grounded vpō this conceit that he this Examinate in taking the oath of Allegeance had sworne against the Popes supremacie in causes Ecclesiasticall 72 For answere vnto which erroneous conceit hee this Examinate sayth that when hee writ that hee tooke the oath in this sense viz. That the Pope had no imperiall and ciuill authority to depose his Maiestie the same is true whether it be attributed to the Pope either directly or indirectly also when he writ That the Pope had no imperiall and ciuill authoritie to depose the King at his pleasure and vpon his appetite the same also is as cuident though the Pope had as great authoritie as they pretend hee hath who say he is Dominus in Temporalibus directly that where hee this Examinate hauing cited diuers authours to this effect that the Pope hath authoritie indirectly in ordine ad spiritualia did thereupon inferre that the Pope could not depose his Maiestie because if he should so doe he should vse that his authoritie non ad spiritualia promouenda sed euertenda not to the furtherance of spiritual matters but to the ouerthrow of them and therupon did adde that he held nothing els therein quà m quod vbig Theologi in suas conclusiones compegerunt then what was generally concluded amongst Diuines he said as he thinketh therein also truly for that the cōmon opinion is that the Pope hath no authoritie ad destructionem to destruction So that albeit he might as he saith haue answered to euery point of the Cardinals letter more throughly yet that which he writ being sufficient to answere it he thought it his best course to write as he did 73 It being heere againe obiected that notwithstanding he this Examinate hath very well declared his iudgement to any mans contentment who is ignorant of the new deceitfull shifts of equiuocation yet because Cardinall Bellarmine holdeth that albeit the Pope cannot depose a king by his ordinary authority directly as hee is Pope he may neuerthelesse mutare Regna vni Bell. de Rom. Pont. lib 5. cap. 6. auferre atque alteri conferre tanquam summus Princeps spiritualis alter Kingdomes and take them from one and giue them to another as he is the highest spirituall Prince as hauing authority in temporalibus in ordine ad spiritualia forasmuch as yet it may well be doubted whether he this Examinate when hee saith that the Pope hath no Imperiall or Ciuill authority nor any power in temporalibus either directly or indirectly to depose and eradicate kings to absolue their subiects of their allegeance or to authorize them to beare armes against them hath not this or some such like cuasion viz. that it may truely be affirmed that the Pope hath no such authority to bee termed properly either Imperiall or Ciuill because whether he hath it in temporalibus directly or indirectly yet the authority in it selfe being employed for the deposition of Kings c. is to bee named according to the end wherefore it is so vsed which being for the good of the Church that is spirituall the said authority is not to be called a Temporall but a Spirituall authoritie whereby all which hee this Examinate hath hitherto said may be eluded and made frustrate by this or some such shift viz The Pope hath no Imperiall and Ciuill authority to depose the king that is he cannot depose him by his Ciuill authority as it is Ciuill but as it is Spirituall and againe to the same effect the Pope hath no authority in temporalibus either directly or indirectly to depose kings verum est the authoritie which the Pope hath in Temporalibus to depose kings is to be termed Ecclesiasticall and not Temporall as it is truely called when Kings and Princes doe vse it to an end which is Ciuill he this Examinate was vrged to expedite this difficultie with some reasonable plainnesse and perspicuity 74 Whereupon this Examinate being grieued as he professed that nothing would be accepted in satisfaction of his duetie as he feareth said that assuredly there should be no defect in his sinceritie howsoeuer the same might be wrested and therefore to the said obiection briefly answereth That although hee doeth acknowledge that there are some who say that when Boct. Epon Heroie Ecclesiastic quaest pag. 185. the Pope doth inflict Temporall punishments for the better preseruation of his Spirituall authority nullâ dicetur vti Iurisdictione temporali sed merè spirituali cùm totum hoc ad animarum salutem coelesteque regnum referatur he shall not therein be said to vse temporall Iurisdiction but merely Spirituall sith this whole action hath respect to the saluation of soules and to the kingdome of heauen yet because the most that write after this sort doe qualifie their speeches therein with a quasi or dici potest or magis or aliquo modo it is apparant that their meaning is not that such a temporall authority vsed to a spirituall end is in very deede and in trueth a meere spirituall authoritie 75 Besides he this Examinat further addeth that to his vnderstanding the deposing of Kings and the exciting of their subiects to beare armes against him will hardly be raunged amongst spirituall actions In summe therefore this Examinate saith that in his iudgement the Popes spirituall authoritie ought not to be extended beyond the power of the keyes of the kingdome of heauen and of the censures of the Church properly so called and that the Pope hath no authoritie at all in temporalibus either directly or indirectly to depose Kings c. by what name or title soeuer the said power when he putteth it in practise in ordine ad spiritualia in order to things spirituall as he the said Pope supposeth may bee termed whether spirituall or temporall or whether the end hee aimeth at by such his proceedings with any King or Prince be spiritual or supernaturall that is bee pretended to bee vndertaken for the good of the Church and promoting of Christianitie the same in this Examinats iudgement as hee saith being neither Apostolicall nor agreeable to the practise of the most worthy Bishops of Rome in the Primitiue Church and for a long time after nor auaileable in truth to the Catholicke Church but rather hurtfull and great hinderances thereunto 76 And here this Examinate further saieth that the premisses considered viz vpon what vncertainties the maintenance of the Popes authoritie not to excommunicate but to depose Princes doth consist hee confesseth that hee cannot chuse but acknowledge that he much wondreth and in that cogitation is also exceedingly grieued that euer Gregorie the seuenth or any Pope since did in their Excommunications of certaine Emperours Kings and Princes take vpon them in the same to denounce them deposed from their kingdomes to release their Subiects of the othes of their Allegeance and to authorize them no longer to obey their Soueraignes vnder paine of Excommunication as also that many men aswell Emperours Kings Princes and their
come together determine any matter or make any Lawes without the Kings Royall assent nor continue any longer together after the King doeth dismisse them it is apparant that they haue no authoritie either to iudge the king a tyrant or to remooue him and that much lesse any priuate persons his naturall borne subiects haue authority to rise vp against him whatsoeuer may bee pretended vnder any colour cause or glosse whatsoeuer That amongst the three orders which deposed the Pag. 213. late Queene of Scotland there were scarse any but three thecues three traitours to their countrey and three murtherers with their abettors resembling the three-formed monster with the lions head breathing out fire the belly of a goate and the taile of a dragon 104 Whereunto this Examinate addethout of the said M. Blackwood that which hee himselfe hath set downe before in effect in the beginning of his Examination and may wel serue for a Theologicall conclusion of this point Quotquot instituto Christi vixerunt c. As many as since Christs Pag. 241. time haue liued according to his institution did neuer decline the gouernement of Tyrants and much lesse did resist them by force they followed therein their Prince Christ himselfe who although hee could haue withstood the iniuries of the people of the high Priest and of Pilate the lieutenant with many legions of Angels yet hee yeelded himselfe to death that hee might thereby confirme that which he had taught in his life time viz that an iniurie is to be borne gently and mildely and not by force to be repelled And againe Pag. 242. Paulus simulatque c. As soone as Paul became a Christian souldier his seditious and bloody spirit being changed into the desire of peace and quietnes he honoured Agrippa Foelix and Lysias the Roman Proconsuls in respect of their offices vt doctrinam suam exemplo vitae sanciret that he might ratifie his doctrine by his example of life To this purpose this Examinate saith he could alledge much more in his desire to shew the freedome of his iudgement from such mens imaginations as are named in this obiection but the remembring onely of Catharinus vpon the 13. to the Romanes together with the premisses may as he hopeth giue sufficient contentment 105 Whereas this Examinate speaking of the Popes authority in temporalibus indirectly Sect. 63. did adde these other equiualent phrases to the word indirectly viz per accidens and by a certaine consequence but refused to insert there the word casualiter and vpon some other occasions did let fall from him that the Pope had no inherent authoritie in temporalibus either directly or indirectly in ordine adspiritualia or per accidens or by any consequence but that which he had he had it casually forasmuch as this word casually may so bee vnderstood as that it may quite dash and ouerthrowe all that formerly hath been said by this Examinate for the clearing of his Allegeance to his Maiestie he was straightly vrged to open this mystery sincerely and truely Theeues haue no ordinary power to spoile houses that are well guarded or rob men by the highway side who are strongly accompanied but they haue oftentimes casually power to doe both as when they finde either houses weakely prouided for or men in their iourneys not sufficiently furnished And it was told this Examinate that hee might haue the like causion in behalfe of the Pope that then hee hath authority to depose kings and deale with them as in the Oath of Allegeance is prouided for to be preuented when hee may haue power so to doe casually that is when he may either by his owne forces or by the forces of any other or by any practises of his agents secretly or by any hap or casualty when kings least suspect it or are altogether vnprouided to resist it that then he may work or procure their vtter ruine and destruction Which were to make the Pope the scholer of Machiauel taking vpon him at some times to play the lion and at other times to become a foxe alwayes practising mischieuously against those Kings that offend him as casually he might be able to effect his designements by praying vpon them or deuouring them 106 Whereunto this Examinate answering saith God forbid God forbid that euer he should haue such an imagination against his Maiestie or that euer he should haue intended by the word casualiter to haue sought for such an euasion as aboue is pretended and besides hopeth that the Pope will neuer giue occasion for any of his Maiesties subiects to resemble him either to a lion or to a foxe which this Examinate saith vpon the occasion giuen hee could not omit to obserue But being heere pressed to come to the point as touching this word casualiter after some long debatement of sundry particulars thereunto appertaining which will appeare by his answers he saith as followeth 107 That hee must indeed confesse the word casualiter to bee diuersly vsed by sundry writers and that some doe take it in that sense which might iustly beget the former obiection and collections They which hold that the Pope is the Lord of all temporalties throughout the world directly doe affirme that such his authoritie and iurisdiction is as really and actually inhering in his person being Christs Vicar as is his supremacie in causes Ecclesiasticall but yet the practise of it they hold is but casuall out of S. Peters patrimony And on the other side as they which maintaine that the Pope hath no authoritie in temporalibus directly but indirectly in ordine adspiritualia amongst other phrases which they haue to expresse their minds besides indirectly per accidens and by a certaine consequence they likewise say that he hath it incidently secundùm quid secundariò per consecutionem and accessoriè so when they speake of the practise of that authoritie out of the bounds of S. Peters patrimony they doe also vse the word casualiter For the better manifestation of which particulars this Examinate saith he doth acknowledge that Celsus Mancinus agreeing with the rest who pleade for the Popes inherent authoritie doth write thereof in this sort 108 The Popes Iurisdiction saith Mancinus may be taken either for that which hee hath potestate aut Cels Mancinus de iuribus principatuum pag. 94. actu potentially or actually and actually in two sorts either ordinarily or casually If the authoritie and Iurisdiction of the Pope be taken for that which hee hath potestate potentially it extendeth it selfe ouer all the world but if his actuall Iurisdiction be taken not ordinarily but casually forasmuch as it onely hath vse in the Christian world it is said to bee as great as the whole Christian world and ordinarily as great as is S. Peters Patrimonie Againe speaking of this Idem ibidem pag. 89. great and regall authoritie so inherent in the Pope hee saith it did lie hid in the first Bishops of Rome in the Primitiue Church vntill
37. euery Catholike man is bound in conscience to employ his person and forces by direction of such as are vertuous intelligent in such cases but especially c. of Christs Vicar in earth whose soueraigne power and authoritie c. may best instruct and warrant a Christian Souldier how farre when and where either at home or abroade in ciuill or forreine warres made against the enemies or rebels of Gods Church he may and must breake with his temporall Soueraigne 131 Furthermore this Examinate saith that he cannot chuse but confesse from his heart that he doeth dislike and disallow all the Arguments Card. Allens Admonition to the Nobilitie of England published in a booke about the yeere 1588. Which did tend to perswade the late Queenes subiects to take part with the forces of the king of Spaine because she was deposed by the Popes Sentence and in some other respects therein mentioned and likewise all the perswasions and resolutions which were sent into Ireland during the late rebellion of the Earle of Tyrone either from Salamanca or from any place else tending to the same purpose with the former for example 132 That the late Queene being deposed and her D. Iohn D'Aquila his Proclamation Subiects absolued from the oath of their fidelitie by the highest Bishop vnto whom hee that reigneth in the highest the King of kings had giuen all power to plucke vp destroy plant and edifie ita vt ipsos Reges temporales si ad spirituale aedificium expedierit vsque ad depositionem à Regno puniat so as he may punish temporall kings if it be auaileable to spirituall edification be it to the deposition from their kingdomes the Irish were bound by the commandements of God and the obedience which they did owe to the highest Bishop to toyne with Don Iohn D'Aquila sent thithey from the King of Spaine by the Popes intreatie 133 That for asmuch as the Bishop of Rome had Ibidem now procured forces to be sent vnto them the Irish for the defence of their faith they should all vpon notice of the said Don Iohns proclamation with all their power come vnto him and that he would prosecute to death as heretiques and hatefull enemies to the Church all those who contemning his counsell should continue their obedience vnto the English 134 That it was lawfull for the Bishop of Rome Determinat Salaman◠1602. by force of armes to punish those who doe oppugne the Catholtcke faith that the warre vndertaken by Tyrone authoritate summi Pontificis by the Popes authoritie against the late Queene that oppugned the Catholicke faith was iust and that all the Catholicks were bound to ioyne with him with a great merit and hope of the greatest eternall retribution that they deserued as much thereby as if they bare armes against the Turke that all those Catholickes did sinne mortally that did follow the tents of the English against Tyrone that they could neuer obtaine euerlasting saluation nor bee absolued from their sinnes by any Priest except they did first repent and forsake the English that the same iudgement likewise was to bee giuen of them who in that warre did fauour the English with armes and prouision paid their ancient tributes or did contribute any thing vnto them and that they who folowed Tyrone were no rebels nor denied any obedience that was due nor did vsurpe vniustly the landes of the Queene but did rather by a most iust warre free their Countrey from a wicked Tyrant and defend the Catholicke faith as it became Christians and Catholickes 135 With the consideration of these things this Examinate saith his very heart is wounded finding such strength of wit pretences of religion so intolerably abused to the effusiō of blood and for priuate respects such as in his conscience God doth not allow nor the doctrine of the Catholicke Church agreed vpon doth approoue And he is the more moued herewith he auoweth partly because so many worthy English writers haue of later yeeres runne into this violent course labouring to vpholde it with all their strength and abilitie of learning and partly for that hee feareth except it may please God to moue the Popes heart for the staying of it what issue it will haue in the end Sanguis petit sanguinem blood will haue blood The Church did encrease by the suffrings of Martyrs but it may perhaps decrease by seeking of blood That hitherto was neuer accounted the seede of the Church And touching the reasons from Spaine carry what colour they shall yet neuer was it heard of before for ought this Examinate hath read that the subiects of any King might not assist their Soueraigne in his warres without the Popes allowance And besides it is not likely that the king of Spaine will in his princely iudgement approue that as D. Iohn D'aquila saith the Pope may depose any king from his Crowne if it be expedient for the Church If the Irish had not engaged themselues too farre in the rebellion then on foote before this Spanish Generall his Proclamation they could neuer out of doubt haue bene much moued with it It was the conquering of the Kingdome for his Master that he aimed at or otherwise their faith for him might haue lien in the dust Kings haue their owne ends in such cases and not the Popes Neither was the determination of Salamanca of any greater weight The authors of it sought to promote their Soueraignes affaires as if they had bene better Statesmen then Diuines For it will hardly appeare either in the Scriptures or in any ancient Father or Councel that subiects did euer merite heauen by bearing of armes against their Soueraignes 136 Here this Examinate was further put in minde of the charge which is imposed vpon the Romish priests now as it seemeth vnder his gouernement how they are to proceede for the aduancement of the Catholicke faith Thus hereof diuers haue written being men of great estimation 137 The zeale and duetie of Gods Priests is notably Card. Allen Admon pag. 32. 33. commended vnto vs in the cause of Athalia c. whom Ichoiada the high Priest calling vnto him forces both of the Priests and people caused to be slaine loe this is the Zeale and authoritie of Priests for the maintenance of righteousnesse and religion 138 Priests and Prophets haue bene principall workers Idem ibidem pag. 34. and Gods ministers in the depriuation of princes wherein the Prophet Elie was so notorious that to his honour it is thus saide of him in holy writ Hee cast downe kings and destroyed them and of Elizeus in the same place thus He neuer feared prince nor could of no man be ouercome And thus it was in the old Testament 139 That in the new Testament the Priestes haue Idem ibidem pag. 34. 35. much more soueraigne authoritie and the prince farre streighter charge to obey loue and cherish the Church that now euery kingdome that doeth not
gloriosè erigas quam contristaueras laetamfacias Ecclesiam nec iam solùm veniam merearis à Domino sed coronam Vale viriliter age confortetur cor tuum Romae die 28. Septembris 1607. Reuerendae admodum D. V. frater seruus in Christo Robertus Cardinalis Bellarminus The same in English ¶ To the very Reuerend M. George Blakwell Arch-priest of the English Robert of the holy Church of Rome Cardinall Bellarmine sendeth greeting REuerend Sir and Brother in Christ It is almost fortie yeeres since we did see one the other But yet I haue neuer beene vnmindfull of our ancient acquaintance neither haue I ceased seeing I could doe you no other good to commend you labouring most painefully in the Lords vineyard in my prayers to God and I doubt not but that I haue liued all this while in your memorie and haue had some place in your prayers at the Lords Altar So therefore euen vnto this time we haue abidden as S. Iohn speaketh in the mutuall loue one of the other not in worde or letter but in deede and trueth But a late message which was brought vnto vs within a few dayes of your bonds and imprisonment hath inforced mee to breake off this silence which message although it seemed heauie in regard of the losse of your pastorall function which you haue exercised in that Church yet withall it seemed ioyous because you drew neere vnto the glory of Martyrdome then the which thing there is no gift of God more happy that you who haue fed your Flocke so many yeeres with the word and doctrine should now feede it more gloriously by the example of your patience But another heauy tidings did not a litle disquiet and almost take away this ioy which immediatly followed of the aduersaries assault and peraduenture of the slip and fall of your Constancie in refusing an vnlawfull Oath Neither truely most deare brother could that oath therefore be lawfull because it was offered in sort tempered and modified for you know that those kind of modifications are nothing els but sleights and subtilties of Satan that the Catholique faith touching the Primacie of the See Apostolike might either secretly or openly bee shot at for the which faith so many worthy Martyrs euen in that very England it selfe haue resisted vnto blood For most certaine it is that in whatsoeuer words the Oath is conceiued by the aduersaries of the faith in that Kingdome it tends to this end that the Authoritie of the head of the Church in England may bee transferred from the successour of S. Peter to the Successour of K. Henry the eight For that which is pretended of the danger of the Kings life if the supreme Bishop should haue the same power in England which he hath in all other Christian Kingdomes it is altogether idle as all that haue any vnderstanding may easily perceiue For it was neuer heard of from the Churches infancie vntill this day that euer any Pope did commaund that any Prince though an Heretike though an Ethnike though a Persecuter should be murdered or did approue of the fact when it was done by any other And why I pray you doth onely the King of England feare that which none of all the other Princes in Christendome either doeth feare or euer did feare But as I said these vaine pretexts are but the Trappes and Stratagemes of Sathan of which kinde I could produce not a few out of ancient Stories if I went about to write a booke and not an Epistle One onely for example sake I will call to your memory S. Gregorie Nazianzene in his first Oration against Iulian the Emperour reporteth that hee the more easily to beguile the simple Christians did insert the Images of the false gods into the pictures of the Emperour which the Romanes did vse to bow downe vnto with a ciuill kind of reuerence so that no man could doe reuerence to the Emperours picture but withall he must adore the Images of the false gods Whereupon it came to passe that many were deceiued and if there were any that found out the Emperours craft and refused to worship his picture those were most grieuously punished as men that had contemned the Emperour in his Image Some such like thing me thinkes I see in the Oath that is offered to you which is so craftily composed that no man can detest Treason against the King and make profession of his Ciuil subiection but he must be constrained perfidiously to denie the Primacy of the Apostolicke See But the seruants of Christ and especially the chiefe Priests of the Lord ought to be so farre from taking an vnlawfull Oath where they may indamage their Faith that they ought to beware that they giue not the least suspicion of dissimulation that they haue taken it Which thing that worthy Eleazar did most notably performe who would neither eate Swines flesh nor so much as faine to haue eaten it although hee saw the great torments that did hang ouer his head lest as himselfe speaketh in the second booke of the Maccabees many yong men might be brought through that Simulation to preuaricate with the Law Neither did Basill the great by his example which is more fit for our purpose carrie himselfe lesse worthily towards Valens the Emperour For as Theodoret writeth in his History when the Deputie of that hereticall Emperour did perswade Saint Basill that he should not resist the Emperour for a little Subtiltie of a few points of Doctrine that most holy and prudent man made answere That it was not to be endured that the least syllable of Gods word should be corrupted but rather all kinde of torment was to be embraced for the maintenance of the Trueth thereof Now I suppose that there want not amongst you who say that they are but Subtilties of Opinions that are conteined in the Oath that is offered to the Catholicks and that you are not to striue against the Kings Authoritie for such a litle matter But there are not wanting also amongst you holy men like vnto Basill the Great which will openly auow that the very least syllable of Gods Diuine Trueth is not to bee corrupted though many Torments were to be endured and death it selfe set before you Amongst whom it is meet that you should be one or rather the Standerd-bearer and Generall to the rest And whatsoeuer hath bene the cause that your Constancie hath quailed whether it be the suddennes of your apprehension or the bitternesse of your persecution or the imbecillitie of your old age yet we trust in the goodnesse of God and in your owne long continued vertue that it will come to passe that as you seeme in some part to haue imitated the fall of Peter and Marcellinus so you shall happily imitate their valour in recouering your strength and maintaining the trueth For if you wil diligently weigh the whole matter with your selfe truely you shall see it is no small matter that is called in
necessary for preseruation of the Realme from vniust vsurpation of Tyrants and auoyding other inconueniences which they had proued and might easily fall againe by the disorder of some wicked king Vnto this report as it seemeth and to some other idle conceits a Polonian of late hauing relation and making mention of the purpose aforesaid of king Henry the second and of king Iohn he writeth this Examinate saith in this sort speaking of the Parliament and of the oath of Allegeance Illud impiè legislatores per iusiurandum extorquent à Stanisla Cristanouie Examen Cathol fol. 34. Catholicis vt negent posse à Pontifice Regem deponi de ipsius Regnis ditionibus disponi Si enim honorariè piè tributarium regnum Pontifici quare disponere quare refractarium inobedientem Principem deponere nequit That is The law-makers doe impiously by an oath extort this from the Catholicks to denie that the King may be deposed by the Pope and his kingdomes and countries by him disposed of For if by an honourable and pious graunt the kingdome haue become tributarie to the Pope why may he not dispose of it why may he not depose the Prince being refractarie and disobedient 19 Concerning the which aforesaid assertions touching both the said kings this Examinate affirmeth they are vntrue Henry the second neuer made any such accord with Alexander the 3. as is aboue mentioned for ought this Examinate could euer reade in any Chronicle of credite He sware to Pope Alexander that he for his owne part would not depart from him or his successors Ro. Houeden Annal fol. 303 quamdiu ipsum sicut Regem Catholicum habuerint so long as they should entreate him as a Catholicke king And touching king Iohn inasmuch as his fact that way is of some more probabilitie but of as little trueth and that from the said reportes of them both Stanislaus Cristanouic doth inferre that the Pope may depose his Maiestie being but a tributarie King vnto him he this Examinate by taking his oath that the Pope had no Imperiall or Ciuill power ouer the king to depose him did thereby discharge his conscience for the iustifying of a trueth against the said false reports that of king Iohn being as vntrue as the former Which this Examinate saith he doth the more boldly affirme because he hath one of no small account in that he died for the Popes supremacie to take his part therein besides some other rules of regalitie in that behalfe Thus Sir Thomas More writeth against the author of the Beggers Supplication in king Henry the 8. time If he the authour of that supplication Sir Tho. More supplic of soules pag. 296. say as indeede some writers say that king Iohn made England and Ireland tributarie to the Pope and the See Apostolike by the grant of a thousand markes wee dare surely say againe that it is vntrue and that all Rome neither can shew such a grant nor neuer could and if they could it were nothing worth For neuer could any king of England giue away the Realme to the Pope or make the land tributarie though he would And this to bee agreeable to this Examinates owne iudgement hee doeth acknowledge as he saith with all his heart hoping that the same shal no way preiudice his constant resolution as touching the Popes supremacie nor offend any that loueth the Crowne and State of England 20 And as concerning his relying vpon his Maiesties words in the sense approoued by the Magistrate when he this Examinate tooke the oath of Allegeance and insinuating to Cardinall Bellarmine that the summe of it was accordingly Summum Pontificem non habere Imperialem ciuilem potestatem ad libitum ex suo appetitu deponendi Regem nostrum that the Pope hath not an Imperiall and ciuill power to depose our King when he pleaseth and at his owne appetite he hopeth likewise to giue therein some reasonable contentment For which purpose he saith it is to be obserued that there is an opinion long since broached by the Canonists which hath begun of later times to be more stiffely and with greater heate prosecuted and maintained then heretofore concerning the Popes authoritie in causes temporall the authors whereof doe with great confidence affirme that the Pope is as directly Lord of the whole world in temporalibus in temporalties as hee is the head of the vniuersall Church in spiritualibus in matters spirituall and that hee hath directly as souereigne an authoritie in respect of such his worldly dominion ouer all Emperours Kings and Princes to dispose of them and their kingdomes when occasion shall require as hee hath in regard of his spirituall supremacie ouer all Bishops and Cleargie men to aduance and depriue them when hee thinketh it conuenient and that they deserue it The chiefe patrons of this opinion are noted by Cardinall Bellarmine to be these Augustinus Triumphus Aluarus 〈…〉 Pelagius Hostiensis Panormitane and Syluester to whom this Examinate doeth adde Henricus Gandauensis Redericus Sancius Alexander Alensis Celsus Mancinus Tho. Bozius Franciscus Bozius Isidorus Mosconius Card Baronius Laelius Zecchus and Alexander Carerius who nameth diuers others as principall defenders of that opinion and 〈…〉 is himselfe so violent therein as hee doeth in effect anathematize all that do oppose themselues against it not sparing Cardinall Bellarmine himselfe against whom forasmuch as his drift is principally throughout his whole booke hee was much to blame this Examinate thinketh to entitle it to be written aduersus impios politicos nostritemporis haereticos against the wicked politickes hereticks of our time With this Carerius 〈…〉 such as are on that side doe resolutely concurre insomuch as they doubt not this Examinat consesseth to renew againe the long disliked and impugned assertions of the old Canonists and to publish them now vnto the world more eagerly then heretofore as aboue he hath touched for sound and Catholicke doctrine they saying 21 That Dauid did foretell that the Priesthood of 〈…〉 Anno 57. pag. 432. Christ should be according to the order of Melchisedech That when Christ being a King and a Priest receiued all iudgement of the Father that is most full iudiciall power hee ioyning the same with his priesthood did institute in the Church a Regall priesthood Bar. Ibidem pag. 433. translating in suos that is to S. Peter and his successours all the power hee had of his father That Franc Bezius de temporall Ecclesiae Monarchia in praesat ad Clemen S. except there should bee one supreme Monarch in the Church in all things the vnitie of the Church could not be preserued for seeing the Church by diuine institution doth consist of a Kingdome and a Priesthood is it were otherwise there should bee in the same absolutely one Monarch of the Kingdome and another of the Priesthood That if for the auoiding of the dissensions about sacred causes one supreme head is appointed
Blakwell to frame his owne answeres according to his owne minde to offer vnto his further consideration sundry other speeches of his said authors and some others of the like authoritie the same being as pertinent to his purpose as the former by himselfe alledged where they say as followeth 27 That the supreme Iurisdiction temporall Franc. Bozius de temporali Ecclesiae Monarchia lib. 1. cap. 3. fol. 52. Idem lib. 1. cap. 7. fol. 98. throughout all the world doeth belong to S. Peters successors so as one and the same is the Hierarch and Monarch in all things That Christ left the Church to be gouerned by the best forme of gouernment but the best forme of gouernment is the absolute Monarchie euen in all temporall things therefore Christ left his Church so to be gouerned That the keyes of heauen Idem lib. 2. cap. 14. Idem lib. 3. cap. 1 fol. 394. were giuen to Peter therfore of all the earth That the right of dominion and prelation of infidels may iustly by the sentence and ordination of the Church be taken away because Infidels by reason of their infidelitie do deserue to lose their power ouer the faithfull That the Church hath receiued that power ouer Idem ibidem cap. 14 fol. 530. nations which Christ according to his humane nature receiued of the Father but Christ receiued absolutely of the Father all power in temporalibus therefore the Church likewise receiued it by participation of his fulnesse That the supreme power coactiue in all Idem ibidem cap. 16. fol. 537. temporall things belongeth to Ecclesiasticall persons by the diuine lawe reuealed and expressed in the Scriptures That kings anointed with holy oyle are called Idem fol. 676. Idem lib. 5. fol. 823. as vassals of the Church That by reason of the supreme Monarchie in all things temporall lawes may be made by the Church and kingdomes taken away for iust causes 28. That kings and principall Seculars are not immediatly of GOD but by the interposition of holy Tho. Bâ—zius de iure status lib. 1. cap. 6. fol. 37. Idem ibidem fol 52. Idem lib. 3. cap. 5. fol. 277. Church and of her chiefe Bishops That warlike and militarie compulsiue power is giuen to the Church ouer kings and princes That if it be found sometimes that certaine Emperours haue giuen some temporalties to the highest Bishops as Constantine gaue vnto Syluester this is not to bee vnderstood that they gaue any thing which was their owne but restored that which was vntustly and tyrannically taken from the said Bishops That Christ committed to Saint Peter the carrier of the keyes of eternall life the right both of the Idem lib. 4. cap. 1. fol. 319. terrene and celestiall Empire as Pope Nicholas saith from whom we haue it that he is without doubt an hereticke that taketh away the rights of the terrene and celestiall Empire committed by Christ to the Church of Rome and saith it is lawfull so to doe and for that he shall be an hereticke in such his assertions 29 That the Pope is called vniuersall iudge king Isidor Mosc de maiest militant Ecclesiae pag. 27. Idem pag 77. Idem pag. 95. of kings and lord of lords That the Pope is consecrated as the great Priest and crowned as a king because he hath both powers That the Pope doeth vse his power after two sorts either absolutely or ordinarily absolutely when he derogateth from lawes in abolishing them ordinarily when he vseth lawes Whence this rule is giuen that the Pope vseth the Counsell of his Cardinalles when he will liue by his lawes But if hee will vse the plenitude of his power then he disposeth of matters without the Counsell of his Cardinals sith his power is of God and not of the Colledge of Cardinals That not onely all faithfull people but likewise Infidels Idem pag. 96 and euery naturall creature is subiect to the commandement of the Pope he is to bee worshipped of all men and for this cause he receiueth of all the faithfull adorations prostrations and kissings of his feete That Idem pag. 92. vnto the Pope as to the Pastor of the Church and the Bishop of that holy See and by reason of his Dominion and excellencie is giuen adoratio duliae the worship giuen to Images and Saints That the Bishop of Idem pag. 99. Rome in signe of his Empire and kingdome doth vse vpon his head a Regall Diademe and in token of his Priesthood and Pontificall Maiestie a Miter That Idem pag. 677. Emperors and Kings may bee compelled to keepe their oathes taken in their coronation and confirmation in that by vertue of such an oath they are made the Popes subiects 30 That by the law of God and nature the Priesthood doeth ouer-top the Empire and both Iurisdictions Henrie Gandauen apud Carer pag. 128 ouer spiritualties and temporalties and the immediate execution likewise of them both depend vpon the Priesthood both by the law of God and of nature That Antoninus apud Carer pag. 130. they which say the Pope hath dominion ouer all the world in spiritualties but not in temporalties are like the Counsellers of the king of Syria who said The Gods of the mountaines are their gods and therefore they haue ouercome vs let vs fight with them in the plaines and valleyes where their gods dwel not and we shall preuaile against them 3. Reg. 20. That the sonne of God hath declared the altitude of the Ecclesiasticall power being as it Aug. Triumph apud Carer pag. 130. were founded vpon a rocke to be aboue all principalitie and power that vnto it all knees should bee bowed of things in heauen in earth and vnder the earth or in Idem ibidem pag. 132. hell That secular powers were not necessarie but that Princes might performe that through terrour of discipline which the Priest cannot effect by power of doctrine and that therefore if the Church could punish euill men Imperiall and secular principalitie were not necessarie the same being included potentially in the principalitie Apostolicall 31 That there are diuers powers of men giuen by Carer de pot Rom. Pont. pag. 142. God and diuerse authorities all which doe depend vpon the highest authoritie meaning the Popes and thence as the starres from the sunne doe receiue their light That the Imperiall power concerning the administration Idem pag. 145. of temporall matters doeth proceed from the Pontificall power as the light of the Moone doeth from the light of the sunne That as God is the supreme Idem pag. 150. Monarch of the world and the gouernour of all temporalties productiuè gubernatiuè by producing and gouerning them though of himselfe he be not temporall and of the world so it must be confessed that although his Vicar the Pope hath originally and of himselfe the dominion ouer all temporalties yet he hath it not by immediate execution but doeth by his
answering resolutely that he did and that in so affirming hee deliuered his conscience clearely as in the sight of God he was required for the better assurance to be giuen thereof to signifie his iudgement sincerely and truely what hee thinketh of the assertions following which doe thwart directly his iudgement so setled as he hath professed touching the first 300. yeeres after Christ 48 Nos illa non mouent quòd Martyres dicuntur De abdic Hen. 3. lib. 1. cap. 3. mortem tolerâsse vt Tyrannos Ecclesiae infestos deponerent minimè sategisse Quia vt laudabile est cùm resistere nequeas ita vbi possis resistere religionis ac patriae bosti nolle nefarium perniciosum est That is Those things mooue vs not that Martyrs are sayd to haue endured death and not endeuoured any wayes to depose Tyrants being enemies to the Church For as not to resist the enemie of your religion and countrey when you are not able is commendable so when you are able not to do it is wicked and pernicious The holy Bishops might most lawfully haue excommunicated Allen defence against the Iust. of England cap. 5. pag. 107. the Arrian Emperours and haue warranted their Catholick subiects to haue defended themselues by armes against them but they did not so by reason of greater forces of the persecutors Moreouer there is no question but the Emperours Idem ibidem Constantius Valens Iulian and others might haue beene by the Bishops excommunicated deposed and all their people released from their obedience if the Church or Catholickes had had competent forces to haue resisted And to the purpose last mentioned Quòd si Christiani olim non deposuerunt Neronem Diocletianum Bellar. de Rom. Pontif. lib. 5. cap. 7. Iulianū Apostatam atque Valentem Arrianum similes id fuit quia deerant vires tēporales Christianis Nam alioqui jure poterant id facere That is If the Christians of ancient times did not depose Nero and Diocletian and Iulian the Apostata and Valens the Arrian and such like it was because temporal forces were then wanting to the Christians for otherwise they might lawfully haue done it 49 To these Assertions being thus pressed vpon him after sundry tergiuersations in respect of the dignitie of the persons whose words were before mentioned and of the discredit and danger he should cast himselfe into by intermedling with their opinions yet in regard of his duetie to God to his Maiestie and to the trueth so farre as he is able to discerne it at the last he answereth that howsoeuer the said assertions may be politicall yet surely in his iudgement they are not Theologicall that hee wondreth how it commeth to passe that these and the like sayings are so frequent of late dayes in many writers considering that neither in the bookes of godly martyrs during the first 300. yeeres after Christ nor in the writings of the most principall ancient fathers for many yeeres after there is so much as a syllable to this Examinates remembrance that tendeth that way 50 Besides hee saith that if these conceits should grow to be in credit the reputation of the Apostles must needes decrease as hauing bene in their times but Temporizers which M. Blackwood a sound Catholicke doth collect out of certaine words of Buchanans tending in effect to the same purpose with the former assertions where shewing that the Christians in Tertullians time notwithstanding they had sufficient forces did not thinke it lawfull to beare armes against their Emperors as aboue this Examinate hath said he the said M. Blackwood writeth in this sort Blackuodei Apolog. pro Regibus pag. 259. Paulus vtendum foro praecepit Larurtam hypocrisn sub personâ religionis latêre voluit Potestatibus obedientiam edixit quia resisti non posset Christianos viribus auctos ad armacessantes ad arma concitat Imperiumque franget That is Did Paul commaund men to temporize Was it his meaning that masked hypocrisie should lurke vnder the semblance of religion Did hee iniayne them obedience to higher powers because they could not resist Did he excite Christians being once increased in strength to take armes and ouerthrow the Empire And a little after he sheweth out of Clemens Peters disciple speaking of the great tumult that Caiphas made in Ierusalem that the Christians etsi numero plures virtute potiores propter Numinis obedientiam occidi maluisse quà m occidere though more in number and mightier in power yet for their obedience to God they chose rather to be killed then to kill and thereupon doth describe the duety of subiects and the armour of Christians which are prayers and teares 51 Moreouer this Examinate doubteth not as he saith but that the Bishops of Rome in Tertullians time and afterwards were as godly and zealous Popes as any haue liued since that they very well knew what authority did belong vnto them and that if the aforesaid assertions had bene good Diuinitie then considering the numbers force and abilitie of Christians in those dayes the said Popes out of question would haue left some monument of their zeale in the execution of their authority and of the Christians readinesse hauing force to resist their Emperors whereas none such indeed are to bee found For these and many other such reasons as might bee brought for this purpose this Examinate saith that he doth wholy disallow the said assertions propounded vnto him as tentations to try him and that therefore he doth rest in the iudgement before by him set downe without all kinde of euasions and equiuocations whatsoeuer professing that if he could set downe his minde more plainely herein he would haue bene very willing thereunto 52 Againe this Examinate being required that because he had formerly inuolued himselfe into sundry difficulties to the distaste of his Maiestie and the State by some his intricate and vncertaine answeres heretofore made he should to the point now propounded vnto him answere directly and vpon his learning credit and reputation he saith that indeede hee doth not remember that euer any Pope vntill Gregorie the seuenth did adde to Excommunication any clause of their authoritie to depose Emperors or kings or to absolue their subiects from their allegeance or to commaund them vnder paine of Excommunication to beare armes against them and D. Thomas handling this point doth onely relie Tho Aquin. 2◠2◠quaest 12. art 2. therein vpon Gregorie the seuenth Also he confesseth that when Gregorie so dealt with the Emperour there was great dislike and repining at it as it may appeare by Otho Frisingensis and Sigebertus Otho Frising lib. 6 cap. 35. whom he would not haue named hee saith because Baronius hath laid a touch vpon them of Schisme as rather enclining to the Emperours then to the Popes when there was dissention betwixt Idem de gestu Frid. lib. 1. cap. 1. Sigebert in Anno 1088. them had it not bene that Vincentius in his
praedecessoris nostri quae incipit Vnam Sanctam nullum volumus vel intendimus praeiudicium generari nec quod per illam Rex regnum regnicolae praelibati amplius Ecclesiae sint subiecti Romanae quà m antea existebant Sed omnia intelligantur in eodem esse statu quo erant ante definitionem prafatam That is Wee will not neither is it our purpose that any preiudice come vnto the King or the kingdome by that definitiue sentence and declaration of Pope Boniface the 8. of worthy memorie our predeccssour beginning thus Vnam Sanctam nor that by force thereof the King the kingdome and people aforesaid should be subiect to the Church of Rome more then formerly they were But that all things be vnderstood to be in the very some state as they were before the aforesaid definitiue sentence was giuen 93 Moreouer also this Examinate saith to the same purpose next before spoken of that besides the said Clement diuers other men of meaner calling haue beene bold to refell some of the arguments whereupon the said Constitution was built as Cardinall Bellarmine that of the two swords and diuers moe though this Examinate cannot now set down their words only he saith he is well assured that Huge Cardinalis doeth make a better exposition to this Examinates vnderstanding of the said place of Ieremie then Boniface did So as if it happen that the present Pope doe make any resolution against the said oath of Allegeance besides the exceptions taken before vnto it by this Examinate he further addeth how it may well come to passe that the next Pope will alter it and that in the meane time it may be as lawfull for graue and learned Catholickes to take exceptions vnto it as it hath beene for any other to empeach the said Constitution of Boniface or any part thereof But this Examinate doeth well hope that the present Pope in his great wisedome will preuent this course and approoue the graue iudgement of Petrus de Alliaco Cardinall of Cambray who in his Treatise of the Reformation of the Church of Rome offered to the Councell of Constance begun Anno 1414. doeth write in this sort In hoc non debet Pet. de Alliaco de reform Roma ecclesiae Papa aut eius Curia c. Herein as touching the Reformation of the body of the whole Church and of the particular Church of Rome the Pope or his Consistorie ought not to reiect the deliberation of a generall Councell because as the glosse 19. distinct super cap. Anastasius saith the Pope is bound to require a Councell of Bishops when any point of faith is to be handled quod non solum intelligo c. which I doe not onely vnderstand of the Articles of faith but of difficult matters that touch the vniuersall state of the faithfull Church which Archidiaconus 15. dist c. Sicut noteth where approouing the said glosse he addeth qòod nimis periculosum esset fidem nostram committere arbitrio vnius hominis that it were too dangerous a matter to commit our faith to the arbitrement of one man and that therefore the Pope in new and hard cases was accustomed to haue recourse to the deliberation of a Councell That it is a matter of great difficultie and importance and such as doeth very greatly concerne the whole Church whether the Pope will hold it fit to determine either generally that he hath no authoritie inspiritualibus or particularly that it is not lawfull for Catholickes in England to take the said oath of Allegeance this Examinate is out of doubt and is therefore so farre of the said Cardinals minde that neither of the said points are to be discussed and concluded without some great and mature deliberation 94 This Examinate being here demaunded whether he had seene a Booke lately come forth intituled A Treatise tending to mitigation towards Catholicke Subiects in England and amongst diuers things in it whether hee had considered of certaine words vsed by the Earle of Salisburie as they are set downe in the Preface of the said Treatise and of the Authour of that Booke his answere vnto them he confesseth in euery particular that he hath The Earles words are there cited thus that hee hath beene a long time sorie that some cleare P. R. his treatise tending to mitigation Praefat. pag. 20 explication of the Papall authoritie hath not beene made by some publike and definitiue sentence Orthodoxall c. that not onely those Princes which doe acknowledge this authoritie meaning the Popes might be secured from feares and ielousies of continuall Treasons and bloody assassinates against their persons but those Kings also which doe not approoue the same and yet would faine reserue a charitable opinion of their Subiects might know how farre to repose themselues in their fidelitie in ciuill obedience howsoeuer they seeme diuided from them in point of conscience 95 These words hauing bene in this sort laide before this Examinate after he had well marked both them and the answere vnto them hee was with some difficultie at the last induced to deliuer his iudgement as touching the said answere saying that hee liked very well of the first and third part thereof as touching the Popes authoritie so farre forth as it concerneth his power and charge to looke to all Christs sheepe without exception of great or small people or Potentates not onely for their instruction and direction in spiritualibus but likewise if neede require for their spirituall castigation by the censures of the Church interdiction and Excommunication not to bee decreed or published without iust cause graue and vrgent motiues and due forme also of proceeding by admonition preuention intercession and other like preambles prescribed by Ecclesiasticall Canons to be obserued 96 But as touching the second part of his answere this Examinate doubteth how it may either satisfie the said Earle or any other that is of sound iudgement For whereas the said authour faith that although there be a question betwixt the Canonists and the Catholicke diuines whether the Pope haue such an authoritie in temporalibus directly or indirectly as by them is disputed of and by this authour is briefly touched yet both parts doe fully agree that there is such an authoritie left by Christ in his Church for remedie of vrgent causes for that otherwise he should not haue sufficiently prouided for the necessitie thereof hee this Examinate doeth see and acknowledge the trueth and importance of the iust exceptions that are alreadie and may hereafter peraduenture be taken to that answere 97 For where the Earle of Salisburie wished some cleare explication of the Popes authoritie by some publicke and definitiue sentence the said authours answere is insufficient when hee saith that both parts viz the one defending the Popes authoritie directly and the other indirectly were fully agreed for the said authoritie c. but onely differed about the manner how and in what sort it was giuen vnto him by Christ which
Papali cap. 13. France except that which Zacharie did in the deposition of Hildericus may bee expounded deposuit id est deponentibus consensit sicut exponit glossa Zacharie deposed the King that is hee gaue his consent to those that did depose him as the glosse doth expound it that from such singular facts of deuotion to the Church or to the person or of fauour or for some other cause and not in right of law arguments may not bee made that whereas it is read in histories that Boniface obtained of Phocas the Emperour that the Church of Rome should be the head of all Churches because the Church of Constantinople did write herselfe so it might bee collected by such a like argument that it appertained to the Emperour to transferre the primacie of one Church to another as likewise whereas Isidore saith that Constantine the Emperour did decree that the See of Rome should hold the principalitie ouer the foure chiefe Sees Antioch Alexandria Constantinople and Hierusalem God forbid that thereupon we should say that the Church of Rome hath her Primacy ouer Churches and the disposition of them from Emperours So as this Examinate saith that which was done as touching the deposition of Hildericke the king of France doth no way alter his opinion before shewed touching the Popes authoritie in temporalibus casualiter when they are lawfully referred vnto him as in the Sect. 113. he hath specified 120 Here this Examinate was put in minde of certaine wordes of his in the said 113. Section where saying that the Pope as hee is Christs vicar could not otherwise deale in temporalibus casualiter then as here he hath said he seemeth to insinuate that in some other respect hee might deale in temporall causes with Kings for the deposing of them and proceeding with their subiects as hath bene before diuers times mentioned And the rather it so seemeth in that he hauing before cited out of Mancinus how the Pope hath authoritie to proclaime warre and so become a man at armes did let that point passe him without answere vnto it 121 For satisfaction whereof this Examinate saith that in his iudgement it is as lawfull for the Pope to make warre within his own Territories which he holdeth as a Temporall Prince when he is driuen thereunto through the disobedience of his subiects or in their defence against other Princes as it is for any King or ciuill State so to doe vpon such or the like occasions and that Iacobus Gretzerus saith well if this Examinate doth rightly vnderstand him to this purpose and to the iustification of all in effect which this Examinate hath set downe throughout the whole course of this his Examination touching his deniall of the Popes authoritie either directly as he is Pope or indirectly in ordine ad spiritualia as he is Summus Princeps spiritualis the Supreme spirituall Prince to depose Kings and release their subiects from the oathes of their allegeance c. where he writeth in this sort Cogit Pontifex Romanus poenis externis spiritualibus vt Excommunicatione Gretzerus defens controuers Bellar. colum 1404. item poenis externis temporalibus corporalibus quà ipse est Princeps politicus quà Principum politicorum opem implorare potest vt haereticorum petulantiam licentiam poenis temporalibus compescant that is That the Bishop of Rome hath authoritie to compell men by outward spirituall punishments as by Excommunication and also by outward temporal and corporal punishments as he is himselfe a ciuill Prince and as he may implore the assistance of other ciuill Princes that they may represse by temporall punishments the wantonnesse and liberty of heretikes 122 And this Examinate also further saieth that for ought he can Iudge whereas some exceptions were taken to the Popes sending of certaine small forces into Ireland about the yeere 1580. to assist the Earle of Desmond Cardinall Allen in answere of them doth politically iustifie that his fact where hee writeth in this manner The chiefe Bishops of Christs Church our supreme Pastors in earth by Gods prouidence and by the graunts of Card. Allens answere to the English Iustice pag. 144. our first most Christian Emperours and Kings and by the humble and zealous deuotion of the faithfull Princes and people afterwards haue their temporall states dominions and patrimonies whereby they most iustly holde and possesse the same and are thereby lawfull Princes temporall and may most rightfully by their Soueraigntie make warres in their owne and other mens iust quarrell as occasion shall vrge them there vnto 123 By reason of diuers particulars deliuered by this Examinate in this his answere to the last doubt propounded vnto him it was first demanded of him whether in his iudgement the Pope hath authority to command any king being held for a Catholicke to take armes against any his neighbour kings deemed by him for heretickes for the suppressing of them by temporall coertions when the Pope shall iudge it fit because it might seeme very strange for any man to conceiue that Christ euer gaue to S. Peter any iurisdiction authoritie or power in fauour of religion to set kings together by the eares It might haue some probabilitie that if a king who disalloweth of the Popes supremacie and of many other corrupt points of popish doctrine should send his forces into any other temporall princes dominions to make warres of purpose to abolish the Popes authoritie and plant there the reformed religion by him professed then in this case the Pope might sollicite some other kings adioyning to oppose them selues make warres against him But to imagine that when a King proceedeth no further then to order matters in his owne kingdome by the aduise of the States thereof both Ecclesiasticall and Temporall as it shal be iudged by him and them most expedient any Bishop or Spirituall person whosoeuer may take vpon him to proclaime or excite warre and thrust other kings to assaile him by force in his owne kingdome and countrey euery such conceit wanteth authoritie in the new Testament and hath no example for many yeeres in the purest and best times of the Church and besides it is repugnant to that which this Examinate hath before deliuered For kingdomes being neither founded vpon faith nor grace how can they be shaken vnder pretence that either of them is impugned Christianitie may well be thought to binde a king who reckoneth himselfe subiect to the Bishop of Rome in spirituall causes in them to submit him selfe vnto him but to command him to make warre and thereby hazard peraduenture his owne kingdome or spend the blood either of his owne Subiects or of the subiects of any other Christian King when the Pope thinketh good is a very bloodie and an vnchristian opinion 124 Vnto this question and the parts thereof this Examinate saith that he beleeueth that all Christian Kings and Princes are bound to doe what they can for the maintenance of the Catholicke faith
their Regall authoritie with the Ecclesiasticall thereby to strengthen Bishops in the execution of their offices with any purpose that the power Ecclesiasticall should swallow vp depresse or ouertop their temporall Soueraigntie Assuredly my deare brethren such cogitations as these are scandalous to Christianitie and ought to make no impression in your soules otherwise then to eschew them Baptisme doth worke no such alteration in kings or any other it tendeth to the destruction of the kingdome of Sathan but doeth no way empaire or subiect vnto any their temporall estates otherwise then as they shall be mooued in charitie and honour where they haue receiued spirituall blessings there to bestow their benefites and fauours temporall The coniunction of the Church with temporall kingdomes to make one Christian bodie doeth make no other transmutations nor confound their gouernments and functions they doe still remaine distinct as they did before so as neither can any Emperour King or ciuill Magistrate take vpon him the administration of the keyes of the kingdome of heauen nor the execution of any other parts of priestly duties nor any Priest Bishop or the Pope himselfe challenge in right of the Church and as they are Bishops any interest or power in the temporall sword to manage the same as they thinke fit either themselues or by others at their direction it being a power giuen onely by God vnto Kings and Princes to take vengeance on them that doe euill and to be yeelded vnto not because of wrath onely but also for conscience sake Neither may the words of God to the Prophet Ieremie where hee saith I haue set thee Ierem. cap. 1. ouer nations and ouer kingdomes to plucke vp and to throw out and to destroy and throw down to build and to plant be truely inforced to giue authoritie to his Holinesse for the transferring of kingdomes from one to another or to depose kings for any cause whatsoeuer or to absolue their subiects from their allegeance or to authorize them to beare armes against their Soueraignes or to roote out and destroy any kingdome king or prince vnder pretence of building or planting some other This was farre differing from the meaning of the holy Ghost which in my iudgement is more truely syncerely expounded by that worthy Cardinall Hugo Barcbionensis about 368. yeeres since whether you will take the meaning of it literally or mystically where he writeth in this sort I haue placed thee ouer nations Hugo Card. in Iere. cap. 1. and Kingdomes vt euellas i Iudaeos esse euellendos de terrâ suâ enuncies that thou mayest declare that the Iewes are to be caried by force out of their countrey destruas i ciuitatem Ierusalem destruendam terram eorum prophetes that thou mayest foretell the destruction of Ierusalem and of their countrey disperdas i eos disperdendos à principibus Chaldaeorū praedices that thou mayest preach vnto them their dispersion by the princes of the Chaldaeans dissipes i dissipandum esse praedices regnum Iudaeorum per captiuitatem that thou mayest foretell the destruction of the kingdome of the Iewes through their captiuitie And lest the Iewes might haue despaired therefore he doth not onely foretel their captiuity but likewise their deliuerance thence adding aedifices i ciuitatem reae dificandam nuncies that thou mayest assure them their citie shall againe be reedified plantes i Iudaeos adhuc plantandos esse in Iudae praedices that thou mayest foretell the Iewes that they shall bee againe planted in their owne land Hitherto the Cardinal for the literall sense of Gods words vnto Ieremie and then thus of them mystically That thou mayest pull vp vnprofitable berbes that is euill cogitations by contrition and destroy hurtfull delights with pure confession and dissolue sinnes ill growen together by competent satisfaction and breake asunder the bands of euill custome by good conuersation and build vpon a sure rocke by cumulation of merits and mayest plant the tree of life in thy selfe and in others virtutum radicatione by the ingrafting of vertues Out of question the Prophet Ieremie who best vnderstood the meaning of God when he spake vnto him did not otherwise ouerthrow kings or kingdomes or scatter or destroy or plant or build vp any kings people or nations in his time then as this worthy Cardinall hath literally expounded the said words neither may they be further extended either literally or mystically as of later times they haue been extended for such their proceedings with kings and princes as in the Oath of Allegeance are sought to bee preuented Not long since Cardinall Bellarmine did write a letter vnto me in dislike of my yeelding to take the said Oath and perswading of others therein to followe mine example where unto after my answere was made such plots were layed by them who haue their watches ouer me as the Cardinals letter it selfe and the copie of my answere vnto it were knowen and had from me and I was thereupon brought into a long and very strict Examination wherein I being drawen from point to point and pressed vpon my duetie both to God and to his Maiesty to discharge my conscience according to my knowledge I haue dealt as becommeth a true Priest a duetiful subiect to his Maiestie a faithfull seruant of God and an obedient childe to the Popes Holines and of the Catholike Church and doe very humbly pray you my louing brethren of all sorts and withall straightly charge you by the mercies of God and in the bowels of Iesus Christ as being your Arch-priest and thereby hauing yet authority for ought I knowe ouer you thus to write vnto you that if euer my said Examination doe come to your sight as I am verily perswaded it will you doe not dislike or impugne it but wholly conforme your selues and your conuersations by your due obedience to his Maiestie agreeably vnto it The yonger sort of Catholickes I know such as are subiect to passion and strength of sundry humours and in whom there is more feruencie courage and forwardnesse then true discretion iudgement and experience will when they see it mutter and peraduenture exclaime against me But I am better perswaded of you who are more iudicious and of the graue and wiser sort that no suggestions against me or wrested constructions of any thing by me deliuered either herein or in my said Examination may breede in you any offence being men better grounded and setled in the truth touching your obedience to his Maiestie then that hereafter you will euer giue eare to any of these or such like other intiseable perswasions of mens alluring reasons as that you are no longer to obey his Maiestie as dutifull Subiects are commanded by the Apostles but vntill you shall bee able without danger either of losse of goods or of your liues by reason of your numbers or of some direction from the Pope to beare armes against him or to machinate or put in practise any attempt
whatsoeuer either to the hurt or dishonour of his Maiesties person or the empeachment of his kingdome and Royall authoritie These conceires likewise I doe assure you from my soule are in themselues very detestable repugnant to the Scriptures and ought by all true and sound Catholickes to be for euer abandoned Bee not dismayed therefore I befeech you with any letters or Briefes which doe after a sort insinuate that the taking of the Oath of Allegeance is either repugnāt to any point of Faith as yet concluded vpon by the Church or vnto the Popes Supremacie being bounded as it ought within the limits and reach of the keyes of the kingdome of heauen Those keyes doe no way extend themselues iure diuino vnto kingdomes terrene to open or shut or to tosse or turmoile any of them they haue no wardes in them either so to turne or ouerturne them nor to open vnto you any lawfull entrances into such disobedient and vndutifull courses That the Pope is the head of the Catholicke Church therein I am resolute as also that Emperours Kings and all other Princes that professe Christianitie are subiect in some cases vnto his spirituall censures properly so termed as interdiction and Excommunication but to eradicate them or to depose them by any authoritie he can challenge iure diuino in temporalibus either directly or indirectly in ordine ad spiritualia that is vtterly against my iudgement and yet I hope I continue still as good a Catholicke as any that holdeth the contrarie notwithstanding that Cardinall Bellarmine seemeth to affirme in his Letter to me that no man can concurre with me in opinion herein and so yeeld to take the Oath of Allegeance which only excludeth the Popes authoritie in temporalibus as well that which is ascribed vnto him directly as indirectly but that hee must needes perfidiously denie the primacie of the See Apostolicke At which his words were they not grounded I thinke vpon some misinformation I should greatly meruaile considering that thereby hee doeth insinuate the Popes supremacie which ought to bee maintained without any hesitation to depend a great part of it vpon a wonderfull vncertaintie For no man knoweth better then himselfe that it hath not beene hitherto determined by the Church or iudicially by his Holinesse tanquam ex Cathedrâ whether the Pope hath any authoritie at all in temporalibus further then in those things that doe appertaine to S. Peters patrimonie and other temporalties giuen to the See of Rome And besides if it shall fall out hereafter that the Pope shall be found to haue any such authoritie it must haue beene giuen him by Christ either indirectly as hee the said Cardinall with many others his partakers doe resolutely affirme or directly as the opposite part against him doe take vpon them with as great confidence to mainteine each of them peremptorily denying the others assertion and because likewise vntill the point be ouerruled against one of the said parts which will not be done in haste for many respects it cannot possibly be determined whether the Pope hath any such authoritie as either of them holde or not it had beene fit in my iudgement for Cardinall Bellarmine not to haue entangled the Popes supremacie which is cleare and manifest with these vncertaineties and perplexities for to haue blamed me either for auoiding them my selfe or admonishing of others to take heed lest they might be entrapped or snared with them But his Amplitude writ vnto me and censured mee as it pleased him which I could the more easily haue borne as my duetie required had he not therby published to as many as shall see his Letter the Copie whereof is as I am informed spread farre and neere that by taking of the said oath of Allegeance one of the chiefe heads of our faith and foundations of Catholicke religion in discrimen adducitur is brought into question and endangered there beeing indeede no such head or foundation hitherto agreed vpon or concluded So as there is no cause for ought I know or can iudge why I should not still perseuere in the approbation of the lawfulnesse of the said othe and continue my former admonitions vnto you for the submitting of your selues vnto it when it shal be exacted of you lest otherwise you wilfully cast your selues into those miseries which are likely to fall vpon you not as so many arguments of happines and that blessednesse which is promised to those that suffer for the truths sake but of those iudgements which are inflicted vpon men by Kings and superiour gouernours for their euill behauiour and disobedience Deceiue not therefore your selues brethren such sufferings are not the way to Martyrdome nor approued of God neuer might treacherie or rebellion or the bearing of armes by subiects against their Soueraignes or their secret designements against them or the execution of the same to the endangering or hurt of their royall persons be graced or honored with that most glorious title by whomsoeuer they were either authorized vndertaken or practised Take heede I do most humbly beseech you of this kind of leauen be your lumpe of dough otherwise neuer so pure sweet and sincere this mixture will make it sowre and corrupt it Stand fast in the Catholicke faith and in the true profession thereof as hitherto you haue done Bee not led away with various and strange doctrines of deposing of Kings of absoluing their subiects from their Allegeance of authorizing them to rebell to beare armes against them to plot and lay snares secretly how to entrap them or to offer hurt or violence to their persons These things I thanke God my heart doeth abhorre and my spirit within me doeth loath and detest them The voice that bade Peter Kill and eate neuer meant that hee should deale so with Princes cast them out of their seates and bestow their kingdomes vpon others or procure them to be killed that Christians and Catholicke religion might flourish and bee comforted Meats and drinks may establish our strength but such proceedings with kings ought to be no foode for our soules Iames and Iohn because they would haue had the Samaritanes to haue beene destroyed with fire from heauen for that they would not receiue their master Christ were sharpely rebuked and told by him that they knew not of what spirit they were S. Peter drewe his sword and smote off Malchus eare in as iust a cause to the eyes of humane wisedome as was possible but Christ disliked that his fact and gaue it for a generall rule or caueat in my iudgement to all Catholicke priests and people saying that all that strike with the sword shall perish with the sword These and such like things my deare brethren are written out of question to our correption and Catholicke information Beware therefore of them in whose mouthes and actions sanguis nihil est bloud is nothing Ecclus. 8. 19. tread not in the steps of ruine stumble not against rockes commit not your selues to such laborious