sins Nay if by his weakness e Cap. 16. pag. 545. Non solum propter haeresim aut schisma aut aliquod aâ—ud intoleâ—abile scelus verum etiam propter insufficientiam he be not sit to Rule Or if by f Id. Pag. 547. Posse sum Pontâ—ex sui muneris authoâ—iâ—ate Principes è solio deâ—â—bare si ob eorum negligentiam inscitiam aut malitiam justitia conculcatur Status Reâ—p pâ—â—â—â—tatur his negligence ignorance or wilfulness justice be not done and the Common-wealth suffer And that the Pope hath this great Authority over Kings he saith is the g Id. Pag. 557. Legantur tam veteres quam recentiones Theologi uti iusque juris prudendes certe omnes una mente una voce hanc sententiam amplectuntur Opinion of all their Divines and Lawyers And he that denyeth this power doth not onely go h Pag. 558. Non modo à veritate quam longissime aberrare verum etiam insanire mihi videantur against the truth but seems to be mad And thus he indeavours to prove this power which he saith unless Christ had left with his Vicars i Id. Cap. 14. pag. 520. he had not done wisely I need not trouble you at length to tell you the humour and spirit of this Portugal when you do but know how heartily he desired the k De vera Christi Eccles pag. 433 434. Murder of our Queen Elizabeth affirming it to be but just that her head should be cut off her body not to be honoured with a burial but by the Hang-man left to be torn in pieces and devoured by Dogs And yet was this hot-spur his Books and Doctrine in great favour and esteem at Rome and Gratianus one of the chief of his Order could thus sing in commendation of him and his Writings Lumen es Columen fidei rectique Magister Responsaque sana ministras Nempe facis per te crescat ut Vrbis honos This Nunnius hath Cardinal Ascanio di Colunna Patron to one of his Books and though I believe amongst their Eminencies he could not aim amiss yet this 't is probable he did by choice as being well acquainted with his compliance with this Doctrine of which at the desire of Paul the Fifth he gave some hints to the world in his l Sententia contra Reip. Vâ—neta Episcopos p. 2â— Traâ—â— against the Venetians Of this Nunnius to shew the Popes power over Emperours and Kings m Rationale utriusque potestatis pag. â—98 1â—â— Thomas a Talamello of the same Mendicant Order makes some use and give you also St. Geminianus word for word He tells you also in one place that the Pope hath as a Id. Cap. 3. p. 39. much power in Temporals as in Spirituals Nay that b Pag. 41. in either of these he can directly do more than any King and that Kings depend as much on the Pope as effects on their Causes and then makes use of the c Id. Cap. 11. p. 109. Canon-law to prove his Authority in deposing of Emperours And an Italian Lawyer d De verborum significatione lib. 10. cap. 17. § 24. Camillus Gallinius from the same puddle draws out the same muddy Principle of the Popes right to dethrone Kings What was the Opinion of Cardinal Perron and the chief of France in this case this following story will somewhat inform us Lewis the Thirteenth being come to his Majority about fourteen years old Decemb. 1614. Jan. 1613 5. summoned the three Estates to meet two of them viz. the Clergy and Lords la Noblesse presently agreed for these two Propositions 1. That the Council of Trent be publish'd and received in France 2. That the selling of Offices be suppress'd The third Estate whether to stop these two some of them favouring the Protestants others of them having places which they might sell as well as they bought or out of meer loyalty however they reasoned stifly against the Trent-Council having had the two Kings before this murdered made a third Proposition much like our Oath of Allegiance which being of publick concern the cause of great disputes and animosities beyond Seas and as I think as yet not known in English take as followeth with the Original Que pour arrester le Cours de la pernicieuse doctrine qui s' introduit depuis quelquees annees contre les Roys puissances Souveraines establies de Dieu per Esprits Seditieux qui ne tendent qu'a les troubler subverter Le Roy sera supplie de faire arrester en l'Assemblée des states pour loy fondamentale de Royaume qui soit inviolable notoire a tous Que comme il est recognu Souverain en son estat ne tenant sa Couronne que de Dieu seul il n'y a puissance en Terre quelle qu'elle soit Spirituelle ou Temporelle qui aâ—t aucun droit sur son Royaume pour en priver les personnes sacrées de nos Rois ny dispenser ou absoudre leurs subjets de la Fidelite obeissance qu'ils luy doivent pour quelque cause cu pretexte que ce soit Que tous ses subjets de quelque qualite condition qu'ils soient tiendront cete loy pour sainte veritable comme conforme a la Parole de Dieu sans distinction equivoque ou limitation quelcunque Laquelle sera juree signee par tous les Deputes des Estats d'oresnavant par tous las Beneficiers Officiers du Royaume avant que d'entrer en la possession de leurs Benefices d'estre recens en leur Offices Tous Precepteurs Regens Docteurs Predicateurs tenus de l'enseigner publier Que l'opinion contraire mesmes qu'il soit loisible de tuer deposer nos Rois s'elever Rebeller contr'eux secouer le joug de leur Obeyssance pour quelque Occasion que se soit est impie detestable contre Verete contre l'Establissement de l'Estat de France qui ne depend immediatement que de Dieu Que tous livres qui enseignent telle fausse perverse Opinion seront tenus pour seditieux damnables tous Estrangers qui l'escriront publieront pour Ennemis jurees de la Couronne tous subjets de sa Majeste qui y adhereront de quelque qualite Condition qu'els soint pour Rebelles infracteurs des loys fundamentales du Royaume Criminels de lese Majeste au primier Chef Et s'il se trouve aucun Livre ou discours escrit par Estranger Ecclesiastique ou d'autre qualite qui contienne Proposition contraire a la dite loy directement ou indirectement serontles Ecclesiastiques des mesmes Ordres establis en France obliges d'y respondre les impugner contredire incessamment sans respect ambiguite ny Equivocation sur peine d'estre punis de mesnie peine que dessus comme fauteurs des enemis de cet Estat
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
be bankrupt for rather then fail she will pardon them for ever and ever as may appear in what followeth In the Church of St. John the Lateran is a Chappel call'd Sancta Sanctorum in which there is every day pardon and remission for all sins both from the punishment and the sin also In St. Peters Church in the Vatican by the Font is every day remission of all sins to be had Also in the same Church upon St. Martins day there is to be had full remission of all sins In St. Pauls Church in the Vatican upon the XXIX of January being the day when the Church was consecrated there is then to be had remission of all sins In the Church of St. Croce is a Chappel call'd Hierusalem where is to be granted full remission of all sins both à poena à culpa In the Church St. Maria Maggiore upon All-Saints day there is granted full remission of all sins In the Church St. Maria Rotonda upon the third of May and All-Saints day are pardons for all sins to be had In the Church St. Maria del Popolo on the day of Assumption of the Virgin Mary are granted remission of all sins In the Church of St. Peters ad Vincula are remission of all sins to be had In the Church call'd Ara Coeli or St. Maria Ara Coeli where they say is the first Altar that ever was made in the world at which Altar there is every Sunday and upon the Assumption of the B. Virgin granted full pardon and Remission of all sins These and such other like Indulgences were formerly a Fiscus Papalis sive Caralog is Indulgentiarum c. publish'd in England by Mr. Crashaw from an old Manuscript which he had and I have also seen an old b MS. 196. K Digby in Bibl. Bodl. â—xon Mâ—nuscript to the same purpose But what need we trouble our selves with Manuscripts seeing the same things may be seen in feveral c Indulgentiae Ecclâ—siarum urbis Romane Impressum Romae 1509. Le Cose maravigliose dell ' Alma citta di Roma 1625. Onuphrius de urbis Romae Ecclesiis Le Steâ—r de Villamont ses voyages Vid. Weaveâ—s Funeral-Monuments pag. 160 161 162 c. Books made printed by them and publish'd by their Authority to procure the greater credit and belief for suchlike pardons as these This occasion'd so many Pilgrimages to Rome to the great inriching of that City and the wonder of Johannes or Janus Pannonius the Hungarian Poet and Bishop of Funfkirken or Eutegyhazae in Latine Quinque Ecclesiae who though of the Roman Religion yet could thus jest at the gadding of People from other Countries to Rome for Pardons at their Jubilees Hispani Galli Solavi Teutones Hunni Delit. Poet. Hungar. p. 274. Clavigeri petitis limina Sancta Petri Quo ruitis stulti Latios ditare penates Salvari in patria siccine nemo potest The Spaniard French Pole German and the Hun Vnto St. Peters Chair for Heaven doth run Whither O fools to inrich the Popes do you gad As if salvation can't at home be had Yet Indulgences were also granted to particular places in other Countries amongst the rest England being then free-handed to Rome did not want such pretty Indearments whereby the people were made as free from sin as d Jo. Fox vol. 3. pag 223. Nightingal the Priest in Queen Mary's days and of them might be said as was thus in an old e Thâ— Becon's Relicks of Rome fol. 193. b. printed Pardon John or Joan as free I make thee As heart may think or eye may see And their Power and Prerogative is so great forsooth that they cannot onely pardon past sins but sins to come or what you will commit afterwards of which King f Meditation on the Lords Prayer p. 58. James doth protest that he hath seen two Authentical Bulls with his own eyes And of this the g Gravam Germ. § 3. Princes of Germany at Nurnberg 1523 did publickly complain and that your friends soul should skip out of Purgatory when the cash ratled in the Bason And how liberal they used to be with their Pardons h De Schism lib. 1. cap. 68. Theodorick à Niem who was Secretary to three Popes hath of old hinted and Dr. i Manuduction to Divinity pag. 64 65 c. Thomas James will refer you to some more abuses And though they are willing to be no loosers by these favours yet their prices are cheap enough which probably may the sooner ingage or oblige some trusty son to act any Villany the rates of their Absolutions being so cheap of which take this following Taste as I finde them set down in their Taxa S. Cancellariae Apostolicae Sect. III. Tit. 2. ABsolution for him who lyeth with a Woman in the Church and committed other crimes is rated at 6 a The common value of a grosso is about 4 penny sarthing of English money but some in this occasion will make it about 1 s. 6 d. grossos He that keeps a Concubine if a Priest must pay for his Absolution 7 gros If he be a Lay-man he must pay 8 gros If a Lay-man commit Sacriledge by taking holy things out of holy places he is well used seeing he payeth no more for his Absolution then 7 gros If a man carnally lye with his Mother Sister or other Kinswoman or God-mother he shall have his Absolution paying 5 gros Absolution for him that deflowers a Virgin is dog-cheap at 6 gros If a Priest commit Simony he shall have his Absolution for paying 7 gros Absolution for Perjury is but 6 gros Ib. Tit. 6. If a Lay-man kill an Abbot a Monk a Clerk or other Priest less then a Bishop he shall onely pay for his Absolution according to the Quality 7 8 or 9 gros But if a Lay-man onely kill a Lay-man he shall then onely pay 5 gros If a Woman be with Childe and she willingly and on purpose destroy the said Infant within her she shall have an Absolution for 5 gros And if one kill his Father Mother Brother or Wife he must pay for his Absolution 1 Ducat and 5 b This is sometimes valued at the same with a Grosso Carlins This Book was publish'd by their own Authority it may be the better to let the Romanists see what a kinde loving and indulgent Mother they have But how oft it hath been publish'd I cannot tell It was c W. Crafâ—â—aw's Mittimâ—s to the Jubilee of Rome Epist to the Reader first made and printed at Rome in the time of Pope Leo X and was after printed at Paris 1522 the d Pet. Molin de Monarch Temp. Pont. pag. 355. Kings Priviledge and the Popes Bull being joyned to it 'T was the next year 1523 printed at e Laur. Banck Taxa Epist Colen and afterwards in that Noble Collection call'd Tractatus Illustrium virorum printed by the King of France his Priviledge
c. after the Elevation pardon for 3000 days Pope John hath granted to them who shall say this prayer Precor Fol. 76. a. te amantissime Domine c. before a Crucifix as many days of pardon as there were wounds in Christs body at his Passion which the Rubrick saith were 5465. But another Edition viz at Paris 1534. tells us thus Pope Benedict XII made this prayer Gratias ago tibi Domine Fol. 40. b. c. and gave to all them that devoutly said it as many days of pardon as our Lord had wounds that is 6646 days So here you must take your choice but consult first which of the two Popes is to be believed Pope Innocent II hath granted to them that shall say this Prayer Fol. 86. a. Ave vulnus lateris c. pardon for 4000 days Pope John hath granted to them who shall say this prayer Miserere Fol. 165. a. Domine animabus c. as many days of pardon as there are Christian bodies buryed Pardon for years Pope Innocent hath granted to them that shall say this prayer Fol. 73. b. Salve lux mundi c. at the Elevation pardon for 7 years Pope Boniface hath granted to them that shall say this prayer Fol. 61. b. Stabat Mater dolorosa c. pardon for 7 years and 40 Lents Pope Gregory hath granted to them that shall say these five little Fol. 79. a. prayers Ave manus dextra Christi c. with five Pater Nosters five Ave Maria's and a Credo pardon for 500 years Pope Boniface VI hath granted to them that shall say this prayer Fol. 72 73. Domine Jesu Christe c. pardon for 10000 years Pope Alexander VI hath granted to them that say this prayer Fol. 92. Ave Maria gratia plena c. pardon for 10000 years Pope Sixtus IV hath granted to them that say this prayer Ave Fol. 56. b. Sanctissima Maria c. before the Image of our Lady pardon for 11000 years Pope John XXII hath granted to them that shall say these three Fol. 80. b. prayers Domine Jesu Christe c. pardon for 1000000 years And though this last pardon be for a pretty number of years viz. ten hundred thousand yet they will go a little farther and assure the Romanists that whosoever of them shall say a prayer Fol. 77. a. beginning O Deus Propitius esto mihi c. that his soul shall not Fol. 86. enter into Hell And they will give you another prayer at the saying of which you shall be past both Hell and Purgatory And of late days the English have been very careful to procure such Pardons and Absolutions as appears by some of them publish'd by Mr. a New Shreds p. 77 78 c. Gee to whom I shall refer the Reader But as for Purgatory whose particular description of every hole and cranny in it and what pretty sport the Devils have there you have at large described to you by Matthew Paris Philip Osullevan and others and of the particular cheat of St. Patricks little hole Bishop Jones hath given a sufficient Narrative I say as for Purgatory there need no great care or trouble to be taken seeing that Mass is not worth a rush that cannot deliver a soul thence especially if said by the Monks of Cluny Abby in the time of whose Abbot b See their Legendaries 1 Jan. and 2 Novemb. Odilo the place and intrigues of this tormenting Cavern were fully discover'd to mankinde And it was an unlucky observation of a German that if there be a Purgatory souls could not stay long there of which take the story thus in short This merry fellow of Antwerp was accused to the Inquisitors Lâ—d Lavater de Spectâ—is part 2. c. 13. M. Fl. Illyrie defectis Pap. pag. 219. for saying amongst his companions that there was no Purgatory and in behalf of himself thus pleaded That according to the Sermons he us'd to hear there was either no Purgatory or no souls in it for we are taught that Turks Jews Pagans Hereticks and the wicked go forthwith to Hell and none goeth to Purgatory but Penitent Christians of which there is no great number as you daily lament and complain We are also taught that every Mass delivers one soul out of Purgatory and besides multitude of souls are deliver'd by Pardons and Indulgences and it is plain that there are more Masses said then Penitent Christians dye whereby it followeth that there is either no Purgatory or that it is empty At which the Inquisitors knowing this used daily to be preach'd let the Wag go but chid him for medling with that which did not belong to him According to this Purgatory is no such Bug-bear so that nothing is now left to deter a Romanist from committing what he pleaseth but the fear of Hell it self Yet the bold Roman need not cool or stagger his resolution for this seeing the Pope hath such an Interest and Authority in Hell also that even thence he can deliver the tormented soul as some a D. Damascen Serm. de desunctis Jo. Diac. vit Greg. apud Surium Vincent Belluacens Spec. Hist l. 10. c. 68. Antonin Chron. part 2. Tit. 12. c. 3. § 8. B. Brigittae Revelat. lib. 4. c. 13. Abulens 4 Regum c. 4. q. 57. Barth Medina in 3. D. Thom. q. 52. art 6. Ric. de Media villa in 4. sent dist 45. art 2. q 1. Sigebert Gembl Chron. an 592. Goâ—frid Viterbieâ—s Panth. part 15. Sixtus Senens Biblioth lib. 6. Annot. 47. Fil. Beâ—gamo Chron. fol 284. Zac. Lippello 12 Martâ—i Romanists affirm else why should they tell us that Pope Gregory the Great redeem'd the Emperour Trajan's soul and St. Tecla did Falaonilla's and in Vindication of the former no less man then Alphonsus Ciaconius hath publish'd a particular Book where you may see more and if they can do thus for Pagans what may they not do for the sons of their own Church And no question but that his Holiness will venture much of his credit to redeem a soul of one of his sons from Hell when he would allow his friends to make use of the Devil for the amendment of their bodies as it is said Pope c Nicholas V once indulged an intimate friend of his Vid. Sennert lib. 6. part 9. cap. 8. The Predestinarian Turks under the notion of having their Fortune writ on their Foreheads joyfully venture their beings upon the greatest hazards and it hath c formerly been observed a His mercium nundiâ—â—tionibus simul spoliato est aere Germania Christi pietas extincta quando quilibet 〈…〉 quod in has merces expenderat modo peccandi impunitatem sibi pollicebatur hinc Stupra Incestus Adulteria Perjuria Homicidia Furta Rapinae Foenera ac tota malorum Lerna semel originem sibi traxerunt Quod enim malorum amplius jam horrebunt mortales quando sibi peccandi licentiam
may give you an hint what little credit may justly be given to such Tales and when men have trapt any as Impostures so oft in lying and cheating they have small reason to believe them in their other Stories or Actions And besides these Forgeries when we consider what compact jugling and delusions there may be and that the Devil also may have a hand in the imployment as also some may have their Natural causes we should not so easily believe all to be gold that glistereth nor every thing we see or hear to be a Miracle wrought by God since b 2 Thessal 2. â— Antichrist himself must deceive by signs and lying Wonders Though as I have no power to hinder Almighty God from working Wonders so have I no Authority to deny that he doth do any by his faithful Instruments and I am apt to believe upon good Reason that the Church of Great Britain since the Reformation may glory and triumph in this blessing as well as their fellow-Christians beyond Sea CHAP. IV. Their Idle Extravagant and Prophane Titles and Prerogatives appropriated to the Pope HAving hitherto seen how lavish they are in the commendations of their inferiour Christians those but as it were fellow-Subjects or of the same rank in obedience with themselves what lofty strains and towring Encomiums may we expect when they advance to magnifie their Lord and Master their Infallible Judge and what not If in any thing they observe Sir Philip Sidneys Rule If the man such praises have What must he that keeps the knave And if when several of their Wits have strain'd themselves to compare the great Cardinal a Many of which you may finde collected together in a Quartâ— Book call'd Scriptorum Galliae Maledicentiae Adulationes Impiae Anno 1635. Richelieu to God Almighty for Power and Wisdom though he hath not hitherto been held one of the greatest Saints we may not hope for less Blasphemies to be produced to the honour of their Roman Bishop whom they fancy to command Heaven and Hell and so at his pleasure to dispose of their souls to either of those places But that good Emperour b Volaterran lib. 23. fol. 266. Alexander Severus rejected all such cogging Claw-backs As c Ant. Panormita de rebus gestis Alphonsi Alonso that wise King of Aragon did not onely hate but several times punish his flattering creenging Courtiers whom he justly call'd the Plague of Princes it being a truth not easily denyed that next to such a Treason as Presbytery the dissembling fawning Favorite is the discredit of his King and the ruine of his Country What the Popes have done by way of command to others to proclaim to the World the Commendations Strength Power Vertue and Authority of his Holy-Chair would be a task too tedious and difficult to search exactly and throughly into Yet that such endeavours have been somewhat Ancient appears by Augustinus de Ancona now better known by the name of Triumphus who above three hundred years ago was commanded by Pope John XXI or XXII to write a Treatise to this purpose which he did where he boldly maintains that no d De Potestate Ecclesiasticâ— Quest 44. Art 1. law can be made to binde Christians but by the Popes Authority as of old the Israelites received none but by the Intercession of Moses Nor is this all but he makes all the world to be so much the Popes Right and Inheritance that he expresly gives us this Caution of Interpretation of some Facts in History viz. That if we meet with any Emperours to have given any e Id. Part. 1. Quest 1. Art 1. Temporal Priviledges or Lands to any Popes as they say Constantine did to Sylvester we must here understand that they did not at all give that which was their own to give but onely forsooth restore that which had formerly been taken away from them by Tyranny and Injustice Or if on the contrary we read of any Popes to have given off any such Temporal Benefit we must then suppose that it was done more for peace-sake then really to give to others a true Title to them Fine Rules if they were true to keep all Jurisdiction and Territories in their own clutches But alas they are too simple and childish to be imbraced by any but fools and suchlike Papal Scriblers Not long after him we have a trusty Spaniard Alvarus Pelagius Confessor to Balthassor Cossa call'd John XXII or XXIII who writ a large Book in part to vindicate his Master by many then held an Antipope This Alvarus amongst other things affirms that no Emperour must be held to rule a De planctu Ecclesiae lib. 1. cap. 13. justly who received not his Power and Authority from the Roman Church especially after Christ had granted all Rule and Government to St. Peter which seems a pretty Paradox as if the Church at Rome by right ruled all the world before ever St. Peter was ever there or held as Supream there or for ought that I know before any other Christian in that City had any abode Nor will that which followeth any whit mend the matter viz. that every Pope hath all the same or as much power upon Earth as Jesus Christ himself had and that the Pope is as a God to the Emperour Some years before this Vrban the Sixth and Clement the Seventh bandying for the Popedom the Christians not agreeing which of them was the true one insomuch that the Kings themselves were also divided from which troubles it may be he might expect some disadvantage However it was he had one Johannes de Therano his Chamberlain who upon his command writ a Book to lessen all Temporal Authority in Princes in which he very finely evades these words Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods by affirming that these words of Christ have place onely for a time viz. until his Ascention and that after his Ascention they are of no force or value proving it from this Verse b Joh 12. 32. When I shall be lifted up from the Earth I will draw all men unto me which he interprets by all Kings and Kingdoms to be under the Popes jurisdiction a bundle of such strange Assertions that c Tom. 2. pag. 232. Coquaeus himself seems almost ashamed of them But to go on long before any of these above five hundred years d Anno 1131. ago in a Council at Rheimes some one or other for his certain name I finde not made a learned and wise Sermon as he thought in commendation of the Pope telling his Auditors that he was greater than Moses greater than any Angel greater than Solomon nay except God there is none like unto him either in Heaven or Earth And that this might carry the more credit with it they have foisted this into the Works of e Sermo ad Synod Rhemens beginning Grave est quod mihi injungitur St.
that which was none of his own Yet they may suppose that the Inca spake this not like a Romanist but an Heathen as he was for their Writers anon will tell us another Doctrine and yet all parties smile at the Fool in Athens for thinking all other mens ships to be his own Whether the Pope hath any real Reason for the exercising of this his suppos'd Prerogative is nothing to the Purpose as Thomas Bozius affirm'd to Pope Clement the Eighth and all people else * Sitque aliquis Rex juâ—e solers industrius Poâ—ens Catholicus pius tamen Pontifex Episcopique Pontifice approhante uâ—e naturali Divino in Divinis Scriptis expresso ac tradito per Christum Apostolos valent huic auferre Imperia Regna alterique nullum jus alioque habenti adjudicare ubi judicaveâ—int id esse non modo necessarium sed expediens Tho. Bozius de jure status lib. 3 cap. 4. For although said he that the King be lawful and not onely so but understanding careful powerful one of the Popes Religion and godly too yet can the Pope take his Empire or Kingdoms from him and give it to another although there be no necessity for so doing it being enough if he think it onely convenient Nor is this all for he attributes the same Authority to the Bishops which is of sufficient validity if the Pope do but approve of their actions This Eugubian in other places of his Writings harps much upon De Italiae statu p. 300. 311. the Popes power in deposing of Kings and dividing the World amongst them as if they were his Sons and he the Father of all And then would seem to thrust Dante aut auferente Imperia Regnaque opulentissima omnium Maxima Orbem rerrarum distribuens ac partiens inter maximos omnium Principes veluti inter filios Ib. pag 301. into the World an Opinion of bad consequence of none being held for Kings but those who were anoynted and Crown'd but the Priests Watson and Clark 1603 found that this Plea would neither Id. pag. 305. quit them from Treason nor save their live Amongst other things to Buoy or bolster up this his Opinion of the Popes Spiritual and â—emporal Power he a Id. pag 430. brings the Authority of one Roderigo Zanchez Bishop of Zamora and the truth of it is that where wording is all this Spaniard may carry the Bell away boldly affirming * Est vero naturaliter moraliter Divino jure cum recta fide tenendum Principatum Romani Pont. esse verum unicum immediatum Principatum totius Oâ—bis nedum quoad Spiritualia sed quoad Temporalia Principatum Impeâ—iaâ—em esse ab ipso dependentem mediatum ministerialem instrumentalem eidem subministrantem deservientem foreque ab eo ordinatum institutum ad jussum Principatus Papalis mobilem â—evocabilem corâ—igibilem punibilem That by Natural Moral and divine Law we must believe that the Pope hath the immediate and onely Rule of the whole World in Temporals as well is in Spirituals all imperial Authority depending so much upon him that it is alterable punishable or null'd as he shall command The small esteem which this Bishop thus declared to the World by his Pen he had of Temporal Greatness Another of the same Sea viz. Antonio de Acunna by his Sword declar'd his approbation to it Prud. de Sandoval Anno 1520. though upon different accounts by his turbulent spirit adding fresh Fuel to the Treasonous humours then raging in Spain this old Don still charging in the head of above four hundred Priests which he had under his Command well armed his Word being Here my Priests But at last by a strangling he paid for his Rebellions against his Soveraign Charles the Fifth Emperour of Germany Laelius Zecchus a great man with them both for Law and Dignity is earnest for this jurisdiction of the Popes affirming Papa enim Caesares deponit jura Impeâ—ia transfert Reges Regnis privat c. Lael Zecch Tract Theolog p 82 83. that he can depose both Emperours and Kings being absolute Lord of the Christian World And another Italian Lawyer viz. a De poâ—est Rom. Pont. l. 2. c 3. Sect 18. Adversus impios Politicos hujus temporis Hereticâ—s Alexander Clericus is much of the same opinion and declares that he writ this Book against the wicked Polititians and Hereticks of his time amongst the rest whether he intended Cardinal Bellarmine let others judge since he hath several whole Chapters against him But a greater Lawyer than the former and one of more Learning and Modesty viz. b De Testament cap. 6. Sect. 19. Didacus Covarruvas is willing to let himself be perswaded by the Canon-Law to imbrace this King-deposing Opinion And his Country-man though of an ancienter Cut c De planctu Ecclesiae l. 1. cap. 13 37 56. Alvarus Pelagius out of the same Box swallows down the like Poyson Gaspar Scioppius that unruly German though of the same wicked judgement yet he will pretend to give you some pretty Reasons for it as that because the Pope is the Head as he saith and the Emperour and Kings but Arms or Hands to the same monstrous Body therefore if these do not their Itaque si Reges non nutriant neque vestiant Corpus certe manus aut brachia munere non funguntur itaque velut membâ—um inutile capitis Imperio amputantur Gasp Sciop Ecclesiasticus c. 141. p. 511 512. duty in being careful to preserve the Body the Head as Lord and Master may cut them off A pretty simile to make the supposed wise Head cause of its own ruine But if this do not please you he will give you another as good from the great benefit forsooth that some Countries have received by this Temporal Power of the Popes As by this France had their Antient Family of the Meroveens thrust out from being Kings and the Carlovingiens popt into the Throne That Germany by this hath got the Western Empire but not a word of the Emperours wanting Italy And as for Spain it 's obliged to hug and defend this unlimited Prerogative of St. Peter since it gain'd the Kingdom of Navarre by a Hispania Navarrae Regnum nullo alio titulo nisi quia capiti Ecclesiae Pontifici sui visum fuerit obtinuit Ib. no other Right nor Title but onely because it so pleas'd the Pope In the mean time was not Don John of Albret and his Wife Catharina King and Queen of Navarre and their poor Subjects also much beholden to Pope Julius the Second for his thus ruining of them by the hands of their Enemies By this Argument Schoppius might maintain the knack of Plagiery he gaining at first the name of some Learning by his slie transcribing of his Masters Notes but never the more honesty or right stuck by him nor had he mended his manners had he
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
first that made Seminaries at Doway a severe enemy to the Protestants and as fierce a maintainer of the power of Rome and the King of Spain of both which this one Example may satisfie Queen Elizabeth having sent some aid into the Netherlands against the Spaniard Sir William Stanley was made Governour of Deventer in Over-Issel which he presently betraying his trust deliver'd with himself and Garrison to the Spaniard by which he lost by common consent the reputation of Subject Gentleman and Souldier but Dr. Allain thinking to quell these rumours and to encourage the new Renegado's by a Letter from Rome sends Stanley and his Regiment not onely thanks and Commendations for this their action but as he thought a sufficient vindication too part of which take in his own words Yea I say no more unto you Gentlemen seeing you desire to know Dr. Allain's Letter touching the render of Deventer pag. 27 28. my meaning fully in this point That as all acts of Justice within the Realm done by the Queens authority ever since she was by publick sentence of the Church and see Apostolick declared an Heretick and an enemy of Gods Church and for the same by name excommunicated and deposed from all Regal Dignity as I say ever sithence the publication thereof all is void by the Law of God and Man so likewise no war can be lawfully denounced or waged by her though otherwise in it self it were most just because that is the first Condition required in a just War that it be by one denounced that hath lawful and Supream power to do the same as no Excommunicate person hath especially if he be withal deposed from his Royal Dignity by Christ his Vicar which is the Supream power in Earth and his Subjects not onely absolved and discharged of their Service Oath Homage and Obedience but especially forbidden to serve or obey any such Canonically condemned person And in another place of the same Pamphlet he thus tells them their doom if they had been faithful to their trust and the Queen a Id. pag. 30. Any Excommunicate or Canonically condemn'd Prince whom no man by law can serve nor give aid unto but he falleth into Excommunication Thus we see what small esteem he had of his Soveraign and how easie it is for these men to ease themselves of loyalty and Obedience And that the Pope may thus trample upon Kings observe his Doctrine in another of his Writings b Defence of English Catholicks against the book call'd The execution of justice pag. 143. The Pope may in some cases excommunicate for some causes deprive and in many respects fight and wage War for Religion And gain c Id. p. 207. Plain it is that Kings that have professed the Faith of Christ and the defence of his Church and Gospel may be and have been justly both excommunicated and deposed for injuries done to Gods Church and revolt from the same as sometimes also for other great crimes tending to the Pernition of the whole subject unto him And gain d Id. P. 114. By the fall of the King from the Faith the danger is so evident and inevitable that GOD HAD NOT SUFFICIENTLY PROVIDED FOR OUR SALVATION and the preservation of his Church and holy Laws IF THERE WERE NO WAY TO DEPRIVE or restrain Apostata Kings And then plainly declares to the world thus e Id. P. 115. Therefore let no man marvel that in case of heresie the Soveraign loseth his superiority and right over his people and Kingdom And in these f Id. P. 72 73. Opinions he endeavours to prove that there is no harm And gives the Earl of a Westmerland Id. 48. for his Rebellion great commendations and of his fellow-Traytor gives you this Character The renowned Count of Northumberland dyed a Saint and holy Martyr When the Spanish Armado invaded England he printed a pernicious Admonition to the Catholicks of these Kingdoms stuft with horrid Rebellion and Treason perswading them by all means to take part with the King of Spain and to Root out their own Queen What effect his Doctrine took I know not but 't is well known that the Fleet came to nothing and enough of this Allen who for his zeal to the Spanish Faction and the authority of Rome was made Cardinal de S. Martino by Pope Sixtus the Fifth at the desire of Philip the Second And now let us see what a man with a long name will tell us in this cause Andraeas Eudaemon-joannes a man suspected at first to sculk under a wrong denomination but when we know his Country and temper we shall not think him asham'd to own any thing though never so bad or false he was born in the Island Crete now better known by the name of Candia at Canea by the ancients call'd Cydon or Cydonia but bred up from his youth at Rome and a Jesuite If that be true that in the Island of his birth no venomous or harmful Creature can live 't was well that he was forthwith transplanted to Italy for his native soyl and his malicious humour could never agree His writings are onely stuft with railing and vain repetitions hath impudence to deny any thing and affirm what he pleaseth his whole books are composed of contradictions all along affirming that Kings may be deposed nay and sometimes cut off and yet at the same time vindicating himself and his Order from disloyalty and yet so shie in his affirmations though bald in his hints that his books may be read over to as much purpose and satisfaction as one of the Brethrens preachments or Olivers Speeches so that I should wonder that such a generous Pope as Vrban the Eighth and such a learned Cardinal as Bellarmine should have him in such esteem and favour if interest had no sway in this world And though all along one may know his meaning by his Moping yet sometimes he speaks plain enough and declares that the a Potuit enim non ut dominus sed ut Minister Christi deponere Principes Andr. Eudaem-joan Respons ad Epist Is Casauboni pag. 12. Pope can depose Kings and that this b Id. Parallelus Torti Tortoris cap. 4. pag. 197. ultro concedamus facta à Pontificibus jure atque ordine fieri potuisse ut contumaciam ac Tyrannidem Principum excommunicatione ac depositione ulcisceretur hath been done and may be done sometimes lawfully In the year 1594 one Jehan Chastel intending to stab King Henry the Fourth of France with his Kinfe struck him into his Mouth and though he mist of his aim yet he struck out two of his teeth and wounded him sore For this Treason the Villain is excuted but presently one Franzois de Verone writes an Apology for Chastel affirming that he had done nothing but what became a true Christian and Catholick his reasons being because the King as he said was an Heretick and so might lawfully be kill'd or
deposed That he was absolutely perswaded so in the latter the first we shall treat of in its proper place you may judge by his declaring these following Propositions to be Heretical I Qu'un Heretique relaps nommement Fran. de Verone Apologie pour Jâ—han Chastel Part 2. cap. 15. pag. 95. excommunie du S. Siege ne perd le droit de la Couronne II. Que tel est Roy legitime donne Ordonne de Dieu III. Que l'eglise ne le peut priver de ce droit ny les Estats ny generallement les Princes de leurs dignitez ou Royaumes pour crime ou Heresie quelcunque IV. Ny absoudre les subjects de l'Obeissance fidelite a eux deue V. Qu'il fault resister a tels jugemens qu'ils n'obligent en conscience VI. Qu'il ne se fault enquirer des actions ny de la Conscience de son Prince VII Qu'il n'est loysible de resister a un Prince Heretique VIII Qu'un Roy Catholique peut permittre deux Religions en son Royaume I. That a relaps'd Heretick and by name excommunicated by the Pope doth not loose the right of his Crown II. That such an one is a lawful King given and ordained of God III. That neither Church nor Parliament Estates can deprive them of that right nor that Princes for any Crime or Heresie whatever can be deprived of their dignities IV. Nor that subjects can be absolved from their obedience and fidelity they owe to their Kings V. That such sentences as these are not to be obeyed being not obligatory in Conscience VI. That the Actions and Consciences of Kings are not to be pry'd into VII That it is not lawful to resist an Heretical Prince VIII That a Catholick King may permit two Religions in his Kingdom What this Verone was I know not onely we may observe that about Id. Apol. pag. 29. the same time there was a French Jesuit of the same name who afterwards writ some Books And that the same year viz. 1595. that this Book was Printed one Le Bell was punished for endeavouring to convey one Franzois Veron a Student at Poictiers out of France This same Verone also in the same Book vindicates Jacques Clement for murthering Henry the Third The which horrid murder was also publickly maintain'd as an act most lawful and glorious by another French-man call'd Bouchier and he that will thus boldly affirm the greater you may justly suppose he will not deny the less viz. the deposing of them And this he tells us the Pope can do if there be need of it and the Prince Cum ille Christi vicarius sit ut videat ne quid Christo ne quid ejus Ecclesiae ac Religioni injuria fiet ne quid vel populi vel Regni vel Regum ipsorum salutem impediat cujusmodi sunt Haeresis schisma perjurium apostasia similia quae sine gravi Ecclesiae detrimento in Regibus esse nequeunt id ei licâ—re ut cum nihil leniter admo nuisse profuerit cum censuras contemni audierit cum periculum grave Ecclesiae è tali regimine imminere deponi denique utile commodum esse agnoverit tum populos Obedientiae vinculo eximat decque operam ut alteri commodiori grex à Christo redemptus commiâ—tatur De justa Henric III. abdicatione lib. 1. cap. 5. pag. 13. contemn his inferiour censures Nay probable that a greater Authority than this Boucher can more than Countenance the deposing of Kings For anno 1589 a little before the said King Henry the Third was murdered the Colledge of Sorbone in Paris being then present about seventy Doctors declared Id. P. 398 399 370 373. Jan. de Serres that all the Kings Subjects were freed from their obedience to him of which Pope Sixtus the Fifth was informed and desired to compleat by his Authority One tells us with confidence that the Pope can create and depose Vid. Phil. Horn. Thesaur Polit. p. 318 319 323 361 362. Kings Another wonders that some German Divines should deny him to have power to translate Empires And a third tells Cardinal Mont ' alto Nephew to the foresaid Sixtus the Fifth that amongst other Priviledges which belong to the Pope is to give Titles to Emperours and Kings to translate Empires from one Nation to another and to judge Princes And our Country-man Thomas Harding when he sees Childerick of France deposed by the Pope cannot refrain from telling us a Confutation of the Apology fol. 181. b. What a strength of Authority is in that See which is able with a word to place and displace the mightiest King in Europe And this is also approved of by his good friend and great admirer b A brief shew of the false wares in the Apology fol. 93. John Rastell And the Portugal c Quaestiones Regulares Tom. 2. Quest 40. art 1. Quest 63. art 7. Tom. 4. Tit. 4. c. 3. Emanuel Rodericus in several places of his Works fob'd up by the Canon-law tells how the Pope can alter Kingdoms and depose Kings What force either Loyalty or Obedience is with some Roman Catholicks may in part be seen by their cavilling at our Oath of Allegiance as where it saith that the Pope hath no power or authority to depose the King or discharge any of his Subjects of their Allegiance and Obedience to his Majesty upon any cause or occasion whatsoever They answer to the first A strange prevention to stir up humourâ— Answer to the Penal Statutes against Catholicks pag. 81 82. and to alter them with DANGEROUS Physick without necessity And to the second they thus retort Although the King should force them to be Mahometans Jewes Pagans or Infidels To that part of it which calls the opinion of the Popes power to excommunicate or deprive Kings Impious and Heretical They onely say How came the English Parliament by Authority to censure Doctrine who delivered them this power who made them assurance of Gods infallible Spirit To that part which saith That they do believe that the Pope nor any other hath power to absolve them of this Oath They deny the Article by their thus reasoning If they do not believe it NOR INDEED CAN BELIEVE IT WITHOUT GROSS IGNORANCE why should they inforce them to swear False or what get they by this And to the last part of it where 't is said that They do acknowledge this Oath to be administred unto them lawfully and by good and full Authority and that they do renounce all dispensations and pardons to the contrary They quite null the Proposition by this their answer He that sweareth false had need of absolution from the sin but needeth no dispensation because the Oath hath no force to bind as in this case By which means they declare their approbation of these following Propositions I. To affirm that the Pope hath no power or authority to depose the King is dangerous II. That in
his Rebellion hath too much of Atheism in him to be a true Christian Thus would these men make the condition of Kings to be like that of Damocles with a drawn Sword hanging over their heads by a slender thred His and the Kingdoms settlement to lye at the mercy and alteration of every hot-brain'd Zealot For let him be of whatsoever Religion yet we see he shall not please and that which should have no Arms but Prayers and Tears must be made a pretence to prove the Devil a Saint and Treason an Article of Faith We have formerly seen how the Romish Favorites do hugely contend in behalf of their a Extra Com. l. 1. Tit. â— c. 1. Unam Sanctam Canon-law that the Pope is b Jer. 1. 10. set over the Nations and over Kingdoms to root out and to pull down and to destroy and to throw down But as if this were not enough to overcloud the Authority of Kings they will allow the people also the power to trample upon their Princes by deposing them and this in few words is acknowledged by c Jus deponendi abdicandi e solio Reges ac Principes non solum Ecclesiae sed interdum populis competere ratione exemplis ostenditur Rut. Benz. Comment in Canticum Magnificat lib. 3. cap. 27. dub 6. pag. 134. Rutilius Benzonius Bishop of their Miraculous Loretto Leonardus Coquaeus endeavouring to prove that the Pope hath power to depose Kings in one place brings his Argument by way of comparison that if d Examen Praefat. monit p. 102. Parliaments do sometimes depose Kings why may not the Pope much more do it And in another place speaks more plain That e Imo judicarem quod non expectata sententia Summi Pontificis posset talem Principem a subditis deponi Id. Pag. 49. without the Pope the subjects themselves may pull their Kings from their Thrones But I warrant you that King James against whom he wrote would never be converted by this French-man Here we have the Brabantine Jesuite Martinus Becanus keep a great deal of clutter about the old worne-out Argument of a mutual compact between King and People and so he would conclude that if Kings do not keep their Promises to their Subjects then the Controvers Angl. p. 133 134 135. people may slip their necks out of Coller and throw by their King and something to this purpose he affords you an old Rime Frangenti fidem fides frangatur eidem But this in this case is a false rule with us being no compact nor the parties equals so that do but translate his Riming Proverb to agree with the cause in hand and we shall see the consequence to be false Don breaks his Troth burns my poor house what then May I his slave go and burn his agen This used to be common Logick to the borderers or Moss-troopers but we see ours if held affirmatively cannot prosper in a setled Kingdom But he goeth farther yet to extol the power of the People affirming that when a King is deposed though there Plus dicam in haec re voluit concensus populi ut etiamsi superesset legitimus haeres cui Regnum deberetur hoc palam omnibus constaret tamen si populus praetermitto legitimo haerede alium delegisset ille alius fuisset verus Rex Mart. Becan Controv. Angl. pag. 120. remaineth a lawful Heir to whom the Kingdom of right doth belong and this too apparently known to all yet if the people do chuse another and throw this Heir aside the other so chosen is the true King Almost an hundred years ago an English-man who calls himself John Rastell Master of Arts and Student of Divinity then living at Lovan a A brief shew of the false wares packâ— together in the named Apologie of the Church of England fol. 9â— wrote against Dr. Jewel in behalf of Dr. Harding or rather as himself saith gathered out of Dr. Hardings Book and if so about this cause take both their Opinions For whereas every Common-wealth is greater than the Prince which governeth it and may depose the same upon lawful cause and whereas Riot and doltishness are causes sufficient so to do as making the Prince unable to govern it well it followeth consequently that if the whole Estate of France deposed Chilperick and erected Pipine there was NO FAULT committed in so doing Now certainly you would think that this Chilperick was a strange Tyrant or that his wickedness must be so great that 't was no fault to take the Crown from him and give it to one of his Subjects that had no right to it nor is this all but the Kingdom by this means changed from one Family to another But we shall finde his enormities not to deserve such punishment that he wanted discretion I believe but then they might have given him an assistant and as for his inclination b Hist de' personaggi illustri Religiosi lib. 3. cap. 18. Essenda di natura piâ— Egli menò vita Angelica Paolo Morigi tells us that he was Godly and peaceful and when he was put into a Monastery that he led an Angelical life Whether there was such an English-man or no as this John Rastell I know not because Pitseus maketh no mention of any such and doth tell us besides that c Pag. 764. William Rastell amongst other things wrote several Books against Bishop Jewel whosoever be the man 't is not much to our purpose though William the Lawyer would have given more credit to the cause though for so doing would somewhat have encreas'd the wonder those who are so much addicted to our Common-law not troubling themselves so much with the Romish Politicks or the niceties of the Schools And so much for Rastell and his friends Doctrine d Recognit lib. de laicis cap. 6. Bellarmine tells us that Martinus ab Azpilcueta the famous Spanish Lawyer was of Opinion that the people never transferr'd their power so much upon and into the Prince but that in some cases they might resume it again from him And of the same judgement doth the Cardinal shew himself in one place that if e Videmus in â—ebus publicis temporalibus si Rex degeneret in Tyranâ—um â—icet sit Caput Regni tamen a populo deponi eligi alium Bellar. de Concil l. 2. c 19. the King turns Tyrant the people may depose him and chuse another And again that f Pendet a consensâ— multitudinis constituere super se Regem vel Consules vel alios Magistratus ut patet si causa legitima adsit potest multitudo mutare Regnum in Aristocratiam aut Democratiam e contrariâ— Bellarm. de laicis lib. 3. cap. 6. 't is the consent of the people that constitutes Kings or other Governments over them and so if cause be given they may turn â—he Kingdom into an Aristocracy or Democracy or the contrary g Defens fid
printed in several Nations And if you think that these Spaniards speak not plain enough yet we shall shew you another Jesuit but of another Country viz. Brabant yet under the subjection of Spain And this is Martinus Becanus of great esteem amongst the learned honoured by the Emperour Matthias and Confessor to Ferdinand the Second but let us hear him speak and then we shall scarce think him fit to be imploy'd so neer the Conscience of so great a Monarch as Caesar since he attributes too much power to one who thinks himself a better man in Temporals one way or another than the Emperour Sometimes Aliquando factum est ut etiam Reges essent leprosi ergâ— poterat pontifex mandaâ—e ut feorsim habitarent si nollent obedire ut VITA PRIVARENTUR NIHIL CERTIUS Hâ—nc colligimus Pontificem duplici titulo potuisse Reges privare suo Regno primo quia poterat eos si â—ONTUMAâ—ES esâ—ent PRIVARE VITA Ergo Regno de hoc nemo DUBITAT Becan Controvers Angl. pag. 115. saith he it so falls out that Kings become wicked or Hereticks then the Pope may command that they be removed which if they disobey they may be kill'd and then this nothing is MORE CERTAIN And again The Pope may deprive Kings of their Kingdoms upon a double account for if they be CONTUMACIOUS he may have them Kill'd and so they are also deprived of their Kingdom and that this may be done no man doth doubt But yet if you think that this is not plain enough we will afford you another Jesuit and a Spaniard â—â—z Franciscus Suarez a man that seemed to excel Abulensis by thâ— multitude of his writings and one of the greatest esteem of all his Order Pope Paul the Fifth himself having honoured him with several Letters That Kings may be kill'd Suarez affirms no less than three times in one a Defens fid lib. 6. cap. 4. § 18. Paragraph but a little before this he speaks more plain by endeavouring to prove it by reason after this manner b Id. Lib 6. c. 4. § 14. Postquam Rex legâ—time depositus est jam non est Rex neque Princeps legitimus consequenter non potest in illo subsistere assertio quae de legitimo Rege loquitur Imo si Rex talis post depositionem legitimam in sua pertinacia perseverans Regnum per vim retineat incipit esse Tyrannus in Titulo quia non est legitimus Rex nec justo titulo Regnum possidet declaratur hoc amplius in Rege Haeretico nam statim per haeresim ipso facto privatur aliquo modo dominio proprietate sui Regni Post sentenâ—am latam omnino privatur Regno ita ut non possit justo titulo illud possidere Ergo ex tunc poterit tanquam omnino Tyrannus tractari Consequenter a QUOCUNQUE PRIVATO POTERIT INTERFICI When a King is deposed then he is neither lawful King nor Prince And if therefore he endeavour to keep the Kingdom under him by strength then he is an Vsurper because he is no lawful King having no true title to the Crown For that after the Decree of deposition gone out against him he is altogether deprived of his Kingdom so that he cannot with a just title possess it and so he may be used as a Tyrant or Vsurper and by consequence MAY BE SLAIN BY ANY PRIVATE MAN And this he saith if he be an Heretick And is not this as clear as the noon-day and as plain as a Pike-staff is not this down-right to call a spade a spade and to say that Kings may be deprived and then kill'd by any body Nor was this Principle set down without great consideration and firmly believed to be true not onely by Suarez but the chief of Portugal and others As for himself so far was he ever from recanting or thinking this Doctrine to be amiss but agreeable to the Church of Rome that the Jesuits tell us that when he was told how his book had been burnt in England he declared his consent so freely to his Principles contain'd Phil. Alegambe p. 138. therein that he said that nothing would be more pleasant and desirable to him than to have been burnt in the same flames with his book And he was so assured that his principles were agreeable to all of his Church that he had the confidence to dedicate such stuff to all Kings and Princes who were Roman Catholicks That it was held in great veneration with others cannot be denyed for we shall scarce see a book honour'd with such censures of approbation Alphonso à Castello Branco Bishop of Coimbria and Privy Councellor to the King of Spain Philip the Third declares that he hath read it exactly over and findes all things in it to agree to the holy Scriptures Apostolical Traditions General Councils and Papal Decrees Fernando Martiner Mascaregnus Bishop of Sylvis saith that he hath also read it over and findes nothing in it but what is Orthodox And Martiner Alonso à Mello another Privy Councellor and Bishop of Lamego saith also that he hath read it over and thinks it worthy to be publisht for the publick good of Christendom And the Provincial Jesuits of Portugal and Germany allow it the same priviledges and so doth the Inquisition Nor is this all but the University of Alcala de Henarez after a serious view and consideration of it declare that there is nothing in it contrary to the Roman Catholick faith nor any thing in it but what ought to be approved of and commended every thing being according to their own opinions and judgements All this put together is enough to blot out the bad reception it received by the Senators of Paris the Kings Murther then fresh in their memories and their hatred to the Jesuits being strong motives As for the Sorbone an Association really to be honour'd in many things its Doctors as most of other Convocations are oft so carryed on with interest and faction that many times in the most considerable things we shall finde their Decrees to clash one with another 'T is true this ancient Colledge of Sorbone built about 1250 by Robert de Sorbone hath for several ages kept up a great reputation and splendour but they have somewhat been troubled by the springing up of the Jesuits with whom I may say they and the University have had a continual bickering for this hundred years and of late have something lost ground especially at Rome where the Fathers carry the bell away clearly from the Doctors both in repute authority and preferments which are such considerable Arguments that of late times viz. since 1650 the interest of the Jesuits hath got in a manner the upper hand in the very Colledge of Sorbone and Paris the latter of which hath onely a company of Curates too weak to oppose against the subtile Loyolists and if the secular Authority do not intervene they will all in
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
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
so presently quell'd their Tumults The Emperour being at Lovain in Brabant journeying for his Imperial Crown received news of these Tumults in Spain which did not a little perplex him and thinking by fair means to reduce them to obedience he wrote gracious Letters to all the Cities offering them pardon desiring them for the future to be peaceable promising to return shortly into Spain amongst them Commands that the Subsidie which was granted him by the Commissioners at the Groyne should not be exacted from the Cities that were Loyal or would be so That no Office should be confer'd but upon the Natives But these gracious Letters gain'd nothing upon the people who were now resolved over shooes over boots And the better to carry on their contrived Sedition they appoint a meeting of the Commissioners of their Cities to be held at Avila in Old Castile and there to sit and act for the good of their Holy Commonalty and this Meeting or Conventicle they call'd THE HOLY JVNTA or ASSEMBLY This was held July 29. 1520. La santa Junta â— in the Chapter of the Cathedral Church and in the middle of the Commissioners was placed a little Form whereon sate a certain Cloth-worker named Pinilles with a wand in his hand whose Office was such that no Commissioner durst offer to speak one word till by pointing to him with his stick he had given him the signe But this Junta was presently after removed to Tordesillas in Leon for Juan de Padilla having marched out of Toledo with two thousand men which were increas'd with other forces from Madrid and other places and relieved Segovia by making Ronquillo retreat he then march'd to Medina del Campo where he was joyfully received and where Bobadilla the forementioned Cloth-worker in a furious zeal whisks out his sword and without any Authority at one blow cut off Gil Nieto an Alderman his head and had his body thrown out of the a Regimiento or Casa del Regimiento The house where the Citizens meet about the Cities affairs Town-hall Windows upon the Souldiers Pikes which stood below the reason was he concealâ—d the coming of Fonceca which he knew of From Medina Padilla marcheth to Tordesillas where the Queen-mother had been kept up for several years being held indisposed for any business by reason of her crackt brain To her he goeth and soothes her up so cunningly that she poor woman undertook to give him the Command of Captain General in that Kingdom and so she joyn'd her self to the Junta which she commanded to adjurn to Tordesillas which accordingly was joyfully obey'd and here they sat with her for the future The Emperour thinking to quiet all by taking away their exception from the Cardinal who was a stranger orders Don Inigo de Velasco Lord high Constable of Castile and Leon and Don Fadrique Enriquez Lord Admiral of Castile to be in joynt Commission and Authority with Adrian in the Government but all would not do The Junta having now the weak-brain'd Queen-Mother at their disposal lookt upon themselves as great enough to act any thing so they turn out those who were about her that favour'd the Emperour Then they send a Dominican Fryar to Valladolid who from the Pulpit of St. Maria la Mayor perswaded the people to seise upon the Kings Council there declaring it unfitting that they should sit in opposition to the holy Junta the Citizens at this were a little divided however they concluded that they themselves would not lay hands on the Council-Royal being of a dangerous consequence but if the Junta which they would not disâ—bey had a desire to have them they might send their own Souldiers and should have liberty to seise upon them From which time several of the Kings Council began to steal away The Junta informed of this answer sent Dr. Alonso de Medina a Francisean who being come to Valladolid desired the people to meet him at the Monastery of St. Francis where in the Pulpit he renew'd the old request that the Royal Council might be seised on and sent prisoners to Tordesillas telling them that there were souldiers without the City to act it To this the Citizens agreeing the next day Juan de Padilla enters the City with above a thousand men seis'd on all the Council he could finde with the Books of the Treasury and the Great Seal all which he carryed to Tordesillas Yet would not the Citizens let Cardinal Adrian be affronted whom they look'd upon as an holy and good man But he considering the unconstancie of the people thought good to consult his own safety for which endeavouring once publickly to withdraw himself the Citizens in a tumultuous manner stayed him and forced him to retire to his Lodgings whence not long after in a disguise he b Octob. 20. 1520. stole and went to Medina de Rioseco in Leon whither many of the Nobility went with their forces to wait upon him by which means he had gathered together a considerable Army and so was resolved for the future to put the trial to the Sword In the mean time the Junta was not idle having over-perswaded the crasie Queen-Mother Donna Juana to head and countenance them and appointed her a Council out of themselves to advise her which got them no small repute amongst the vulgar which was prest home to the purpose by the seditious Fryars And having thus constituted themselves Supreme they sent a large a Dated at Tordesillas Octob. 20. 1520 Paper of Propositions some of them very extravagant and pernicious to the Emperour to have him declare them as perpetual Laws but Charles needed neither such Governours nor Constitutions And now the sword must decide the quarrel the Junta raise men on all hands seiseth upon the Kings Revenues to pay them Proclaim the Lord high Constable and the rest of the Royalists Traytors and all their Estates forfeited wrote Letters to all the Cities and Towns of their faction to encourage them to Arms nay and sent to Don Manuel King of Portugal thinking to gain him to their party They chose b Whom they now began to call Duke of Medina Sidonia to which he pretended Don Pedro Geron one of a noble Family and of great Relations for their Captain General which did not a little displease Juan de Padilla Giron marcheth presently to Valladolid which receives him with joy and takes an Oath to assist the Junta for King and Commonalty like our Covenanting distinction King and Parliament the refusers of this Engagement were declared Malignants and laid open to Punishment Before we proceed any further let us take a short view of the troubles in the Kingdom of Valencia Before the Emperours departure the people there began to despise the Nobility and to confederate together It hapned that in the City Valencia two c Moores turn'd Christians Morisco's belonging to Don Ramon de Cardona passing along the streets the Trades-men began to jeer them and upon a reply fell upon one
he should have them although there be some Meditations on the Penitential Psalms carryed about under his name yet a wicked man may make a good Book as the greatest Rebels pretend the most Religion but that he did ever really repent I am not convinced because then they would have given him a better Epitaph besides the story of his death maketh him then as bad as ever But enough if not too much of this As concerning the foresaid William Thomas take as followeth 1544. He got into Italy 1547. He wrote the foresaid Dialogue at Bologna la Grossa 't is call'd b M S. B. 2. 7. in Bible Bâ—dl Oxon. le Pelegrine and never printed that I know of 1543. He finish'd his Italian Dictionary and Grammar at Padoa undertook at the desire and for the instruction of Mr. John Tamworth then living at Venice and was afterwards viz. 1567 printed by the appointment of Sir William Mildmay 1549. I meet with him return'd to London when and where he Printed his short but methodical History of Italy which was Reprinted 1561. He was made Clerk of the Council to King Edward VI. 1553. He designed the Murther of Queen Mary or c Jo. Bal. de Scriptoribus Appendix p. 100. Steven Gardiner Bishop of Winchester 155â— â— February 20. He was sent to the Tower of London February 26. He had almost kill'd himself by thrusting a Knife under his Paps 1554. May 9. He was arraigned and condemn'd at Guild-hall May 18. He was drawn from the Tower to Tyborn and there hang'd headed and quarter'd 'T is said that he was an intimate with d Parsons thâ—ee Câ—nversious of Engl. paâ—t 3. pag. 220 221. Christopher Goodman that enemy to the Rule of Women and a fiery Puritan and no doubt that Thomas was too much warp'd that way and one of more misguided zeal then true Religion or Wisdom He translated some Books out of Italian and besides those Printed wrote a Tract call'd The Common Place of State for the use of King Edward VI discoursing whether it be expedient to vary with the time which with several other of his Writings may be seen in Sir Robert Cotton's e Sub Effigie Vespasianâ— D. 18. Library And so much of King Henry and his Champion William Thomas To this King succeeded Edward VI a most vertuous and hopeful Pâ—ince but too young to correct the villanies of the Grandees about him who loved the Churches better then they loved God yet a Reformation of Religion was carryed on which so vext some in the North that they took up Arms to restore Popery though to no purpose But those in the West were more stubborn especially the Devonshire and Cornish men who form'd themselves into an Army besieged Exeter which bravely defended it self against all their power and spight Nor would their Holy Zeal render them victorious though as a means to be so they march'd into the Field with a Crucifix under a Canopy which instead of an Altar was set in a Cart accompanied with Crosses and Candlesticks Banners Holy-Bread and Holy-Water to drive away the Devils and dull their Enemies Swords as Speed wordeth it And though they fought fiercely against the King his Commission and good Subjects yet they could conclude their demands or rather commands with an Item We pray God save King Edward for we be his both body and goods And this way of canting is always used by all other Traytors who the higher they run into Rebellion declare themselves the better Subjects In short though these peoples cause was bad enough and were soon quell'd yet a De Schism lib. 2. pag. 260. Sanders will not let them pass without some Papal holy Water being true Romanists and Father b Three conversions of Engl. part 2. pag. 594 619. Parsons will not allow them to be faulty because forsooth they fought for the Roman Religion as if to take up Arms for any Religion against their true and lawful Soveraign were warrantable for if so every Opinion and Phanatick will be its own judge and carver so that there will be no end of Wars and Bloudshed yet every man in the right at least the strongest can do no wrong however not commit Treason according to the too-much-practis'd Rule thus wittily condemn'd by Sir John Harrington Treason doth never prosper what 's the reason Epigram § 5. For if it prosper none dare call it Treason CHAP. II. A Vindication of Queen Elizabeth ANd now we come to the prosperous Reign of the so much famed Elizabeth in whose time England was in the heighth of its Glory and Repute being as an Umpire to the whole World flourishing at home and victorious abroad but prudent Cecils and vigilant Walsinghams are not always to be had and so we must be content with our decaying Lawrels And here by the by because a De Schism Aâ—gl lib. 3. pag. 319. Sanders and other Romanists are pleas'd to render her as the worst of all women-kinde I shall take the boldness to say something in her Vindication the better to confute her former Revilers and to satisfie the more ignorant somewhat in her behalf Her Piety and Religion have been celebrated by many Pens her Learning and skill in variety of Languages was admired by her greatest Enemies Besides her English b Arghâ—â—ium Praeâ—a § Elizabetha Christopher Ocklande whose Books were once order'd to be read in all Grammar-Schools will tell you of six other Languages she was perfect in Elizabetha piis primos imbuta per annos Moribus sophiae studiis instruct a sacrata Doctrina linguae Latiae Graiaeque perita Linguas Europae celebres intelliget omnes Quid Teuto Hispanus Gallusve Italusve loquatur Mr. c His nine Worthies pag. 282. Thomas Heywood one who loved to write concerning Women concludes thus of our Elizabeth Chaste Virgin Royal Queen belov'd and fear'd Much on the Earth admir'd to Heaven indear'd Single and singular without another A Nurse to Belgia and to France a Mother Potent by Land sole Soveraign of the Main Antagonist to Rome the scourge of Spain Though she was excellently skill'd in all manner of Needle-work was admired for her neat Dancing was very skilful and knowing in Musick playing well upon divers sorts of Instruments yet these and suchlike little pleasures could never call her thoughts from her Subjects good and the care of Government d La. Epist â—â—urmiâ— Roger Ascham speaks wonders of her ingenuity and knowledge and he had as much reason to know her as any but these you may say were English-men and so bribed by their birth-right though this with some of her Enemies is no Rule But should we run to all her Commendations beyond Seas we might be endless a Poet. Ital. vol. 1. pag 79. Cornelius Amaltheus a zealous Italian Romanist cannot withhold his Muse from her Encomiums b Poet. Germ. vol 5 pag. 827. Laurentius Rhodomanus is as earnest in his Anagrammatical mode
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
The same Afternoon he began to write the Speech as near as he could remember Which done he commanded Mr. Warmington one of his Chaplains and two other his Gentlemen to write out Copies thereof which he afterwards presented to the Cardinals his friends for which they thank'd him and upon perusal affirm'd it to be the very Oration which Sixtus had utter'd in the Consistory And as his Chaplain confesseth it is said the Pope liked his doing therein acknowledging it to be really his Speech And all this the said * A Modeâ—ate Deâ—â—â—â—â— p. 148. Mr. William Warmington Chaplain to Cardinal Allan and an honest and loyal Roman Priest doth publickly confess and testifie And so we need trouble our selves no more about it since Bellarmine at last doth in a manuer acknowledge it and falls a vindicating of it Amongst the rest who in these troubles set themselves to scrible down obedience was an Englishman viz. William Reynolds then in the Low Countries under the Spanish Dominion what he writ on this subject was by the desire of some of the chief French Covenanters and under the false name of * His book was calâ—'d De justa Christianae Reipub. in Reges impios Haereticos autoritate Guillielmus Rosseus Mr. Warmington sent a Copy of the Popes speech from Rome to him for which Reynolds returned him many thanks glad that he had so got the approbation of the Roman Bishop to vindicate his Arguments of a Conditional subjection of whom I hope by the way will not be taken amiss this following story as we find it This Mr. William Reynolds was at first a Protestant according to the Church of England and of New College in Oxford and Brother to him was John Reynolds him of Corpus Christi College in Oxford famous for his great Reading who was bred up in Popery beyond Sea William as the story goeth with an intent to reclame his brother John makes a journey to him beyond Sea where in a Conference it so fell out that John as they say being overcome by his Brothers Arguments returns into England and as people use to love and run into extremes was a little teâ—â—ing to Puritanism as his siding in Hampton Court Conference may somewhat testifie yet he died a true Church of England man every way conformable to the Canons nor was he ever but peaceable and moderare loving obedience and his studies more then frantick zele and innovations according to the giddy fury of our hot-headed Puritans On the other side his brother William as they say being convinced by the reasons of his brother John staid beyond Sea where he proved a violent and virulent Papist by his writings declaring that Protestants were no better then Turks nay that they were worse then Pagans Of this strange change Dr. William Alabaster an excellent Poet and one who had made trials also of both Religions made this following Epigram Pella inter geminos plusquam civilia fratres Traxerat ambiguus Religionis apex Ille Reformatae fidei pro partibus instat Iste reformandum denegat esse fidem Propositis causa rationibus alterutrinque Concurrere pares cecidere pares Quod fuit in votis fratrem capit alteruterque Quod fuit in fatis perdit uterque fidem Captivi gemini sine captivante fuerant Et victor victi transfuga castra petit Quod genus hoc pugni est ubi victus gaudet uterque Et tamen alteruter se superasse dolet Which is thus rendered by the Ingenious Doctor Peter Heylyn Cosmogr l. 1. p. 267. In points of Faith some undetermin'd jars Betwixt two brothers kindled civil wars One for the Churches Reformation stood The other thought no Reformation good The points propos'd they traversed the field With equal skill and both together yield As they desir'd his brother each subdues Yet such their fate that each his Faith doth lose Both Captives none the prisoners thence to guide The Victor flying to the vanquish'd side Both joy'd in being conquer'd strange to say And yet both mourn'd because both won the day I have been the longer upon this William Reynolds because he was a great stickler in the French Covenant after the murther of the King coming from the Netherlands to Paris where he vindicated their actions by finishing his former book and dedicating it to the Duke of Mayenne and it was sometimes after printed at Antwerp with great applause of the Roman Party CHAP. VII Cardinal Bourbon declared King by the Leaguers Paris besieged and its Famine relieved by the Duke of Parma HENRY III. a little before his death declared Henry of Navarre to be next Heir to the Crown of France desir'd all the Nobility so to acknowledge him and advised him himself to turn a Romanist as being the onely way both to gain and continue without danger in the Throne And some will tell us of some prophetick observations in behalf Andre du Chesne les Antiquitez de France p. 109 632. of the Family of Bourbon As how Louis de Bourbon the third Duke of that Line who died 1410 building his house call'd Hostel de Bourbon near to the Louvre caused to be written over the Portal in Capital Letters this word ESPERANCE viz. Hope as if he expected some of his Race would ascend the Throne and joyn the two Houses And 't is further observed that in the fine Chapel of Bourbon l'Archambaut de Lys that the same day that the former Henry was stabb'd a clap of thunder whisketh away a Bar which cross'd and touch'd the said window without any damage or harm to the Glass or Painting But leaving these guesses as nothing to our purpose we shall find our Henry IV. no more call'd Navarre but King in great perplexities how to behave himself at this mishap For though the Huguenots freely acknowledged him as King of France yet he was not to trust too much to them lest he should offend the Romanists some of whom shewed also a willingness to allow him for their King without any conditions but the greater part absolutely denied it unless he would assure them to maintain the Roman Religion and give hopes of his own Conversion whilest others of them absolutely renounced him and presently ran over to the Leaguers By which jealousies and Factions this conquering great Army was on a sudden so dwindled away that the King was necessitated to raise the siege and retire for his own security On the other side the Covenanters rejoyce and daily increase many of them persuade the Duke of Mayenne to take upon him the Title of King but this for the present he waveth as thinking his own Interest as yet not strong enough and so with a general consent of the Leaguers old Cardinal Bourbon then in prison at Chinon is declared in their Paris Parlement and publickly proclam'd in the streets of Paris King of France under the names of CHARLES the TENTH coyning their moneys with the Effigies Name and Title of
or that Crown * 15 Jan. Affirming that to think that the Priviledges of the Gallican Church extendeth so far as to admit of an Heretical King is the dream of a Madman and an Heretical Contagion That those who had acknowledg'd Navarre had forgot the Piety of their Ancestors the Reputation of their Countrey and the safety of their souls their salvation being desperate That Navarre had violated all Laws both divine and humane And that the Parliament of Paris is a true and lawful one and so perswadeth them to proceed to an Election To these the King returning Answers endeavoring to clear himself from their Accusations not forgetting also to shew what a favour he had for the Roman Religion And though the death of the Duke of Parma had been no small Hindrance to the Spanish designs yet now Lorenzo Suarez de Figuerâ— Duke of Feria cometh Embassador to manage the Interest of that Crown at the meeting of the States several at this time aiming at the Throne and every one not despairing of their Cause or Interest The Spanish daughter Izabella Clara Eugenia the Dukes of Guise Lorain Nemours and Mayenne having all hopes In short the States-General meet at Paris in the Great Hall of the 26 Jan. Louvre amongst the rest of the Drolleries of these times nothing took more then a Book call'd Satyre Menippee or le Catholicon d'Espagne Composed in abuse of this Convention * Debit Pret. Belg. Tom. 3. p. 339. Justus Lipsius will have a fling at this Book but the greatest honour it received was from Rome where their Wisdomes there as if they had nothing else to do did many years after very gravely call it to remembrance and at last thought it fit to pass under their * 16 Mar. 1621. vid. Ind. Expurgat Alexandri VIII p. 218. Censure of Reprobation The prose of it was made by the Almoner to Cardinal de Bourbon the Verses were composed by Nicholas Rapin commended by * Poet Gall. vol. 3. p. 165. Johannes Passeratius * Ib. p. 420 421. Scavâ—la Sammorthanus with others and Rapin himself hath some * Ib. p. 204 c. 28 Jan. Poems out in Latin The States being met as aforesaid Mayenne King-like sitteth under the Cloth of State desiring them to choose a Catholick King an Enemie to Heresie which was seconded by others The next day at a private meeting the Legat moved that at the next Sessions of the States all should take a solemn Oath never to acknowledge Navarre for their King though he should turn Romanist but this was quashr at the Proposal as to swear against the Popes Authority suppose he should turn and his Holiness command him to be received The next day the Romanists with the King with his consent send Propositions to the States for a Treaty with them at which the Legat stormeth affirming the Proposal to be Heretical and so not fit to be Answer'd Cardinal Pelleve and Diego d'Ivarra one of the Spanish Agents agreâ—ing with him but this was opposed and because the Paper was directed to all the States 't was judged fit to be communicated to them which so netled the Legat that he got the Colledge of Sorbonne to declare it Heretical as intimating a declared Heretick might be King and ought to be obeyed Yet the Proposal is shewn to the States a Conference with the Royal Romanists is consented to but in their Answer they had this odd Conclusion That to oppose an Heretical King is not Treason The place agreed on is Surenne between Paris and St. Denys and Persons are nominated on both sides In the States the Spaniards carried high for the Infanta many seeming willing to it for interest-sake but when they named Ernest Arch-Duke of Austria the Emperors Brother for her husband it was rejected as not fitting to give the Kingdom to a stranger The Spaniards smelling the design offered to admit of a French Prince to be married to Philips daughter which took pretty well Guise Nemours Lorain and Mayenne his sons each of them hoping to be the Man and King Nay some who seem'd to be the Kings Friends and Allies as Cardinal Bourbon Count de Soissons the Prince of Conti with some others began to hearken to this Proposal every one fancying to make the Crown his upon which conceits they were not so earnest in the Kings Cause and Interest as they seem'd to be The King perceiving that the Authority of the Pope was one of his greatest Enemies or Pretences had a great minde to have him pacified to which purpose he formerly had the Republick of Venice and Ferdinando de Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany to use their interests in his behalf at Rome and to further it had also been sent Cardinal Pietros de Gondy Bishop of Paris and the Marquess de Pisani in the name of the Romanist with the King upon the same Errand But the Pope commanded them not to enter into the Ecclesiastical Territories as being Favourers of Hereticks well-Wishers to Navarre with whom they had presumed to speak and treat to which some Reasons and Excuses being returned the Pope at last permits them to enter Rome And at last the King himself gave fair Signes and Proffers to the Conference at Surenne not only of his being willing to be instructed in the Roman Religion but as it were ready to be of it This amazeth the Covenanters to the purpose the Legat protesteth against the Conference as dangerous that they could neither treat with nor admit of a peace with Navarre being a declared Heretick and that if they did either he for his part would quit the Kingdom and this he publish'd in Print that every one might take notice of it Nor were the Spaniard less concerned who fearing the Kings Conversion would make haste and be excepted of thinking to spoil it Nominates the Duke of Guise for Husband to the Infanta shewing it was so in his Instructions At this Mayenne is stung to the heart nor could he so much dissemble but his thoughts were perceived however he thanks them for their kindness to his Nephew and desires time till things were better prepared But this Nomination being known the Embassadors Nobles Citizens and every one flock to pay their service to Guise and give him joy his Palace is fill'd himself cried up and now they vapour of a new Kingling * Charles de Guisâ— Charles XI At all this the Dutchess of Mayenne is mad she frets storms and weeps three days and not able any longer to endure she falleth upon her troubled husband with Sighs Exclamations Threatnings and Railings jearing him as one that hath lost all his labour and pains if he who had hitherto borne the brunt must at last only thus truckle to his young Nephew The Duke also thus perplext to see himself as it were laid aside puts many into young Guise his head demands strange and exorbitant Conditions of the Spaniard for performance yet thinking
〈◊〉 Fâ—â—t â—â— them H buâ—lt them Câ—llâ—gâ—s â—lso at other 〈◊〉 Clermont and all others calling themselves of that Society shall as corrupters of youth disturbers of the common peace and enemies to the King and State within the space of three days after the publication of this present Decree depart out of Paris and other Towns and places where their Colleges are and fifteen days after out of the Kingdom upon pain wheresoever they shall be found the said term being expired to be punished as guilty of the foresaid crime of High Treason Also the goods as well moveable as unmoveable to them belonging shall be imployed to charitable uses and the distribution and disposing of them to lie as shall be ordain'd by the Court. Furthermore hereby are forbidden all the Kings Subjects to send any Scholars to the Colleges of the said Society which are out of the Kingdom there to be instructed upon the like pain and crime of High Treason c. Du TILLET 29 Decemb. 1594. This Decree against Chastel and the Jesuits was so ill resented at Rome that it was some years after there * 9 Nov. 1609. Index Expurg edit Alex. vii pag 205 condemned amongst other books which they look'd upon as Heretical in number of which was also the famous Thuanus And we are * Jan. de serres an 1609. told that Bellarmine was so nettled at the learned Bishop Andrews his Tortura Torti that he was the great stickler in procuring the former Ceusure Thus were the Jesuits who as Davila confesseth were the first Authors and continual Fomenters of the League banished the Kingdom though since they have been restored the Pyramide pull'd down and a Fountain erected 1604 in its stead As for the Pyramide Chastel the Decree against the Jesuits and the Kings Tooth one did thus endeavour to reconcile all Sire si vous voulez du tout a l'advenir De l'Assassin Chastel oster le souvenir Ostant la Pyramide l' Arrest qui la touche Qu' on vous remitte done une dent dans la bouche Sir if for th' future you will have forgot The murth'rous Chastel and the trait'rous Plot Th' Pillar and th' Decrees that th' Jesuits stain Destroy then let them tooth your mouth again And the King himself when told that Chastel was a Student amongst the Jesuits did give them this biting blow * Memoirâ— du Sully Tom. 1. p. 270. It seems then it is not enough that the mouths of so many good men have testified that the Jesuits were none of my friends if they be not also convinced of it by mine own mouth and bloud now shed The truth is upon Chastels * Mem. dâ— la Ligue vol. 6. Jes Cat. fol. 205 Davila p. 1332. confession more then once that he learned this King-killing Doctrine from the Jesuits their College of Clermont was searched by Order amongst which in the Study of Father Jean Guignard born at Chartres were several Writings found praising the murther of the late King persuading the killing of this c. of which take his own words That cruel * i. e. Hâ—nry III. Nero was slain by one Clement and that Counterfeit Monk was dispatch'd by the hands of a true Monk This Heroical act performed by James Clement is a gift of the Holy Spirit so termed by our Divines is worthily commended by the Prior of the Jacobins Burgoin a Confessor and Martyr The Crown of France may and ought to be transferred from the House of Bourbon unto some other And the * Henry IV. Bearnois although converted to the Catholick Faith shall be more mildly dealt withall then he deserves if rewarded with a shaven Crown he be shut up in some strict Covent there to do penance for the mischiefs which he hath brought upon the Realm of France and to thank God that he hath given him grace to acknowledge him before his death And if without Arms he cannot be depos'd let men take Arms against him and if by war it cannot be accomplished let him be Murthered This Guignard being tried confest the book to be of his composing is condemn'd and suffer'd yet have they pictur'd him amongst the Martyrs attributed Miracles to him though * Response al' Antâ—eotou c. 1. p. 32 33. Adrian Behotte a little more modest is unwilling to hear any more of him as if he were guilty By Order also was Jean Gueret another Jesuit Teacher of Philosophy and Confessor to Chastelet banished and his goods confiscated Chastel having learned Philosophy under him for two years and an half in which time he had heard such Principles of King-killing asserted And it cannot be denied but that the Jesuits College was bad enough in these Leaguing times At the first breaking out of Troubles they instituted at Paris a Brotherhood esteeming it a Congregation in honour of our Blessed Lady and it was commonly call'd The Congregation of the Chapelet because the Brethren of that Company were to carry a pair of Jes Cat. sol 198 199. Beads to say them over once a day Of this Fraternity the Zelots of the League had themselves enrolled as Mendoza the Spanish Embassadour the Sixteen and several others This Congregation was kept every Sunday in an upper Chapel on Saturdays they were confest on Sundays they received the Sacrament when Mass was done a Jesuit stept into the Pulpit exhorting them to be constant in the Cause This done the Common sort departed the Grandees staying behind to consult about the affairs of the League of which Council Father Odon Pigenat was a long time President being one very zealous and fiery In the School of this College one Alexander Haye a Scotchman was Regent of the first Form for three or four years of the Troubles being a furious Covenanter and a great Corrupter of the Youth He read to his Auditors Demosthenes his Invectives against Philip of Maeedon where by his Glosses he made good stuff against the King affirming it a commendable act to kill him by which blessed Deed the Actor could not fail of Paradice and be exempted from the pains of Purgatory Nay so zelous was he against the King that he openly protested that if the Bearnois should enter the City and pass by their College he would leap frâ—m the highest window thereof upon him thereby to break the said Henry's neck being firmly persuaded that this fall would also carry himself into Heaven That day that the King went first to St. Denis to hear 〈…〉 Haye understanding that certain of his Auditors had been 〈…〉 the Ceremony the next day he forbad them his Lectures as â—â—â—communicated persons forbidding them to enter his School till they had been absolved by some of the Jesuits from that horrid crime When the people began to talk of Peace with the King he commanded one of his Scholars to declame against it but the Orator seeming rather to be for Peace Haye storms at him makes him come down calling him Heretick
Venetians smiling to see on what little things some fond people would build a Submission or Conquest And it may be upon this Rumour or some such idle Report some Historians do say that they did receive Absolution But in this History I find most reason to rely upon the Credit of Father Paul One of the most famous Pen-Champions that the Venetians imploy'd in this Quarrel was the said learned and judicious Fryer of the Order of the Servi commonly known by the name of Father Paul of whom a word or two by the by He was born at Venice M. D. LII He naturally addicted himself to his book whereby when young he gain'd great Reputation so that William the famous Duke of Mantoua intertain'd him as his Chaplain in the year M. D. LXXIX he was created Provincial of his Order which he executed without partiality he went and lived some time at Rome where he got acquainted with the best his parts making him known to Pope and Cardinals as well as others Being return'd to Venice he followed his studies close and in all manner of learning was so excellent that all Strangers that went â—o Venice desired his acquaintance upon which he was foolishly accused by the Court of Rome as a Company-keeper with Hereticks At this time the Order of the Servi was in some trouble by reason of their Protector Cardinal Santa Severina who against all right or reason was resolved to make one Gabriel Collison General of the Order being thereto perswaded by his Briberies the whole Order opposed this and herein Father Paul was a little ingaged but carried himself with great discretion and moderation But at last Gabriel was made General and a seeming peace was made When the late Quarrel began between the Pope and the Venetians they chose Father Paul to be one of their chief Assistants who by his solid reasons staggerd the Papal Pretensions which so concern'd the Pope that he would have had the Father brib'd from his Duty to the Commonwealth but this failing other designs were set on foot Gaspar Schoppius a man well known for his railing and pernicious principles of Government freely told Father Paul that the Pope had long Hands and might reach him but wisht rather to have him alive at Rome and the Father was by several great Personages informed that Plots were laid against his Life but he trusting to his Innocency neglected his Security But this confidence might have cost him his Life for one Evening in the Street at Venice he was assaulted received two wounds in his Neck and one in his Face entring at his right ear and passing through the Jaw bone and out again betwixt his Nose and his Cheek and the Stelletto was left sticking in the Villain not having strength enough to pull it out The number of these Assassins were five who having a Gondola ready got presently to the House of the Pope's Nuncio then resident in Venice thence in a flat Boat with Ten Oars and well armed prepared for the purpose they departed that night towards Ravenna Being now in the Papal Territories they were secure and vapour'd of the Fact and were nobly received at every place at last they got to Rome where they were well also entertain'd with assignation of Entertainment And here they staid some time till the world cryed shame that such abominable Villains should be sheltred and entertain'd from Justice by his Holiness upon which the Pope was forced for Honour sake to order their departure out of the City yet had they some Allowance granted them but so small in respect of those Glories they expected that they became mal-content so that at last every one of them came to an evil end But to return to Father Paul he was had home to his Monastery the most famous Physicians and Chyrurgions in those parts imploy'd about him so that after some time he perfectly recovered to the joy of the whole Senat who by publick Proclamations took order for his future Security assigning him a Guard increase of Stipend with a House at St. Mark 's at the publick Charge But the Father desired to be excused from all such state cost and trouble resolved to continue in his Monastery amongst his Brethren of the Order The Senate perceiving this to be his earnest desire gratified him but caused some building to be added to his Chamber from whence by a little Gallery he might have the Commodity to take Boat the better to avoid Treachery in his returns sometimes by night from the publick Service Seeing the Senat had thus carefully provided for his security so that there was danger to use any more force some other designs were set on foot 1609. Fra. Antonio da viterbo who served as an Amanuensis to the Father was solicited to make him away with a Razor which he might conveniently do considering his intimacy and the great trust the Father put in him or if not this to poyson him Antonio refused to act this wickedness himself especially to such a good Friend and Patron but would afford his Assistance if others would be the Actors So at last it was concluded that he should take the Print in Wax of his Keys which he should deliver to another Fryar Giovar Francisco whom Fryar Bernardo the Favourite of Cardinal Borghese Nephew to the Pope had imploy'd about this thing by which means having Counterfeit Keys they might send in some Ruffians or Bravo's to murther the Father But some Letters of this Plot by chance being taken there was enough discovered to have Francisco and Antonio seised on Francisco was condemn'd to be hang'd but had his pardon by a full discovery of the whole design and delivering unto them all the Letters concerning this black Plot what great Personages were in this action is not known the Councel of Venice thinking it best to conceal them for the Honour of Religion To tell all the Attempts against him would be tedious these are enough and against him it was that the Court of Rome bent all their spight he being an Enemy to the prop of all their Greatness viz. their Usurpations and Authority over Temporal Princes and his Reasons obtain'd him the greater ill-will from that Bishop because they seem'd to be favour'd by other Potentates The Pope fearing that in time other Territories might follow the Example of the Venetians And when his Coercive Authority is once despised he will remain but a weak Governor within the narrow Limits of his Churches Patrimony which may render him incapable of preferring his Favourites abroad and the Interest thus gone the Splendor of his Seat will fail and the Glory of his idle and wasting Courtiers will be eaten up by the more thrifty Citizens Thus their Charity to themselves made them the more violent against the Fryar Paul though he acted nothing but what became the duty of a good Subject to his Prince and Country The Father hoped that the malice of his Enemies would vanish by degrees and
the fellow being found to be a meer Enthusiastick Fool declaring himself to be King of the whole world to have descended from Pharamond the first King of the Francks and affirming Henry to have Usurp'd the Kingdom of France from him Probably somewhat related to the Whimsies or Phanaticism of the American Doctor who believed he should be King and Dr. Mer. Casaâ—bon of Enthusiasm ch 3. p. 104. 105. 108. Edit 2. Pope too or the Italian Foot-boy who fanciâ—d himself a Monarch the Serving-man who thought himself a Pope or the Italian Groom who held himself for Emperor and accordingly to his poor Capacity would take such state upon him Upon this foolish or madman's attempt on the Kings person the Monsieurs Mâ—tin and Malherbe then noted Poets in France have composed some * vid. d'espinella le Parnasse des Poetes Francoses Tom. 1. fol. 33. c. Tom. 2. fol. 218. c. Verses But passing by these with a latter one mentioned by the careful Duke * Memoires Tom. 3. pag 478. du Sully and other Contrivances to involve that Kingdom in Rebellion I shall hasten to the Murther of that great Monarch which in short was thus The King in his Coach with others going to visit his great Confident the Duke of Sully then indisposed in the Arsenal being come to the year 1610 Street La Ferronnerie or Ironmongers which was then very narrow by reason of the Shops built against the wall of St. Innocent's Church-yard and a Stop being made to his Coach by two Carts one laden with Wine the other with Hay At this Stop one Francois Ravaillac took Laur. Bouchel Hist de la jusstice crim tit 11. ch 14. the opportunity to thrust himself neer the Coach and setting one foot upon the wheel and the other against a Shop-stall so advanced himself that with a knif prepared for the purpose he murdred him with two or three stabs before the mischief was perceived Of this Murther thus discants * les Trophees de Hen. le Grand § 103. Pierre Matthieu the Kings Historiogapher and Councellor Il ne plus faut nommer Henrys les Roys de France La Mort par deux Cousteaux un Esclat de Lance A tue trois Henrys L'un joustant a Cheval L' autre enson Cabinet le tiers en son Carosse Cinq Roys du nom de Jacques ont fait croire a l'Escosse Qu'il y a dans les noms quelque secret fatal Let 's no more name Henrys for Kings of France Since Death with two Knives and one shivered Lance Three Henrys kild one Tilted through the Eye In 's Chamber one the last in 's Coach did dye The death of * Five Scotch James may advise Four more truly That in some Names some Fatal Secret lyes Who were the Contrivers of this horrid Fact is not as yet that I know of fully divulged though wisemen suspect that there was more in it than the malicious thoughts of such a Varlot whose obscurity was such that the King could not have any way offended him any way disingaged or have provoked him to such a mischief but that the Devil and a false zeal of Religion will instigate a man to any mischief 'T is true the King at this time had an Army of above Forty Thousand men ready for some grand design and he himself within a few days was to go and head them in his Intended Exploit but whether this great expence of men and money was only to regain the Beautiful Princesse of Conde who with her Husband had privately fled into Flanders to avoid the Kings immoderate Love as Cardinal * Hist Relat. Fland. p. 13â— c. Bentivoglio is pleas'd to assert Or to obtain the Division of Christendom into XV. Dominions according to the strange Model laid down by the Duke of * Mem. Tom. 4. Sully and some others from him I shall not undertake to Determine seeing others will not by any means allow that the Kings Intentions Plots and Designs are yet any way * Quo Consilio Rex bellum susceperit quem potissimum sinem intenderit quam metam quosve limites armis proposuerit ut incertum est et incompertum hactenus sic inane perscribere et lucem ex fumo et umbra captare Joan. de Bussieres Hist Franc. vol. 4. pag. 482. known or discovered But 't is certain the Spaniard was amazed at these great Preparations of the King and thought it fitting to strengthen himself in Flanders and the Pope and Spaniards did not use to separate Interests besides Gregory XV. had been very earnest to perswade the King from any more Arming but to little purpose And it may be here not unworth the Observation that whilst the King was raising this great Army there was a large * Mem. du Sully Tom. 3. pag. 360. and Hist de la vie de Monay du Plessis pag. 337. Book secretly kept in France by some Considering Priests in which many did subscribe their fidelity and Obedience to the Pope and what else I cannot tell but this we are assured that the Book was half written through and a great part of those Oaths and Signatures signed and subscribed in blood As for Ravaillac he had formerly been a Monk then throwing off his Frock had for some time taught a Petty-school but it seemeth Profit not coming in fast enough by that Trade he threw himself upon the Law turning Solicitor or Petty fogger He had formerly been a stickler in their Solemn League and Covenant and as appears kept some of its Leven yet in his heart and so a zealous Disciple to the Pope and this it seemeth was no small furtherance of him for what ever the Kings designs were Ravaillac was fully perswaded that the aim of it was to ruin his Holiness and the Roman Religion boldly alledging in his Examination this for the cause of the Attempt * Parceque faisant la guerre contre le Pape c'estoit la faire contre Dieu d'autant que le Pape estoit Dieu Dieu estoit le Pape Procez Examen Confessions c. du Francois Ravaillac pag. 39. Is Casaubon Epist ad Eront Ducaum pag. 14. Andre Favyn Hist de Navat pag. 1292. Because said he making war against the Pope is the same as to make war against God seeing the Pope was God and God was the Pope That there were more than one Contriver of this Murther needeth no doubt seeing the general Bruit which fore-ran it and the great confidence or rather certainty his Enemies had of it of both which the Words and Testimony of the present Arch-bishop of Paris are observable His Enemies were then in a profound silence which possibly was not caused Hist Hen. le Grand p. 3. only by their Consternation and fear of the Success of his Arms but out of the Expectation they had to see succeed some great Blow in which lay all their hopes It must needs
I know Loyalty which thus occasion'd his misfortune and death to the shame of his Persecutors But that Book which then made the greatest noise was call'd Anti-Coton which was smart and in the main spoke to the purpose though some mistakes might happen in it through too much haste however it put the whole Order of Jesuits into a flame and hurry every one endeavouring to quell this unknown enemy But certain it is it had been better for their Reputation if Father Cotton had not given occasion to such a Reply by his Letter which did them more hurt than good For those Romanists who vapour with the Council of Constance and brag that they maintain nothing contrary to it may like the shearing of hogs make a great noise but get little Wool or Reputation for as on one hand they may declare a Council to be above a Pope for which his Holiness will give them little thanks so on the other they cannot expect any Credit or Approbation from Temporal Princes seeing one may be as great a Traytor as Clement or Chastel and yet not contradict the cry'd up Canon of this Council The sum of all this goodly Rule being only thus much No Tyrant that is a * Greg. de Valiant Tom. 3. disp 5. 9. 8. p. 3. lawful King ruling Tyrannically ought legally to be slain by any one of his Subjects or Vassals by any clancular means being sworn to him * Non expectata sententia vel mandato judicis cujuscunque without sentence or Command of some some judg or his Superiors And this is all the great business that so many of them have pleaded their Loyalty with The main of all being that they stick close to the Council of Constance and with it will declare That it is lawful for a private man to kill a wicked King without command from his betters which hath so little Pith or Sence as to the main business True Allegiance that possibly most King-judgers or killers might think they never broke such a Canon and so not condemned by such a Council As for Father Cotton a French man he was of a subtil Head-piece cryed up by his Order both for his Sanctity and Learning but the command of his Tongue Courtship and Carriage were his best Friends by which he got to be the Kings Confessor and thus setled in his Favour he knew well enough how to keep himself there yet others think his writings more to consist of words than matter and that his real Sanctity though some will appropriate as it were Miracles to him was no better than his Neighbours Anti-Coton accuseth him of betraying the Kings secrets and the Duke of * Memoires Tom. 3. ch 29 pag. 290 c. Sully proved to the King that in that he was guilty Pope * Sâ—nnâ—rt l. 6. part 9. c. 8. Nicolas V. gave leave to a Friend of his so far to consult the Devil that one witch might kill another that thereby his acquaintance might obtain his former health and it may be upon this Example Cotton made use of the Devil or Demoniack to enquire concerning the life of the King and several other affairs which may be seen at large in * lib. 132. Thuanus and * Tom. 3. p. 56 57. Sulley And it was a close and biting Anagram which was made upon this Father and it may be reflecting upon the Order PIERRE COTON Anagr. PERCE TON ROI * i. e. Stab your King In short none was more intimate with the King than he none had more power over him than he none could make him do or undo sooner than he whether through real love or policy I know not insomuch that some Deputies of Rochel once presenting a Petition to the King his Majesty was pleas'd to return them this Answer That he could not hear them then for his ears were stopt with Cotton Hence it grew into a Common jest in France upon any repulse from the King or denial of access * les Oreilles du Roy sont bousches de Cotton The Kings ears are stopt with Cotton Upon which and the Kings familiarity with him using much his Company and to take him into his Coach as also alluding to the suspition of some that this Father kept Correspondency with Spain revealing thither the Kings Secrets this following Pasquin flew about Paris Le Roy ne scauroit faire un pas Que Le Pere Cotton l'accompagne Mais le bon Prince ne scait pas Que le * signifieth cunning crafty as well as fine fin Cotton vient d'Espagne The King cannot go any where But Father Cotton sticks to his ear Yet the good King doth not attain That the pure Cotton comes from Spain As concerning the Kings murther some of the Leaguers or his Enemies thus long before it hapned wish'd or foretold it Dum sequeris solium Regis fraudesque Navarre Tesequitur Regis sors violenta tui Since thou wilt grasp Valois his Crimes and Lands Thou shalt be slain like him by bloody Hands The Jesuits as formerly hinited upon the attempt of Chastel had been banished the Kingdom of France nor might they probably have any real hopes of a Return seeing the Lawyers the Universities especially the Sorbonne the Common-people most of the Nobility the Religious of other Orders and their Parliament had declared positively against them Nor will some think that the King himself had really any good will or affection for them though he was willing of a Reconciliation with them the better to secure himself as was supposed from his Answer to his great Favorite de Sully who perswading him from their re-admission being as a foresaid banish'd was thus answered by the King Give me then security for my life In short be the reason what it will the King would by his power maugre all Opposition have them restored and had and not only made the Arrest or Decree of Parliament against them be recall'd but to ingratiate himself the more had the Marble Pillar or Pyramide formerly mentioned upon his wound by Chastel pull'd down permitted them to the regret of the University of Paris to teach again gave them places of honour about him and that nothing might be wanting on his part to oblige them he built them a stately Colledg at la Flesche in Anjou in which Town some supposed he was first conceived and lastly to the said Colledg he bequeath'd his heart which upon his Murther the Jesuits receive and carryed in great Pomp and State to the said Colledg his body was buryed at St. Denys At the carrying away of his Heart 't is said that one some think the chief President de Harlay cunningly ask'd some of the Fathers Whether the Kings Tooth which Chastel struck out were not likewise inclos'd in the Box with the Heart and carryed too However upon the Jesuits having the Kings Heart this following biting Pasquin was made and with others flew about the world En fin
end if it had not been by the instigation of their zealous Priests and Jesuits though born Subjects such as were Father Archer White Ractor Mulrony Leinagh c. Mahonne O Dullany a Priest Edward Raghter a Dominican A Continuation OF THE HISTORY OF THE Romish Treasons AND USURPATIONS BOOK X. CHAP. I. Divers Plots against Queen Elizabeth and King James Rawleigh's Designs against King James The Life of Father Parsons THIS Century might afford us several dismall Contrivances against the Crown and Prosperity of Great Britain but of some I shall but slightly touch as being commonly known and in others I must not be too critical and open lest I should offend against Sir Walter Rawleigh's Prudential Rule Not to follow Truth too near the heels lest she should kick back and strike out my Teeth And here I might speak at large of the several Designs as well of Puritan as Papist to hinder King James from his true succession to the Crown of England as sometimes endeavouring to make him odious to Queen Elizabeth to prevent her declaring for him as by telling her of the King's intimacy with Clement VIII which they endeavoured to year 1599 make out to her by a Letter of his to the said Bishop a thing had it been true might not have deserved such a Censure as Deprivation seeing the Pope may be as civilly treated with as other Potentates a thing not to be denied by any but an Impertinent Puritan or an Irrational Enthusiastick But they hoped that her Jealousie of Religion augmented by her Age and some Expressions in the Letter might perswade her to make Mountains of Mole-hills and in such a pet to declare some other to the Crown which as some hoped might have brought such troubles upon the Kingdom that in the hurry a Romanist might have slipt himself into the Throne to which so many pretended But she was too wise to be cheated by such Toys presently she perceiving the drift she suspected the cheat And a meer forgery it was in respect of King James though his knavish Secretary Balmerinoch * Propenderet animo ad Religionem Romanam Rob. Johnston Hist Rerum Brit. p. 448. one warping towards Popery had given some ground for such a story For he by the Instigation of his Kinsman Sir Edward Drummond a Romanist had penn'd a Letter to the said Clement VIII in favour of the Bishop of Vaison a Scotch-man for his preferment to a Cardinalship which by shuffling in among other Letters to be signed the King had hastily a dangerous oversight where are knavish Secretaries set his hand to the other sealing it with the Royal Signet entrusted to him by his Office Queen Elizabeth by the by challenged King James with this But he protested his Innocency by denying any such thing so did James Elphingston Lord Balmerinoch who also got Drummond to forswear it Raleigh and other Enemies to the Scotch Title could then proceed no farther though they had used such Interest at Rome as to get a Copy of it which they shew'd to the Queen as the Original and she to Mr. David Foulis the King's Agent who satisfied her Majesty by proving to her by the Testimony of her Stationers that the Date of the Letter was older than the stamp or mark of the Paper whereby it could not be the Original and so might be a Cheat as well as a Copy But afterwards * Mat. Tort. pag. 47. 1608 1609. Bellarmine retorting this Letter to the King Balmerinoch was farther examined and tried who confest all was condemned of Treason and as a Traytor to be beheaded but by Queen Ann's Intercession was pardoned A man he was of good Parts but especially knew how to filch pilfer and embezel Church-Lands and if it should be possible for a covetous man as he was to be honest yet 't is certain that he who robs God and the Church can never be a Friend to the King but for his own Interest Queen Elizabeth is now old and weak cannot live long so 't is needless to attempt any more against her Person whose death they daily expected and it might anticipate their quickest Designs No man's right and succession to the Crown is so much fear'd as that of King James and therefore to prevent Him must be the main Care and Contrivance There was one Francis Mawbray Son to the Laird of Barnebowgall who had lived some while in the Infanta's Court at Bruxels he they year 1601 say undertook to take this rub out out of the way by killing the King to which purpose he intends for Scotland but taketh England in his way At London one Daniel an Italian Fencing-Master discovers the Plot to the Queen she for a further trial hath them both seiz'd on and sent into Scotland Mawbry supposed guilty is cast into Edenburgh Castle whence thinking one night to escape out of a Window by his Bed-sheets which proving too short he fell upon the Rocks and so dyed his Body was hang'd for some time then quartered and fixt upon the Gates and several places of the City This failing another Design is in hand In Italy Ferdinando I. the Grand Duke of Tuscany by the intercepting of some Letters discovereth a Plot to take away King James his Life by Poyson The Duke who had formerly been a Cardinal moved with the Fame of the King's Learning and Virtue and it may be had some hopes of his Conversion upon the former false Letters resolved to discover and prevent it At this time Mr. Henry Wotton sojourned in Florence and was well acquainted year 1602 with Signior Vietta the Duke's Secretary upon whose Commendations Wotton is pitched on to be the Messenger The Letters and excellent Antidotes against Poyson such as were not then known in Scotland were delivered to him who disguised under an Italian Garb and Name of Octavio Baldi hasteth to Scotland cometh to the King discovereth himself and the Conspiracy and after some stay returneth to Florence He was afterwards Knighted by King James and famous for his Learning Languages and Embassies In these Designs against the King's right to the Throne Pope Clement VIII was not wanting who intended the Crown for some of his Friends Card. D'Ossat Let. 191. 268. 272. And perceiving that some in England were tampering to promote the Interest of the Lady Arabella in this case he thought it best to deal warily He had a mind that the Duke of Parma should enjoy the Crown but this upon better thoughts he supposed would not be feasible by reason that Arabella's Interest might be too strong And therefore Parma being married he casts another way about and thinks upon Cardinal Farnese younger Brother to Parma who being unmarried might be wedded to Arabella and so did not question by their joint Forces and Interests to carry the Crown To carry on this business nothing was thought more convenient than to unite all the Romanists in England that their Cause might not suffer by any dissentions amongst