he is neither dead but liueth an euerlasting and blessed life and séeing he is perpetually present in his church hée doth alwaies execute the office of the chiefest pastor and priest Moreouer we may 1. Pet. 2. Mark 16. 20. Psal 110. Heb. 2. 4. 7. 9. adde that also without any doubting that no bishop can be called the successor no not of Peter or of any other Apostle as the canonists vse to call the pope Peters successor Apud Decium in l. qui per successionem D. regul iur in Decius where when the lawiers vse to say that The heire of an heire that is the Testator is the heire of the testator though he be heire by the longest succession the Canonists reason that euery pope is the successor of Peter though there came manie betwéene For no bishop hath his cause from Peter or any other Apostle but from the choice made by the authoritie of Christ neither doth the place sea or chaire make the succession but the continuance of the doctrine of Christ when as the religion receiued of Christ is continually deliuered by all the successors as by hands to the Christian people Wherefore those new shifts of certaine of the popes clawebacks make nothing against vs who being mooued by hope of some benefice dispute thus that the pope of Rome is not the spirituall head of the catholike church but the ministeriall bicause like as Christ doth gouerne particular churches that is particular dioces by particular bishops his vicars in like sort the same Christ doth gouerne his vniuersall Church by some one vniuersall vicar of his namely the pope of Rome who kéepeth in doing their duty those inferior and particular bishops that are subiect to his iurisdiction For we answere this obiection thrée manner of waies First that this principalitie is not onely not ordained of Christ but also that it is brought in by the pope of Rome by ambition and desire to lord it For when Christ sent his twelue Apostles about to preach his Gospell he gaue not to som one some singular and principall commandement but the like one to them all thus Go ye into all coasts of the earth and preach the Gospell among all people and nations And therefore in the Reuelation the heauenlie Ierusalem is not said to be founded vpon one and a particular piller or especially vpon one of all the rest but simplie vpon twelue and when as vpon the day of Pentecost the holie Ghost was powred out vppon the twelue Apostles he was not powred out vpon some one of them especially and chiefly but he was simply powred out vpon all Last of all when Paul describeth the functions and offices of the pastors of the Church he doth not giue to any one the principalitie or lordship ouer the rest but he expoundeth to them the same in plaine words Christ is gone vp on high he hath led captiuitie captiue and hath giuen gifts to men For he hath made some Apostles some Prophets some Euangelists some pastors and teachers for the restoring of the Saints for the worke of the ministerie to the edifieng of the bodie of Christ. The other answere is that if Christ or Peter had ordained any principalitie and one ministeriall head in his Church no doubt the primitiue Church would haue retained that ordinance being so fresh in memorie But on the contrarie we sée that the most ancient generall Synods of all namely the Nicene that of Constantinople of Ephesus and Chalcedon did ordaine that ouer euery citie should be appointed a bishop that done that euery prouince should haue an Archbishop or patriarke hauing all like dignitie authoritie iurisdiction power degrée besides that it was granted to the Archbishop of Rome that for the antiquitie and honor of the city he should sit in the first place but yet not in an higher place and next him should sit the Archbishop of Constantinople for the selfe-same cause bicause he was bishop of new Rome being the emperors citie wheras if they had had regard of the more ancient Church that first or else the second place shuld haue béen due to the bishop of Antiochia then the bishop of Alexandria of Hierusalem afterward the thrée archbishops of Iustinian made by the emperor Iustinian for most light causes shuld take place in like seats which causes we will shew afterward vnder the crime of forgerie where we will reckon vp the forgeries cossenages and corruptions deuised by the pope of Rome to fill vp this his ambition The third answer is that séeing Christ did appoint his Apostles to be messengers and preachers of his commandements to go throughout diuers coasts of the earth we read not that any one of them was appointed to be an Archmessenger especially to be mute and to be at ease that he might lie busking and loitering at Rome and harken after those things that were done in other places of the world wheresoeuer and might in the meane season serue his ambition For bishops are nothing else but messengers of Christ and proclaimers of his commandements ordained in euery citie like as in times past the emperors of Rome were woont to giue things in charge to the Proconsuls and Presidents as all those that are students of the law and antiquities of the Romans do affirme Therefore he that is dumbe either by nature or will that is he that kéepeth silence and doth not execute the office of a messenger herald and doth not preach the Gospell he is not only not woorthy of the authoritie but not so much as of the name of bishop or archbishop But bicause the popes in their decretals do in euery third line inculcate that song Bicause it was said to Peter Feede my sheepe and Vpon this rocke it is woorth the paines to set downe the true and naturall interpretation of those places For Augustine in his 124. tract vpon Iohn When saith he it was said to Peter I will giue thee the keies of the kingdome of heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt bind vpon earth he ment the vniuersal church that is founded vpon the rocke From whence euen Peter tooke his name For the rocke was not called Petra of Peter but Peter of Petra or the rocke as Christ tooke not his name of Christians but Christians of Christ. For therefore the Lord saith Vpon this rocke will I build my Church bicause Peter had said Thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God Therefore vpon this rocke saith he which thou hast confessed will I build my Church For Christ was the rocke vpon which foundation euen Peter himselfe was builded For no man can lay any other foundation than that which is alreadie laid which is Iesus Therefore the Church that is founded in Christ receiueth from him the keies of the kingdome of heauen in Peter that is power to bind and loose sinnes For the same which Christ is in the Church by propertie the same is Peter in the rocke by
most part of Christendome but also conuict and condemned We call the same rebellion that is factions procured with an enuious mind to ouerthrow the state of al common wealths that are in Christendome But bicause this our disputation was principally appointed for our country of France it séemeth to be sufficient for this present if from it alone and so from the fresh remembrance of those factions we fet testimonies of that crime It is now thrée and twentie yéeres during which our France hath béen pitifully vexed in a maner with continual ciuil wars do I say with wars Yea with butcheries and furious and cruell slaughters They that haue diligently numbred those which were slaine in those wars doe finde them to be no lesse than twelue hundred thousande French men borne Is there any in the Parleament of France either president or Senator that dare from his hart sweare that the pope of Rome was not the Alastor * of or prouoker so great euils that he was not the principall brand of so great a fire That he did not continually send cardinals or bishops and others of his crue and retinue as messengers to the court of France that they might inflame the minds of the kings like euill angels to these deadlie and bloodie wars to these butcheries and to lay waste the realme of France When as in the meane season he like a bloodie maister of fence hauing set these swashbucklers by the eares togither did behold these bloodie plaies from the top of his castell of Saint-angell or like another Nero did from his tower looke vpon the citie which he himselfe had fired and did féede his eies with these doleful spectacles and did couet to satisfie his cruell mind But if we will record those things which haue happened in this our realme in the remembrance of our fathers we shall first finde this that Lodwik the 12. alas what king Which obtained the name of the father of the countrie with the great consent of all good men did make subiect to pope Iulius the second some cities of Italie which he tooke in war That the pope after a few moneths did repay this thanks to the king for the benefit receiued that he did not onely pronounce him to be a schismatike and heretike he proscribed him he procéeded against him with the fearfull thunderbolts of excommunications but also he caused all the French men to be tormented like enimies and to be slaine he did also promise reward to the murtherers forgiuenes of all their sins and fréedome from punishment if any man could murder euen but some one French man any maner of way What is it to be a rebell or rather to surpasse rebels in all crueltie and wickednes if not this But it is woorth the labor to set downe somewhat more plainly all that whole tragedie That pope was of a cruell nature and so fierce furious and turbulent that his companions in robberie and murder the bishops and cardinals could not abide him but to the kings and princes he séemed altogither intollerable Therfore with the full consent of al there was a Councell called at Pisa a citie of Italie that by common councel they might preuent those euils that did hang ouer the Church of Christ by reason of him And how wisely and lawfully and solemnely that Councell was called appéereth by the hundred fiftie one Councell of Philip Decius a most famous lawier in those daies which he wrote and published against that pope at Mediolanum The furious pope did foorthwith disturbe that assemblie with war and weapon Wherefore it was translated by the authoritie of our king first to Mediolanum and then to Lyons where after the matter was heard and examined pope Iulius was suspended from his popedome that is he was for a time put from the administration of the papacie Wherof when Iulius heard he was so incensed with sorrow and anger that he did not only forbid all French men fire and water but also he commanded that euery of them that was met should be murdered also he prouoked cut-throtes and murderers with rewards as I haue alreadie said Which madnes or rather furie of his bicause William Budeus of Paris a man no lesse louing to his countrie than learned and skilfull hath couragiously and sharply prosecuted in his bookes De Asse it séemeth to me most fit to set downe all that whole complaint of that couragious man and good subiect to be read not onely of the Senators of our Parleament but also of all men of all sorts and orders especially séeing that all historiographers in generall do woonderfully agrée with him in setting downe that complaint For this is Iulius the second concerning whom both Arnoldus Ferronus a man very learned and an historiographer of our country of France and Burdegalensis sometimes a Senator of the Parleament and many other haue written that as he came out of Rome against France hauing gathered an armie hauing his minde inflamed against our king as he led his armed bands out of the citie ouer the bridge of Tiber being himselfe armed in the hearing of many thousand men he vttered these words Séeing Peters keies helpe vs nothing go to let vs draw Pauls sword foorthwith he threw the keies which he brought with him into Tiber and he drew his sword Touching which we know that old verse in English thus Pope Iulie as the fame doth go Gainst France did cruell wars prepare His armed band then foorth he brought And in his hands the keyes he bare A sword hang by his side which out Couragiouslie foorthwith he drew And Peters keyes into the deepe Of Tiber flood withall he threw Then blustering out these words he said If Peters keyes cannot preuaile Then with the sword of Paul we will Our cruell enimies assaile But now let vs come to Budeus his complaint which he setteth down at large in his fift booke De Asse The bloudie master of the cleargie casting off all feare of God sent cruell nations against the Lords people accursing those that tooke part with the french and their fautors he raised with more than tragicall wickednes almost the whole world being loosed from religion against those that were accursed Do we not remember that time when Peter and Paul and their followers the principall builders of the church were not giuen to fight battels being infected with the cōfidence of glistering weapons but trusting to bloud and innocencie and being otherwise vnarmed they were stirred vp with the trumpet of most hot loue to defend the tents of Christ in the tumult Now they are made onely bare names after so long time though the holie principall orders of the priests do shadow and cloake their pride with the people onely with their maiesty O harde and monstrous blockishnes of most holie power For who did euer in minde conceiue so great wickednes that the Top of priests the master of the cleargie that the principall worker of holie things should abide to
of the life of Constantinus hath recorded that he spake in Latine in the Nicene synode And in the second booke he witnesseth that he turned into Gréek his epistles and decrées which were written in Latine so that som man may suspect that either he neuer wrote that instrument in Gréeke or if he wrote it both in Gréeke and Latine that surelie he did not vse that Beotian and foolish kind of phrase But now it séemeth that we haue spoken sufficiently of the falsehoode and wicked inuention of the popes touching the donation of Constantine so that al men may plainly sée that the whole papacie which rested onely vpon this foundation cannot stand any longer forasmuch as the foundation is taken away Another most ancient crime of Forgerie NOtwithstanding it séemeth to be a thing most fit to set downe som other examples of the popes forgeries and periuries and specially those wherby it may be vnderstood that the pope of Rome hath affected that tirannicall lordship not onely against the authoritie of the holie Scripture but also of the old primatiue church For after that ambition and desire to lord it had at that time possessed some bishops the Nicene synode was gathered in the yéere of Christ 325. wherin it was decréed that in euery prouince or diecese for these old fathers vsed both words some pastor excelling as we may thinke in age and doctrin should be chosen who should haue authoritie when néed was to call togither his fellowes in office and to make report to them of the affaires of the common churches This man was in those times somtimes called the Patriarch somtimes Metropolitane somtimes Archbishop indifferently yet so that neither the lesser bishops without this mans consent nor this man without their consent and authoritie did any great and weightie matter The words of the senate were these Let the ancient custome be of force which was Chap. 6. in Egypt Lybia and Pentapolis that the bishop of Alexandria haue authoritie ouer all these bicause euen the bishop of Rome obserueth this custome And likewise let the priuileges be kept both at Antioch and also in the rest of the prouinces And that is plaine that if any be made bishop without consent of the Metropolitane the great senate hath appointed that this man ought not to be bishop And Rufinus doth Lib. 10. eccle hist. thus interpret that decrée Let this custome be kept in Alexandria and in the city of Rome that both the bishop of Alexandria take care for Egypt and that the other be carefull for the churches lyeng about the citie Whereby we vnderstand that the Nicene synod did hedge in the bishoprike of Rome within the bounds of the churches of the suburbs so far off is it that either principalitie or authority was giuen him by Constantine the emperor ouer al churches of the whole world Let vs now heare what was decréed sixe and fiftie yéeres after in the first Synode of Constantinople touching the selfe same matter that is in the yéere of Christ 321. For in the second chapter it is thus written Let not the bishops which haue their seuerall diocese incroch vpon the churches that are without their bounds neither let them confound their churches but according to the canons let the bishop of Alexandria gouerne those things only that are in Egypt And let the bishops of the east gouern onely the east And let the church of Antioch retain her dignitie declared in the Nicene synod And let the bishops of the diocese or prouince of Asia gouern those things onely that are in Asia let those that are in Pontus gouerne those things onelie that are in Pontus And those of Thracia those things onely that are in Thracia And let not the bishops vnlesse they be called intrude themselues into another mans diocese or prouince either to giue voices or to any other ecclesiasticall functions And if the foresaid canon be obserued in diocese and prouinces it is plaine that euery prouinciall Synod shall gouerne all businesses of euerie prouince as is decreed by the Nicene Synod Moreouer Socrates * confirmeth Lib. hist. eccl 3 the same thing in these words Againe they confirmed the faith deliuered by the Nicene Synod and they appointed patriarks in the described prouinces that bishops being placed and set ouer a certaine diocese might not thrust themselues into other mens churches And anon after Notwithstanding reseruing the chiefe degree of honor and dignitie to the church of Antiochia which they gaue to Miletius who was then present And they decreed that so often as need should require the Synod of euerie prouince should determine the busines of euerie prouince Thus saith Socrates And we may sée the selfesame description of churches deliuered and set downe by the emperors Gratian Valentinian and Theodosian Let the bishop of Rome now In. l. 3. C. Theo. de fide cath go and boast that Constantine the emperor gaue him principality ouer al churches of the whole world and by name ouer the sea of Antiochia Hierusalem Alexandria and Constantinople For we haue prooued that this state and condition of the primitiue Church continued vntill the yéere of Christ CCCXXCI Moreouer in the fift chapter of the same Synod it is thus written Let the bishop of Constantinople haue the primacie of honor after the bishop of Rome bicause it is new Rome Which is also reported dist 22. cap. Constantinopolitanae Wher the canonist Gregorie the 13. hath of late noted that that canon was not receiued by the sea of Rome And no maruell séeing by that canon the papacie is manifestly conuict of forgerie Let vs also heare Iohn Chrysostom his iudgement touching this matter who florished about the yéere of Christ 300. and doth in plaine words attribute that primacy to the church of Antiochia in these words * Our citie Hom. 3. ad pop Antiochenum of Antiochia is of all other most deer to Christ and like as Peter did first preach Christ among al the apostles so among cities as I said before this hath first of all the name of Christians as a certaine woonderfull crown Also Hom. 16. And what is the dignitie of our citie It fell out that the disciples of Antiochia were first called Christians and no citie in the world hath this besides no not the citie of Romulus wherefore Antiochia may lift vp hir eies against all the whole world And this truly was as I haue said the condition of those times when the pope of Rome was most far from that tyraunie which afterward he had and vsed in the Church Now let vs consider what was obserued afterward For in the Synod of Ephesus which was kept fiftie yéeres after that is in the yéere of Christ 431. in the last chapter it is thus written It seemed good to the holie and vniuersall Synod keeping to euerie prouince the priuileges pure and sound which do long ago and from the beginning belong to the same according to the ancient custome
vsed long ago c. Where is that principalitie that was long ago giuen to the pope of Rome ouer the churches of the whole world by the emperor Constantine Let vs heare the next generall Synod gathered twentie yéeres after at Chalcedon that is in the yéer of Christ cccclj For when the bishop of Constantinople by reason of the sea of the east empire placed in his citie was sicke of the like and very same disease of ambition whereof our bishop of Rome is now sicke he did effect by his policie and subtil shifts that that mother citie which had so great dignitie should haue a certain priuilege aboue the rest and that he alone should appoint the Metropolitans of Asia Pontus and Thracia Whereby it came to passe that the authoritie of the church of Antiochia so greatly cōmended by Chrysostom and established first in the Nicene Synod and then afterward in the Synod of Constantinople was quite ouerthrowen Also by these deceits it was brought to passe that fower men should be appointed to gouerne the whole world who had metropolitans vnder their dominion or prouince For Africa was granted to the bishop of Alexandria the west to the bishop of Rome and to the bishop of Constantinople almost all that part of Europa and Asia except a few churches which were left to the bishop of Hierusalem for the antiquitie and authorities sake of the citie Therefore when as in times past archbishops patriarks and metropolitans were all one and were called by so many names confusedly somtimes by one somtimes by another afterward there were onely fower archbishops made who were also called patriarks which did beare rule ouer the metropolitans as we haue alreadie said For in the 28. chapter of the same Synod it is thus written And where the lawes of our most holie fathers that follow the same things do we also determine and decree touching the dignitie and excellencie of this most holie Church of Constantinople being newe Rome For our fathers did woorthily giue the first degree of honor to the sea of old Rome bicause that citie did then reigne And vpon like consideration the Cl. bishops louing God most deerly haue giuen like degree of honor to new Rome note these words the most holie sea decreeing for good causes that that citie which hath got so great honor that it should be both the sea of the empire and that it should haue a senate and should haue like degree of dignitie as the old sea of the empire of Rome hath haue euen in ecclesiasticall affaires like honor and dignitie as it hath seeing it is next to it Where did then that principalitie and lordship of the pope of Rome hide it selfe which Constantine gaue him as it is said ouer al Churches Let vs heare the words of the second Synod of Constantinople out of the 36. chapter Renewing those things which were ordained by the 150. fathers which were assembled in this citie preserued by God and in this princely citie and by the sixe hundred and thirtie that were gathered togither in Chalcedon we decree that the sea of Constantinople haue like dignitie with the sea of old Rome and that it be magnified as well as the other in ecclesiastical businesses note these words seeing it is next to that and next to it let be the bishop of the great citie of Alexandria and next to this the bishop of Ierusalem But afterward the number of the archbishops was increased by little and little as pleased the emperors For the emperor Iustinian gaue that honor to the citie of his countrie Nouel 11. where hée writeth thus Being desirous to increase our countrie manie and diuers waies wherein we were borne by the appointment of God we command that the most holie bishop thereof be made not onely a metropolitan but also an archbishop and that certain prouinces be vnder the authority therof that is Dacia that lieth in the continent Dacia that lieth neere the sea coast Mysia the second and Dardania and Preualitana c. Also in the conclusion We decree that the archbishop thereof be ordained by the reuerend councell of metropolitans There were also other cities called by the same name Iustinians cities in Africa Instinians Carthaginensis which the same emperor adioined to the Romane empire in the yland Cyprus Iustiniana the country of his wife Theodora whereto Iustinian gaue like prerogatiue of right honor and dignitie Therefore by these appéereth the manifold impudencie of the popes of Rome first therein bicause in those times they reckon onelie fower patriarchies or archbishops seas also in that that they make their sea to surmount those fower seas do challenge to themselues superiority and iurisdiction ouer them secondly bicause they take to themselues the authoritie and power of those patriarks séeing it appéereth most euidently that that authoritie and power did belong to the emperors all which that they may appéere more plainly and euidently we will content our selues with one onely testimonie of the same Iustinian whose words are these in the 230 Nouel turned into Latin by Iulian Antecessor Therfore we command the most blessed patriarks that is the pope of Rome and of Constantinople and of Alexandria and of Theopolis that is of Antiochia and of Ierusalem seeing that it is a custome c. And by and by And the metropolitans which are consecrated by their counsell or by the most blessed patriarks or by the metropolitanes c. Also Nouel 131. Let the pope of Rome saith he sit aboue all bishops and patriarks and after him the bishop of the citie of Constantinople let the archbishop of the first Iustiniana haue vnder him the bishops of Dacia in the continent and Dacia toward the coast also those of Praeualena and of Dardania and of the vpper Mysia and of Pannonia and also let him bee consecrated by them and let him haue the same priuileges ouer them which the pope of Rome hath ouer the bishops that are placed vnder him Therfore it is euident that in the first times of Christian libertie there were only fower patriarks being all of equall honor dignitie iurisdiction authoritie degrée saue onely that the patriark of Rome sat vppermost in generall Synods bicause of the old dignitie of old Rome and that then the number of the patriarks was increased not by the pope of Rome but by the emperor of Rome so that there were first fiue then six then seuen and last of all eight for we reckoned so manie vnder Iustinian Wherby we will also haue men marke the notorious fraud and impudencie of the pope of Rome in corrupting that 36. chapter of the Synod of Constantinople For in Gratian dist 22. c. renouantes they haue thus translated the Gréeke words of the Synod Renewing the decrees of the holie Councell of Constantinople we craue yea we decrée 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the sea of Constantinople haue like priuileges which the former Rome hath Yet let it not be magnified in
ecclesiasticall affaires as the other but this being next after that before the sea of Alexandria be reckoned then that of Antiochia and after it that of Ierusalem Of which forgerie that no man may doubt we will cite the Gréeke words themselues 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We decree that the sea of Constantinople haue like priuileges as the sea of old Rome and that it be magnified in ecclesiasticall matters as the other But peraduenture some man wil say that that fault is amended in the edition of Gregorie the 13. and that in stead of Non tamen or notwithstanding is put Necnon and also Very well For first of all by this reason the pope is compelled to grant that he is conuict of most manifest forgerie and that he vsed that forgerie and corruption for more than thrée hundred yéers wickedly deceitfully to cosen deceiue the church of Christ And furthermore that that forgerie would neuer haue béene amended vnlesse he had béen long ago accused and conuict of falsifieng by our men But what will either Gregorie the 13. or our Sixtus say to this selfe same forgerie repeated and renewed in c. antiqua extra de priuileg where there is also a more filthie forgerie committed Renewing the ancient priuileges of the seas of the patriarks we decree that after the church of Rome which by the Lords disposition hath the principalitie of ordinarie power ouer all other churches as being the mother and mistresse of all the faithfull the sea of Constantinople haue the first place the sea of Alexandria the second the sea of Antiochia the third the sea of Ierusalem the fourth reseruing to euerie one hir owne dignitie so that after the bishops of those places haue receiued the cloke from the bishop of Rome which is a token of the fulnes of the popes office hauing taken the oth of faithfulnes and obedience freely c. Is there any either so hard harted or so dull spirited whom this so great impudencie of the popes in corrupting the moniments of the Church of Christ cannot mooue And yet we must not passe ouer in silence another like impudencie For whereas it was decréed against the Ex c. placuit 2. q. 6. pope of Rome in the sixt Synod of Carthage at which S. Augustine was present that no man should appeale to his sea from the churches beyond the seas if any durst be so bold as to appeale he should be excommunicate yet the same pope in that chapt placuit after these words But as for him that shall thinke that he may appeale to places beyond the sea let none within Africa receiue him to the communion he added this exception impudently Vnlesse peraduenture he appeale to the sea of Rome where Gregorie the 13. being of late manifestly conuict of trecherous falsehood and forgerie added this excuse These things are written in the old copies as the words of Gratian. Very well againe For by this means we sée the intollerable impudencie of the popes of Rome who haue not onely purposely corrupted with that exception the decrée that was written against their ambition but also they deceiued the Church of Christ with that lie for the space of more than thrée hundred yéeres vntill our men found out that forgerie and iugling And bicause we take this paines principally for our countrie men the French men it shall not be vnappertinent to shew out of Doctor Bernard in his owne words what befell Paris in times past by this ambition of appealing to Rome This happened saith Lib. 3. de consid he at Paris the noble citie of France the kings sea A certaine man was openly betrothed the solemne day of the marriage came all things were prepared many were bidden and behold a man coueting his neighbors wife brake forth into a sudden appeale affirming that she was first deliuered to him she ought rather to bee his the bridegroome was daunted they were all husht the priest durst not proceede all that preparation was dasht euery one went home to his owne house to eate his owne supper The bride was suspended from the table and bed of the bridegroome vntill returne was made from Rome Againe in the same citie of Paris a certaine man hauing betrothed a wife to himselfe appointed the marriage day in the meane while began a cauill for some said that they ought not to be ioined togither The matter was brought before the church But an appeale was made before sentence was giuen Yet neuerthelesse he did accomplish that he purposed contemning or making as if he knew not of the appeale Go to let vs consider the state of the later time For in the yéere CCCCXXCV there was a synod at Carthage and that a generall one whereunto the bishop of Rome sent thrée legats Faustinus Philip and Asellus with these commandements that his authoritie right that was granted him by the Nicene synod should be reserued for him namely that appeal should be made from all Metropolitanes to him Then at a sudden the scribe called Daniel was commanded to reade those commandements and also that chapter of the Nicene synod which the pope of Rome had adioined for an instrument of his matter The whole fift chapter of the synod of Sardis was read which the bishop of Rome had fraudulently wickedly cogd in in stéed of the Nicene synod All the bishops and archbishops that were present at that time denied that euer they read that in the Nicene synod Therefore they agréed that the copie of the Nicene synod should be read which they then had in their hands There was no word of appealing It was decréed that certaine men should be sent to Constantinople to Alexandria and finally to Rome that they might fetch their copies of the Nicene synod but especially to Constantinople where the authoritie it selfe or the originall of the Nicene synod was kept The yéere following they were brought They were read There was no suspition of that priuilege and chiefe authoritie of the bishop of Rome That could not be found in any place of the Nicene synod yea on the contrarie it was decréed in the selfe same synod that he should kéepe himselfe within his bounds as other popes and metropolitanes Wherefore if he were wise he would hencefoorth content himselfe with his diocese and dominion and would not incroch vpon another mans possession To this sentence subscribed two hundred and thirtie fathers and among those those same whom we named before Faustinus bishop of the church of Potentia legate of the pope of Rome Philip a priest and legate of the same bishop of Rome Asellus a priest and the same bishops legate And moreouer the synod alleaged these foure causes of that decrée of the Nicene fathers Which it is not vnappertinent to repeat The Nicen fathers did most prudently iustly prouide that all maner businesses should be ended in their places where they began that the grace of the holie Ghost would not be wanting in euerie
which are drawne out of the pure fountaines of Scripture those do they most carefullie embrace those things which are brought in into religion out of these munkish pits filthy sinks doe they reiect and detest And yet this is the onely cause why pope Sixtus the fift hath so proudly cruelly cursed thē both Of which pope Sixtus it séemeth good to me to speake somewhat in this place that all men may perceiue both what manner of man he is and also from what roots he sprang to such pride and became so hawtie Therfore his first name was Felix Peretus He was borne in a base village nigh to Formana called Montalto in the yéere 1521. the thirtéenth day of December Being a boy he was brought vp among munkes that is not to say any more among goate buckes at length being a yoong man hée was chosen into the order of the Franciscanes vnto whose holie rites after hée was admitted now growne vp he was at last chosen by the inquisitours of the Romish faith into their colledge Which office when he did so execute a fewe yéeres ago that few could abide his cruel nature it fell out so by hap at that time that he called a certaine noble man of Venece before him When he did more cruelly handle the man vnacquainted with hearing reproches not many daies after he met the same noble man by chance whom so soone as the same noble man perceiued he commanded one of his waiters to beate downe with a cudgell he had in his hand the pride of vnfortunate Peretus The vnfortunate man who of Felix was become Infelix went straightway to Rome and tolde pope Pius the fourth who was then high gouernour at Rome The pope being highly displeased sendeth him back againe to Venece with greater authoritie and power So soone as he shewed the senate his bull the wise men which knew ful wel the troublesome nature of the man and how that he was inflamed with desire of reuenge commanded foorth-with a torche to be lighted and did straightly command him that before the torch was burnt he shoulde get him with spéede out of their coastes if he were wise Infelix going to Rome againe made his complaint to the pope When the pope perceiued that he was a man most fit for his purpose he did first aduance him to this honor that he made him master of his pallace that done when Toledanus the archbishop one of the spanish inquisition which is fearefull to all nations was suspected of heresie the pope sent him into Spaine that he might be present at that question iudgement It happened by chance at that time that he that was then generall that is chiefe prelate of the Franciscanes which is the highest office and dignitie of that sorte of men died Which inheritance the pope gaue to Felix Peretus who by this means was made the archcowled chiefe cowled and cloaked cowled frier of that order of Franciscanes and a few yéeres after he was also chosen cardinall by the same pope At length when pope Gregorie the 13. was dead our archcowling Felix was chosen into his roome in troubling France by his commendation and fauour who is chiefe at Rome in furthering these matters and whom he doth plainely aide in holding the residue of the kingdome of Nauarre By these degrées procéedings he which a fewe yéeres ago was a cowled a roped a most vile frier créeping in his slitted shooes is now become a thunderer a thunderbolt caster an excommunicator of kings and princes Most mightie now with double sword And high aduanced to kisse whose toe Both Caesar comes and also kings In broydred purple which do go As Mantuan wrote of Iulius the second The crime of vsing tyrannie in the Church IT followeth that we come to the second crime of the papacie which consisteth in vsing lordship ouer the church of Christ For the holie Scripture teacheth vs that Christ alone is the head of the Church 1. Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 5. 7. 9. Eph 4. 15. 16. Ibid. 5. in another place that Christ is the head of the bodie of the Church * The same scripture giueth this name to Christ alone that he is the chiefe pastour high priest * 1. Col. 18. 1. Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 6. 7. But the pope of Rome saith All the church saith he through out the world knoweth that the holy church of Rome hath right to iudge all men and no man may giue iudgement of his iudgement c. And as followeth All the whole church throughout the worlde knoweth that the seat of S. Peter hath power to loose those things that are bounde by the iudgements of any bishops whatsoeuer which hath power to iudge the whole church Also The pastorall charge of carefulnes is inioined Clement pasto de sent re iudicat Cap. 1. extrauag de emp. vend vs by God ouer all nations of the Christian people Also Bearing rule ouer the gouernment of the church vniuersall by the lords prouidence Also * Cap. ad Regimen extrauag de praebend c. 1. de treug pac Being called by the disposition from aboue to gouerne the vniuersall church Also * Being called to the gouernement of the vniuersall Church by the disposition of Gods clemency Also * The bishop of c. 1. de consuet Rome is appointed by the Lord ouer nations and kingdoms Also * The holie church of c. 3. de elect Rome which by the Lords disposition hath from God the principalitie ouer all other churches as being the mother and mistresse of all the faithfull Also That therefore all churches 24. q. 1. c. rogamus c. sacrosancta are subiect to the sea of Rome bicause Peters sea was translated from Antioch to Rome Also That the sea of Rome is the head and hinge d. ca. sacro-sancta of all churches and as the doore is gouerned by the hinge so all churches are gouerned by that authoritie of that sea But to what end do we séeke out those olde things Séeing our Franciscan Sixtus the fift began this his bull on this wise That The authoritie giuen him by Christ and S. Peter doth surmount the power of all kings and princes and that the care for all churches people and nations lieth vpon him Thus therefore writeth the pope of Rome Now we must also consider by what right or authoritie he taketh vpon him so great power and lordship For we sée he bringeth and alleageth a double cause of this lordship and principalitie the former from the decrée of Christ Feed my sheepe and Thou art Peter and vpon this rock For in that the Lord said saith the pope Feede my sheepe and that generallie Mine not particularly Those or These by this it is vnderstood that he committed the whole flocke to him The pope alledgeth c. vnam sanctam Extrauag de maior obed another cause out of the Donation of the emperor
Constantine * dist 66. c. Constant. wherin it is said that Constantine gaue him the principalitie ouer all the churches of the whole world But let vs sée whether the pope be not fallen into that error which is not woont to be tollerated in law and iudgements neither can it by any meanes be suffered that a pleader should alledge contrarie causes of his intention But these l. si quis 7. D. de petit hered l. 1. c. de fur l. Titius 99. D. de cond demonst things are contrarie one to another that Christ gaue the pope principalitie ouer all Churches which he doth most plainly affirm in the places aboue written and that The same principalitie was giuen him by Constantine bicause that which is euerie mans owne cannot be his by more and especially by contrarie causes For their inuention l. an eadem 14. § penult D de except rei iud l. non vt ex plurib 159. de reg iur is intollerable which dispute that that principalitie was first giuen to the pope of Rome by Christ and that Constantine confirmed that donation and that so soon as the first emperor became a Christian he gaue Syluester the pope the voide possession therof First bicause a false Constantine writeth in plaine words that he giueth the gifts of two most great things of the ecclesiasticall iurisdiction ouer all priests that are in Christendome which the popes call the spirituall principalitie and the lordship of the whole west empire which the same call the Temporall lordship Of the former the false Constantine writeth thus Constantine gaue this priuilege to the bishop of the church of Rome that in all the Romane circuit the priests haue him to be their head as iudges haue the king for their head And streightway We decree that he beare rule as well ouer the fower seas of Alexandria Antioch Hierusalem and Constantinople as also ouer all Churches of God thoroughout the whole world What could he write more plainly to shew that he did attribute to the pope a certaine new kind of authoritie Who is he that knoweth not that a priuilege is opposite to common authoritie And that if Constantine gaue a priuiledge to the pope the pope had before like and the same authoritie which all bishops did vse But if Constantine could giue an vniuersall principalitie ecclesiasticall surely he must néeds haue béen lord of that principalitie by full right Which euen all the Canonists do grant to be most absurd that a secular prince should possesse a spiritual principalitie that is an vniuersall bishoprike ouer all churches séeing he hath not the priesthood or bishoprike of so much as of one little church But if Constantine had no bishoprike at al how could he giue the vniuersall bishoprike of all the whole world to Syluester séeing no man can giue more right or authoritie to another than he himself hath And we sée that this argument was obiected two hundred yéeres ago to the pope by Marsilius of Patauium who writeth thus In the decrees Indefens pacis cap. 11. there is found a certaine priuilege of the emperor Constantine approoued by the popes wherin he gaue to S. Syluester bishop of Rome the coactiue iurisdiction ouer all churches of the world and ouer all the rest of the priests or bishops And seeing the pope of Rome and with him the rest of the priests or bishops doth grant that the said grant was firme they must consequently grant that the same Constantine had altogither the same iurisdiction or power ouer them But let vs returne to the proposed Dilemma For whether the pope hold that he had that principalitie from God as he professeth in the places of late cited or he hath it by Constantine his gift we will prooue both to be false First by that repugnance or contrarietie whereof we spake euen now Secondly bicause he cutteth his owne throte with his owne sword For in the decrée he citeth this place out of Chrysostome Whosoeuer he be that will desire principalitie vpon earth shall find confusion in heauen neither shall he be reckoned among the seruants of Christ which wil intreat of the primacie * l. 7. l. 8. de iureiur in l. priuil 27. c. de decur l. 10. Also Let not the bishop of the chiefe Dist 4. c. multi §. quicunque sea be called the prince of priests or the highest priest or any such thing but onelie the bishop of the chiefe sea But let not euen the bishop of Rome be called the vniuersall bishop Which selfe same thing is repeated againe and againe c. primae sedis dist 99. in a maner in as manie words in the two chapters following But if we must dispute out of the ciuil law it is most euident that there be thrée sorts of successors For some be successors of right and such be heires which are called vniuersall successors others be successors of the thing as those to whom legacies be giuen buiers those to whom gifts be giuen which are called particular successors * l. qui ius 177. D. de reg iu. cum simil lib. Last of all l. vlt. D. de excep rei vend l. 1. §. in locum D. quod legat some be successors of a personall office which are called Functionis succedanei Successors in an office * The successors of the former sort haue their right and cause from those whom they succéed whether they be vniuersall or particular * But the third haue not their right and claime from their predecessors but frō those by whom they are chosen and are put in their place such as the successors of magistrates tutors curates be For it is a personall office l. 1. §. 1. l. 6. §. vlt. l. vlt. D. de muner hon l. 1. §. Sciendum l. 4. l. 6. D de magist con l. 6. §. vlt. D. de his qui not in fam that is vpholden by carefulnes and watchfulnes of mind Therefore when a magistrate or tutor is dead one succéedeth him in inheritance another in office These things being thus set downe séeing the pope holdeth that he is Christs successor we may aske him of what kind of successor he professeth himselfe to be For he cannot be called an heire and a successor of all the right séeing that the inheritance of one that is aliue cannot so much as be l. 1. D. de her vend imagined * But Christ is not dead but he liueth both a blessed and euerlasting life No more can he be called the successor of a particular thing séeing the kingdome of Christ hath neither communion nor diuision Heb. 1. 5. no not among the Angels bicause God hath placed him as Paul saith farre aboue all gouernement and power and principalitie and hath put al things vnder his féete and hath made him head ouer all Eph. 1. 21. 22. things to the church But how can he haue a successor or vicar in his vniuersall office séeing
a band-dog or Cerberus than this But as I haue alreadie said this boldnes of the pope against the king of Nauarr is not greatly to be woondered at séeing such was his vnbridled furie against the most mightie king of France Wherefore let vs heare rather other testimonies of like and the same pride for it is not for man to contend with satan in railing spéeches and it shall be sufficient to vse that curse of Michael the archangell The Lord Jude 1. 9. rebuke thee Therefore to returne to our purpose we must not passe ouer that testimonie of the same popish seruice which is reported touching the same Boniface who in the yéere 1300. when there was great concourse of people at Rome by reason of the Iubilie in the first solemne day the pope shewed himselfe to the people in his Pontificalibus the day following hauing on the attire of the emperor he commanded a naked sword to be borne before him crieng with a lowd voice I am the pope and emperor and I beare rule in earth and heauen And a few daies after hée proudly reiected Albertus created emperor by the electors of Germanie when he came to craue his confirmation denieng that the election had without his authoritie ought to be counted firme séeing he alone had the authoritie of both swords After some good space he confirmed him vpon condition that with al expedition he shuld make war against the French king whose kingdome he gaue him for a pray and reward of his victorie Which things are witnessed by Cuspianus in the life of Albertus in the chronicle of Vsperge and by the writers of the French chronicles But to what end do we prosecute these light and trifling things We haue before declared that the pope of Rome doth claime by the donation of Constantine the empire of al the west parts These be but bare words Wherefore let vs looke into the thing it selfe For we denie that there is any king in the west I meane of France Spaine Aragon Portugal Hungarie Bohemia England Scotland Denmarke Sueueland Ruscia Croatia Dalmatia whom the papacie of Rome will not haue to be vassall and feudatarie to it as if he had receiued his kingdome from him as a fée and benefit and ought for that cause to ow allegeance and to do homage to him It is much that we say and almost incredible to be spoken but the truth shall appéere by instruments that we wil bring to light and by testimonies that we will vse For we wil touch euery realme according to the order of the letters Of that of England AVgustine Steuchus the maister of the popes librarie doth witnes in his book of the donation of Constantine that in 2. pag. 138. that librarie of the popes there is extant a register of pope Alexander the 3. wherein is found an epistle to William king of England For as we vnderstand by that booke of Steuchus the maister of the librarie all the actes of euerie pope are written in seuerall registers to the which what credit we ought to giue the verie rule of the law doth show wherein it is said that a priuate writing must be beléeued but onely against the writer himselfe Therfore this was Alexander his epistle Your wisedome knoweth that the kingdome of Englande sithence the time that the name of Christ was there glorified hath bin vnder the hand and tuition of the chiefe of the Apostles For as you know full well the Englishmen were faithfull and in respect of godly deuotion and knowledge of religion they gaue a yeerely pension to the apostolike sea wherof some part was giuen to the bishop of Rome some part to the church of S. Marie which is called the schoole of the Englishmen to the vse of the brethren These things are cited out of Steuchus But I finde these testimonies in other places besides Steuchus Flauius Blondus in his 6. booke Decad. 2. Then saith he Iohn king of England fearing that he was not of sufficient force to deale with the French king fled to the mercy of Innocentius the third pope of Rome for making England and Ireland feudataries to the church of Rome by league he promised to pay for either Iland an hundred markes in gold yeerely Antonie of Florence saith * Iohn king of England of his own accord Hist. part 3. tit 19. §. quinto anno 1223. by the counsell of his princes offered and did freely grant to God and his most holie Apostles Peter Paul and to the holie church of Rome and to the lord Innocentius the third being pope all the kingdome of England and also of Ireland with all their rights and appurtenances and he hath done and sworne homage for the same kingdomes to the saide Innocentius the pope that he should hold them hereafter as a feudatarie of the said pope and his successours Whereof also Polidore Virgill maketh mention in his 15. booke By this instrument of the pope if as I said we may giue credence to a priuate writing the realme of England is feudatarie to the pope Go to let vs sée the rest Of the kingdome of Arragonia STeuchus in the selfe same booke * saith Pag. 193. Peter king of Arragonia in the third yeer of the L. Innocentius the third being pope came to Rome to the same Innocentius and he receiued from him solemnely an honorable knighthood and he offered willinglie to S. Peter and to the holie church of Rome his whole kingdome and there he had for his fee the same kingdome Also he appointed to pay a certaine summe of money for the kingdome of Sardinia Of the kingdome of Croatia and Dalmatia STeuchus in the same booke * in the register of Gregorie the seauenth we reade thus In the name of the lord of the holie Pag. 191. and indiuisible Trinitie in the yeere of the Lords incarnation one thousand seuenty sixe in the 14. indiction of the moneth of October I Demetrius which am also called Suinumir by the grace of God duke of Croatia and Dalmatia being made and constituted by thee L. Gebizus hauing the power of Pope Gregorie by the ambassage of the apostolike sea by the synodall and generall election of the whole cleargie and people in the Solantine church of S. Peter and being inuested and appointed king in the gouernment of the kingdome of the Croatians and Dalmatians by the banner sword scepter and crowne to thee I vowe and promise that I will vnchangeably fulfill all things which thy reuerend holines shall inioine me that I may keepe mine oth to the Apostolike sea in all things and that I may keepe irreuocably whatsoeuer as well the sea apostlike as the legates thereof haue or shall establish in this realme that I may execute iustice and defend the church also I appoint to pay to S. Peter yeerely in the resurrection of the Lord the tribute of two hundred Bizanties of al my consulships and primacies for the kingdome granted to me Furthermore seeing to
serue God is to raigne in steed of S. Peter and of our lord pope Gregorie and after him insteed of his successors in the apostolike sea I commit my selfe to thine hands and in committing my self I establish this fidelitie with an oth I say I Demetrius which am also called Suinumir by the grace of God and the gift of the apostolike sea being from this day and heretofore king shall be faithfull to S. Peter and my L. pope Gregorie and his successors that enter canonically As for the kingdome L. Gebizo that is giuen me by thy hand I shall faithfully keepe it and I shall not take away the same and the right thereof from the apostolike sea by anie meanes or policie at any time I shall honorablie receiue and honestly handle send back my L. Gregorie the pope and his successours and ambassadours if they come into my dominion and I shall humble serue them what seruice soeuer they shall appoint vnto me These things writeth Steuchus Whereby we may know what eloquent and learned scribes the popes vse to haue which cannot onely set downe in writing the déedes and famous factes of Francis and Dominic but also write the instruments and witnessed briefes of inuested feudataries Of the kingdome of Denmarke STeuchus in the same 2. booke * The Pag. 189. kingdome of Denmarke saith he doth properlie belong vnto and is the tribute of the holie church of Rome which thing the true monuments of the popes do witnes Alexander the holie bishop the holie L. to his beloued sonne Sueuis king of Denmarke sendeth greeting and the apostolike blessing We admonish your wisedome that you prouide to send to vs and our successours the tribute of your kingdome which your predecessours were woont to paie to the church of the apostle yet so that it be not laide as an oblation vpon the altar but that it be offered aswell to vs as to our successours presentiallie that it may be more certainlie approoued Of the kingdome of France THere is extant in Nicolas Gillius a french man and a Chronicle writer an excellent epistle of pope Boniface the 8 which we will set downe Boniface the seruant of the seruants of God to Philip the french king Feare God and keepe his commandements We will haue you know that in spirituall things and temporall things you are subiect to vs there appertaineth to you no bestowing of benefices and prebends and if you haue the keeping of anie that are void reserue the profit therof for the successors and if you haue bestowed anie we decree that the gift thereof is voide we count those fooles that beleeue otherwise Geuen at Laterane 4. of the Nones of December in the 6. yeere of our popedome This instrument of pope Boniface is without doubt set downe in his register according to the custome by the kéepers of the librarie but let vs heare what the other partie answereth For we shall know by the kings answer what credence and authoritie we ought to giue to these registers of the popes Philip by the grace of God king of France to Boniface that carrieth himself for the chief bishop sendeth smal greeting or none at all Let your great follie know that in temporal things we are subiect to none that the bestowing of any churches or prebends that are vacant doth belong vnto vs by our princely right and to reape the fruits thereof against all possessours to maintaine our selfe profitablie and as for those that thinke otherwise wee count them doltes and mad men These things are cited out of the Britaine Chronicles of Armorica the 4. booke ch 14. and out of Nicolas Gillius in the french Chronicles whereby we may easilie coniect that howsoeuer we grant that these furious letters aforesaid were sent vnto kings by the popes yet did they sharpelie and vehemently represse their boldnes and rashnes And yet the same Steuchus the master of the popes librarie as we haue saide trusting to his register durst in the same book of his * write thus Pag. 198. and cause it to be printed at Lyons Boniface the 7. against Philip the king of France bicause hee did exalt himselfe against the Church when the pope had vnfolded to him the old monuments whereby he taught that France was subiect to the church of Rome both in holie and prophane things for which it was necessarie that he should reuerence and worship the pope as Lord of his kingdom when he despised him he did excommunicate him Of the empire of Germanie THe same Steuchus writeth nothing touching this empire by reason of the great power of Charles the fift whom Steuchus was afraide to offend But we haue else where verie manie testimonies First in the canonists * wherin is contained c. tibi Domino dist 63. the oth of the emperor Otho which he gaue to the pope Which pope Clement affirmeth to be the oth of alleageance in c. de iureiur in Clem. which vassals do giue to their patrones when they receiue a fée Whence the Canonists do stoutly dispute and reason that the emperor is the popes vassall and that he holdeth of him his empire by the name of a fée but also pope Innocentius the 3. writeth * that the right to choose the emperor in c. venerabilem extra de elect c. 2. de re iud in 6. in c. 1. ext Ne sed vacan came vnto the princes of Germanie from the apostolike sea And * that the emperor may be deposed by the pope And * that the pope when the empire is void is emperor And héerupon rose that boldnes of pope Innocentius the second that hée painted in the Laterane church at Rome the emperor Lotharius as a vassall lieng prostrate at his féete and receiuing the imperiall crown at his hands and did write these verses vnder the same picture Rex venit ante fores iurans prius vrbis honores Pòst homo fit papae sumit quo dante coronam The king before the doores did come The cities honors first he sweares That done the popes man he is made Of whom he takes the crowne he weares The memoriall whereof is extant in the chronicles of Hirsaug in the life of the abbat Hartuing in Radeuic * And when as lib. 1. num 9. 10. the same day the emperor Friderike had reasoned with the legates of pope Adrian Radeuic writeth that they answered thus Of whom thē hath he the empire if not from our Lord the pope Moreouer there is extant in Iohn Auentine * an epistle of pope Adrian vnto Lib. 6. pa. 636. the archbishops of Treuirs Moguntine and Colen written thus The Romane empire was translated from the Grecians vnto the Almaines so that the king of the Almaines was not called emperor before he was crowned by the Apostle Before the consecration he was king after the consecration emperor From whence then hath he his empire but from vs By the election of his princes he hath the name
of king by our consecration he hath the name of emperor and of Augustus and of Caesar Therefore by vs he reigneth our sea is at Rome the emperors at Aquis nigh Arduenna which is a wood of France The emperor hath all that he hath from vs. As Zacharie translated the empire from the Grecians to the Almains so we may translate it from the Almaines to the Grecians Lo it is in our power to giue it to whomsoeuer we will being therefore set ouer nations and kingdoms to destroy and pluck vp to build plant Thus writeth the pope of the Germane empire boldly ynough as it séemeth séeing he sendeth him to Aquisgranus and into the wood Arduenna as if he were some shéepherd or neatheard Shall there be any of the Counsellers of the most victorious emperor that can abide that fierce importunate voice of that tyrant But let vs heare more Of the kingdome of Spaine STeuchus in the same second booke Gregorie Pag. 133. the seuenth saith he writing to the kings and princes of Spaine saith thus You know that of old the kingdome of Spaine belongeth to the church of Rome And shortly after out of the register of Epistles of the same pope which he affirmeth to be kept religiously in his librarie he setteth down this epistle Gregorie the bishop the seruant of the seruants of God to the kings earles and other princes of Spaine greeting We will haue it knowne to you that the kingdome of Spaine was giuen by the ancient decrees to S. Peter and the holie church of Rome for their right and propertie and so foorth Of the kingdome of Hungarie COncerning the same there is a testimonie of like sort extant in the same maister of the librarie Gregorie the holie bishop Pa. 186. the holy lord to his beloued sonne Salomon king of Hungarie greeting As thou maist learne of the ancients of thy countrie the kingdome of Hungarie is proper to the holie church of Rome being in times past offered and deuoutly deliuered by king Stephen to S. Peter with all the right and power thereof And againe The same Gregorie writing to Geusus king of Hungarie we beleeue thou knowest that the kingdome of Hungarie as also other most noble kingdoms ought to be in the state of their owne libertie and to be in subiection to none other king of any other realme saue onely to the holie and vniuersall mother the church of Rome Of the kingdome of Polonia ALbertus Krantz in Wandal lib. 8. ca. 2. Lakoldus was duke of Cracouia at this time and he that bare rule throughout all Polonia He had from Iohn bishop of Rome the crowne bicause he did 〈…〉 Lodwik lawfull emperor bicause the pope did curse and excommunicate him For the popes were now come to that maiestie which secular princes cal presumption that they made kings citing the words of him that was first pope after Christ Behold saith Peter heer be two swords Against which the princes interpret the words of the eternall bishop Put vp thy sword into the sheath of the carnall humane and secular sword as if it were not lawfull for the pope to fight with it But Lakoldus being named and consecrated king by the pope made al the kingdome tributary to S. Peter that there should be paid yeerly for euerie one a penie which pence are called Peter-pence Of the kingdome of Ruscia STeuchus in the same booke * Also the Pag. 1â—â— kingdom of Ruscia is of right and destraint of the church of Rome as appeereth by the same ancient moniments Gregorie the seuenth writing to the king and queene of Ruscia To our beloued children saith he Demetrius king of Ruscia and to the queene his wife greeting and the apostolike blessing Your sonne visiting the shrines of the Apostles came to vs and bicause he would obtaine that kingdome by the gift of S. Peter by our hands he craued it with deuout petitions hauing giuen due alleageance to the same S. Peter the Apostle affirming vndoubtedly that that petition of his should be confirmed and established by our consent if he might be rewarded with the grace and defence of the Apostolike authoritie to whose petitions we gaue consent and we gaue him the gouernment of our kingdome in the behalfe of S. Peter namely with that intention of loue that S. Peter should defend you and your kingdome by his intercession to God Of the kingdome of Sicilia CLement the fift * Againe we must not In clem pastoralis de sent reiud passe ouer with silence that the king of Sicilia himselfe being our knowne subiect and the subiect of the church of Rome by reason of the foresaid kingdome and being a liege man and vassall hath his continuall abode in the same kingdome Of the kingdome of Scotland POlydore Virgil writeth thus in his seuentéenth booke In the meane season Boniface the pope being wearied by the Scots with their petitions forbad king Edward that hee should not heereafter trouble the Scots with war bicause that realme was before committed by the Scots to the tuition and made subiect to the power of the pope of Rome And therfore he auouched that it was in his power alone to giue it to whomsoeuer he would or to take it from whomsoeuer he would Hitherto haue we reckoned vp all the kingdoms of Christian kings which the pope auoucheth they hold and possesse as a fée or benefit receiued from him By euerie one whereof and by them all in generall we leaue it to men of courage to iudge whether this séemeth to be the humilitie of a modest pastor of the church so greatly commended of Christ or rather boldnes and hawtines of a fierce and intollerable giant Also we would haue them thinke with themselues whether this so great proud speaking of the popes came not from the same spirit from whence that oration of the tyrant Nero came which is left by Seneca to the posteritie in his first booke of Clemencie Of al mortal men I was liked and chosen to serue in the place of the Gods vpon earth I am to the nations the iudge of life and death It is in my hand what condition and state euery man hath What thing soeuer fortune would haue giuen to any mortall man she pronounceth it by my mouth People and cities conceiue causes of ioy by our answer No part doth any where florish saue onely when I am willing and fauourable These so manie thousands of fencers which my power doth suppresse shall be girded at my becke It is my iurisdiction what nations ought to be quite cut off which ought to be transported to whom libertie ought to be granted from whom it ought to be taken what kings ought to be bond-slaues and vpon whose head the princely crowne ought to be set what cities shal come to ruine and which shall florish The crime of Rebellion THe fourth crime followeth whereof we said the pope of Rome was long ago not onely accused by the
or to sing and say their masses furnished and armed with brest-plates helmets tergats swords with other weapons Onely so Yea saith he as the emperor his power is adorned with diuers offices of chamberlaines door-keepers and garders so we wil haue the holie church of Rome garded and adorned and that they ride vpon horses most white and that like as our senate vseth shooes with latchets * so let them be clad in most white linnen Is there any of so great a number of the Senators of the king of France who when he remembreth the humilitie and modestie of Christ and his apostles doth not with all praiers detest this pride and hautines of the popes Moreouer he saith that if the pope will choose any of Constantines senators into the order of the clergie let them not proudly refuse that honor With a mischiefe what tyrannous barbarisme is this that it is lawful for any college of clerks to choose at their pleasure any one of the order of the senators whom they will also make a clerke or munke against his will He procéedeth and that the lawiers may remember that a doubled spéech hath greater force he saith again that he giueth both his pallace and citie of Rome and the prouinces places and cities of all Italie and of the west countries to all the popes of Rome vntil the end of the world Moreouer he adioineth the forme of his grant and deliuery that he may afterward translate himselfe vnto the East countries hauing left the empire of the West in the popes possession and that he may place the sea of his empire in Bizantia adding moreouer a very fit cause Bicause saith he it is an vnmeet thing that an earthly king should beare rule in that countrie where the head of Christian religion and the principalitie of priests is placed by the king of heauen He did excellently make himselfe the beginning of this sentence for in the time of Constantine that is two hundred yéeres before Iustinian the deliuerance of the emptie possession was requisite to make a donation but there be many other things that do disturbe the matter First bicause if Constantine gaue to Syluester the emptie possession of that countrie he could not afterward in his will leaue it to his sonne Constantius séeing the alienation of any thing made among those that are aliue doth leaue no place for making anie will l. 6. c. de test l. sequens 52. D. de leg 2. thereof * But if the donation were made after that diuision made among his sons it was plainly void and of none effect bicause the diuision that a father maketh among his sonnes hath the force of a testament l pen. l. vlt. C. fam excisc cum similibus and therefore of a last will Secondly with what godlines could Constantine who had thrée sonnes and two daughters do so great iniurie to his children as to depriue them of halfe their inheritance and to giue the same to a stranger especially to a wretch and vile person For that is a pretie saieng of Augustine Whosoeuer he be that will disinherit his sonne and make the church his heire let him seek another to take it than Augustine Where also the fact of that 17. q. vlt. c. vlt. bishop is cōmended who restored al again to a certaine testator who hauing no children left his goods to the church then afterward had children contrarie to his hope and expectation Which selfe same thing is set downe 13. q. 2. c. si quis irascitur But nothing is so ridiculous as is that reason of his purpose which the counterfet Constantine addeth That it is vnmeet that in the same citie wherein a priest sitteth as chiefe the emperor should haue the sea of his empire Wo to thy head most holie hangman For what shall we say of Salomon of Aza of Iozia and other godlie kings of the Israelites who placed the sea of their kingdome at Ierusalem What of Theodosius who had his at Mediolanum But that we may not go far for examples what shall we say of Constantius sonne to Constantinus who according to his fathers testament did not onely exercise his empire and iurisdiction at Rome but also he put from the popedome and thrust out of Rome pope Liberius for taking vpon him the defence of Anastasius a bishop a certaine magician sacrilegious person as Theodoricus Zozomenus and Ammian Marcellin lib. 15 haue left it written But now let vs returne to our purpose for last of all there is a fearfull decrée set downe If any saith he of our successors shall be a violater or contemner let him be subiect to eternall damnation being insnarled and let him burne in the neathermost hell with the diuell and the wicked But Constantine brought this curse first vpon himselfe who as we said euen now in his last wil gaue the empire of the West to his eldest son finally he was bound with the same curse whosoeuer possessed as his owne either the West or any part of the West either by the name of king or duke or by any other name And by this reason there hath béene none that hath béene king either of France or Spain héertofore that burneth not in the neathermost hel with the diuell and all the wicked And now can we find any so ignorant of the Latin toong that séeth not that the maner of spéech which the writer of the same instrument vseth is far vnlike to the custome of that age Which part of reprehension Platina did not omit in that Syluester But Laurentius Valla a man of most sharpe iudgement in this kinde did more at large prosecute it Whereto we will adioine this one thing if anie man consider the maner of phrase wherein the lawes of Constantine are written in the booke of Theodosianus and Iustinian he shal soone perceiue without any great ado that this instrument came out of the same shop which we shewed before out of the Conformities of Francis or out of the life of Dominick And we must not passe ouer with silence another cosoning knacke of a certain latter pope of Leo the 10. as it séemeth who to the end he might with some color couer that corruptiō of spéech basenes of stile he heaped falsehood vpon falsehood For he suborned a certaine hungrie Grecian called Bartholomew Picernus and afterward Augustine Steuchus the maister of his librarie to saie that they found in I cannot tell what librarie of the popes that instrument written in the Gréeke toong and that then they translated it somwhat more fitly into the Latine toong Which inuention Gregorie the 13. hath now of late confirmed in the last edition of the decrée of Gratian. But all the lawes of Constantine are extant in the foresaid bookes of Theodosianus and Iustinian written in the Latin toong though they were published both at Constantinople and in a citie of the Grecians and among the Grecians Furthermore Eusebius in his thirde booke
prouince whereby the priests of Christ may both wisely discerne and constantly hold equitie especially bicause it is granted to euerie one if he shall be offended at the iudgement of those that are appointed to heare causes to appeale to the councels of his prouince or also the generall councell vnlesse peraduenture there be any man which doth beleeue that God doth giue by inspiration to some one man the iustice of hearing and examining matters and doth denie it to infinit priests assembled in a synod Or how shall the iudgement giuen beyond the seas be firme whereunto the necessarie persons of witnesses cannot be brought either for infirmitie of sexe or of old age or for many other hinderances that come betweene And as concerning those thrée legats there are grieuous complaints made of them in those verie same letters and especiallie of Faustinus that they had greatly troubled the assemblie when as they feigned that they mainteined the priuileges of the church of Rome Then we sée that euen at that time the wickednes trecherie and impudencie of the pope of Rome was reuealed and that it was conuict and condemned by a generall councell Do we thinke that he did any thing hauing taken away al his enimies or familiars of out Africa and Asia that he might establish in his west parts the power that he did euen then affect And thus much hitherto touching the first cause of the nullitie and incompetencie or insufficiencie of the iudge which notwithstanding that they may be more apparent to the most excellent senators of the kings parlement and to other lawyers we will confirme them with the authoritie of the doctors And first of all with that cōmon saieng of the canonists that The pope is no méete iudge euen in the onely crime of heresie but that it ought to be iudged by others * And Philip Decius C. si papa dist 40. doth constantly auouch that in that case a councell ought not to be gathered by the popes authoritie * The same doth Panormitanus in c. cum venis num 37. extra de iudic and Decius affirme in c. significasti num 4. num 9. de elect But of al other Ludouike of Rome doth most copiouslie and constantly auouch * out of the authoritie of the decrée it selfe that he that in Concil vlt. nu 15. seqq liueth rebelliouslie and refuseth to learne and do good things is rather a member of C. nullus dist 38. in concil 95. vol. 4. Decius cons 115. the deuil than of Christ that he is shewed to be rather an infidel than a beléeuer * The same saith Iason * and Decius * The second Nullitie by reason of the falsenes of the Allegation THerefore we say that the second cause of the nullitie doth consist in the falsenes of the allegation that is in a false cause alleaged which the pope followed in cōceiuing his sentence For the rule of the law is knowen that a sentence pronounced according to false causes false allegations false instruments is voide in law and without any appeale especially where the l. 1. pass C. si ex fals instru l. si praetor 7. D de iudic l. cum vero 2. §. Subuentum De fideic libert l. Seiae 26. D. de tutor cur dat l. 1. §. haec verba D. ne vis siat ei l. 1. C. si ex fals alleg sentence had for the principall cause and foundation the falsenes of the allegation * But pope Sixtus saith that he hath therfore proscribed the king of Nauarre and the prince of Condee bicause they be as he saith notorious heretikes Finely For by this reason if those princes be notorious heretiks then they must be procéeded against with arms and war if they be not notorious heretiks then the proscription and execration is of none importance Let vs sée then for what cause and allegation the foresaid Princes are condemned for heretiks For so great a crime must not be laid to the charge euen of a man of base estate without a great and weighty cause much lesse of so great princes and the kinsmen of so great a king The emperors Gratian Valentinian and Honorius decréed that they be counted heretiks which shall be detected euen by a light argument to erre and go astraie from the iudgement and path of catholike religion * Who can l. 2. c. de haeret Manich. like of and allow that definition For Augustine doth not account those heretiks which defend their opinion though false and pernitious with no stubborne wilfulnes especially which they haue not brought foorth through boldnes of their presumption but haue receiued it from their parents being seduced and fallen into errors and do seeke the truth with warie carefulnes being readie to be reformed when they haue found it as he saith text 24. dist 3. c. dixit Againe Iohn Auentine in the third book of his chronicles left in writing that a certaine bishop of Germanie called Virgil being skilful in mathematical arts was therefore accused of heresie and was called to Rome by pope Zacharie bicause he affirmed that there were Antipodes * That is such as go with their feete toward ours The canonists decréed that he should bée counted an heretike that should not obey all and singular the popes decrées * The gloss dist 10. c. nulli dist 21. pope himselfe hath decréed that he that denieth emperors kings princes and finally euery humane creature to be subiect to the temporall and materiall sword of the bishop of Rome be counted an heretike bicause it is vpon necessitie of saluation to beléeue this that is it is one of the articles C. 1. in fin extr de maior obedient of faith * In the yéere of Christ cxc 8. Victor pope of Rome did therefore pronounce that the East churches were heretiks bicause they thought not the same concerning Easter which his church thought For which cause Ireneus bishop of Lyons did sharpely reprooue that pope as Eusebius doth witnes in his fift booke 26. and Epist 24. What néede many words He is defined to be an heretike in popery which doth not beléeue al those things which are taught for truth in the church of Rome * But we haue before C. nulli dist 19 shewed that this doctrine was deliuered to the Church of Christ of it to be beléeued by the authority and commandement of the popes that Dominic wrought more miracles than Christ and all his apostles that the same Dominic was much more excellent than Christ and all his apostles That Iohn Baptist to whom the holy scripture gaue this title that there was neuer any mortall man vpon earth greater than he was by many degrées inferior to Dominic that cosener We haue shewed furthermore that the popes haue approoued that fable touching the marks of Francis Bernardo and that it is deliuered to the church of Rome to be beléeued and that that wise man that opposeth himselfe
at length it may be said the apostolike mule and sir reuerence the apostolike pissepot and so foorth But to returne to our purpose that the difference betwéene an heretike and an apostolike man might more plainly be vnderstood Tertullian adioineth a most manifest example and very appertinent to that we haue in hand Paul saith he instructing Timothie doth amongst heretiks nip forbidders of marriage Why so Tertullian Surely bicause that inhibition is contrarie to the doctrine of the apostles who taught in plaine words that marriage is not onely comly and honorable for al sorts and orders of men but also for the most part necessarie Whereby it appéereth that the forbidding of matrimonie is not apostolike but hereticall bicause according to Tertullians opinion those are defined to be heretiks which bring in doctrine contrarie to the writings of the apostles And those are defined to be apostolike and sound and catholike which contenting themselues with the writings of the apostles do detest accurse togither with the apostle those that detract from or adde to the same Furthermore to this definition of heretiks agréeth that which S. Augustine deliuereth * He is an heretike saith he who In lib. de vtil creden for loue of gaine or principalitie doth either beget or follow new opinions Where he meaneth principalitie of faction and departing from the Church the captaine and prince wherof he professeth himselfe to be hauing as it were set vp his banner And with this selfe same mind Paul calleth Philetus and Hymeneus heretiks bicause they had not only erred from the faith but also subuerted the faith of others whom likewise in another place he calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is wanderers or straiers 1. Tim. 2. 2. Tim. 3. and such as lead others into errore also But moreouer Peter describing heretiks saith that they intrap the minds of inconstant and weake men Also in another place Amongst them saith he there shall be false teachers which shall secretly bring in heresies or deadly sects 2. Pet. 2. And as touching the forme of declaring heretiks Paul sheweth the same in these words An heretike after the first and second admonition 1. Tim. 3. auoid Vnto which forme that order doth also appertaine which Christ prescribed * that he be accused before the Church Mat. 18. and if he shew himselfe stubborne let him be counted as an heathen man and profane person And we sée that euen the schoole doctors are of this mind amongst these the maister of sentences * where he In 4. dist 18. c. 7. writeth thus that Excommunication ought to be put in practise when a man being according to canonicall discipline called the third time to amend a manifest fault and making no account to make satisfaction is cut off by the sentence of the church from the place of praier and from the partaking of the sacraments and from the fellowship of the faithfull that he may be ashamed and that he may repent being conuerted through shame of his wickednes that his soule may be saued Who if professing repentance he do repent he is admitted to the communion that was denied him and is reconciled to the Church By all which doth plainly appéere that there be thrée marks of an heretike whereby they are knowen and discerued from those that hold the truth if they bring in any thing into the Church that agréeth not with the rule of faith if they make a departure and if being solemnly admonished they do stubbornely persist But bicause this disputation doth for the most part appertain vnto the kings Senators which are lawiers it séemeth to be nothing vnappertinent to set downe another definition of heretiks out of the bookes of Iustinian For in the Nouel 115. § si quis where amongst the lawfull causes of disheriting children he reckoneth vp heresies he addeth these words interpreted by Iulian Antecessor But we call those men sound which communicate in the holie catholike church into which all the patriarks are gathered with one consent and concord and the fower holie Councels are preached the Nicene that of Constantinople the first of Ephesus and that of Chalcedon And we call those heretiks which do not communicate with the catholikes These things being thus set downe let vs now sée by what right our foresaid Princes are condemned by pope Sixtus the fift for heretiks for whether we follow the former or the latter definition the foresaid Princes do professe and declare so earnestly as they can and they call to witnes God and Angels and all men of all sorts and kinds finally heauen and earth that they do neither bring in into the Church any thing that is repugnant to the rule of faith and vsuall créede of Christians ne yet to those fower most ancient Councels but that they do with all their hart imbrace their doctrine and confession such as was cōceiued in the Nicene synod the synod of Constantinople of Ephesus and Chalcedon neither doe they depart euen an heares bredth as they say from the forme set downe by Athanasius Futhermore they professe that they neither haue made neither will make any departure frō those churches which haue continued in that rule of faith and forme of confessions such as be those churches of the most noble and mightie electors and princes of the confession of Augusta Last of all that they were neuer till this daie admonished reprehended by any church of this sort which hath perseuered in the doctrine of the apostles But and if being yoong men and terrified with the blood and infinite murders of the massacre of Paris and mooued with the sight and presence of a most mightie king and finally being hedged in with the swordes of manie armed soldiers they did and pronounced those things vnwillingly which they were commanded either to do or pronounce this must not be counted a solemne and lawful forme of ecclesiasticall admonition and such as Christ appointed and the Apostles and apostolike men haue kept especially séeing that shortly after when they had recouered their libertie they protested that they did all that they did vnwillingly and compelled with threatnings and did openlie craue pardon for that their infirmitie at the hands of God Christians in a reformed church before a great assemblie And on the contrarie they shew that the pope of Rome is condemned by the iudgement of the most part of Europe not only amongst heretiks but also as a chiefe heretike as the chiefe author and captaine of sedition First bicause he hath brought in into the church wicked fables and blasphemous touching the false miracles of munks and traditions most contrarie to those fower ancient councels such as we haue before set downe touching the feigned purgatorie the inuocation of the dead the worshipping of images the daily renuing of the sacrifice of Christ in the masse the idolatrous worshipping of the bread and chalice touching the forbidding of mariage touching the Dominicane munkes hid
cōmitted to him It followeth Casting down from their throne those that are mightier he throweth them downe euen to the ground as ministers of proud Lucifer How madlie the drunken frier inuadeth the place of Isaias * which doth properlie Ch. 14. concerne the popes of Rome and the vniuersall priests of the church For Gregorie the great doth plainly testifie that vnder the person of Nabuchadnosor the vniuersal pope is described For in hel there are brought in the damned kings princes comming out as it were to méete the pope and to welcome him comming vnto them after his death and mocking him thus Hell was afraide bicause of thee against the meeting of thy comming al the princes of the earth that are dead arise to thee All the kings of the nations rise out of their throns and they speak vnto thee on this wise Art thou also become weake as one of vs and art thou become like to vs Thy pride is drawne vnto the hell O Lucifer when didst thou fall from heauen thou sonne of the morning and art cut downe to the earth that didst terrifie the nations But thou saidst in thine hart I will clime vp into heauen I will exalt my throne aboue the stars of heauen I will clime vp aboue the height of the cloud and will become like to the most highest Those that see thee shall saie Is this he that troubled the earth and did shake kingdoms Now let vs heare Gregorie out of his fourth booke of Epistles ch 82. where he applieth that place of Isaias vnto him that did professe himselfe to be pope and vniuersall bishop I will clime vp saith he aboue the height of the clowdes I will be like to the most highest For what are all thy brethren the bishops of the vniuersall church but stars of heauen Before whom whiles thou couetest to set thy selfe by a worde of pride and to tread their name vnder foote in comparison of thee what else dost thou say but I will clime vp into heauen I will exalt my seat aboue the stars of heauen Whom whiles your brotherhood despising them doth go about to tread vnder foote what other thing saith it but this which the old enimie saith I will clime vp aboue the height of the clowds Al which things when I behold weeping c. By which words it is vnderstood that the place of Isaias concerning Lucifer cast downe into the neather most part of the earth and of his crueltie thrust downe into hell doth not belong to the most noble king of Nauarre than whom the sunne beholdeth nothing more méeke more gentle but vnto our Polyphemus Sixtus the fift and vnto his pride in treading vnder-foote the maiestie of kings But if we must cut the throat of this gyant with his owne sword lo we haue a plaine text in his owne decrée * where it is thus written Lucifer de poeniten dist 2. §. qui vero reprobi whiles that he presumed of himselfe in pride he was cast downe from paradyse into hell Also * Whiles Nabuchadnosor waxing proud in 23. q. 5. §. hinc notandum his hart said Is not this Babylon which I haue built c. God did foorthwith change his reasonable mind and he changed him into the forme of beastlines so that flieng from men he liued with beasts Which words he reciteth referring them vnto the pope which we wil haue especially noted and he commendeth Ludouike of Rome * But now let vs procéed in cons vlt. num 2. to the rest after we haue added that one thing out of the 38. leafe of the booke of the Conformities bicause mention is made of the seat of Lucifer The peace making Frier being caught vp into heauen whether in the bodie or without the bodie God knoweth let the readers consider how wickedly the vile munk doth mock the words of Paul and he saw in heauen manie seates amongst which he saw one higher than his fellowes bedeckt with pretious stone And he heard a voice saieng to him This was Lucifers seate and in his place shall humble Francis sit And this surely is that which we said before that Francis Bernardo togither with the rest of his stage plaiers and comicall mates shall haue a place in Lucifers kingdome so that we néed not greatly dispute whether Francis or pope Sixtus the fift a bishop of the order of Francis is worthie the seate It followeth in the bull According to the care for all chruches people and nations that lieth vpon vs. Good Lord What a burden hath our great cowled Frier taken vpon him séeing he hath taken vp vpon his shoulders the care both for all churches and people nations We will héerafter cease to woonder what is the cause that painters haue in his image painted the form of one that stoupeth Scarce Atlas who they say held vp heauen did beare a heauier burden What shall then become of vs if the pope begin to faint and faile vnder that so great a burden which he complaineth to lie vpon his shoulders alone They say that the cause of a certain melancholy persons gréefe was bicause he was afraid least Atlas who had so long borne so great a burden should at length sinke vnder it But we thinke it good to set downe in this place a certaine pleasant narration of William Budeus a man as I said before that loued his countrie and was very learned touching these Atlasses out of his fift booke De Asse A certain pleasant and merie preacher saith he was woont not long ago to cauill at them and to say that they seemed to him to be such as are those corbat images in churches which are set vpon posts or pillers For as we see some of these images as it were yeelding vnder their burden which are either in stead of corbats or else they reach without the mortesses of the corbats and they seeme to one that beholdeth them as if they tooke great paines and swet with bearing the worke whereas indeed they are without feeling and they help the strength of the stones nothing howsoeuer they seeme to take great paines so we see these Atlasses set and placed vpon the very tops of the pillers in the temple of the Lord hauing indeed that false honor and maiestie of titles like reuerend old men and their custome is to pretend holines and to beare a faire shew of reuerend old men that vnderprop the Lords sanctuarie but when we behold their blockish ignorance or dissolute carelesnes it is euident that they do no more good than images of stone But it séemeth that we ought not to omit that which Antoninus archbishop of Florence whom we haue sundry times before mentioned hath taught vs that when as long ago the pope began to faint vnder so great a burden there were some found that did vnderprop him with their shoulders namely Dominican Friers For he writeth thus * Dominic Histor. part 3. tit 23. §. 3. fol. 191. went
celebrated and ended might be counted firme and good through his authoritie let vs beware least he condemne the most mightie king of France his most honorable brethren and the quéene their moother of most cruel wickednes by whose direction and who being authors and counsellors that matrimonie was contracted Furthermore he condemneth all the princes of the blood roiall and al the chiefe nobles of the realm of France which were present both at that contract and also at the masse celebrated at fower of the clock after noone and with their presence did set foorth the solemnitie of that matrimonie But the pope doth with these words wound none so déepelie and sharplie as the foresaide most noble prince the cardinall of Borbon who he saith did celebrate that matrimonie betwéene his nephew by his brother and the king of France his sister contrarie to the holie canons to omit the bishop who soong the masse with so great solemnitie in the chiefe church of Paris and the deane and the subdeane which soong togither with him the canons of the same church and the other musitians and organ plaiers which bare them companie all which if that matrimonie were wicked and incestuous the pope ought either to haue excommunicate or else to haue absolued from the censures and penalties which they had incurred Who is he that can abide that barbarous and fierce arrogancie that a disciple of Francis Bernardo dare condemn a king whom he bosteth to haue béen called by him most Christian of so great wickednes and to say that he procured the incestuous and wicked marriage betwéen his sister and kinsman And now who is he of so great a number of cardinals that can patiently abide that this Franciscan shuld offer this reproch to the memory of the former pope Gregorie that he shuld say that he granted licence to the sister of the most christian king to marrie with a notorious heretike that he did either no◠grant that libertie to the heretike or else that he did it after he had abiured Doth he not in these words flatly mocke Gregorie being dead as if he had béene another pope Celestine whom Iohn Andreas Baldus Iason and others do write to haue béen a beast bicause in the morning he granted grace and in the euening he reuoked it whereupon the cardinals though they knew that through foolishnes he had renounced the papacie yet bicause he was a beast they did willingly accept his renountiation and they created Boniface the eight who is depainted to be a fox in his entrie a lion in his sitting and a dog in his fal Baldus writeth thus in as manie words * But if we must come néerer in c. 1. de natur feud Jason in concil 145. circa primam nu 2. vol. 2. what I pray you will our vncowled frier saie and set downe touching that old and famous contention of the popes one whereof namely Celestine the thirde granted power to either partie of a married couple to contract new matrimonie if the other were fallen into heresie another namely Innocentius the third doth not grant it * But the impudent foole wil c. quanto Extra de diuort answer first that which we saide before that there be but few friers found that are good canonists secondly that though pope Boniface the eight said that the popes do containe all lawes in the chest of their breast * yet Baldus wrote no lesse trulie c. 1. de constit lib. 6. that though the pope inasmuch as he is pope is doctor of both lawes yet he is for the most part doctor in authoritie not in knowledge as saith Iason * Therfore let in l. praescriptione col 2. C. si contra ius vel vtilit pub the first follie of this article be shewed thereby in that the pope durst saie that wicked matrimonie was contract by the will studie and authoritie of the kings and of the quéene their moother The second is vnderstood thereby in that he writeth that he dispensed that that matrimonie might be contract bicause of the abiuration aforegoing which was ended so long before that abiuring The third therby that he saith that he dispensed that matrimonie once contracted should be contracted againe furthermore as if lawfull acts such as it is euident matrimonie is could be iterated For as touching that he saith concerning the second degrée of consanguinitie we shal héerafter in a more fit place shew how this cōmeth to passe But now let vs sée some more things He sent Iohn lord of Duratium his orator that he shuld make promise for his repentance and conuersion in the sight of the seate apostolike Looke out of what shop the letters came out of the same came that legate namely from those which threatened death to the yoong man being taken and terrified with weapons vnlesse he would obey them to saie as they said But I pray you what maner riddle is this In the sight or presence of the seat apostolike Whether was there some séeing and eied seat carried thither or is it that which the popes call Stercoraria or the dunghill in the pontifical booke others Testiculatrix or that whereon they grope them from which they giue sentence either of the abilitie or inabilitie of the new installed pope And surely it pleaseth vs well to recite that plesant iest concerning the Stercoraria or dunghill seat out of the first booke of the popes ceremonies Sect. 2. c. 3. The pope that is created is led by the prior and Chanons of the Laterane church vnto a seat of marble which is called Stercoraria or the dunghill and there they make him sit down vnto whom the cardinals come and lift him vp honorably saieng He raiseth the needie out of the dust and lifteth the poore out of the mire that he may sit with the princes and possesse the seat of glorie Then riseth the pope and taketh out of the treasurers lap that standeth by him so much monie as he can hold in his fist wherin yet notwithstanding there may be no gold at al and throweth it among the people saieng Siluer and gold haue I none but that which I haue giue I thee Whether do we thinke that this is follie of the popes deseruing to be laughed at or rather a detestable custome of profaning the word of God But let vs hold on in the bull it may be we shal find foolisher things It followeth But he as he was of a diuers and inconstant mind did shortly after fall away from the catholike faith and from due obedience toward the apostolike sea Whether then may we call this follie or madnes The king of Nauarre was falsely thought to haue returned to the obedience of the sea of Rome and the same being of an inconstant mind fell from the same Yea truly there appéered great and altogither singular constancy in that yong man who being day and night beset with armed men did yet notwithstanding continually séeke meanes to escape that
pope that may be better Which historie the same Boerius recorded in the same 20. councell Therefore let thus much be answered to that exprobration of the dispensation For as concerning the last part of the popes declaration wherein the foresaid princes are iointly crushed with the popes potguns are excommunicate proscribed and their kingdoms dominions dukedoms principalities and iurisdictions adiudged to him that can first get them we haue sufficiently declared before that the most part of Christendome maketh like account long ago of this kinde of trifles as the most professors of the popes religion make of the miracles of Bernardo and Dominic at this day which religion notwithstanding is so staied vp with the orders of the Franciscans and Dominicans as with most strong pillers that if they should suffer those pillers to be vndermined they might thinke that their religion were quite vndone But it séemeth that we must speake somwhat more largely of those vain thunderbolts of the popes long ago contemned and counted as nothing Of the vaine and contemptible thunderbolst of the popes FOr to cite a few of many testimonies when pope Boniface the eight had proscribed with this same ancient boldnes Philip the faire king of France the king hauing assembled a parlement did decrée according to the sentences of the orders that the filthie legates of the pope being reproched and ill intreated should be banished out of the borders of his kingdome Boniface the pope saith Laurentius Valla who deceiued Celestine with trumpets that he had put into a wall depriued the king of France of his kingdome of France and iudged that the kingdome it selfe as if hee would execute the donation of Constantine was and is subiect to the church of Rome What with what minde did king Philip suffer this his madnes It séemeth more fit to hear the whole matter out of the words of Platina himselfe Boniface saith Platina sent the archdeacon of Narbon to tell the king that he should set at libertie the bishop of Apame If he would not do that he should say in the hearing of all men that the kingdome of France was turned ouer to the church and that he should adde a curse and should absolue all the French men from their oth taken to the king Is not this the very same forme of proscription which our mad headed Sixtus hath vsed in proscribing the king of Nauarre and prince of Condie Platina procéedeth But in the meane season saith he Philip king of France taking the arrogancie of pope Boniface impatiently holding a great assemblie of ecclesiasticall persons and noble men at Paris and setting downe the iniuries that he had receiued at Bonifacius his hands and his ambition and wicked subtilties to get the popedome which he held vniustly he appealed vnto the sea apostolike which was at that time as he said vacant and vnto the next councel that should be held Wherwith Boniface being smitten holding a generall councell he maketh Philip and his kingdome subiect to Albertus the emperor whom he had reiected and put backe in the beginning of his popedome But then Philip willing to tame his pride sent Sarra Columniensis knowen in part of Massilia and redeemed from pyrates with Nogaretius a most faithfull French knight to Rome for this cause as he did openly declare that they might publish his appeale For he had another purpose in his head For Sarra entring into Italie apparelled like a seruing man hauing gathered togither his friend out of all parts sendeth Nogaretus before to Terentine with two hundred horsemen being French men and hired out of the campe of Charles Valesius that they might aide him from thence if need should be But entring by night secretly into Agnania hauing the Gibellines to aide him whom Boniface had long and greatlie vexed he caught the pope in his fathers house fearing no such thing after he had brok vp the gates he bringeth him captiue to Rome where 35. daies after he died for sorow Thus writeth Platina where he addeth also that of Iohn Andreas Baldus that he is as a dead dog who entred like a fox and ruled like a lion * In which place Bald. in c. 1. de nat feud it séemeth we ought not to omit that which our cowled frier hath left in writing in his booke of conformities * in these words Fol. 103. Pope Vrbane the fift swore to destroy our order but he died shortly after pope Bonifacius the eight caused manie buls to be made all of one tenor that the friers minors should be dispatched as the tēplars that our whole order might be destroied in one day Before he could send them he was taken prisoner the buls were burned and the pope himselfe died miserably But omitting trifles let vs sée to other things Surely by these things we vnderstand that euen at that time that is in the yéere M. cccvj these mad and furious proscriptions of the popes were contemned of the French kings counted as nothing Neither was the vertue and courage of king Charles the sixt inferior about the yéere M. ccccxviij For as we vnderstand by the records of the senate of Paris both French and Germane chronicles so soone as Martinus the fift was made pope in the councell of Constance being not content with so many and so great tributes vpon which two former Antipopes and also thrée former Antipopes and a little before fower Antipopes relieng had nourished deadly wars amongst them almost for the space of fortie yéers he began to command moreouer new tributes in the churches and especially of France Which message after the king had receiued he determined foorthwith to haue a parlement according to the custome In that assemblie after the matter had béen long time hard and debated a decrée was made that that new kind of the popes exactions should be inhibited Which so soone as pope Martin knew he sent foorthwith legates from his traine into France to inhibite principally all the citie of Lions from all holie things This was woont to be the force of those inhibitions of the popes in that time of darknes if happilie any man knew it not that they shut vp all the church doores there was no masse saide there was no vse or exercise of any religion there was also no ringing of bels Onely so Yea surely those that were dead might not be buried in churchyardes Wherewith it cannot in words be vttred how greatly mens minds infected with superstition were terrified What did they then Foorthwith according to the authoritie of the publike assemblie the decrée of the senate of Paris it was pronounced that that curse should be counted as nothing Let them remember let thē think vpon let them meditate vpon these things if there be any in our country of France either so ignorant and vnskilful of things or so euil affected towards mightie princes that they thinke that this foolish and ridiculous proscription of our cowled frier is of any
much that The pope being chosen otherwise than canonically is a diuell and hath not the keies of heauen but of hell For these be the words of Felinus * Let them furthermore In c. Ego N. de iureiur consider that all the popes cardinals and bishops which haue borne rule in the church of Rome more than an hundred yéeres came assuredly out of the seminarie of schismatiks and apostataes For it is now almost an hundred and fiftie yéers ago sithence the councel of Basill was kept and held with the great desire will of all Christian estates It is well knowen that neuer any councell was called had and kept in the church of Rome with greater solemnitie than this For it was both called by the decrée of two popes namely of Martin the fift and Eugenius the fourth and also it was held their legates being presidents Eugenius being cited and called out of the same councell after that they had solemnly heard the cause he was at length conuict of fraud iuglings craftie conueiances and factions against the libertie of that councell and so put from the popedome and disgraded as a schismatike and reuolt togither with all the cardinals and bishops which tooke his part And Amedaeus duke of Sauoy was put in his place Let vs heare what maner end this tragedie had Soone after the same Eugenius being condemned depriued disgraded was through the fauor of certain princes restored to his sea and he likewise restored with him all the cardinals and bishops that tooke his part And Amedaeus hauing though against his will a cardinals hat giuen him did resigne his popedome Let graue men and such as are of courage now consider whether according to that most holie function of the popes decrée wherof we spake euen now they be to be counted apostolicall or rather apostaticall whether they haue the keies of heauen or of hell who arising out of that seminarie of the Eugenians beare rule in the church of Rome in these times Which that it may more commodiously be iudged it is woorth the labor to heare and knowe the opinions of the doctors and lawiers who haue written somewhat touching this matter and first of all of Ludouike of Rome who was present at the councell of Basill where he wrote the last councell whose words are these * If the num 15. shepheard of shepheards offensiuely gouerning and inordinately handling the church being admonished by the church do not foorthwith repent yea continue in his insolencie of gouernment he may and ought to be put from his office For seeing he honoreth not the church admonishing him wholesomly neither shall he then deserue to be honored of the church so that it should tollerate him gouerning offensiuely and being incorrigible being an argument of that which the orator Domitius saith and Hierom reporteth in his epistle to the Neopolitanes saieng thus Why then should I count thee as my prince seeing thou dost not take me for a senator * Therefore the truth is that the pope dist 95. c. esto subiectus offending the church notoriouslye with his crimes and remaining incorrigible may be accused to the church and by the same be vncased of his popedome Which conclusion is shewed farther thus The pope standing in a notorious crime that offendeth the whole church and being vnwilling to cease of falleth into suspition of heresie * He that liueth rebelliously and refuseth c. nullus dist 38. sic dicente to learne and do good things is shewed to be a member rather of the diuel than of Christ and he is shewed to be rather an infidell than a beleeuer Thus saith Ludouike of Rome who as we said was present at the councell of Basil with great authoritie Where be those that dispute that they are and ought to be counted heretiks which set themselues against the popes tyrannie Which thinke that his outragious boldnes in proscribing kings ought not any longer to be borne with Which detest the impietie of Sixtus the fift in maintaining the feined religions of Bernardo and Dominick But now let vs cite another authoritie of the same notable man out of the same councell for shortly after * he num 17. saith thus If naturall reason tell vs that an incurable member that infecteth the whole bodie ought to be cut off for the safetie of the whole bodie in like sort ciuill reason ought to tell vs that an incurable member that infecteth the whole mistical church must be cut off that the rest of the bodie be not infected or offended and consequently the pope let vprightnes of minds be vsed in reading these things and let these words of Ludouike of Rome be compared with that our curse and detestation who though he be a principall part of the church yet is he also a member of the bodie of the church according to the glosse * Also the reason of the scripture of God in c. ecce 93. dist persuadeth this approouing the asseueration of Caiphas the chiefe priest who said It is expedient that one man die for the people and that all the people do not perish seeing that though he were pope placed to gouerne the people yet ought he not to be their ruine saith text 11. q. 3. ita corporis Yea he is worthie of as manie deaths as he sendeth ouer examples of destruction to his subiects saith text eadem caus q. in c. praecipuè For as it is a laudable and discreet thing to giue reuerence and honor to superiors so it is a point of vprightnes and the feare of God not to cast behind vs by any dissimulation the things that are in them and need any correction least the disease go through the whole bodie if the sicknes be not cured in the head saith text 2. q. 7. c. sicut inquit This conclusion is also prooued by the text in c. in canonibus 16. q. 1. and in d. c. sed illud So likewise he ought to be banished out of the church who is not amended by the admonition of the church as the Lord saith Take away euill from among you For those wounds must be launced which feele not the softening of the medicine * argum de iudic c. cum non ab hom Thus writeth 82. dist c. quia aliquanti 1. q. 1. c. reperiuntur Ludouike of Rome word for word Wherby being compared with that our detestation vpright readers may iudge whether iustly or vniustly we haue so boldly accursed the tyrannous boldnes of that pope Moreouer to that complaint of Ludouike of Rome agrée those things which cardinall Zabarella wrote about the yéere M. ccccvj in his treatise of schisme num 20. For euery notorious crime of the pope saith he if he cannot be reformed and do offend the church he may be accused bicause he is accounted as an heretike * in c. olim col pen. extra de rescrip for this incorrigiblenes not in gloss 40 dist c. si papa concerneth
the cause of faith as in the same gloss And if it so fall out that these men defend themselues by their temporall power they may be bridled for the fact euen by secular power * Thus saith Zabarella But Baldus * writeth more bréefly thus Against the pope abvsing his authoritie we must first vse words that is admonitions then herbs that is threatenings thirdly stones and that where the nature of vertue is not sufficient the aid of armes must be of force there And to the like effect writeth Iason in his 95. councell requisitus col 4. It is lawfull saith he to resist the pope when he offendeth the church and he is not to be borne with * c. etsi illa 1. q. 7. c. sunt quidam 25. q. 1. Also Innocentius * in c. inquisitionis de sent excom in c. quanto de consuetud And the Abbat * in c. cum teneamur de appellat Also Hierom speaking of the pope * in c. non omnes episcopi 2. q. saith that Vnsauerie salt is good for nothing but to be cast out at doors to be troden vnder foot of hogs Thus writeth Iason with as good corage it séemeth as either Ludouike of Rome or Zabarella though notwithstanding they wrote these things in Italie and in so great darknes of the church of Christ And to the same effect speaketh Philip Decius in his councell 151. maximi ponderis num 4. vol. 1. When saith he the pope is incorrigible in any notorious crime by reason whereof the church is offended glo in terminis in c. si papa 40. dist he holdeth that the pope may be accused and out of that glosse there was a great foundation laid against Eugenius the fourth in the councell of Basil and that glosse is commonly holden by all as the abbot saith in c. significasti * de elect in disput episcopus quidam rector where he saith that the whole world approueth that glosse and Ludouicus of Rome approoueth that glosse by many reasons * in concil 523 First bicause the pope that persisteth in a notorious crime and will not be reformed falleth into suspicion of heresie * 38. dist c. fin 86. dist c. si qui sunt c. fin de poenit But the pope may be accused for heresie * d. c. si papa Therfore for such a crime Secondlie bicause a bishop is remooued from a particular church that the offence may be taken away as Innocentius noteth * in c. cum pridem de renun it seemeth we may saie the same of the stronger in the highest bishop in whom the vniuersal church is in danger Thirdlie by the authoritie of the Gospell If thine eie or thy foote offende thee Whereupon the text saith finelie in c. illud sanè 24. q. 3. For it is expedient that one man die for the people and that all the people do not perish Therefore let that pope that cannot be reformed die ciuilly that all the church do not perish bicause the pope being set to gouerne the people ought not to be their fal as the text saith * 11. q. 3. in c. ta corporis For he is woorthy as manie deaths as he sendeth examples of perdition to those that are his * 11. q. 3. Which things séeing they are so we conclude againe without delay that not onely the excommunication of the foresaid pope Sixtus the fift is to be counted as nothing by reason of the insufficiencie of the rash iudge the allegation of a false cause the want of iudiciall order and the follie of the sencence conceiued but also to the end the curses of the same pope Sixtus may turn vpon his own pate he is conuict of seauen most heinous faults and that by most assured testimonies and therefore ought to be héerafter accounted of all Christians an execrable and detestable Anathema Maranata Amen THE DECLARATION OF OVR MOST HOLIE LORD POPE SIXTVS Against HENRIE BORBON the supposed King of NAVARRE and also HENRIE BORBON the pretensed Prince of Condie being heretiks and also against their successors And the deliuerance of their subiects from all dutie of fidelitie and alleageance For the perpetuall memorie of the thing THe authoritie granted to Saint Peter and his successors by the infinite power of the eternall king surpasseth all the powers of earthlie kings and princes and standing vpon a firme rock and being not turned aside from the right course with anie contrarie or prosperous blasts it vttereth such iudgement against al men as cannot be shaken doth diligently prouide especially that Gods lawes may not be broken and if it finde any resisting Gods ordinance it doth sharply punish them casting downe from the kinglie seat euen those that are more mighty it throweth them downe euen to the lowest part of the earth as ministers of proud Lucifer Wherfore according to that care for all churches and people and nations that lieth vpon our shoulders that the saluation of their soules may especially be prouided for and that not onelie the times of our seruice but also all times to come being purged from wicked and detestable monsters may bring peace and rest to all parts of Christendome and especially to the most ample realme of France wherein Christian religion hath so florished alwaies and so great hath beene the godlines faith and deuotion of the kings thereof so many haue bin their deserts toward the church of Rome that they by full good right had from the same the most glorious sirname of Most Christian and also that we may neuer be accused before God for neglecting the care of our office we are at this time compelled to exercise the weapons of our warfare which are not carnal but mightie through God to throw downe strong holds against two sons of wrath especially Henrie Borbon somtimes king of Nauarre and Henrie Borbon somtimes prince of Condie For that king quondam hath followed from his verie youth the errors and heresies of Caluin and hath so long shewed himselfe a stubborne patrone thereof vntill being conuerted as it was thought vnto the catholike and apostolike faith of Rome by the godlie and often exhortations of Charles the ninth of famous memorie king of France of our most deerely beloued daughter in Christ Queene Katherine his most godlie mother and also of our welbeloued sonne Charles of the title of S. Chrysogonus cardinall priest of Borbon his vnkle and of Ludouike duke of Mompenser and by most manifest exhortations of diuines of excellent learning and vertue he did openly in the church at Paris condemne all hereticall opinions contrarie to the catholike faith he accursed them and abiured them did openly professe the catholike faith and hauing sent sundrie times his letters to pope Gregorie the thirteenth our predecessor of blessed memorie wherin he now acknowleging the same our predecessor to be supreme hed of the church humbly besought him that he would
vouchsafe to accept the confession of his repentance conuersion and obedience and to grant him pardon for those things that were past and also the grace of remission firmly promising that he would continually keepe soundly and inuiolably the catholike faith To the which letters as being a kings letters our predecessor giuing credence and being mooued with the bowels of fatherlie loue and also being perswaded with the most graue testimonie of the king of the Queene his mother of the cardinall and duke aforesaid touching such his conuersion absolued him confessing his former errors and humbly crauing pardon from the crime of heresie and from the ecclesiastical censures which he had therefore incurred and he admitted him into the bosom of the holy mother the church and into the fellowship of the faithfull taking from him all incongruitie Nay furthermore that he might be bound with a more strait and firm bond he dispensed with him and Margaret sister to the said king Charles who being borne of that most Christian stocke and being well brought vp was thought to be able easily to keepe hir husband in his dutie and in obseruing the catholike religion that notwithstanding the lets of the third and peraduenture of other degrees of consanguinitie betweene them and also of spirituall kindred they might contract matrimonie betweene them as they did contract it in the face of the church and that done after a few moneths he sent Iohn Lord of Duratium his orator to our said predecessor that in his behalfe he might promise concerning his repentance conuersion faith and constancie in presence of the sea apostolike after that a publike and solemne consistorie was made for him in the kings hall according to the custome in the assemblie of the cardinals and prelates of the holie church of Rome and in a great concourse of others hauing professed all the foresaid things the same Henrie was admitted as a king lately conuerted to the faith and as catholike the whole citie reioicing and triumphing and giuing great thanks for the sheep that was found recouered But he as he was of a diuers and inconstant mind falling awaie shortly after from the catholike faith and from due obedience toward the apostolike sea and from other things professed by him expressely and with an oth and turning backe to that filth wherin he tumbled before withdrawing himself secretly from the most christian king hauing gathered togither in a place a good way distant from the kings court so great a multitude of wicked heretiks and of wicked men of that stampe as he could he openly reuoked there all those things which he before had done concerning the detestation of Caluinisme the abiuring of all heresies and the profession of the catholike and apostolike faith of Rome testifieng that he did professe Caluinisme as he professed it and hath alwaies sticked to that heresie with an obstinate and hardened mind and liuing therein vntill this day he hath raised vp sundrie times heretical rebels and seditious persons whose head captain and defender he hath alwaies been in France and also a most earnest fauorer of outlandish heretiks to beare armes against the foresaid Charles and also against our most deerly beloued sonne in Christ Henrie the most Christian king though he ought to haue reuerenced him as his king and maister to haue loued and followed him as his wiues brother I saie forgetting all dutie and godlines he hath raised them vp against him and all catholikes he hath gathered most deadly armies hauing gotten vnto him heretiks of other nations by whom all places euerie where are defiled with the bloodie murders of godly men holie temples are polluted and pulled downe priests and religious men are slain with torments furthermore he hath taken the cities fortresses of the catholiks partly by policie and partly by force and armes and in them hath he forbidden and taken away the rites of the catholike church he hath appointed heretical ministers preachers he hath inforced the citizens inhabitants to tread in the steps of the same impietie euen with threatnings stripes But thinking with himself that he had not yet don ynough amongst others he sent a certaine deere friend of his furnished with his wicked subtilties without the borders of France to diuers places by whom he imparted his wicked counsels with certaine chiefe heretiks and he prouoked their strength and forces against the catholike religion and the power of the bishop of Rome also he caused certain secret conuenticles of heretiks to be kept in diuers prouinces at some whereof whiles those most vniust leagues against the catholike faith and principally against the churches clergie and all the catholikes of the realme of France were handled he himselfe was not onely present but also a principall actor therein And as for Henrie Borbon prince of Condie hauing two heretiks for his parents forasmuch as they during their whole life had obstinately cherished the deadlie opinions of Caluin and the ministers therof he following the heresies of the same his father and mother did commit like offences being but a yongling afterward with like indeuor as the other Henrie vsed taking the way of truth through repentance and humblenes of hart so much as could be gessed and detesting likewise and abiuring publikely all errors and dotings of heretiks he professed the catholike faith as is said before Which things being brought to the same popes eares and like intercession being made for him the same our predecessor absolued from heresie and such censures him and Marie somtimes of Clieue his pretensed wifc being at that time infected with the same crime of heresie being in like sort penitent detesting and professing and he receiued them into the bosome of the catholike church and companie of the faithfull yea moreouer he dispensed with them according to the abundance of his fatherlie loue that they might contract matrimonie betweene themselues notwithstanding the let of the second degree of consanguinitie wherewith they were holden both of them But he shortly after returning vnto his old impietie and entring that most wicked waie wherin the footsteps of Ludouike of Condie his most wicked father a persecutor of the catholike church had troden and walking in the same footesteps he likewise shewed himselfe a captaine and defender of the same heretiks and wicked persons of the said realme of France and also an author of ciuill wars and seditions he conueied into France bands of hereticall soldiers being strangers he assaied to besiege townes and cities he ouerthrew churches he did profane and destroie holie things he did most cruelly murder priests appointing in their places ministers of wickednes he commanded their peruerse doctrine to be published retained and finally he vsed all kind of crueltie and sauagenes as well against Gods ministers as also against other professors of the catholike faith All which things forasmuch as they be manifest publike and notorious and forasmuch as we do fully perfectly know especially