reward that is reserued for you you will commaund that a Synode may bee gathered Another part of the office of a Prince is saith he Confirmare custodire in concilijs 〈◊〉 which thing hee proueth by diuerse auncient authorities and concludeth that Emperours haue euer had this authoritie Hee saith that in this thing hee had made diligent search and had found this practise continued in all generall Councels vntill the eight Synode inclusiuely In which search saith hee I finde by the acts of all generall Councels aswell in Chalceon as in Constantinople Nice Ephesus that either the Emperour was present in person or some iudges his Vicegerents and those not aboue twentie seldome fifteene but when the Emperour himselfe was present in person I finde saith he that hee was alwayes Presedent of the Councell no other secular Prince hath right to be present in the Councell sauing the Emperour Vnlesse the Emperour appoint some to be present but being present they haue no voice in the Councell but may sit onely to heare this he proueth by that testimony of Ambrose in the cause of faith Bishops are the iudges and not the Emperours 61. And whereas this auncient Iurisdiction of Princes was so disordered by the Pope that by Papall intrusions and incroachments the Princes had well-nigh lost their right and temporall Iurisdiction turned into spiritual Iurisdiction of this he much complaineth and openeth the true cause of all this disorder to be in the insatiable couetousnes of the Court of Rome for thus he saith Rabidus appetitus ad ipsa terrena Ecclesijs annexa Dominia Episcopis ambitiosis hodie inest c. de temporalibus omnis cura de spiritualibus nulla Non fuit ista intentio Impâ—…ratorum non volebant spiritualia à temporalibus absorberi c. dum vacant Ecclesiae semper in periculo schismat is existunt c. Si perelectionem prouidendum est ambitio procurat diâ—…isionem vâ—…torum Si per curiam facilius persuadetur pro plus offerente omnia illâ—… grauamina adueniunt pauperibus subditis curia attrahit quicquid pingue est id quod Imperium contulit pro Deicultus bono publico ordiâ—…auit sanctissime auaritia cupiditate exorta palleatis rationibus nouis adinuentionibus totaliter peruertitur Imperiale efficitur Papale spirituale temporale That is Such a rauenous appetite is in ambitious Bishoppes at this day toward the temporall Dominions annexed to Churches c. all their care is for the temporalties not for spirituall matters this was not the meaning of Princes they meant not that the spirituall labours should be deuoured by temporalties c. Whilst the Churches are vacant there is alwaies some danger of a schisme c. If they proceed by election ambition procureth a diuision of the voyces If by the Court he that bringeth most is best heard and soonest preuaileth And all these greeuances come vpon the poore subiects whatsoeueris fat and rich the Court of Rome draweth to her selfe and that which the Empire as well for the worship of God as for the publicke good hath conferred vpon the Church and ordeined to an holy end all is vtterly peruerted through filthy couetousnesse and certaine painted reasons and new inuentions are deuised to colour it And thus the Imperiall right is now made Papall and temporall right is made spirituall Then these be the obseruations of the learned men of the Church of Rome long before vs that the Pope had intruded vpon the Emperours right now what soeuer the Pope had once practised that must be called spirituall Thus the Iurisdiction of the Emperor being once by cunning or force wrested from the Emperour being found in the Popes hand it was presently called spirituall Iurisdiction as he doth most truely obserue Imperiale efficitur Papale spirituale temporale 62. By all which we find the iudgement of this man to be directly against the Popes pretensed Iurisdiction and for the right of temporall Magistrates when we finde the Cardinals of the Church of Rome to write thus before the time of the contention and before M. Luther was borne wee are not so much to consider their priuate iudgements in these things as the receiued iudgement of the Church wherein they liued that is the Church of Rome from the iudgement of that Church they departed not but in these things do faithfully deliuer vnto vs the iudgement of the same Church standing against the iudgement of the Pope and his Court consisting of Friars and flatterers Thus we see the cause of the Reformed Churches throughly iustified by this learned Cardinall their separation from the Pope and the Court of Rome warranted because the Pope hath first made the separation from the profession of Saint Peter and from the faith of holy Scriptures and the idugement of auncient fathers In which case he granteth that the Church may depart from the Pope and thereby doth iustifie the separation that is made §. VII Aeneas Siluius 63. AT this time wrote Aeneas Siluius afterward called Pope Pius the second he hath written a booke of the actes and proceedings of the Councell of Basil from which I will note some things wherein the iudgement of this man may appeare concurring with the iudgement of the Church of Rome in his time but repugnant to the Pope and his flatterers First handling that Text Tues Petrus super hane Petram c. he saith thus A quibus verbis ideó placuit exordiri quod aliqui verba hâ—…c ad extollendam Rom Pontificis authoritatem solent adducere sed vt statiâ—… patebit alius est vâ—…rborum Christi sensus That is With which words I thought good to begin because some vse to alledge these words to extoll the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome but as it shall soone appeare there is another sense of Christs words Who are they who in the iudgment of this man do peruert the words of Christ Let the Iesuites aunswere and let them giue vs some reason able to satisfie a man of reason why that cause should not bee helde damnable which is condemned by their owne writers their Bishoppes their Cardinals their Popes Let them not tell vs that this Pope Pius was of another mind afterward when he was Pope and before he was Pope he might erre but after he was once Pope he could not erre these bee plaine collusions of them who write such things and illusions of such as beleeue them For it is not possible that any man should write or speake or thinke such things from conscience Shall I thinke that any learned man can thinke in conscience this to bee true that the Pope cannot erre when I heare the testimonie of the Church so full against it When I heare such as come to be Popes refute it before they come to that place When I heare such as haue beene in the place exclaime in the extremitie of desperation that no man in
this power coactiue though they had vsurped many parts thereof 18. A third reason to prooue this authoritie to bee in the Ciuill Magistrate is as I teached before confirmed by the right of Appellations For in matters of coactiue Iurisdiction a man might appeale from the high Priest to the King as Saint Paul did to Caesar which was vtterly vnlawfull for him to doe vnlesse he might as lawfully haue appealed to a King if that state of Israel had then beene ruled by a King as at other times it was For that right which Saint Paul giueth to Nero to heare Appellations he would vndoubtedly yeeld to Dauid or Ezekâ—…as or any other godly King in his owne Dominions Wherefore it followeth that either Saint Paul must be condemned for yeelding an vnlawful power to Emperors or Kings must haue the same priuiledge which thing being admitted in matters Ecclesiasticall doth inuincibly prooue the Kings Iurisdiction in such matters The same thing is also confirmed from those words of the Apostle he is the minister of God and he beareth the sword If the Magistrate be the minister of God then he hath full authoritie and Iurisdiction from God whose minister and vicegerent he is if he beare the sword hee hath all power coactiue for coactiue power doth alwayes follow tâ—… sword which God hath giuen to the Ciuill Magistrate to beare Therefore Ioh. Chrysostoâ—… saith Regi corpâ—…ra commissa sunt sacerdoti animâ—… reâ—… maculas corporum remittit sacerdos maculas peccatorum illâ—… cogit hic exhâ—…rtatur ille habet arma sensibilia hic arma spiritualia Hâ—…m 4. de verb. Esa. vidi dom Then the true difference betweene the Magistrate and the Priest concerning this point is Ille cogit hic exhâ—…rtatur so that coactiue power is left wholy to the Magistrate Ambrosâ—… likewise speaking of the authoritie of the Church and of Bishops saith Coactus 〈◊〉 nâ—…n noui arma enim nostra preces sunt 〈◊〉 â—…at iâ—… Auxâ—…t where he declareth the difference betweene these two powers leauing nothing to the Church but preces 〈◊〉 wherin there is no coaction In which sense Thomas Aquinâ—…s faith vindicta quae fit authâ—…ritate publicae potestatâ—… sâ—…cundum 〈◊〉 iudicis pertieet ad iusticiam commutatiuam 2. 2. qu. 8. art 1. Therefore vindicatiue power or coaction belonges not to the Church but the Magistrate that exerciseth coâ—…utatiue iustice 19. In regard of which high power Princes are called Gods I haue said you are Gods And because an aduersarie of late hath told vs that this name is giuen aswell to Ecclesiasticall gouernours as to Kings we reply that it cannot be shewed that this name is giuen to Ecclesiasticall gouernours but either where such gouernours haue receiued authoritie from the Ciuill Magistrate or where themselues are the chiefe Magistrates so that it is a name giuen in respect of Soueraigne power For to manifest the Soueraigne emmency of the Prince compare the Prince and Priest togâ—…ther and by this comparison wee shall euidently know the truth for we find the Prince called a God not onely in respect of the people but in respect of the Priest also Where the Lord himselfe speaketh to Moses of Aaron comparing their power and offices together he saith thus He shall be thy spokesman vnto the people and he shall be as thy mouth and thou shalt be to him in stead of God In this comparing of these two great offices Moses is the directour Aaron the interpretour and preacher Where the Prince or Soueraign Magistrate is called a God not onely in respect of the people as in diuers other Scriptures but in respect of the Priest thou shalt be to him euen to Aaron as a God We find then that the Prince is called a God in respect of the Priest but we can neuer find that the Priest is called a God in respect of the Prince This declareth a Soueraigne authoritie of the Prince in matters of God and of Gods true Religion For he who by his office is to establish true Religion in his dominions doth heerein represent a liuely exâ—…mple both of the goodnesse and power of God and therefore Magistrates are called Gods as being Gods Vicegerents for establishing of true Religion 20. And this our Sauiour Christ confirmeth for whereas Psal. 82. They are called Gods I haue said you are Gods Our Lord expoundeth that place declaring in what sense they are so called For he saith If he called them Gods vnto whom the word of God was giuen and the Scripture cannot be broken c. Then the Magistrates who are here called Gods are such to whom the word of God is giuen For further declaration of the truth let this question be demaunded to whom is the word of God principally giuen to whose Soueraigne custodie is the word of God committed The words of our Sauiour Christ containe an aunswere to the Ciuill Magistrate For it is certaine that all that Psalme whence Christ taketh those words is wholly and intirely vnderstood of the Ciuill Magistrates and not of Priests or Ecclesiasticall gouernours Why then and is not the word of God giuen to Ecclesiasticall gouernours aswell as to Kings Yes verily but diuersly for to Ecclesiasticall gouernours the knowledge of the word is giuen to publish by preaching For the Priests lippes shall preserue knowledge and they shall seeke the law at his mouth for hee is the messenger of the Lord of hostes Then if the question be asked to whom is the word giuen by the way of knowledge to preach and publish it The answere is to the Priest but Christ speaketh not here of that manner of giuing the word but he toucheth that Commission which is giuen to Magistrates For to Magistrates it is not giuen by way of especiall knowledge to preach it but by way of an especiall commission to keepe it to establih it by authoritie to command obedience vnto it and to punish the violatours of it This is the authority of a Christian Prince for he hath called them Gods to whom the word was giuen Whom hath hee called Gods Ciuill Princes for of such onely of such that Psalme speaketh Why are they called Gods Because they are Gods vicegerents by their authority to establish Gods word Therefore they are acknowledged to bee custodes vtâ—…insque tabulae for which cause it was an ancient ceremony in the Church of Israel that at the Kings Coronation the Booke of God should be giuen into the hand of the King as we read in the Coronation of Ioash Which thing is confirmed by a commaundemant in the Law why was this thing so solemnly commanded so religiously preached but to shew that God hath committed the care of Religion principally to the King that by the vtmost of his power and authority it might be established in his Dominions 21. This doth proue that Moses was a Prince and not a Priest and Aaron a Priest but not a Prince because Moses
successe for fire shall come downe from God out of heauen and deuoure the enemies Vnto which seruice there is nothing so effectuall to animate the princes of Christendome as is this new and strange claime of the popes Iurisdiction ouer princes which thing because it is so much pursued by the Popes and their flatterers and onely by them as the great marke whereunto they addresse all their attempts and the very summe of all their Religion therfore I haue endeuoured to open the whole to distinguish the parts and to set this question in such a light as I could if not to satisfie all yet at least to giue an occasion to the iudicious I was desirous to leaue no part vntouched that all might come to a triall and am ready also withall to bring my selfe to the triall willing to learne and to amend any error after that it shall be manifested by the truth to bee an errour for which cause I submit all to the iudicious and godly censure of the Church My care was also after my seruice to God to performe herein a true seruice to his Maiesty by opening the Iurisdiction of Kings which I haue done not as they vse to doe who serue the Pope respecting no other rules of that seruice then his pleasure and their adulation but I haue disputed the Kings right with a good conscience from the rules of Gods word knowing that the noble disposition of his Maiesty will admit of no seruice whereby God or the truth is preiudiced All which as I commend to your Graces fauour and protection to whom God hath committed the care of his Church here so with my hearty prayers I commend your Grace to the faâ—…our and protection of God who inrich your heart with his plentifull graces that as for your proper comfort and direction you may enioy them so you may vse them to the glory of God and the comfort of his Church through Iesus Christ. Your Graces to be commanded in all duety GEORGE CARLETON An Admonition to the Reader IT may bee thought strange that so many are found to write in this contradicting age one contrary to another the trueth cannot bee on both sides and therefore there is a great fault on the one side the Reader that is desirous to trie where the fault is may be intreated to marke with aduised obseruation some things wherein our aduersaries wanting either knowledge or sinceritie haue broken all the rules of right writing to deceiue such as cannot iudge of which sort the greatest part consisteth I doe therefore intreat the Readers especially such as reade my Booke with a purpose to answere it to consider these things wherein we challeng our aduersaries for euil dealing in this particular Controuersie First In setting downe our opinion they make it not that which we hold but another thing and then make large discourses in vaine they should vnderstand our cause as we deliuer it for we deuise not their opinion but take it out of their owne bookes especially from the Popes Canons Secondly when they would refute vs they bring their owne Canon law which was deuised in preiudice of the freedome of Princes and is our aduersarie and therefore cannot bee our Iudge Thirdly When they produce the testimonies of ancient fathers the abuse for which we challenge them is that they will not vnderstand the question for the fathers write for the spirituall Iurisdiction of the Church aboue Princes which thing we neuer denied But against the coactiue Iurisdiction of Prinees in matters Ecclesiasticall which thing we hold the Fathers neuer wâ—…ote but they are for it If these things were faithfully obserued as they are all peruerted in this cause by one that termeth himself the Catholick Diuine and if the truth were sought with conscience and not preiudice maintained with resolution men would neuer presume so much vpon the simplicitie of the Readers nor in the confidence of their wit and learning would they suffer themselues to be set to the maintenance of any cause whatsoeuer Let me farther intreate him that would aunswere me to enter into this short and serious meditation with himselfe thus Either my purpose is to serue God for the truth and then I may looke for a blessing vpon my labours or else to serue man though against the truth and then I may looke for a curse vpon my selfe and my labours let this Meditation rule thy pen and heart I aske no more Last of all let me intreate thee of curtesie to amend the faults escaped in printing with thy pen thus P. 2. Lin. 10. Or some others superfluous p. 13. l. 2. as superfluous p. 14. l. 29 for more read meer p. 22. l. 28. the superfluous p. 30. l. 15 for teached r. touched p. 52. marg r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 73. l. 28 r. against the infringers of the priuiledges of the Sea Apostolick p. 85. l. 19. therto superfluous p. 98. l. 27. full superfluous p. 105. l. 8. r. M. Luther p. 107. l. 2. r. M. Luther p. 108. l. 16. r. M. Bucer p. 108. l. 20. r. M. Antonius Flam. p. 109. l. 10. r. M. Chemnicius p. 195. l. 19. Deposed by Pope Stephen r. deposed or his deposition allowed by the consent of Pope Stephen p. 198. l. 4. for the Bishops r. some Bishops p. 211. l. 11. for opportunelyr opportunity p. 228. l. r2 some report the poyson to haue beene giuen in the bread and some in the cup. p. 229. l. 31. for great r. greatest p. 234 l. 15. for Frederic r. Lodouic p. 234. l. 22. for Rhenes r. Rense p. 234. l. 27. for Rhenes r. Rense p. 236. l 19. generall superfluous p. 250. l. 28. r. adhaerentium adhaerere volentium p. 262. l. 21. for ver r. viri p. 272. l. 18. for chusing r. choosen p. 272. l. 22. for to r. in p. 279. l. 30. no supeâ—…fluous p. 294. l. 16. for cultus r. cultu OF THE IVRISDICTION OF PRINCES IN Causes and ouer Persons Ecclesiasticall CHAP. I. The state of the Question THe lawfull authoritie and Iurisdiction of Kings in matters Ecclesiasticall is now and hath beene for some ages heeretofore much impugned by such who by vsurpation hauing incroached vpon the right of Kings seeke by all subtill and colourable deuises to maintaine that by skill and some shew of learning which they haue gotten by fraud All this mischiefe proceedeth from the Bishop of Rome who vsurping powre and taking to himselfe that honour whereunto God hath not called him hath brought all authoritie Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill into great confusion by vsurping the right both of the Church and of States Now our desire being to open the truth and to declare the lawfull right of Princes and power of the Church it seemeth needfull first to set downe what power is giuen to the Pope by them that flatter him so shall the right of the King and of the Church better appeare 2 They yeeld to the Pope a fulnesse of power as they
Sigebert the twelfth Councel of Toledo remembred this thing as we haue declared and before that Councell Hincmarus and before Hincmarus Gregory the first witnesseth that it was a custome in his time so auncient that the contrary had neuer beene heard of vnder any Christian Princes Then if we should adâ—…it that Sigebert had beene silent yet the right of Princes in this thing is sufficiently proued against the Pope 50. But let vs heare what the Cardinall can say for himselfe We must needes examine his proofes because diuers other doe rest vpon his iudgement and deliuer it peremptorily that Sigebert hath deuised this tale and that there was no such thing in truth Because the Discourse of Baronius is long I will gather his reasons and will leaue out nothing materiall that hee hath brought for himselfe First he telleth the Reader that when he hath heard all the matter he wil be forced to crie out O Scelus O impostura O Frauâ—… I suppose that this will proue true in the end that when the Reader hath heard all he will exclaime O villany O kâ—…auerie O cousenage But why For saith 〈◊〉 Sigebert perceiuing that he could not proue this by former Historiographers what did he Forsooth in the fauor of a schismaticall Emperour who challenged Inuestitures he thrust into his Chronography by fraud these wordes Postea rediens Carolus Papiam câ—…pit it erumque Romaâ—… redijt Syâ—…odumque constituit cum Hadriano Papa alijsque 15 3. religiosis Episcopis abbatibus in qua Hadrianus Papa cum vniuersa Synodo tradidiâ—…â—…i â—…us eligendi pontisicem ordinandi sâ—…dem Apostolicam dignitatemque patritiatus Insuper Archiepiscopos Episcopos per singulas prouincias ab eo inuestituram accipere definiâ—…it vt â—…isi à rege laudetur Inuestiatur à nemine consecretur Is it any rea son that a man who for almost fiue hundred yeares hath alwaies beene reputed an honest man should now be called by a passionate Cardinall a Knaue Was there euer any man before Baronius that put this imputation vpon Sigebert His memory in all ages since hee wrote hath beene famous for his learning grauity wisedome and integritie Sigebertus borum temporum sâ—…riptor saith Aâ—…entinus speaking of those times wherein he wrote vir alioquin etiam vt quisqÌ„ illa tempestâ—…te esse poterat omnis diuini humâ—…nique iâ—…ris consultâ—…ssimus That is Sigebâ—…rt a writer of these times a man most skilfull in all humane and diuine Law as any other whatsoeuer that could be found in that time Then it is not likely that he should now be found vnhonest that in so many ages hath passed for an honest man And if the testimony of others that witnesse with him the same thing be sufficient to cleare him he will be cleared by a great Iury and a firme verdict 51. Frosard writing the French Storie and collecting the actions of Charles the great out of the ancient Stories of that nation and where can the actions of the French Kings bee better knowne then by the Stories of that nation saith thus Charles came to Rome at the request of the Pope and there kept Easter And before he went away there was a Councell of one hundred fiftie and three Bishoppes and Abbots there Pope Hadrian by the consent of all the Councell gaùe him the honour to chuse the Pope c. and that Archbishoppes and Bishops should hold and haue their Seas by him Functius hath the same storie Huldericus Mutius witnesseth as much Sabellicus saith Hadriano autore decretum vt Carolus rex qui opâ—…imè esset de Romana 〈◊〉 Italia meritus Pontificem lâ—…geret c. Par illi potestaâ—… de patritiatâ—… dando de Episcopis prouinciatim eligendis vt omnia demum irrita haberentur nisi quae Carolus probasset Walthramuâ—… Bishoppe of Naumburg saith Hadrianus Papa collaudantibus Romanis plâ—…na Synodo c. Carolo M. eius successoribus c. sub anathemate concessiâ—… patrâ—…tiatum inuestituras 〈◊〉 I must entreat the Readers patience For I am forced to cite these witnesses only for the iustifying of Sigebert which otherwise might haue beene spared if Baroniâ—…s had not brought Sigebert as it were to holde vp his hand at the barre vnreuerently raking vp the ashes of the dead disquieting the graue of a man that â—…as buried with honour and hath resâ—…ed so many ages without disturbance vntill the profane hands of Baromus light vpon his graue It would be a matter of iust reproofe and reprehension in vs not to be as courteous to the dead as they are cruell against them not to be aâ—… carefull for preseruing antiquities as they are to deface all aâ—…cient monuments that stand against them not to be as resolute for the truth as they are impudent to maintaine fâ—…lshood I must therefore proceed in producing witnesses who liued some since that time and some before that 〈◊〉 testimony may be iustified his honesty cleared and that tâ—…e world may see by what strong faction and passion Histories are now written to defend the Popes Iurisdiction by defacing all ancient records that stand against it 〈◊〉 de Babenberg hath written a booke de iâ—…re Regâ—…i Imperij Româ—…ni in which he hath the same story that Charles came into Italy at the request of Pope Hadrian that Hâ—…drian graunted inuestitures to Charles in a Synod held at Rome â—…asciculus temporum written by Rollewinkins Warner saith likewise of Hâ—…drian Iste Hadrianus c iâ—…s Carolo super ordinatione sedis Apostolâ—… institutione Episcoporuâ—… Abbatum c. in 〈◊〉 alâ—… concilio dedit Marsilius Patauiâ—…s in diuers places doth witnesse the same thing but more expresly in his booke dâ—… translatione Imperij where he saith thus Tune Hadrianus benefiâ—…ijs temporalibus dicti Principis allectus 153 Episcoporum Abbatâ—…m concilium Râ—…ma congregauit ibique cum vniuersa Syâ—…odo dedit ei ius â—…c And so declareth the same thing that inuestiâ—…res were confirmed to Châ—…rles Rodulohus de Columâ—… writeth a booke of the same argument wherein he witnesseth the same thing The Story which is called Registrum mundi written by Hartmâ—…s Shedell saith that Charles went from the siege of Pauy to Rome Pascha in vrbe celebrare constituit assumptis seâ—…um 〈◊〉 Abbatibuâ—… c. inde Synodum habuit Mat Palmerius speaketh to the same purpose Ranulphus in his Polychronicon saith likewise Hadrianus concilium 〈◊〉 in vrbe Roma cum Cl. patribus 〈◊〉 Caâ—…lo cui concessum est tunc ius inâ—…lectione Rom. Pontificis ordinandi sedem Apostâ—…licam c. To the same purpose speaketh Martinus who is intituled Papâ—… Primarius Capellanus 〈◊〉 in speculo Historiali hath the same narration at full of the siege of Papia of Charles his comming to Rome of the priuiledges graunted to Charles by Pope Hadrian in a councell among which inuestitures are expresly named 53. Nauclerus
so that we are not to looke for any helpe from this Edition Baronius hauing done his lust vpon it and so many eyes watching and handes working to see that nothing may come to light which may disproue that which Baronius hath once with such confidence vndertaken But these workes of darkenesse though neuer so cautelously handled will be found out and bring shame vpon the workers For Platina witnesseth that Anastasius Bibliothecarius wrote this that Pope Hadrian yeelded this right to Charles the great His wordes are these Bibliothecarius scribit Lodouicum liberam eligendorum Episcoporum potestatem Paschali 〈◊〉 cum antea â—…a quoque in re Imperatores consulerentur quam potestatem ab Hadriano Pontifice Carolo concessam idem autor refert That is Bibliothecarius writeth that Lodouic graunted to Pascalis the free choise of Bishoppes when as before that time the consent of the Emperours was required in this thing which power the same author Bibliothecarius declareth that Pope Hadrian gaue to Charles Then we are certified that Anastasius wrote it And though this late Printed Anastasius haue it not yet that dooth not impaire our cause but our aduersaries and dooth testifie before God Angels and men the execrable impietie of them who like Giants fight against God and truth expunging and defacing auncient Records Then Platina assureth vs that Anastasius wrote it and therefore Sigebert was not the first reporter of it 57. Theodoricus de Niem doth also witnesse that this same narration was transcribed by him out of an auncient Copie written so long before his time that for age the Bookes and places where they were kept were almost consumed hac scripta reperiuntur saith he iâ—… antiquissimis Bibliothecis poene praenimia vetustate consumptis In which Bookes he found it written thus Carolus rex ingressus Italiam Papiam obsedit c. Post haec reuersus est Romam vbi constituta est sancta Synoduâ—… a beato Papa Hadriano in Palatiâ—… Lateranensi videlicet in Ecclesia sancti Saluatoris qua reuerendissiâ—…è celebrata est ab 153. viris religiosis Episcopis abbatibus c. ab vniuersis regionibus ordinibus almae vrbiâ—… â—… cuncto etiam clero huius sanctae Rom. Ecclesiae exquirentibus usus leges â—…res eiusdem Ecclesiâ—… imperij Where the same testimony for Inuestitures followeth at large This mans credite hath not beene called in question for ought that I could finde and there can be no reason to except against him being the Popes Register or in some chiefe place vnder him for writing And the better to declare the truth and fidelity of this man it is worth the obseruing that he hath with exact care recorded where he found these antiquities naming the place where these bookes might haue beene seene of all men at that timâ—… when he wrote for before his booke he writeth thus Incipit descriptio de Inuestitura Episcopatuum regum Teutonicorum ex quodam antiquissimâ—… libro Florentino per me Theodoricum de Niem Litâ—…rarum Apostolicarum scriptorem abbreuiatorem reperto dum Dominus Papa Iohannes 23. illiâ—… cum curia sua resideret fide liter extracta sequitur de verbo ad verbum prout in dicto libro videbatur scriptum 58. This man then liuing in the time of Iohn the three and twentieth being the Popes Register or Secretary or in some such office dealeth faithfully For this extreame impudencie was not then knowen in the world which is now so much practised in the Court of Rome We haue also declared from the testimonie of Nauclorus whom Iohn Reuclin a man so much reuerenced for learning in his time did so much reuerence for fidelity and diligence as appeareth by that Preface which the same Reuclin hath set before Nauclers historie that this question of the Emperours right for Inuestitures came to a hearing and examination betweene Henry the fift Emperour and Pope Paschalis the second where the Emperor shewed records proouing for three hundred yeares before his time the custome of Inuestitures to haue beene continued from Charles the great On the other side for the Pope there could nothing be shewed but Synodale decretum Some decree which Hildebrand or some Pope after him did make Moreouer vpon that Canon of Gratian which before we cyted there is reference to Iuo Carnotensis Lib. 8. de Election Rom. Pont. So that it seemeth that Iuo also wrote this before Gratian. Howsoeuer it be we haue witnesses enow to proue Sigebert an honest man and yet haue wee iust cause to exclaime O sâ—…lus O impostura O fraus For when we finde the mouth of antiquity stopped the testimonies of approued writers partly reiected as impostures only because they make against the Popes Iurisdiction partly expunged by sacrilegious hands and malicious and cruell hearts that the truth by all meanes may be defaced and falshood adored and maintained by a generation framed and fashioned to vanity and vntruth appearing with the countenance and haire of women that is of Harlots for their impudency with the teeth of Lions for their cruelty with the tailes of Scorpions for their stinging and expunging of auncient Authours leaning the Markes of their poysoned strokes in all bookes which they handle haue we not then iust cause to exclaime O profound villany O admirable cousenage O Antichristian imposture drawen from the depth of Sathans pollicies And what could make Baronius so confident to assure that none before Sigebert wrote thus but a sure confidence and repose in the expunging of Anastasius And yet hath he not so expunged that Authour but that the true markes of that Narration remaine still in his booke as presently we shal declare But behold into what wretched times we are now fallen for we cannot write for the truth without feares least we should by conuincing falshood giue an opportunity to falsifiers to worke more falsly For who can warrant vs that this which we haue produced shall not hereafter bee cleane expunged out of these Authors that no memory in antiquitie may remaine against them And when they haue corrupted all auncient Recordes and their posterity shall triumph in the wickednesse of their Fathers then our hope is that Christ from heauen will shew himselfe and will not suffer that Kingdome long to indure which standeth vp by no other supporters then falshood and vngodlinesse These outragious practises against the truth cannot but raise vp the spirits of GODS children to an earnest longing and expectation of Christs comming to deliuer his truth out of this captiuity and filthy prison wherein vnrighteous men seeke to holde it downe suppressed 59. Baronius proceedeth and telleth vs that Eginhardus saith that Charles came but foure times to Rome then Baronius laboureth to proue that this thing could not be done at any of those times We answere It is enough for our purpose if Charles came but once to Rome for all those Authours which I haue cyted doe proue that this was
Iurisdion And was hee trow you a Lutheran verily so was the Church in his time for he doth deliuer not so much his owne priuate iudgement as the iudgement of the Church in his time and in the times before him For he saith it was the iudgement of all that liued and died in the Church before him 〈◊〉 mortuoruâ—… that the Pope is to be iudged by the Church by a Councell and that therefore the Councell is aboue the Pope This faith he is the opinion of all that liued and died in the Church And yet hee knew well that Friars and flatterers had before his time maintained the contrary but these he regarded not because the Church then regarded them not they were but of base and vile accompt in respect of the Church and so much the more vile because against the iudgement of the auncient Church against the rules of interpretation against honestie and conscience they had drawen some textes of Scripture to maintaine this Papal Iurisdiction These are they whom these learned men call 〈◊〉 miserable and wretched soules who will not vnderstand that all this which they bring for the Popes Iurisdiction is nothing but the vain words of the Popes themselues or of their flatterers 67. Now seeing the Pope with his flatterers hath much preuailed since this time against the expectation of these learned men must we not conclude that they haue herein made a departure from the Church that they are but flatterers who now follow the Pope that they were neuer accompted otherwise by the grauer sorâ—… of the Church of Rome that their opiâ—…ions are new and strange Thâ—…n with what countenance can the successours of Aenâ—… 〈◊〉 pâ—…t vpon vâ—… the imputation of heresie who follow the ingenuous free and sincere iudgement of the same Siluiuâ—… leauing these opinions whiâ—…h are confessed by him to be new fond straunge vnreasonable deuises of base flatterers and maintaining the 〈◊〉 truth which by the testimonie of these men alwayes continued in the Church This man with many moâ—… will be raised vp in the day of iudgement against this present generation consisting onely euen by the confession of their own Bishops Cardinals and Popes of the Pope and his flatterers forsaking the fellowship of the Church 〈◊〉 is the ground of their conscience For let me speake onely of this part of their religion which now I handle that is Iurisdiction and what ground can any man finde here whereupon he may rest his conscience Let them not bring vs an idle and impertinent discourse of their three conuersionâ—… which in good time by the grace of God will be reuâ—…rsed but let them come to the point and let them shewe in this particular what ground of conscience any man may haue to rest on for the Popes Iurisdiction which was crossed contradicted and inhibited by the auncient Fathers confuted by the learned men of the Church of Rome condemned by the Councell of the Church of Rome maintained by none â—…ut such as are thus notoriously branded with the ignominious titles of flatterers 68. And because the Pope and his flatterers for spâ—…aking of them I must vse this name and stile which so many writerâ—… of the Church of Rome haue vsed before me let â—…hem not blame me or thinke that I 〈◊〉 them I vse but the words of these other writers whom I haue cited These men I say being driuen in argument from all helpes hauing no meanes to answere the learned that disputed against them did vse to flie for helpe to these words of the Gospell Thou art Peter and to thee will I giue the keyes of the kingdome of heauen and I haue prayed for thee Peter that thy faith faile not and such like the same Author declareth that they did altogether abuse and peruert these places of Scripture against the sense of the wordes and against the expositions of the auncient doctors For thus hee saith Eâ—… quia huiusmodi dicta solutionem habent recurrunt statim ad Euangelium tu es Petrus tibi dabo claues regnicâ—…lorum rogaui pro te Petre ne deficiat fides tua duc in altum rete c. Quâ—… omâ—…ia hi homines miro modo sublimant expositionibus sanctorum doctorum omninò posthabuis That is And because these words conteining their reasons aâ—…e all answered they flie presently to the Gospell thou art Peter and to thee will I giue the keyes of the kingdome of heauen and I haue prayed for thee Peter that thy faith faile not and cast thy net into the deepe c. All which these men after a marueilous maner raise vp to extoll the Pope reiecting altogether casting behind theÌ„ the expositions of anâ—…ient doctors Then we haue one Pope full of our side for he assureth vs that this new strange wresting of these textes to aduance the Popes Iurisdiction standeth wholly against the expositions of the auncient Fathers Aenaeas Siluiuâ—… in the same booke speaketh much in the honour of the French Cardinall of Arles as an especiall admirer of his vertues Lodouicus Cardinalis Arelatensis saith he Uir omnium conâ—…tantissimus ad gubernationem generalium conciliorâ—…m natus That is A man of all other moâ—…t constant and one that was borne for the gouernment of general Councels One testimonie I would produce of this Cardinall and then wee haue three Cardinals for vs Cameracensis Cusanus Arelatensis This Cardinall in the mids of the Councell of Basil professed that the doctrine of the Popes Iurisdiction ouer generall Councels was a new doctrine and strange at that time in the Church â—…ardinalis Arelatensiâ—… saith he aiâ—… Eugenianos nuntios implesse Galliam qui 〈◊〉 doctrinam praedicantes authoritatem Romani Pontificis supra generalia concilia magnifacerent 69. After all this when we finde that Cardinall Bellarmine and the rest of the Friars and flatterers haue nothing to say for the Popes Iurisdiction but that which is condemned by these learned men as a newe and straunge doctrine in the Church haue no other reasons to maintaine this their new doctrine then the peruerting of these texts of Scriptures which distorting of Scriptures is expresly censured by the said learned men as standing against the naturall sense of the words and against the expositions of the ancient Fathers writing of those Scriptures when we find not one or two or a few but the cry of the whole Church against them who is able by any shew of learning to auoid our conclusion that they who thus maintain this Papall Iurisdiction are the followers of their forefathers that is onely Friars and flatterers And that we who denie this Papall Iurisdiction giuing to the Church on the one side and to Soueraigne Princes on the other side their proper distinct auncient rights respectiuely belonging to each of them are the followers and the children of our forefathers that is the true ancient vnchaunged Catholicke Church FINIS Iob. 7. 1. Uitruuius lib. 9. cap. 3. Caluin in Amos