is Ratifi'd He acts as God their Powers so equal are And God Christ Pope have but one judgement-chair Then Paul or th' Old-law he 's more great and true He can command ' gainst Paul and Gospel too Can frame new Rules of Faith the old Casheer And over General Councils domineer If he to Hell millions of Souls should draw 40 Dist c. Si Papa Yet none must ask him why His will is Law Nor need this seem strange to those who are assured by good Authority that some have held the Pope for no less then a a Aestimant Papam esse unum Deum qui habet potestatem omnem in Coelo Terra Johan Gerson Tom. 2. Resolut circa materiam Excommunicationum Irregularitat Consid 11. God and accordingly could command all both in Heaven and Earth Tindal disputing with one thought a Learned Doctor drave him to that issue that he burst out We had better be without Gods Laws then the Popes Tho. Fuller's Abel Redivivus pag. 127. Thus you see the more then Hogan Mogan Authority of which you shall hear more hereafter of your Infallible Lord whereby you cannot do amiss as long as you obey his hests and commands be it against King Country or Parents for against all these 't is said that he hath a jurisdiction to hound you And for a farther incouragement he maketh no small use of the word Heretick and all must be such who do not swear right or wrong to him or his Church And if a Governour be not of the Roman Church and so by their consequence be an Heretick this following Treatise will tell you what is to be done with him and their Bulla Coenae Domini publish'd every year at Rome and other places on Maundy-Thursday the Thursday before Easter will tell you how they are Curs'd and Excommunicated to the purpose And according to the b Non enim eâ—s homicidas arbitramur qâ—os adversus Excommunicatos Zelo Catholicae matris ardentes aliquos eorum trucidasse contigeret 23. q. 5. cap 147. Excommunicatorum Canon-law he that kills an Excommunicated person in meer Zeal for the Roman Church doth not incur the crime of Homicide Amongst other things this Bull damns to the Pit of Hell all those who shall assist or carry Arms to any Hereticks upon which c Marius Alterius starts this Quaere a De Câ—nsuâ—is Ecclesiasticis lib 5. Disput 8 cap. 2. pag. 527. â—â— postulabit quis If such prohibited things be convey'd to the subjects of a Prince expresly by the Papal sentence declared an Heretick whether then the Conveyers are by this Bull Excommunicated To which the said de Alteriis giveth this doughty and Roman Answer If the Subjects under the Heretical Prince to whom the Arms are carryed be of the Roman Religion hate their Prince and desire if they have ability to free themselves from his Tyranny or Government and to that end do secretly seek Arms to imploy them at the first opportunity for the destruction of the said Heretical Prince then as this great Doctor thinketh the Aiders or Assisters do no ways incur Excommunication Thus would they intrude upon us a pretty Salvo for Treason and no small incouragement for Rebellion if to Depose Kings may be titled such Again the Popes Infallibility being by some so highly cry'd up it is no hard matter to make a good-meaning Romanist believe that it is his best and safest way to obey the Pope in every thing he commandeth though it were against his King and Country of which this following History will afford many instances and this King-deposing Doctrine being so stifly maintain'd as a grand Article by their most Authentick Papal Writers the inferiour Romanist will think himself obliged to credit it and his great Judge the Pope who if he did erre in this point how can they rest assured that he did not erre in other points of Faith to retort a Joh. Clare The converted Jew part 3. pag. 17 Michaeas his Rule But concerning Infallibility I finde a war amongst themselves and our English men when it cometh to a pinch are as unsetled as they think their Neighbours are Father b Controversie-Logick pag. 212 213. White one of very desperate Principles as to Government doth in the name of the Romanists flatly deny that the Pope is Infallible affirming the contrary to be Injuriously impos'd upon them by Sectaries And Father c Remonstr Hibernorum part 5. cap. 28. p. 85 86 c. Caron of better Tenents then the former is of Opinion that the Pope with any other assistance whatever unless a General Council may erre and this of late he undertakes to prove at large And farther White confesseth that it is not yet known where this Infallibility lyeth For saith he d Controvers Log. p. 96. some place it in the Pope some in a General Council some in both some in the whole Church And a later Writer grants several Infallibilities e Labyrinth Cantuariensis pag. 177. The Infallibility of the Church Councils and Tradition depend so necessarily upon each other that whatever Authorities prove the Infallibility of any one do in effect and by good consequence prove the same of all the rest But methinks we need not stand so resolutely upon Religion or Church since the Author of Fiat Lux assures us that Time will alter any Religion f Fiat Lux pag. 73 74. A Religion once establish'd be it true or false when it is once received it is then taken for true in the space of some succeeding ages is reformed anew by other Teachers or Interpreters who in time lead men out of the former way into their own sometimes slowly gradually and insensibly that they are brought into another Religion before they be aware sometimes by open hostility to the former which whether by Covin or violence yeilds at last to the Ingress of a new one If thus Religion it self will vary and alter in time there needs not be such a confidence placed in their Infallibility and yet 't is pretty to observe that this their grand Rule which on all occasions they call to their assistance they do not know where to fix or finde and that which must judge the rest is of it self unsetled and uncertain And they grant that a Church that is g S. W. Schism disarmed pag. 22 26 28. fallible may lawfully be forsaken But this by the by and I shall confess nothing to the purpose as being besides my designe and so the less careful in its hasty scribling As for this King-deposing Doctrine though it be positively taught and believed at Rome by Pope Cardinals their greatest Doctors and every where by those whom his Holiness looks upon as through-paced sons to him and his Church and those who absolutely deny this Article as Widdrington Caron Barckley c. are with their books censured and prohibited as rotten unfound and false ware yet in Countries far enough
Id. Anno 1116. § 5. Lateran and also by another Council at f Id. Anno 1119. § 11. Rhemes under Pope Callistus And after this manner was the Emperour Frederick the Second declared deprived and his Subjects quit from their Oaths of Allegiance by Pope Innocent the Fourth in the Council of Lyons the form it self being large I shall refer you to g Anno 1245. § 4. Bzovius and the h Tom. 28. pag. 431. Council it self and the i Sext. de sentent re jud C. ad Apostolicae Decretals But let us step from practice to some of their Decrees they confirm'd in their General Councils to shackle Princes in future times In the Laterane Council under Innocent the Third amongst other things 't was thus order'd by them If a Temporal Lord neglect to purge his land from Heresie being Abr. Bzovius anno 1215. § 3. Binnius c. 3. Crabbe Ib. Greg. de Haeret. C. Excommunicamus desired and admonished by the Church let him be by the Metropolitan and the other Bishops Excommunicated and if within a year he refuse to satisfie let the Pope be informed of it that he may declare his Vassals free from that obedience they formerly ought him and that Roman Catholicks may seize upon his Lands which the Hereticks being thrust out they may possess without any contradiction and keep it in the true Faith Yet let not this be prejudicial to the Principal Lord so that he do no way hinder this proceeding NEVERTHELESS LET THE SAME LAW BE OBSERVED AGAINST THOSE WHO HAVE NOT PRINCIPAL LORDS If any do dispute concerning this Council or the meaning of any word in this Canon I shall not finde my self concerned in it having our Country-man a Vindic. Concil Lateran Dr. Thomas Vane b Controvers Angl. p. 139 140. Martinus Becanus Leonardus Lessius under the name of a Discuss decreti Magni Concil â—a Singleton Cardinal b Adversus Gâ—â—l Barclaium in Praefat. Bellarmine and many others great vindicators of this great Council as they call it whom I shall leave to the consideration of the Romanists Yet I could whisper c Vindic. Concil p. 69. Dr. Vane in the ear that he is not honest enough in his answer by taking no notice of the last clause in the Canon which doth not a little enlighten the whole design And as I do not trouble my self to interpret any thing in the Lateran Canon seeing the chief of the Roman Champions Lessius Becanus Bellarmine and others declare expresly that it is meant of the Popes Authority over Kings and for their deposing so shall I not wrangle with any concerning that of Trent a Council of such Authority that they make it the standard of their Faith In the last Session of this Trent political Convention Duels were Sess 25. c. 19. censured as unlawful and indeed no honest true and faithful subject can fight one he taking to himself power of his own life and that of his fellow-subjects against Law Religion and Prerogative and declares those Princes to be held as deprived of those places where they permit them What was the meaning of the words of this Decree I shall say nothing my self but tell you that the French Church took it to deprive Kings for which they bogled at it and they had more reason to understand the meaning of it than any now yet if these grave Divines mistook the sence of that Chapter 't is no fault of mine let the Romanists bandy it out amongst themselves and either tell us the reason why that Council is not exactly received in France and so whether they be Hereticks or no in not complying with a General Council as they call it or that every part of it is in force there and how it came to be so These at this time may satisfie to shew in what a tottering condition their Councils makes Kings to stand in And if the Roman Catholicks desire any more instances I shall refer them to their famous d Discuss Decreti Mag. Concil Lat. pag. 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 c. Lessius whom in this case let them either agree to or confute fight Dog fight Bear and so I quit my self neither troubling my self whether they or Dr. e Remonstr Hibernorum part 5. cap. 10. Caron is in the right As for the Opinions of Popes themselves I shall jumble them with their Canon-law the latter being in a manner the result of the others brain and authority and Pope Agatho order'd that the Popes Sanctions should be received with the same authority Omnes Apostolicae sedes sanctiones acciptendae sunt tanquam ipsius Divini Petri voce firmatae sint Dist 19. c. 2. as if they had been commanded by St. Peter himself Nor according to Pope f Q. 17. c. 4. Nemini est Nicolas must any contradict or question the Orders of that See for according to g Possit jur Can. lib. 1. Tit. 3. Decreta Lancelottus the Popes Decrees are of equal authority with the Canons of Councils and those of h Sess 4. Decret 1. Trent determine that some Traditions are to be of equal force with the holy Scriptures I shall not here spend time in discoursing about the Priviledges said to be given to some Monasteries by several Popes Franc. Bozzius de Temporal Eccles Monarch lib. 1. cap. 21 pag. 225. with a tye by the way of the Kings good behaviour though some make use of such Records for Arguments it being plain by the practice of the Popes and their a Greg. de Elect. C. Venerabileâ—â— de Haeret. C. Excommunicamus Sext. de re jud c. ad Apostol Laws that they declare they have such Authority to depose Kings and quit their Subjects from their Oaths of Allegiance of which several Popes are so plain in their b Q. 15. C. 6. auctoritatem C. alias C. nos sanctorum Greg. de Haeret. C. Excommunicamus C. Absolutos Canon-law that nothing can be more evident whither I refer you for more satisfaction And that Popes declare that Kings may be deposed appears by their many thundrings of Deprivation against former Princes and of later times against the King of Navarre our King Henry the Eighth and Queen Elizabeth Read in c Annal. Boiar lib. 6. pag. 506. Aventin what Hadrian the Fourth saith concerning this case in his furious Letter and in d Pag. 872. Nonne Rex Anglorum noster est vassallus ut plus dicam mancipium qui potest eum nutu nostro incarcerare Ignominiae mancipare Matthew Paris how Pope Innocent the Fourth thus ranted concerning our Henry the Third Is not the King of England our Vassal nay more our Slave whom with anod I can imprison and commit to a slavish reproach And Father Parsons assured our Country-men that Pope Pius the Fifth affirm'd to him e Rog. Widdrinton's Theolog. Disput cap. 10. §
the Covenant and declare himself the Head of it Having done this beyond their expectation he resolves to be as cunning as themselves and so he desires since they seem willing for war to furnish him with Moneys to carry it on At this they demur for though they loved mischief yet were unwilling to lay their Moneys at the Kings disposal by which trick Henry seem'd left to his own discretion The Covenanters thus non-plus'd try other means First they move that the Council of Trent might fully be receiv'd into the Kingdom but this is rejected by a Majority of Nobility and Commons and a great part of the Interested Clergy as thwarting the Privileges of the Gallican Church for though they love the Religion yet they care not for the Popes Authority over them This not fadging they consult how to restrain the Kings power for which purpose they propound that his Council might be reduc'd to the number of XXIV and that the King should not chuse them but the Kingdom but this was also rejected many of the Covenanters themselves thinking it not safe too much to exasperate the King And thus the design but half done the Assembly break year 1577 up And the King doubting the greatness of the Guisians might too much inlarge their Interest a little to clip their wings by publick * Spond an 1576. §. 11. Order confirms the Preeminence and Priority to the Princes of the Bloud The Covenanters perceiving that the King had seen too far into their designs conclude it safe for some time to forbear all open endeavours but were very sedulous in their private Consultations by which means they whispered the people into discontent against the King and his Government scattering abroad Libels bewitching many * Jo. de Bassieres tom 4. p. 205 Nobles and others to their Faction And several other Plots and Contrivances they had to carry on which they took hold of any opportunity insomuch that many Fraternities being now brought into use for Devotion as Processions Prayers c. the Guisians under this †Davila 16. p. 447. pretence would meet the more boldly and openly to disperse their poison by their seditious discourses amongst the people The King also did not want his ways of Devotion assisting often in their Processions undergoing Penances wear Hair shirts had his Beads openly hanging at his girdle would observe Canonical hours and by such like shews of piety some of the people were persuaded that for all the ill speeches given out against him he was a good Romanist in his heart and so were the more willing to have the better opinion of him Journal du Hen. III. Mart 1583. Spond anno 1583. § 11. But others who pretended to see a little further were of a quite contrary judgment looking upon it to be but Hypocrisie Amongst the rest Dr. Maurice Poncet a Benedictine at Paris preach'd very bitterly against his new-invented Brotherhoods and their Processions calling of them Hypocrites and Atheists And indeed it cannot be deny'd that this King hath sometimes carried on his * Vid. d'Aubigne tom 2. l. 4. c 1. Confession Catholique de Sancy c. 8. Love-tricks under these shews of Religion being too much addicted to ease and pleasures as appear'd by his other Carnival actions for which he was †Journal du Hen. III. Fevrier 1583. twitted in the Pulpit by Dr. Guillaume Rose afterwards Bishop of Senlis and others Yet necessity did force him sometimes to look about him and nothing did he dread more then the Guises and their League whose power must now be all his study to diminish To which purpose he promotes as many into Places of Trust as he could conveniently and whom he could confide in and knew to be no Favourites of the House of Lorrain The Guisards not ignorant of this design and knowing full well that the King had really no good affection for them endeavour what they can to have the Peace broken with the Huguenot to which purpose a Pâ—erefixe Hist Hen. le Grand thousand affronts are committed against the King of Navarre the Prince of Condé and their Adherents But passing by these things the number of Male contents was increas'd for though the King advanc'd some of his trusty Friends yet many times Preferment went more by favour then desert and others were discontented to see themselves slighted these Male contents the Guisards attaque and more easily won to joyn with them and enter into their League And that the House of Lorrain might appear in its greatest lustre the Antiquitiy and Glories of that Family are thought fit to be shewn to all To which purpose François de Rosieres Archdeacon of Toul putteth pen to paper and writes a large Book of their Pedegrees and Relations making them as ancient and as near related to the French Crown as he could invent and this was printed at Paris 1580. by the Kings Licence But sometime after the Book being more nearly look'd into several things were taken notice of which gave some great offence For besides the unseasonable timing of it considering the designs of the Guises and his declaring * Fran. Ros Stâ—mmatum Lothar fol. 451. Hues Capet to be an Usurper which sounded the harsher seeing some will have the Valoises issued from Hues his Line but besides he had several odd Reflections on the †Id. fo 369 1583 King himself of Idleness Luxury and bad Government In short Rosieres is cast in prison the Duke of Lorrain cometh to Paris to pacifie the King at last Rosieres publickly confessing his faults craving pardon on his knees by the intercession of the Queen-mother is released and the book torn before his face Yet was it carefully spread abroad that the Guises were descended from Charles the Great related to Hugh Capet and had Title good enough to the Crown But against this by the Kings Command Pontus de Tyard afterwards Bishop of Chalon Cabilonum writ but for fear of the Faction conceal'd his name and Matthaeus Zampinus a Lawyer also took the task And the same year also I mean 1583 came out a little French * Discourse sur â—e droict pretendu par ceux de Guise sur la Couroune de France Tract of about two sheets of paper in opposition to the pretence of the Lorrainers but for all this the people will believe as they please CHAP. III. year 1583 Francis Duke of Anjou the onely Brother to the King dying the Guisards rejoyce not doubting but to make themselves next Heirs to the Crown by wheedling in Cardinal Bourbon with the several Declarations and Proposals between them and the King THE Leaguers who for some time that the King might not be too suspicious of them had proceeded but leisurely had now an encouragement offer'd them to be more brisk in their designs For Francis Duke of Anjou of a fickle and hair-brain'd humour year 1584 the only Brother to the King died not without suspicion and
ac impunitatem nedum in vita sed post obitum aere licet immodico comparari posse à Nundinatoribus illis Indulgentiarlis semel persuasum habent Verum si quis unde numeret habeat jam nedum Praesentes Indulgentur harum constitutionum transgressiones sed in futurum impune ut eas ipsas transgredi liceat indulto permittitur Quo fit ut ansam inde accipâ—ant ii cum quibus ita dispensatum est Pejerandi Homicidia Adulteria similia flagitia perpetrandi quando quilibet ex Sacerdotum vulgo Absolutionem emptitiam virtute indulti his impartiri potest Gravam German § 3 6. that the true Romanist would boldly commit any villany under the security or shadow of these Pardons or Indulgences which he by Tradition supposed to be Protection enough both to himself and sins But what need we talk of guilt or sins or trouble our heads about procuring Indulgences or Pardons as if he that is obedient to the commands of the Pope and a through-paced son of the Roman Church could in his so doing either commit the one or stand in need of the other As for the Church of Rome to which this grand All-obedience is due 't is nothing else but the a Cardinales cum Papa constituunt Ecclesiam Rom Quare Episc jurans fidelitatem Ecclesiae Rom. Papae successioribus ejus obligat se non tantum ipsi Papae sed Collegio Cardinalium Mar. Altercus disput de Censuris Eccles Tom. 1. lib. 5. disp 14. cap. 1. pag. 655. Pope and his Cardinals as some say or as others will have it by the Church there is nothing else to be understood but the b Jacob. Gretser defens Card. Bellarmin lib. 3. cap. 10. col 1450. Pope whose almighty Infallibility is not to be call'd in question Therefore if there be any doubt of any thing the Holy Scriptures Andr. du Val de Ecclesiastica Politica potestate pag. 88 89. and other such means must be thrown aside as being doubtful and like the Lesbian or Leaden Rule may be bended this way or that way and so may serve for any mansturn they must therefore not be credited or trusted to And so none is to be judge but the Pope who in his determinations cannot erre neither of right or matter of fact for which we need go no farther then the positive sentiment and judgement of their grand Masters the Jesuits of their Colledge of Clermont in their publick Theses publish'd by themselves to be held vindicated and maintained against all the World and that of very late days as appears by part of it as followeth XIX Christum nos ita caput agnoscimus ut illius Regimen dum in Coelos abiit primum Petro tum deinde Successoribus commiserit EANDEM QVAM HABVIT IPSE INFALLIBILITATEM concesserit quoties ex Cathedra loquerentur XX Datur ergo in E. R Controversiarum fidei Judex Infallibilis ETIAM EXTRA CONCILIVM GENERALE tum in Questionibus Juris tum FACTI c. Propugnabuntur Deo Duce auspice Virgine in Aula Collegii Claromontani Societatis Jesu die XII Decembris 1661. We acknowledge Christ so to be the Head of the Church that during his absence in Heaven he hath given the Government thereof first to Peter and then to his Successors and bestowed unto the Popes his Successors THE VERY SELF-SAME INFALLIBILITY WHICH HE HIMSELF HAD as often as they speak e Cathedra There is therefore Constituted in the Church of Rome an Infallible Judge i. e. the Pope of Faith and that even without a General Council as well in questions appertaining to Right as in matters of Fact These shall be defended by the assistance of God and the favour of the Virgin in the Hall of the Colledge of Clermont belonging to the Society of Jesus the XII day of December 1661. And by their Canon-law 't is as plain as a Pike-staff that the Popes b Dist 19. c. Si Romanorum Decretory Letters not onely carry Authority along with them and what he a Ib. c. Enimvero commands to be obey'd and are to be received as if they were the very words of b Ib. c. Sic Omnes St. Peter but they are also to be reckon'd and esteem'd as authentick as the Word of God or c Ib. c. In Canonicis Holy Scriptures themselves Therefore they say 't is d Dist 40. c. Non nos Gloss Quis enim Sacriledge to question the Popes actions and downright e Dist 81. c. Si qui sunt Paganism not to to obey him and he is f 25 q. 1. c. Generali decreto curst of God who violates the Popes Censures so we must be g Extra Com. l. 1. Tit. 8. c. unam Sanctam Si quid quod oculis nostris apparet album nigrum illa esse definierit debemus itidem quod nigrum fit pronunciare Ignat. Exercitia Spiritualia apud finem Regulae aliquot servandae ut cum Orthodoxa Ecclesia verè sentiamus Reg. 13. obedient to him upon peril of our Souls And no less man then their late great Saint Ignatius Loyola layeth this down for a certain and perpetual Rule of Obedience If the Church affirm that to be black which our own eyes judge to be white we ought also then to declare that it is black And we are not to question the Truth and Authority of this Rule being so strongly confirm'd commended and ratified by the h 1548. Bull of Pope Paul III as every thing also is which is contain'd in the said Exercitia Spiritualia and how can any thing be amiss in it if it was as some say by Inspiration from Heaven dictated to Ignatius And now who dares call himself a son of the Roman Church and not be of the same Religion with the Pope be of the same Opinion Obey his commands and dictates seeing there is no difference between the sentiment and judgement of the i Sententia Papae sententia Dei una est sententia August de Ancona Q. 6. art 2. Pope and that of God and what a grand Power and Authority the Pope hath for diversion sake take them thus in verse out of Andrew Melvin from their own Writers Quod Paepa Romanus vult norma est juris aequi Delit. Poet. Scot. vol. 2. pag. 150. Quod Papa cumque facit ratum habet Deus aethere in alto Posse Papam quodcunque Deus par aequa potestas Cumque Deo Christoque Papae commune Tribunal Est major Paulo Papa major foedere prisco Contra Evangelium statuit Papa Scriptaque Pauli Articulos fidei condens Oecomenicumque Concilium cogens decretaque sancta reformans Si currus plenos animarum ad Tartara trudat Secum ipse haud quisquam potis est contendere contra Dicere cur facis hoc Stat pro ratione voluntas The Papal Fiat of all right is the guide What he doth here in Heaven
small Wit when his fancy reached so high as to call Pope Leo the Great b Epist ad Paulum II. praefix Opuscul Leonis Fran. Sweert pag. 115. The Tully of Church-Oratory The Homer of Divinity and the Aristotle of Faith and this mode of School-boy-allusion is used also by some others as amongst other Monuments of the Great Duke of Bourbon who took Rome this following is at Gaieta Consiliis Calchas animo Hector robora Achilles Eloquio Nestor jacet hic Borbonius Heros And thus the other day a c Philanax Anglicus or a Christian Caveat against Protestants of Integrity pag. 57 58. Romanist thought he had commended our blessed Martyr King Charles the First beyond all comparison when he call'd him a Prince wise as Apollo Valiant as Achilles Vertuous as Socrates Pious as Aeneas and Beautiful as an Amazon So that it seems to make a noise any thing that sounds great be it devilish or wicked must be brought in like the people of Sofala in the East-Indies who appropriate to their King by way of commendation all things that are great be it good or bad insomuch that they call him not onely d Purchas Pilgr Vol. 2. pag. 1539. Great Lyon but great Thief great Witch and suchlike But for such allusions of Bishop Andraeas I shall let them alone as impertinent to my purpose and of as little harm as they are of discretion I only medling with those of a higher pitch such as attribute a Deity or little less to his Holiness of which formerly and to them I might add this Distich set Da. Magerus Transenna Theologica pag. 61. upon a Triumphal Arch at Rome relating to Pope Sixtus Oraculo vocis mundi moderaris habenas Et merito in Terris crederis esse Deus And therefore they command us a Paris Crassus de Ceremoniis Cardinalium Epist lib. 1. cap 22. to bow at the name of the Virgin Mary and the Pope as well as at the name of Christ And if these and suchlike Extravagances not to say Blasphemies have not been asserted yea and by those who think themselves the wisest concerning the Pope I shall desire the same censure that the famous Parisian Chancellor Gerson by themselves stiled the most Christian Doctor did in the same case viz. to be held a b Mentior si non inveniantur haec scripta ab illis etiam qui sapientes sunt in Oculis suis Jo. Gerson de potest Eccles Consid 12. lyar But to end all with a story or two the famous Stephanus assures us that a Priest at Tours told his Auditors that if * Apol. pour Herod p. 291. Christ and the Pope were by him and one commanded him one thing and the other another that he would obey the Pope rather than Jesus Christ And this Doctrine agrees somewhat with the Cardinal who told his Confessor That he had rather adore the Pope than God because one was visible and the other not And these Extravagances and the Popes taking upon him to domineer over all mankinde made the Greek Church send this short Complement to his Holiness John XXIII We do really acknowledge thy high Jo. Bale Acta Pontif. Rom. l. 6. p. 253. Authority over thine own Subjects but we cannot indure thy great pride nor are we able to satisfie thy avarice So the Divel be with thee and the Lord with us Thus when we finde their Grandees and those who think themselves the wisest of their Religion to ascribe sâ—c 〈…〉 sâ—ve Power and Prerogatives to his Holiness we may the less wonder 〈…〉 simplicity of the poor people Da. Magerus Transenna Theologica pag. â—5 of Limosin who according to the 〈…〉 â—â—aring and so believing that the Pope was not onely Gods Vicar bu◠〈…〉 and so had such great power in Heaven and Earth c. and 〈…〉 wing that the then Pope was their Country-man and so near them 〈…〉 in France at Avignon and so full in hope for Relation-â—a 〈…〉 some comfort and help from him sent to him laying open 〈…〉 of his and their Country scarce any thing growing in it bu◠〈…〉 and a little Corn to serve them on Sundays and th◠〈…〉 â—eg'd that his Holiness would be pleas'd to make their poo 〈…〉 unâ—â—y so fruitful that they might have two Harvests in a year The Pope after long consultat 〈…〉 with his Grave Council about this weighty matter was pleas'd very 〈…〉 sly to grant their request but upon this condition that for the future 〈…〉 sâ—ould not reckon twelve but twenty four Months for the year 〈…〉 engers glad at heart of this unspeakable favour and benefit return 〈…〉 rrily into their Country with this good news to the great rejoycing and â—riumpâ—â— no doubt of their Neigbours However those people with those of Munding in Schwaben who knew not the difference between a c â—â—bel Facet l. â— p. 18â— Crab Pigeon and Stag and contended in voice with a d Id. lâ—â— p. 56. Cuckow and those Inhabitants of e Mâ—rt Zâ—â—â—â—e Hâ—span lâ—iner pag. 1â—9 El Campo in Estramadura who knew not three Miles beyond their own homes and our Virtuosi of Gotham may be for ought that I know as honest though they are not the wisest of their four respective Nations But though the Pope may think himself above all Power in this World and so not liable to any censure whatsoever yet against this I remember a droling story A Fryar Minorite having proved that the Pope might be Excommunicated by this as he thought invincible Dilemma Either the Pope is a Brother or not if he be a Brother he may be Excommunicated by a Brother if he be not a Brother why doth he say Our Father The Pope not knowing how to answer this a merry Courtier undertook the solution and so to ease him of his troubled minde by this advice Let your Holiness never say the Lords Prayer and the Argument is void and of no force against you And so I leave his Holiness in deep consultation with his Cardinals in the Consistory what to do in this case not troubling my self a Rush what advice he shall follow THE TREASONABLE AND Rebellious Principles Of the ROMANISTS BOOK II. CHAP. I. Their fancying that the Pope hath Power and true Authority to depose Emperours and Kings and dispose of their Dominions HAving hitherto taken a short view of the Glories as they fancie of the Romish Church let us now see some of their Destructive and Treasonable Principles whereby we shall perceive that Heathens in some things have better Tenets than those who call themselves the truest Christians For though Attabalipa King of Peru told that Cacafuoco Dominican Vincent Valverde That the Pope who would thus Pontificem insigniter satuum Impudentem esse eo sacile prodi quod aliena tam liberaliter largiatur Hier. Benzo Hist Novae Orbis lib. 3. c. 3. dispose of Kingdoms was not onely Impudent but a great Fool to give
of Pope Zachary Giulio Cerrio having been somewhat large in respect of the bulk of his Tract in examples of the Popes power in deposing Kings fairly concludes that t Hora in simili casi altri appertenenti alla Fede niuno puo dubitare che l'autorità de i sommi Pontesici non se stenda assolutamente sopra qual si voglia dignita Temporale Certio Risposta per la verita no man must doubt of the Popes absolute jurisdiction over Kings in some causes and this may be interpreted to the worst sence well enough since the whole drift of that Letter F pag. 111. is in opposition to those who deny this deposing power to be in the Pope To tell any man what Cardinal Bellarmine was would be impertinent since his name is come into a Proverb They say that many were formerly much beholden to Lyranus for his Writings Nisi Lyra lyrasset Nemo nostrum saltasset Some think Cambden as much beholden to Leland Pitseus to Bale however we know that several have walk'd in English habit for Authors which in truth have scarce been so good as Translations and so Samuel Clark the poor botching Presbyterian-story-teller is a voluminous partial Plagiary beyond all mercy one as fit to write the Church-history as Alexander Rosse to continue Sir Walter Raleigh As for Bellarmine you may look through him like a Multiplying-glass and perceive multitudes of people toyling themselves out of his Bowels to get themselves published in the world that if he had never writ the Romish Church had wanted at least an hundred Authors to augment their Catalogue and in this sort our Country-men make as bold with him as any to thrust their little English Pieces both for gain and honour amongst their party in these Nations This learned Cardinal was a true son of his Church as he shews through all his writings especially when he is concerned for her greatness and authority in one place he saith that the Pope can sometimes u Potest mutare Regna uni auferre atque alteri conferre Bellarm de Roman Pont. lib. 5. c. 6. change Kingdoms take away from one and give to another he being the judge x Ib. c. 7. to determine whether a King be fit to be deposed or no and if it be thought fit that he should be deposed then y Nec ulla eis injuria fiet si deponantur Ib. there is no wrong done to him if he be turned from his Throne And this jurisdiction he defends in another of his a Possit eos Regnis atque Imperiis exuere eaque Regna Imperia ab aliis ad alios transferre Id. De Translat Imper. Rom. lib. 1. c. 12. Books and in another b Si quidem inter omnes convenit posse Pontificem maximum Haereticos Principes jure deponere subditos eorum ab obedientia liberare Mat. Tort. Respons pag. 9. Book he declares that this Opinion is agreed upon by all and this power he affirms in another of his c Contra Barchaium cap. 27. Books Though 't is d Jac. Fuligatto vita Card. Bellarm l. 1. c. 2. said of him that he would never remember that he either ever told lye in his life or beguil'd the truth by excuse or jeasts yet I shall scarce believe that he speaks altogether truth in his thus attributing so great authority in temporal things over Monarchs to the Pope yet for all that he was the Chief Champion of that See and allow'd to its Bishops all the aforesaid power and jurisdiction yet we are assured by the Testimony of a learned Romanist e De potestate Papae cap. 13. pag. 101. cap. 40. pag. 329. Guilielmus Barclaius that Pope Sixtus the Fifth was sometimes thinking to Censure and extinguish all Bellarmines works because as he thought he allow'd him too small authority in Temporals There were two of different Orders viz. Johannes f Epitome Controvers ex Bellarm. part 2. quest 21. p. 180. Andraeas Coppenstein a Dominican and g Solida Christianor fidei demonstratio lib. 3. cap. 10. Baldwinus Junius a Franciscan who have severally Epitomiz'd this Cardinals Controversies and with him they embrace this King-deposing Maxime They were after translated into French by the appointment of Cardinal Perron Jacobus Gretserus as an industrious a Jesuite as ever Germany brought forth whose resolution zeal and speedy pen made his Books almost innumerable and as in all other things so in this of the Popes authority he endeavours to vindicate h Gretser defensio Controversiarum Card. Bellarm. Tom. 2. col 1153 1154. c. Bellarmine and seems to wonder at King i Commentar Exegit in Reg. Britan. c. 6 7. James for denying such power to be in the Pope nay when he seems to make it his business to vindicate his Society from the suspition of Rebellion and to tell to all the world what brave Subjects to temporal Kings they are and will be even then doth he ruine all their loyalty by one exception k At si Pontifex aliquem ab haeresin à regno arceat ne subditos in haeresin inducat tum libere fateor nos nostrum judicium ad Pontificis judicium aggregare satiusque reputare Defens Apol. Gal. pag. 591. But yet saith he if the Pope should deprive any King for heresie marry then I do freely confess that we shall submit our selves to the Popes judgement A very good Item for which they deserved the teeth as well as the heart of Henry the Great Another of the same Order l Juris Canon Compend § 984. Petrus Alagonia and m Juris Canon Compend lib. 5. Tit. de Haeret § 13. Johannes Honorius van Axel with the Canon-law write down the same Principles in their Compendiaries and the Carmelite Fryar Giovanni Antonio Bovio findes fault with Father Paul the Venetian famed for his learning judgement moderation and integrity that amongst the Offices belonging to the Pope he doth not set down n Doveva anco se volea numerare tutte le Opere del Carico Pastorale fac mentioner dello trasferire de gli Imperii d'Oriente in Occidente habilitare inhabilitare alli Regni instituere destituere i Re che anco questo possono fare i supremi vicarii di Christo in Terra quando cio besogni per conservatione della fede Religione Christiana l'hanno fatto quando è venuto l'occasione ha hanuto effeâ—to è stato cio riceunto appovato da tutta la Christianica Anton. Bovio Risposta alle consideratione del M. Paolo pag. 69. his translating of Empires setting up and pulling down of Kings since he hath such authority An Article that I dare say Bovio never learned from the Virgin Mary whom they brag to be the Patroness and Foundress of their Order William Allen or Allain born in Lancashire a great darling with the secular Priests for whom he was the
not de jure to wit whether the Pope might justly in this or that occasion excommunicate or depose this or that Prince upon these or these causes or whether precedent Popes have done well therein or no then might some of those reasons which you say your Friends do alledge be admitted into consideration to wit whether it would be in aedificationem or destructionem do hurt or good be profitable or improfitable or whether the causes be sufficient or no for without cause none holdeth that the Pope may depose or whether the due form of admonition touched in your Letters were observed But for as much as the Question is de Potestate of the See Apostolick power what it may do upon any cause or against any Catholick Prince whatsoever these considerations of temporal hurt cannot enter Besides these I have conferred the matter with Cardinal Bellarmine and sundry others of great Learning and Conscience and all are of Opinion in this case that the form of the Oath as it lyeth is Heretical and no way may be admitted by him that will not deny the Catholick Faith I have had occasion twice to speak with his Holiness the first in company of Mr. Thomas Fitzherbert where we proposed certain manners of Mitigation suggested by Friends c. Where to his Holiness answered That as for any actual using Censures against his Majesty he meant not but rather all courtesie but as for the Authority of the See Apostolick to wit for using of Censures he was resolved and would rather loose his head than yeild one jot The second he being informed that some Priests did seem to incline to the taking of the Oath he answered He could not hold them for Catholicks c. What an enemy this Parsons was to his Native Country we may discourse of hereafter onely at this time we shall go no farther than what belongs to the Popes power now in hand yet we may observe by the by that whatever he writ he never put his own name to it but sometimes false ones and sometimes onely two Letters which he commonly alter'd in every new Pamphlet stuft up onely with evasions resolved to let the Romanists know what he meant but would never acknowledge any thing to be proved against him yet an indifferent Judge will acknowledge his hints to be bold enough In one place thus he tells the Learned Morton You know that deposition of Princes is an effect of Excommunication P. R. Quiet and sober reckoning pag. 64. and can never happen by Ecclesiastical Authority but where Excommunication hath gone before And I would ask M. Morton in good earnest out of his Divinty when a Christian Prince is lawfully excommunicated and shut out from all society of Christian Communion and he persists Impenitent how can he be head of a Christian Common-wealth for so much as he is no member nor hath any place or part at all in the whole body the head-ship being the chief part of all others In another place he telleth thus his own Principles from his learned Opponent Catholick Subjects do believe that in some cases there is power Id. Pag. 80. left by God in the Church and the Head thereof the Bishop of Rome over Princes to use not onely spiritual Censures for restraint of Exorbitant Excesses but Temporal Remedies also either directly or indirectly when urgent necessity of the Common-wealth should require All Catholick Subjects also of other Countries do hold and acknowledge Id. Pag. 81. this Doctrine In another of his Books against the foresaid Oath of Allegiance to the objection that some Roman Catholicks had taken it he thus answereth The judgement of a Catholick English-man in a Letter touching the Oath of Allegiance p. 18. § 30. I cannot but in charity assure my self that they being Catholicks took the said Oath for so much as concerneth the Popes Authority in dealing with Temporal Princes in some such lawful sence and interpretation as being by them expressed and accepted by the Magistrate may stand with the integrity and sincerity of true Catholick Doctrine and Faith to wit that the Pope hath not Authority without just cause to proceed against them But concerning the general Question to deny simply and absolutely Ib. Pag. 19. § 31. That the Pope is Supream Pastor of the Catholick Church hath any Authority left him by Christ either directly or indirectly with cause or without cause in never so great a necessity of the Christian Religion to proceed against any Prince whatsoever Temporally for his restraint or amendment or to permit other Princes to do the same This I suppose was never their meaning that took the Oath for that they should thereby contradict the general consent of all Catholick Divines and confess that Gods Providence for the Conservation and Preservation of his Church and Kingdom upon earth had been defectuous for that he should have left no lawful Remedy for so great and excessive an evil as that way might fall out And if you look but a little a Id. P. 85. § 25. farther you will see where the Shoe pincheth and that to deny the Popes power to depose Kings is one of the main reasons they have against this Oath the Affirmative being one of the greatest Pillars that upholds their puissant Hierarchy right or wrong And in another of his b Temperate Ward-word p. 53 54. Pamphlets you will see him close with Cardinal Allen Sanders and suchlike against Princes in behalf of the Popes power over them Nor need we question his attributing this Authority to the See of Rome when he alloweth the same to the People not onely telling them that they may Rebel against c See his R. Dolemans conference about the Crown but depose their King too and it may be worse of which in its due place But enough of Robert Parsons at this time unless he were better And if we consult some others abroad we shall finde d Con. in 2. 2. D. Tho. pag. 63. § 151. Johannes Wiggers e Com. in 2. 2. Aquin. Quest 12. art 2. Hieronymus de Medicis the Dominican f In 2. 2. D. Tho. in Summario Conclusionum d. 57. conclus 2. Luisus Turrianus the Spanish Jesuit g Com. in 2. 2. Quest 1. art 10. disp 8. Johannes Malderus Bishop of Antwerp and h De potestate Ecclesiastica fol. 154. Potest Papa jure optimo à gradu dignitate sua omnem Regem Principem dejicere non solum propter Heresim Schisma propter quam vis aliam sceleâ—osam impietatem verum etiam propter secordiam negligentiam ad regendum ineptitudinem si praesertim ejusmodi sit ut Regnum periclitetur Christianorum Johannes Antonius Delphinus allow that Kings may justly be deposed and that by the Pope and to these we may add Carolus Scribanius the Dutch Jesuit under the false name of i Amphitheatrum Honoris lib. 1. cap. 12. Clarus Bonarscius
sciogliere il vincolo del giuramento al Pont. Rom. come habbiamo dimostrato sopra c. Botero le Relationi Universali Part. 2. lib. 4. pag. 125 126 127. Giovanni Botero the first I may say that undertook prudentially to discover the world runs along in the same error with the rest of his Religion and will not onely allow the Pope to depose Kings but seem vext and angry against any that should deny it and reasons the case with them too as largely as if he had been chosen the sole Champion for his Church and declares himself a profest enemy against those who think that Kings have no Superiour but God in this World g Discussio Decreti Concil Lateran pag. 29. Lessius the Jesuit in behalf of the Pope makes use of Johannes Parisiensis but h A Theolog Dispute concerning the Oath of Allegiance Appendix pag. 402. § 18. Roger Widdrington a Benedictine affirms that Parisiensis and Antonius de Rosellis are rather for the Peoples power to depose Kings than the Popes though be it as it will one is as bad as the other and neither barrel better Herring Johannes de Bromyardo an English Dominican and famous in his time for his many writings is also an assertor of this a Opus Trivium verb. Regimen King-deposing Doctrine nor is it any strange thing amongst our Country Romanists for wherefore else should b Epist ad lectorem praefix Nâ—c Sander de Schismate Aâ—gl Edward Rishton commend Saunders for his Rebellion in Ireland Wherefore else should Watson the Author of the c Pag. 327. Quodlibets desire that the Pope had and would exercise as much power now in England as he did in Henry the Second and Kings Johns time Wherefore else should Everard Hanse the Priest say that he hoped Pius the Fifth did not err in declaring against Queen Elizabeth and absolving her subjects from their Allegiance Wherefore else should John Mundine Concertat Eccles Cathol Edit 1594. fol. 78 140 153 154 163 169 170 171. being asked at his Tryal if he thought that the Pope could depose the Queen or if another Prince should invade England whether he would assist the Queen or the Invador desire to be excused from answering Wherefore else should James Fenn at his Tryal declare that the Pope had power to depose the Queen and other Princes Wherefore else should James Bele declare that he would assist the Pope or any other against the Queen Coppie d'une lettre envoye d' Angleterre an seminaire des Anglois à Dâ—uay contenant l'Hist du Martyre de 4. Prestres An. 1616. pag. 10 18 49 53. Why should John Finch affirm the same or Father Thomas Maxfield that no man under damnation could take the Oath of Allegiance And Nicholas Atkinson refuse to take the said Oath though he was promised his life if he would take it As they promised the same mercy and favour to John Thulis and N. Voren at Lancaster And we are d Vid. O. E. a new chalange made to N. D. p. 116. Mat. Sutcliff's challenge concerning the Romish Church pag. 187. informed from the Records of the Memorials of the Council at Yorke that a House being searched for a Priest stiled David Engleby their own Catalogues mentions one Francis Ingleby who suffer'd there 1586 there were found in the said house these Positions That the Queen before the Popes Bull was not a lawful Queen That Catholicks are not to defend her or fight for her if any come to execute the Popes Bull. That it is lawful to take arms against her and to do what they please with her if they be sure to obtain Victory And the onely reason that Father e Vid. Rob. Abbot Antilogia pag. 156. Garnet had against some insurrection against the King was because they wanted the Popes Authority or approbation And if I mistake not 't is no less man than Father f A letter of a Catholick touching the Oath of Allegiance pag. 47. Parsons who thinks it no small honour for his cause that Robert Drurie Matthew Flathers and George Gervis three Priests would rather dye than take the Oath of Allegiance when life was offer'd them upon that condition But what need I trouble my self with particulars when Abraham Bzovius who thought himself fit to be joyned with Baronius tells us that all the g De Rom. Pont. cap. 46. pag. 621. English Priests who suffer'd in England absolutely maintain'd that the Pope might depose Kings and he h Id. Cap. 45 46. himself is of the same pernicious Principle Of this Opinion also is the great Spanish Lawyer i Emporium â—triusque juris Part. 1. Tit. 2. de jurisdic omnium judicum Quaest 4. § 12. Pet. Augustin Morla and to him it would be no news to add a Souldier of the same Kingdom and one that by the assistance of this Maxime was to prove his Sword could do no wrong by taking away another mans Kingdom and joyning of it to his Masters And this is Fadrique de Toledo Duke of Alva who in a large Speech told the people of Navarre pretty stories of the Popes power in giving away Kingdoms But the conclusion was that by the same Authority the Kingdom of Navarre was given to his Master of Spain and King Albret justly deposed And 't is no great matter whether he or his a Ael Anton Nebrissens de Bello Navarr lib. 1. cap. 6. Historian pen'd the Harangue And no question but that his Grand-childe Don Fernando d'Alvares de Toledo Duke of Alva was altogether of the same judgement when he conquer'd Portugal to the same Crown Nor is the great but none of the best Text-men the Spanish Preaching Jesuite Johannes Osorius of any better Principles For amongst other priviledges granted to the Popes he tells his Auditory that he can b Omnem dare auferre aut moderari jurisdictionem Reges create iterum Regna tollere Concion Tom. 3. Concio in Cathedra St. Petri col 2. appoint and depose Kings And in another of his c preachments he tells the people that by this Text Behold here are two swords is signified the Spiritual and material Swords of the Church whereby she doth assault beat and rob Kings of their Dominions and Authority b Ecce duo gladii hic Duas Ecclesiae potestates quibus in peccatores animadvertit significat Ecclesiasticam saecularem gladium Spirituale materiale quo Ecclesia uti potest cum oportuerit Reges expugnando ac debellando a potestate Regia expoliando Tom. 4. pag. 87. Of the same judgement is the Italian Lawyer and Divine too d Tract de officio S. Inquisit Tit. 1. § 67 68 93. Caesar Carena of so great repute at Cremona and a favorite of the English Overseer Cardinal Francisco Barberino Nephew to Vrban the eighth But of this subject we have been too long and so I shall conclude all with the Dominican
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
Pope being known 't is the custom of the King of Spain c. to send instructions to his Ambassadour or some other Confident at Rome how to carry on the Conclave that a friend of his might be chosen and also nominates five or six any of which he is willing to be Pope and at the same time sends the names of some others whom by no means he will not allow to be elected by which means Cardinal Baronius lost the Title of Holiness the Spaniard wholly excluding him for a An. 1097. This Tract is left out in some Edition of his Annals the King of Spain having made an Edict against it See D'Avily les Estats p. 235. scratching a little upon the Spanish Territories of Sicily The instructions being come the Cardinals of his Faction act accordingly And he though he deserve the Chair never so much as for Example Baronius who is thus excepted against by a King 't is an hundred to one he shall never change his red Hat for a Triple Crown 'T is true sometimes a few Cardinals in the Conclave when they see they cannot bring their own ends about exclaim pittifully against this mode of submitting their suffrages and consciences to the pleasure of this or that King and now and then Pen and Paper are imploy'd in making little Tracts of Oppositions and Justifications of such Actions but this scribling and crying out of a few Cardinals never hinders the rest from prosecuting their intended designs And thus we see that yet the Temporal Authority hath a main stroke if not all in the election of Popes And here I cannot but smile at Thomas Bozius who makes a great deal of noise and blustering in behalf of the Popes jurisdiction and De Italiae statu lib. 4. c. 3. p. 388. 390. what an horrid danger and judgement 't will be to cross the Bishops of Rome For saith he the Emperours Honorius and Valentinian the Third restrained the Popes of some Temporal Power and then the Goths Vandals and Heruli wasted Italy Again that the Emperour Justinian made a Law that the Popes should not be consecrated without first consulting the Emperour and paying a certain Id. p. 395. sum of money for it and so the Plague or Pestilence seis'd upon Italy and Totila the Goth took Rome Again long after this another Law was made that the Pope should not be consecrated but in the presence of the Emperours or their Deputies and therefore besides Pag. 403. Plagues great Earth-quakes troubled Italy and the Saracens and Huns lorded it there also And suchlike consequences as these he hath store of and all as true as the Star fell down and therefore the Astronomer shot it with his Jacobs-staff And truely the rest is much after the same fashion the sum of his whole Book being onely this Italy is more fruitful hath more and greater Cities and Towns brave Monasteries and Churches better Houses and Colledges and more knowing men and women for these last twelve hundred years than it was or had before Ergo the Pope and his Authority is the greatest happiness that can happen to Italy And is not this a notable wonder that building should increase in so many hundred years If this way of Argumentizing be authentick 't is coming time not Scripture or Antiquity that must prove any Religion the which upon this account must grow better and better and so as they say Modern Protestantism must be held a greater blessing and benefit than that which they call ancient Popery in those Nations where the reformed Religion bears the sway Sect. 3. An Essay upon this Quere Whether for some years past there hath been according to their Decrees and Orders really any true Pope HAving thus hastily discours'd something concerning the Election of Popes it will not be amiss to add these few following Observations which may add some light to the business and by a farther prosecution may be of greater consideration than at this time I shall trouble my self withal but leave it to the censure of every man In the time of Paul the Fifth who began his Popedom in 1605 there lived in Italy a great Scholar and a severe Roman Catholick who being troubled at the odd carriage of the Popes and their Election thought it convenient to have a General Council to rectifie all but knowing the Bishops of Rome to have a natural aversness from this look'd upon himself obliged as a true son of the Roman Church to endeavour as much as lay in his power the promotion of such a publick benefit to his Religion And therefore knowing the Popes against it he drew up a a Supplicatio ad Imperatorem Reges Principes super causis Generalis Concilii convocandi Petition to the Emperour and other Christian Kings to bring this noble and charitable design about And possibly fearing that if this his supplication should onely come into the hands of the Potentates of the Roman Catholick perswasion it might there be stifled by the over-perswasion of their interested Favourites and Councellors To prevent this seeing our King James of a publick spirit for the benefit of the Church he directs it onely to him that by his means his necessitating reasons might be discover'd to the Emperour and the other Christian Princes Upon this the Author a An. 1611. dyeth at Rome leaves this Petition with a dear Friend of his who delivers it to an English Gentleman then there who accordingly convey'd it to King James who presently dispers'd it all Europe over As for the Author I shall positively say nothing but that he appears one to have been very well versed in the Roman affairs the common opinion is that it was the famous Neapolitan Civilian Dr. Marta of whom we have formerly hinted and indeed his very subscribing himself to the Supplication NOVVS HOMO doth intimate that he had now in something changed his Opinion and we cannot but observe that this Supplication carryeth all along a grand respect and veneration to Temporal Authority over Rome it self in some things whereas Dr. Marta in his other Volumes is so resolute a Champion for the Popes very Temporal Prerogative that he screws up the power and jurisdiction of the Romish Bishops even to trample upon all other Potentates in this world If Marta be the man it must be the discovery of some grand iniquities that could thus alienate his affection from Pope Paul the Fifth In this his discourse is indeavoured to prove a failing in the succession of Popes raising the Foundation from the Simoniacal entrance of Sixtus the Fifth But probably one might fetch a farther rise than this even by viewing over their own schisms where sometimes we shall finde such odd chopping and changing of Popes that the wisest then living could not tell which or where was the Head of the Church and yet every party creating Cardinals and declaring himself Christ's Vicar Now this is certain since the time they have acknowledged
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
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
runs thus Beate Petre Apostolorum Princeps inclina quaesimus pias aures tuas audi me servum tuum quem ab infantia nutristi usque ad hunc diem de manu iniquorum liberasti qui me pro tua fidelitate oderunt odiunt tu mihi testes es Domina mea Mater Dei B. Paulus frater tuus Pro Ecclesiae tuae honore defensione ex parte Omnipotentis Dei Patris Filii Spiritus Sancti per tuam Potestatem Authoritatem Henrico Regi filio Henrici Imperatoris qui contra tuam Ecclesiam inaudita superbia insurrexit totius Regni Teutonicorum Italiae gubernacula contradico omnes Christianos a vinculo Juramenti quod sibi fecere facient absolvo ut nullus ei sicut Regi serviat interdico O Blessed Peter Prince of the Apostles incline I pray your pious ears and hear me your servant whom thou hast nourished from his infancie and till this day hast delivered from the hands of wicked men who hate me for my trusting in thee Thou art my Witness and our Lady the Mother of God and your Brother St. Paul that For the honour and defence of thy Church on the part of Almighty God the Father Son and holy Ghost by thy Power and Authority I deprive from any Government and Rule of all Germany and Italy King Henry Son to the Emperour Henry who with an unheard-of pride hath opposed and rise against thy Church And I absolve all Christians from the Oaths of Obedience which they have or shall make and do here interdict and forbid any to serve him as a King In this I follow a An. 1076. § 25 26. Baronius which is worded otherwise than that set down by b Pag. 177. Platina the reason of which difference and variations let those look to it who boast of Originals in the Vatican though in this we may make one serve to interpret the other Presently after this Gregory sends to the Germans to know whether Henry would submit himself and acknowledge his offences against St. Peters Church but if he would not that then another King might be chosen who would be obedient to the Roman See and he would confirm the Election Upon this the Chief met at Tribur neer Mentz The Emperour perceiving his case to be but bad many of his chief friends forsaking him and others for fear durst not seem for him so apt were the simple people then to be gull'd and terrified by those Roman bibble-babbles or the seditious Nobles was in a peck of troubles seeing himself so neglected And thus finding few friends and no remedy he sends to those who met at Tribur desiring their favours and pardon for what he had formerly done amiss and promiseth amendment if they would onely look upon him as a Monarch all this they refuse pretending his Excommunication and Deposition by Gregory and several other suchlike trifling excuses Henry thus seeing all hopes lost in Germany resolves to submit himself to the Pope to effect which he designed a journey into Italy The factious Germans informed of this resolve to way-lay him and if they could possibly intrap him and get him into their clutches but by making the farthest about the neerest way to his journies end he escapes all their Ambushments and Malice Yet was his journey most difficult and hazardous by reason of the extremity of the Frost which put him several times in great danger in his passage over the Alpes Having entred Lumbardy many Italian Bishops and Nobles wait upon him entertain him with all respect complain to him of the Popes actions and wish that he had friends and strength enough to depose Gregory of whose Popedom they were really weary Yet did not this much better the Emperours poor condition Anno 1077. For those who had been his friends and well-wishers in Germany and other places seeing Henry himself brought so low as to drudge for pardon thought it their securest way to do so too and so they also gad to Italy and bare-footed without any linnen about them humbly beg absolution of the Pope which after some hardship and waiting they obtain with an injunction never to acknowledge Henry till he had asked pardon of and satisfied his Holiness Henry thus seeing his condition grow worse and worse thought it wisest to make the best he could of a bad Market and unwilling to loose the Empire resolves to satisfie the Pope if any thing can do it and being informed that Gregory was at Canossa a strong place in the Territory of Reggio in the Dukedom of Modena thither he goeth to supplicate for pardon and restoration This Castle of Canossa was compass'd about with three Walls and belonged to Mathilda or Maude a Lady of great Revenues and intimately acquainted with the Pope seldom parting from him 'T was now the depth of Winter nor had the memory of man known a severer Frost yet doth Henry some say also with his a Fox Acts and Mon. vol. 1. pag. 332 233. Empress and little Son without any Princely Attire or Linnen and which was more without Shooes or Stockings or Hat thus bare-footed bare-leg'd and b Blondus Ital. Iâ—lust de Lombard pag. 357. bare-headed some say with a c Mornay pag. 253. pair of Sizzers and a scourge in his hands intimating that he was there ready to be polled and whipt trudge it to Canossa hoping to be let in to the speech and favour of his Holyness to which purpose he thought he had made way by some of the Popes friends but here he found himself deceived yet we may suppose he had some favour being permitted to enter within the second Wall where in this pittiful plight he waited to be let in all day long fasting but the Popes spirit would not yet come down The night comes the Frost continueth and his stomach might well think his throat Blondus Hist Decad 2. lib. 3. pag. 200. cut yet doth he not stir but with this cold comfort expects compassion Having thus with pain cold and hunger past over the tedious night two to one but next morning he might hope for better success but he was served with the same sauce as the day before And thus he past over three days and three nights enough to get desperation if not death in a better man than Pope Gregory who thus despised the birth dignity and patience of so great an Empeperour But the fourth day some others with Mathilda as if ashamed of the arrogancie of Gregory and the unparallell'd humility of Henry with much ado perswaded Hildebrand to allow the Emperour his presence but yet before this was done Henry was to deliver up his Crown and the rest of his Royal Badges and Ensigns to the Pope and acknowledge himself not fit or worthy to Rule And having gone thus far on his knees he humbly begs Absolution which after a great deal of clutter was granted though the remedy
from whose modesty the recovery of the Kings favour assailed him afresh and without respect of his Majesty at such time as he led his Armies lately against the Peace-breakers with severe and terrible Letters nothing savoring of fatherly Devotion or Pastoral Patience but most bitterly threatning him with sentence of Excommunication and his Kingdom with an Interdict whereas on the otherside he rather ought with admonition to have mollified him and with merits and meekness overcome him If the Kings humility be so requited what will be determin'd against the stubborn If the ready devotion of obedience be esteem'd so slightly in what manner shall wilful obstiuacie be revenged Nay father to these so grievous threats are added yet matters far more grievous for he Excommunicated some of his Majesties Liegemen most inward with our Lord the King the Principal of his Privy Council who managed the counsels of the King and the affairs of his Kingdom and all this being neither cited nor impleaded neither as they say or call it guilty of any crime nor convicted nor confessing any thing Yea he went farther yet insomuch as he suspended from his Priestly and Episcopal Office our reverend Brother the Bishop of Salisbury being absent undefended neither confest nor convict before ever the cause of his suspension was approved of by the advice of those of the same Province or any others If therefore this course of proceedings in judgements so preposterous we spare to say inordinate be followed concerning the King and Kingdom what will be the end considering the time is evil and yeildeth great occasion of malice but that the band of grace and favour whereby the Kingdom and Priesthood have hitherto been united will be rent asunder c And so they appeal against the Archbishop Thomas The Church being somewhat troubled with these divisions it was the earnest desire of several to procure a peace and this the Pope himself wish'd having work enough to do with the Emperour Frederick To accomplish this upon the desire also of Henry An. 1168. he sends two Legates a Latere viz. Cardinal William and Cardinal Otto and accordingly impowered them with instructions to manage that accommodation in France He writes also to a Bar. anno 1168. § 3 4. Thomas desiring him by all means to give himself to peace and rather than not to have concord to wink at some things and yeild for a while Yet as if Thomas were not great enough before he intended to raise him above all in France to which purpose he resolved to make him Legat also over all those Churches but before he could bestow upon him that Legantine Authority he was to desire the King of France his leave which accordingly he did by b § 7 8 9. Letter As for the manner of the Treaty of Peace between the King and Thomas take the story of it from the Legates themselves to the Pope § 33. To our most blessed Father and Lord Alexander c. William and Oddo by the same Grace Cardinals c. Coming to the c c i. e. in France Dominions of the renowned King of England we found the controversie between him and Canterbury aggravated in far worse sort believe us than willingly we could have wished For the King with the greatest part of his followers affirmed how the Archbishop with great vehemencie d d Speed § 29. This Accusation Thomas denyed incensed the most worthy King of France against him and in like sort induced his Cosin the Earl of Flanders who before did bear him no malice to fall out with him and raise the most powerful war he could against him and this he knew of a certainty and it appear'd so by several evident demonstrations For whereas the said Earl departed from the King very friendly the Archbishop coming into his Province to the very seat of the War incited as much as in him lay as well the King of France as the said Earl to Arms The King affirm'd also that the Informations concerning the ancient Customs of England deliver'd to you were false and not true which also the Bishops there present did witness The King offer'd also that if any Customs since his time were devised contrary to the Ecclesiastical Laws he would submit them to your judgement Calling therefore to us the Archbishops Bishops and Abbots of the Kings Dominions that the King might not deprive us of all hopes of peace but rather suffer himself to be drawn to have a Conference with the Archbishop as well concerning the peace as the judgement Sending therefore Letters unto a a i. e. Thomas him by our Chaplains we appointed a certain and safe place where we might have conference with him on the Feast of St. Martin he nevertheless pretending excuses put off this Conference until the Octaves of that Saint which truely vexed the King more than could be imagined But when we saw that the Archbishop although we offer'd him safe conduct would nevertheless give us no meetings in any part of the Kings Dominions next the French we being willing to yeild to him that there might be nothing wanting in us which might redound to his profit came to a place in the Realm of France which himself appointed Being come to the Conference we began most earnestly to perswade him that he would behave himself to the King who had been his singular Benefactor with such humility as might afford us sufficient matter on which to ground our Petition for peace At which retiring himself aside with his friends after some consultation with them he answer'd that He had sufficiently humbled himself to the King without impeaching the honour of God the liberty of the Church the reputation of his own Person the possessions of the Church and farther the justice due to him and his friends These things so numbred up we seriously perswaded him as it was necessary to descend to particulars but when he would alledge nothing either certain or particular we demanded of him if in the matters specified in your Letters he would submit himself to our judgement as the King and Bishops had already promised to do to which he presently replyed that he had received no Mandat from you to this purpose But if he and all his might first be fully restored he would then proceed according as the Apostolick See should direct him So returning from the Conference since his words neither tended to judgement nor agreement nor yet would he by any means enter into the matter We manifested unto the King some things but concealing other passages as it was convenient and tempering other things what we heard c. Thomas b Bar. § 38 39 c. writes also to the Pope and informs him of the same conference and in a manner confesseth all here set down expecting his instigating the French against King Henry And another c § 53 54. Letter he writes to the Cardinals at Rome pitifully complaining that King
the Archbishop of Canterbury and so to hinder any other from performing it he wrote an a Bar. anno 1170. § 3. Express to the Archbishop of York and the other Bishops of England not to anoynt him or meddle in the business thereby to necessitate the recalling of Thomas But this design wrought otherwise than intended for the King inraged at this Prohibition forthwith caused all his Subjects from twelve years old to sixty b Stow. pag. 151. col 1. Speed § 35. to abjure the Popes Obedience or take an Oath not to obey the Popes Constitutions And then had his Son Crown'd at Westminster by Roger Archbishop of York the other Bishops assisting where the young King was c Speed § 36. Bar. § 16. sworn to observe the ancient Customs of the Nation without any mention of the Churches liberties This resolution of the King or something else did a little cool the Pope and having put on his considering cap he seem'd not so violent against the Coronation as formerly though Thomas cryed out that he and his authority was undone by it but to pacifie him the Pope sent him a Paper-remedy viz. that that action should not for the future be any a Bar. § 14. prejudice to his rights and priviledges And to give Thomas more content he b Id. § 17. suspended Roger Archbishop of York and this terrible sentence he sent to Thomas himself to make the best use of it Now had the world for almost seven years been troubled with this quarrel between a King and his Subject insomuch that all parties grew almost weary of it And now once more to try if any good could be done a treaty was brought about again For this the Pope sends his Legats and some threats against Henry if peace not presently made and Thomas also used his humour to procure an Agreement viz. threatning to c Id. § 24. Interdict the Kings Dominions and ranting against his Soveraign to the Legats declaring him to be no other than a d Id. § 25. Deceiver Jugler and Corrupter And are these words savouring of an obedient and peaceful subject But in brief a Conference was had between the King and Thomas in a place call'd by the Inhabitants e Pratum Proditorum Traytors-Meddow where though Thomas took upon him to upbraid the King for opposing him and the Church and resolved not to yeild to him about the Customs his Sons Coronation or the loss of his own liberty and honour as he call'd it yet the King shew'd himself so plyable that a peace was struck up between them Thomas himself confessing to the Pope That f Ille verbum acceptans annuit nos nostros qui aderant recepit in gratiam suam Baron anno 1170. § 30. the King accepted all in good part yeilded us our request and received us with all ours there present into his favour In this Treaty the King twice held Thomas his Horse g Matt. Paris an 1170. pag. 122. bridle whilst he mounted on Horse-back was not Thomas proud to permit it or not dislike it Now might we suppose all to be calme and quiet but we shall finde nothing less for Agreement thus made Thomas hastes for England where being come he having desired the h Pol. Virg. l. 13. p. 212. Popes Authority suspends or Excommunicates the Bishops for i Speed § 40. Crowning the young King And thus instead of being peaceable and patient he reneweth the old broyl and provokes again to displeasure by Censuring those who had been the Kings friends and by so doing râ—flected upon his Majesty Upon this the King would have Thomas to absolve them again but that he refused unless they would swear absolute Obedience to the Pope which they said they would not do without the Kings consent whose dignity it did most touch upon The Father-King then in France being informed of these extravagant actions of Thomas against the peace and tranquillity of his Subjects fell into such a displeasure that in a sudden rage and passion he wonder'd revenge was not done upon Thomas which four of his Courtiers hearing interpreting the words to a wrong sence without any Warrant or Authority thought they could not do the King better service than by killing the Archbishop For which purpose they haste into England so to Canterbury where they cruelly murder'd Thomas in the Cathedral Church at a place yet call'd the Martyrdom But the k Barth Gavant Thesour Sacrorum Rituum tom 2. pag. 140. certain day on which he suffer'd they cannot positively tell yet they confidently appoint a day in the Calendar as they do many others upon uncertainties The names of these four Courtiers were Sir Richard or Hugh Breton or Brito the name of a Family yet Tho. Fuller's Church-Hist l. 3. § 66. extant in Northamptonshire Sir Hugh Morvill of Kirk-Oswald in Cumberland where his Sword wherewith he slew Becket was kept a long time in memory of that fact his Family at this day extinct Sir William Tracy * Stow p. 152. col 2. Baron of Brains and Morton whose heirs yet flourish at Todington in Glocestershire Sir Reginald or Reynold some say Richard Fitz-Vrse or Bears son his Postery was afterwards men of great Lands and Commands in the County of Monaghan in Ireland being there call'd Mac-Mahon which in Irish signifieth the son of a Bear To these was assisting one Hugh call'd the Ill-clerk an Officer of the Church But though these kill'd him never so surely yet are we told a pretty a Bar. anno 1170. § 59 story how that the next morning prayers being ended he lifted up his hand and gave the Monks his Benediction and well he might when b Pet. de Natal lib. 2. cap. 13. Angels in the Choire appear'd and helped to sing his Requiem These four having slain Thomas fled into the North and for some time hid themselves in Knaresbrough Castle in York-shire whence they went to Rome where though at first the Pope had Excommunicated them they obtain'd their c Bar. anno 1172. § 22. Absolution and Pardon from Alexander the Third being enjoyn'd by way of penance to visit the Holy-land And we are told that the Clergy having thus exempted themselves from the temporal Laws so the d Speed § 44. punishment of a Priest-killer was not then Death but Excommunication till about the year 1176 it was declared by this King Henry that such Murderers should suffer loss of life We are also told that whilst these men remain'd under Excommunication that e Bar. an 1172. § 22. Dogs though never so hungry would not take bread from their hands as true as many other old-wives tales in Baronius befitting the credit of a learned Cardinal However that the memory of the men and their bloudy action might not be forgot their f Will. Somner's Antiq. of Cant. p. 164. Statues of Stone were set up in the Cathedral Churches Porch
English Clergy and that almost all his Nobility would fall from him having contrary to their Allegiance ingaged so to do And therefore perswaded him to submit himself to the Pope to hinder those inconveniences and thereby to keep himself a King The King mâ—inly troubled at these treacherous dealings of his own Subjects not knowing where to turn himself was I know not how terrified and overperswaded into an Ignominious condescention to the Pope by admitting of Stephen Langton to be Aâ—chbishop and the rest of his Rebellious Subjects to their former conditions and then unkingly to resign up the Kingdoms of England and Ireland to the Pope by taking off his Crown kneeling giving it to Pandolphus and laying the Royal Scepter Robe Sword and Ring at the Legates feet which Pandolf kept five days and then allow'd the King to have them again A thousand Marks â—â— Silver he also paid there for the Pope which the Legate as in a triumph trad upon for we must not think that he despi 〈…〉 â—nd left it behind him 〈…〉 so having thus gotten all that heart could wish takes off the 〈…〉 ict and lets England turn Christian once again Though 〈…〉 us that King John's submissions were of no force to 〈…〉 erity no King having power to give away his King 〈…〉 ake it tributary to a Forreigner no way akin to the 〈…〉 Nor could a Christian Bishop by following our Saviou 〈…〉 s whose Foundation lay onely on Spirituals thus make it hâ—â— business and wicked haughty design to make all Kings and Kingdoms Tributary or subject to his deposing and disposing of But for a farther nullity of King John's grant and concession I shall refer you to Mr. a Hist of Popes Usurp p. â—0â— â—91 2â—2 â—0 pag. â—20 Prynne And as for this Innocent III who thus domineer'd over Temporal Princes though these actions were enough to tell you what he was yet Matthew Paris in plain words will inform you that he was b Super omâ—es mortaâ—es 〈…〉 osus 〈…〉 suâ—â—â—bus pe 〈…〉 que sititor insatiaâ—ilis ad â—â—nia scelera pro praemüs datis vâ—l pâ—oâ—â—sis cerâ—um 〈…〉 Mâ—â— Paris pag. 245. the proudest and ambitious man in the world most greedy and covetous of Silver for which he was apt to do all manner of wickedness When the Pope had thus as he thought obtain'd King John to be his Vassal and so the Kingdom his he took his part after against his Enemies thereby the better to preserve what he had at last got in England And so passing by the several Rebellions against the King by his own Subjects their renouncing their Allegiance to him and declaring themselves subject to Lewes of France and suchlike King John dyed but the cause of his death is not agreed upon some saying a surfeit others grief and others that he was poysoned by the Monks of Swinsted-Abby in Lincolnshire who were of the Cistercian Order who thought themselves opprest by King John Father c Wâ—r◠〈…〉 pag. 〈…〉 â—20 Parsons is very furious against any that shall say this King was poysoned nor will he grant any Authority for it before Caxton and Trevisa though by his favour besides those ancient Authors mentioned by Speed and a Fox â—ryn pag. 366. others I my self have seen several old b Fol. F. â—2 fol. R. 67. Qâ—arto l. 35. Arch. Cant. in Bâ—bl Bodleian Oxon. Chron. Antique in English Verse Manuscript lib. Digb numb 196. Manuscript Digb numb 186. in Bibl. Bodl. Oxon. Manuscript-Histories of England writ before Caxton who expresly declare the manner of his poysoning But be it as it will 't is certain that it is no Protestant invention but first recorded by Romanists themselves Sect. 2. The Murther of Erick the Sixth and Erick the Seventh Kings of Denmark HAving entertain'd you somewhat long in England we shall be the shorter abroad and first looking Northward into Denmark Ericus VI Henry was murdered by the contrivance of his Brother Abel The story in short thus Abel longing for year 1250 the Crown took an occasion when the King once went to visit year 1251 him to entertain him with all manner of love and respect but while he was playing at Chess or Tables with a Nobleman Krantz Dan. lib. 7. some Souldiers appointed rush into the Chamber take out the King carry him on Ship-board cut off his head tye some weight to his body and throw it into the Sea not far from Sleswick And not long after this was King Erick VII of the same Kingdom year 1286 murdered in bed by his own Subjects receiving upon his body about LVI wounds Sect. 3. The deposing of Baldwin the Second Emperour of Constantinople I Have not troubled you a long while with the Eastern Empi e because they would object it not to be of the Fellowship with Rome but now a word or two will not be amiss Baldwin II being Emperour of Constantinople and a c Tho. Bozius de jure status pag. 287 288. lawful one too as they confess was by force without any pretence or right thrust out of it by Michael Palaeologus who to add wickedness to wickedness contrary to his Oath put out the eyes of John the young Heir yet because there is no villany without some sign and pretence of sanctity d An. 1259. § 6. Bzovius flyeth out in commendation of his Piety and Holiness because when he was about this Rebellion he had the Image of the Virgin Mary carryed before him into Constantinople Baldwin complains to other Princes and he is like to have assistance Pope e Spond an 1261. § 10. Vrban IV being for him too against Michael Upon this Palaeologus is in a peck of troubles fearing to have more Enemies upon him than he can cope with and in this sad condition he findes no remedy like making the Pope his friend A strange attempt to fancie that the Infallible holy Father would have any friendship with such a Rebel but on he goeth cunningly pulls out his bait and sends to the Pope that a b Sâ—ond an 1263. § 6 7. Union might be made between the Graecian and Roman Churches and which must not but be brag'd of he gave him all the finest good morrows and glorious Titles of c Bzev an 1203. § 13. Holiness Father of Fathers Prince of all Priests Vniversal Doctor of the Church c. Pope Vrban at the receipt of this Letter is almost mad for joy d Id. anno 1264. § 2. writes back to Palaeologus adorning him with all the glorious Titles he can think of not a little proud that now there was hopes for inlargement of the Popes Dominions by his e Sub unus pasioris regimine sole governing the Eastern as well as the Western Churches a Sway and Authority which for many Ages the Popes had earnestly gaped after In the mean time Vrban IV dying Clement IV succeeds with whom the same League was driven
his own Queen as appears by his slaunders against her and his respect to Philip both which these following Letters will testifie To the most Mighty Monarch of World the Great King M S. F. 97. Laud. in Bibl. Bâ—dl â—xon fol. 180. of Spain give this at his Princely Palace of Madril Most Mighty Monarch I Humbly salute your Imperial Majesty giving your Highness to understand of our great misery and violent order wherewith we are of long time opprest by the English Nation Their Government is such as Pharaoh himself never used the like for they content not themselves with all Temporal Superiority but by cruelty desire our bloud and perpetual destruction to blot out the whole remembrance of our Posterity as also our old Catholick Religion and to swear that the Queen of England is Supreme of the Cburch I refer the consideration thereof to your Mâ—jesties high judgement the rather for that Nero in his time was far inferiour to this Queen in cruelty Wherefore and for the respects thereof Right Mighty Potentate my self with my followers and retainers and being also requested by the Bishops Prelates and Religious men of my Country have drawn my Sword and proclaimed Wars against them for the recovery first of Christs Catholick Religion and next for the maintenance of my own Right which of long time hath been wrongfully detained from me and my Father who by right succession was lawful heir to the Earldom of Desmond for he was eldest son to James my Grandfather also Earl of Desmond and for that my Vncle Gerald being the younger Brother took part with the wicked proceedings of the Queen of England to farther the unlawful claim of Supremacy usurped the name of Earl of Desmond in my Fathers true Title yet notwithstanding he had not long enjoyed his name of Earl when the wicked English annoyed him and prosecuted Wars that he with the most part of those that held of his side was slain and his Country thereby planted with Englishmen And now by the just judgement and providence of God I have utterly rooted these Malepart a a Boughs bowse out of the Orchard of my Country and have profited so much in my proceedings that my dâ—sterly Enemies dare not shew their faces in any part of my Country but having taken my Towns and Cities for their refuge and strength where they do remain as it were Prisoner for want of means to assail them as Cannon and Powder which my Country cannot yeild Having these wants most noble Potentate I have presumed with all humility to address these my Letters to your High Majesty craving the same of your gracious clemency and goodness to assist me in this godly enterprise with some help of such necessaries for the Wars as your Majesty shall think requisite and after the quiet of my Country satisfaction shall be truely made for the sâ—me and my self in person with all my forces shall be ready to serve your Highness in any Country your Majesty shall command me And if your Majesty will vouchsafe to send me a competent number of Souldiers I will place them in some of my Towns and Cities to remain in your gracious disposition till such time as my ability shall make good what your Majesty shall lend me in money and Munition and also your Majesties high Commission under the Broad Seal for leading and conducting these Souldiers according to the Prescript Order and Articles of martial discipline as your Majestie shall appoint me and as the service of this Land shall require I praise the Almighty God I have done by his goodness more then all my Predecessors for I have reclaim'd all the Nobility of this part of Ireland under the dutiful obedience of Christs Church and mine own Authority and accordingly have taken Pledges and Corporal Oaths never to swerve from the same and would have sent them to your Majestie by this Bearer but that the Ship was not of sufficiencie nor strength to carrie so Noble Personages and will send them whensoever your Highness please So there resteth nothing to quiet this part of the World but your Majesties assistance which I daily expect Thus most Mighty Monarch I humbly take my leave and do kiss your Royal hands beseeching the Almighty of your Majesties health and happiness Your Majesties most humble at all command James Desmond From my Camp the XIV of March MD XCIX Copia vera concordans cum Originali examinat per Tho. White Mayor of Waterford Another Letter of the same date To the most mighty Monarch of the World the Great King of Spain give these at his most Princely Palace at Madrid YOur Majesty shall understand that the Bearer hereof Captain M S. F 97. fol. 188. Andrew Roche hath been always in the service of the Queen of England and hath performed her manifold services at Sea whereby he had great preferment and credit and being of late time conversant with Catholicks and â—eachers of Divine Instructions that were sorry for his lewd life made known unto him the danger wherein his soul was So that by their godly perswasions he was at that time reclaimed and converted to be a good Catholick and to spend the residue of his life in the defence and service of the Church Since which time of reconcilement he was to repair to your Majesty with his Ship and Goods as 't is well known to your Highness Council who consiscated that Ship to your Majesties use himself being at that time strucken with extream sickness that he was not able to proceed in the Voyage and when his company return'd into Ireland they reported that the a a Adelantado or the Spanish Admiral Lantado wished rather his Person then his Ship which made him fearful ever since to repair thâ—ther till he should deserve his freedom by some worthy service to your Majesty The b b Let some Romanist tell us the meaning of this for none was Hâ—â—buâ— King 〈◊〉 Vâ— of 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 England Heir Apparent to the Crown of England had been carryed â—y him to your Highness but that he was bewrayed by some of his own men and thereby was intercepted and himself taken prisoner where he remain'd so long till by the providence of God and the help of good friends he was convey'd into Ireland to me in a small boat â—â—d having thâ—se occasions to your Majesty and being assured of his trust faith and confidence towards me have committed this charge into his hands the rather for that I understand your Royal Fleet is directed for England this year to the end he may be a Leader and Condâ—ctor to them in the Coast of England and Ireland being very expert in the knowledge thereof and in the whole Art of Navigation And thus with all humility I commit your Highness to the Almighty Your Majesties most humble at all command James Desmond From my Camp the XIV or March MD LXXXXIX Copia vera concordans cum Originali examinat
Guiccard lib. 1. Ibero Hoc tulit invisum jure Navarra jugum Barbarus insulsum sed Rex f Lop. Gomar cap. 113. Atabaliba Papam Risit Insanit Papa superbus ait Regna datignotis qui sic aliena Dynastis Excidit Imperio sed tamen ille suo Heu quantas peperit Papa Donatio strages Millia g Joseph Acosta lib. 4. cap. 3. Bar. de Casao Epise This last viz Barthomaeus Casaus a Godly Spaniard and a Dominican and Confessor to the Emperor Charles V went into the West-Indies to preach the Christian Religion amongst those people And did write anno 1542 a particular Treatise to shew the barbarous cruelty and abominable Inhumanity of his Countrymen against those poor naked and simple Americans The which bloudy Butcheriâ—s are scarce to be parallel'd in all Histories nudorum quot cecidere virum Exuit humanum crudeli ex pectore mentem Qui legit salsis temporat à lachrimis Qualiter innocuos affixit Celtiber Indos Sed penes Historicos sint ea Lecta suos Thus we see that by the foresaid Articles neither our Kings nor the Church never intended any Spiritual Power and yet I know no reason but that a King or Queen may enjoy as much as some Female Romanists viz. their Lady Abbesses but onely a Civil jurisdiction and a coercive Power for the better Regulating their Dominions against home-bred Traytors and Forraign Enemies as you have seen it here interpretated and not onely our a His Notes upon the 37 Article Thomas Rogers and b Certamen Religiosum p. 159. Chr. Cartwright will inform you farther of it but also some Romanists themselves as one lately in his c Cap 6. pag. 25 26 27 28 c. Reflections upon the Oaths of Supremcie and Allegiance Another more ancient designedly written in Latine against the Book call'd God and the King the Romanist book is also call'd d Edit Colon. 1619. pag. 48 49. Deus Rex And Father Caron a true son to the Papal Chair is unwilling to boggle at this e Nâ—s enim Regem solum nostrum Ecclesiae Britanniae Hâ—berniae caput esse Civile Supremumque Gubernatorem agnoscimus nec aliud Rex ipse praetendlâ— aut Protestantes reipsa volunt Redmund Caron Remonstrantia Hibernorum part V. pag. 64. § 4. Supreme â—itle as people have formerly done And it is not the Sex that spoils the business f 1 Mar. 2 Parl. Queens being capable of and do enjoy all jurisdictions and Qâ—alifications that Kings do But enough concerning this Oath of Supremacie which was one of the main things that vext the Pope supposing by this his own Authority and gain struck at and indeed the g Post Divortiom nisi quod Pontificiam Poâ—estatem execratos se Caput Ecclesiae constituit nihil in Religione mutavit Jac. Aug Thuan Hist lib 3. In which Religion i. e. the Roman the King dyed Tho. Baily ' s life of John Fisher Bishâ—p of Roâ—hester cap. 21. pag. 164. Haereses paeuè omnes praeter illam quae Romani Pontificis Primaâ—um Monâ—sticas Religiones oppugnabat cohibuit repressit Nic. Sander de Schism Angl. lib. 2. pag 228. Parsons conversions of Engl. part 1. p. 170 235 238 241 242 244 246. part 2. p. 541 part 3. vol. 2. p. 408. Romanists confess that Henry VIII retain'd all the Articles of the Roman Church but this one and dyed in their Religion But let the King think as well as he pleaseth of his own Authority the Pope will have as good opinion of his own and to let King Henry see how far his jurisdiction reacheth Paul III h 30 Aug. 1535. draws up a thundering Bull against his Majesty in which he deprives him of his Dominions this for some time he keeps by him but at last sent it roaring i It was publish'd Decemb. 17. 1538. abroad and what a notable thing it was Father Paul one of the most judicious Fryars that ever set Pen to Paper shall tell you k Hist Coâ—cil of Trent lib. 1. pag. 86. A terrible thundering Bull such as never was used by his Predecessors nor imitated by his Successors The thing it self being very long and as tedious as idle I shall refer you for it to their Bullaria but the substance of it take as followeth IT begins with a Canting or Quaking Preface as most other Bulls do odly misapplying of the Holy Scripture to fob up the Papal power Rants dapperly against the King and his Subjects that obey him Interdicts all Cities Churches Places which favour or adhere to him Declares Him his Friends and their Children deprived of all benefiâ—s and priviledges and uncapable to obtain any Absolves all his Subjects from their Oaths of Obedience or Allegiance to him their King Pronounceth that he and his adherents shall be held as infamous their Wills Testimonies Credits and Authorities not to be of any validity Prohibits under Papal punishment to Deal Trade or have any medling with such wicked people Injoynes all Ecclesiasticks forthwith to avoid the Kings Dominions nor to return thither but by a Papal License upon sure Certificate of the said Kings repentance and submission Commands the Nobility Gentry and others to make it their care and business to expel and depose the said Henry from his Dominions Declares all Leagues Treaties or Agreements made by the said King with other Christian Princes to be null which if the said Kings and Potentates do not forthwith submit to as void and of none effect that then their respective Territories to lye under Interdiction and so to remain till the said Princes shall renounce all Amity and Alliance with the said Henry Exhorts and commands all the said Princes and others by vertue of their obedience to invade spoil take Arms and fight against the said King and all those who are subject to him And as for the Goods Ships and whatsoever else they take from the said English He by his Infallible and Papal Authority giveth to the said takers all right and propriety Willeth all Patriarchs Archbishops Bishops and all other Ecclesiasticks under pain of the severest Censures publickly to declare by Bell Book and Candle the said Henry and all his Adherents Excommunicated Requireth that none under the guilt of the same Censures any way hinder the publication of this Bull against the King And if any do withstand contradict or gainsay by any means signes or tokens whatever this Bull that then he or they so opposing shall incur the wrath of Almighty God and the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul Dated at Rome at St. Marks anno 1535. III d Kal. Septemb. In the first year of our Popedom And that neither King Henry nor any else should plead ignorance of these things it was therein provided and commanded that the said Bull should be affixed to the doors of the Neighbouring to England or the Kings Dominions and should be publickly read in the said Churches especicially
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
Abbots Priors and Lady Abbesses and the whole number of these Roman-Nonconformists would not amount to 200. But waving her Religion I finde the greatest crime objected to her is her cruelty against others for their opinions in Religion and with this her Adversaries have made no little noise in the world To this I shall return some satisfaction with as much brevity as can be all this being but a digression and by the by As for several years of her Reign not one Priest had suffered death so when they did as afterwards I fear many of them are yet held for blessed Martyrs who justly dyed as wicked Traytors And in this I would have the unbyass'd Romanists but to consider That even long before the Reformation a 25 Edw. 3. cap. 2. IT was Treason to compass or imagine the death of the King the Queen or their eldest Son and Heir b Ib. It was â—reason to Leavie war against the King or to adhere to the Kings enemies or to give to the said Enemies aid or comfort c Cokes Institut part 3. chap. 36. 13 Rich. 2. Stat. 2. cap. 2. It was Felony to bring or send into the Kingdom any Summons Sentence or Excommunication against any person of what condition soever d 16 Rich. 2. cap. 5. He incur'd a Praemunire that got such Bulls or Excommunications from the Pope e Coke part 3. chap. 84. None was to go out of the Realm or beyond seas without the Kings leave or license f Of these things see more at large in Coke's Institut part 3. cap 36. and his Reports part 5. fol. 12 15 17 21 22 23 27 28. and Bishop Bramhals just vindication of the Church of England from Schism cap. 4. It was of old expresly against the Law of the Land to procure or bring in any Bull of Excommunication against any subject much more in all reason against the Soveraign in respect it gave way to Forreign Authority the Popes Excommunications according to our old Laws being of no force in England g Coke Institut part 3. cap. 67. It was not lawful for any Subject of England to take a Pension c. of any forreign King Prince or State without the Kings license although the said Princes or States be in Peace or League with England Let the honest Romanist farther consider that before any Priest did suffer death it was Enacted that a 28 Hen 8. cap. 10. and 5 Eliz. c. 1. THey should incur a Praemunire who did any ways assert or teach the Pope to have jurisdiction over or in this Kingdom b 26 Hen. 8. c. 13. It was Treason for any to write or affirm the King to be an Heretick Infidel Schismatick Tyrant or Vsurper c 13 Eliz. c. 2. It was Treason to bring procure or publish any Bull from Rome d 13 Eliz. c. 2. It was a Praemunire so to acknowledge the Popes jurisdiction as to bring or procure from him any Agnus Dei Crosses Beads or Pardons being trinkets and trifles of themselves not worth a Rush but as they are held privy Tokens of Papal Obedience or Allegiance Here we see a fair way of Caution and he is a madman and no Martyr who will needs hasten his own death when neither God nor man requires any such indiscreet Zeal at his hands Christianity and Salvation being not destroy'd by these Laws the substance of them being in force when the Romanists themselves confess England was of their side and the Law-givers declare as appears by the Prefaces to the Acts that these Regalities and Laws tended for the better Government Constitution Peace and happiness of the Kingdom of which we are to suppose them to be best Judges seeing no Article of Faith confirm'd either by the Holy Scriptures or the Primitive Church were null'd or made void by these Statutes Yet the better to expose the Queen and render her actions odious all the world over they were very careful to publish what lyes they could of her pretended cruelties amongst whom we may account John Gibbins Robert Parsons Jesuits and John Fen Priest who were the chief Authors of that Pamphlet call'd Concertatio Ecclesiae in Anglia Add to them the Book call'd Ecclesiâ—e Anglicanae Trophaea drawn in Pictures in the English Collâ—â—ge at Rome by Nicholao Circini ingraven by Jo. Bapt. de Cavalleriis and publish'd by Gregory XIII his Approbation anno 1584. where people are said to be worryed in Bears skins c. and printed by Bartolomeo Grasso To vindicate the English-Romanists from the false Aspersions and falsities against their Soveraign and Country mention'd in this Book I finde a e Over throw of the Protestants Pulpit-â—abels against Mr. â—â—â—shaâ— pag. 10. Romanist I. R. whether May the Priest I know not though I am f Tho. James corrupt â—â— Fathers in the Appendix to the Reader told that such an one wrote against Mr. Crashaw as this also diâ— to offer something by affirming that there was never any such Book printed in the English Colledge at Rome But nothing is got by this since it cannot be deny'd but that the foresaid Book was printed at Rome and publish'd by the Popes express Authority as appears by his Breve prefixt And farther the foresaid supposed cruelties were painted upon the Colledge-Walls by Nich. Circini by order and appointment of the English there Nor need we trouble our selves to shew the disaffection of the English of that Colledge to their Queen and Country seeing Histories do testifie their Actions and a A. Mundy the English Roman liâ—e Travelers their railing and bitter words To these we may add Richard Verstegan who put forth a Book call'd Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis where in his Pictures he offers to view the former lying Bear-skin Tales Of this man because he afterwards afforded some light to Antiquities and our Historians are silent of his life and extraction a word or two by the by His Grand-father was call'd Theodore Rowland Verstegan born in Gelder-landt came into England about the latter end of King Henry VII marryed here and presently after dyed leaving a Son nine months old who afterwards to get a livelihood took upon him the profession of a Cooper in London Nor is this any discredit Wolfangus Musculus his Father being of that Trade This Cooper was Father to our Richard Verstegan which Richard was born in the Parish of St. Catherines in London he gave himself to the study of good Letters and imployed himself in Painting which makes me think that he engraved the Cuts in his own Books as the Learned Hevelius doth now Being a Zealous Romanist he left England went into the Spanish Netherlands where he compos'd the foresaid Theatrum Crudelitatum the Verses were made by b Vid. Delic Poet. Belg. vol 1. pag. 760 761 762 c. Johannes Bochius born at Bruxels but if I mistake not Register to Antwerp Afterwards the Rebellious League
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
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
I. Pere Fils Sainct Esperit nostre seul vray Dieu au quel soit Glorie Honneur L'Association des Princes Seigneurs Gentils-hommes Catholiques * * Andr. â—avyn reads onely â—st faicte doit estre serra fait pour restablir la Ley de Dieu en son entier remettre retenir le sainct Service d'icelui selon la forme maniere de la Sainct Eglise Catholique Apostolique Romaine abjurans renonçans touts erreurs au contraire Secondement pour conserver le II. Roy Henry III. de ce nom * * D' Aâ—bigne and the Hist des derniers troubles de France â—ave it thus Henry III. de ce nom par la grace de Dien ses Predecesseurs Roys tres Chrestient which may be as right as the other and so their pretended Loyalty to the Valoises spoiled by a juâ—gle ses successeurs Roys tres-Chrestiens en l'estat splendeur autorité devoir service obeissance qui lui sont deubs par ses subjects ainsi qu'il est contenu par les Articles qui lui seront presentez aux Estats les quels il jure promet garder son Sacré Couronnement avec Protestation de ne rien faire au prejudice de ce qui y serra ordonné par lesdits Estats Tiercement pour restituer aux Provinces de ce Royaume Estats d'icelluy les Droicts Preéminences Franchises Libertes anciennez telles qu' elles estoient du temps du Roy Clouis premier Roy Chrestien encores meilleurs plus profitables si elles se peuvent inventer sous la Protection susdicte Au cas qu'il y ayt Empeschement Opposition ou Rebellion à ce que dessus part qui de quelle part qu' ils puissent estre serront lesdicts Associez tenus obligez d'employer tous leurs biens moyens mesmes leurs propres Personnes jusques à la mort pour punir chastier courir sus à ceux qui l'auront voulu contredire empescher tenir la main que toutes les choses susdictes soyent mises en execution reéllement de faict Au cas que quelques-uns desdicts Associez leurs Subjects Amis Confederez fussent molestes oppressez recherches pour le cas dessusdicts par qui que ce soit serâ—nt tenus les dicts Associez employer leurs Corps Biens Moyens pour avoir vengiance de ceux qui auront faict lesdicts oppresses molestes soit par la voye de justice ou des armes sans nulle acception de personnes S' il advient qu' acun des Associez apres avoir faict serment en la dicte Association se vouloit retirer ou departir d'icelle sous quelque pretexte que ce soit que Dieu ne vueille tels refractaris de leur consentement seront offencez en leur corps biens en toutes sortes qu' on se pourra adviser comme Enemis de Dieu Rebelles Perturbateurs du repos public sans que lesdicts Associez en puissent estre inquietez ny recherches soit en publec ny en particulier Jureront lesdicts Associez toute prompte obeissance service au Chef que serra deputé suivre donner conseil comfort ayde tant a l'entretenement conservation de ladicte Association que ruine aux contredisants à icelle sans acception ny exception de personnes Et seront les defaillants dilayants punis par l'Authorité du Chef selon son Ordenance à laquelle lesdicts Associez se soubmettront Tous Catholiques des Corps des villes villages seront advertis sommez secretement par les Governeurs particuliers d'entrer en ladicte Association fournir deuement d'armes d'hommes pour l'execution d'icelle selon la puissance faculté de chacun Est defendu ausdicts Associez IX d'entrer en debats ny quarrels l'un contre lautre sans la permission du Chef à l'arbitrage du quel les contrevenants seront punis tant pour la reparation d'honneur que touts autres sortes Que ceaux qui ne voudront entrer X. This Article is not in â—avilâ—'â— Hist l. 6. en ladicte Association seront reputez pour enemis d'icelle poursuivables par toutes sortes d'offences molestes Si pour fortification ou plus XI grande sureté des Associez se faict quelque Convention avec les Provinces de ce Royaume elle se fera en la forme susdicte aux mesmes conditions soitque ladicte Association soit poursuivie envers les dictes villes on par elles demandees si autrement n'en est advisé par le Chef THE LEAGUE In the Name of the Holy Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost our onely true God to whom be Glory and Honour The Confederacy and Covenant of the Princes Lords and Gentlemen of the Catholick Religion ought to be and is made for the complete establishment of the Law of God and to restore and settle his holy Worship according to the form and manner of the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church abjuring and renouncing all errors contrary unto it Secondly for the Preservation of King Henry III. of that name and his Successors the most Christian Kings in the State Honour Authority Duty Service and Obedience due unto them by their subjects according as it is contain'd in those Articles which * * A conditional obedience and here they make the King truâ—kle to the Parlement shall be presented to him in the Assembly of Estats the which he swears and promises to observe at his Consecration and Coronation with protestation not to do any thing against that which shall be there ordain'd by the said Estats Thirdly to restore unto the Provinces III. of this Kingdom and the States of it those ancient Rights Preeminences Privileges and Liberties which were in the time of * * A pretty trâ—ck to run above 1000 years back for a Government and so they might pretend any thing Clouis the first most Christian King or yet better and more profitable if any such can be found under the said protection In case there be any Impediment IV. Opposition or Rebellion against the aforesaid let it be by * * Here they will not except the King himself whom or whence it will the Covenanters here shall be oblig'd to venture not onely their fortunes and goods but their very lives too to punish chastise and prosecute those who shall offer to disturb or hinder this League and shall never cease till the aforesaid things be really done and perfected In case any of the Covenanters V. their Vassals Friends or Confederates be molested oppressed or questioned for this cause be it by * * Nor will they here except the King from their fury if he oppose them that is side not with them to his own ruâ—ne whom it will they shall be bound to imploy
is saith S. John a sin unto death I say not that any should pray for it Which may be understood either of the sin it self as if he should say for that sin or for the forgiveness thereof I will that none should pray because it is not pardonable or else in the same sense for that man who committeth such a sin unto death I say not that any should pray for Of which our Saviour himself hath spoken in S. Matthew saying that He that sinneth against the Holy Ghost shall not be pardoned neither in this world nor in the world to come Where he setteth down three sorts of sins viz. against the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and that the two first are less heinous and pardonable but the third unpardonable All which difference proceedeth from the distinction of the attributes as the Divines teach which severally are appropriated unto every several person of the Holy Trinity And although as the essence of all the three persons is but one so also is their power wisdom and goodness as we have learned by Athanasius his Creed where he saith The Father is Almighty the Son Almighty and the Holy Ghost Almighty yet by attribution power is ascribed unto the Father wisdom unto the Son and love unto the Holy Ghost whereof every several as they are termed Attributes so are they proper unto every several person that they cannot be referred to another By the contraries of which attributes we can discern the distinction and greatness of sin As the contrary to power which is onely attributed unto the Father is weakness and therefore that which we do amiss through infirmity of nature is said to be committed against the Father The opposite to wisdom is ignorance through which if any man sinneth he is said to sin against the Son therefore that which we commit through natural infirmity or ignorance is more easily forgiven us The third attribute which is the Holy Ghosts is love and hath for its contrary ingratitude a fault most odious for hence it happens that men do not acknowledge the love and benefits of God but do forget despise and hate them whence it followeth that they become altogether obstinate and impenitent And this way sin is committed against God with greater danger and peril then if it were done through ignorance or weakness of the flesh and therefore it is termed a sin against the Holy Ghost And because such sins are seldom or difficultly pardoned and that not without a great abundance of grace and so in some fort are said to be unpardonable whereas indeed they become simply unpardonable only through unrepentance For whatsoever is done amiss in this life although it be against the Holy Ghost yet by repentance may be forgiven before death but they that persevere therein till death are excluded from all grace and mercy And therefore for such sins and sinners it is that the Apostle hath forbidden to pray after their decease Now therefore because we understand not without our great grief that the aforesaid King is departed out of this world without repentance and impenitent to wit in company of Hereticks his a Suppose it did would any wâ—se man lâ—â—â—â— is Kingdom rather then borrow another mans sword who agrees not with him in every circumstance in Religion army consisting of such men and that by his last will he had commended the Kingdom and Crown to the succession of b And good reason being the lawful next Heir Navarre a declar'd Heretick and excommunicated as also when dying and ready to yield up his Ghost he desir'd of him and such like standing by him that they would c That this is false read Davila l. 10. p. 818. Spondan anno 1589. § 15. revenge his death upon those whom he judged to be the cause thereof For these and such like most manifest tokens of unrepentance we have decreed that his death be not solemnized with Funerals Not that by these we would seem to determine any thing concerning the secret judgments of God against him or of his mercies who could according unto his good pleasure at the point of his expiring convert and turn his heart and deal mercifully with him but this we have spoken moved by these external signs and tokens God grant therefore that the rest being admonished by this fearful example of Heavenly judgment may repent and amend and that it may further please him to continue and accomplish that which be hath so mercifully begun as we put our trust he will to the end we may give everlasting thanks to him for delivering his Church from such great and imminent dangers Thus with his blessing he brake up the Consistory and by this may appear with what * Davila p. 868. great demonstrations of joy he received the news of the Kings murder But here it may be we may meet with a blunt and bold Objector who possibly may affirm that there was never any such Speech made by the Pope To answer this we shall take Bellarmine for our Adversary First then the * Vnder the name of Mat. Tortus Respon ad Apâ—l Angl. p. 70. Cardinal doth not possitively deny there was any such Speech and if he had known there had been no such thing he would at this time being pleaded against him by King James have boldly denied it and he could not be ignorant being then famous and Praelector of Controversies at Rome intimate with the Pope and Cardinals and so not willing to be catch'd in a lie he endeavours to shuffle it off as well as he can One time he saith it was onely published by the enemies to the Roman Church But to this we answer that it was first published by the Romanists themselves presently after it was spoke and * Antifixtus in answer to this Speech was printed at London 1590. printed at Paris 1589. by Nicolas Nivelle and Rollin Tierry by Authority of the Holy Union and the approbation of these three Sorbonne Doctors Boucher Decreil and Anceline Then again the Cardinal argueth that the Pope himself did neither publish the Speech nor command it to be published This we may grant and yet never the worse this being no argument to prove he never spoke it Bellarmine proceeds intimating no such Speech could be divulged seeing none took notes of it as it was spoke To this may be answer'd that it is true that the Cardinal whose office it was to have noted the Popes Oration not dreaming of such a design neglected the providing of Pen or Ink but yet how it was taken this following story will tell The Oration and Consistory being ended and the Pope departed towards his Chamber certain Cardinals with a greedy desire flocked about Cardinal Allan an Englishman created 1587 there in the Chamber intreating him that he would call to remembrance and write down what he had heard there spoken Allan won by their importunity they being his friends promised to do his best
without concluding any thing and one not willing to agree as long as he had any means and opportunity to oppose But the King being good natured waved all his jealousies made a firm peace with him kept him his Favourite and he himself ever after lived a good subject And to this Agreement 't is supposed the fair Gabrielle did not a little perswade the King she losing nothing by making such reconcilements Now the Duke of Nemours the elder Brother died a little before a fierce Covenanter reconciles himself also so doth the Duke of Joyeuse the City of Marseilles as seized on too and delivered to the King so that now nothing seem'd to remain of their Solemn League and Covenant but the Duke of Aumale and the Duke of Mercoeur The first would not acknowledge the King having submitted himself to year 1597 the Spaniard for which he was declared a Traitor and in Effigie was executed by the drawing of it in pieces by four horses The second being Brother to the Queen Dowager still maintain'd part of the Dutchy of Bretaigne foolishly hoping to separate that Province from the Crown and retain it to himself The King had often offered him good Conditions but still he delayed time which at last so troubled his Majesty that he resolved to march into Brittany himself to reduce year 1597 him which Mercoenr perceiving and by consequence his ruine not far off claps up a Peace by giving his only daughter to Caesar eldest son of the fair Gabriele by the King which son by this great Match was made Duke of Vendosme And now also was struck up a compleat year 1598 Peace at Vervins between the French and Spaniard And thus ended the French League and Rebellion But before we leave this League we will give you a chip of the old block whereby you may perceive other designes on foof to take away the Kings life The Duke of Parma Governour of the Netherlands dying 1592. Thuan. lib. 123. â—ledaye de Mons ce la Martelâ—ere p. 97 98. Ernest Arch-Duke of Austria and Brother to the Emperour Rodolph II. succeeded in that Command and with him at Bruxels resided N. Malavicinus Embassador from Pope Clement VIII which Agent had formerly acted at Parts very earnestly for the Covenanters Nor did his zeal lessen by a farther distance for here he consulted all means to get some body to assassinate the French King Henry IV. At last informed that one Charles Ridicove a Dominican Friar at Ghent had shewed himself a mortal enemy to Navarre and would be apt enough to undertake such a wickedness Malavicino sends to the Provincial commanding him to send Ridicove to him which is obey'd The Dominican being come to Bruxels and acquainted with the noble Exploit desireth that the Deed might be approved of by the Pope and Cardinals that himself and friends might be rewarded and himself Conveniences allowed Malavicino consenting and undertaking for all the Conditions are agreed on * It may be the true name was D'avesnes the same with that me tâ—ored iâ— Histoire de la paix entre les Roys de France d'Espagne fol. 144. Avenaria Mother to Ridicove who also knew of the Plot in Confession telleth it to Hodume the Jesuit who liketh the Fact well enough but desireth to see the hardy fellow 't is granted and having view'd him well approveth of all but fears the man is not strong enough In short Ridicove is blest and crost by Malavicino and liberty granted him for the better carrying on the business to appear Gentleman-like to ride fence dance and such like Accomplishments Thus qualified he departs the Netherlands goeth to Vernand thence to St. Denys where finding the thing difficult or not fully resolved or hardy enough to venture he returneth to Brussels Malavicino seeing him and nothing done wonders at his negligence Ridicove excusing himself because he now perceived the King was turn'd Romanist To take off this Malavicino tells him he is mistaken the Bearnois being damned by the Pope all his Partakers excommunicated and so ask'd him if he would once undertake it again the Villain consents but desires the Popes Authority At last he is perswaded to try the other bout in France so disguiz'd he departed with an excuse in his mouth as if he had been sent by Nicholas Basta a Commander at Antwerp who was also privy to the Plot to treat underhand about the delivering up of Bapaulme a strong little place on the Frontiers of Artois to the King At this time one Pet. Arger a Dominican also of the same Monastâ—ry of Gant had been trucking at Bruxels with Malavicino about the Kings death which he undertook to perform some Italians loving to be sure in Murther Ridicove in the mean time changeth his name and from his Mother calls himself * d'Avesnes Avenarius thus he goeth to Amiens waiteth upon the Governour with whom thinking to get the greater repute and not to be discovered himself he the false Avenarius telleth him of one Ridicove instigated by Malavicino to kill the King and to this he addeth also the design of Peter Arger The Governour inform'd the King of all who sendeth for this supposed Avenarius who boldly affirm'd the same stories to his Majesty and that Ridicove being his intimate friend had disclosed the same to him In short the King till a further discovery hath Avenarius imprison'd though at last doubting least this might only be a trick to cast an Odium and Jealousie upon Albert the Cardinal Arch-Duke and Archbishop of Toledo who upon the death of his Brother Ernest was then Governour of the Netherlands and so to hinder the peace between the two Crowns then consulting on the King ordered the fellow to be set at liberty but to depart the Kingdom and to return no more upon pain of death Ridicove getting to Gant consulteth again how to kill the King and haviâ—g joyn'd himself with another Dominican call'd Clement Odin and disguising themselves in the habits of Heremites trudge into France discover their design to Pierre Morell a Curate who relateth it to Desidere Parisote who abhorring the Fact tells the King whereby the Friars are secured examin'd and being ask'd what could excite them to such a deed Ridicove Answer'd That he was first instigated to entertain such thoughts by the daily Sermons and Disputations which he had heard fitted for such Actions it being the custom not only in their Churches but the street and all other meetings to extol Jacques Clement as a most glorious Martyr for sacrificing his life for the liberty of his Countrey whereby he also thought the deed to be glorious and acceptable to God especially when Malavicino did warrant it to him by the Authority both of God and the Pope and thus fully perswaded he had undertaken the Murther for which he was condemn'd and executed At the same time there was one Nicolas l'Anglois a Capuchin Friar belonging to that Monastery in St. Miel or St. Michel
of the Bishops Court of Chancery at the request of the Chancellor the See being vacant And farther had earnestly endeavoured to seduce a young Gentlewoman his Cozin using many solicitations to her both in publick and in the Church but not gaining his desires according to a common kind of Revenge and Affront in Italy he filthily bewray'd her door portal and the ring thereof and did her some other wrongs The young Gentlewoman upon advice puts in her Complaint to the Senate at Venice whereupon the Canon is Cited and Imprisoned Of this the Pope is informed who cryeth out that the Liberties of the Church are violated that he will not permit Ecclesiasticks in any Case to be judged by Lay-men that Satisfaction is to be given and the Canon releas'd The Venetians return That their Republick is free that they have the same autority with other Princes so can take cognisance of the Crimes of their own Subjects within their own Dominions and punish them according to the falt Whilst this is convasing happens another accident The Count Brandelino Valdemarino Abbot of Nervese being guilty of many Exorbitant Crimes as Cruel Tyranny over his Neighbours by taking up their goods at what small price he pleas'd Committing many Rapes and Impurities upon all sorts of Women Accused of Sorcery and dealing in Magick Practising many abominable murthers by poyson whereby he destroy'd his Brother and his Servant and indanger'd his own Father That he had for a long time lain with his Sister and poysoned her Maid lest she should discover it That he had caus'd his Enemy to be kil'd and then poyson'd the murtherer lest he might accuse him and other such like Villanies For these and such other crimes the Abbot is by Order of the Senate Imprison'd At this the Pope also takes offence denying the Temporal Authority over Priests that the Church can only take cognisance of them be their falts never so great or notorious And in this humour layeth a Quarrel against the Venetians unless they will satisfie him in these three things I. That they null the Decree concerning the building of any more Churches II. That they also null and void the other Decree touching the giving of lands to Ecclesiasticks III. That the Abbot and the Canon be releas'd and delivered up to his Nuntio A great deal of do there was on both sides but the Pope peremptorily informed the Senate that at first he would send an Exhortory Breve to them and if he were not obey'd by such a time he would proceed farther having power over all could deprive Kings and to this end had Legions of Angels for his aid and assistance And accordingly he sent two Breves The Nuntio delivers them to the Senate but they were not open'd because Marini Grimani the Duke was then on his Death-bed and dyed the next morning The Pope upon notice of this orders his Nuntio to protest unto the State against any new Election as in it self to be void by being made by men excommunicated Thinking by this Trick to bring a Confusion amongst them The Nuntio to execute this Command with great importunity desired Audience of the State but it was not granted him it being not their Custom to admit any during the Vacancy unless their business be only of Condoling Duke Grimani being buryed for till the former Duke be under year 1606 ground they cannot go to the choice of another they fell to their Ballotation or Lots and the Election fell upon Leonardo Donato Having thus got another Doge or Duke they open the Breves which they found to be one and the same in Tenor which the Pope said was through the Nuncio's mistake in delivering two of the same instead of two different ones The Pope ranted fairly against their Decrees about Churches and Ecclesiasticks affirming that These Ordinances tended to the Damnation of Souls to publick scandal were of themselves void and of no value and no man obliged to observe them That they who had made these Statutes or any like or who did further them had incur'd Ecclesiastical Censures had deprived themselves of such lands as they held of the Church and their Estates and demains were subject to other penalties that they could not be absolved unless they revoked the Decrees So he admonish'd the Republick to consider the Danger whereinto they had cast their souls to seek a Remedy and commanded them under pain of Excommunication to null the said Orders That otherwise he would proceed farther considering the account he was to give to God at the Day of judgment and that he could not dissemble when he saw the Ecclesiastical Authority so abused The Venetians answer'd all warily and wisely but yeilded not a jot of their Authority At which the Pope was incensed saying they were Tyrants and different from their Ancestors being resolved though he should lose his skin yet he would maintain the cause of God of his own Reputation And so orders his Nuntio to give the other Breve which through mistake as he said he had not formerly presented The Nuntio obeys and the Senate opening it found it to concern the Imprisonment of the Abbot and Canon which the Breve said was Contrary to the Holy Canons and to Ecclesiastical Liberty which were grounded on divine Ordinance so commanded under pain of Excommunication that the Canon and Abbot should speedily be delivered to his Nuntio and that if in the mean time the secular power had proceeded to any acts or sentence of Condemnation or Execution he did null them and declare them void Threatning if he were not speedily obey'd he would proceed farther The Senate vindicated themselves by an Answer but nothing satisfactory to the Pope who told their Ambassador that the Exemption of Ecclesiasticks was de jure divino and that his cause was the cause of God that he would not depart any thing from his Resolution and he would be obeyed And thus resolved calls a Consistory where were present XLI Cardinals who agree with the Pope so a Breve of Excommunication or Interdict is drawn up printed and publish'd against the Duke Senate and the Republick It contain'd That the Venetians had lately made some Decrees contrary to the Authority of the Apostolical See the Ecclesiastical Liberty General Councels Sacred Canons and the Constitutions of the Pope For proof of which he instanced their Decrees concerning Churches and the Clergy with the Imprisonment of the Abbot and Canon That these Actions tended to the danger of the Souls both of Duke and Senate and the scandal of others That the Law-makers incurr'd the Censures of the Church the forfeiture of what they had could not be absolved but by the Pope and the nulling of the Decrees That though the Decrees were void of themselves yet the Pope did hereby null them according to the Example of his Predecessors That he doth hereby Excommunicate the Duke Senate and their Partakers if within XXIV days they do not null the Decrees rase them
Worth and Quality attempted through the Undertaking spirits of some more fiery and turbulent than zealous aâ—d dis-passionate Catholicks hath made the general state of our Catholique Cause so scandalous in the eye of such whose corrupted Judgments are not able to fan away and sever the fault of the Professor from the Profession it self as that who now is found to be of that Religion is perswaded at least in mind to allow though God knoweth as much abhorring as any Puritan whatsoever the said former most inhuman and barbarous Project And whereas some of his Majesties Council but especially your Lordship as being known to be as the Philosopher termeth it a Primus Motor in such uncharitable proceedings are determined as it is feared by taking advantage of so foul a scandal to root out all the Memory of Catholique Religion either by sudden Banishment Massacre Imprisonment or some such unsupportable Vexations and Pressures and perhaps by decreeing in this next Parliament some more cruel and horrible Laws against Catholiques than already are made In regard of these Premises there are some good men who through Good men and Roman Catholiques their earnest desire for the continuing the Catholique Religion and for saving many souls both of this present and of all future posterity are resolved to prevent so great a mischief though with a full assurance aforehand of the loss of their dearest lives You are therefore hereby to be admonished that at this present mayâ— murther Privy-Councellors there are Five which have severally undertaken your Death and have vowed the performance thereof by taking already the Blessed Sacrament if you continue your daily plotting of so Tragical Stratagems aginst Recusants It is so ordered that none of these Five knoweth who the other Four be for the better preventing the discovery of the rest if so any one by attempting and not performing should be apprehended It is also already agreed who shall first attempt it by shot and so who in order shall follow In accomplishing of it there is expected no other than assurance of death yet it will willingly be embraced for the preventing of those general Calamities which by this your transcendant Authority and grace with his Majesty are threatned unto us And indeed the Difficulties herein are more easily to be digested since two of the intended Attempters are in that weak state of body that they cannot live above three or four Months The other Three are so distressed in themselves and their Friends as that their present Griefs for being only Recusants do much dull all apprehension of Death None is to be blamed in the true censuring of Matters for the Nor are they to be blamed for it undertaking hereof For we protest before God We know no other means left us in the World since it is manifest that you serve but as a Match to give fire unto his Majesty to whom the worst that we wish is That he may be as great a Saint in Heaven as he is King on Earth for intending all Mischiefs against the poor distressed Catholicks Thus giving your Lordship this Charitable Admonition the which may perhaps be necessary hereafter for some others your Inferiors at least in Grace and Favour if so they run on in their former Inhuman and Unchristian Rage against us I cease putting you in mind That where once True and Spiritual Resolution is there notwithstanding For 't is a True and Spiritual Resolution all dangers whatsoever the Weak may take sufficient Revenge of the Great Your Lordship 's well-admonishing Friends c. A. B. Câ— c. It may be your Lordship will take this but as some forged Letter of some Puritans thereby to incense you more against Recusants But we protest upon our Salvation It is not so Neither can any thing in human likelihood prevent the effecting thereof but the change of your course towards Recusants This Letter at the beginning offers fair seeming to detest the Gunpowder-Plot but little of truth and sincerity may be expected from it when we consider that the design of it is to Apologize for Murther to which it appears there is a Club or number of them consenting and attempting and they are not ashamed to assert That though they murther Privy-Councellors yet the Murtherers may be good men nor are they to be blamed for it for 't is a True and Spiritual Resolution But enough of this Letter to which the Earl himself was pleased to give an Answer The Oath of Allegiance was prudently drawn up and confirmed by Act of Parliament which Oath being the Foundation and Sum of this Treatise take as followeth word for word and for distinction sake divided into several Branches or Articles The Oath of Allegiance Anno Tertio Jacobi I A. B. do truly and sincerely Acknowledg Profess Testifie and Declare in my Conscience before God and the World That our Soveraign Lord King is Lawful and Rightful King of this Realm and of all other his Majesty's Dominions and Countreys And that the Pope neither of himself nor by any Authority of the Church or See of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any Power or Authority to Depose the King Or to dispose any of his Majesties Kingdoms or Dominions Or to Authorize any Forreign Prince to Invade or Annoy him or his Countreys Or to Discharge any of his Subjects of their Allegiance and Obedience to his Majesty Or to give License or Leave to any of them to bear Arms raise Tumults c. Or to offer any violence or hurt to his Majesties Royal Person State or Government or to any of his Majesties Subjects within his Majesties Dominions Also I do swear from my heart That notwithstanding any Declaration or Sentence of Excommunication or Deprivation made or granted or to be made or granted by the Pope or his Successors or by any Authority derived or pretended to be derived from him or his See against the said King his Heirs or Successors or any Absolution of the said Subjects from their Obedience I will bear Faith and true Allegiance to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors And him and them will defend to the uttermost of my Power against all Conspiracies and Attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his or their Persons their Crown and Dignity by reason or colour of any such Sentence or Declaration or otherwise And will do my best endeavour to disclose and make known unto his Majesty his Heirs and Successors all Treasons and Trayterous Conspiracies which I shall know or hear of to be against him or any of them And I do further swear That I do from my heart Abhor Detest and Abjure as Impious and Heretical this Damnable Doctrine and Position That Princes which be Excommunicated or Deprived by the Pope may be Deposed or Murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do believe and in Conscience am resolved That neither the Pope nor any Person whatsoever hath
power to absolve me of this Oath or any part thereof Which I acknowledg by good and full Authority to be lawfully ministred unto me And do renounce all Pardons and Dispensations to the contrary And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledg and swear according by these express words by me spoken and according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mental evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And I do make this Recognition and Acknowledgment heartily willingly and truly upon the true Faith of a Christian So help me God A. B. Unto which Oath so taken the said person shall subscribe his or her Name or Mark. King James doubted not but that all honest and good Subjects would Apol. for the Oath of Allegiance pag. 49 50 51. submit to this Oath Because as he said that he that shall refuse to take this Oath must of necessity â—old all or some of these Propositions following I. That I King James am not the lawful King of this Kingdom and of all other my Dominions II. That the Pope by his own Authority may depose me if not by his own Authority yet by some other Authority of the Church or of the See of Rome If not by some other Authority of the Church and See of Rome yet by other means with others help he may Depose me III. That the Pope may dispose of my Kingdoms and Dominions IV. That the Pope may give Authority to some Forreign Prince to invade my Dominions V. That the Pope may discharge my Subjects of their Allegiance and Obedience to me VI. That the Pope may give license to one or more of my Subjects to bear Arms against me VII That the Pope may give leave to my Subjects to offer violence to my Person or to my Government or to some of my Subjects VIII That if the Pope shall by Sentence excommunicate or depose me my Subjects are not to bear Faith and Allegiance to me IX If the Pope shall by Sentence Excommunicate or Depose me my Subjects are not bound to defend with all their power my Person and Crown X. If the Pope shall give out any Sentence of Excommunication or Deprivation against me my Subjects by reason of that Sentence are not bound to reveal all Conspiracies and Treasons against me which shall come to their hearing and knowledg XI That it is not Heretical and Diabolical to hold That Prinees being Excommunicated by the Pope may be either Deposed or Killed by their Subjects or any other XII That the Pope hath Power to absolve my Subjects from this Oath or from some part thereof XIII That this Oath is not administred to my Subjects by a full and lawful Authority XIV That this Oath is to be taken with Equivocation Mental Evasion or secret Reservation and not with the Heart and good will sincerely in the true Faith of a Christian man Now whether there was just cause for drawing up and imposing of such an Oath King James can tell you best himself And first that the Romanists had no reason to contrive his ruin he declares at large in these words But now having sacrificed if I may so say to the Manes of my late Apol. for the Oath of Allegiance pag. 18 19 20. Predecessor Q. Elizabeth whose Government and Moderation he vindicates I may next with St. Paul justly vindicate my own Fame from those innumerable Calumnies spread against me in testifying the truth of my Behaviour toward the Papists Wherein I may truly affirm That whatsoever was her just and merciful Government over the Papists in her time my Government over them since hath so far exceeded hers in Mercy and Clemency as not only the Papists themselves grew to that height of pride in confidence of my mildness as they did directly expect and assuredly promise to themselves Liberty of Conscience and equality with others of my Subjects in all things but even a number of the best and faithfullest of my said Subjects were cast in great fear and amazement of my Course and Proceedings ever prognosticating and justly suspecting that sowr fruit to come of it which shew'd it self clearly in the Powder-Treason How many did I honour with Knighthood of known and open Recusants How indifferently did I give Audience and Access to both sides bestowing equally all Favours and Honours on both Professions How free and continual Access had all Ranks and Degrees of Papists in my Court and Company And above all How frankly and freely did I free Recusants of their ordinary Payments Besides it is evident what strait Order was given out of my own mouth to the Judg to spare the execution of all Priests notwithstanding their conviction joining thereunto a gracious Proclamation whereby all Priests that were at liberty and not taken might go out of the Countrey by such a day my General Pardon having been extended to all Convicted Priests in Prison whereupon they were set at liberty as good Subjects and all Priests that were taken after sent over and set at liberty there But time and paper will fail me to make enumeration of all the benefits and favours that I bestowed in general and particular upon Papists in recounting whereof every scrape of my Pen would serve but for a blot of the Pope's Ingratitude and Injustice in meteing me with so hard a measure for the same Yet for all these Favours His Majesty in another place tells us That The never-enough wondred at and abhorred POWDER-TREASON Monitory Preface to all Christian Monarchs p. 6 7 8 9. though the Repetition thereef grieveth I know the gentle-hearted Jesuit * His Majesty alludes to Parsons Letter against his Book call'd The judgment of a Catholick English man p. 6. §. 10. Parsons This Treason I say being not only intended against me and my Posterity but even against the whole House of Parliament plotted only by Papists and they only led thereto by a preposterous zeal for the advancement of their Religion some of them continuing so obstinate that even at their death they would not acknowledg their Fault but in their last words immediately before the expiring of their breath refused to condemn themselves and crave Pardon for their Deed except the Romish Church should first condemn it And soon after it being discovered that a great number of my Popish Subjects of all Ranks and Sexes both Men and Women as well within as without the Countrey had a confused Notion and an obscure Knowledg that some great thing was to be done in that Parliament for the Weal of the Church although for Secrecy's cause they were not acquainted with the Particulars certain Forms of Prayer having likewise been set down and used for the good success of that Great Errand Adding hereunto That divers times and from divers Priests the Arch-Traytors themselves received the Sacrament for confirmation of their Heart and observation of Secresie Some of the principal Jesuits likewise being found
that you take and understand them simply as they sound and as they lye all power to interpret them otherwise being taken away c. Dated at Rome at S. Marks under the Signet of the Fisher the 22d of Septemb. 1606 the 2d year of our Popedom This Breve being presently sent into England was not instantly submitted to by all the Romanists some of them having taken the Oath of Allegiance and thought they ought as good Subjects to stand to it others of them who wish'd well to their own security betwixt the two opposite Commands of the King and the Pope were willing to think the former Breve to be but a Cheat and surreptitiously procured without the Pope's knowledg such things hapning oft at Rome the Pope as well as other Princes being several times abused both by their Secretaries and the Datarii And to this opinion were some of the wisest and best of the English Romanists drawn upon consideration that the Pope who ought to be Holy Charitable Merciful a lover of Peace a promoter of Obedience not a busie-body nor a medler in other Princes Affairs would not undertake to disquiet the Romanists raise divisions in the Church and thrust his Friends into the danger of violating the Laws of their King and Countrey to whom they owed all Obedience and not upon any account whatsoever Trayterously to oppose and violate But the Pope who thought his Kingdom his Authority his Supremacy his Vicarship his Infallibility and all his other pretty pretended Trophies struck at was resolved to have his Humour let what mischief so ever come of it and so as if to satisfie those who doubted of the Reality of the former Breve he forthwith sent this other into England Dilecti Filii Salutem Apostolicam Benedictionem REnuntiatum est nobis reperiri nonnullos apud vos qui cum satis declaraverimus per literas nostras Anno superiore x Kalend Octob. in forma Brevis datas vos tuta Conscientia praestare non posse Juramentum quod a vobis tunc exigebatur praeterea stricte praeceperimus ne ullo modo illud praestaretis Nunc dicere audent hujusmodi Literas de prohibitione Juramenti non ex animi nostri sententia nostraque propria voluntate scriptas fuisse sed potius aliorum intuitu atque industria eaque de causa iidem persuadere nituntur mandata nostra dictis literis non esse attendenda Perturbavit sane nos hic Nuncius eoque magis quia experti Obedientiam vestram filii nostri unice dilecti qui ut huic sanctaâ— Sedi obediretis opes facultates dignitatem libertatem vitam denique ipsam pie generose nihili fecistis nunquam suspicati essemus potuisse vocari apud vos in dubium fidem literarum nostrarum Apostolicarum ut hoc praetextu vos ex mandatis nostris eximeretis Verum agnoscimus versutiem atque fraudem Adversarii humanae salutis eisque potius quam vestrae voluntati tribuimus hanc renitentiam Ea proter iterum ad vos scribere decrevimus ac denuo vobis significare Literas nostras Apostolicas Anno praeterito x Kalend. Octob. datas de prohibitione juramenti non solum motu proprio ex certa nostra scientia verum etiam post longam gravem deliberationem de omnibus quae in illis continentur adhibitam fuisse scriptas ob id teneri vos illas omnino observare omni interpretatione secus suadente rejecta Haec autem est mera pura integraque voluntas nostra qui de vestra salute soliciti semper cogitamus ea quae magis vobis expediunt Et ut cogitationes consilia nostra illuminet is a quo Christiano gregi custodiendo nostra fuit praeposita Humilitas indesinenter Oramus Quem etiam jugiter precamur ut in vobis filiis nostris summopere dilectis fidem constantiam mutuamque inter vos Charitatem Pacem augeat Quibus omnibus cum omni Charitatis affectu peramanter benedicimus Datum Romae apud Sanct. Marcum sub Annulo Piscatoris x. Kalend. Septemb. 1607. Pontificatus nostri Anno tertio Petrus Stroza Dearly beloved Sons Greeting and Apostolical Benediction It is reported unto us That there are found certain amongst you who when as we have sufficiently declared by our Letters dated the last year on the xxij of September in the form of a Breve that ye cannot with safe Conscience take the Oath which was then required of you and when as we have further straitly commanded you that by no means you should take it Yet there are some I say among you who dare now affirm that such Letters concerning the forbidding of the Oath were not written of our own accord or of our own proper will but rather for the respect and at the instigation of other men and for that cause the same men go about to perswade you that our Commands in the said Letters are not to be regarded Truly this News did trouble us and that so much the more because having had experience of your obedience most dearly beloved Sons who to the end you might obey this Holy See have godlily and valiantly contemned your Riches Wealth Honour Liberty yea and Life it self We should never have suspected that the truth of our Apostolical Letters could once be call'd into question amongst you that by this pretence you might exempt your selves from our Commandments But we do perceive herein the subtilty and craft of the Enemy of man's salvation and we do attribute this your backwardness rather to him than to your own will And for this cause we have thought good to write the second time unto you and to signifie unto you again that our Apostolical Letters dated the last year on the xxij of Sept. concerning the prohibition of the Oath were written not only upon our proper motion and of our certain knowledg but also after long and weighty deliberation used concerning all those things which are contain'd in them and that for that cause you are bound fully to observe them rejecting all Interpretation perswading to the contrary And this is our meer pure and perfect will who being always careful of your salvation do always mind those things which are most profitable unto you And we do pray without ceasing That he who hath appointed to our Lowliness the keeping of the Flock of Christ would enlighten our Thoughts and Counsels whom we do also continually beseech that he would encrease in you our most beloved Sons Faith Constancy with mutual Charity and Peace one to another All whom we most lovingly Bless with all Charitable affection Dated at Rome at Saint Marks under the Signet of the Fisher the xxiii of August 1607 the third year of our Popedom Peter Stroza Some Months after the publishing of the first Breve Mr. George Blackwell constituted the Arch-Priest 1598 by Henry Cardinal Cajetane call'd Protector of the English Nation by the Appointment of Pope Clement VIII was seiz'd on examined
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
also absolve by the Authority of God and Vs all you Bishops from that promise whereby you were bound contrary to the Constitution of the Church for the observation of them And then he rehearseth the said six Constitutions in controversie between the King and Him and then nameth several persons of Quality whom he did thereby Excommunicate Of these things he also giveth the Pope notice repeating in a manner the same reproaches against the King with an additional Id. § 34. commendation that he grows worse and worse whom he was also resolved to Excommunicate Upon this the English Bishops write to Thomas how they had once some hopes of a peace hearing how he gave himself to prayer fasting c. The way to recover the Id. § 43. benefits of a peaceable reconciliation hereby was conceived an hope that you might from above bring into his Majesties heart such favour that he would out of Kingly mercy relent in his wrath towards us and never recall to minde the injuries offer'd by reason of your departure Your friends and well-wishers regain'd some access unto his Majesty whilst these things were thus divulged of you insomuch as he graciously admitted all such as were suitors for restoring you into his former favour But now by the relation of some we understand which we cannot but with grief remember that you published against him a severer Commination wherein you let pass all salutation wherein you practice no Counsel or Petition for Grace wherein you neither advise nor write any thing that savoureth favourably but with all extremity do rigorously menace Interdiction or Excommunication against him Which were it as sharply executed as it is bitterly spoken we should not then hope for peace but should fear to be inflamed with an irrevocable and eternal hatred Thus whilst as it were with a drawn sword you joyn battle you have not left for your self any place for Petition Wherefore O Father we charitably advise you not to heap labours upon labours and injuries upon injuries but setting threatning aside you would rather imbrace patience and humility Commend your cause to Divine Clemencie and your self to the grace and mercy of your Soveraign and in so doing you shall heap and cast together coals of fire upon the heads of many It is better to be highly commended for voluntary poverty than to be openly taxed by all men for ingratitude for a received Benefit It is deeply rooted into the mindes of all men how gracious our Lord the King hath been unto you unto how great dignity he hath rais'd you from poor degree and received you into his favour so freely and frankly as the ample bounds of his Dominions reaching from the Northern Sea to the Pyrenean Mountains were by him so absolutely subject unto your power as through all those Principalities they were onely accounted happy who could finde but favour in your sight And that no worldly mutability might overthrow your prosperity and glory he laid your foundation most firm in the possession belonging to God And notwithstanding his Mother disswaded the Kingdom cryed out against it and the Church of God so far as she could sighed and groan'd thereat he indeavoured by all means possibly to raise you unto the dignity of your present preferment hoping he should hereafter Reign blessedly and enjoy your assistance and counsel with exceeding security If therefore where he expected security to defend him he shall finde a sword to offend What rumour will be spread of you by all men what a reward what a remembrance will this be of a requital never heard of before Forbear therefore if you please to wrong your fame forbear to injure your Renown and indeavour to overcome with humility your King and your son with charity c. And at the end tells him of his preposterous and rash Excommunication of the a â—ocelin Bishop and b John of Oxford Dean of Salisbury before the offence was examin'd A new order of Judgement and hitherto in the Laws and Canons as we hope unknown first to condemn and then to examine the offence The English Bishops write also to the Pope giving great commendations of their King and telling the Pope the occasion and story of these troubles between Henry and Thomas viz. How that the King finding sometimes the peace of his Kingdoms not a little molested with the outragious excesses of some insolent Clerks with due reverence to the Clergy referred their offences to the Bishops Judges of the Church that one sword might assist another and that the Spiritual Power might confirm and establish in the Clergy that peace which he maintain'd in the people Wherein the zeal of each party appear'd more plainly the Bishops affirming that murther or any other like crime should onely be punished in the Clergy by degradation The King on the contrary being of opinion that this punishment did not sufficiently answer the offence neither was it provision enough for maintenance of peace if a a Lector aut Acolythus Reader or sub-Deacon killing some famous man renowned for Religion or Dignity should escape free with loss onely of this Order The Clergy therefore upholding the b i. e. of holy Orders or Clergy Order established from Heaven and our Lord the King persecuting onely the offence as we hope with a just haetred and intending to plant his peace more deeply a certain holy contention arose amongst us which we trust the plain and honest intention of both parties may excuse Hereupon not with any ambition of inlarging his Dominions not with any conceit of oppressing the Churches Liberties but with a desire of setling and confirming peace it went so far that the King would produce to light the Customs of his Kingdom and Dignities anciently observed and quietly and reverently yeilded by persons Ecclesiastical to former Kings in the Kingdom of England and to the end that hereafter no longer the thred of contention might be spun he would have the same openly known Wherefore the most ancient Bishops and great Peers of the Realm being first sworn by their faith and the hope which they had in Almighty God and then making search into the state of fore-passed times the Dignities of the Crown being sought were laid open and by the testimonies of men of the greatest accompt in the Kingdom were published Loe here the cruelty of our Lord the King against the Church of God which fame hath so spread over the whole world Behold here his persecution And these are the works so divulged for wicked both here and every where And then they tell him how willing the King is to be advised by the Church that peace might be And truly Father our sollicitation had long since as we hope obtain'd the desir'd end of this wished peace had not our Father the Lord of Canterburies bitter provocations stir'd up afresh this discord now laid asleep and almost absolutely extinguished For he from whose patience we hitherto expected peace