constitution he ordeined what manner of Clerkes should be ordained in the Church that Clerkes should not remoue themselues from a lesse Church to a greater and that the rents of the Church should be expended to godly vses and acts Hee appointed also the time for monasticall profession and the rules which Monkes should leade He established his ordinance for the election life and behauiour of Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall persons that they reside vpon their charge that they resort not to the Court except they be expressely called that they celebrate not diuine offices in any place which is not consecrated to the seruice of God He declared what causes should be lawfull for diuorce and separation of mariage as Theodosius the yonger and Valent. the third had done before him He ordained also that the holy Scriptures should be read in the vulgar tongue and appointed what translations should be in vse It would bee both tedious and vnnecessarie to make long stay vpon rehersall of those imperiall lawes which haue bin both receiued and reuerenced for gouernment of the Church For Iustinian professed that by authoritie of the lawes both diuine and humane affaires were well ordered and againe there is nothing but may be examined by authoritie of the Emperour for hee receiueth from God a generall principallitie and gouernment ouer all men The same is acknowledge by Pope Gregorie in his epistle to Mauritius To this end is power ouer all persons giuen from heauen vnto my Lord for assistance of good men and enlargement of the way to heauen Whereupon Espencaeus saith that Gregorie the great did ingeniouslie acknowledge a soueraignetie in Emperours ouer priests So Balsamon hath said that the Emperours had power to appoint patriarchall seas according to the power giuen them from aboue Whereto doth that of Isodore agree Princes of the world haue their authoritie and power in the Church that the ecclesiasticall discipline should bee held in strength that they who will not obserue it by admonition of the priest should be constrained by force of the Magistrate Yea diuers of the papall decrees for ordering of Ecclesiasticall affaires were lawes made by Christian Emperours of which lawes many are yet extant in the Codex of Theodosius The Canon Iudicantem expressing the office of a Iudge in cognisance of causes attributed by Gratian to Pope Eleutherius was made by the Emperor Constantine The Canon si quis Iratus attributed to Pope Fabian against accusers is a law of the same Emperour Constantine in the Codex of Theodosius The Canons which goe vnder the names of the same Fabian of Sixtus and of Hadrian concerning the same subiect are found to bee made by Gratian the sonne of Valentinian the first The decrees of Pope Caius and of Pope Iohn for restitution of Church goods taken from Bishops when they were forced from their sea are the Edictes of the same Emperour Gratian. The Canon qui ratione attributed to Pope Damasus for order in accusations is comprised in Theodosius Code vnder the name of the same Emperour The Canon nullus vnder the name of Pelagius was made by the Emperours Honorius and Arcadius The Canon quisquis vnder the name of Eutychian was promulged by the Emperours Honorius and Theodosius The Canon consanguineos for separation of marriage contracted within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity is a constitution of the Emperour Constantine the great The Canon Priuiligia for confirmation of the priuiledges of the Church vnder the name of Anacletus is a constitution of the Emperours Theodosius and Valentinian In a word the volume of decrees is filled with diuers constitutions of Christian Emperours either assumed by Popes or attributed vnto them without expressing either the name or authoritie of the Emperours And touching the rest Pope Honorius acknowledged that it was by decree of the Emperour Iustinian that the Canons of thâ— Fathers should haue the force of lawes Now when any difference did arise in matters of faith when any great schisme or disturbance was maintained in the church the Emperours did vse to assemble their Bishops in common Councell and those things that were by them decreed were afterwards confirmed by Imperiall constitution So Nicephorus and Eusebius doe write that Constantine the great hauing imployed Hosius Bishop of Corduba for composing the difference betwixt Alexander Bishop of Alexandria and Arrius wherewith the Church was exceedingly disturbed and perceiuing his good purpose thereby nothing aduanced assembled by his authority the Councel of Nice in Bithynia which he honored with his presence and defrayed the charge of 308. Bishops that were called to that Councell Of whom Eustachius Bishop of Antioch or rather as the Canon law affirmeth Constantine himselfe was president The forme of faith agreed vpon in this Councell was presently confirmed by Constantine and both imparted and imposed vpon others who had not bin present and charge giuen vnder paine of death that none should secretly preserue any of the bookes of Arrius from the fire Afterwards the same faith was both declared and confirmed by constitution of the Emperours Gratian Valentinian and Theodosius The generall Councel of Constantinople was assembled against the heresie of Macedonius by Theodosius the great The Bishops assembled in this Councel wrote thus in humble maner vnto the Emperour Theodosius We beseech your Maiestie that as you haue honored the Church by your letters wherewith you haue called vs together so it may please you to confirme the finall conclusion of our decrees with your sentence and with your seale The generall Councell of Ephesus was assembled by authoritie of Theodosius the yonger against the heresie of Nestorius The decrees of this Councell together with the decrees of the Councell of Nice containing the profession of Christian Faith was confirmed by a constitution of Theodosius and Valentinian whereby also the writings of Nestorius are condemned to the fire The fourth generall Councell was appointed by authoritie of the Emperour Martian first to be held at Nice afterwards vpon certaine occasions it was assembled at Chalcedon In this Councel Euagrius writeth that both the Bishops and temporall Iudges did oftentimes suspend their decrees in this sort Vnto vs it seemeth right if it shall also like our most vertuous and godly Lord the Emperour And in the end it is thus concluded all our doings being referred to the Emperours Maiestie Lastly the decrees of this Councell touching Christian Faith were confirmed by a publike constitution of the same Emperour Martian The fifth oecumenicall Councell was assembled by Iustinian the first and the sixth by Constantine the third both of them in the Citie of Constantinople The last of these Councels Constantine subscribed after that he had commaunded that ten Bishops of the East and ten of the West
should repaire to his Court and open to him the decrees of the Councell That he might consider saith Sozomenus whether they were agreed according to the Scriptures and that he might further determine and conclude what were best to be done In briefe Cardinall Cusanus doth acknowledge that he did euermore find that the Emperours and their Iudges with the Senate had the primacie and office of presidence in the eight generall Councels In regard whereof Odoacer did in this sort expostulate with Pope Symachus and the Clergie of Rome We marueile that any thing hath been attempted without vs for without vs nothing should haue been done our Priest being aliue In like manner Nicephorus did write to the Emperour Emanuel Paleologus You are the captaine of the profession of our faith you haue reformed the Temple of God from Marchants and exchangers of the heauenly doctrine and from heretickes by the word of God During this time a stiffe strife did arise betwixt the Bishops of Rome and the Bishops of Constantinople as did once among the Disciples of Christ whether of them should be greatest In the Councell of Nice it had been decreed that the first place should be giuen to the Sea of Rome the second to Alexandria and the third to Antioch for the Citie of Constantinople at that time was not built neither was Hierusalem then a patriarchall Sea But after that Constantinople was aduanced to be the head of the Empire the Bishop thereof did claime prerogatiue before all the rest affirming as Platina and out of him Sabellicus doe write that where the head of the Empire was there also should be the principall Sea The Bishop of Rome answered that the Citie of Rome from whence a colonie was brought to Constantinople was in right to be esteemed the head of the Empire for the Graecians did vse to stile their Prince 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Emperour of the Romans and they themselues were also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Romans In this contention Platina affirmeth that diuers Emperours fauoured the Bishops of Constantinople In the Councell of Chalcedon it was decreed that the Church of Constantinople should stand in one degree of dignitie and enioy equall priuiledge with the Church of Rome The same equalitie was also decreed in the second Councell of Constantinople and confirmed by constitution of Honorius and Theodosius By a constitution of Leo and Athemius the Bishop of Constantinople is declared to haue precedence of place before all others which law was alleadged by Photius to confirme the primacie of the Patriarch of Constantinople Iustinian declareth that the Church of Constantiâ—nople was the head of all other Churches Which constitution is omitted in some editions of Iustinians Code Mauritius admonished Gregorie the first to beare obedience to Iohn Bishop of Constantinople Afterwards Pope Gregorie the third with much adoe as Platina writeth obtained of Phocas Emperour or rather as Zonoras and P. Diaconus do discribe him the wilde drunken bloodie adulterous tyrant of Constantinople that the Sea of Rome should be the chiefe of all other Churches But this was an errour in the Emperours of Constantinople first to settle so great dignitie and prerogatiue in a place far distant from the principal seat and strength of the Empire Secondly to permit affaires of so high nature to depend vpon direction of any one within their Empire For by this meanes the Bishops of Rome did steale into such strength with the common people that by their Interdictions only they were of power to withdraw them from paying tribute and bearing alleagance to the Emperours of Constantinople vpon occasion that Leo surnamed Iconomachus had caused the Images of Saints to be taken downe Finally they pulled the west-part of the Empire from their subiection and left the residue with that mortall maime to be a pray to the barbarous infidels The west Empire flourished for a time first in France and afterwards in Germanie and the most apparant cause whereby it was broken and beaten downe was the absolute vnlimited power which the Bishops of Rome challenged principally in Ecclesiasticall affaires and consequently in all For by entitling themselues the Vicars of Iesus Christ the Spouse of the Church the Soueraigne Bishop and Prince of all others the Maisters and Lords of all the world for these are the titles which Innocent the third Boniface the eight Clement the fifth and diuers others haue assumed by exempting also both the persons and goods of all the Clergie froÌ„ secular subiection and by binding all men to their obedience in matters which concerne the soule they haue alwaies been able to stirre vp not onlie weightie warres against the Emperours but also most stiffe and vnnatural rebellions Which disordered demeanour Carion accounteth the only cause that brought the Empire to a feeble state So Iohn the third combined with Berengar the third aud Adalbar his sonne who pretended themselues to be Kings of Italy to make head against the Emperour Otho the great Pope Iohn the eighteenth made league with Crescentius and mutined the people against the Emperour Otho the third Benedict 9. to stay Henrie the blacke from entering into Italy stirred Peter King of Hungarie to beare himselfe for Emperour to whom he sent a crowne with this inscription Petra dedit Romam Petro tibi Papa coronam Gregorie the seuenth who was the first that enterprised to cause himselfe to be elected and consecrated without the consent and against the pleasure of the Emperour and who set forth a decree whereby he excommunicated all those who should affirme that either the consent or knowledge of the Emperour was herein necessarie opposed against the Emperour Henrie the fourth first Rodulph Duke of Suauie giuing charge to the Archbishops of Menâ—s and of Collen to consecrate him Emperour to whom also he sent a crowne with this inscription Petra dedit Petro Petrus diadema Rudolpho Afterwards weary of nothing so much as of quiet he stirred Ecbert Marquis of Saxonie against the same Emperour Galasius the twelfth raised against Henrie the fifth Emperour the most part of his subiects and especially the Archbishop of Ments whom he so strongly seconded with the Normanes that were in Sicilie that the Emperour was constrained to quit his quarrell and to yeeld the collation of Bishoprickes to the Pope Innocent the second raised against Lothaire the twelfth Roger the Norman whom he inuested in the Duchie of Pouille which the Emperour claimed to be a fiffe of the Empire At the last the contention was composed by mediation of S. Bernard who then liued and was with the Emperour wherein the Pope sped so well that he was ioyned with the Emperour in holding Bauier The same Innocent the second raised Guelphus Duke of Bauier against Conrade the third whom hee aided with monie and all other conuenient meanes This warre was so villanouslie cruell that
three or foure at the table who esteemed that which I had said not for a paradoxe but for an Adoxe or flat absurditie seeing many Christian countries both lately and at this present haue admitted forain gouernment in matters of religion By this time the Basons and Ewers were set vpon the table and all of vs were attentiue to the giuing of thankes After wee had washed and the cloath was taken away N. in this sort renewed speech What hath been the vse of auncient Empires and Common-wealths concerning supreame gouernment in matters pertaining to religion I haue not I doe confesse obserued But it seemeth indeed that the politicall gouernment in Ecclesiasticall affaires should be a point of Regalitie and that it is a hard matter if not impossible for any state either to grow or long time to continue very great wherein a forraine power doth hold the regiment in religion At the least either to grow or continue any greater then that forraine power shall thinke expedient That which from me was openly reiected being allowed by N. and in the very same words by him repeated found good acceptance among the rest Whereupon I tooke occasion to say that speech I perceiued was oftentimes like vnto coine which passed for currant not in regard of the mettall onely but chiefely in regard of the stampe that was set vpon it Nay said N. beautifying his speech with a courteous smile we will also bring your mettall to the touch There is but one truth in religion which is not subiect to any humane power but the discipline thereof or matters of circumstance and externall forme are held by our Church to depend vpon the power of the Prince If question be made touching matter of substance the same also may be determined within the realme by the Clergie thereof assembled together by authoritie of the Prince Or if the Clergie of any other countrie should be taken to assistance or aduice they come as equals and not as superiours For so Eusebius reporteth that Cyprian Bishop of Carthage did aduise with the Bishop of Rome concerning the affaires of the Church and that Dyonise of Alexandria aduised in like sort with Cornelius Stephen and Sixtus Bishops of Rome without attributing vnto them either title or qualitie otherwise then as men of their owne order and ranke Now I haue read many controuersies in Diuinitie concerning this question whereof the multitude doth rather cloy then content and therefore I will not embarke you in that disputation If you can make proofe out of other writers that this authoritie in matters of religion is a right of Regalitie it will follow I suppose that it cannot without apparant danger depend vpon a foraine power If also you do manifest that in all principall Empires and Common-wealths this authoritie hath bin exercised by the chiefe in state you may probably conclude that it is a Regalitie For these rights doe little varie but remaine in a manner the very same in all states of what kind soeuer they are And although true religion is reuealed vnto vs by God yet religion in the generall proceedeth from nature in regard whereof there is some coherence and communitie in all sorts of religions as to acknowledge that there is a God to worship him to worship him by oblation and sacrifice c. For although all nations doe not acknowledge and worship the true God yet there is no nation as Cicero saith which doth not both acknowledge and adore some These generall points which naturally or by consent of nations are common in religion may well bee considered without contending which religion in particular is true For this will hardly by all parties be agreed because euery man as Philo saith either by vse or by instruction iudgeth his owne religion best So Chrysostome affirmeth that in all differencies of religion euery man will say I say true But this argument which you haue propounded being new this point being not pointed at by any whom I haue seene I would gladly here you fortifie the same The argument being new answered I and now newly raysed into question you must not engage your expectation too farre I shall doe much if I minister some matter for better iudgements to work into forme The rights of Soueraignty or of maiesty so termed by Cicero and by Liuie the rights of Empire and of Imperiall Maiestie by Tacitus sacraregni by Aristotle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the Lawyers Sacra sacrorum sacra indiuidua iura sublimia by the Feudistes iura regalia are nothing else but an absolute and perpetuall power to exercise the highest actions and affaires in some cretaine state These are the proper qualities of Soueraigne or Maiesticall power that it be both absolute and also perpetuall If it be absolute but not perpetuall thâ—n is it not soueraigne for such power hath been oftentimes committed by the Romanes to their Dictators by the Lacedemonians to their Harmostes by many Kings to their Regents Viceroyes or Lieutenants But because they haue no proprietie of power inherent in them but only an execution or exercise thereof committed to their charge vnder limitation of time because also it may vpon iust cause bee reuoked within that time they are not accounted to haue the same in Soueraignetie And this holdeth true although such power bee committed for a very long time as the Athenians did to their great Archos for tenne yeres although it bee committed also in a most ample manner which the auncient Latines called optima lege without controlement or account such as had the Pontifices in Rome or as the Cuidians euery yeere chose 60. of their Citizens whom for this cause they called Amimones that is men without imputation or account And lastly although it be without certaine limitation of time as sometimes had the Regents of France created for the infancie furie or absence of their King who before the law of Charles the fifth dispatched matters in their proper name Againe if it be perpetuall but not absolute as either depending vpon some other or else giuen either vpon charge or with exception and restraint then is it not soueraigne For such power was giuen by decree of Charles the fifth Emperor to the Senate of Milan To confirme the constitutions of the Prince as also to infirme and abrogate the same to dispence contrarie to the statutes to make enablements giue prerogatiues graunt restitutions c. that no appeale should be made from the Senate c. And whatsoeuer they should doe should haue like force as if it were done or decreed by the Prince Yet might they not graunt pardon for offences or giue letters of safe conduct vnto parties conuicted So likewise in the ancient forme of inaugurating the Kings of Arragon the great Magistrate or Iustice said thus vnto him Wee who are in vertue not inferiour and in power greater then thy selfe create thee King yet with this condition that one amongst vs shal haue
Prophet Dauid Augustus annexed the greatest pontificate to the imperiall dignitie to whom the people by the law of Royalty transferred all their power as well in religious as in ciuill affaires Suetonius writeth that C. Caesar was at one time greatest Pontifex and also Augur Seruius testifieth that C. Caesar being Pontifex M. Terrentius Varro did write vnto him a booke concerning their sacred and religious rites Againe Suetonius affirmeth that Galba did beare three Priest-hoods The same Suetonius saith that Claudius Caesar had the Priest-hood in such honorable estimation that he neuer made choise or nomination of 〈◊〉 vntill he had been sworne In regard of this connexion of the Empire and pontificate Tacitus did write nunc deum munere summum pontificem suâ—â—â—um hominum esse The greatest pontificate was also borne by Vespasian Traiane and diuers other Romane Emperors the Maiestie of which Emperors was esteemed most sacred in so much as diuine both titles adorations were giuen vnto them Their Statues and Images were sacred and adored as Tacitus and Vegetius do report it was treason for any man either to pul away or to violate those who did flie vnto them to melt them also and also to fell them Tacitus writeth that L. Ennius was accused of treason for melting the Image of the Prince which accusation although Tiberius did forbid to proceed yet Suetonius affirmeth that he commanded one to be arraigned for taking the head from the statue of Augustus and setting another vpon the same This kind of accusation grew to that degree that it was capitall for a man to beare the Image of the Prince stamped in money or engrauen in a Ring to any vncleane or vnseemely place Yea Seneca saith that vnder the Empire of Tiberius a certaine noble man was accused of treason for mouing his hand to his pâ—iuie parts in making vrin when he did weare a ring vpon 〈◊〉 finger whereon was ingrauen the Image of the Prince So great was the reuerence borne vnto them Vpon this generall both authoritie and vse for Princes to manage diuine affaires St. Hierom hath said The priuiledge to offer sacrifice was due to the first borne but most of all vnto Kings And yet in these times the Emperours reserred many matters pertaining to their religion to be determined by the Senate partly for expedition and ease partly for that they would not draw all authoritie from the senate at once So Tacitus writeth of a decree of the Senate for expelling of the ceremonies of the Aegyptians of the Iewes Likewise vnder Claudius a decree of the Senate was made that the Pontifex should consider what ceremony of the Aruspices should be reteined So Tiberius referred to the Senate whether Christ should be receiued among the Romane Gods which in no case they would consent to decree because he had been worshipped for God without the publike authority of the Empire The like is reported to haue bin both purposed and propounded by Hadrian who commanded also that Temples should be built in euerie Citie without any Idols The like purpose in Alexander Seuerus is affirmed by Lampridius to haue been crossed vpon assurance made vnto him from those who gaue answere by inspection of Entrailes that if Christ should be receiued for God all men would become Christians and the other Temples should be forsaken But when he that would not be worshipped with other Gods was both admitted and adored for God alone when the Christian faith was publikely embraced in the Romane state religion was both aduanced and ordered by Imperiall authoritie For so Socrates testifieth in these words From that time when the Emperours began to be Christians the affaires of the Church depended vpon them in so much as the greatest Councels were alwaies assembled by their appointment So Chrysostome calleth the Emperour the height and head of all men in the world and one that hath no equall vpon earth And so did Leo the first write to the Emperour Leo that royall power was giuen him not only for gouernment of the world but especially for the safegard of the Church And so likewise Gregorie Bishop of Rome affirmed that power is giuen to Princes from heauen not only ouer Souldiers but ouer Priests Optatus saith there is no man aboue the Emperour but only God who made the Emperour But this is most euidently declared in the answere of Demetrius Chomatenus in these words The Emperour being both in common estimation and in very truth a skilfull gouernour is president and giueth strength to synod all sentences he setteth Ecclesiasticall orders in forme he giueth law for the life and ciuil cariage of those who serue at the Altar And againe to speake in one word the office of sacrificing only excepted the Emperour representeth the other priuiledges of a Bishop And therefore St. Augustine enuâ—ighed against the heresie of the Donatists in that they affirmed that the Church ought not to vse either lawes or any assistance from Princes And that speech of Donatus was iustly condemned Quid est imperatoricum ecclesia What hath the Emperour to do with the Church Two parts in the Church may separatly be considered the externall forme which consisteth in the politicall gouernment thereof and the essentiall forme consisting in the true substance and foundation of faith Concerning the first we may find many things aunciently ordered in the Church by Christian Emperours For so Constantine the great Anastatius and Iustinian the first established order for expence and forme of funerals The Emperours Gratian Valentinian the second and Theodosius the great prohibited that any corpes should be interred within the seates of the Apostles or Martyrs Honorius and Theodosius ordeined how many Deacons should be in the Church of Constantinople and what immunities euery Church should enioy Leo and Anthemius forbad alienation of lands pertaining to the Church Valentinian Theodosius and Arcadius did prohibite that any should be receiued for a Diaconisse who was not aged aboue fiftie yeeres which was afterwards confirmed by Iustinian Honorius and Arcadius forbad that Clerkes should haue any thing to do with publike actions or pleas Iustinian added that they should absteine from play and from all open spectacles and shewes Leo and Anthemius enioyned Monkes and religious persons not to depart out of their Monasteries and to liue in that modesty and sincerity wherto the imperiall lawes did bind them and that no Clergio man should be ordained by way of corruption or conuented in Iudgment in a place farre distant from his abode Iustinian ordained that vpon a certaine day in the weeke Bishops should go and visite the prisons to enquire for what cause euery prisoner is detained and to admonish the Magistrates to execute iustice In another
betwixt the Bishops of Constantinople and of Rome whether should be greatest that diuers Emperours fauoured the Church of Constantinople but at the last Pope Boniface obtained of the Emperour Phocas that the Sea of Rome should be the chiefe of all other Churches This you account an errour in gouernment to settle a power of so high qualitie in a place farre distant from the principall strength of the Empire For hereby the Bishops of Rome did grow to such greatnesse that they drew the west part of the Empâ—â—e to reuolt and left the residue for a pray to the baâ—barous Infidels Lastly you haue shewed that the Bishops of Rome aduancing their authoritie by degrees haue been of power to reduce the west Empire to a feeble state and to hold not the Emperour alone but all the chiefe Kings in Europe either as vassals or as tributaries to their Sea Generally that they haue challenged Soueraigne iurisdiction ouer all Kingdomes and Common-wealthes in the world whereby they haue cast diuers countries and among others this Realme of England into desperate distresses Now before answere should be offred to all these seuerall points I would think it fit vnder the leaue of better Iudgements to take some reasonable respite to aduise vpon them because questions of this high nature are not alwaies the same which sodainly they seeme and he bewrayeth too great opinion of his owne sufficiencie who presently will vndertake a controuersie of this weight But if Christ hath committed supreame power in religion to the Sea of Rome then is no place left to these rules and reasons of state Nay answered N. I haue protested before that we haue neither leasure nor lust to engulphe our selues in such an Ocean If Christ hath committed to the sea of Rome This is a large supposall indeed and that which will neuer settle in the opinion of many who are otherwise firmely affected to the doctrine of the Church of Rome Yea I am assuredly perswaded that the violence of ambition hath pulled many Bishops of Rome from their owne iudgement in making claâ—me to that authoritie which they neuer had either title to hold or abilitie to rule For diuers of them being sodainely borne out of a low retired state namely from some Cloister or heremitage into an vnknowne Sea of absolute authoritie they were ouerswayed therewith like a small boate with too large a saile And being men for the most part spent in age vntrained in experience and neither by nature nor by education of abilitie to conceiue the bounds and degrees of great affaires they tooke to themselues a licentious libertie supposing it reasonable yea altogether necessarie that all the Kings and Princes of the earth who hold their estate immediately from heauen who receiue their power from the hand of God should be subiect to the pleasure the passions the fierie furie the ignorance the errors the malice of one haughtie and humerous man whose weaknes is subiect as it hath bin plainelie declared by their liues to all immoderate motions of humanitie And al this vpon no other ground but because Christ said to S. Peter Thou art Peter and vpon this rock will I build my Church c. But what is this to Supremacie what is this to the Bishop of Rome diuers questions must be cleered before this will serue the one or the other For first it is but weakely assured that S. Peter euer was at Rome Many reasons are alleaged against it and many authorities are brought for it But it often happeneth that the common consent of writers is like vnto a flocke of fowles as one flieth all doe follow Secondly it is lesse assured that euer he was Bishop of Rome For being an Apostle his charge was generall goe teach all nations and therefore not to be as a Bishop either limited or settled in any one particular place Or if we wil say that either by appointment or by choise some part of this generall charge was apportioned to S. Peter then this seemeth or rather is most assured to haue been Iudea by that which S. Paul hath written that the Gospell of Circumcision was committed vnto Peter as the Gospell of the vncircumcision was vnto him And therefore we find in Scripture that S. Paul was expressely sent to Rome but that S. Peter was euer at Rome we hold it by tradition This is further confirmed by the long aboade which S. Peter made in Iudea and by the short stay which is possible he could haue made at Rome euen by computation of them who best fauoured the dignitie of that Sea With that he called for Onuphrius and out of him read vnto vs that S. Peter liued after the death of Christ 34. yeeres 3. monethes and odde daies that the first nine yeeres he remained in Iudea that in the tenth yeere after Christs Passion in the end of the second yeere of the Empire of Claudius he departed from Iudea for feare of Agrippa from whose imprisonment hee had been deliuered by an angell that after he had trauailed preaching through many couÌ„tries he came to Rome and there contended with Simon Magus That after foure yeeres Agrippa being dead for feare of whom he â—orsooke Iudaea he returned to Ierusalem and was there present at the Councell of the Apostles wherein circumcision was abrogated That after this he remained seuen yeeres at Antioch that in the beginning of the Empire of Nero he returned to Rome and from thence trauailed almost thorough all the parts of Europe that comming againe to Rome in the last yeere of Nero S. Paul and he were there martyred To this agreeth that which Ireneus saith The blessed Apostles Peter and Paul laying the foundation of the Church of Rome committed to Linus the Bishopricke or charge of administration of that Church Now said he the third question is whether by these words Thou art Peter c. Christ gaue vnto S. Peter any speciall power or Iurisdiction either spirituall or secular more then vnto the residue of the Apostles where he did exercise when make claime to any such power by which of the Apostles it was acknowledged by what ancient father of the Church aduowed For diuers testimonies of S. Paul do beare against it S. Augustine S. Cyprian and others of principall authoritie in the Church doe expressely denie it Whereas the Scripture giueth so large and plaine testimonie both for the title and authoritie of Kings as it seemeth no greater can be added thereunto The fourth question may bee whether any power was giuen vnto S. Peter as Bishop of Rome which before the ascension of Christ hee could not bee otherwise how falleth it that the same should bee rather fixed in the Church of Rome then in any of those Churches where it is manifest by the scriptures that he remained many yeeres imploying himselfe in the exercise of his charge Fiftly what assurance can we haue that the power which is said to be committed to S.
Peter was to be transmitted entirely to any of his successors in place who are so farre from being mentioned as it is nothing probable that euer they were ment For as Matthias was not the worse for succeeding vnto Iudas in place so is not any man the better onely for his locall succession to S. Peter Lastly seeing the promises of God are with exception if we continue in obedience to his wil and therefore although all the land of Canaan was expresly promised to Abraham and to his seede for an euerlasting possession yet was the posteritie of Abraham for their disobedience first cast out of the greatest part thereof and afterwards dispossessed of all And although the kingdome of Israel was expresly promised to Dauid and to his seede for euer yet the succession was broken off by reason of their sinnes Againe seeing the Church of Ephesus although furnished with many excellent vertues was threatned notwithstanding that the candlesticke should bee remoued out of his place onely for that their first loue was abated If wee should suppose supposall is free that expresse promise was made to S. Peter and to his successours the Bishops of Rome that they should represent the authoritie of Christ vpon earth it will be a hard piece to perswade men who haue not abandoned their owne iudgement that this power was not long since either expired or reuoked by reasoÌ„ of the dissolute disorders the irregular outrages and impieties which haue bin ordinarie in that Sea Marcâ—lline sacrificed vnto Idols Liberius was an Aâ—ian another a Nestorian Anastasius the second embraced the errour of Acatius Sabinian was a man of base behauiour and altogether opposite to the vertues of S. Gregorie Constantine the second procured himselfe to be elected by corruption and force Ioan the eighth was a woman and a harlot Romanus Theodorus Iohn the tenth and Christopher were infamous for seditions symonie lust and other base abuses in life Iohn 11. the bastard of Pope Sergius was elected by fauour of Theodora his mistrisse Iohn the 13. was accused of many vile villanies before the Emperour Otho the great Boniface the 7. attained his place by corruption and maintained it by sacrilege Siluester the second was a Magician and came to his dignitie by couenanting with the diuell Benedict the 10. was compelled to quit his place because of his Symony Boniface the 8. was aduanced like a Foxe reigned like a Lion and died like a dogge What shall we say that all these were the oracles of heauen the heads of the Church the guides and grounds of religion the successors of S. Peter the Vicaâ—s generall of Iesus Christ wil worldly Princes endure such who are not only vnseruiceable vnto them but dishonorable but rebellious for their liefetenants And seeing good life is a sruite of faith seeing faith is expressed by actions of life shall we say that these men who liued in this sort could neither erre nor faile in faith Alas how then would they haue liued if they could haue erred or failed in faith I will not digge deep into this dunghill I will not speak of the heresies of Iohn the 23. of the scandalous deportments of Eugenius the 4. of the Incests Sorceries poysonings cutthroat cruelties of Alexander the 6. of the couetousnes the cruelties the periuries the blasphemies the adulteries the Sodometries the disdainfull pride the cunning dissimulatioÌ„ and other infamous behauior of diuers other Bishops of Rome I will not speake of the two monsters lately hatched within that Sea to the broad blemish of religion to the vtter ouerthrow of ciuill societie the one aequiuocation the other parâ—icide of Princes raising rebellions for the cause of religion In one word to the point of our purpose as Christ denied the Iewes to be the children of Abraham because they did not the workes of Abraham and as S. Paul said that the children not of the flesh but of the faith of Abraham were to bee accounted his seede in regard whereof S. Iohn also said that many affirmed themselues to be Iewes who were not so we may safely defend that the true succession of S. Peter and of the other Apostles consisteth not in comming after theÌ„ in place but in holding their doctrine and imitating their godlines in life This saith Gregorie Nazianzene and not succession in place is in proper sense to bee taken for succession For to expresse the same iudgement and mind is to possesse the very same Chaire the difference of Sea is the difference in opinion for doctrine and for life This is a succession in truth and indeed that is only a succession in name Stratoâ—les published in the citie of Athens that whatsoeuer the tyrant Demetrius should ordaine the same was to be esteemed holy before God and iust before men When Cambyses was desirous to espouse his Sister the fact was iustified by this law of the Persians The King may do what soeuer he please Doubtlesse said he many Bishops of Rome in claiming Hyperbolicall power to beare through Diabolicall dristes haue bin rather successors to these men then vnto any of the Apostles To conclude with answere vnto those who can find a difference betweene the Pope and the Pope betweene the Pope as being a man and the Pope as being Bishop of Rome betweene the Pope in his Consistory and the Pope in his Palace or among his Souldiers in the field betweene the Imperiall and Pontificall Pope I will tell you what Fulgosius he that was throwen out of state in Liguria reported of a certaine Archbishâ—p of Colen As this Archbishop being also Duke of Colen passed through a small Village in Germanie with so great a trame of armed men according to the fashion of that people that it neerly approched the greatnes of an armie a certain countrie fellow brake forth into a loude laughter against him And being therefore presented before the Archbishop hee boldly said that hee could not refraine both to laugh and to admire considering the great pouertie the great humilitie wherein the Apostles passed the trauailes of this life that they who carrie themselues for the Apostles successours should thus plunge themselues both in plentie and in pride Simple fellow said the Archbishop I doe now beare the state and presence of a Duke I represent an Archbishop when I am within the church At this speech the fellow did â—ise into a more broad and bolde laughter And being demaunded the cause thereof I pray you said hee whilest this Duke ruineth the Church both by action and example how is the Bishop in the meane time busied and when this Duke for this cause shall goe to the diuell what shall then become of the Bishop There was not any amongs vs who did not countenance this conceit with a smile And this had put a period to our discourse had not one maintained it with further speech that he would gladly heare these questions so fullie followed as then hee saw