decretals extravagants pontificals word for word as it is out of the said bookes heere alledged and quotted FOR as much as it standeth vpon necessity of salvation for everie bumane creature to bee subject to mee the Pope of Rome It shall bee therefore requisite nd necessary for all men that will bee saved to learne and know the dignitie of my Sea and excellencie of my dominion as heere is set foorth according to the trueth and very works of my owne lawes in style as followeth 2. First my institution began in the old Testament and was consummate and finished in the New in that my Preift-hood was prefigurated by Aaron and other Bishops vnder me were prefigured by the sonnes of Aaron that were vnder him 3. Neither is it to bee thought that my Church of Rome hath beene preferred by any generall Councill but obtained the Primacy onely by the voyce of the Ghospell and the mouth of the Saviour 4. And hath in it neither spot nor wrinkle nor any such like thing 5. Wherefore as other seats bee all inferiour to mee and as they cannot absolue me so haue they no power to bind mee or to stand against me no more then the axe hath power to stand or presume aboue him that heweth with it or the Saw to presume aboue him that ruleth it 6. This is the holy and Apostolick mother Church of all other Churches of CHRIST 7. From whose rules it is not meete that any person or persons should declyne but lyke as the Sonne of GOD came to doe the will of his Father so much yee doe the will of your mother the Church the head whereof is the Church of Rome 8. And if any other person or persons shall erre from the said Church either let them be admonished or els their names taken to bee knowne who they bee that swerue from the customes of Rome 9. Thus then for as much as the holy Church of Rome whereof I am governour is set vp to the whole world for a glasse or example reason would what thing soever the said Church determineth or ordaineth that to bee receaved of all men for a generall and a perpetuall rule for ever 10. Wherevpon we see it now verified in this Church that was foreprophecied by Ieremie Saying Behold I haue set thee vpover nations and kingdomes to plucke vp and to breake downe to build and to plant 11. Who so vnderstandeth not the prerogatiue of this my Preist-hood let him looke vp to the firmament where he may see two great lights the Sunne and Moone one ruling over the day the other over the night So in the firmament of the vniversall Church 12. GOD hath set two great dignities the authoritie of the Pope and the Emperour Of the which two this our dignitie is so much weightier as wee haue the greater charge to giue accoumpt to GOD for Kings of the earth and the lawes of men 13. Wherefore bee it knowne to you Emperours which know it also right well that yee depend vnto the judgement of vs we must not bee brought and reduced to your will 14. For as I said looke what difference there is betwixt the Sunne and the Moone so great is the power of the Pope ruling over the day that is over the spirituality aboue Emperours and Kings ruling over the the night that is over the Laytie 15. Now seing the earth is seven times bigger then the Moone and the Sunne eight times greater then the earth it followeth that the Popes dignitie 56 tymes doeth surmount the estate of the Emperours 16. Vpon consideration whereof I say therefore and pronunce that Constantine the Emperour did naught in setting the Patriarch of Constantinople at his feete on his left hand 17. And although the said Emperour wrote to mee alledging the words of S. Peter commanding vs to submit our selves to everie humane creature as to Kings Dukes and other for the cause of GOD. 1. Pet. 2. Yet in answering againe in my decretall I exponed the minds and words of S. Pet. to pertaine to his subjects and not his successors willing the said Emperor to consider the person of the speaker and to whom it is spoken for if the minde of Peter had beene there to debase the order of Priest-hood and to make vs vnderlings to everie humane creature then everie lack might haue dominion over Prelats which maketh against the example of CHRIST setting vp the order of Priesthood to beare domination over Kings According to the saying of Ieremie Behold I haue set thee vp over Kings and Nations 18. And as I feared not then to wryte this boldly vnto Constantine so now I say vnto all other Emperours that they receaving of mee their approbation vnction consecration and Crowne Imperiall must not disdaine to submitte their heads vnder mee and sweare vnto mee their alleadgeance 19. For so you reade in the decree of Pope Iohn how that Princes heeretofore have beene wont to bowe and submit their heads vnto Bishops and not to proceede in judgment against the heads of Bishops 20. If this reverence and submission was wont to be given to Bishops how much more ought they to submit their heads to me being superior not only to Kings but Emperours and that for two causes first for my title of succession that I Pope of Rome haue to the Empyre the rowme standing vacant Also for the fullnesse of power that CHRIST King of Kings Lord of Lords hath given to mee tho vnworthie in the person of Peter 21. By reason whereof seeing my power is not of man but of GOD who by his celestiall providence hath set mee over his vniversall Church maister and governour it belongeth therefore to my office to looke vpon everie mortall sinne of everie Christian man 22. Whereby all criminall offences al 's well of Kings as all other bee subject to my censure 23. In such sort that in all manner of pleading if any manner of person at any time either before the sentence given or after shall appeale to mce it shall bee lawfull for him so to doe 24. Neither must Kings and Princes thinke it much to submit themselues to my judgement for so did Valentinianus the worthie Emperour so did Theodosius and also Carolus 25. Thus yee see must bee all judged by mee and I of no man yea although I Pope of Rome by my negligence or evill demanure bee found vnprofitable or hurtfull either to my selfe or others Yea if I should draw with mee innumerable soules by heaps to hell yet no mortall man be so hardie so bold so presumptuous to reproue mee 26. Or to say to mee Domine cur it a facis Sir why doe yee so 27. For although yee read that Balaam was rebuked of his Asse by the which Afse our subjects by Balaam wee Prelats are signified Yet that ought to bee no example to our subjects to rebuke vs. 28 And though wee read in the Scripture that Peter who receaved power of the Kingdome and being cheife of
Gregorius coram nobis and made him stand at my gate three dayes and three nights bare-footed and bare-legged with his wife and chyld in the deepe of winter both in frost and snow intreating for his absolution and after excommunicated him againe so that hee was twise excommunicated in my dayes 79. And did not I Paschalis after Gregorie set vp the son of the said Henricus against his father in warre to possesse the Empyre and to put downe his father and so hee did 80. Item did not I Pope Alexander bring vnto Henrie the second King of England for the death of Thomas Becket and to cause him goe bare-foooted to his tombe at Canturberrie with bleeding feet 81. Did not I Innocentius the third cause King Iohn to kneele downe at the feete of Pandulphus my Legate and offer vp his Crowne to his hands also to kisse the feete of Steven Langtoun Bishop of Canturberrie and besides that merced him a thousand merks by yeare 82. Did not I Vrbanus the second put downe Hugo Erle in Italie discharging his subjects from their oath and obedience to him 83. Did not I Paschalis excommunicate also his son Henry the fifth and gotte out of his hands all his right and title of elections and donations of spirituall promotions 84. Did not I Gelasius the second bring the Captaine Cnitius vnder vnto the kissing of my feete and after Gelasius 85. Did not I Calixtus quaile the foresaid Emperour Henricus and also bring in subjection Gregorie whom the said Emperour had set vp against mee to be Pope bringing him into Rome vpon a Camell his face to the horse taile making him to hold the horse taile in his hand in stead of a brydle 86. Further did not I Innocentius the second set vp and make Lotharius to bee Emperour for driving out Pope Anacletus out of Rome 87. Did not I the said Innocentius take the Dukedome of Sicilie from the Empyre and made Roger to bee King thereof whereby afterward the Kingdome became the patrimonie of S. Peter 88. Did not I Alexander the third suspend all the Realme and Churches of England for the Kings mariage 1159 88. But what doe I speake of Kings did not I the saide Alexander bring the valiant Emperour Frederick the first to Venice by reason of his son Otho their taken prisoner and there in S. Marks Church made him fall downe flat vpon the ground while I did set my feete vpon his necke saying the verse of the TSALME Super aspidem basiliscum ambulabis 89. Did not I Adrianus Pope an English man borne excommunicate William King of Cicile and refuse his peace which hee offered and had he not overcome me in plaine field I would haue shaken him out of his kingdome of Cicile and Dukedome of Apulia 90. Also did not I the said Adrianus controll and correct the foresaid Fredericus Emperour for holding the left stirruppe of my horse when hee should haue holden the right 91. And afterward did not I excommunicate curse him for that he was so sawsie to set his owne name in wrytting mine 92. And although a poore flie afterward overcame and strangled me yet I made Kings and Emperours to stoup 93. Did not I Innocentius 3. deject Philippus brother to Fredericus from the imperiall Crowne being elected without my leaue and after set him vp againe and also set vp Otho of Brounswick and after did excommunicate and also depose the same foure yeares setting vp the French King to warre against him 94. Then was Fredericus 2. by mee set vp and reigned thirtie seven yeares and yet fyue yeares before he died 95. Did not I Honorius interdict him for not restoring certaine to their possessions at my request 96. Whom also Gregorius 9. did excommunicate twyse together and raised vp the Venetians against him 97. And at length Innocentius spoyled him of his Empyre after that hee caused him to bee poysoned at length to bee strangled by one Manfredus and did excommunicate his sonne Conradus after him not onely depryving him of his right inheritance but also caused him with Frederick Duke of Austria to be beheaded 98. Thus then did not I excommunicate and depose all these Emperours in order Henricus 4. Henricus 5. Fredericus I. Philippus Otho Fredericus 2. and Conradus his sonne 99. Did not I interdict King Henrie the eight 100. And all his kingdome of England 101. And had not his prudence and power prevented my practise I had displaced him from his kingdome also briefly who is able to comprehend the greatnesse of my power and of my seate 102. For by mee only generall Councills take their force and confirmation 103. And the interpretation of the saids councils and of all other causes hard and doubtfull ought to bee referred and stand to my interpretation 104. By me the workes of all wrytters whatsoever they bee either bee reprooved or allowed 105. Then how much more ought my wryttings and decrees to bee preferred before all other 106. In so much that my letters and epistles decretall bee equivalent with the generall councils 107. And where GOD hath ordained al causes of men to bee judged by men hee hath onely reserved mee That is The Pope of Rome without all question of men vnto his owne judgement 108. And therefore where all other creatures bee vnder their judge onely I who in earth am the judge of all can bee judged of none neither Emperour nor the whole Clergie nor Kings nor of the people 109. For who hath power to judge vpon his judge 110. This judge am I and that alone without any other assistance of any counsell joyned to mee for I haue power vpon counsels counsels haue no power over mee But if the counsell determine amisse it is my aurhoritie alone to infring it or to condemne whō I list without any counsell 111. And all for the preheminene of my predecessor blessed S. Peter which by the voyce of the LORD hee receaved and ever shall retaine 112. Furthermore and whereas all other sentences and judgements both of counsels person or persons may and ought to bee examined 113. For that they may be corrupted foure wayes by feare by gifts by hatred by favour onely my sentence and judgement must stand 114. As given out of Heaven by the mouth of Peter him selfe which no man must 115. Breake nor retract 116. No man must dispute or doubt of 117. Yea if my judgment statute or yoke seeme scarcelie tolerable yet for remembrance of S. Peter it must bee humblie obeyed 118. Yea and moreover obedience is to bee given not onely to such decrees set foorth by mee in time of my Popedome but also to such as I doe foresee and commit to wrytting before I bee Pope 119. And although it bee thought by some wrytters to bee given to all men to erre and deccaved 120. Yet neither am I a poore man 121. And againe the sentence of my Apostolick seat is alwayes conceaved with such moderation is
imbracing a woman it must be expounded and presupposed that he doth it to blesse her furthermore the Pope say they hath all the dignities and all powers of Patriarchs In his primacy hee is Abel in governament the Arke of Noah in Patriarchdome Abraham in order Melchizedeck in dignitie Aaron in authoritie Moses in seat judiciall Samuell in zeale Elias in meeknesse David in power Peter in vnction CHRIST Nay thou art Anti-Christ my power they say is greater then all the Sancts for whom I confirme no man may infirme I may favour and spaire whom I please 189. To take from one and giue to another and if I beenemy to any man all men ought to eshew that person foorthwith and not tarrie and looke while I bid them doe so all the earth is my dyocie and I the ordinarie of all men having the authoritie of the King of all kings vpon subjects I am all in all and aboue all 190. So that God himself and I the viccar of God haue both one consist orie 191. And am able almost to doe that GOD can doe Claue non errante 192. Item it is said of mee that I haue an heavenly arbitriment and therefore am able to change the nature of things Substantialia vnius applicando alteri and of nothing to make things to bee and of a sentence that is nothing to makeit stand in effect in all things that I list my will to stand for reason for I am able by the law to dispence aboue the Law of wrong to make justice in correcting lawes and changing them yee haue hard hitherto susficiently out of my doctors now yee shall heare greater thinges out of my owne decrees 193. Read there Pist. 96. Satis 194. Also 12. caus 11. doe you not finde there expressed how Constantinus the Emperour fitting in the generall counsell of Nice called vs prelats of the Church all Gods 196. Againe read my Canon decretall doe vee not see there manifestly expressed how not man but GOD alone separateth that which the Bishops of Rome doth dissolue and sepâ—rat wherefore if these things which I doe bee said to bee done not of man but of GOD what can you make mee but GOD Againe if Prelats of the Church bee called and counted of Constantinus for gods I then being aboue all Prelats seeme by this reason to be aboue all Gods wherefore no marvell if it bee in my power to change time and times to alter and abrogate lawes to dispense with all things yea with precepts of CHRIST for where CHRIST biddeth Peter put vp his sword monished his disciples not to vse any outward force in revenging themselues 197. Doe not I Pope Nicolaus wryting to the Bishops of France exhort them to draw their materiall swords in persewing their enemies and recovering their possessions setting against the precept of CHRIST the prophet saying Item where CHRIST was present himselfe at the mariage in Cana of Galilee 198. Doe not I Pope Martinus in my distinction inhibit the spirituall Clergie to be present at mariage feasts and also to marie themselues Item where matrimonie by CHRIST cannot bee lowsed but onely for whooredome 199. Doe not I Pope Gregorius Iunior wryting ad Bonifacium permit the same to bee broken for impotencie or infirmitie of bòdies 200. Item against the expresse caution of the Ghospell doeth not Innocentius the fourth permit vim vi expellere 201. Item against the New Testament in swearing and that in these sixe causes 202. Likewise against the old Testament I doe dispence in not giving tythes 203. Wherein two kinds of oaths are to bee noted whereof some bee promissiora some bee assertoria 204. Item in vowes and that ex toto voto whereas other Prelats cannot dispence ex toto voto I can deliver ex toto a voto like as God himselfe 205. Item in perjurie I absolue mv absolution standeth 206. Where also note that in all swearing alwayes the authoritie of the superior is excepted 207. Moreover where CHRIST biddeth lend without hope of gaine doe not I Pope Martinus giue dispensation for the same and notwithstanding the counsell of Thuring indicted the contrarie yet with the bulles I dissanulled that decreement 208. What should I speake of murther making it no murther or homicide to slay them that be excoÌ„municate 209. Likewise against the law of nature 210. Item against the Apostle 211. Also against the Canon of the Apostles I can doe dispence for where they in their Canon command a Priest for fornication to bee deposed I through the authoritie of Silvester doe alter the rigor of that constitution 212. Considering the minds and bodies also of men now to be weaker then they were then 213. Brieflie against the vniversall state of the Church I haue dispensation and for mariage in the second degree of consanguinitie and affinitie that is betwixt brethrens children although not so that the vncle may not marrie his Neece vnlesse for vrgent and weightie causes As for all such contracts betwixt party and partie were that matrimonie is not yet consumat bv carnall copulation it is but a small matter for mee to dispence withall In summa if yee list brieflie to heare the whole number of all such causes as properlic doe ppertaine to my papall dispensation which commeth to the number of 51. poynts that no man may meddle withall but onely I my selfe alone I will rehearse them in English as they bee set foorth in my canonicall doctors Cases papall to the number of one and fifty wherein the Pope hath power onely to dispence and none els besids except by speciall licence from him FIrst the determination of doubts and questions belonging to faith Translation of a Bishop elected or confirmed Likewise of abbots exempted Deposition of Bishops The taking of resignation of Bishops Exemptions of Bishops not to bee vnder Arch-Bishops Restitution of such as bee deposed from their order The judiciall definition or the interpretation of his owne priviledges Changing of Bishopricks or demission of coventes New correction of Bioshps seats or institution of new religions Subjection or division of a Bishoprick vnder another Dispensation for vowing to goe to the holy Land Dispensation for the vow of chastitie or of religion or of holy orders Dispensation against a lawfull oath or vow made Dispensation against divers irregularities as in crymes greater then adulterie and in such as bee suspended in symony Dispensation in receaving into orders him that had two wyues Dispensing with such as being with murthers that which is aboue their order as if a deacon should say Masse being not Priest To receave vnto orders such as bee blamished or maymed in bodie Dispensation with marther or with such as willingly cut off any member of mans bodie Dispensation to give orders to such as haue beene vnder the sentence of the great curse or excommunication Dispensation with such as beeing suspended with the grea ter curse doeminister in vnholy order Dispensation with such as being vnlawfully