Alexandria amongst which foure the Bishop of Rome had the first place in order and fitting when they did meete to gether but no definitiue sentence to vndoe that which they did or to conclude without them and this held touching generall counsells and somethinge for the nominating of bishops if need had bin and not touching the bishop of Rome only but also towardes others of that fellowship and thence sprange their letters of mutuall certificate each to others touching that one faith which they al professed as Gregory the great seemeth to insinuate when he saith Hinc est etiam quòd quoties in quatuor praecipuis sedibus Antistites ordinantur synodales sibi epistolas viciscim mittant Gregor l. 7. episc 53. ex saÌ„dvis mon. l. 7. so 358. Stapl. Princ. fidei doct l. 4. c. 20. fol. 149. Greg. l. 6. epis 37. ex Saund. visib monar l. 7. fol. 220. The dignity in the 3. patriarchal seats is equall Rome Alexandria Antioche SozoÌ„ l. 6. c. 23 Sanders abuseth this place alleadging it so as if the coÌ„sent only of the bishop of Rome were required Declaue Dauid l. 4. fol 80. Socrat. eccles histo l. 7. c. 28. Noe bishop ordained without the consent of the bishop of CoÌ„stantinople Hence it is also that oftentimes we finde that men of chelfe authoritie are appointed to rule in the fowre cheife seas mutually they sende synodicall Epistles each to others Cum multi sint Apostole pro ipso tamen principatu sola Apostolorum principis sedes in authoritate coÌ„valuit quae in tribus locis vnius est Although there bee many Apostles yet for the principalitie the seate of the prince of the Apostles was cheife in authoritie which authoritie in 3 places is equal For he Peter exalted the seate wherin he vouchsafeth to abide and ende his life Hee also beautified the seate vnto which he seÌ„t the EvaÌ„gelist Mark his disciple And he established the seate wherin he sate seuen yeares although he remoued from thence And other mens consents were established by law to bee had aswell as the bishop of Rome as we may read in the same history of Sozomene that the counsell holden at Ariminum was condeÌ„ned because nether Vincentius nor the rest to whome it belonged aswell as the bishop of Rome though his minde should haue bin knowne before other had not agreed vnto it It is moreover read againe in plaine tearmes in the diuisioÌ„ betweene Sisinius and those of Cyzicium they appointing one bishop and he nominating an other Hoc ab illis factum est neglecta illa lege quae iubet nequis episcopus desiguetur absque sententia authoritate Episcopi Constantinopolis This they did faith the storie because they neglected that law which commandeth that no bishop be appointed and ordained without the consente of the bishop of Constantinople so it appeareth if the businesse concerning the whole church were handled theÌ„ al their knowledges and mindes were had and knowne in it if it concerned any particular part therof then the particular bishops of the prouince 1. Bellar. de Rom. pont l. 2 c. 13. fo 223. ex Theodoret. ec cles his l. 5. c. 9. is abused aswel as the rest By commandement of the Popes letters saith Bellarm. 2. Bellar. de conc eccles l. 1. c. 13. f. 60. By the Popes letters they came to Constantinople A most impudeÌ„t vntruth shamlesly avouched 3. Bel. de conc eccles l. 1. c. 19. fo 83. 87. The bishop of Constantinople was president If the bishopp of Rome or his Legat must needs be president of couÌ„sells then this counsel lacked a president or otherwise it must appeare that Nectarius was his Legat or deputy both which are absurd to think and the patriarch yeilded thervnto the Emperour aboue alto bridle and call all to accompt You shal further see their sincerity in alleadging the histories by an other exaÌ„ple about the bishop of Romes supreme power out of the ecclesiasticall historie also The second generall counsell in their Epistle to Damasus which is extant in Theodoret doe say that they came to the citty of ConstaÌ„tinople ex mandato literarum pontificis by commandement of the Popes letters sent vnto them by the Emperour And there also they confesse the church of Rome to bee the head and they the members This saith Bellarmine in his first report of that historie In the second place he bringeth it in for proof of the Popes authority in calling of generall counsells Theoporete reporteth saith he that the Emperour Theodosius did not so much call the counsell at Constantinople as that hee seÌ„t the letters of Damafus the Pope to the bishops by which letters the counsell was summoned For so write the bishops gathered together in the counsell vnto Damasus the Pope mandato inquiunt literarum supertore anno à vestra reverentia ad sanctissimum Imperatorem Theodosium missarum That by letters receaued the last yeare from your holynesse meaning the Pope sent vnto the most holy Emperour Theodosius wee prepared to take our iourney to Constantinople Although therfore saith Bellarmine Theodosius called the counsel yet he called it by commandement of the sea Apostolike In the 3. place hee bringeth this same example for the presidentship and cheifty of the bishop of Rome in counsells In the secoÌ„d counsel held at Constantinople saith hee it is certaine that the Emperour fat not cheife but only sent the letters of the bishop of Rome to the rest by which they were called to the counsell And it is certaine saith he that the Roman bishop was not president but Nectarius the bishop of Constantinople the reasoÌ„ wherof is because the bishop of Rome was not there nor any Legate for him for Damasus the Pope had called the bishops of the East to Constantinople But from that place he would haue had them come to Rome that so at Rome there might haue bin a full plenary counsell both of the East West bishops How bouldly are these vntruthes avouched 4. Saund. â—… fol. 41. But if Damasus had beene there without doubt he had sat cheife as appeareth by their Epistle to Damasus Vbi illi Damasum vs caput suum agnoseunt ipse filios cos vocat wherin they acknowledge him for their head and he calleth them sonnes so much for Bellarmine Saunders in his Visible monarchy maketh a briefe of this matter thus The fathers that were saith he gathered togither in the second general counsel holden at Constantinople when they were vrged by Damasus the bishop of Rome to come thither amongst other causes why they coulde not so do brought this for one By the Popes letters they came to Constantinople That by the letters of the same Damasus written to the Emperor Theodosius they were appointed only to prepare themselues for a â—ourney to ConstaÌ„tinople And that they had brought the coÌ„sents of the bishops who remained at home in their provinces with them
him Bellarmine bestirreth himselfe earnestly and mainely to purchase those priviledges De Rom. pont l. 1. c. 10. f. 90. S. Peter was not yet the foundation Ob. Mat. 18.18 yet keepe the text sound and not wronged First therfore he saith that when Christ said to Peter vade post me Sathan Get thee behind me Sathan he was not theÌ„ the fouÌ„datioÌ„ for in that place Christ did promise that which he gaue him after his resurrection When we obiect the other text of Mathew ca. 18. for al the Apostles aswel as for Peter where Christ said to them al Sol. whatsoeuer yee binde on earth shal be bound in heaven c. He answereth That nothing is there giuen to the Apostles but that power only promised explaned and foretold which the Apostles and their successors should afterward haue and exercise We reply Reply if neither in that place were the keies giuen to the Apostles Ibid. c. 12 fol. 102. Whatsoeuer was promised to Peter in the 16. Matth. was performed to all in the 20. 21. of Iohn but only promised in what place then are they giuen I answere saith he They are given in the twenteth and one and twentith chapters of S. Iohns Gospel Thus hath Bellarmine confessed that whatsoeuer was promised in the 16. of Mathew as it were to Peter alone or in the 18. of Mathew to all the Apostles was performed both to Peter to them al in the 20. and 21 chapters of Iohn which concession free grant although it overthrow both what he would say else where al other his fellowes in this question of Supremacie for the Pope yet doth he afterward further inlarge it thus That the Apostles receiued al their iurisdictioÌ„ power immediatly from Christ Bellar. de Roman pont l. 4. c. 23. The Apostles had their authority from Christ even the same that hee had of his father it appeareth from the words of Christ Iob. 20. As my father sent me so send I you which words the ancient fathers Chrysostome and Theophilact do so expound that they do plainly say That the Apostles were made Christs Vicats yea that they did receiue the very office and authoritie of Christ Cyrill addeth vpon this texte That the Apostles were properly created Apostles and teachers of the whole world and that we should vnderstand that in the Apostolike authority al ecclesiastical power was coÌ„tained therfore Christ did adde As my father sent me surely the father sent his son indued with ful power Where you see that the same thing is giuen to the Apostles by those words I send you which was promised to Peter by those I wil giue thee the keies was afterward shewed by those feede my sheepe Thus farre Bellarmine by whose testimony and grant it appeareth that the rest of the Apostles had as much power in the Church or over the Church as S. Peter had and consequently other bishops in their seueral places wil haue as much as the Pope even by those places of scriptures which they would challendge to make most for them The order of their successioÌ„ Stapl. returne of vntruths art 1. fol. 12. b. calleth AlexaÌ„der the 5. pope after Peter here he is the 7. L. 7. consist Apost c. 46. ex Bellar. de RoÌ„ pont l. 2. c. 4. f. 192. 193. 195. Damasus in Pontificiale Tertullian Ierome Optatus Augustine Epiphanius Ireneus l. 3. c. 3. Euseb eccles hist l. 3. c. 4 2. l. 4. c. 1. l. 5. c. 6. Bell. de Rom. pont l. 2. c. 15. l. 1. c. 27. Vterque Apostolus Romanam ecclesiam fuÌ„dauit et gubernauit Annot. 2. Gâ—lâ— v. 7. fol. 500. In their table and notes at the end of the Acts of the Apostles Bellarm. de Rom. pont l. 2. c. 4. fol. 192. Sanders de visib mon. l. 7. 222. 223. 224. Thus much I thought good to shew you touching the glorious title of your table Now for the order The first is S. Peter Linus Cletus Clemens Anacletus Evaristus Alexander Sixtus Telesphorus Higinus Pius Anicetus Soter Eleutherius which is the fourteenth in number By the histories and most ancient fathers this succession is at first disordered and interrupted Clemens saith that S. Peter when death did draw neere appointed the Romane Bishopricke vnto him Dorotheus as Bellarmine also telleth vs doth place Linus next after S. Peter yet Damasus who was bishop of Rome and wrote thereof saith that Linus died before S. Peter Tertullian placeth Clemens after S. Peter and so doth S. Ierome Optatus and S. Augustine put Linus next Peter and Clemens in the third place S. Augustine mentioneth not Clerus at all but vtterly discardeth him so doth Optatus Epiphanius readeth them thus Peter Linus Cletus Clemens Ironeus who is ancienter then any of those before both leaueth out Cletus and bringeth Clemens after Anacletus It appeareth further by Ireneus Eusebius that they tooke S. Peter no more for a bishop of Rome theÌ„ S. Paul The church of Rome say they was found by the two most glorious Apostles Peter Paule and so in his catalogue reckoneth them And theÌ„ how doe you reconcile your table to Ireneus who maketh Eleutherius to bee the 12. but if you take in S. Peter for one and Cletus for an other you then make Eleutherius the 14. which is gaine said by Ireneus in whose time Eleutherius liued and whom by name he calleth the twelfe To coÌ„firme this truth the Rhemists themselues confesse that the Church of Rome was founded by S. Peter and S. Paule And further they tell vs that Prudentius the christian Poet calleth them both Principes Apostolorum princes of the Apostles giuing that title equally to them both and they themselues call them the two principall Apostles and the two cheife Apostles The like appeareth also from Epiphanius that ancient father Peter Paule founded the church at Rome who saith In Roma fuerunt primâ— Petrus Paulus Apostoli ijdem Episcopi In Rome were the two Cheife Apostles Peter Paule and they were bishops also Cyrillus also calleth them Praesides ecclesiae Presidents of the church And touching his bishoplike residence there 25. yeares as they say hee sate they are faine to extenuate the time S. Peter often absent because he was seldome found there say he was often absent froÌ„ the cittie Thus is appeareth that the Church of Rome was founded aswell by S. Paule as S. Peter and that he had the title of Principall Cheife First Apostle as well as Peter Thus much from an essay of the order of the first 12. But touching the men The first 300. they were all martyrs we confesse them all good godly martyrs for 300. yeaers together to the nuÌ„ber of 30. or there about although Marcellinus in the persecution vnder the Tirant Dioclesian did for feare of death offer sacrifice to Idols yet repenting he died a Martyr Sone vpon this
Cyprian which shall not only contrary the true reading but even palpably groslie cause him to confound overthrow his own former words They read it thus Hoc erant vtique caeteri Apostoli quod fuit Petrus pariconsortio praediti honoris potestatis Bellar. de rom pont l. 1. c. 12. sol 103. lege lib. 4. c 23. sol 591. Et primatus Petro datur the primacy is giuen to Peter is added to Ciprian by theÌ„ sed exerdium ab vnitate proficiscitur Primatus Petrodatur vi Ecclesia vna monstretur The rest of the Apostles were the same that Peter was indued with like fellowship both of honor power but the be ginning coÌ„meth from vnity And the primacy is given to Peter that the Church might be shewed to be one Et primatus Petro datur and the primacy is giuen to Peter hath been added vnto CypriaÌ„ of late becuse they saw the former words did quite overthrow them and so in adding them they haue overthrowne vs and Cyprian too Wil they haue any man to thinke that S. Cyprian would say first The rest of the Apostles were the same that Peter was indued with like fellowship both of honor and power and to adde presently And the primacie is given to Peter How were they the same how were they indued with like fellowship both of honor and power if Peter had the Primacie Vnlesse such a primacy be ment as notwithstanding wil leaue them the same that he was so the same that they shall be like in honor and power such a primacy I hope they haue wit enough to discard and yet any other primacy shall contrary Cyprian and proue them forgers They are Masters of the presses beyond the seas they coÌ„passe sea land to make a proselite they spare no cost shal we think that if the auncieÌ„t manuscripts of Cyprians text had had that clause that the first printed copies would haue waÌ„ted it Would Gratian haue omitted it in his decrees or Caietane or Saunders Dial. dial i. s 123. Rhem annot Ioh. c. 21. f. 280 Dureus rat 6. fol. 286. Fulk against the Rhem. lo lo citato Rey. coÌ„f with Hart c 5 diuis 2. fol. 165. Whit. coÌ„t â—ur l. 6. fol 433. not haue seene the very words that should point out the supremacy it is hard so to thinke against former experiences And yet doth Alane Cope in his dialogues The Rhemists in their testament Dureus against Whitakers in defence of Campian al which go along in that stringe and holde in that addition but most crookedly in so straight a cause Doth not this iustifie the complaint of our meÌ„ against them who lay it soundly to their charge that they from beyonde the seas haue twenty such devises as these to make their religion go currant among their novices here in England You haue seene in the former examples of the Nicene counsel and S. Cyprians authority how bold without shame they haue bin to adde vnto their texts that which the original bookes had not Nowe will I shew you with how great shew of diligence they can handle other authorities when they do but seeme to make for them The thing is this The Ecclesiastical histories of Socrates Sozomene Eccles histor Socrat. l. 2. c. 11. Sozom. l. 3. c. 7. do make meÌ„tion of certaine troubles that befel vnto Athanasius Paulus and Marcellus Asclepas and Lucius al Archbishops of great places in the East who being expulsed from their churches fled vnto Rome where Iulius was bishop who bestirred himselfe as wel as the time would giue him leaue to see them restored to their seas if possible it might be This authority record seeming to make for the bishop of Romes power and dominion is garnished with glorious titles and often alledged with great pompe as if the matter were cleare and to be received without further examination that the bishoppe of Rome had supreme power on earth over all other bishops Bellarmine alleadgeth it fowre several times Bellar. de rom pont l. 2. c. 15. fol. 237. vnder fowre seueral titles and in al fowre agreeth with himselfe That Athanasius the rest being deposed froÌ„ their seas fly to Rome where Iulius for the dignity of his place gaue them comfort and reliefe and in plaine termes restored theÌ„ to their bishopricks 1. By the witnesse of Greek fathers First he alleadgeth it in the Chapter of proofes for the Popes monarchy by the witnesse of Greeke fathers because the historian Sozomene who reporteth it was a GreciaÌ„ Next 2. Bell. vt ante l. 2. c. 18. by his authority ouer other bishops 3. Bell vt ante l. 2 c. 21. by appeales made vnto him 4. Bel de conc auth l. 2. c 17. The first reporter of this is Socrates Eccles histor l. 2. c. 11. You shall read before that they fled to Constantinus the younger l. 2. c. 2. Loco contumeliae Cap. 14. Constans Emperour of the West Cap. 16. for the authority which the bishop of Rome exercised over other bishops because hee wrote to the Easterne bishops about them Then in the chapter of appeales because they came from the East into the West for succour In the fourth place he bringeth it in for the Popes authority over counsels because the Easterne bishops had deposed the other in a couÌ„cell It is a signe that Bellarmine would play the good husband with the whole peece that can doe so much with such smal rags The first reporter of this is Socrates a Greeke writer aswel as Sozomene before him in the history He sheweth how that Athanasius Paulus Asclepas Marcellus and Lucius being depriued of their churches came to Rome the princely citty and cettifie Iulius of their troubles Iulius by reason of the prerogatiue of his church vphelde their partes writing his letters into the East which they trusting vnto go euery man to his owne home and send the letters according to their seueral directions But those of the East tooke the letters of Iulius in skorne wil not be directed by him After this the Emperour Constans writeth to his brother in the behalfe of them desiring him to send those thither who might render a reason before him of the iust causes of their deposition His letters tooke none effecte in so much that they make humble suit that an other counsel might bee called wherin both parties might be the better known By the commandement of both Emperours a general counfell was proclaimed at Sardice a citty of Illirium by the better part of the counsel is Paulus Athanasius and Marcellus restored to their bishopricks Notwithstanding these things Edicitur concilium generale idque de sententia duoruÌ„ Imperarorum Constantius Emperour of the East Cap 18. Constantius the Emperour of the East deferred from day to day the execution of his brothers request concerning the deposed biships wherefore he gaue him in choise either to restore Paulus and Athanasius
of the celebrating of that one councel Sanders againe in an other place 5. Sand. declaue Dauid I. 4. sol 81. The cosent of the bishop of Rome preambulateth from the matter before hee come to it thus Although the consent of the bishop of Rome alwaies had obtained did confirme the summoning of a general couÌ„sell yet that in a great matter no error should creep in it was the order that the Pope should send his letters to the Emperour touching that matter As who shuld say the Pope commanded the Emperour to summon counsells and then the Emperour having received those letters did by his own letters assemble the bishops wherevpon the bishops assembled at Constantinople do write vnto Damasus in these words you did send for vs as for meÌ„bers of your owne body by the letters of the most holy Emperour to come vnto the counsel which is gathered togither at Rome by the wil pleasure of God And a little after By the commandement of letters from your holinesse sent the last yere vnto the Emperor Theodosius after the councel held at Aquila wee prepared our selues only for our iourney to Constantinople It therefore appeareth saith Sanders from this testimony That there were two Councels holden at once one at Rome the other at Constantinople and to both of them the Pope sent for those bishops by the letters of the Emperour Thus much from Sanders in that place of that matter 6. Staplet ret oâ— untruths art 4. fol. 139. D. Stapleton an other of that side maintaining the Popes soveraignety is no more abashed to abuse the history than those other haue done in the places going before For saith hee Those bishops of Constantinople doe write-vnto Damasus the Pope and shewing a cause of there not coÌ„ming to Rome do further say vnto him That they had assembled themselues but lately at Constantinople by the late letter of your honor sent after the councell holden in Aquilicato the most Godly Emperour Theodosius Letters from your honor which was the reason why they could not come to Rome Now touching this present matter saith he the bishops here doe witnesse that to that counsel of Rome the Pope called them by the letters of the Emperour not as a warrant they haue no such word but rather as a meane For they witnes he calleth theÌ„ as his proper members Bellar. thrise Saund. twise already Staplet once 7. 8 and. de vifib monar l. 7. fol. 312. num 145. 146. The whole masse of falsehood is diseouered The Easterne bishops write to all the bishops of the West and so the letters go in the plurall number This it the sixt canvasse they haue had touching this place of Theodoret The seauenth set downe by Sanders in a thirde place of his booke will quite overthrow both himselfe and them being inlighted a little by the history which they al haue most shamefully abused For in this third place of his hee hath bewraied their shameful dealing There he confesseth that the Bishops of the East did write to other bishops of the West and namely to Ambrose aswel as to Damasus not to him alone as hitherto they al made vs beleeue they did and there he confesseth more over that the Easterne bishops receiued a letter from the Westerne gathered togither at Rome in which letter they were praied to come thither and that in their answere back they declare that all the westerne bishoppes sent for them by letters from the most holie Emperour But saith he further it appeareth from this place that the first beginning of a general counsel is the bishop of Rome but the meanes which the Pope vseth in that matter is to call them by the Emperours letters This is all their report that I finde of this matter I would now but aske them this questioÌ„ whether they tell vs thus much because they beleeue it or beleeue is because they tell it vs If they tell it vs as beleeuing it themselues we can say no otherwise of them than of him that did accustome to tel lies so fast to others that in the end he tooke them for truthes himselfe if they beleeue it because they tell it vs our incredulity in this case shal do them good in aduising theÌ„ not to beleeue that wee will any more take the reporte of any such matter vpon their words so that if our deniall wil profit them I assure theÌ„ I will not credit them in any thing without due evidence of the iustnesse of it Ter. in Eunuc act 2. scen 1. Nihil aliud quam Philumenam volo And therefore I giue them the councel in the Poet quoniam id fieri quod voluâ—t non potest velint id quod possit since they caÌ„not haue what they would that they woulde take what they may But they answere they would haue nothing but the Bishop of Romes supremacy I say again as the Poet saith in that place it were much better for theÌ„ to leaue that fansie rather than by this palpable fraud to go about to perswade it Al their inferences from that text of Theodoret are false and merely suggested either of the Popes power in calling that counsell of Constantinople or of their writing to Damasus oulie to Damasus or that they called him their head or that they confessed themselues his proper members as they haue abused the history The writing which the bishops of the East sent to them of the West is called The true report out of Theodorete eccles l. 5. c. â— Libellus Sinodicus à Concilio Constantinopolitano ad Episcopas missus The Councel of Constantinoples declaration sent vnto the Bishops The superscription is Dominis honoratissimis cum primis reverendis fratribus ac collegis Damaso Ambrosio Brittoni valeriano Acholio Avemio Basilio et cateris sanct is Episcopis To the most renowned Reverend bretheren fellowes and most especial reverend brethren and fellows Damasus Ambrose Briton Valerian Acholius Avemius Basill and the rest of the holy bishops gathered togither in the famous citty of Rome The holy councell of Catholike bishops gathered togither in the famous citty of Constantinople send health in our Lord. Num quid nam hic quod nolis Ter in Eunuc act 2. scen 2. vides Bellarmine Is there any thing here ô Bellarmine that thou wouldest not see Yes neither me nor that which I haue brought Where do they write to Damasus Where do they acknowledge him the head they the members Where be the letters sens froÌ„ his honor All this like religious and loving fathers to the Church of God they confesse each to other because they consented in one catholike doctrine were of one Catholike church though divided by East and West whose head is Christ as S. Paule saith Ephes 4.5 One Lord one faith one baptisme But if you wil speake of what they were in respect of themselues and their authoritie over each other SozoÌ„ l. 6. c.
statua foeminae sede stercoraria iactitant God speed them wel or let them be packing or let them perish and fare ill who bragge of their olde wiues tales and of the sitting stoole and of the Image of the image of the woman which they say is yet to bee seene Read the 6. booke of Laurentius valla his eliganties c. 30 LactaÌ„t de ira dei c. 8. for the vse of the wordvaleo Ter. in Andria act 4. scen 2. Saund de vis monar l. 7. fol. 412. and so indeed valeant qui inter nos dissidium volunt as the younge man in the Poet to which perhaps Genebrard alluded saie I. God speede them well that woulde set diuorce betweene the truth and vs in this case I will leaue Genebrard and come to Saunders who nothinge so shamlesse as the other but of a farre more ingenious and yeelding nature in this point doth confesse that shee is placed as Pope by some next after Leo the fourth Quodita sievenisset which if it had so happened yet because it was an error of fact not of right which happeneth in the most wisest that accident will bring no preiudice to the sea of Rome But all thinges should be so reakoned as if that whole two yeares wherein shee sat the seat had bin voide In deed wee neede not care for any good they do Nothinge will preiudice the sea of Rome whether the sea be empty or ful it is al one they be but painted sepulchres and as dumbe Idols not so good as old servitors who take their peÌ„sions leaue waiting for they did once good in their liues before their service decaied and the Popes spende their time before they come how to get it and after they haue it how to keepe it Alane Cope another of that brood though fully impudent in other cases yet is hee ashamed to deny the story absolutely Alanus Cope dial 1. pag. 47. but maketh a metamorphosed or changeable excuse which no man I trow can either disproue or proue I speake only in â—korne of his so base deuise which is that she might be first a man and after some time in the seate changed to be a woman The change is no more vnlikely thaÌ„ that such persons after such change should beare childreÌ„ vnheard of both which be vnpossible to al men once to thinke of saving to those servants who are sworne to defend such mistresses as dame Ione was And thus hath he overthrowne the fable of Ioan. 8. Lact. instit l. 1. c. 21. fine Quis haec ludibria non rideat qui habeat aliquid sanitatis cuÌ„ videat homines velut mente captos ea serio facere quae si quis faciat in lusis nimis loscivus ineptus esse videatur Who woulde not laugh saith Lactantius at these trifles that hath any sparke of wit when he shal see men doing those things in earnest as if they were bereaved of their wits whereas if any man should but do theÌ„ in sport or iest he would be thought over wanton and lascivious But to put the matter out of doubt where Genebrard and some other with him do make themselues sport as before is said with the word Anglicus and Moguntinus referring them to the country as though it should bee in doubt whether shee were an English woman or a Moguntine it is plaine to any man not preiudiced in opinion Fascicu temp anno 864. Her name was Ioan English Fasciculus temporum their owne historian saith Iste Ioannes Anglicus cognomine sed natione Maguntinus This Ione English by birth of Magunce in Germanie is said to be about these times was a woman disguised in mans apparell shee had so profited in the holy scripture that her like was scarse to be found and was chosen to be Pope But after being great with childe as shee went in procession shee fell in labour and died Sabelli Aene. 9. l. 1. pag. 469 aut aliter 625 aut aliter 325. shee was plagued of God for it saith he nor is shee put in the number of the Popes Sabellicus an other historiographer of their own ancienter thaÌ„ the last recited maketh mention of this Dame Lone Nullus defunctae honor habitus There was no honour bestowed at her burial the report is for the remeÌ„brance of her filthie act saith he They that desire further testimony herin Let them read Bishop Iuell in the defence of the Apology of the church of England part 4. c. 1. diu 1. fol. 380. B. Iuell And Willet in his Synopsis Papismi contro 14. quaest 10. fol. 218. Andr Willet Presently after Pope Jone followed that vnhappy time in the sea of Rome so much lamented in so much that Wernerus in Fasciculo temporum crieth out Heu heu domine Deus quomodo obscuratum est aurum mutatus est color optimus Foscicu temp fol. 68. a dom 884. 904. quâlia contigisse circa haec tempora etiam in sancta sede apostolica quam vsque huc tanto zelo custodisti legimus scandala Oh Lord God saith he how is thy gold made darke and vnknoweÌ„ Looke what happened in these times to the sea of RoÌ„e The best color is changed what reproches doe we read of that happened in these times even to the sea Apostolike which hetherto thou hast kept with so great watchfulnesse what contentions strifes sects envies ambitions intrusions and persecutions hath there bin O the very worst time wherin holynesse is wanting faithfulnes is fled from the sonns of men TheÌ„ was there a monster with a doggs head A moÌ„ster presented to the Emperour and members like a maÌ„ presented to the Emperour And well might it saith he shew the deformity of that time when as men wandred here and there without an head Chron. l. 4. fol 794. anno 885 as doggs run a bout barking Genebrard confesseth that some historians following Sigebert in his Chronicles after Martin 2. of some called Marinus who got the Popedome by ill meanes place one Agapetus who was Pope one yeare likwise betweene Adrian 3. who by ordinary account followed the saide Martin and Stephan 6. or 5. who succeeded Adrian they place one Basill who as they say sat 4. yeares But we saith he follow Platina For. 150 yeers to gether to the number of 50. popes they al revolted froÌ„ the faith a great part of writers This is that time or neere about wherin he also coÌ„fesseth that for 150. yeeres together to the number of about 50. Popes from Iohn 8. to Leo 9. they were alout of order and rather Apostatates then Apostilicke Amongst which infamous Popes were these especially playing their parts as it were on a stage Martin 2. Stephan Formosus Iohn 9. Sergius 3. Iohn 12. Sylvester 2. A breife of their dealinges is this Bell de Rom. pont l. 4 c. 12. Formosus being a Cardinal and a bishop was deposed and degraded by
Iohn 8. and got him out of the citty swearing he would neuer returne and become bishop againe After the death of Iohn 8. Martin 2. absolved Formosus of his oath restoring him to his former dignity not long after Formosus was created bishop Stephan succeeded being carried with a stronge hatred towardes Formosus not knowing or not beleeuing that Pope Martin had absolued him of his oath decreed publikly in a counsel of bishops that Formosus was neuer lawfull Pope and therfore his acts to bee frustrate This dealing displeased many therfore 3. Popes in order Romanus 1. Theodorus 2. and especially Iohn 9. called an other counsel of bishops declaring that Formosus was lawful Pope and revoked the sentence of Stephan But Sergius the thirde did in all things as Stephan before him had donne Moreouer Stephan tooke vp the carcasse of Formosus out of the graue cut of 3. of his fingers cast it into the streame of Tiber an inhumane and barbarous deed yet may hee bee a saint in respect of some that follow after Plat. Fasci Sonne vnto Sergius the Pope Platinâ— in vit cius De Rom. pone l. 2. c. 29. r. 310. Polid. Vergil de invent reruÌ„ l. 5. c. 8. De Rom. pont l. 4. c. 12. fol. 535. ann 900. Ex lactant l. 5. c. 16. fine de officio viri iustâ—Ì„ Iohn 12. was a moÌ„ster of monsters for pride whoredomes adulteries symonies sacrileges blasphemies in cest murders periuries and such others Bellarmine saith Fuit iste Ioannes omnium pontificum ferè deterrimus Almost the worst of all Popes was Iohn 12. Silvester 2. as saith Polidore Vergil gat the Popedome by no good meanes in his desire to rule hee consulted with the diuel about the length of his life Hee did the devil homage saith Wernerus The age wherin hee liued was an vnlearned and vngodly age saith Bellarmine There is no way that I see to safe the honour of these bishops in this sea of Rome at this time except we will aduenture to say of these bad men in a word as Euripides did of Good Quae hic mala putantur haec suÌ„t in caelobona Who are here reckoned for naught are in heauen esteemed vertuous D. Saunders maketh a digression from his ordinary businesse in hand Saund. de visib monar l. 7 fol. 420. anno 895. vsque ad 912. Rom. 12.21 The corruptioÌ„ and bad life of the Popes is brought in as an argumeÌ„t to confirme the good estate of the church of Rome is the sicknes in the head a proofe of the bodies perfection Here hath Bellarmine lost 2. of his principall notes of his church that is The agreement and kniting of the meÌ„bers with the head And holynes of life nether of which by their own confessioÌ„ was at Rome in those times And yet hee maketh them notes marks of the catholike church and consequently of the church of Rome Bel. de notis eccles l. 4. c. 10. 13. Stil the ill Popes are his best proofe of the goodnes of the church Hereby the chaire he must meane the chaire of Wood at Rome or the people liuing there if the first it is ridiculous if the later we neuer doubted but the christian people who are the church may well stand florish without such an head as he hath described many of theÌ„ to be in excuse of the Popes advanced in these times in devoureth to proue that the church of Rome hath endured al manner of Tentations and in the end obtained victory I trow he meaneth such a victory as those haue had who haue bin overcome of evill sold themselues as slaues to iniquity First the persecution stood saith hee by the heathen Emperours then by heretike Emperours and their adhereÌ„ts and then by the Popes themselues vnderminding that sea most of all doing what in them lay to overthrowe the church for ever His words be these Tunc enim Pontifices Romani After saith he followed the Roman bishops whose glory ambition mouing them carried with a desire to crosse each other gaue manifest testimony that no kinde of temptation was omitted which did not indeauour to ruinate that sea Nether without these things had that promise bin so admirably performed in the eies of al when it was said The gates of hell shall not prevaile against the Rock set there by Christ whether by the gates of hell we vnderstand the tyranny of the prince of this world or heresies and schismes or sinnes lewd maÌ„ners except the seate of Peter had bin assaulted by all those means wheÌ„ yet it cold not be vtterly overthrown by al these But now after so many persecutions of the Emperours after so many domesticall schismes which even for the sea of Rome the Popes themselues did stirre vp and raise after so many heresies abroad by which the sea of Rome hath bin atteÌ„pted tamen cathedra successio Petrinon modo aliqua est verum etiaÌ„ stat yet the Chaire and succession of Peter is not only somewhat but also standeth florisheth hetherto raigneth wheÌ„ the other Patriarchal seates are fallen Vnde iste honor Cathedra Romana But whence commeth this honour to the Chaire of Rome What from the deserts of the Popes I beleeue it not saith he For they although for these 800. yeeres almost they haue bin very good yet at this present and often afterward they deserued very ill insomuch that if you look vnto the deedes of the men it seemeth that that church should haue bin buried in perpetual obliuion An impudentlie for hee knoweth and they all confesse Liberius was an Arrian heretike and Honorius was a Monothelite heretike if any trust bee to bee giuen to generall couÌ„sels Popes or ancieÌ„t writer For scarse is there any sinne but heresie which may bee imagined but that sea hath bin defiled with it And why it hath not fallen into heresie no reasoÌ„ can bee giuen but that Gods goodnesse preserueth it For seeing heresie which is accompanied with blindnesse of hart is neuer the first offence of any man but a punishment of greater which had gon before I doe not thinke that any more greivous sinns haue bin either in the seas of Alexandria Antioche or Constantinople then in the sea of Rome And therfore saith he seeing every man even the bishopp of Rome also is by nature a liar even so touching his owne person he shall bee so accounted by mee yet God in the meane time should bee so far forth credited to bee true that wee shoulde thinke as the matter is apparant indeed that he hath set the seate and succession of Peter on a most sure rocke How agreeth this conclusioÌ„ with those premises Sciant igitur heretici Esay 5.20.23 Every man is a liar Saund. Every maÌ„ may er in the faith Alp. a Castro adv haeres l. 1. c. 4. Fidei catholicae propugnator Genebra chr l. 4. f. 1126. The Pope may fall into heresy on which no