Rector of the vniversall Church director of the LORDS vniversall flocke 52. Chiefe magistrat of the whole world 53. Caephas i. caput the head and chiefe of the Apostolick Church 54. Vniversall Pope and Diocesan in all places exempt aswell as everie Bishop is in places not exempt 55. Most mightie Priest 56. Lex animata in terris i. 57. A living Lawe in the earth judged to have all Lawes in the chest of my breast 58. Bearing the rowm of no poore man 59. Being neither God nor man but the admiration of the world and a middle thing betwixt both 60. Having both swords in my power both of the spirituall and temporall jurisdiction 61. So farre surmounting the authoritie of the Emperour that I of my owne power alone without a Councill have authoritie to depose him or to trans-ferre his kingdome and to giue a new election as I did to Frederick and diverse others 62. What power then or Protestat in all the world is comparable to me who haue authoritie to bind and louse both in Heaven and earth 63. That is who haue power both of heavenly things and also of temporall things 64. To whom Emperours and Kings are more inferiour than Lead is inferiour to Gold 65. For doe you not see the neckes of great Kings and Princes bend vnder our knees yea and think themselves happy and well defenced if they maye kisse our hands 66. Wherefore the sawcinesse of Honorius the Emperour is to bee reprehended and his constitution abolished who with his laytie would take vpon him to intermeddle not only with the temporall order but also with matters ecclesiasticall and election of the Pope 67. But heere perchance some will object the examples and wordes of Christ saying that his Kingdome is not of this world and where he being required to divide betwixt two brethren their heritage did refuse it but that ought not to bee no prejudice to my power 68. For if Peter and I in Peter if wee say haue power to bind and louse in heaven how much more then is it to bee thought that wee have power in earth to louse and to take away Empyres Kingdomes Dukedomes and what els so ever mortall men may have and to give them where wee will 69. And if wee haue authoritie over Angels which bee governours over Princes what then maye wee doe vpon their inferiours and servants 70. And for that you shall not marvell that I say Angels bee subject vnto vs you shall heare what my blessed Clerk Antonius writeth of the matter saying that our power of Peter and mee is greater than the Angels in foure things 1. In jurisdiction 2. In administration of Sacraments 3. In knowledge 4. and reward 71. And again in bulla Clemen tis doe I not their command in my Bull the Angels of Paradise to absolve the soule of man out of Purgatorie and to bring it into the glorie of Paradise 72. And now besides my heavenly power to speak of my earthly jurisdiction who did first translate the Empyre from the Greeks to the Almanes but I 73. And not onely in the Empyre am I Emperour the place being emptie but in all ecclesiasticall benefices have full right and power to translate and to depose after my arbitriment 74. Did not I Zacharias put downe Childerick the old King of France and set vp Pipinus 75. Did not I Gregorius the seventh set vp Robert Wisard and made him King of Sicilie and Duke of Cappa c. 76. Did not I the same Gregorius also set vp Rodulphus against Henrie the 4 Em perour 77. And though that this Henricus was an Em perour of most stout courage who stood 62 times in open field against his enemies 78. Yet did not I