sometimes is not onely tyrannical wicked and debauched but a simple Boy too and some think also a whorish b See Alexand Cook 's Pope Joan and les sieur Congnard traite contre Bâ—ondel Woman to boot So that it is no wonder that there is such striving canvassing bribery and underhand-dealing to be made Pope if their so being instantly invest them with such an unlimited Authority over all the world and that by Divine right too but of such a Nature that none can see into this Milstone but themselves or favourites And that there may not be any objection against this Authority of the Pope Bozius undertakes to demonstrate it by Examples which you shall have as he gives us them and then judge either of the Heresie or Authority of the Popes Thus he tells us that Baldwin II was lawful Successor to the Eastern Empire yet Michael Palaeologus by force of Arms and wickedness took the Empire from him However for all this injury as he saith did Pope Gregory X allow so much of it that he gave the Empire to the Invador and excluded the lawful Inheritor Another instance he giveth concerning the Western Empire viz. that Richard Duke of Cornwal Son to King John and Brother to Henry III of England being by one part of the Electors of Germany viz. by the Bishops of Mentz Colen and the Palsgrave chosen Emperour And Alonso X King of Castile being by another part viz. Archbishop of Trevers King of Bohemia Duke of Saxony and Marquiss of Brandeburg also chosen Emperour And so by consequence as he saith it must of necessity belong to one of these two Yet such was the pleasure of the aforesaid Gregory X that he threw them both by and commanded the Electors to pitch upon another by which means Rodulph Earl of Habspurgh and Hessia came to be Emperour And the same power Bozius saith the Pope hath over Infidels and to prove this by Example he hints to us the Donation of America by Alexander VI and his huge Authority divided between the Castilian and Portugal And I wonder that before this time he hath not given the World in the Moon to some of his Favourites And as Pope a H. Estiene Apol. pour Herodot p. 465 466. Clement VI commanded the Angels to carry such Souls into Paradise so might some of his Successors command some pretty vehicles or other to carry his friends beyond the Earths attraction and so into the Dominions of the Lunary World where by a zealous Croisade and a furious Inquisition those pretty people might be taught Rebellion THE REBELLIOUS AND Treasonable Practises Of the ROMANISTS From the Year DC to the Year M. With a Blow at Constantines Donation The Popes absolute Temporal Authority and Legality of his Being BOOK III. CHAP. I. The Tale of Constantines Donation proved a meer Cheat and Forgery I Shall not here ingage my self in the Dispute whether S. Peter was ever Bishop of Rome or no nor with the time of his presiding there a De Rom. Pont. l. 1. c. 6. Bellarmine their famous b Addit ad Platin. viz. S. Petri. Onuphrius and some others not agreeing about the manner and several Learned Men have imployed themselves on both parties in this Controversie Nor by what means the Popes came to that greatness they are now in and pretend of right to have Christ said c Joh. 18. 36. his Kingdom was not of this world nor did S. Peter or any of the rest of the Apostles endeavour to obtain either any such Temporal Government or upon the account of their Spiritual to lord it with a coercive Power over Secular Authority And if any of their Successors plead such Prerogatives they can draw no Arguments either from the Precept or Example of the Apostles Not but that the Clergy are as capable of Temporal Imployments as any if the Supreme Magistrate so order it without whose appointment the Lay-man himself cannot pretend to Office What jurisdiction the Bishops of Rome exercised over Princes for the first Ages as History is altogether silent so cannot we imagine that they did considering in what Persecutions they themselves lived being for their own preservation forced to sculk and lurk about here and there and that in poverty too insomuch that if we consult their own Histories we shall finde that the first XXXIII Bishops of Rome suffer'd Martyrdom till a An. 314. Sylvester in the days of Constantine the Great In whose time by the Emperours declaring himself a Christian Christianity began to appear more publick being thus countenanced by Authority whereby those who formerly lurk'd in Caves and Forrests wandred about Mountains and dissembled their Profession for fear of persecution now boldly shewed and declared themselves and had places of Trust and Authority conferred upon them whereby they became more formidable to the Pagans and Religion daily gained more Proselytes Splendour and Jurisdiction By this Emperour Constantine they say that the Popes of Rome had not onely many Priviledges but God knows how much Land too given them viz. not onely Rome it self but also all the Provinces Places and Cities of all Italy and the Western Region and that he might be more glorious and powerful in all the World than the Emperour himself And thus we see them set on Cock horse and whence many of them plead a Prerogative And for proof of this they not onely say that they can shew you the Decree it self but from it and other Authors tell the Reason of such a Donation which because the Storie is pretty and miraculous take as followeth in short Constance they say being a wicked Tyrant and an Heathen murthering his own Son Crispus the Consul c. at last was sorry Baron anno 324. § 16 17. for his own wickedness and desired to be clensed therefrom but his Pagan Priests told him That they had no means of purging such heinous Offences In the mean time one Aegyptius supposed by b Anno 324. § 27. Baronius to be Osius Bishop of Corduba a Christian told the Emperour That the Christians had a way to clense a man from any guilt To which Constantine lent a willing ear though upon that did not forsake his Idolatry but persecuted the Christians insomuch that Pope Slyvester with some others for their own safety stole from Rome and hid themselvs in the Mountain Soractes now call'd c Or M. St. Oresto Baron § 33. Monte S. Tresto corrupted as they say from Monte di S. Silvestro North from Rome upon the Westside of Tiber. For these crimes and oppressions they say he was as by a judgement strangely infected with the Leprosie or Meselry according to the old Translation of d Translat of Ranulphus of Chesters Polycron fol. 212. John Trevisa Vicar of Barckley almost CCC years ago to be cured of this disease he applyeth himself to his Physitians but with no benefit then the Pagan Priests of the Capitol advised him
to make a Cistern or Bathing-place in the Capitol and therein wash his body with the warm bloud of Edict Constant Rich. Broughton Eccles Hist Age 4. cap. 5. little Children and to effect this upon his consent the Flamens prepared a great number of Infants some write a Pet de Natal l. 2. c. 22. Jac. de Vorag Hist 12. Jo. Trevisa Policron fol. 212. Alonso de Villigas Flos Sanctorum 31 Decemb. la vida de San. Silvâ—stre three thousand and was going to kill them to fill the Bath with their bloud but Constantine being moved to compassion by the cries and lamentations of their Mothers abhorred such cruelty and wickedness causing the Children to be restored to their Parents with rewards and means to carry them to their dwelling places The night following the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul appear to him saying Because thou hast hindred this wickedness and hast detested to shed the blood of Innocents we are sent to thee by Christ our Lord and God to tell thee how to be cured Hear us therefore and do what we admonish thee Sylvester the Bishop of this City flying thy Persecutions with some others of his Clergy are hid in the Cliffs of Mount Soracte send for him and he will provide an holy Bath in which thou shalt be wash'd and so clensed from thy disease Constantine the next morning sends to finde out Sylvester to whom being come he told the storie of his Vision and asked him what Gods Peter and Paul were and desired to see their Pictures which being shewed him he declared that they were the very same who appeared to him the night before Upon this he was Baptized by Sylvester and so clensed from his Leprosie an hand from Heaven at the same time touching him as he himself saw Upon this the Emperour became hugely Munificent to the Church of Rome by his Decree ordering that she shall be above the IV Patriarchal Seats Antioch Alexandria b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Constantinople and Hierusalem and that the Bishops of Rome shall be above all others in the world all things belonging to Christianity to be govern'd by them In proof of this he built a Church in the Lateran where to maintain lights he gave Lands and Possessions in Asia Thracia Graecia Africa Italy and several Islands he gave his Palace also in the Lateran with his Crown and all his other imperial Habiliments Badges and Authority and the more to exalt him the Emperour himself like a Foot-boy led the Popes Horse about by the Bridle and bestowed upon him and his Successors the City of Rome with the c Provincias loca Civitatis Edict Constant Places Cities and Provinces of Italy and the Western Countries and then in a solemn manner curst and damn'd to the pit of Hell all those whether his succeeding Emperours or any others who any ways opposed or violated this his Donation And this Edict or Donation of Constantine is dated at Rome Constantine and Gallicanus being Consuls Thus we have the storie and the Imperial Decree of Donation which have made such a noise in the World and all as true as the Tale of this Sylvester's d Guil. Gazet Hist des Saincts Tom. 2. 31 Decemb. Pet. de Natal l. 2. c. 22. tying up and there to remain till the day of Judgement a huge Dragon in a Den which every day onely with its breath slew above e Jac. de Vorag Hist 12. three hundred men which quite puts down the storie of Sir Eglomore Now the better to batter down the imaginary Castle of the Popes Temporal Authority and that the Cheat and Forgerie may appear more visible we shall shew that the Foundation of all is a meer lye the occasion of such a Donation viz. the storie to be false and then the Decree it self as a consequence must vanish also However the Edict it self shall also be proved a Counterfeit by such Arguments and Authorities as Hottoman Dr. Crakinthorpe Laurentius Valla du Plessis our Country-man Cook c. affords us but with as much brevity as can be That the storie and occasion of such a Donation is false appears plainly I. Valerius Crispus was alive after this supposed Baptism and so his murther could no way intitle Constantine to the Leprosie and for Sozom. l. 1. c. 5. Trip. Hist Cassiodor lib. 1. cap. 6. Evagr. l. 3. c. 40 41. Nâ—ceph l. 7. c. 35. Platina vit Marci Broughton's Hist Eccles pag. 476. § 2. Id. pag. 494. § 9. Jo. Mariana de rebus Hispan l. 4. c. 16. truth of this we need go no further than this that they cannot deny but both their Ancient and their Modern Authors declare this Crispus to have been Baptized with Constantine and alive after the Synod supposed to be held at Rome upon this christning of the Emperour Nor was Constantine a Tyrant II. The Leprosie it self is confest by their a Viâ— Marci vit Hadrian I. Canus loc Theol. l. 11. c. 5. § 5. Naucler generat 11. Platina and others to be a meer forgery not mentioned by Eutropius Orosius and such-like ancient Writers nor was there any cause for such a Disease Constantine being a good Emperour III. Constantine did not persecute the Christians till this supposed Leprosie Euseb vit Constant l. 1. c. 5. l. â— c. 1 4 12 13 14. l. 10. c. 16. Cedren Hist Sozom. l. 1. c. 8. but on the contrary hugely favoured them in somuch that Licinius the Heathen Consul accused him to his Souldiers for so doing And which is more he did not onely countenance them but was a profest Christian himself his Father Constantius favouring that way and his Son Constantine instructed in it and some say in Britain at b Broughton's Eccles Hist p. 460 461. § 5 6 7. Abington in Barkshire but of the latter I say nothing IV. Being thus a Christian he could not be ignorant what S. Peter and S. Paul were in that time of Sylvester and so not to suppose them to be Gods after an Heathenish manner And if he were ignorant how came he to know what they were for in his supposed Decree where the storie is he doth not tell us that they told him If they did 't is probable that they would not leave him a supposed Pagan in the dark but also declare what they were besides telling their names nor doth he say they told him that V. Again being thus a Christian he would not make use of Heathen Priests either to clense him from his iniquities nor need Aegyptius or Osius upon that supposed infidelity inform him of the Efficacie of Christ and his Religion Neither would he consent to the wicked advise of the Pagan Flamens for his Cure by the bloud of so many Innocent Children VI. If Constantine had consented to this cruelty yet 't is not probably that he need either have such a number slain as some say three thousand nor would he have had it
enough of this and the supposed Donation which the Venetians did once prettily confute and so shake off a close demand Laurent Banck de Tyran Pap. pag. 355. The Pope asking them by what right they appropriated to themselves all the jurisdiction and power in the Adriatick Sea since they could not shew any Writings of Priviledges granted to them for so doing To which 't is said they thus returned an Answer That they greatly wonder'd that his Holiness should expect from them to shew those priviledges which yea and the very Originals the Popes themselves had carefully kept all along in their own Archives as a sacred thing and might easily be found if he would but look upon the backside of the Deed of Constantine's Donation for there might be seen the Priviledges granted to them over that Sea written in great Letters And such another story they tell us how Pope Alexander the Sixth having ask'd the same question was thus answer'd by Girolamo Donato the Venetian Ambassador Let your Holiness shew me the Instrument of St. Peters Patrimony and you will finde on the backside of it the Grant of the Adriatick Sea to the Venetians CHAP. II. 1. When the Bishops of Rome had raised themselves up to some favour and greatness what odd striving and dealings there were to obtain that See with the manner of Elections 2. That the Temporal Power had formerly the greatest stroke in the Election of Popes and that it yet hath though by underhand-dealings 3. An Essay upon this Quere Whether for some years past there hath been according to their Decrees and Orders really any true Pope THe Bishops of Rome though formerly lived in great obscurity Sect. I. lurking privately here and there without any greatness or notice by reason of the Persecutions against Christianity Now that they had the Emperours embracers of the Gospel and favourers of the Prelacy appear'd in publick in great Splendor and Authority and presently raised themselves to such a Grandeur that they seem'd not onely to overtop their Neighbours but next the Emperour to appear in greatest glory sway and priviledge which made Praetextatus design to be Consul drolingly say to Pope Damasus Make me Bishop of Rome and I will quickly make my self Facite me Romanae Urbis Episcopum ero protinus Christianus Hieron Epist 61. a Christian And now the ambition to be great made every one aspire to this Dignity and that sometimes with so much earnestness and indirect means that Religion it self and the Bishops of that City lost much of their Reputation not onely from the Heathen but Christian too as is plain by St. Hierome and others who wrote against their faults I shall not trouble my self concerning the discention and schism about Liberius and Felix the Second onely that if Liberius was an Heretick as several accuse him then a man may well plead the other to be no Antipope if that be true which some of their own Church confess that a Pope for Heresie looseth his Dignity and Chair But to wave this a An. 367. Liberius being dead the two Factions divide again each of them striving to make a Pope of their party These who were of the Antipope Felix's side chose one Damasus b Jo. Marian de Reb. Hispan l. 4. c. 19. Villegas F. S. Decemb. 11. Am. Narcellin Hist l. 27. c. 2. Ruffin l. 11. c. 10. whether of Tarragona in Catalonia or Madred in New Castile or of Guimaranes Antre Duero y Mino in Portugal Authors agree not and those who were for Liberius chose one Vrsicinus a Roman at this Election the feud was so great betwixt both parties that in the Church of Sicininus there was slain upon the place CXXXVII persons and it was a long time after before the rage of the people could bâ— asswaged insomuch that Vivensius Governour of Rome for the Emperour not being able to appease these Tumults was forced to retire himself out of the City But at last Damasus got the upper-hand and so kept the Popedom by the assistance of the Emperour c Onuphr Annot. in Platin. vit Felicis II. Valentinian Thus was this thing managed besides voting with d Platin. vit Damas Sabellic En. 7. l. 9. Nausler Gen. 13. p. 487. Genebrard p. 576. main force and arms And those who formerly were held as Schismaticks for chusing and siding with an Antipope are now brave boys for standing and fighting lustily against those who were for the true Pope Liberius as they call him And had the Emperour approved of Vrsicinus for ought that I know he had been call'd infallible and Damasus an Antipope And that the Emperours had some authority about the Election of Popes will appear by the story of another uprore and schism Pope Zosimus being a An. 418. dead the people of Rome enter again into divisions one party chose for Bishop Eulalius in the Lateran Church and the other Boniface in another Church and thus each faction cryed up their Pope Of this Symmachus Governour of Rome giveth the Emperour notice and tells him that Eulalius had Baron anno 419. § 1 2 3 c. most reason and right of his side Honorius the Emperour acknowledgeth Eulalius as Pope as being chosen and approved of by a lawful number time and place rejects Boniface as illegitimate wanting these necessaries to an Election and bids him submit or to be expell'd the City Symmachus sends this news to Boniface but the Messenger is beat In the mean time the party of Eulalius rejoyce he acting as Pope and the City Gates being shut to exclude his Adversary the Governour being the more careful by reason of the great inconvenience and trouble the City underwent by the former Tumults and Riots at the Election of Damasus Those who sided with Boniface seeing themselves and cause quite lost if presently they procured not Remedy drew up a Petition to the Emperour complaining Eulalius not to be lawfully elected but Boniface to be truely Pope for which they desired Caesars assistance Honorius upon this orders that both the elected should appear before him where he would have the Case tryed and accordingly see the right disposed of and for more clearing of the business he appointed several Bishops to meet about it but these not agreeing concerning the Election this meeting vanish'd without any determination whereupon he resolved upon another convention In the mean time the better to keep good Order in Râ—me now full of hubbubs by reason of this division he order'd Eulalius and Boniface the two heads of these disorders to depart the City and Easter now drawing neer that the people might not be without a Bishop to celebrate at that Feast he appointed Achilleus Bishop of Spoleto one uninterest to either party to officiate as chief in Rome and him he call'd b Beatitudo tua His Holiness or Blessedness and so did he Paulinus Bshop of Nola and those of c Sanctitas vestra Africk
that none but Cardinals can elect a Pope that if ever a Bishop of Rome was chosen by those Cardinals who were created by an Antipope or one not truely as they say Christ's Vicar that then such an Election is of no validity being made by those who were not truely Cardinals and so wanted an authentick Authority to make such an election And if the succession once fail I know not how or when it must begin again But because the aforesaid Italian foundeth his main design upon Simony I shall onely Preface a little on the same crying sin and that but a few years before his Sixtus the Fifth When they declare that the sin of a Gondissalv de Villadiego contra haereticam pravitatem Quaest 1. § 3. Flav. Cherubinus Compend Bullar Tom. 1. pag. 152. Card. Jacobat de Concil l. 8. art 8. § 8. Id. l. â— art 4. § 53. and so their Canon-Law 1. q. 1. c. Presbyter c. Quicunque c. Cumliqueat c. Eos qui. c. Fertur c. Statuimus Decretum Simony is Heresie and so he that is guilty of the first must also be an Heretick and when they also confess that if a Pope be b Petr. de Balsius director Electionum cap. 14. Hieron Monfred deces 321. Eman. Sa Aphorism v. Papa 1. chosen by Simony then that Election is null and void and seeing they go yet farther as to affirm that if a Pope be Heretical he is not onely c Mart. de Caraziis de Principibus Quaest 199. inferiour to all other Christians but d Jo. Hieron Alban de potest Papae p. 1. § 6. Card. Jacobis de Concil l. 9. art 1. § 12 3. Martinus de Caraziis de Principibus Quest 522. Eman. Sa Aphorism v. Papa § 6. falleth from his Popedom and so not being Head of the Church 't is no difficult matter from these Principles thus granted by them to prove a failing if not an end of their succession And that Popes ought of old to be deposed for obtaining their Dignities by Simony or suchlike unlawful means is undeniable from the a Si quis pecunia veâ— gâ—atia humana aut populari mihtarive tumultu siâ—e concâ—rdi Câ—â—oâ—â—â—a Electione Cardinaltum in throno Petri collocatus is non Apostolicus sed Apostaticus id est à rationed ficiens meritò vocetur liceatque Cardinalibus Clerius Laius Deum colentibus illum ut pradonem anathematizarâ— quovis humano auâ—â—â—o à sede Apostolica propellere atque quovis in loco si in Urbe non liceat Catholicos hujusâ—e rei causa congregare Pâ—atâ—na vit Nichol. II. Dâ—st 97. c. si qâ—â—s Decree made above DC years ago in the time of Nicholas the Second in a Council at Rome And since that time Julius the Second made a more vigorous Bull against the Simoniacal Election of Popes and the nulling of such a choice of which we shall speak more hereafter Now if that horrid and unmanly sin of Simony make an Election illegal and void what shall we think of Pope Alexander the Sixth who by this corrupt means obtain'd the Papal dignity as their own b De rebus Hispan lib. cap. 2. Mariâ—na c Vit. Alexand VI. apud Platâ—n Onuphrius with d Lib. 1. beginninâ—g Guicciardine do declare and though e Anti Mornaeus Tom. 2. p. 305. Coquaeus is unwilling to meddle with this objected crime yet his Country-man and fellow Doctor of Paris f Iâ—â—ne faut point chercher tant de Tesmoins pour proves une chose que tout le monde avoüe Coeffet Râ—sponse au Mystere d'Iniquite pag. 1209. Coeffeteau not being able to confute the Objection doth profess that we need not trouble our selves to bring out Testimonies to prove it since all the world doth confess it If this Alexander by his illegal obtaining that dignity was no true Pope then the Cardinals by him created were also false ones and so the Popes by them elected of no true Authority or Jurisdiction to be Christ's Vicars This Alexander remaining Bishop of Rome above eleven years at several Creations others dying in the time made these following XLIII Cardinals 1. Jo. Borgia   2. John Morton Archbishop of Canterbury   3. Jo. Anton. de S. Georgio â— 1 4. Jo. de la Grolaye   5. Bernardinus Coravagial â— 2 6. Raymund Perauld   7. Caesar Borgia Bastard to Pope Alexander the Sixth for this Pope had three Sons and two Daughters   8. Hippolitus Estiensis   9. Fridericus Cassimirus Son to the King of Poland   10. Julianus Caesarius â— 3 11. Dominicus Grimanus â— 4 12. Alexander Farnesius â— 5 13. Bernardinus de Lunate   14. Guillielmus Brissoneta   15. Bartholomaeus Martinus   16. Johan de Castro â— 6 17. Johan Lopez   18. Johan Borgia Nephew to the Pope poysoned by Caesar Borgia   19. Aloysius de Arragonia â— 7 20. Philipp de Lucemburgo   21. Georg. de Ambosia â— 8 22. Thomas ex oppido Herdouth Hung arus   23. Jacobus Serra al. Casanova â— 9 24. Petrus Issualies   25. Diego Hortado de Mendozza   26. Franciscus Borgia supposed to be Son to the Pope Callistus the Third â— 10 27. Johan Vera â— 11 28. Ludovicus Podacatharus â— 12 29. Jo. Anton. Trivultius â— 13 30. Jo. Baptist Terrarius   31. Amanatem de Albreto â— 14 32. Petr. Ludovic Borgia â— 15 33. Marcus Cornelius â— 16 34. Jo. Stephanus Ferrerius â— 17 35. Johan Casteller â— 18 36. Franciscus Remolinus   37. Franciscus Soderinus â— 19 38. Melchior Copis   39. Nicholaus de Flisco â— 20 40. Franciscus de Sprata al. Spares â— 21 41. Hadrianus Castellensis â— 22 42. Jacobus Casanova â— 23 43. Franciscus Iloris â— 24 After the death of this Alexander XXXVII Cardinals after some disturbance and fears enter into the Conclave to elect another Pope and of this little number there were XXIV of this Alexanders Creation whose names you see mark'd with this â— In this Conclave was Pius the Third chosen but how could he be legally elected if almost two parts in three of the Cardinals had no lawful voice But again supposing all the Cardinals to belegally created yet how can the election of this Pius be true and lawful seeing he was so far from having the voices of two parts in three or a Majority though this would not make a true election that he onely obtain'd the a Alphons Ciaconius vit Pii III. less part or number in the Conclave for him and yet was I know not how declared for Pope What in part hath been objected against Pius the Third may also pass upon Julius the Second for though at his election there were XXXVII Cardinals in the Conclave yet XXVI were of Alexanders creation And if this stand good then we may affirm that there hath been no true Pope
power of nominating Bishops in his own Territories whom he left to be Consecrated by others Now on the contrary the Pope would take all power into his own hands allowing no man to be Bishop of what Country soever but whom he pleas'd by which means he would wrest all favours from the Temporal jurisdiction to himself And whereas formerly Clergy-men were commonly marryed and their b Dist 28. c. si quâ—s docuerit c. si quis discernit dist 31. c. Omâ—no confitemur c. Quoniam Romani c. Aliter se Orient Canon-law it self grants them some favour in this case Now the Pope proceeds severely against the married Clergy by Excommunication and so in a manner deprived them of their Beings which was the cause of great troubles in Germany Nor was this all but also Gregory the Seventh thrust himself up above all Dominions and Authorities in the world by the assistance of a puny Synod at Rome thus declaring his Prerogative viz. That onely the Pope of Rome can depose Bishops Baron an 1076. § 31 32 33. That his Legat must take place of all other Bishops in a Council which Legat hath power to depose other Bishops That the Pope can depose those who are absent That it is lawful for the Pope onely according to the necessity of them Time to make new Laws c. That the Pope onely may use the Imperial Ensigns That all Princes are to kiss the feet of the Pope onely That his name is onely to be recited or mentioned in Churches That he hath Authority to depose Emperours That he onely can translate Bishops That no General Synod ought to be call'd without his command That no Book is Canonical without his Authority That his sentence ought not to be revoked by any body That no man ought to be Censured for Appealing to Rome That all Causes of great Importance of what Church soever must be referred to him That the Roman Church neither ever did or can err That there is but one onely name in the World i. e. the Pope That the Pope of Rome if he be Canonically Ordain'd is undoubtedly made Holy by the merits of St. Peter And some other such-like Priviledges as these were also then concluded upon Thus by little and little did the Roman Bishops dwindle the Temporal Authority to nothing by making themselves so great and powerful Alexander the Second had null'd all Lay-Patronage by making it unlawful to receive any Benefice from a secular Authority which then they call'd Simony though gave a Coquaeus p. 513. nothing for it as b Pag. 874 875. Id. pag. 868. Genebrard saith And a little before this Leo the Ninth seemed to ease the Papal See from the Imperial jurisdiction but to no purpose that Chair falling after into the Imperial Nomination as it did also in him But Gregory the Seventh by a particular c 26. Q. 7. Quoniam Investituras Baron an 1078. § 26. Canon null'd and voided all Investitures that should be made to Bishops c. by the Emperour or the secular Prince Though we are told that his Master d S. Hen. Spelman Gloss v. Investur Gregory the Sixth mainly commended this way of nominating or designing Bishops by a Pastoral Staff and Ring by the Temporal Prince whereby the other Bishops might with more Authority and less prejudice Consecrate him and that this had also e G. Carleton's jurisdiction pag. 137 138 139 c. formerly been the practice cannot be denyed and the power of Nomination is yet used by all Christian Princes within their respective Dominions Suchlike actions as these procured some heart-burnings betwixt the Emperour and Popes which at last fell to open divisions and animosity to which the troublesome Saxons were not the least Authors who had for some time born a spite against the Emperour from whose Authority and Protection they had several thoughts and consultations of withdrawing themselves To prevent this Henry had built several strong Castles and Forts amongst them which incensed them more insomuch that they did not onely fortifie and defend themselves but sent to Rome complaints against the Emperour of Oppression and Simony which Vrspergensis saith were f Accusationes blasphemas inauditas false accusations Alexander the Second then Pope upon this took the confidence to send to Henry commanding him to appear at Rome to answer before him such complaints as were laid to his charge but the Pope g An. 1072. dying presently after this Tryal fell to the ground for a time After him was Pope Gregory the Seventh who was first call'd Hildebrand and under that name commonly met withal in History but the Germans who above all things hated him for jestsake used to call him Hellebrand i. e. a Firebrand from Hell they looking upon him to be the cause of all their misfortunes whilst some others magnifie him no less than a Saint Gregory had not been above a year Pope but he sent his Legats into Germany who though they behaved themselves stoutly to the Emperour yet could not procure the Priviledge of having a Synod held there by them the native Bishops not being willing to submit to such Masters the chief of the Opposers being Liemarus Archbishop of Breme whom they undertook to suspend and the Pope afterwards thought he had completed it and at last a An. 1075. excommunicated several Bishops who adher'd to the Emperour And not long after sent an express summons to Henry himself to appear before him at Rome and that if he were not there by such a day he should be forthwith excommunicated The strangeness and boldness of this Papal summons moved the Emperour so much that he not onely sent away the Legats with scorn but sent forth Orders to all Bishops and Abbots to meet him at Worms there to hold a Council who accordingly appear'd in a very great b Amâ—lâ—ssimo numero â—am Schafâ—ab anno 1076. number where having drawn up many Accusations and Crimes against Gregory they adjudge him not fit to be Pope declare his Election void whatever he shall do as Pope after that day to be null and of no effect and so deprive him from the Popedom And to this having subscribed they sent Rowland of Parma to declare the same at Rome In the mean time Gregory had call'd a Synod at Rome which being met Rowland appears amongst them and there boldly declares to the Popes face how the Emperour and the Bishops of Italy Germany and France in a Council had deprived the said Pope But Gregory to requite this kindness the next day excommunicates and deprives the chief of the Bishops who were at Worms and for the rest he appoints a set time for them to repent and submit to him which if they did not obey then were they also partakers of the same sauce Nor doth he forget the Emperour but very dapperly excommunicates and deprives him of his Dominions and Authority The chief part of which Deposition
formerly chose and sworn King of the Romans at which Innocent greatly rejoyced though he Pet. Mexia fol. 423. could not but know that this reason was as valid when he was formerly so zealous for Otho and resolute against all others whatsoever Frederick comes into Germany is Crowned at Aix Otho makes what opposition he can but is overthrown and so forced to withdraw and neglect the Empire And thus being deposed again Frederick remain'd as Supreme and so had himself with the Popes consent the second time d Spon anno 1215. § 4. Crown'd at Aix In the mean time was held a Great Council at the Lateran whereby Transubstantiation got a good footing and Temporal Princes were to be by the Pope deposed and their Subjects absolved from their Allegiance if they neglected to extirpate out of their Dominions that which the Pope call'd Heresie Otho having been three years turned out dyed but they say so penitently that he made the a Bzov. an 128. § 19. Spondâ—n § 7 8. Skullions of his Kitchen tread upon his neck and though he remained a while in Purgatory yet at last he was help'd into Heaven Nor need we question his sanctity seeing as they tell us being sick and weak his side opened to let the Eucharist fly in and then closed again and I believe it was as true in him as it was in Bonaventure Sect. 3. The troubles and deposing of the Emperour Frederick the Second FRederick II being thus Emperour goeth to Rome where he â—220 was Crowned by Honorius III but this peace lasted not long Frederick having been abused by several in Italy pretended that the Pope took their parts On the other side Honorius would have the Emperour to go and reduce the Holy-land Frederick pretended to retreeve and regain the Territories that formerly had belonged to the Empire Honorius affirm'd they now belong'd to the Church and St. Peter And thus bandying to and fro some say that Honorius threw about his Excommucations Honorius dying Gregory IX succeeds and threatens Frederick year 1227 with Excommunication if he set not sail for the Holy-land by such a time The Emperour neglecting is Excommunicated and so seeing no remedy sails to Syria where he makes peace 122â— with the Sultan having Hierusalem and other places deliver'd to him And yet is Gregory b Pap Greg. â—â—nus moloâ—re ferens quod Rom. Imp. Excommunicatus Rebellis ad terram Sanctam transierat Mat. Paris anno 1229. angry that he went thither being Excommunicated and a Rebel against him and so intends to dethrone him sends into Asia to the c Nanâ—â—er pag. 818. Hospitallers and Templers that they should no way assist Frederick but look upon him as a publick Enemy who accordingly endeavour'd to d Matt. Pariâ— p 35â— betray him to the Saracen but the Souldan out of a Noble Spirit scorned Treachery and discovered it to the Emperour The Pope in the mean time having as he thought â—ut him out work enough to do in the Holy-land resolves to take opportunity in his absence so he sends into England e Mat. Paris p. 361. accusing of him of horrible-terrible Piccadiglio's that he being f Pag. 368. Excommunicated should enter the Church at Hierusalem and be Crowned and then go to his Palace before his Souldiers with his Crown on and then inviting several of the Noble Saracens to a Feast did for recreation-sake let some Christian women dance before them And to aggravate these how he had taken some Church-monies probably to pay his Army c. but the burden of the lamentation was that he might have some English moneys to help him in his Wars against the Emperour whom he thinks it g Justum esse fidei Christianae necessarium â—t tam valiâ—ius Ecclesiae persecutor a faâ—â—u Imporii depelleâ—etur Mat. Paris Ib. just and necessary to have deposed from the Empire And what vast sums these canting stories obtain'd is easily guess'd when in England Wales and Ireland the very Church-Ornaments and Plate were sold or pawn'd to satisfie the a Matt. Paris anno 1229. pag. 361. 362. anno 1234. p. 400 401 40â— 554 566 613. 622 623 641 645 655 658 659 660. 667 691 699 700 716 722 728 818 875 956. Nic. Harpsfield Hist Eccles pag. 477. Fox Tom. 1. pag. 369 370. avarice of Rome for if they gave not presently the Nuntio threatned Excommunications and Interdictions such a childish fear had the Papal Censures then possess'd men with and to such an height of tyranny and impudence to say no worse had the Bishops of Rome stuffed out and swell'd themselves to as if they had a Divine right over all the Moneys and Riches in the World and thus is the case alter'd Christ and St. Peter rather then not pay their dues and tribute to their Temporal Prince would be at the expence of a Miracle but now the Kings and Princes must beggar and ruine themselves and Subjects to satisfie the avarice of the Bishop of Rome who pretends to be but a Vicar to the former for if you deny this he hath an hobgobling in his Budget to boggle you to your ruine here or damnation hereafter though wise Kings should not regard such Censures upon such unjust grounds and from those who have no Authority over them Gregory having thus got Money enough falls upon those Lands which the Emperour pretended to in Italy making the people b Naucler pag 818. rebel and withdraw themselves from their b Allegiance whereby he took many places Frederick hearing of this Papal dealing having made peace with the Souldan resolves to return The Pope informed of this c Matt. Paris anno 1229. pag 364. way-lays him hoping to seize upon him when he little thought of it but Frederick having notice escaped all his snares and landed safely in Sicily and having strengthned himself regain'd some places again At last a d 1230. peace is made between him and the Pope Not not longer after the Pope and the Romans fell out insomuch that Gregory was glad to leave the City but here the Emperour e Matt. Paris anno 1â—34 pag. 408. 409. helps him at a dead lift joyning his Forces to the Pope's whereby the Romans were bang'd to the purpose But let us see how the Pope requites this good turn The Milanois a little after rebelling against the Emperour he resolves as it became him to reduce those Traitors to obedience Gregory perswades him from that design and would have him again forsooth to turn his Army into the Holy-land But Frederick wisely thought Matt. Par. an 1236. pag. 433. it was fitting to pacifie all at home first and did not a little marvail that the Pope should interest himself for such perfidious people But for all his wondering Gregory assists the Milanois sends them a great deal of money and for further incouragement promiseth them more the Milanois take courage but whilst the Emperour is engaged against them
qui nos in hoc supremo Justitiae Throno licet tanto oneri impares voluit collocare de Apostolica potestatis plenitudine Declaramus praedictam Elizabetham Haereticam Haereticorum Fautricem eique adhaerentes in praedict is Anathematis sententiam incurrisse esseque a Christi Corporis unitate praeeisos Quin etiam ipsam praetenso Regni praedicti jure necnon omni quocunque Dominio Dignitate Privilegioque privatam Et etiam Proceres Subditos Populos dicti Regni ac caeteros omnes qui illi quomodocunque juraverunt a juramento hujusmodi ac omni prorsus Dominii fidelitatis obsequii debito perpetuo absolutos prout Nos illos praesentium Authoritate Absolvimus Privamus eandem Elizabetham praetenso jure Regni aliisque omnibus supra dict is Praecipimusque Interdicimus universis singulis Proceribus Subditis Populi aliis praedict is ne illi ejusve monitis Mandatis legibus audeant obedire qui secus egerint eos simili Anathematis sententia innodamus Quia vero difficile nimis esset Praesentes quocunque illis opus erit perferre Volumus ut eorum Exempla Notarii Publici manu Praelati Ecclesiastici ejusve Curiae Sigillo obsignata eandem illam prorsus fidem in judicio extra illud ubique Gentium faciant quam ipsae praesentes facerent si essent exhibitae Datum Romae apud S. Petrum Anno Incarnationis Dominicae Millesimo Quingentesimo Sexagesimo Nono Quinto Kalend b b Their Bullaâ—ia Edit Rom. 1638. by a mistake hath V K al. Maii but the former Edit viz. Rom. 1617. in this is right enough Martii Pontificatus nostri Anno Quinto Cae. Glorierius H. Cumyn The Sentence declaratory of our Holy Lord Pope Pius V. against Elizabeth the pretended Queen of England and the Hereticks adhering to her Wherein also all her Subjects are declared Absolved from the Oath of Allegiance and whatever else due unto her and those who hereafter obey her are hereby Anathematiz'd Pius Bishop servant of the servants of God for a future Memorial of the matter HE who Raigneth in the Highest to whom is given all power in Heaven and in Earth hath committed one holy Catholick and Apostolick Church out of which there is no Salvation to one alone upon Earth namely to Peter the the chief of the Apostles and to Peters Successor the Bishop of Rome to be govern'd in fulness of power Him alone he made Prince over all People and all Kingdoms with power a To pluck up destroy scatter consume plant and to build that he may continue the Faithful who are knit together with the bond of Charity in the Unity of the Spirit and present them safe and unblameable to their Saviour In discharge of which Function we who are by the goodness of God call'd to the Government of the foresaid Church do spare no pains labouring with all earnestness that Unity and Catholick Religion which the Author thereof hath for the tryal of his Childrens Faith and for our amendment suffer'd to be punish'd with so great afflictions might be preserv'd whole and uncorrupt But the number of the ungodly have gotten such power that there is no place left in the whole World which they have not endeavour'd to corrupt with their most wicked Doctrines Amongst others Elizabeth the Pretended Queen of England and the servant of wickedness hath assisted thereunto in whom as in a Sanctuary the most pernicious of all have found a refuge This very woman having seiz'd on the Kingdom and monstrously usurping the place of Supreme Head of the Church of all England and the chief Authority and jurisdiction thereof hath again brought back the said Kingdom into miserable distraction which was but even then newly reduced to the Catholick faith and an hopeful condition For having by strong hand forbid the Exercise of the true Religion which Mary a lawful Queen of famous Memory had by the assistance of this See restored after it had been overthrown by Henry VIII a Revolter from the Truth She following and imbracing the errors of Hereticks hath removed the Royal Council consisting of the Nobility of England and fill'd it with obscure Heretical fellows hath supprest the embracers of the Catholick Faith setled dishonest Preachers and wicked Ministers abolish'd the Sacrifice of the Mass Prayers Fastings choice of Meats unmarried life and the Catholick Ceremonies commanded all the Kingdom over Books manifestly Heretical to be read and impious Mysteries and Institutions according to the Rules of Calvin which she her self entertains and receiveth to be likewise observed by her Subjects She hath presumed to throw Bishops Parsons and other Catholick Priests out of their Churches and Benefices and to bestow their and other Church-livings upon Hereticks and to determine of Ecclesiastical matters to forbid the Bishops Clergy and People to acknowledge the Church of Rome or to obey the Precepts or Canonical Sanctions thereof Hath compell'd most of them to obey her wicked Laws and to abjure the Authority and Obedience of the Bishop of Rome and by Oath to acknowledge her to be sole Governess as well in Spiritual as Temporal Affairs Hath impos'd penalties and punishments upon those who obey'd not the same hath exacted them of those who persevered in the Unity of Faith and their foresaid Obedience and hath cast the Catholick Prelates and Parsons into Prison where many of them being spent with long languishing and sorrow miserably ended their lives All which things seeing they are manifest and notorious to all men and by the clearest Testimony of very many so sufficiently proved that there is no place at all left either for excuse defence or evasion We seeing that impieties and wicked actions are multiplyed one upon another and moreover that the Persecution of the Faithful and Affliction for Religion groweth every day heavyer and heavyer through the instigation and means of the said Elizabeth We therefore understanding her minde to be so hardned and obdurate that she hath not onely contemn'd the Godly requests and admonitions of Catholick Princes concerning her amendment and conversion but also hath not so much as permitted the a a Abbot Parpalia 〈…〉 Martiningo 1560 1561. Nuncio's of this See to pass into England are necessitated to betake our selves to the weapons of Justice against her not being able to mitigate our sorrow that we are drawn to take Punishment of one to whose Ancestors all Christendom hath been so much beholden Being therefore supported by his Authority who hath placed Us though unable for so great a burthen in the Supreme Throne of Justice We do out of the fulness of our Apostolical power declare the foresaid heretical Elizabeth being the favourer of Hereticks with all her adherents in the matters aforesaid to have incur'd the sentence of Anathema and to be cut off from the unity of Christs body And we also declare her to be deprived of her pretended Title to the Kingdom aforesaid and
Erfordt who was so zealous in Oth. Meland pag. 521. § 428. his commendations of Boniface Dorneman the little Priest of Hallandorp that he told his Auditors that he was more learned then St. Paul more holy then the Angels and more chaste then the Virgin Mary Or like the German Boor who at Marpurg in Hessia thus saluted and desired the assistance and favour of Judge Burckhard O Eternal and Omnipotent Lord Vicegerent I have heard Id. § 572. that you are the very Devil and all in this Court therefore for Gods sake put an end to my Tryal But now some Princes begin to see their own Rights and Prerogatives are sensible how unworthy their Predecessors have been abused and begin to understand that their Power is Independent neither receiving their Rights from Rome or her Popes but that their Crowns were given them from Heaven and that rather the Popes have been like that Bird in the Fable and made use of of old by the Franciscan Fryar Jehan de Rochetaillade by some Jehan Froissard Chron. Tom. 2. fol. 182 183. Edit 1530. call'd de Rupescissa which Bird being born without Feathers was through Charity relieved and made gay by other Birds and thus perk'd up despis'd her Benefactors who at last not able any longer to suffer her pride and tyranny every Bird pluckt back again their own Feathers leaving her as naked as she was at first And the truth is the Popes have done with the Empire as the Snake in the Fable did with the Husbandman who finding it almost frozen to death in pitty brought it to the fire-side where by the warmth having recover'd strength and vigor all the thanks it return'd was the stinging of the Goodmans Children And for these ungrateful actions many have undertaken to foretel strange Judgements and Calamities to happen upon the Popes But though for mine own part I am no great admirer of our later Prophets and trouble my self with their odd Predictions no farther then for recreation yet seeing the Romanists have put such a strange confidence in those Relations of their Swedish St. Brigit or Birgit as to declare that they were all immediately inspired by God himself and not onely canoniz'd the Lady but by several Bulls and Authorities so confirm'd the truth of her Book that it must not be contradicted yet if they will but seriously look into her Revelations they will finde little reason to boast so much of them seeing they will finde few so Revelat. S. Brigit lib. 1. cap. 41. Zealous as this Saint against the Pope and his Assistants prophesying with bitterness their ruine and destruction That his assumed grand Authority hath of late sensibly decay'd and lost ground is manifest and this Conquest hath been not so much by the Sword as the Pen so that as Adeodate Seba formerly Delit. Poet. Gall. Tom. 3. pag. 678. writ of Luther one against whom many lyes have been publish'd as other men having his passions and failings may also be said of many other learned Pen-men Roma Orbem domuit Romam sibi Papa subegit Viribus illa suis fraudibus iste suis Quantò isto major Lutherus major illa Illum illamque uno qui domuit calamo I nunc Alcidem memorato Graecia mendax Lutheri ad Calamum ferrea clava nihil Rome tam'd the World the Pope Rome Conquer'd tyes She by her force He by deceipts and lyes How greater far then they was Luther when Both him and her he conquer'd with one Pen Go lying Greece vaunt thine Alcides tho' His Club compared with Luthers Pen's a straw But amongst these Learned Worthies I have nothing to do And am apt to think that all this time hath been bestow'd to little purpose either because of mine own insufficiencie or the too much resoluteness of some other people However I might have made better use of my time in regar'd of mine own advantage had I soon enough call'd to minde Juvenal's observation Vester porro labor foecundior Historiarum Sâ—t 7. Scriptores petit hic plus temporis atque olei plus ***** Quae tamen inde seges terrae quis fructus apertae Quis dabit Historico quantum daret act a legenti Do you Historians more then Poets get Although more time and charge your works befit No no what gain you by your toyl where 's he Will give th' Historians an Atturnie Fee In the compiling of this History such as it is I have not dealt with the Romanists as the Hot-headed Puritans us'd to do whose strength of Arguments lye chiefly in canting misapplying Scripture confidence and railing and if they can but make a noise with the Whore of Babylon Antichrist the Beasts Horns c. they suppose the Pope is confuted sure enough at least the good Wives and Children are frighted out of their little wits and take him to be the strangest Monster in the World with so many Heads and Horns insomuch that Pope Vrban VIII did not amiss when he desired some English Gentlemen to do him onely one courtesie viz. to assure their Country-men that he was a man as much as themselves And had he said a better Christian then the Puritan I should not therein have troubled my self to contradict his Infallibility for I think them to be the worst people of all mankinde A Sect that will agree with you in the Fundamentals of Religion but will take miâ—â— and destroy all for a trifle and rather then submit to an innocenâ— Ceremony though impos'd by lawful Authority will ruine Kingdoms Murther Bishops Rebel against their Soveraigâ—â— Banish Queens declare them Traytors Imprison and depose then Kings and make the way as plain as can be for their murâ—â—â— A Sect that will cry down Bishops to possess their lands 〈◊〉 the Kings Great-seal imprison him renounce his Authority and murther his best Subjects and yet cry out they cannot commit Treason In short a Sect that would hate Christ but that he said he came not to bring peace but war As for the Roman Catholick I must needs have a greater kindeness for him then the former fire-brands as being an Adversary more Learned and so to be expected more Civil and Gentile and wherein they differ from us they look upon as Fundamental and so have a greater reason for their dissent then our Phanatical Presbyterians a people not capable of a Commendation nor to be obliged by any Favours their very Constitution being ingratitude as Histories do testifie and King James himself doth acknowledge as much In this Treatise I hope I have behaved my self civilly with the Romanists having forborn all bitterness and railing though the many bloudy and unwarrantable actions that I here meet with might prompt a milder man then my self to some indignation which may somewhat Apologize for me if by chance any do either meet with or fancie a stricture or retort tending to dislike And yet I dare boldly say that they shall not finde any such heavy Censures
Bernard though f Anno 1131. Sect. 4. Baronius himself cannot believe that he was the Author of it Yet good Bernard knew not all things nor in some things could he see any farther than that blinde Age in which he lived would allow him nor will I take upon me to censure him of flattery for his thus complementing with his Holiness g Beâ—nard de Considerat ad Eugenium sib 2. cap. 8. Thou art the Prime of all Bishops the Heir of the Apostles an Abel for Primacy a Noah for Government an Abraham by Patriarchship a Melchisedech by Order Aaron by Dignity Moses by Authority Samuel by Judicature Peter by Power Christ by Vnction c. And this piece of canting Courtship was taken up by the Arch-bishop h Vid Abrah Bzov. Rom. Pent. c. 6. p. 56. Stephanus Tigliatius and bestowed upon Innocent the Eighth with some Additions But we might go higher yet and see what goodly Priviledges Gregory the Seventh got an Assembly at Rome to bestow upon him as that i Bâ—oâ— Anno 1076. Sect 31 3â— 33. onely the Pope of Rome can depose Bishops That he onely according to the Times may make Laws That he onely may use the Imperial Ensigns That all the Princes are to kiss his feet That he can depose Emperours and Translate Bishops That no Synod can be held without his command nor any Book is Canonical without his Authority That he is undoubtedly made k Vid. Dist 40. â— Noa nos Holy by the Merits of St. Peter That there is but one name in the World i. e. the Pope Nor can such Extravagances as these seem strange to any who is acquainted with their writings and stories the Popes themselves not a little delighting in these Flatteries and accordingly they never want such complying Pick-thanks Thus Fernando de Velasco in behalf of his Master John the Second King of Vid. Bzov. de Rom. Pont. c. 6. p. 56 57 58 66. Portugal applyed that to Innocent the Eighth which the Apostle speaks of Christ viz. That he is a Ephes 1. 21. far above all Principality and Power and every name that is named not onely in this world but also in that which is to come and that he is the Sun and Light of the World Thus Scala the Florentine Ambassador told the same Pope That his Dignity was so great that a more Excellent could not be invented or fancyed on Earth Nay that to dispute or doubt of his Power is no less than Sacriledge as Cheurer flattered him from the Duke of Savoy Julius the Second was told by Diego Pacettus Envoy from Emanuel King of Portugal That he was the Door-keeper of Heaven and held the Keys of eternal Life And Bernardus Justinianus Agent from the Venetians assured Pope Paul the Second that b Cui claudere Coelos aperire detrudere ad Inferos eruere quoscunque velit concessum he could damn and save whom he pleased Which was also affirm'd to Julius the Second by Michael Risius from Lewis the Twelfth of France with this Addition that the Necks of all Kings and Princes must submit to him Narius Bandinaeus Ambassador from Sienna fob'd up Pope Paul the Third with the Epithites of The Father of Godliness Day-star of Justice Prince of Faith Chiestain of Religion Arbitrator of all things Saviour of Christians and Image of Divinity And as if the Princes of Italy strove in the magnifying of his Holiness the Ambassadors of Genoa Sienna Lucca Venice Florence Parma Milan and Ferrara humbly told Leo the Tenth That he excell'd all Kings as much as the Sun doth the Moon And well might these petit Potentates thus tumble themselves before their Infallible Chair when the great French Monarch Francis the Second by his Deputy Johannes Babo à Burdaesia did creenge to Pius the Fourth in the acknowledgement that all Laws depended upon his pleasure that Kings threw themselves down at his feet and Heaven opens at his will and that his pleasure did stand for a Law as his voice for an Oracle Pope Pius the Fifth was once told that the whole world lay at his Feet And Sixtus the Fifth that Princes Kings and Emperours were so much subject to him that they should not onely attend upon him but worship and adore him Which if true then Aquinas was not amiss when as they say he told the world That * Vid. Bzov. pag. 53 55. our Kings ought to be as much subject to him as to Christ himself Nor those others who with the German have declared that all must be obedient to him upon pain of Salvation according to the Decree of d Extra Com. de Major Obed. c. Uâ—am sanctam Boniface the Eighth Their Canon-Law tells us that Christ received St. Peter into the e Sext. de Electione cap. Fundamenta Fellowship of his undivided Vnity Informs us that as f Dist 12. c. Non decet Christ did the Will of his Father so we should do the will of the Church of Rome That g Dist 19. c. Sic omnes all the Orders of that Church ought to be held as if St. Peter himself had proposed them to us And therefore are h Ib. c. Enimvero perpetually and inviolably to be observed And so are the Papal decretal Letters which they say are to be i Ib. c. In Canonicis numbred amongst the Canonical Scriptures Nor is any man k Caus 17. Q. 4. Dist 81. c. Si qui sunt c. Nemini est to judge or revoke the Popes sentence For the l Paul Lancelottus Institut juris Can. l. 1. Tit. 3. c. Decreta Decrees of the Popes are of equal force and authority with the Canons of Councils And good Reason since they Decree that every one is to be m Extra Com. de Major Obed. c. Unam sanctam obedient to the Pope upon pain of damnation and so must we believe that n Extra Com. Tit. 1. c. Super Gentes all Nations and Kingdoms are under the Popes jurisdiction And that o Extra Joh. XXII Tit. 5. Dist 22. c. Omnes Gloss God hath delivered over to him the Power and Rule of Heaven and Earth And well may he thus triumph over Principalities Powers since the Glossaries have the confidence to assure us that he a Naturam rerum immutat substantialia unius rei applicando aliis de nihilo aliquid facere potâ—st sententiam quae nulla est facit aliquam In his quae vult ei est pro ratione voluntas Nec est qui ei dicat Cur ita facis Ipse enim potest supra jus dispensare de injustitia potest facerc justitiam corrigendo jura mutando Decret Greg. lib. 1. Tit. 7. c. Quanto perjonam Gloss Sect. Veri Dei vicâ—m can change the Nature of Things make or rather create something out of nothing since his will must stand for a Law nor must any man
Nardius saith We have no reason to look upon this Authority as a strange thing since f Constituit namque dominus vicarium suum super gentes Regna potestatenque ei dedit amplâ—ssimam ut evellat distâ—uat desâ—eâ—â—at aed ficet plantet B. Nard Expunctiones cap. 4. pag. 172 173. God set the Pope over the whole World not onely to establish and plaint but also to abolish and destroy And no less man than Johannes de Capistrano tell us that of this power we need not doubt it being now as g Clarum est hodie quod ex justa causa Papa potest Imperatorem deponere privare Jo. à Caâ—ist de Papae sive Ecclesiae â—â—torit fol. 61. â— clear as the Noon-day that the Pope may sometimes depose the Emperour And at this positive Doctrine none must so much as smile or seem offended for of this Book thus sings his Country-man Antonius Amicius Quis te Docte liber vel subsannare cachinno Audeat aut saevo rodere dente queat Cum graviter reseres decus sublimia sceptra Pontificis summi Conciliique simul And a great deal of ado and some money hath been spent by the Franciscans and others to get this man Sainted but how it thrives I know not As h Qâ—aest Criminale p. 173. Sect 9. Didacus Cantera from the Canon-Law so i De Beneâ—â—â—â—is lib â— cap. 4. Franciscus Duarenus by few Examples and as little Reason assert the Popes Authority in deposing Kings And I think k 〈◊〉 sâ—lâ—ct lib. 1. cap. â— paâ— 17. Antonius Possevinus will not be displeased with the Prerogative since he tells us that the Scepters of Kings humble themselves to the Popes feet and that Christian Kings are not so positively of Gods apppointment but they must have his Holiness to confirm their Crowns And l In 2. 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—1 Sect. â—d â—â—â—â—â—m Franciscus Sylvius Doctor and Professor at Doway though he will not allow the Pope to depose Kings upon every toy yet he denyeth not but that there may be Reason sometimes for thus pulling down of Kings And if we consult m Loca ple 〈…〉 67. pag. â—â—6 31â— 3â—◠〈◊〉 Gregorius Polydorius we shall finde him rather to outstrip than come short of the former And this he thought would not be unpleasing to Vrban the Eighth And to this Italian we may add Antonius Cordubensis who in this cause speaks out freely that the n 〈…〉 pâ—â—â—ciâ—â—◠〈…〉 alios tollere 〈…〉 Qâ—â—st Thâ—â—lâ—g 〈…〉 Pope cannot onely do every thing that secular Princes can but also make New Princes and pull down the Old And to this Spaniard may be joyned a Theolog. Moral Tom. 2. v. Papa Sect 10. Franciscus Ghetius of Corno being of the same Opinion moved thereto by pretty Reasons viz. Example as if Emperours had not formerly done the same to Popes and because as the soul rules the body so may the Spiritual Popes triumph over Temporal Monarchs If these Arguments of this Milanois do not sufficiently convince you Rutilius Benzonius a trusty Roman will think to do it with his thrid-bare Allusion of Heretical Kings to Wolves and so they may be b Jus deponeâ—di abdicandi è solio Reges ac Principes non solum Ecclesiae sed interdum populis competere ratione exemplis osâ—â—enditâ—r Potest i. e. the Pope ipso Principes ac Reges si ex ove aut ariete evadant lupi i. e. ex Christiani fiant Haeretici privare dominio c. Rut. Benzon Com. in Canticum Magnificat lib. 3. cap. 27. dub 6. p. 134. turned from their Kingdoms not onely by the Pope but also by the people forsooth yet he would have them to take advice of his Holiness before they began their Rebellion and then I warrant you they are as surely free from that Crime we call Treason as the Chappel of Loretto of which this Author was Bishop was dapperly carryed by Angels through the Air. And in the Popes great Power in Temporals in another of his c Disput de Immunitate Eccles contra Venetos pag. 68. Books he gives us some hint And yet if after all these thwacking Arguments you do not finde your self convinced and will not believe the truth and honesty of this King-deposing Article you may assure your self to be no less than an Heretick for Johannes de Solarzano tells us plainly that not to believe that the Pope can depose Kings is and that deservedly Haec opinio merito ut Haeretica jampâ—idem damnata est Jo. de Solarz de Indiarum jure lib. 2. cap. 22. Sect. 4. too declared and damn'd for an Heresie This may be good Doctrine to preach amongst the Indians the Spaniard pleading most of his Right from the Popes Gift And so whether the Author by his Office relating to those places might be encouraged to propagate such Principles let others conclude yet probably he might have spared his dedicating of them to the present King of Spain who two to one if the State came in Question would scarce consent to the Canon let the Heresie lye where it would From the same Root doth his Country-man d In 2. 2. Tho. pag. 224. Petrus de Aragon draw his Authority that Princes may sometimes lawfully loose their Rule over their Subjects and so doth the great Portugal Lawyer e Pastoral Sollicitud part 1. p. 250. Sect. 90 91. Augustinus Barboza that the Pope can depose the Emperour f Disputat l. 3. c. 5. p. 371. Marius Alterius runs upon the same account and so doth Bishop Johan Maria Bellettus but that he thrusts up the Authority a little higher than the former affirming that this deposing of the King may not g Et non solum propter Haeresim aut Schisma sed etiam propter aliud crimen intolerabile ac etiam propter insufficientiam Jo. Mar. Bellet Disquisitio Clericalis part 1. pag. 282. Sect. 109 100. onely be for his Heresie or Schism but for any other intolerable Crime or if he be not sufficient and not fit to Rule To which there needs no Reply but what if the Lyon do judge the Fox's Ears to be Horns With all this doth agree Raymundus de Pennafuerte telling us that if he be h Non solum propter Haeresim sed etiam propter negligentiam contra Haeresim extirpandam potest non solum excommunicari ab Ecclesia sed etiam deponi suerit inutilis dissolutus negligens circa Regimen justitiam observandam S. Raym. Summa lib 1. Tit. de Haereticis Sect. 7. pag. 41. negligent to extripate Heresie to do Justice in his Government unprofitable or loose the Pope may then take his Kingdom from him Whether this Doctrine was any motive not long ago to Clement the Eighth for Canonizing this man for a Saint or those vast sums of money gather'd in Catalonia where this Raymond was born for the
at last falls into a fury and rails pertly against those who think that the d Id. Numb 145. Pope hath no jurisdiction this way in France nor can depose Haeretical Kings This is good stuff but of a far older date than this Spanish print for above three hundred years ago Augustinus Triumphus de Ancona being desired by John XXII to vindicate the Papal jurisdiction amongst other grand Prerogatives which he attributes to his Holiness are these two the e Unde puto quod Papa justa rationabili causa existente per seipsum possit Imperatorem eligere Aug. Tâ—i. de potest Eccles Quaest election of Emperours and Kings and the f 35. Art 1. Quest 37. Art 5. Quest 46. Art 3. Id. Quest 4. Art 1. Potest ergo teâ— renum Imperatorem deponere Id. Art 2. Merito Imperator est deponendus Id. Quest 46. Art 2. Papa potest Reges deponere dubium non est deposing of them again and of this latter he saith there is no doubt This Poysonous Principle is also maintained by the Venetian g De Imperat Magist Orig. Quaero 4. Numb 7. Petrus à Monte Bishop of Brescia and the Methodical Dominican h Summa v. Papa Numb 10 11. Sylvester de Prierio and therefore might well expect a golden Rose from Pope Leo the Tenth And to him we shall joyn a learned Spaniard of the same Order i In quartum sentent dist 25. quaest 2. art 1 Numb Tertio Ad horum tamen secundâ—â— ad eandem Dominicus Soto who though Confessor to Charles the Fifth yet probably never troubled him about this point And next to this shall follow another of the same Country and Relation to Charles the Fifth k Hoc dominium etiam a mittitur per haer esim manifestum ita quod Rex factus Haereficus ipso jure Regâ—o suo privatus nec mirari debet aliquis quod Papa propter Haeresis crimen Regem a Regia dignitate deponar Regno privet Alph. à Castro de justa Haereticorum punit lib. 2. c. 7. col 1245 1246. Alphonsus a Castro who affirms it to be without dispute That if a King turn Heretick he hath no right to his Kingdom and so no man ought to think it strange if the Pope depose him But Ploydon when he saw himself concern'd could say The case is altered and there is never a Ruler amongst them but would think it odd to loose a Kingdom by a Fiat from Rome yet they go on to propagate this doctrine and amongst the rest Cunerus Bishop of Leweerden thinks it very fitting for an a Si Princeps haeâ—eticus sit obstinate vel peâ—â—inaciter intolerabilis deponi potest Cuner de Offic. Princip c. 8. p. 76 77. heretical King to be deposed and another appointed in his place And next to him shall follow one though no Bishop yet of such noted learning that Vittoria the chief Town of Alava in Old Castile doth think it no small honour to have brought forth and given a Name to such a famous Dominican as Franciscus a Victoria yet for all his parts he dotes too much upon this Papal Authority affirming that he cannot onely b Potest non solum omnia quae Principes seculares possunt sed sacere novos Principes tollere alios Imperia divideâ—e pleraque alia Fr. à Victor Relect. Theolog. Relect. 1. Sect. 6. Numb 12. do what our secular Monarchs can do but also turn them from their Thrones and set up new Potentates And from the Canon-Law doth the Lawyer c De successione Regum dub 1. Numb 30. Guiliclmus de Monserrat suck in the same Doctrine And though another of the same Profession d In Mo'inaeum pag. 106. Remondus Rufus seem unwilling either to meddle with the Popes power in this case or when he took upon him such Authority yet by his signs and hints one may have some reason to suppose his agreement with the rest But some other Lawyers of a far greater account leave off hinting and speak more boldly to the purpose as e Repet in C. canon Statuta de Constitur Numb 9. Petrus de Ancharano the famous Italian f Cod. de legibus l. Si Imperialis Numb 4. Bartolus de Saxaferrato and his no less learned Pupil and Scholar g Cod. de precibus Imperat. offeren l. Rescripta Numb 8. Baldus the noted Frenchman h Repet in C. Novit de judic Numb 127. Johannes Quintinus i Speculum lib. 1. Partiâ— 1. Tit. de legato Numb Nunc ostendendum Numb 17. Guillielmus Durandus commonly known by the name of Speculator Bishop of Mande and Scholar to Hostiensis and k In Cod. lib. 1. de sum Trinit fid Cath. Numb 13. Johannes Faber nor doth l Practica Criminialis quaest 35. Numb 6. Julius Clarus permit the Pope to part with this jurisdiction And if you any way doubt of the meaning of the last Vrbanus Cancellarius a Spoleto will refer you to an Expositor in this quibling Distick Clarior ut fiat Clarus sua Clara Johannes Baptista his jungit Lumina luminibus That Clarus might be more clear Don John Baptista Adds his clear lights to take away the mist-a And in obedience to his Poetry let us consult the Annotations of Johannes Baptista Baiardus and the case will be as plain then as a Pike-staff there he telling us that the m Adde quod Imperator à Papa potest deponi excommunicati propter haeresim Sacrilegium Perjurium exinanitionem seudi quod ab Ecclesia tenet c. Jo. Bap. Baiard Additiones ad Julii Clari Practicam Criminalem Quaest 35. Numb 6. Pope may depose the Emperour for several Reasons amongst which he puts Perjury and Sacriledge two notable pretences for the Pope ever to take hold on at a dead lift Our Country-man n In lib. Sapient Numb 300. Robert Holaote saith it belongs to the Bishop of Rome to make the Emperour and to see that fit Kings be chosen but Alphonsus Alvarez Guerrero concerns himself most with the Popes power in pulling down Monarchs and therefore he tells us that a Nonne igitur justè Julius II. Johannem Regem Navarra schismaticum haereticum Apostolicae sedis hostem publicum atque reum lesae Majestatis declaravit Reghumque omnia ejus bona publicavit primo occupanti atque nominatim Catholico Regi Hispaniarum concessit Potestque ita Papa Principes Apostantes à fide privare dominio temporali quod habent super fideles Alph. Alvar. Speculum vel Thesaurus cap. 16. Numb 8. cap. 31 Numb 17. Julius the Second did very well and justly to declare John Albret King of Navarre to be a Schismatick Haeretick an enemy to the Church nay and a Traytor too and so to give his Kingdom away from him to the Spanish King for he forsooth hath power to depose Kings And much about the same Opinion
fault he quite looseth his Right and Authority over his Subjects Of the same humour is g De Catholicis Institut Tit. 46. Numb 74 75. Tit. 23. Numb 11. Jacobus Simancas and with this Doctrine as the former claw'd Paul the Fifth so doth this Spaniard fob up Gregory the Thirteenth Nor will he have the Father onely to loose his Kingdom Propter Haeresim Regis non solum Rex Regno privatur sed ejus filii à Regni successione pelluntur Salman Tit. 9. Numb 259. but he also agrees with these who throw out the Children too Though this Author would once dispute whether a Divine or Lawyer would make the best Bishop yet here we need make no Controversie which of the Faculties amongst them is the best assertor of this seditious Doctrine since we see by experience that both Parties do their utmost to uphold it 'T is said that the fields adjoying to Badaioz of which this Simancas was Prelate are so pestered with the multitude of Locusts that the King is forced to provide many men for the burning of them And it would do well if he and others by punishment would restrain the publishing and maintaining of such mischievous Principles within their Dominions Another Spaniard and a famous Jesuite h De justitia Tom. 1. Tract 2. disp 29. col 213 214. Ludovicus Molina though at first he seems a little modest in respect of the Pope but would have the Subjects take upon them to chastise their Kings yet that a little advice from his Holiness would do no harm However the farther he goeth the more he imbraceth this jurisdiction of Rome and then at last in several places boldly affirms the a Potest summus Pontifex depone Reges eosque Regnis suis privare Molin de just Tom. 1. col 217. Id. Col. 225. Imperatoris depositionem ex justa causa pertinere ad summum Pontificem Id. Col. 220. posse summum Pont. deponere Reges eaque ratione merito transtulisse Imperium à Graecis ad Germanos deposuisseque Hildericum privasse Regni administratione quendam Lusitanice Regem Id. Col. 221. si Princeps aliquis Haereticus aut Schismaticus fieret posset summus Pont. uti adversus eum gladio Temporali procedereque usque ad depositionem expulsionem illius à Regno Popes power in deposing Kings A Doctrine which I dare say he never learned from that pious Manuel of his darling and daily companion Thomas à Kempis and yet this durst he offer to the King of Spain Another Spaniard but a Dominican Petrus de Ledesma tells the people pretty stories how to get rid of their Kings for if the Prince as he saith be an Heretick and that crime by his cunning cannot be sufficiently proved against him then let him publickly be excommunicated and all is as sure as a gun for Post sententiam declarativum de crimines haeresis aut Apostasiae Princeps injuste possidet Principatum inique dominatur in Subditos qui si viribus polleant tenentur se eximere ab ejus obedientia bellum ipsi inferre Petr. de Ledesm Theologia Moralis Tract 1. cap. 7. conclus 6 7. Id. Conclus 5. Quam primum quis declaratur excommunicatus propter Apostasiam à fide aut haeresim privatur dominio jurisdictione in subditos si quos habet subditi absolvuntur à juramento fidelitatis quo antea tenebantur by this means he is absolutely deprived of all Rule whatever and his Subjects are obliged if they be able to raise war against him and root him out for as he saith by the aforesaid Excommunication they are all absolved from their Obedience and Oath of Allegiance which they formerly owed to him And this he tells us is the judgement of Thomas Aquinas and all his followers And I think in this he doth not at all wrong this famous School-man who was so great a Champion for the Romish See that at last he was Canonized Quam cito aliqui per sententiam denuntiatur excommunicatus propter Apostasiam à fide ipso facto ejus subdito sunt absoluti à dominio ejus juramento fidelitatis quo eitenebantur Tho. Aquin. 2. 2. q. 12. art 2. by John XXII yet for all his title of Angelical Doctor he could maintain the black position that Subjects were not to obey nor acknowledge Excommunicated Princes And some of the Thomists to make the Authority of Temporal Monarchs less valid make use of his Book de Regimine Principis but to what purpose I know not However b Desceptat Calvin pag. 152. Franciscus Panicarola the preaching and worded Bishop of Asti is no enemy to the Popes coercive Authority over Princes That the Italian Dominican c De literali ac Mystica Regularum juris Canon interpretat Quest 2. art 4. punct 2. Numb 25 26 27. Quest 3. art 9. Numb 101. pag. 270. Paulus Carraria is a great magnifier of the Popes power in Temporals need not be long in proving if we do but consider what Laws and Examples he makes use of to shew that Kings may be deposed and Kingdoms given away by him And to him we may joyn another of the same Order d Summa de Exemplis lib. 8. cap. 60. Johannes à S. Geminiano since they both go the same way and upon the same errand Gregotius Nunnius Coronel though but a Portugal Augustan Mendicant Fryar yet is as furious and proud as the best of them against Temporal Government and it may be for this fault Clement the Eighth and Paul the Fifth were so kinde to him and got him to Rome to be neer them He declares that if they a â—â—â—g Nâ—n. Cor. dâ— veâ—a Christi Eccles lib. 9. pag. â—45 Tâ—â—◠〈…〉 quan â—egiâ— poâ—â—taâ—e privaâ—◠〈◊〉 â—s sui vi authoritate câ—â—litus sibi â—radit◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will not be obedient to his Church then may the Pope by his great power from Heaven very justly turn them from all their Royalties and Government Nay that sometimes the b Id. Pag. â—69 In illos aâ—ma capiant tanquam Regio dâ—demate 〈◊〉 a sede 〈◊〉 agnoscaâ—t Subjects themselves if the Pope bid them must take up arms against them and dethrone them And in another of his Books he saith that an c De optimo Relpub 〈◊〉 lib. 3. c. 13. pag. 508 â—â—9 p. 511. Râ—x â—â—pâ—s â—aeâ—â—icorum dogmaticus â—â—â—â—mato animo 〈◊〉 à Regâ—◠〈◊〉 aâ— administratione Imperâ—â— quod in Christianos habet amo 〈…〉 Heretical King must not be permitted to rule but turned from his Kingdom anâ— this not onely for Heresie but also if d Id. Cap. 14 pag. 521. Si Reges Principes gravissiâ—â— â—int dediâ—â—â—eleâ—bus efficâ—tor proculdubio uâ—â—x his dâ—abus caâ—sis justissime Rom. Pont. possit acriâ—er in Reges animadâ— ertere cos a Regalâ— solio muneâ—is â—â— poâ—â—staâ—â— dâ—â—rbare he be given to to any great
which wicked means their Popes make themselves also guilty and other ways they have been sufficiently infamous for this Gregory the Twelfth is in this case noted in story for having taken a solemn Oath that if he were chosen Pope he would lay down the Title and Authority again if Pedro de Luna an Anti-pope would do so too the better to quell the Schism but having thus obtained the Papacy I shall refer you to c De schismate lib. 3. Theodore à Niem to see how he cheated and jugled against his former Oath not onely in this but also in creating Cardinals and the Perjury of Paschal the Morney pag. 287. Second against the Emperour Henry the Fourth is as notorious V. Feuardentius saith that if a King be guilty of Murther he may Com in Est pag. 92. justly be deposed though he do nothing with his own hands but consent to other Instruments Though the crime be great yet Interest will oft judge amiss Boucher and Verone look upon those as Murtherers who caus'd the deaths of Clement and Chastel though the first stab'd Henry the Third and the other indeavoured to kill Henry the Fourth of France And the Jesuite Garnet hath been several times publish'd a Martyr though he worthily suffer'd for high Treason in not discovering the Powder-treason though he knew of the design But if these may go for Martyrs I know no reason but Pope Paul the Third may pass for a Saint for poysoning his Mother and Nephew that the Palâ—us lib. 5. whole Inheritance of the Fernese of which Family he was might come to him and for destroying by the same means his own Sister because she was as kinde to others imbraces as his own And upon the same account might Alexander the Sixth be canoniz'd for poysoning a Gâ—â—ccâ—ardin lib. 2. Gemes brother to the great Turk for filthy Avarice as he also did several b Id. lâ—b 6. Cardinals upon the same account VI. The same Franciscan assures the world that if a King be guilty Com. in Fâ—â—h pag. 96 of Simony by selling Ecclesiastical Benefits he may be deposed This fault I suppose to be below Monarchs who have several lawful means to fill their Coffers but I wish it were not practised so much as it is by those who are but fellow-subjects with the buyers And the worldly gallant who useth it may probably have his purchasing Parson a roaring Chaplain to his wicked Patronship in a world fitted for the covetous but we shall not at this time follow Truth too neer the heels But were not this Vice beneficial Pope Paul Platina the Second would not have been so given to it who basely sold all the Benefits both Civil and Ecclesiastical And Alexander the Sixth Gâ—â—ccâ—ardin lib. 1. got the Popedom more by Simony than any desert in himself VII c Bannes in 2. 2. q. 12. art 3. col 478. Valent. Tom. 3. disp 1. quaest 12. punct 2. Pâ—tr de Aragon in 2. 2. D. Tho. pag. 229. Hieron de Medicis in 2. 2. q. 12. art 2. conclus 2. Baleus Act. Pont. Estienne Apol pour Herodot pag. 292. Others of them say that a King may be deposed for Apostacie And I warrant you they will make the interpretation of the word submit to their pleasures Yet in the mean time we are told how true I know not that Pope Leo the Tenth should call the History of Christ a fable and that Paul the Third in anger once said that he would renounce Christ if the Procession went not faster on VIII If a King be guilty of d Jo. Bapt. Plotus Consilium § 64. Jo. Bapt. Bolard addit ad Julii Clari pract Crim. q. 35. § 6. Feuard pag. 93. Sacriledge they say he may justly be deprived and yet who hath been more criminal in this than some of their Popes Alexander the Sixth was so noted for it that this Distick was made of him Vendit Alexander Cruces Altaria Christum Emerit ipse prius vendere jure potest Alexander sold his Altars Christ and Crosses He bought so sold them men live not by losses And upon Leo the Tenth Sannazarius the famous Neapolitan Poet made this smart Sarcasm Sacra sub extrema si forte requiritis hora Cur Leo non potuit sumere vendiderat Leo could have the Sacrament no more Though dying ' cause he 'd sold it long before And e Ann. 1229. pag. 362. Matthew Paris assures us that Pope Gregory the Ninth was such a gaper after Church-moneys that the Bishops in England were forced to sell and pawn all their Plate and Furniture belonging to the Altar to satisfie him And whether Authority doth commit Sacriledge in commanding Images to be taken out of Churches let the busie Bigots determine yet History will tell us that Pope Gregory the Third proceeded against the Emperour Leo for the same account IX If a King be a a Azorius Institut lib. 10. cap. 8. lib. 11. cap. 6. Suarez defens fid lib. 6. c. 4. § 22. Feuard p. 91. Jo. Mar. Bellettus disquisit Clericalis pag. 282. § 209 210. Alph. Alvarez Speculum cap. 16. § 8. Petr. de Palude Art 4. Lud. a Paramo de origine S. Inquisit lib. 1. cap. 1. Greg. Nunnius Coronel de optimo Reipub statu pag. 545. Jo. Anton. Delphinus de potestate Eccles pag. 154. Schismatick or a favourer of Schismaticks they say he may then be deposed And yet no Church hath been so much rent with Schisms as that of Rome having sometimes at the same time several men declaring themselves to be the true Popes and justly elected and every one of them having some Prince or other to stand by them and at last 't was sometimes carried by strong hand And that which began in Pope Vrban the Sixth's time was so long and violent that it lasted fifty years X. We are told that for violence done to Cardinals the King guilty Feuardent pag. 94. of that crime may be deposed A people at first but of common repute being but Priests or Deacons belonging to this or that Church and so far inferiour to Bishops though since that the Popes have rais'd them to be next to themselves and equal to Kings and Princes and now carry such a sway in that all-ruling Court at Rome that happy is that Monarch that can get a friend by much begging and greazing to be honour'd with that title and sometimes a red Hat covers both youth and ignorance Many of these have imploy'd themselves in secular affairs and if L'Homme d'estat pag. 257 c. either in this or the other they become faulty there is no reason but that they are lyable to punishment as well as their Neighbours if Queen Elizabeth had got Cardinal Allen into her custody she might with more reason have punish'd him for his many Treasons against her and his Country by declaring her to be no true Queen and in assisting the Spaniards against
since But let us proceed this Julius the Second it may be being troubled at the clamours against the Simoniacal election of Alexander the Sixth a Pope composed of wickedness with the consent of his Cardinals in Consistory made a notable Bull to prevent these inconveniencies part of which take as followeth Nos de fratrum nostrum S. R. E. Cardinalium concilio unanimt concensu hac nostra perpetuo valitura Constitutione Apostolica authoritate de potestatis nostra plenitudine Statuimus Ordinamus Decernimus Definimus Quod si quod Deus sua Clementia ineffabili bonitate avertat contigerit postquam nos vel successores nostros successivè ipse Deus ab hujusmodi universali Ecclesiae Regimine absolverit humani generis inimico procurante Ambitione vel cupiditate ad hoc inclinate seu impellente electionem Rom. Pontificis ab eo quem eligi contigerit vel ab aliquo seu aliquibus de Coetu Cardinalium quomodo libet votum dantibus per Simoniacam haeresim in dando promittendo vel recipiendo Pecunias Bona cujusque generis Castra Officia vel Beneficia seu promissiones obligationes commissam per se vel per alium seu alios quomodocunque qualitercunque etiam in duorum partium vel omnium Cardinalium unanimi concordia quomodo libet etiam per viam Assumptionis unanimiter nemine discrepante etiam sine Scrutinio facto celebrari vel fieri Non solum hujusmodi Electio vel Assumptio eo ipso nulla existat nullam eidem sic electo vel Assumpto administrandi in spiritualibus Temporalibus facultatem tribuat sed etiam contra dictum sic Electum vel Assumptuus de Simoniaca labe à quocunque Cardinali qui eidem Electioni interfuerit apponi excipi possit sicut de vera indubitata Haeresi ita quod à nullo pro Rom. Pontifice habeatur Quinimo ipso sic Electus à priori suo Cardinalatus alio quocunque honore Ecclesiis Cathedralibus etiam Metropolitanis Patriarchalibus Monasteriis Dignitatibus aliis quibuscunque Beneficiis Peasionibus quae tunc obtinebat in Titulum vel in Commendam aut alias quomodocunque eo ipso absque alia declaratione privatus existat Et Idem Electus non Apostolicus sed Apostaticus tanquam Simoniacus Haeresiarcha ad praedicta omnia singula perpetuo inhabilis habeatur sit Nec hujusmodi Simoniaca Electio per subsequentem ipsius Inthronizationem seu temporis cursum aut etiam omnium Cardinalium Adorationem seu Obedientiam ullo unquam tempore convolescat c. Datum Romae aput S. Petrum 1505. With the advice and unanimous consent of our Brothers the Cardinals of the holy Church of Rome By this our perpetual Constitution Apostolical Authority and fulness of our power We do Appoint Ordain Decree and Determine That if it shall hereafter fall out which God of his mercy and goodness prevent that when we or our Successors shall by Gods appointment be removed from the Government of this Universal Church that then through the Devils malice the Enemy of Maâ—kinde or the Ambition or Coverouâ—ess of the Chusers the Election of the new Pope be made and done either by him who is so chosen or by any other or more of the Colledge of Cardinals by the Heresie of Simoniacal Compact by giving promising or receiving monies or goods of any kind or Lands or Castles or Offices or Benefices or by making any other Promise or Obligation whatsoever whether it be by themselves or any other or others or what other way soever it be and whether that Election be accomplish'd by two parts or unanimous consent of all the Cardinals and whether it be by Assumption or Adoration all agreeing though without Writing or Scrutiny yet that the Election or Assumption so made shall be from that very moment Void and of none Effect And that no power or faculty shall accrew thereby to him so thrust in of any Administration Government or Jurisdiction in matters Spiritual or Temporal But also that it shall and may be lawful to any Cardinal present at the same Election to except against the same Elected or Intruder to call him in Question for the crime of Simony as of a true and undoubted Heresie that so he may be accounted and held of all men as no Pope or Bishop Rome And moreover that he thus Elected shall hereby from that time forward though without a Declaration remain deprived of his Cardinalship and any other honour whatsoever whether Cathedral Metropolitan or Patriarchal Churches Monasteries Dignities and all other Benefices and Pensions which then he either held by Title or in Commendam And that he thus Elected shall not be held as Apostolical but as an Apostate one guilty of Simony and an Arch-heretick and never to be capable to enjoy or have all or any of the aforesaid Benefits Neither shall such Simoniacal Election be any time afterwards made good or be in force by any subsequent Inthronization Adoration or Obedience or homage done to him by the Cardinals or by any Continuance or Course of time c. Given at Rome 1505. Having thus seen the severe Bull for the avoiding and annihilating of Elections obtain'd by Simony or suchlike illegal means let us now see whether it hath been observed or no and if not according to their own Law down falleth succession Pope Gregory the Thirteenth being a An. 1585. dead the Cardinals in the Conclave according to custom fell into several Factions about the Election some being for de la Terre some for Tarnesius some approved Savellius others favour'd Sertettus Castagneus wanted not Friends Paleotto had hopes and others were now and then thought on Fernesius headed one party Altemps another Alexandrino a third S. Sixtus by his Authority carryed a great stroke there de Medici ruled some and Aloysius de Este Son to the Duke of Ferrara had a great party of Cardinals at his Devotion These heads of interest drawing several ways inlarged the Faction at last Cardinal Montalto had some hopes finding Alexandrino and de Medici his Friends and at last to stand really for him but these with their dependants not being strong enough to carry it he gets some to tamper with S. Sixtus whilst himself feels the pulse of Aloysius de Este with whom at last he strikes up a Bargain the Condition of which was this That whereas there was one Hieronymus Matthaeus a Roman Bishop of great esteem in the Court but one that de Este above all men hated that if Montalto would promise never to make this Matthaeus Cardinal Aloysius would give his own voyce and the suffrages of all those Cardinals who were many depending on him to make the said Montalto Pope this was agreed on between them to which Montalto did not onely give him his promise by mouth but by open writing subscribed and ratified under his own hand and so he carryed
statuit sedem Romanae Ecclesiae ut Caput esset omnium Ecclesiarum quia Ecclesia Constant â—â—â—politana primum se omnium Ecclesiarum scribebat Paul Diac. de gessis Romanorum lib. 18. in vit Phocae Head or Chief of all other Churches and this in opposition to the Constantinopolitan Church which had appropriated to her self the stile of the first Church And her Patriarchs had took upon them the Title of Vniversal Bishops which greatly troubled this Gregory the First who in opposition to that other f Prophane and g As Gregory himself call'd it Blasphemous Title viz. Vniversal but now made use of by all Popes termed himself the servant of servants of God upon which Title their h 1 Q. 7. c. Quoties cordâ—s Gloss per te Gloss affords us this Distich Servi erant tibi Roma prius Domini Dominorum Servorum Servi nunc tibi sunt Domini The greatest Kings once serv'd thee Rome but now To th' least of servants thou thy neck dost bow This Title hath been ever since used by his Successors and not onely by them but also other Bishops sometimes write themselves so as a Epist to Hâ—nâ—mer of France Rabanus of Mentz b Will. Somners Antiq. of Cant. Agelnoth of Canterbury c Coquaeus Tom. 2. p. 70. Anselme of Ravenna d Ib. S. Augustin himself and many others and indeed they confess that that Title is e Coeffeteau pag. 807. il est commum à tous les Evesques common to all other Bishops and so is the word f Vid. Fran. Duaren de sacris Eccles Minist lib. 1. cap. 10. Papa too But though Pope Gregory stiled himself so humbly yet we are told that he declared that he had Authority to depose the greatest Kings in proof of which thus they frame their Arguments About the time that this Gregory the Great was a Young man there flourish'd in France one Medard famous as they say for his holiness and miracles and since Sainted who was at the same time Bishop of two Places viz Noyon in Picardy and Tourney in Flanders and this by the Popes approbation though I doubt that Monsieur g Hist des Saints Tom. 1. p. 689. Gazet is out when he makes it to be Pope Hormisda who must have dyed before this according to the computation of h Hist Episc Gal. p. 310. Chenu St. Medard dying King Clotaire had his body carryed to Soissons in Picardy and there buryed where he began to build a Church for him but being murder'd his Son Sigebert finished it To this they say this i Lib. 2. Indict 11. post Epist 38. Gregory the First gave great Priviledges with an express Order that that King or Potentate should be degraded or k Fran. Bozzius de Temporal Monarch p. 225. Bellarm de Rom. Pont. l. 5. c. 8. deposed who violated them Of this l Vides lector Pontisâ—cis Romani esse sancire leges quibus si ipsi Reges non pareant Regno priventur Baron an 593. § 86. Baronius makes a great boasting how thus the Pope can depose Kings and Gregory the Eighth made use of this instance for an Argument against the Emperour Henry And what might not Gregory the Great do upon Earth over poor Mortals whose jurisdiction reached so far that they say he relieved the tormented soul of Trojan the Heathen Emperour out of Hell and sent it packing to Heaven in proof and vindication of which pretty action their famous m Vid. Ciacon vit Greg. I. Alphonsus Ciaconius wrote a particular Book Another instance they give us of Gregory's jurisdiction over Kings viz. that Queen Brunechilde or Brunehaut built a n Vit. Borth Cassanaeum Catal. glor mundi part 12. consid 60. fol. 332. Monastery to S. Martin at Authum in Burgundy where she her self was buryed To which our o Lib. 11. Indict 6. Epist 10. Gregory the First granted also many Priviledges but with the same Decree against those who violated any of them Of which p Anno 603. § 17. Baronius also taketh special notice and triumpths thus of the Papal Authority in deposing of Kings as he did formerly But some think these Deeds and Priviledges are q Vit. Caron Remonstrant Hybernorum part 5. pag. 68 69. forged And truely S. Martin Archbishop of Tours deserved both a good Church and great Priviledges if that be true which they Pet. Natal l. 10. c. 47. story of him as how he rais'd three people from the dead and cured folk by kissing who had Angels to cover his arms with plates of gold and those holy Choristers to sing his soul into Heaven who was compared to the a Baron an 583. Apostles and Elias and of whom they tell many suchlike pretty stories yet methinks his charity was very odd to turn away his man onely because he was b Vâ—lleg Flos Sanct. Novemb. 11. good-natured and vertuous CHAP. IV. 1. The deposing of Suintila King of Spain 2. The Murther of Childerick the Second King of France with his Queen great with Childe 3. The unfortunate Rule and Murther of the Emperour Justinian the Second and the troubles of Constantinople 4. The Popes censures and troublings of the Emperour Leo the Third about Images 5. The deposing of Childerick the Third King of France Sect. 1. The deposing of Suintila King of Spain ANd now let us turn to the West and in Spain we shall finde the Pens of Authors in as much opposition as the Swords of Souldiers for though all confess that c An 621. Suintila was lawful King of the Goths in Spain yet Writers will not agree of his life and exit For though d Chronicon Isidorus e Lib. 2. c. 17. Rodericus Toletanus f Cap 33. Alphonsus de Carthagena and the other ancient Spanish Historians do declare him to be one of the bravest Princes in the world not onely for his Justice Charity Humility and other excellent Vertues but also Valour joyn'd with Success whereby they say he drove the Romans out of those Territories and so was the first of the Goths that obtain'd the absolute Monarchy of Spain Yet some of our Modern Writers lay all manner of Tyranny and Vices to his charge drawn thereunto I suppose by that which they finde set down in the Fourth Council of g Cap. 75. Toledo Though methinks 't is somewhat odd that learned Isidore the great Bishop of Sevil and one Sainted in the Roman Calendar should so soon write contradictions as not onely by his subscription to this Council to commend the usurping Sisenandus but to declare Suintila Cintila Santila or Suinthila to be abominable vicious tyrannical a fugitive and what not whom a little before he had h Praeter has militares gloriae laâ—des plutimae in eo Regiae Majâ—statis virtutes fides prudentia industria in judicus examinatio stâ—enua in regendo regno cura pracâ—pua circa omnes
sent to Robert Gâ—iscard Chief of the Normans and Lord of Pulia and Calabria to beg his help at a dead-lift who though then in Wars against the Grecian Emperour Alexius sends him sufficient relief who deliver him from Castle St. Angelo thence they convey him to Salerno in the Kingdom of Naples where he a An. 1085. Baron anno 1098. § 13. dyed Sigebert and lately Father b Remonstrantia Hibernorum part 5. p. 2. Caron tells us that being neer his death he confess'd that he had stirr'd up all these troubles by the suggestion of the Devil c. But the Popes Champions would not have us to believe this but on the contray that he is a Saint for more confirmation of which they have placed his name in their c 25 May. Calendar and if we look for Miracles to prove it we might begin at his Infancie where we finde him being the Son of a Carpenter which d An. 1073. § 16. Baronius thinks a good hint strangely to foretell by his Fathers Chips his own Dominion over the World from Sea to Sea And if we take him towards his latter end lest his actions which so many question should be held as illegal or any what amiss we are told Baron an 1084. § 10 11 12. pretty stories how they were all approved of and declared authentick from Heaven by the holy Ghost And thus much for Gregory the Seventh or Hildebrand after whom his partakers in Italy chose Victor the Third who followed the steps of his Predecessor Gregory by which divisions Italy and Germany were pittifully harass'd especially Rome having daily wars and fightings in her very streets between the Souldiers of the two Popes Clement and Victor but the latter lived not long dying the second year of his Popedom After whom the Anti-Imperialists chose Vrban the Second by An. 1088. some jeeringly call'd Turbanus who also shew'd himself a fierce Enemy against the Emperour which broyls were no small detriment to Christendom Clement and Vrban cursing one another and their adherents to the purpose insomuch that between them there were few Christians in Germany and Italy left uncurst or damn'd and blest and saveâ— again at the same time But that which greatly strengthned Vrban was the revolt of Conrade Eldest Son to Henry whom the Emperour leaving in Italy in his absence he rebell'd An. 1093. against his Father and took part with Vrban who acknowledged him to be King of Italy and accordingly was Crown'd so at Millan and to make him more sure they had him marryed to the Daughter of Roger Duke of Sicily besides this they had taught this their young King so much obedience to the See of Rome as to hold the Popes e Baron an 1095. § 8. Stirrop And this revolt or unnatural rebellion lost Henry all his interest in Italy many of his old Friends adoring the rising Sun not thinking but Conrade would be Emperour But death spoils many a design for Conrade dyed before his Father year 1100 and so did Vrban and Clement Upon which several pretended to the Chair of St. Peter but Paschal the Second got the surest footing between whom and the Emperour was no more agreement than with those gone before This Paschal confirming all the thundring Excommunications and Deprivations against Henry who was now fallen into a great trouble For his now Eldest Son Henry Conrade being dead was perswaded by wicked counsel that it was best to look about him and take the Government upon him his Father having no right to Rule by reason of the Roman Decree against him And many fine words did they tell him of St. Peter of Christs Vicar of the power of the Church c. And thus under the pretence of piety was he perswaded to rebel against his Father This being known Germany was divided some standing for the Father others for the Son and both parties behaved themselves so carefully that both their Armies were powerful and between them much bloud was shed but at last the Marquess of Austriae and the Duke of Bohemia An. 1105. turn'd tail and fled over to the Son basely leaving the old Emperour in the lurch which so lesned his Force that he was constrain'd to take advice and shift for himself with a few trusty Friends Being thus down the winde there were small hopes of recruting every one now running over to the Conqueror To be short a meeting is appointed at Mentz where meet many Bishops and Nobles and trusty cards for young Henry and to carry more Authority Paschal had sent thither his two Legats and to make all sure young Henry himself was there who made pretty canting Speeches to the people telling them that he intended no harme to his Father neither desired his deposition onely took care for the Glory of God and the honour of St. Peter and Christ's Vicar c. which hony-words pleas'd the seditious people exceedingly so that here they conclude the old Emperour not fit to Rule and that his Son ought to be the man and Governour Having gone thus far it was not now for them to look back and so they very fairly go and have him deposed The story it self being somewhat lamentable take as followeth out of their own approved Authors The Bishops of Mentz Colen and Worms were order'd to go to Car. Sigonius de Regno Ital. anno 1106. Helmoldus Hist Sclavorum c. 32. Aâ—b Krantzius Hist Saxon. lib. 5. c. 20 21 22 23 24. him and to bring from him the Imperial Ensigns viz. the Cross Lance Scepter Globe or Golden-ball and Crown with the Sword They went and demanded of him these Badges of which things he demanded the reason they replyed Because he had committed Simony in nominating to Bishopricks and Abbies To whom the amazed Emperour thus answered You my Lords of Mentz and Colen tell me by the Name of God what I have received from you They confess'd that he had received nothing Then said the Emperour Glory be to God that in this We are found faithful for your great Dignities might have brought great gain to me had I gone that way My Lord of Worms likewise knows that he received his Bishoprick freely My good Fathers break not your Oaths I am now old and you need stay but a little But if there be no remedy I shall deliver the Crown to my Son with mine own hands But they making offer to lay hands upon him he retired himself put on his Imperial Ensigns and returned to them saying The goodness of God and the election of the Princes gave these to me and God is able to preserve them unto me and to with-hold your hands from this action although We want Our Forces though I doubt not of any such violence c. Hereupon the Bishops stay'd a while as if they knew not what to do yet at last incouraging one another they bolted up the Emperour took the Crown from his head and then taking him out
ridiculous shadow without life or soul but as it received a being from Rome But leaving these we might tell you how a little after the English had got the Whim of a conditional Covenant and which is as bad Perjury For though they had sworn Allegiance to Maude Speed § 1 4 30. the Empress yet her they reject and swear a broken conditional subjection to Stephen Yet when they saw him a little downward then they cast him off and play the same conditional knack to the Empress Maude Sect. 2. The troubles of England by the arrogancie and obstinacie of Thomas à Becket against his Soveraign King Henry the Second HOwever waving these though treasonable enough we shall come to the next viz. King Henry the Second of part of whose Reign it will not be amiss to give some hints seeing so great a man as Thomas Becket is concerned in it whom some call Saint and Martyr whilst others allow him no better title than a Traytor But of this with all brevity This Thomas Becket was Son to one Gilbert Becket a Citizen of London and by the favour of Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury was made an Archdeacon in that See and was placed about the person of Henry then but Duke who coming to be King advanced him to be Lord High Chancellor of England and upon the death of the former Theobald made him Archbishop of Canterbury Having thus seen the great rise of Thomas by the Kings love grace and favour let 's now see how he lost the affection of King Henry For some time he thus lived in great repute with the King though Henry was a little troubled at the humour or design of Thomas to throw up his Chancellorship without acquainting him with it After this the Pope call'd a Council at Tours whither went the two Archbishops and several Bishops of England having first procured the Kings a Per missione Regis Matt. Paris an 1164 leave for going thither Where an ancient b Guil. Neubrig lib. 2. c. 16. Historian tells us that Thomas privately surrendred up his Archbishoprick to the Pope as if the Kings Nomination or Investiture had not been sufficient which was restored again by the Pope and so Thomas was cocksure of both Presentations and Authorities And probably this underhand-dealing and nulling of his jurisdiction might somewhat alienate the affection of Henry although c Baronius d An. 1163. § 29. will not allow of any such surrender at this time though for his dissent we must not be content onely with his word neither producing Reason or Authority for his so doing since 't is probable enough being thus back'd with the Testimony of Neubrigensis that Thomas might yeild it up now in his Prosperity for a farther confirmation and in his low condition do it also to procure pity and so make his party there the stronger against his King and Soveraign which was then his main design Add to these the strange Priviledges the Clergy boasted of by exempting themselves from all secular jurisdiction were the crime never so villanous insomuch that a Priest of the Diocess of Sarum having murder'd one Thomas had him deprived and placed in an Abbey that so he might not fall under greater punishment according to his desert by the Kings Justiciaries lest forsooth he should suffer twice for one fault And upon this last pretended Priviledge may we lay the Foundation of the following troubles For the King perceiving no signs of Peace and Tranquillity amongst his Subjects if this exception of the Clergy was permitted the people of that Coat having committed above an hundred Murthers in the short time he had yet Reigned was resolved that all the Clergy who were taken in any Robbery Murder Felony burning of Houses and the like should be tryed in Temporal Courts and suffer as well as Laymen Against this wholesome Law the Archbishop opposeth himself and will onely grant that Speed § 14. all Clergy-men so offending should be tryed in the Spiritual Courts and by men in Orders who if they were found guilty should for the first time onely be deprived of their Office and Benefice yet he granted that for the second time they might lye at the Kings pleasure as some think though d Baron an 1163. § 31. others confess that he would not allow them at any time to be delivered over to the Temporal Authority And for these irrational Priviledges Thomas was so resolute that at Westminster he openly opposed the King and got others to do so too which mightily incensed his Majesty but pleased Pope Alexander the Third to the purpose yet fearing their hearts might fail them he sends his incouraging lines into England commanding them by vertue of their obedience to stand firm for the Exemption of the Clergy nor at all to consent to the King and that if he or Baron an 1163. § 39 40. any of the rest had in these times promised obedience to the King not to keep such promises but all this did not much prevail For the King was resolved to have the Laws and Customs of his Ancestors kept up in full force and carryed his business so well that at last he had not onely the other Bishops of his opinion but Thomas also consenting who faithfully promised and sware to observe them And for their farther ratification and authority the King calls an Assembly at Clarendon in Wiltshire where the Bishops and Nobility meet him and John of Oxford sat as President But here Thomas for all his former promise at first absolutely falls off and denyeth consent to the Constitutions though at last he was so far worked upon one way or another that he there publickly sware that in the word of a Priest and sincerely he would observe them to the King and his Heirs for ever But when the King would have him to Subscribe and Seal to them as the other Bishops had done he absolutely refused and retracted what he had formerly sworn The Constitutions in all were sixteen but those which Thomas opposed were such as these That Priests guilty of Felony Murther c. should be tryed before the Secular Judges That it should not be lawful for any Archbishop or Bishops to depart the Kingdom and go to the Pope upon his summons without the Kings License That no Bishops should Excommunicate any holding of the King in Capite or put any other of his Officers under interdict without the Kings License or information to the Judge That if the Archdeacon cannot decide the Controversie they may go to the Bishop and from him to the Archbishop and lastly â—â— the King so that none shall appeal to the Pope of Rome for any cause whatsoever without the Kings License c. These and suchlike were approved of at Clarendon by all onely Thomas excepted who thought himself to have sinn'd so grievously for the former consenting to them that by way of Penance he suspended himself from his Priestly Function but
the Pope presently a Matt. Paris anno 1164. restored him to that and absolved him The King we may suppose was more and more incensed against Thomas for his obstinacie and for to close up all a Parliament was held at Northampton where Thomas was to appear though he had indeavoured to flee beyond Seas but being beat back by cross windes he conceal'd that purpose and looked as if he had intended no such thing All being met at Northampton Thomas is accused of several things and whilst they are consulting concerning him he caused to be sung before him at the Altar The Princes sit and speak against me and the ungodly persecute me c. Thus would he have the Office for St. Stephen though it was not then his day and against the Custom he wore the Pall. This being finished he took up his Silver Crosier in his hands an action not heard of before as they say and so enters into the Court though several of his well-wishers perswaded him from such a defying posture as if thereby he carryed his Protection Exemption or Appeal The Bishops advised him to submit but he refusing they adjudged him guilty of a Aliquando noster fuisti Archiepiscopus tenebamur tibi obedire sed quia Domino Regi fidelitarem jurasti hoc est vitam membra terrenam dignitatem sibi perte fore salvam consuetudines quas ipse repetit conservandas tu eas interis destruere praecipue cum spectent ad terrenam suam dignitatem honorem idcirco te reum perjuâ—iis dicimus perjuto Archiepiscopo dâ—caetero non habemus obedire Bar. § 29. Perjury which they declared to him by Hilarius Bishop of Chichester and so disclaimed from that time forward all obedience to him as a perjured man The Nobility also pronounce him a Traytor but he slighting them all as no competent Judges over him holding up his Crosier appeal'd to the Pope of Rome and so withdrawing himself with what speed and secresie he could he wafted himself over into Flanders and so to go to the Pope to whom he resigned his Archbishoprick but had it presently confirmed to him again Thus was Thomas caress'd by the Pope and King of France let the King perswade what he will to the contrary yet the King thought it was good policie and security to shew his disdain and resolution against him and his Whereupon he Orders the Sheriffs and Judges of England to seise upon all those who appeal'd to the Pope or Matt. Paris an 1164. Thomas with the neer Relations of all such men as were with Thomas had also Thomas's Revenues seis'd upon and the livings of those who went with him sequester'd and St. Peters Pence to be gather'd but not pay'd to the Pope till farther Order However there were some means used towards a settlement to which purpose Messengers were sent to and fro between the King and Pope and at last a meeting agreed on between them the better to decide the business But this design was spoil'd by Thomas who perswaded the Pope to have a care of the Kings cunning and not to treat with him unless he were also present intimating Baron anno 1165. § 10. to â—â—e Pope as if the King were a jugler or dissembler Thus did Thomas gain so much upon the Pope that this meeting vanished the Pope over-perswaded not to treat but in the presence of Thomas though against the former Agreement And so Henry was resolved not to confer any thing with the Pope in the presence or competition of Thomas his Subject This meeting or half-agreement thus broke off not long after Thomas writes to the King beginning Expecting we have expected Baron anno 1166. § 45. that the Lord would look upon you and that being converted you would do penance departing from your perverse ways And then tells him how Bishops used to Excommunicate Kings and also writes to the Bishops of England commanding them to issue out Censures against those who hinder Appeals to the Pope c. absolves Id. § 54. all from the Oaths they made to keep any contrary Constitution And to carry up Thomas against all opposition and to make his Authority more glorious and formidable to his Enemies the Pope creates him Legat in England Alexander servus servorum Anno 1167. Bar. § 21. Dei Dilecto fratri Tho. Archiepiscopo Cant. salutem Apostol Benedictionem Sacro-Sancta Rom. Eccles digniores personas eas maxime quas honestate prudentia literatura eminentia virtutum praefulgere cognoscit ampliori consuevit charitate amplecti gloria honore praevenire Inde est quod nos tibi Legationem totius Angliae excepto Episcopatu Eboracensi benigno favore concedimus ut ibi vice nostra corrigas quae inveniri corrigenda ad honorem Dei Sacrosanctae Romana Ecclesiae salutem animorum statuas aedifices plantes quae statuenda fuerint plantanda Dat. Anagniae Alexander servant of the servants of God to our beloved Brother Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury greeting and Apostolical Benediction The most Holy Church of Rome always used to embrace with great chariry and prefer in glory and honour persons of eminent worth and them especially whom she knoweth to be most famous for honesty wisdom learning and excellencie of vertues This is the cause that with Our loving favour We grant and bestow on you the Legantine Authority over all England excepting onely the Archbishop of York to the end that within your jurisdiction in Our place and authority you correct what you finde worthy amendment and that to the honour of God the holy Church of Rome and for the salvation of Souls you do constitute build and plant whatsoever is to be setled and planted Given at Anagni Being thus rais'd above himself countenanced and upheld against all opposition he hurries into England to the Bishops a threatning Letter against the King and the Constitutions confirm'd at Clarendon telling the Bishops That We have too long and too much forborn the King of England Baron § 26. nor hath the Church of God gain'd any benefit by this Our induring It seemeth dangerous and intollerable for us to leave any longer unpunished as hitherto We have done so great excesses of Him and his Officers against the Church of God and Ecclesiastical persons especially since We have very often endeavoured by Messengers Letters and all manner of means as became Vs to recal him from his perverse purpose Because therefore he will hardly afford Vs the hearing much less attentively listen unto Vs We have with Invocation of the Grace of the holy Ghost publickly condemned and declared as void that Deed of Writing with the Authority of that Indenture wherein are contain'd not the Customs but rather the wicked divices whereby the Church of England is disturb'd and confounded And have hereby also Excommunicated all the Observers Exactors Counsellors Assistants and Defenders of the same And do
out and thrown in also lastly his head was cut off and fixt upon the most eminent place of the City and his body divided and parts of it sent to the chief places in the Kingdom As for Robert Graham he was thus punished a Gallows was raised in a Cart then he had his right-hand nailed to it and so drawn along the streets whilst the Executioners with burning Pincers tâ—re pieces from his Shoulders Thighs and suchlike fleshy places which were farthest from his Vitals thereby to keep him the longer alive and in greater pain yet did these terrors bring little repentance to him as may be ghâ—st by his impious answer for being asked during all these tortures How he durst lay hands on his Prince made this Reply That if he had Heaven and Hell at his choice he durst leap out of Heaven and all the joys there into the flaming bottom of Hell At last having all his flesh almost pull'd off his Heart and Intrails were thrown into the fire his Head stuck up and his Quarters sent to several places for a terror to others And here I shall hastily pass by the unfortunate Raign of King James III how his own Subjects covenanted against him confined or forced him to Edinbourgh Castle and at last came to open Battel against him at Bannoch-Burn not far from Sterlin where his Army being beaten he was after in cold blood murdered in the Mill but whether this abominable murther was done by Patrick Lord Gray Robert Sterling of Keer or Andrew Borthwick a Priest or all of them must be left as their Histories hath it uncertain Sect. 4. The deaths of Henry the Sixth and Edward the Fifth Kings of England BUt leaving Scotland here might I treat of the miseries of England at the same time of the long but unfortunate Raign of good Henry VI of his dethronement and which was worst of his year 1471 murther in the Tower of London as the common opinion goeth by a Bacons Hist Hen. VII pag. 2. Richard Duke of Glocester afterwards call'd Richard the III. Though Mr. b Hist Rich. III. pag â—0 Spondan calls him a Martyr an 1471. § 6. Buck of late would deny the fact and clear the said Richard from this and all other imputations laid to him by all other Historians The body of this King Henry was carryed to Chertsey in Surrey and there buryed in the Monastery belonging to the Benedictines And 't is said that many Miracles have been done at his grave above two hundred of which was gather'd into one c Vâ—d Harâ—sfield Hist Eccles p. 595. Volume nor was there any disease but they say was cured by him Blind Lame Dumb Kings-evil and what not And as if these were not enough they make him cure another Miracle viz. a Woman that used to go with Childe above d Ib. p. 596. two years Richard III envying the fame of Henry if we may believe King * Spelman Concil tom 2. pag. 71â— Henry VII removed the Corps from Chertsey to the Chappel of Windsor where he was also worshipped by the name of Holy King Henry and here they say that his Red-velvet-Hat e Stow pag. 424. heal'd the Head-ach of such as put it on their heads there his body rested for a time but now his Tomb being taken thence it is not commonly known what is become of his body 'T is true King Henry VII had a desire to have it removed to Westminster to which purpose the Abbot desired the f Spelâ— Concil pag. 712 71â— consent of Pope Alexander VI. King Henry VII also desired to have this Henry VI Canonized to which purpose he wrote to the said Alexander who gave the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Durham g Spelm. pag. 720. Authority to inquire into his Miracles and Life Nor did Henry VII cease here but Alexander dying he sollicited h Harpsfield pag. 594. Julius II very earnestly and some think that had the King lived a little longer he had obtain'd his request But this I shall leave with these words of Edward Hall These and other like Offices of Holiness Ed. Halâ—'s Châ—on fol. 223. b. caused God to work miracles for him in his life-time as old men said By reason whereof King Henry VII not without cause sued to July Bishop of Rome to have him Canonized as other Saints be but the fees of the Canonizing of a King were so great a quantity at Rome more then the Canonizing of a Bishop or a Prelate although he sate in St. Peters Chair that the said King thought it more necessary to keep his money at home for the profit of his Realm and Country rather then to impoverish his Kingdom for the gaining of a new Holy-day of St. Henry remitting to God the judgement of his will and intent And here passing by the cruel death of the young Innocent Prince Edward eldest Son to this King Henry VI in cold bloud after the fight at Tewkes-bury I might come to Edward V and shew how he was deposed by his Uncle Richard by means of his wicked Instruments Stafford Duke of Buckingham Dr. John Shaw Brother to Edmond Shaw Gold-smith then Lord Mayor of London and suchlike and from this I might lead you to the making away of the said young Innocent Prince Edward and his Brother by the means of the said Richard III but because all Histories will not exactly agree upon the manner how I shall refer you to the Chronicles themselves where the juggle if not the murthers may be seen at large Sect. 5. The troubles in Spain and the miseries of Don Henry the Fourth King of Castile and Leon by reason of his proud and rebellious Nobility IF we look into Spain we shall finde those Territories miserably wasted by Tumults and Rebellions we might see how the young King of Castile Henry III was so neglected by his proud and L. de Mayâ—â—â— Hist d' 〈◊〉 liâ— 18 19 20 21. greedy Nobility who pocketed up his Revenues that once he was forced to pawn one of his Robes for two Shoulders of Mutton to help out his Supper And we might see their Rebellions against his Son King John II whose troublesome Reign might be an Item to Kings to beware of confiding in and favouring too much one Subject by the neglect of the rest And the unhappy end of the Constable Don Alvaro de Luna may be a caution to the greatest favourites in their carriage for Kings at last in whose protection lyeth their greatest safety may be perswaded to leave them to Justice and then no mercy can be expected from the solong-abused Law and People But proceed we to greater troubles and misfortunes then these This King John II had by his First wife Maria of Arragon HENRY IV King of Castile and Leon. Leonora Catharine dyed young Second Wife Isabel of Portugal Daughter to D. Jean Master of S. Jago Son to John I. King of Portugal Alphonso whom
And his Countryman Paulus Melissus seems as it were to bestow his whole time in her c Poet. Germ. vol. 4. pag. 342 418 425 428 440 441 443 452 462 468 478 486 493. praises and at last endeavours to go as high as his wit could reach so far will he have her above all other Goddesses d Id. pag. 475. Te Venerem te Junonem te Pallade quisquis Dixerit haud abs re dixerit ille puto Quin idem Charin Musam te dixerit imo Musa es Musarum tu Charitumque Charis Ignoscas Regina minus quam par sit aequum Dicenti laudis copia quanta tui est Divitiis Juno forma Venus Indole Pallas Dote Charis cedit nomine Musa tibi Junones Veneres Charitas Musasque Minervasque Omnes una simul tu superare potis Cui culper si te Divis ex omnibus unam Natam Pantheiam virgo Britanna loquar Amongst the Belgians e Poet Belg. vol. 2 pag. 681 718 719 721 Janus Gruterus so famous for his Learning is her great admirer And of later days f De laudibus vica Elizabetha Adolphus van Dans hath wrote a whole book in her Commendations Nay Johannes Bochius of Bruxels who was so inveterate against her Government and Religion that he assisted Richard Verstegan in the composing of his lying and bloudy Theatre yet cannot let her pass without this grand applause g Poet. Belg. vol. 1. pag. 800. Pallas Juno Venus nemorosae in frondibus Idae Discrimen formae cum subiere suae Inter formosas si tu Dea quarta fuisses Vicisses reliquas O Dea pulchra Deas Quam Juno jejuna foret quam pallida Pallas Quam Dea vana Venus quam Dea sola fores How ready she was to answer Ambassadors and other people in several Languages on the sudden Historians do h Edm. Howe 's enlargement of Stow pag. 813 814 815. testifie at large But one thing I finde Recorded of her which is not usual that when three Ambassadors viz. the Imperial French and Swedish addrest themselves to her at the same time she on the sudden i Rog. Ascham Epist Sturmio answer'd each of them in different Languages the first of them in Italian the second in French and the third in Latine k Epist dedicat ad artem Gram. Vossius l Hist Belg. l. 1. Meteranus m Lib. 82. l. 119. Thuanus and a world of other Learned Writers have weilded their Pens in her Commendations and though some Popes have endeavoured as far as in them lay to over-cloud her Reputation by commanding the Commendatory expressions in her behalf to be dasht out of n Index librorum Prohibitorum Cambden and some other Writers yet I finde Pope Sixtus V a very Zealous Assertor of his Pontifical Chair to bestow upon her and Henry the Fourth of France this following noble Character a Persaepe auditus est cum dicerat toto orbe se unum virum â—oeminam videre dignos nisi labe sectaria infecti essent qui Regnarent quibus cum ipse de ingeâ—ribus rebus consilia quae animo agitabat communi caret Navarrum Elizabetham Reginam intelligens Aug. Thuan. Hist lib. 82 and Perefixe Hist Henry le grand part 1. That amongst all the Princes of the world he could finde but two viz. Queen Elizabeth and Navar setting aside their opinions in Religion who were worthy to Rule and with whom he could most fittingly consult and take advice Having thus somewhat hinted on her Commendations and at last brought the Pope himself to be an Advocate for her Discretion Prudence and good Government we may now the more exactly perceive where the Shooe pincheth and what is the cause of the ill will against her Not denying but that she as well as the best of Monarchs might have some miscarriages and oversights in such a long Raign as she continued especially since the Earl of Leicester and some others had the Fortune to sway in her time it being granted that Robert Dudly was as great an Oppressor as ever breath'd for a Favourite and so let him and all such never be mentioned but with ignominy As for her Religion whether Haeretical or not As the Question is too large to be here discuss'd so is it nothing to the purpose seeing Religion doth not intitle one to Kingdoms nor is Dominion founded in Grace a Pagan having as much right to his Goods and Territories as the best of Christians to what is his As to her personal concerns no question but she thought her self in the best and surest way to her Salvation And as she was a Princess of great Ingenuity and Parts understood many Languages read many Books and was so studious as to translate some her self out of Greek Latine and French so we need not doubt but thus furnisht and industrious in Learning she was able to give a good account of her Religion and to vindicate it and her self And as for Religion as it related to the publick it hath had famous Champious and Martyrs to justifie it and to wipe off all the pretended blots of Schism and Heresie which malice or ignorance could throw upon it for a farther proof of which it being not material to my History in hand I shall refer the Reader to Bishop Bramhal Bishop Morton Dr. Hammond Mr. Hooker Mr. Mason and suchlike Learned Defenders of our Church Certain it is that every Kingdom is supream within it self and 't is as true that the Religion in England was reform'd in a peaceable and legal manner by the greatest Authority in it viz. the Prince Parliament and Convocation of Divines Regulation here did not begin at the wrong end it was not carryed on by any b Vid Chr. 〈◊〉 Câ—ta 〈◊〉 Relig. â—â—ag 11. Rebellious Leagues or Covenants The Soveraign was free and not fought to a compliance and as we may suppose the reasons to be just so are we certain that it was acted by the highest Authority in the Kingdom which is according to the Laws of God and Mâ—n and the practice of other Potentates both ancient and modeâ—â— As 〈◊〉 â—he alteration it self we may suppose it was done with dâ—e â—â—â—sideration being acted by such a considerable Body and Authâ—rity and not on a sudden but by degrees as they found just occasion to reject and admit And as on the one hand we may suppose it was agreeable to the Majority of the Laity considering it past their Representives the Parliament nor opposed by any considerable number after so year 1559 may we justly conclude it conformable to the sentiments of the Clergy seeing that the Parishes Headships of Colledges and Halls in the Universities with the Prebendships Bishopricks and the other Dignities of the Church in England and Wales did then amount to the number of very neer ten thousand Yet of all that number of Preferments adding to them the Lord
by the Emperours Ambossador And the better to retain in Memory this Massacre the Pope had it c George Wheâ—ston's English Mirrour pag. 17â— painted about his great Hall in the Lateran and there Recorded in d Jo. Niâ—hâ—l's Pilgrimage B. 8 Marble And what must be the cause of all these e Catholicorum Apologiis propugnata quae â—t Romae atque in Hispania immensis landibus celebrata Jo. de Bussiers Hist Fran. Vol. 4. pag. 120. De eâ— Laetitia ob vindicatos Haereticos piorum animis concepta non parum est Summar ad Hist Hispan Jo. Mariana anno 1572. Joyes Gaities and Triumphs in France Spain Italy and where not amongst the Romanists but that thirty thousand Protestants were in a small time destroyed by divers sorts of deaths some drown'd some hang'd some starv'd some Pistol'd others had their throats cut their bodies drag'd about streets denyed Christian buryal c. without any consideration of Age Sex Quality or Relations And all this in a supposed time of security and tranquillity a peace being made and the King passing his word and promise for their safety Now here would I ask the Romanists whether ever Queen Elizabeth did such a cruel Action as this If not then why must Charles IX go away with all these Glories and Trophies and our Queen laden with nothing but black accusations of cruelty As if Religon intitled one to more authority over his Vassals then the other The year viz. 1572. of this Massacre some have troubled themselves to lay down in these Numeral Letters Upon Gaspar Coligny the Admiral gVIsano oCCVbV It pIVs ah CoLLIgnIVs astV LVX qVater aVgVst I sena DoLen Da Ven It. Or thus bartho Lo MaeVs fLet qVIa FranCICVs oCCVbat atLas And upon the City of Paris this LVtetI a Mater sVos natos DeVoraVIt And here I cannot but take notice of one pretty cheat the Pope makes use of to shew to the world his great liking of this Massacre viz. that whensoever the famous Catholick Thuanus in his Narrative of this Butchery hints as he doth several times of the cruelty of these Throat-cuttings These expressions sound so harsh in the ears of his good Romanists that in the Index Expurgatorius they are all order'd to be dasht out and to appear no more in print lest good people should be corrupted by them so wo be to them who dare think amiss of this Parisian slaughter But it is not here alone but in many other places that they have endeavour'd to falsifie and corrupt this Learned Thuanus though one of their own Church yet one that hated lying For which Jacobus Gretser Johannes Baptista de Machand or Macaldus under the false name of Jo. Baptista Gallus I. C. with Adam Contzen and other Jesuits cannot pass him by without throwing some dirt upon him But though de Thou's book were a Adam Cantzen Discepâ—atio de Secretis Societat Jesu pag. 40. burnt at Rome yet will it remain as an instructive Monument to future Ages though endeavour'd to be corrupted as appears by the Index Expurgatorius and possibly hath been as is manifest by the late little Thuanus Restitutus But leaving these forraign comparisons let us return home and take a short view of our two Sister-Queens of different perswasisions in Religion Queen Mary whose Piety and Mercie is much commended by Sanders and other Romanists Reigned about five years yet in that short time were put to death for Religion above 260 without any regard to Sex Quality or Age Rich and Poor Learned and Ignorant Old and little Children that knew not the right-hand from the left one springing out of its Mothers Womb whilst burning at the Stake and unhumanely the little infant thrown into the fire to burn with its Heretical Mother as they term'd it In twice this time viz. for the first ten years of Elizabeth not one Romanist suffer'd death for Religion and though she Reigned above 44 years yet in that long Rule there were not so many put to death of the Romanists for Treason or what else the Romanist pleaseth almost by an hundred as there were in the short time of Queen Mary To which we may add as is confest by b In numerabiles Ang licaâ—i Martyres Duâ—em Ed mundum Campianum secuti docuetunt Pontificem Rom. posse quemcunque etiam Regem dig nitaâ—e Regâ—a exuete Abr. bzovius de Rom. Pont. cap. 46. pag. 621. Bzovius their Papal Champion that there was not any that suffer'd in Queen Elizabeth's time but did teach the dangerous Doctrine That the Pope could depose Kings This were enough to testifie that Queen Elizabeth was as happy and merciful to her Subjects as her Sister Queen Mary And to perswade those who throw so many commendations on the latter not to rob the former of her due praise The first that the Romanists pretended Martyrologist puts down to have suffer'd in Queen Elizabeth's days is one John Felton year 1570 and yet this was not till the XII year of her Reign so that they can pretend to no bloud for so many years And what small reason they have to glory in this mans Martyrdom let us judge by the Cause in short thus for I shall have occasion to speak more of him hereafter Queen Elizabeth having triumphantly Raigned above X years in the Nation to the great joy and comfort of her Subjects at last Pope Pius V takes a humour in his head and he forsooth must declare her to be no Queen to which purpose he thunders out a Bull declaring her Heretick Excommunicated Deprived and Deposed from her Dominions Absolves all her Subjects from Allegiance and interdicts any that shall obey her c. Felton gets this Bull hangs it upon the Bishop of Londons Palace-gates scorns to seek an escape boldly vindicates the Pope and himself in what was done defying the Queen and her Authority for which he was arraigned condemn'd and hang'd August 8. neer the same place in St. Pauls Church-yard Now for any thus to contemn and vilifie his Soveraign null her Authority renounce his Allegiance and so far to submit himself to a Forreign jurisdiction even in Temporalities as to declare his own Soveraign deprived and depos'd from her Kingdom I say what punishment this man incur'd let the Reader judge provided he will also consider that had a Protestant thus renounced his Obedience in Queen Mary's days not but that there were some Calvinistical fire-brands then the party should have dyed for it and those who commend Felton would have call'd the other Traytor And yet Felton did it to procure a National Rebellion This and some other Disturbances occasioned the next Parliament to put forth some a 13 Eliz. cap. 1. 2 3. Acts for the preservation of the Queens person and the better quieting and securing her Subjects and Dominions all people having time given them to consult either their own safety or a complyance So that who suffer'd afterwards was for their
him Yet if she will renounce her Title and refer her self wholly to him he would do what would stand with the honour of the Apostolick See As for the Queen she never troubled her thoughts to satisfie his Holiness in his demands and for Sir Edward Karn he dyed some c years afterwards at Rome being the last Ambassador d 1561. that went from the English Crown to the Pope This angry Pope dying another succeeded of a milder temper who though he was earnestly prest to thunder out his Bulls against the Queen yet now knowing that Princes were too wise to deliver up their Kingdoms at the noise of such Paper-claps he goeth another way to work He sends Vincentio Parpalia Abbot of St. Saviors with a civil pen'd Letter for the Queen His year 1560 Instructions are said to be That if she would joyn her self to the Romish Church and acknowledge the Primacie of that Chair that he would disanul the sentence against her Mothers Marriage as unjust confirm the English Common-prayer-book by his Authority and grant the use of the Sacraments under both kindes to the English Add farther that several thousand Crowns were promis'd to those who would procure her complyance But this Parpalia went no farther then Bruxels being not suffer'd to enter England Yet the said Pope would not desist here but resolveth to try again and send another Nuncio viz. Abbot Martinego but he also year 1561 is deny'd the Council suspecting he might make some troubles by his presence in England the very noise of his coming having already fob'd up some indiscreet Romanists to vent themselves more boldly then formerly to spread abroad false News of the Queens conversion some by Astrology and other ways to consult the length of her Reign and Life and the Popes Nuncio then in Ireland did not onely joyn himself with the Rebels against her but also by his pretended Authority deprived her of all Right and Title to that Kingdom That which they call the General Council of Trent now sitting Sanders de Schâ—â—m l. 3. pag. 360. the Queen is desired to send some thither but this she thought would be to little purpose seeing the designe of that Convention as the Emperour and the French King b Hist Council of Trent pag. 279 318. call'd it was more of Interest then real honesty Besides it had now continued about XV years and so improbable to alter any thing upon her desire Nor was the Council it self free as appears by the several c Id. pag. 167 168 507 508 530 551 566 569 635 644 659 661 683. complaints put in there against such forcible abuses some things as the d Id. pag 589. Institution of Bishops not being permitted to be discussed the Pope fearing to be the looser Nor was the e Id. pag. 660. Secretary just in taking and setting down the suffrages whereby he turn'd the Votes as he pleas'd Nor would they allow any thing to be concluded on but as they received f Id. pag. 497 703. Instructions from the Pope which occasioned the Proverb That the Holy Ghost was sent from Rome to Trent in a Cloak bag Besides Ambrose Goligna a Dominican publickly g Id. pag. 374. preach'd against the Protestants affirming that Faith and safe-conduct is not to be kept with them And when some of the Reformed Divines went thither the h Id. pag. 374 375. Legat brake off the Debates not lâ—tting the Council proceed and suspended the Council for two years pretending fear of Wars against which action the Spanish Bishops i Id. pag. 366. 367. protested And when the Legats party fears to be out-voted then do they send to the Pope to make more Bishops and convey them to k Id. pag 254 255 256 257. Trent which Legats undertook not onely to direct but command the whole Council which spoil'd its Freedom To these may be added the tricks used to carry on their designes and prevent a baffle either by new making of Bishops the better to out-vote or suspending of all from acting or voting or by removing them to other places so to divide the Council as when they were adjourn'd to l Id. pag 267 268 269 277 278 279 281 282 283 284 285 286 300 301 302 c. Bologna whither those that depended on the Pope went the rest refusing staid still at Trent not submitting to this removal or division And little might here be expected but partiality seeing the Italians were almost three to one of the number there all the Subscribers amounting to no more then 255 of which 187 were Italians so that bating the interested Italians there remains but a poor Catalogue of Bishops in respect of the great number that are in the Christian World yet must this be look'd upon as one of the most famous General Councils in the whole World yet the Romanists cannot agree about its Jurisdiction or Authority for though the a Id. pag. 661 719 French hold the Council to be above the Pope yet his Holiness looks upon himself as no wise b Pag. 818. bound to observe the Canons of Trent In short should the English Clergy have appear'd in this Council they must either have been there as Free-men frankly to Dispute and Debate as others did But thus they could not having been before condemn'd as Hereticks by Julius III. And at Trent here they were so Zealous as to Excommunicate the Archbishop and Elector of c Id. pag. 165 189 259 260. Colen for Heresie before they had determin'd what was Heresie If they could not appear as Free-men then they must under the capacity of Offenders as it were to receive sentence of condemnation but to this they thought they had no reason to submit themselvs and we need not doubt how things would have gone with them For we finde those of Trent so busie and zealous that they were going to throw their d Sanders de Schism lib. 3. pag. 3â—1 Censures against the Qâ—een but that the Emperour Ferdinand I. used his Interest to dâ—sswade them from it thinking by this to ingratiate himself wiâ—h her hoping to marry his Son to her But no more of this seeing that the Learned Bishop Jewel wrote an Apologie for our English Bishâ—ps not going to that Council which may be seen at the latter end of Father Paul's History But leaving these Disputes and passing by the designe of Arthur Pool Antony Fortiscue and some others who contrived to joyn themselves with the Duke of Guise so from France to land year 1562 an Army in Wales to Proclaim the Queen of Scots and make her Queen of England we shall proceed and finde the Pope himself to be the greatest Stickler in the troubles against Elizibeth Pope Pius the Fifth being strongly bent not onely to get Queen Elizabeth deposed but to have her e De medio tâ—â—â—eâ—e câ—gitaba â— Anâ—â—â— Gabutiâ—s vita Pâ—â— vâ— 3. o. Murder'd and in this humour he was pleas'd
Scaffold When Henry III. was kill'd some of them would not acknowledge his Successor Henry IV. but would have a Government or Ruler of their own making others would admit him if he would turn Romanist As when King Charles I. was martyred some would not at all have his heir K. Charles II. to reign whilst others would not reject him provided he would turn Presbyterian otherwise not They often endeavour'd to seize on their King then to kill him or depose him by clapping him up in a Monastery but fail'd in their designes whilest ours had the luck of it to conquer and so to act with our King as they pleased Though 't is plain the French had as bad intents though not the like success and opportunities it may be their Kings were not so much betray'd as ours Yet herein lay the difference whereby the Romanists were most culpable their Troubles and Seditions being countenanced acted and headed by the most learned and knowing of their Clergy as Popes Cardinals and their Prelats whilst our Rebellion and Schism was hurried on and noised up by an ignorant pack of Lecturers fellows of no Religion having not Learning to apprehend any In short our Covenanters and Rebels followed and trod in the Footsteps of the French Leagne a Warr which first occasioned the multiplicity of Pamplets and from which all latter Rebellions have taken the Items Rules Principles and Methods Yet how abominable and wicked soever this French-Roman Solemn League and Covenant was it had its Admirers of those no way engaged in it Amongst whom our English Father Parsons was none of the hindmost vaporing to the world * Andr. Philopater Resp ad Edict Reginae Angl. p. 210 211. § 172 173 How just how famous and how holy the Cause was That it was not only lawful praise-worthy or holy but necessary and of Duty by Divine Command and Christian Obligation Nay that they could not do otherwise without danger of their souls It may be grounding all this upon his Papal Rule That †Nulli populo sub damnationis poena licet Regem haeredicum admittere Ib. margin no People whatever are to admit of an Heretical King under pain of Damnation But 't is known well enough that his Pen is no slander nor are his Commendations of any Credit The End of the Eighth BOOK A CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE Romish Treasons AND USURPATIONS BOOK IX CHAP. I. The Quarrels betwixt Pope Paul the Fifth and the Venetians NEer the beginning of this Century by the Death of Leo XI 1605 who sat as Pope but a few days Paul V. succeeded as Bishop of Rome Scarce was he warm in his Chair when he began to consider how to advance the Priviledges and Honour of his See which by Degrees had been neglected and worn out For this purpose he was earnest with the French King to receive the Councel of Trent He procured that in Spain the Jesuits might be exâ—mpted from paying Tithes At Naples he wrought in such sort that the Marquis of Morcone was sent to Rome as punishable in the Inquisition for having condemned to the Gallies a Bookseller The Inquisition pretending the Crime to belong to his Cognisance He offer'd to trouble the Duke of Parma for laying Imposts on his own Subjects in the absence of the Bishop He fell out with the Duke of Savoy for presenting an Abbey to Cardinal Pio so that his Highness for Peace-sake was forced to give it to the Popes Nephew Thus his design went on to ruin the Temporal Authority In the mean time the Commonwealth of Luca considering that many of their Citizens changed their Religion and retired into the Protestants Countries publish'd an Edict prohibiting any of their Subjects to have any Commerce with such people The Pope lik'd the Law but would not have it made by Lay-men so commanded them to â—ase the Edict out of their Records and he would publish another but the same in Substance by his Papal Authority At the same time the Commonwealth of Genoa being informed that the Governours of certain Lay-Fraternities their Subjects instituted by Devotion â—ad not â—â—ithfully dispensed the Revenues intrusted them resolved to examine their Accounts and Commanded their Books should be brought to the Duke At the same time divers Citizens used to meet as for Christian Exercises in the Jesuits Colledg which Club resolved to favour none in pâ—omoâ—ion to Offices but their Associates The State taking notice of it and considering what mischief in time this would bring upon the Commonwealth prohibited all such Assemblies and Conventicles The Pope takes Pet at these honest Orders affirming they were against the Ecclesiastical Liberty so Commands the Commonwealth to revoke these Edicts or else he would thunder against them his Censures of Excommunication By which Terror both the States of Luca and Genoa were forced to obey his Holiness Thus the Popes design went fairly on nor did he doubt any place in Italy unless the Republick of Venice which used to act upon Principles most honourable and beneficial to themselves without any respect to the Interest or Bribery of other Potentates The Pope had now resident at Venice as his Nuncio Horatio Matthei Bishop of Gierace a great Stickler and Boaster of the Ecclesiastical Liberty as they call'd it and in his way so zealous that he thought all Christian Actions and Graces were of no validity unless this also were promoted beyond all proportion The Senate of Venice considering the mistake of Charity and Devotion the Zealots thinking nothing so holy as the multiplying of Churches where no * need is made a Decree 1603. that None la Republique se tronea contrainle d'y mettre la main Autrement il fast arrivè bientost que toutes leurs villes n' eussent plus estè qne Convens Fglises et que tours leurs Revenus qui doivent porter leâ— charges de l'estat qui servent a la Nourriture deâ— Gens Maries les quelâ— ' ournissent des Soldats des Marchande des Laboureurs n' eussent plus servi q◠á l'en tre tien des Religieux eâ— des Religieuses Hard. de Perefixe Ev. de Râ—â—ez Hist du Hen. le Grand part 3. an 1606. within the Precincts of the City should build any new Church or Monastery without the Senats Consent Truly thinking that they were stored well enough having already within the City where ground is so scarce 150 Churches Monasteries and such like places of Devotion The Senat also agreeable to the old Statutes of their Republick anno 1333 and 1536. made a Decree like our English Mort-maine That None should sell give or alienate any more lands to the Clergy without the Senats Commission A little after the making of these Laws the Troubles between them and the Pope began The Occasion taken thus One Scipio Sarraceno a Canon of a Church of Vicenza had with great Contempt desaced the seal of the Magistrate which was put to for the custody
Venetians smiling to see on what little things some fond people would build a Submission or Conquest And it may be upon this Rumour or some such idle Report some Historians do say that they did receive Absolution But in this History I find most reason to rely upon the Credit of Father Paul One of the most famous Pen-Champions that the Venetians imploy'd in this Quarrel was the said learned and judicious Fryer of the Order of the Servi commonly known by the name of Father Paul of whom a word or two by the by He was born at Venice M. D. LII He naturally addicted himself to his book whereby when young he gain'd great Reputation so that William the famous Duke of Mantoua intertain'd him as his Chaplain in the year M. D. LXXIX he was created Provincial of his Order which he executed without partiality he went and lived some time at Rome where he got acquainted with the best his parts making him known to Pope and Cardinals as well as others Being return'd to Venice he followed his studies close and in all manner of learning was so excellent that all Strangers that went â—o Venice desired his acquaintance upon which he was foolishly accused by the Court of Rome as a Company-keeper with Hereticks At this time the Order of the Servi was in some trouble by reason of their Protector Cardinal Santa Severina who against all right or reason was resolved to make one Gabriel Collison General of the Order being thereto perswaded by his Briberies the whole Order opposed this and herein Father Paul was a little ingaged but carried himself with great discretion and moderation But at last Gabriel was made General and a seeming peace was made When the late Quarrel began between the Pope and the Venetians they chose Father Paul to be one of their chief Assistants who by his solid reasons staggerd the Papal Pretensions which so concern'd the Pope that he would have had the Father brib'd from his Duty to the Commonwealth but this failing other designs were set on foot Gaspar Schoppius a man well known for his railing and pernicious principles of Government freely told Father Paul that the Pope had long Hands and might reach him but wisht rather to have him alive at Rome and the Father was by several great Personages informed that Plots were laid against his Life but he trusting to his Innocency neglected his Security But this confidence might have cost him his Life for one Evening in the Street at Venice he was assaulted received two wounds in his Neck and one in his Face entring at his right ear and passing through the Jaw bone and out again betwixt his Nose and his Cheek and the Stelletto was left sticking in the Villain not having strength enough to pull it out The number of these Assassins were five who having a Gondola ready got presently to the House of the Pope's Nuncio then resident in Venice thence in a flat Boat with Ten Oars and well armed prepared for the purpose they departed that night towards Ravenna Being now in the Papal Territories they were secure and vapour'd of the Fact and were nobly received at every place at last they got to Rome where they were well also entertain'd with assignation of Entertainment And here they staid some time till the world cryed shame that such abominable Villains should be sheltred and entertain'd from Justice by his Holiness upon which the Pope was forced for Honour sake to order their departure out of the City yet had they some Allowance granted them but so small in respect of those Glories they expected that they became mal-content so that at last every one of them came to an evil end But to return to Father Paul he was had home to his Monastery the most famous Physicians and Chyrurgions in those parts imploy'd about him so that after some time he perfectly recovered to the joy of the whole Senat who by publick Proclamations took order for his future Security assigning him a Guard increase of Stipend with a House at St. Mark 's at the publick Charge But the Father desired to be excused from all such state cost and trouble resolved to continue in his Monastery amongst his Brethren of the Order The Senate perceiving this to be his earnest desire gratified him but caused some building to be added to his Chamber from whence by a little Gallery he might have the Commodity to take Boat the better to avoid Treachery in his returns sometimes by night from the publick Service Seeing the Senat had thus carefully provided for his security so that there was danger to use any more force some other designs were set on foot 1609. Fra. Antonio da viterbo who served as an Amanuensis to the Father was solicited to make him away with a Razor which he might conveniently do considering his intimacy and the great trust the Father put in him or if not this to poyson him Antonio refused to act this wickedness himself especially to such a good Friend and Patron but would afford his Assistance if others would be the Actors So at last it was concluded that he should take the Print in Wax of his Keys which he should deliver to another Fryar Giovar Francisco whom Fryar Bernardo the Favourite of Cardinal Borghese Nephew to the Pope had imploy'd about this thing by which means having Counterfeit Keys they might send in some Ruffians or Bravo's to murther the Father But some Letters of this Plot by chance being taken there was enough discovered to have Francisco and Antonio seised on Francisco was condemn'd to be hang'd but had his pardon by a full discovery of the whole design and delivering unto them all the Letters concerning this black Plot what great Personages were in this action is not known the Councel of Venice thinking it best to conceal them for the Honour of Religion To tell all the Attempts against him would be tedious these are enough and against him it was that the Court of Rome bent all their spight he being an Enemy to the prop of all their Greatness viz. their Usurpations and Authority over Temporal Princes and his Reasons obtain'd him the greater ill-will from that Bishop because they seem'd to be favour'd by other Potentates The Pope fearing that in time other Territories might follow the Example of the Venetians And when his Coercive Authority is once despised he will remain but a weak Governor within the narrow Limits of his Churches Patrimony which may render him incapable of preferring his Favourites abroad and the Interest thus gone the Splendor of his Seat will fail and the Glory of his idle and wasting Courtiers will be eaten up by the more thrifty Citizens Thus their Charity to themselves made them the more violent against the Fryar Paul though he acted nothing but what became the duty of a good Subject to his Prince and Country The Father hoped that the malice of his Enemies would vanish by degrees and