the kingdome whose kinge is a childe and whose Princes banquet earely a kinge I name not for his smale and tender age but for folly and wickednes and madnes according to the Prophet king bloudthirsty and deceitful men shal not liue out halfe their daies By banqueting we vnderstand glotonie through glottony riotousnes through riotousnes all filthy and euill thinges according to kinge Salomon wisedome shall not enter into a froward soule nor dwel in the body that is subdued vnto sinne A king is named of ruling and not of a kingdome so long as thou rulest wel thou shalt be kinge whiche vnlesse thou doo the name of a king shal not coÌ„siste in thee and thou shalt lese the name of a king whiche God forbidde Almightie God geue vnto you so to rule your kingdome of Brytany that ye may reigne with him for euer whose vicar ye are in the kingdome aforesaide VVho with the father c. Thus it is made manifest that bothe your argument faileth in truthe of matter and you your selfe were beguiled through ignorance by wante of reading But put the case that your antecedent were true yet is it a faulty fallax made à dicto secundum quid ad simpliciter and the consequent followeth not for that there is more conteined in the conclusion than the antecedent doth comprehende whiche is suche an euill fauoured forme of argument that yonge studentes in the scholes would be ashamed thereof The Donatistes made the like obiection against the catholique fathers wherto S. Augustine maketh this answere The state of the Apostles time is otherwise to be thought of than this time al thinges must be doon in their time In the Apostles time this prophecie was yet in fulfilling wherfore do the Heathen rage and the people muse vpon vaine thinges The kinges of the earth set them selues and the Princes consult together against the Lorde and his Christ As yet that was not in hande whiche is spoken a litle after in the same psalme and nowe ye kings vnderstand be learned ye Iudges on the earth serue the Lorde in feare and ioy in him with reuerence Therfore seyng that as yet in the Apostles time kinges serued not the Lorde but still did deuise vaine thinges against God and his Christ that all the foresayinges of the Prophete might be fulfilled than truely impieties coulde not be inhibited by princes Lawes but rather be mainteyned For suche was the order of the times that both the Iewes shoulde kill the preachers of Christe thinkinge to doo God good seruice therein as Christ had forspoken and also the gentiles shoulde rage against the Christians that the martirs might winne the victory thorough pacience But after that this began to be fulfilled whiche is writen And al the kinges of the earth shall woorship him and all the nations shal serue him what man onlesse he be not well in his wittes will say that Kinges ought not to haue a speciall regarde for the Churche of Christe and all manner godlines amongst their subiectes You frame an other reason vpon S. Paules woordes vnto the Bishops of Ephesus whereby to prooue that all gouernement in spirituall or ecclesiastical causes belongeth to Bishoppes and Priestes and not to Princes and Ciuill Magistrates thus you argue The holy ghost appointed all spirituall gouernement of Christes flocke vnto Bishops Priestes as the woordes spoken by S. Paule doo make full and perfecte declaration Ergo Kinges Quéenes and Princes may not claime or take vpon them any parte of Spirituall gouernement much lesse take the supremacie and chiefe parte of spirituall gouernement from them For answeare I denie this argument for it is a naughty and deceiptfull Sophistication called Fallacia aequiuocationis There is equiuocacion in this woorde Priestes and also in these woordes to gouerne and rule the Church of God This woorde Priest hath diuerse significacions which are to be obserued least the simple readers be confirmed or brought into errour thorough the equiuocation therein The Scripture speaketh of a priesthood after the order of Aâ—ron after whiche order you will not confesse the Apostles and the Bishoppes their successours to be Priestes an other kinde of Priesthoode is after the order of Melchisedech and Christe onely without any successour in y â— Priesthood was the alone Priest of that order The thirde kinde is an holy and princely Priesthood of the which order not onely the Apostles and their true successours but also Kinges Quéenes Princes al manner of faithfull Christians are Priestes There is in coÌ„mon opinion amongst the Papistes a fourth kinde which is a massinge sacrificing priesthood after which order Christes Apostles the true mynisters of his Church were neuer priests for y e order belongeth onely to y e Apostolical Clergy of y e Romishe Antichrist Yf your meaning therfore be y e Christ left any kinde of gouernment or rule of his Churche to Bishops Priestes after this popishe order your opinion is hereticall your assertion vtterly false Therfore where I shall afterwardes in my speaking cal the mynisters of Christes Churche Priestes I geue you to vnderstande y t I doo therin but follow y e vsuall accustomed kinde of speache which is impropre although in longe vse Likewise to gouerne and rule the Church of God is of twoo kindes sortes the one is by y â— supreme authority power of the swoorde to guide care prouide direct ayde Gods Church to further mainteine setfoorth the true Religion vnitie quietnes of Goddes Churche to ouersée visit refourme restraine amende correct all manner persones with all manner errours superstitions heresies schismes abuses offences conteÌ„ptes enormities in or about Gods Churche Which gouernment rule apperteineth onely to Kinges Quéenes and Princes and not to the Apostles Bishops and Priestes wherof S. Paule speaketh nothinge at al in this sentence by you alledged to the Bishops of Ephesus The other sorte is to féede the flocke of Christ with the Spirituall foode of Goddes woorde which is the onely rule and gouernment that belongeth to the Apostles Bishops Mynisters of Christes Churche of none other manner rule speaketh S. Paule to the Bishops of Ephesus which he maketh most plaine both by y t expresse woordes of y e sentence auouched also by the whole circumstaunce of the same place The woorde y e S. Paule vseth doth proprely signifie to féede as the sheapeherde féedeth his shéepe by a figuratiue speach to guide gouerne or rule therefore if you would haue dealt plainly and haue vttered S. Paules meaning according to his propre speache where you say To gouerne and rule doubling the woordes as it were to amplifie the matter that the truth might lesse appeare you ought to haue saide to feede the Churche of God for that is the Apostles propre saying so the olde translatour of Chrysostome doth translate it vpon the Epistle to y e Ephesians also expouÌ„ding this same
AN ANSVVEARE Made by Rob. Bishoppe of VVynchester to a Booke entituled THE DECLARATION OF SVCHE Scruples and staies of Conscience touchinge the Othe of the Supremacy as M. Iohn Fekenham by vvrytinge did deliuer vnto the L. Bishop of VVinchester vvith his Resolutions made thereunto DEC C. 23. Q. 5. Let the Princes of the worlde knowe that they of duetie shal rendre an accompte to God for the Church whiche they haue taken of Christe to praeserue For whether the Peace and Discipline of the Churche be encreased by faithfull Princes or it be loosed he dooth exacte of them an accompte who hath deliuered his Churche to be committed to their power Imprinted at London in Fleetstreate at the signe of the Oliphante by Henry VVykes Anno. 1566. The Praeface IT is nowe an whole yéere paste since I herde of a booke secretely scattered abroade by M. Fekenham emonge his fréendes And in April laste I came by a copie therof When I had redde the booke and perceiued bothe the matter and the maner of the mannes dooynges therein I sawe his proofes so sclendre and his maner of dealinge so shameles that I stoode in doubte what to doo whether to discouer the man by writinge or to shake him of with silence If I had not séene a further meaninge in his settinge foorth and publishinge the booke then he durste plainely vtter or then his cunninge coulde by any meanes Answeare vnto or then that I with a good conscience mought haue neglected I woulde haue paste it ouer with silence as a péece of woorke not woorthie of Answeare But séeing the chiefe ende and principall purpose intended as may be iustly gathered in publishyng the booke was to ingrafte in the mindes of the subiectes a mislikyng of the Quéenes Maiestie as though she vsurped a power and authoritie in Ecclesiasticall matters whereto she hath no righte to sclandre the whole Realme as though it were stranged and directly against the Catholike Churche renouncinge and refusinge to haue Communion therewith And vndre my name to deface the mynisters of Christes Churche I coulde not choose oneles I woulde wilfully neglect my duetie to her Maiestie shewe my selfe ouermuch vnkinde vnto my natiue Countrey and altogeather become carelesse of the Churche Mynisterie but take penne in hande and shape him a ful and plaine answeare without any curiositie Wherein I folowe the order of M. Fekenhams booke I make the proofes accordyng to his request and besides my proofes foorth of the Scriptures the auncient Doctours the Generall councelles and Nationall I make proofe by the continuall practice of the Churche in like gouernement as the Quéenes Maiestie taketh vpon her and that by suche Authors for a great sort of them as are the more to be credited in this matter for that they were moste earnest fautours of the Romishe sea infected as the times weare with muche superstition and did attribute vnto the sea of Rome and so to the whole Cleargie so muche authoritie in Churche matters as they mighte and muche more then they ought to haue done Their iudgementes and sentences shall appeare in readinge by the forme of letter for leuinge foorth the Latine to auoide tediousnes I haue put into English the Authours mindes and sentences and caused them for the moste parte to be Printed in Latine letters that the English reader may know and decerne the Authours sayinges from mine If this that I haue done woorke that effect in the Englishe Reader whiche he ought to séeke and I doo wishe I haue wonne that I wrought for but otherwise let men saie and iudge what they liste I haue discharged my conscience and shewed the trueth Anno Domini 1565. Feb. 25. Rob. Wynchester AN ANSVVEARE TO Maister Io. Fekenham Maister Fekenham The declaracion of such scruples and stayes of conscience touchyng the Othe of Supremacie as M. Iohn Fekenham by vvritinge did deliuer vnto the L. Bisshop of VVinchester vvith his resolutions made thereunto The Bisshop of Wynchester THe proprety of him that meaneth to declare rightly any matter doone is to set foorth the trueth without malice to obserue the due circumstances of the matter persones times and to vse simple plainesse without guileful ambiguities This Title is so replenisshed with vntrue reporte ambiguous sleightes without the note of any necessary circūstance y t there is not almost one true woorde therein wherby you geue at the first a taste to the indifferent reader what he must looke for in the sequele You pretende and would haue your friendes to thinke that the first fower chiefe pointes set foorth in your booke were deuised by you put in writing and so deliuered vnto me as the matter and grounde whereuppon the conference to be had betwixt me you should stande And that I made therunto none other but suche resolucions as it hath pleased you vntruely to report In the first parte you conueigh an vntrueth vnder a coulorable and ambiguous meaning in these woordes as M. Iohn Fekenham by vvritinge did deliuer vnto the L. Bisshop of VVynchester In the other parte you make an vntrue reporte without any coloure at all I doo graunt and will not denie that you deliuered to me a booke whiche I thanke God I haue to shewe whereby to disprooue you The same will declare the time when the place where the occasion wherefore the personnes to whome the booke was written and what is the matter in generall therein conteyned Whereunto must be added at what time the same was deliuered vnto me vpon what occasion and to what ende All whiche circumstances you omitte in your booke published least you shoulde haue bewrayed your selfe and haue appeared in your owne likenesse The booke by you deliuered vnto me touchinge the Othe was writen in the Tower of London as you your selfe confessed and the true title thereof doth plainely testifie in y e time of the Parliament holden Anno quinto of the Q. Maiestie Ianuarij 12. at whiche time you litle thought to haue soiourned with me the winter followinge much lesse meante to deliuer me the scruples and staies of your conscience in writinge to be resolued at my handes And although you woulde haue it seeme by that you haue published abroade that the cause why you wrote was to be resolued at my hande yet the trueth is as you your selfe reported that you your Towerfellowes hearinge that the Statute mooued for the assuraunce of the Quéenes royall power would passe be established did conceiue that immediatly after the same session Commissioners should be sente vnto you to exact the othe Wheruppon you to be in some areadines to withstande and refuse the duetie of a good subiect not without healpe of the rest as may be gathered deuised the matter conteyned in the booke committed the same to writinge and purposed to haue deliuered it for your aunsweare touchinge the Othe of the Supremacie to the Commissioners if they had come This may appeare by the title of that booke that you firste
and vsed in the same sort his princely authoritie in refourming all abuses in all maner causes ecclesiastical These godly kynges claymed and toke vpon theim the supreme gouernement ouer the ecclesiasticall persons of al degrees and did rule gouerne and direct them in all their functions and in all maner causes belonging to Religion and receyued this witnes of their doinges to wyt that they did acceptable seruice and nothing but that whiche was ryght in Gods sight Therfore it foloweth well by good consequent that Kynges or Queenes may clayme and take vpon them suche gouernement in thynges or causes ecclesiasticall For that is ryght sayth the holy ghost they should than do wrong if they did it not You suppose that ye haue escaped the force of all these and such lyke godly kynges which do marueilously shake your holde and that they may not bee alledged against you neither any testimony out of the olde testament for that ye haue restreignes the proufe for your cōtentation to suche order of gouernement as Christ hath assigned in the Ghospell to be in the tyme of the newe Testament wherin you haue sought a subtyle shift For whyles ye seeke to cloke your errour vnder the shadowe of Christes Ghospel you bewray your secrete heresies turnyng your selfe naked to be seen of all men and your cause notwithstandyng left in the state it was before nothyng holpen by this your poore shift of restreynt So that where your friendes toke you before but only for a Papist now haue you shewed your selfe to them playnly herein to be a Donatist also When the Donatistes troubled the peace of Christes catholique Churche and deuided them selues frō the vnitie thereof as now you do The godly fathers trauailed to confute their heresies by the Scriptures both of the olde and newe Testament and also craued ayde and assistaunce of the Magistrates and Rulers to refourme them to reduce them to the vnitie of the Churche to represse their heresies with their authoritie godly lawes made for that purpose to whome it belonged of dutie and whose especial seruice to Christe is to see care and prouyde that their subiectes be gouerned defended mainteined in the true and sincere Religion of Christ without all errours superstitions and heresies as S. Augustine proueth at large in his epistle against Vincentius a Rogatiste in his epistle to Bonifacins and in his bookes against Petilian and Gaudentius letters Against this catholique doctrine your auncestours the Donatistes aryse vp and desende them selues with this colour or pretence that they be of the catholique fayth and that their churche is the catholique church Which shifte for their defence against Gods truthe the Popishe sectaries do vse in this our tyme being no more of the one or of the other than were the Donatistes and suche lyke of whom they learned to couer their horrible heresies vnder the same fayre cloke that the seculer Princes haue not to medle in matters of Religion or causes ecclesiasticall That God committed not the teaching of his people to kynges but to Prophetes Christe sent not souldiours but fishers to bring in and further his Religion that there is no example of such ordre founde in the Gospel or new Testamēt wherby it may appeare that to secular Princes it belongeth to haue care in matters of Religion And that as it semeth by that S. Augustine by preuention obiecteth against them they subtilly refused all proufes or examples auouched out of the olde Testament as ye craftely do also in bynding me onely to the new Testament which S. Augustine calleth an odious and wicked guyle of the Donatistes Let your friendes nowe whom ye wil seeme to please so muche when you beguyle them moste of all weigh with aduisement what was the erronious opinion thouching the authoritie of Princes in causes ecclesiasticall of the Donatistes as it is here rightly gathered forth of S. Augustine and let them consider wysely these foule shiftes they make for their defence And then compare your opinion and guylefull defences thereof to theirs and they must needds clappe you on the backe say to you Patrisas ▪ if there be any vpright iudgement in them demyng you so lyke your great grandsier Donatus as though he had spit you out of his owne mouth But for that S. Augustines iudgement and myne in this controuesie is alone as your opinion herein differeth nothyng at all from the Donatistes I wyll vse no other confirmation of my proufes alledged forth of the olde Testament for the reproufe of your guylful restraint thē Christes catholique Church vttered by that catholique Doctour S. Augustin against al the sectes of Donatistes whether they be Gaudentians Petilians Rogatistes Papistes or any other petit sectes sprong out of his loynes what name so euer they haue S. Augustine against Gaudentius his second epistle affirmeth saiyng I haue saith he already heretofore made it manifest that it apperteined to the kinges charge that the Niniuites should pacifie Goddes wrath whiche the Prophet had denounced vnto them The kinges whiche are of Christes Churche doo iudge moste rightly that it apperteineth vnto their cure that you Donatistes rebell not without punishement against the same c. God dooth inspire into kinges that they shoulde procure the commaundement of their Lorde to be perfourmed or kept in their kingdome For they to whom it is said and now ye kinges vnderstande be ye learned ye Iudges of the earth ferue the Lorde in feare doo perceiue that their authoritie ought so to serue the Lorde that suche as will not obey his will shuld be punished of that authoritie c. Yea saith y e same S. Aug. Let the kings of the earth serue Christ euē in making lawes for Christ meaning for the furtherance of Christes religiō How then doth kinges saith S. Aug. to Bonifacius against y e Donatistes serue the lord with reuerēce but in forbidding and punishing with a religious seueritie such thinges as are done against the Lordes cōmaundemētes For a king serueth one way in that he is a man an other way in respect that he is a king Bicause in respect that he is but ◠man he serueth the Lorde in liuing faithfully but in that he is also a kinge he serueth in makinge Lawes of conuenient force to commaunde iust thinges and to forbidde the contrary c. In this therfore kinges serue the Lorde when they doo those thinges to serue him which they could not doo were they not kinges c. But after that this began to be fulfilled which is written and all the kinges of the earth shall worship him all the Nations shall serue him what man being in his right wittes may say to kinges Care not you in your kingdomes who defendeth or oppugneth the Churche of your Lorde Let it not apperteine or be any part of your care who is religious in your kingdome or a wicked deprauer of Religion This was the iudgement of S.
Augustine or rather of Christes catholique Churche vttered by hym againste the Donatistes touching the Seruice authoritie power and care that kynges haue or ought to haue in causes spirituall or ecclesiasticall the whiche is also the iudgement of Christes catholique Church now in these dayes mainteined and defended by the true mynisters of the same catholique Churche againste all Popishe Donatistes with the force of Gods holy woorde bothe of the olde and new Testament euen as S. Augustine did before Who to prooue and confirme this his assertion to bee true against the Donatistes did auouche many mo examples than I haue cited out of the olde Testament As of the kyng of Niniue of Darius Nabuchodonozor others affirmyng that the histories and other testimonies cited for this matter out of the olde Testament are partly figures and partly prophecies of the power duety and seruice that kynges should owe and perfourme in like sorte to the furtherance of Christes Religion in the time of the new Testament The Donatistes in the defence of their heresy restrayned S. Augustine to the example and testimony of such like order of Princes Seruice in matters of Religion to be founde in the Scriptures of the new Testament meanyng that it could not be found in any order that Christe lefte behynde hym as you also fantasied when you wrote the same in your booke folowyng yea going euen cheeke by cheeke with them But S. Augustine maketh aunswere to you all for hym and me bothe Who rehcarsing the actes of the godly kynges of the olde Testament taketh this for a thyng not to be denied to wytte That the auncient actes of the godly kinges mentioned in the Propheticall bookes were figures of the like factes to be doon by the godly Princes in the time of the newe Testament And although there was not in the tyme of the Apostles nor of long tyme after any kynges or princes that put the same ordinaunce of Christ in practise all beynge infideles for the most part Yeat the seruice of kinges was figured as S. Augustine saieth in Nabuchodonozor and others to be put in practice when this of 71. Psalme should be fulfilled and all the kinges of the earth shall worshippe Christ and all nations shall serue him c. As yet in the Apostles time this prophecy sayth he was not fulfilled and now ye kinges vnderstande be learned ye that iudge the earth and serue the Lorde in feare with reuerence VVhen the christian Emperours and Princes saieth this catholique father shall heare that Nabuchodonozor after he had seen the marueilous power of almighty God in sauing the three younge men from the violence of the fire walking therin without hurt was so astonied at the miracle that he him selfe being before this but a cruell Idolatour began forthwith vpon this wonderous sight to vnderstande and serue the Lorde with reuerent feare Doo not they vnderstande that these thinges are therefore writen and recited in the Christian assemblies that these shoulde be examples to them selues of faith in God to the furtherance of Religion These Christian rulers therfore minding according to the admonition of the Psalme to vnderstande to be learned and to serue the Lord with reuerent feare do very atteÌ„tiuely giue eare and marke what Nabuchodonozor after said for he saieth the Prophet made a decree or statute for all the people that were vnder his â—beissance that who so euer shuld after the publicatioÌ„ thereof speake any blasphemy against the almighty they should suffer death and their Goodes be confiscate Now if the Christian Emperours and kinges doo know that Nabuchodonozor made this decree against the blasphemers of God surely they cast in their myndes what they are bounde to decree in their kingdomes to witte that the selfe same God and his Sacramentes be not lightly set by and contemned Thus farre S. Augustin By whose iudgement being also the iudgement of the catholique church it is manifest y t the order rule and gouernement in Ecclesiasticall causes practised by the kynges of the olde Testament beynge figures and prophesies of the lyke gouernement and seruice to be in the kynges vnder the newe Testament is the order of gouernment that Christ left behynde him in the Ghospell and newe Testament and so directlye confuteth your erronious opinion Nowe I wyll conclude on this sorte that whiche I affirmed namely that kynges and Princes ought to take vpon them gouernement in Ecclesiasticall causes What gouernement orde and dutifulnes so euer belongyng to any God hath figured and promysed before hande by his Prophetes in the holy Scriptures of the old Testament to be perfourmed by Christe and those of his kyngdome that is the gouernement order and dutifulnes set foorth and required in the Ghospel or newe Testament But that faithfull Emperours Kynges and Rulers ought of dutie as belongynge to their office to claime and take vpon them the gouernement authoritie power care and seruice of God their Lorde in matters of Religion or causes Ecclesiasticall was an order and dutifulnes for them prefigured and fore promysed of God by his Prophetes in the Scriptures of the olde Testament as S. Augustine hath sufficieÌ„tly witnessed Ergo. Christian Emperours Kynges and Rulers owe of dutie as belonging to their office to clayme and take vpon them the gouernement authoritie power care and seruice of God their Lorde in matters of Religion or Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall causes is the gouernement order and dutifulnes set forth and required in the Ghospell or newe Testament This that hath been already sayd myght satisfie any man that erreth of simple ignoraunce But for that your wilfulnes is suche that you delight only in wranglinge against the truthe appeare it to you neuer so playne and that no weyght of good proufes can presse you you are so slippery I wyll loade you with heapes euen of suche proufes as ye wyll seeme desirous to haue The holy Ghost describing by the Prophete Esay what shalbe the state of Christes Church in the time of the new Testament yea now in these our daies for this our time is the time that the Prophet speaketh of as S. Paule witnesseth to the Corinthians addeth many comfortable promises amongest other maketh this to Christes Catholique Church to witte Kinges shalbe Nourshing Fathers and Quéenes shalbe thy nources Nourishing Fathers saith the glose enterlined In lacte verbi In the mylke of the woorde meaninge Goddes woorde Lyra addeth This prophecy is manifestly fulfilled in many Kinges and Queenes who receiuing the Catholique Faith did feede the poore faithfull ones c. And this reuerence to be done by Kinges saith Lyra was fulfilled in the time of Constantine and other Christian Kinges Certainely Constantine the Emperour shewed him selfe to vnderstaÌ„d his owne duety of nourishing Christes Church appointed by God in his Prophecy for he like a good tender and faithful Nourcefather did kéepe defende mainteine vpholde and féede the poore faithfull ones of Christ he hare them beinge
the Emperour as a wyse moderatour and Ruler would discourage none but myldely caulmed such as he saw ouer hasty with wilde wordes cooling their heate and commended such as reasoned deepely with grauitie When they had agreed of the chiefe pointes wherefore they were assembled the Emperour him self calleth forth Acesius a Byshop at Constantinople of the Nouatians Religion and examineth him openly touchyng these articles wherunto the whole counsaile had agreed and subscribed He wryteth his lettres to the Churche at Alexandria where the controuersy touchynge the diuinitie of Christ began declaring that he him selfe together with the Byshops in the counsayl had taken vpō him the searchinge foorth of the truthe and therefore assureth them that all thinges were diligently examined to auoyde all ambiguitie and doubtfulnes wherefore he exhorteth and willeth them al that no man make any doubt or delases but y e cherefully they retourne againe into the moste true waye He writeth an other to al Byshops people where so euer wherein he commaundeth that no wryting of Arius or monument conteining Arius doctrine be kepte openly or secretly but be burnt vnder payn of death After that all the matters were concluded and signed with their handes subscription the Emperour dissolueth the counsaile and licenseth euery one of them to retourne home to his own Byshoprike with this exhortation that they continue in vnitie of fayth that they preserue peace and concorde amongest them selues that from thence forth they abyde no more in contentions and last of al after he had made a long oration vnto them touchynge these matters he commaundeth them that they make prayer continually for hym his children and the whole Empyre Arius counterfeyting a false and feyned confession of beliefe like an hypocrite pretending to the Emperour that it was agreable vnto the faithe of the Nicen counsayl humbly beseching the Emperour That he would vnitie and restore him to the mother Churche and therefore hauinge friendes in the Emperours Courte as suche shall neuer want fautours about the best Princes was brought into his presence whom the Emperour him selfe examined diligently and perceyuing no disagrement as he thought from the agreement made in Nicene councell absolued restored him againe whereunto Athanasius who knew Arius throughly would not agrée and being accused therfore vnto the Emperour was charged by lettres from hym that he should receiue Arius with these threates that if he would not he would depose him from his Byshoprike and commy◠him to an other place The Arians heaped vp many and horrible accusations and slaunders vpon Athanasius whereupon the Emperour dooth sommon a counsaill at Tyre and sendeth cōmaundement by his letters to Athanasius that without al excuse he shuld appeare there for otherwyse he should be brought whether he would or no. He writeth to the coūcell his letters wherein he declareth the causes why he called that councell He shewed what he would haue and they ought to doo and prescribeth vnto them the fourme and rule wherby they shall iudge and determine in that Synode Athanasius appeared appealed fled to the Emperour and declared the iniuries offered against him in that councell The Emperour tooke vpon him the hearing of the cause sent his letters to the whole Synode commaūding them without all excuse or delay to appeare before hym in his palayce and there to shewe how vprightly and sincerely they had iudged in their Synode as I haue shewed before Wherein obserue diligently that the Emperour taketh vpon him and no fault found therewith to examine and iudge of the doinges of the whole councell Thus farre of Constantine and his doynges in the execution of his ministerie and especially in perfourming that part whiche he calleth the best part that is his gouernement and rule in Ecclesiasticall matters wherein it is manifest that by the practise of the catholique Churche for his time approued commended by al the catholique priestes and Bishoppes in the Nicen counsaile the supreme gouernement authoritie and rule in all maner causes both Ecclesiastical and Temporall were claimed and exercised by the Emperour as to whom of right suche like power and authoritie belonged and apperteined Constantines sonnes claymed and tooke vpon them the same authoritie that their father had doon before thē and as Zozomen reporteth of them did not only vpholde mainteine the ordinances made by their father Constātine in Churche matters but did also make newe of their owne as occasiō serued the necessitie of y e time required Constantinus after the death of his father restored Athanasius whom his father had deposed to his Bishoprike againe writing honourable and louing letters to the churche of Alexandria for his restitution Constantius deposed Liberius the Bishop of Rome for that he would not consent to the condemnation of Athanasius in whose place Foelix was chosen whome also the Emperour deposed for the like cause restored againe Liberius vnto his Bishoprike who beinge moued with Themperous kindnes as some write or rather ouercome with ambition became an Arian This Emperour deposed diuerse Bishops appointing others in their places He called a Synode at Millayn as Socrates witnesseth saiyng The Emperour commaunded by his edict that there should be a Synode holden at Millayn There came to this coūsaile aboue 300. Bishopppes out of the West countreis After this he mynded to cal a general councel of al the East West Bishops to one place whiche coulde not conueniently be brought to passe by reason of the great distaunce of y e places therefore he commaunded the councell to be kept in two places at Ariminum in Italy at Nicomedia in Bythinia Valentinianus the Emperour after the death of Auxentius an Arian byshop of Millayn calleth a Synode of bishops at Millayn to consult about the ordering of a new bishop He prescribeth vnto them in a graue oration in what maner a man qualified ought to be who shuld take vpō him the office of a bishop They passe to the electiō the people were diuided til at the last they al crye with one consent to haue Ambrose whom although he did refuse the Emperour commaunded to be baptized to be consecrate byshop He called an other Synode in Illirico to appeace the dissentiōs in Asia Phrygia about certein necessary articles of the christian faith and did not onely confirme the true faith by his royal assent but made also many godly and sharpe Lawes as well for the maintenance of the truthe in doctrine as also touching many other causes or matters Ecclesiastical Theodosius was nothing inferiour to Cōstantine the great neither in zeale care or furtherāce of Christes Religion He bent his whole power and authoritie to the vtter ouerthrowe of superstition false Religion some what crept in againe in the times of Iulianus Valens the wicked Emperours And for the sure continuance of Religion refourmed he made many godly Lawes he defended the godly
godly considerations he wrote his letters to the Bishops of euery city declaring both these causes willing them to sende him their aduise what was best to be doon from whome he receiued answere that the Chalcedon councel is to bee mainteined euen vnto death whereupon the Emperour writeth to Stila his Lieutenant of Alexandrea that he shuld mainteine the Chalcedon councell Stila did as the Emperour commaunded he expelled Timotheus Hellurus and placed another in his roume named Timotheus Sale facialius or Albus who liued quietly all the reigne of Leo and Zeno the Emperous till Basilicus gat the Empire who restored Timotheus the Heretique But when Zeno recouered the Empire this Timotheus poysoned him selfe in whose place the Heretiques chose one Peter Mogge After that Zeno the Emperour knew of the crafty dealing of y e heretiques he wrote to his Lieutenaunt Anthemius that he should depriue Peter Mogge and restore Timotheus to the Byshoprike and further that he should punishe those that were the authors to enstall Peter Mogge Anthemius receyuinge the Emperours mandate did depose Peter Mogge as one that was but a counterfayte made Bishop contrary to the Lawes of the catholique Churche and restored Timotheus Salefacialius who beinge restored sent certayne of his Clergie to the Emperour to render him thankes After this Timotheus Ioannes de Talaida was chosen wherof when Acatius Bishop of Constantinople hearde he being offended with Iohn for that he had not sent vnto him synodical letters to signifie of his electiō as y e maner was he ioyned him selfe with the fautours of Peter Mogge accused Iohn vnto the Emperour as one not sounde in Religion nor fit for the Byshoprike Peter Mogge espying this oportuniti edissembleth an vnitie and reconciliation and by his friendes wynneth Acatius who breaketh the matter to the Emperour and perswadeth him to depose Ioannes de Talaida and to restore Peter Mogge so that the same Peter would first receiue and professe the Henoticon that is the confession of the vnitie in faith whiche the Prince had set foorth wherof this is the effect Zeno the Emperour to al Bishops and people throughout Alexandry and Aegipt Lybia and Pentepolis For so much as we knowe that the right and true faith alone is the beginning cōtinuance strength and inuincible shylde of oure Empyre vve labour night and day in praier study and with Lawes to encrease the Catholique and Apostolique Churche by that faith All people next after God shall bowe downe their neckes vnder our power Seing therfore that the pure faith doth on this wise preserue vs and the Romain cōmon wealth many godly fathers haue hūbly beseched vs to cause an vnitie to be had in the holy Churche that the members displaced and seperated through the malice of the enemy may be coupled and knit together And after this declaringe his faith to agree with the Nicen councel and those that condemned Nestorius and Eutyches he saith vve curse those that thinke the contrary After whiche curse declaring al the articles of his faith he concludeth with an earnest exhortatiō vnto the vnitie of faith The Emperour saith Liberatus supposing that Ioannes de Talaida had not ment rightly of y e Chalcedun coūcel but had doon al things fainedly wrote his letters by the perswasion of Acatius to Pergamius Appolonius his Lieutenantes to depose Iohn and enstall Peter Mogge Iohn being thus thrust out repaired to the B. of Antioche with whose letters of cōmendacion he went to Simplicius Bishop of Rome and desired him to write in his behalfe vnto Acatius Bishoppe of Constantinople who did so and with in a while after died This Pope Simplicius consideringe the great contentions that were accustomably about the election of Popes did prouide by decrée that no Pope shoulde hereafter be chosen without the authoritie of the Prince which decrée although it be not extant yet it is manifest inough by the Epistle of kinge Odoacer put into the Actes of the thirde Synode that Simmachus the Pope did kéepe at Rome wherin the Kinge doth not onely auouche the decree of Simplicius but also addeth Wee maruaile that without vs any thinge was attempted seynge that whiles our Prieste meaninge the Bishop of Rome Simplicius was on liue nothinge ought to haue beene taken in hande without vs Nexte after Simplicius was Foelix 3. chosen who after his confirmacion sent many letters aswell to the Emperour as to Acatius Bishop of Constantinople aboute the matter betwixt Iohn and Peter but when he coulde not preuaile in his suite he made Iohn Bishop of Nola in Campania One of the letters that Pope Foelix wrote vnto Zenon the Emperour about this matter is put into the fifth Synode of Constantinople wherin the Pope after the salutation doth most humbly beseche the Emperour to take his hūble suite in good parte He sheweth that the holy Churche maketh this suite that he will vouchesaulfe to mainteine the vnitie of the Churche that he will destroy Heresies that breaketh the bonde of vnitie that he will expell Peter Mogge bothe out of the Citie and also from Churche regiment that he would not suffer Peter being deposed to be admitted to the Cōmunion of the Churche but that by his honorable letters he would banishe him out of the boundes of Antioche And saith this Bishoppe of Rome Foelix vnto the Emperour In his place appoint you one that shall bewtifie the Priesthood by his woorkes Anastasius the Emperour deposed Macedoniue Bishoppe of Constantinople as one that falsified the Ghospels as Liberatus saithe About the election of Symachus Platina mentioneth what great diuision and sedition arose in so much y t the parties were faine to agrée to haue a councell holden for the determination of the matter And there was a councell appointed at Rauenna saith Sabellicus to the ende that the controuersie might be decided accordinge to righte before the Kinge Theodoriche before whome the matter was so discussed that at the last this Pope Symachus was cōfirmed Neuerthelesse this fyre was not thus so quite quenched but that fower yéeres after it blased out sorer againe VVhereat the Kinge saith Platina beinge displeased sent Peter the Bishop of Altine to Rome to enioy the sea and both the other to be deposed Whereupon an other Synode was called of 120. Bishoppes wherein saith Sabellicus the Pope him selfe defended his owne cause so stoutely and cunningly and confuted saith Platina all the obiections laide against him that by the verdict of them all he was acquited and all the faulte laide to Laurence and Peter But to the intent it may the better appeare what was the Kinges authoritie about these matters marke the fourth Romaine Synode holden in the time of this Symachus about the same matter of his whiche although it be mangled and confusedly set foorth in the Booke of generall Councelles bicause as it may séeme that they woulde not haue the whole trueth of this dissention appeare yet will it
authoritie in these causes had been aboue the Emperours he needed not with suche lowlynes and so many teares to haue besought the Emperour to haue reuoked his decree and edict Within a whyle after this Iohn was Agapetus Pope whom Theodatus the kynge sent on his Ambassage vnto the Emperour Iustinianus to make a suite or treaty in his behalfe When the Emperour had enterteined this Ambassadour with muche honour and graunted that he came for touching Theodatus he earnestly both with fayre wordes and foule assayled this Pope to brynge him to become an Eutychian the which when he could not wynne at his hande beyng delighted with his free speeche and constancie he so lyked hym that he foorthwith deposed Anthemius Byshoppe of Constantinople bycause he was an Eutychian and placed Menna a Catholique man in his rowme Agapetus dyed in this Legacy in whose rowme was Syluerius made Pope by the meanes or rather as Sabellicus sayth by the commaundement of the kinge Theodatus the whiche vntill this time was wont to bee doone by the authoritie of the Emperours sayeth Sabellicus for the reuenge whereof Iustinianus was kindled to make warres against Theodatus Syluerius was shortlye after quarrelled withall by the Empresse through the meanes of Vigilius who sought to bee in his rowme and was by the Emperours authoritie deposed The whiche acte although it were altogether vniust yet declareth it the authoritie that the Prince had ouer the Pope who lyke a good Byshoppe as he woulde not for any threates doo contrary to his conscience and office ▪ so lyke an obedient subiecte he acknowledged the Prynces authoritie ▪ beynge sent for came beinge accused was ready with humblenes to haue excused and purged hym selfe and whan he coulde not be admitted therunto he suffred him selfe obediently to be spoyled of the Bishoplike apparayle to bee displaced out of his office and to be clothed in a Monasticall garment The same measure that Vigilius did giue vnto Syluerius he him selfe beyng Pope in his place receyued shortly after with an augmentation for he was in like sorte within a whyle deposed by the Emperours authoritie bicause he would not kepe the promise whiche he had made vnto the Emperesse and was in moste cruell wise dealt with all whiche crueltie was the rather shewed to him by the meanes and procurements as Sabellicus noteth of Pelagius whom Vigilius had placed to be his Suffragan in his absence About this tyme Epiphanius Bishop of Constantinople as Liberatus saith died in whose rowme the Empresse placed Anthymus About whiche time was great strife betwene Gaianus and Theodosius for the Bishoprike of Alexandria and within two monethes saith Liberatus the Empresse Theodora sent Narses a noble man to enstall Theodosius and to banishe Gaianus Theodosius beinge banished the sea was vacant wherunto Paulus who came to Constantinople to pleade his cause before the Emperour against certeine stubborne monkes was appointed and he receiued saith Liberatus authoritie of the Emperour to remoue heretiques and to ordeine in their places men of right faith This Paulus was shortely after accused of murther whereupon the Emperour sent Pelagius the Popes proctour liyng at Constantinople ioyning vnto him certeine other Bishoppes with commission to depose Paulus from the Bishoplike office whiche they did and they ordered for him zoilus whome afterwarde the Emperour deposed and ordered Apollo who is nowe the Bishop of Alexandria saith Liberatus Certeine Monkes met with Pelagius in his retourne from Gaza where Paulus was deposed towardes Constantinople bringing certeine articles gathered out of Origenes workes minding to make suite vnto the Emperour that both Origen and those articles might be condemned whome Pelagius for malice he bare to Theodorus Bishop of Caesaria in Cappadocia an ernest fautor of Origen did further all that he might Pelagius therfore doth earnestly entreate the Emperour that he would commaunde that to be doone whiche the Monkes sued for to witte that Origen with those articles shoulde be damned The whiche suite the Emperour graunted beinge gladde to geue iudgement vppon suche matters and so by his commaundement the sentence of the great curse against Origen and those Articles were drawne foorth in writing and subscribed with their handes and so sente to Vigilius the Bishop of Rome to zoilus Bishop of Alexandria Euphemius of Antioche and Peter Bishop of Hierusalem These Bisshops receiuinge this sentence of the curse pronounced by the Emperours commaundement and subscribinge thereunto Origine was condemned beinge dead who before longe agoe on liue was condemned When Theodorus Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia herde of this condemnacion to be reuenged he laboured ernestly with the Emperour to condemne Theodorus Mopsuestenus a famous aduersarie of Origen the whiche he brought to passe by ouermuche fraude abusinge the Emperour to the great slaunder and offence of the Churche Thus in all these Ecclesiasticall causes it appeareth the Emperour had the chiefe entermedlinge who although at the laste was beguiled by the false Bishoppes yet is it woorthy the notinge by whome this offence in the church came which appeareth by that that followeth I beleeue that this is manifest to all men saith Liberatus that this offence entred into the Churche by Pelagius the Deacon and Theodorus the Bishoppe the whiche euen Theodorus him selfe did openly publis he with clamours cryinge that he and Pelagius were woorthy to be brente quicke by whome this offence entred into the worlde This Pelagius as yet was but Suffragan or proctor for the Pope who afterwarde in the absence of Pope Vigilius his maister crepte into his sea in the middest of the broiles that Totylas kinge of the Gothes made in Italy when also he came to Rome In the which history is to be noted the Popes subiection to Totylas whome humbly on his knées he acknowledged to be his Lorde appointed therto of God and him selfe as all the rest to be his seruaunt Note also howe the kinge sent him Embassadour what chardge and that by Othe of his voyage of his message and of his returne the King streightly gaue vnto him howe buxomely in all these thinges he obeyed How last of all towarde the Emperour beinge commaunded by him to tell his message he fell downe to his féete and with teares both to him and to his nobles he ceased not to make moste lamentable and humble supplication till without spéede but not without reproche he had leaue to returne home But least you should take these thinges to set foorth that Princes had onely their Iurisdiction ouer the Ecclesiasticall persones and that in matters Temporall and not in causes Ecclesiasticall marke what is writen by the Historians Platina amongest the decrées of this Pope Pelagius telleth and the same witnesseth Sabellicus that Narses the Emperours other deputie Ioyntly with Pelagius did decree that none by ambition shoulde be admitted to any of the holy orders Pelagius more ouer writeth vnto Narses desiringe him of his ayde againste all the Bishoppes of Liguria
them according to Goddes will and your holy aduise in suche sorte ▪ that neither I be founde reproueable in Goddes sight neither you nor the people incurre Goddes wrathfull indignation for these thinges howe this may be searched founde out and brought to perfection that I committee to be entreated by you and so to be declared vnto me The lesser matters also whiche in generall touche all but in especiall some and neede reformation I will that yee make enquirie of them and make relation vnto me thereof as for example if the rulers in the countreys neglect or sell Iustice if they be takers or oppressours of the Churches widowes orphanes or of the poore Yf they come to the sermons Yf they doo reuerence and obey duely their Priestes Yf they presume to take in hande any new opinions or argumentes that may hurt the people c. The Bishoppes after they had consulted vpon these matters doo make relation vnto the Emperour what they had done shewynge him that they had founde some of the Bishoppes and chiefe Mynisters faulty and humbly pray the Emperour on their behalfe that he will of his goodnes graunt these some space to amende their faultes They complaine to the Emperour of Bishops Priestes for lacke of preachinge and that noble men gentle men come not vnto those few sermons that bée And so then recyte many other enormities as about tythes incest and suche like especially in religious persones who for the most parte are cleane out of order And to bringe these to their former order and state resteth say they in your disposicion ▪ Thus doth this Kinge take vppon him and thus doo the Bishoppes yéelde vnto him the gouernment aswell of Ecclesiasticall as Temporall causes and thinges On this wise did Lodouicus alwaies exercise him selfe in so muche that for his carefull gouernment in Churche matters he was surnamed Pius the godly as his father before him was called Magnus the great Pope Leo. 4. writeth his humble letters vnto Lotharius on the behalfe of one Colonus who was chosen to be Bishop of Reatina but he might not consecrate him without the Emperours licence first obteined thereunto and therfore praieth the Emperour of his fauour towardes Colonus Vt vestra licentia accepta ibidem Deo adiuuante eum consecrare valeamus Episcopum That hauinge your licence wee may haue authoritie by Goddes helpe to consecrate him Bishoppe there Vppon this woorde Licence The Glossar noteth the consente of the Prince to be required after the election be made Nexte to Leo sauinge the woman Pope Iohan was Benedictus 3. chosen who was ratified and confirmed by the Emperours authoritie who sente his Embassadours to Rome for that purpose This Pope is commended for his greate godlines But he was ouer godly to liue longe in that sea neuerthelesse he was not so godly as the moste of his successours were al together vngodly as your owne writers make reporte And to note this chaunge the better Nauclerus telleth of diuerse wonders howe the Deuill appeared in an vgly shape and hurled stones at men as they went by set men togeather by the eares bewraied théeues and priestes of their lemmans and such like Howe it rained bloudde thrée daies and thrée nightes How great Grassehoppers with sixe wynges and sixe féete and twoo téethe harder then any stone couered the grounde and destroied the fruites not altogeather vnlike those Grassehoppers that S. Iohn noteth in his Reuelation to come from the bottomlesse pitte after the starre was fallen After this folowed a great pestilence Whiche woonders if they be true be not vnwoorthy the notinge consideringe the chaunge that folowed For hitherto still from time to time although some Popes did priuily attempte the contrarye yet the Emperours alwaies kepte the confirmation of the Pope the inuesturinge of Bishoppes and the orderinge of many other Ecclesiasticall matters tyll the next Pope beganne openly to repine at the matter and his successour after him to Curse and some of those that folowed fell from chidinge and cursinge to plaine fightinge for the same In the whiche combate though with muche adooe at length they wroonge them selues from vnder the Emperours obedience Yet alwaies euen hitherto Princes haue had no litle interest in Ecclesiasticall causes as hereafter shall appéere After Benedictus was Nicolas chosen whom the Emperour him selfe beynge present did confirme as witnesseth Nauclerus At the same time was the Emperour Lodouicus 2. at Rome who confirmed the Popes election The same also saith Martyn to the whiche Volateran addeth of the Emperour the Pope De communi consilio ambo cuncta gerebāt All thinges were doone by common counsaile or consent of bothe the Emperour and the Pope And least it might be thought he meaneth not as wel Ecclesiastical as Temporal matters Sabellicus maketh the matter more plaine affirming that the Emperour and the Pope had secrete conference together many daies and had consultation both touching the matters perteining to Christian Religion and also of the state of Italy And a litle after talking of the Pope The Pope decreed by the consent of Lodouicus that from thence foorth no Prince no not the Emperour him selfe should be present in the councell with the Cleargie onles it were when the principall pointes of faith were treated of Hitherto in all these Ecclesiasticall causes the Emperour hath the doinge as well or more than the Pope But this last decree that by the allowāce of the Emperour the Pope made exempteth Temporall Princes from Ecclesiasticall matters in their councelles though in the most principall matters Ecclesiastical cōcerning faith it leueth to them their interestes Martinus the second gat into the Papacie malis artibus by naughty meanes saith Platina and as is noted in the margent it was in this Popes time that first of all the creation of the Popes was made without the Emperours authoritie But this Pope died so shortely as he came in naughtily After whom Adriā the third like vnto his predecessour the second of that name who by cūning sleight practised to defraude the Emperour of his authoritie espying oportunitie by reason that Charles the Emperour as Sabellicus saith was farre of busied in the warres doth promote this matter to be decreed by the Senate and the people and this he did immediatly after he was made Bishop and persuadeth them that they doo not hereafter wayte for the Emperours approbation and confirmatiō in appointing their Bishop but that they shoulde kepe to them selues their own fredome The whiche thinge also Nicolaus the firste with others attempted but coulde not bringe it to passe as Platina reporteth Who also wryteth that the Romaines had conceiued an hope of great libertie in the hauty courage of this Pope beinge a Romaine borne But to their great griefe he within a while was taken from them The next Pope Stephen had an obscure tyme sauing that Charles therein called a councell at Collen and after him Arnulphus the Emperour other twoo the one
so muche that Nauclerus saith before the exequies of Alexander were finished the Cleargy and people that came to the buriall cried out that S. Peter had chosen Maister Archedeacon Hildebrande to be Pope whereuppon the Cardinalles went a side and elected Hildebrande But Benno who was a Cardinall at Rome the same time saith that the selfe same eueninge and hower when Alexander died Hildebrande was enstalled by his souldiours without the assent of either Priest or people fearing least delay woulde bréede perill to whose election not one of the Cardinales did subscribe in so muche that Hildebrande saide to an Abbot that came short to the election brother Abbot yée haue taried ouer longe to whome the Abbot answeared and thou Hildebrande hast made ouer muche hast in that thou hast vsurped the Apostolique sea against the Canons thy Maister the Pope beinge not yet buried By whiche poste haste importune clamours and violent election it is easie to sée how Platina and those that followe him doo no lesse lie than flatter in praysinge this Pope and settinge foorthe so comely a fourme of his election Nauclerus protesteth and promiseth in the tellinge of this Popes life to kéepe an indifferencie and fidelitie in the report of the Chroniclers firste reporteth the state of y e Churche vnder this Pope woorde for woorde as I haue rehersed out of Abbas Vrspurg and to declare his further vprightnes in the mater he telleth what he foūde writen in a fine stile amongest the Saxon histories that the Bishoppes of Fraunce moued the Prince not to suffer this election whiche was made without his consent for if he did it might woorke to him muche and greuous daungier the Prince perceiuinge this suggestion to be true sent immediatly his Embassadours to Rome to demaunde the cause wherefore they presumed without the Kinges licence against the custome of their auncestours to ordeine a Pope and further to commaunde the new◠electe Pope to forsake that dignitie vnlaufully come by onlesse they woulde make a reasonable satisfaction These Embassadours were honorably receiued and when they had declared their message the Pope himselfe maketh them this answere He taketh God to witnesse that he neuer coueted this high dignitie but that he was chosen and thrust violently thereunto by the Romaines who woulde not suffer him in any wise to refuse it notwithstandinge they coulde by no meanes perswade him to take the Papacie vpon him and to be consecrate Pope till he were surely certified that bothe the kinge and also the Princes of Germanie had geuen their assente When the kinge was certified of this answeare he was contente and willingly gaue commaūdement that he shoulde be ordered Pope He also reciteth out of Blondus and other writers That the Kinge gaue his Consente vnto the Popes election sending the Bisshoppe of Verselles the Chauncellour of Italy to confirme the election by his authoritie as the maner had beene the whiche thinge also Platina saith he seemeth to affirme Afterwardes the Emperour called a Councel which he helde as Sabellicus saith at Woormes whereat were all the Bishoppes of Fraunce and Germany excepte the Saxōs The churchmen of Rome sent their epistles with gréeuous cōplaints against Hildebrand vnto this coūcel In quibus Hildebrandum ambitus periurij accersunt eundemque plaeraque auarè superbeque facere conqueruntur hocque reiecto alium pastorem postulant wherein they accuse Hildebrande of ambition and periury complaininge that he dooth manye thinges proudly and couetously and therefore desire that he may bee deposed and another pastour appoincted them The Fathers in this Councell make a Decrée for to depose Hildebrande recitinge therein many his greeuous and horrible crymes that moued them therto And not onely the Bysshops of Germany and Fraunce but also the Bissoppes of Italy assembled togeather at Ticinum a citie in Lombardy nowe called Pauia did subscribe this Decree This Synode beynge thus finished the Emperour saith Auentinus wrote two letters the one to Hildebrand the other to the people and priests of Rome wherein he commaundeth Hildebrande according to the Decree of y e Councell to retourne to his pryuate life and estate and the Romaines to forsake Hildebrande and to choose to them selues a Pastor accordinge to the manner of their auncestours Who so listeth to reade these epistles and the seditious traiterous and tragicall feates and practises of the Pope against the Emperour bothe before and especially after this Decree he may sée them in Orthwinus Gratius in Nauclerus Auentinus Sabellicus and Platina Henry the. 5. came into Italy to ende the controuersy and discorde that was betwixte him and the Pope for this iurisdiction and to make suche composition as might bringe quietnesse bothe to the Churche and the Empyre But Paschalis the Pope did not muche lyke of his comminge as the Italian wryters witnesse The Emperour sendeth to the Pope the Pope againe to him certaine couenauntes were agreed vpon and confirmed by othe and assured by pledges on bothe the parties But the Pope coulde not or woulde not keepe promise with the Emperour for that his Bishoppes did withstande and in no wise would stande to the agreement whereupon folowed great tumult and a bluddy fraye The Emperour seynge they for their partes would not stande to the couenauntes whiche were confyrmed so strongly by othe and hostages as mighte be woulde not in like wyse be bounde to his Shortly after Easter following there was a freendly peace concluded betwixt the Emperour and the Pope who crowned Henry 5. Emperour deliuering vnto him with his holy hande suche priuileges as his auncestours were wont to enioie and confirmed the same to him neuer to be taken from him vnder the paine of the great Cursse After this the Emperour tooke an Othe of al the inhabitauntes in euery Citie thorough Italy for their faithfull obedience to him and the faithfull keepinge of this his prerogatiue and priuilege in Ecclesiasticall thinges or causes The next Emperour to Henry was Lotharius who so laboured with the Pope to retaine the inuesturing of Ecclesiasticall persones and besides that he so trauailed in other Ecclesiasticall causes so well as Tēporall that saith Vrspurgens Huius laus est à vindicata religione legibus The praise of this Prince is in that he refourmed Religion and the Lawes Nexte to whome was Conradus Emperour to whome the Romaynes wrote supplicacions to come and chalendge his right in these matters to reduce the forme of y e Empyre to the old state which it was in in Constantine and Iustinians daies to deliuer them from the tiranny of the Pope To whome also the Pope wrote humble supplications to take his cause into his protection against the Magistrates of Rome whiche tooke vppon them to reduce the Pope to the olde order and state of the auncient Bisshoppes of Rome Nexte to whome followed the godly and zelous Emperour Frederike the firste who séeinge the horrible vices of the Romishe
Frenche kynge prouing them to be as in deede they were no other but temporall neuerthelesse not standinge muche about the name nor taking them all away from their iurisdiction he onely said he would reforme them Neuerthels for certeine daies there was muche disputing to and fro whether they belonged to the kinge to reforme or no till the king by his foresaide procuratour gaue them the kinges determinat aunswere declaring vnto them howe that they ought not to be troubled bicause the kinges intention was to keepe those rightes and customes of the Churche and Prelates which were good and reasonable but by reason of their faults the iudgement whiche were good and reasonable apperteined not vnto thē to determine but to the king Bicause the Decree Nouit c. saieth that the kinge of Fraunce in matters de Facto hath not his superiour c. VVhereuppon hee concluded that the kinge woulde heare all the informations And those Customes of the whiche he shoulde be fully enfourmed that they were good and reasonable he woulde make onely to bee obserued In cōclusion the Prelates made such importune labour that the forsaide attourney aunswered them for the kinge that if the Prelates themselues would amende those thinges that were to be amended and corrected the king would abide till the feaste of the Natiuitie next to come within whiche terme he woulde innouate nothing but if within the saide terme the Prelates had not amended those thinges that were to be amended and corrected that then the kinge would put to suche remedy as should be acceptable to God and the people Whiche in conclusion the king was faine to do by a sharpe seuere Lawe whan he sawe howe the Prelates dallied him of with faire wordes and therefore he him selfe Composuit rem sacerdotum did set in order the matters of the Priestes In England at this time many abuses about Ecclesiasticall causes were reformed although the Pope his Clergie did earnestly mainteine them by king Edwarde the. 3. who wrote his letters to y ◠Pope admonishing him to leue of his disordered doinges whan that woulde not serue he redressed them by act of parliament and as Nauclerus saith he commaunded that from thenceforth no body shoulde bring into the Realme any kinde of the Popes letters vnder the paine of drowning and expelled all persones out of his kingdom that weare by the Pope promoted to any benefice Next to Lewes was Charles the. 4. chosen Emperour who helde a councel at Mentze with y e Prelates Princes in the yere of the Lorde 1359. wherein he much reproued the Popes Legate for his disorders and commaunded the Archbishop of Mentze to reforme his Clergie and the disorders amongest them for otherwise he woulde see to it him selfe The Popes Legate seyng howe the Emperour tooke vpon him gate him to his shippe and saylled to Colayn as one that fledde awaye With whiche doynges the Emperour became very famouse for he was a man of great workes who dyd lyghten the kyngdome of Boheme bothe with the the settinge foorth of Religion and with the discipline of Lawes and good manners At this time wrote Nilus the Bishoppe of Thessalonica declaringe the onely cause of the diuision betwéene the Gréeke and the Latine Churche to be for that the Pope will not suffer frée and generall Councelles to be called by the Emperours accordinge to the auncient custome that his authoritie is not by the Lawe of God but by the positiue Lawes of Princes graunted onely because that than Rome was the greatest Citie in the worlde and hath no prerogatiue of Christ or Peter more than any other Bishoprike Kinge Richarde the. 2. called a Councell at VVestminster saith Polydore wherein it was thought good to the Kinge and the Princes for the weale of his realme of Englande if a parte of the Popes authoritie were bounded within the limites of the Occean sea he meaneth that it were driuen out of the Isle of Britaine wherfore it was decreed that hereafter it shoulde be lawfull to no man to trie any cause before the Bishop of Rome nor that any man be publikly pronounced wicked or enemy of Religion that is to wit as the common people terme it be excommunicate by his authoritie nor that if any man haue any suche commaundement from him they execute the same The penaltie ordeined to those that violate this lawe was that losinge all his goodes he shoulde be caste into perpetuall pryson The Churche of Rome at this time was maruailously torne in sunder with an horrible Schisme whiche continued about xl yéeres hauinge at ones thrée heades callinge them selues Popes euery one of them in moste despitefull wise calling the other Antichrist Schismatique Heretique tiraunt thiefe traytour the sonne of perditiō sower of Cockle the childe of Belial c. diuerse learned men of that time inueighed against them all thrée as Henricus de Hassia 10. Cerson Theodorych Nyem secretary before this to Pope Boniface who prooueth at lardge by good reasons by the woorde of God and by the Popes decrées that the refourmation of these horrible disorders in the Churche belonge to the Emperour and the secular Princes Sigismunde the noble Emperour vnderstandinge his duetie herein amongest other his notable actes called a Councell togeather at Constantia and brought againe to vnitie the Churche deuided in three partes whiche Councell saithe Nauclerus beganne by the Emperours commaundement and industry in the yeere 1414. To the whiche Councell came Pope Iohn before the Emperours comminge thinkinge to haue outfaced the Councell with his pretensed authoritie till the Emperour came who geuinge to all men in the Councell free libertie to speake their mindes a great companie of horrible vices were laide streight way to his chardge To the whiche when he was not hable to answeare he was deposed and the other twoo Popes also and an other chosen chiefly by the Emperours meanes called Martyn the. 5. After these thinges finished they entred into the communication of a reformation bothe of the Cleargie and the Layty to whiche purpose the Emperour had deuised a booke of Constitucions and also willed certaine learned Fathers there but specially the Bishoppe of Camera a Cardinall there presente to deuise what faultes they coulde finde and how they shoulde be redressed not sparinge any dégrée neither of the Prelates nor of the Princes them selues Whiche the Bishoppe did and compiled a litle booke or Libell entituled a Libell for reformation of the Churche gathered by Peter de Aliaco c. and offered to the Churche rulers gathered togeather in Constaunce Councell by the commaundement of the Emperour Sigismonde c. In this Libell of reformation after he hath touched the notable enormities in the Pope in the Courte of Rome in the Cardinalles in the Prelates in Religious personnes and in Priestes in exaction in Canons and Decretalles incollations of benefices in fastinges in the diuine seruice in Piaures in