all in distress by the depopulations of the Normans first decreed to pray for the King and then tell him that Rex dicitur a Regendo And if he rule piously justly and mercifully he is justly called a King but if impiously unjustly and cruelly he is a Tyrant Can. 10. Whereas former Synods forbad all women to dwell in the house with Bishops or Priests or Deacons except Mothers or Sisters they now forbid these also hearing oft of the wickedness committed by them and that Bishops or Priests lay with their own Sisters and begat Children of them But to secure them from all conviction for any such crime it is decreed Chap. the 12. that no Presbyter accuse any Bishop nor any Deacon a Presbyter nor any Subdeacon a Deacon c. And that no Prelate be condemned but under seventy two witnesses and the chief Prelate be judged of no man And a Cardinal Presbyter not under forty two witnesses nor a Cardinal Deacon under twenty six Sâ—bde acoâ—s Acolythes Exorcists Lectors Doorkeepers not under seven and these without infamy having Wives and Children And indeed that Bishop that would lie with his own Sister in the presence of seventy two men that had wives and Children deserved to be blamed Chap. 16. One that wilfully murdered a Priest was to forbear flesh and wine and not to be carried in a Coach and not come to Church in five years and not to receive the Sacrament of twelve years after § 100. Binnius here addeth an observable note that Arnulphus is called only King at first and not Emperor it being nefas unlawful to assume the name of Emperor till it were given by the Pope O brave Pope § 101. CCXCIX A Council at Metz under the same Norman calamities decreed such like things Chap. 2. They decreed that no Presbyter should have more than one Church unless a Chappel and none take money for burials Chap. 3. that Mothers or Sisters dwell not in the house with Bishops or Priests But still capital crimes were punished but with excommunication and penance Chap. 7. One that forced a widow Another that killed his kinsman and married his his Wife and swore to the Archbishop to forsake her and did not was excommunicate And so were some that gelded a Priest for reproving their filthiness § 102. CCC A Council at Wormes was called to end a controversie between two Prelates Bishops of Colen and Hamburg striving for Bremen to have greater Diocesses and jurisdiction § 103. Next cometh the forementioned Pope Formosus saith Onuphrius the first Pope that ever was made of one that before had been a Bishop For the old Canons oft decreed that no Bishop remove from his first place only when one was ordained against his will and not consenting never possest the Place sometimes he was accepted to another Now was the fourteenth time that Rome had two Bishops at once by schism Sergius got in to be Pope but they forced him to resign and banished him Formosus was well esteemed of for his preaching to the Bulgarians but Pope Iohn 8 some think for reproving his sin deposed him as afore said and made him swear never to return to be a Bishop But Marinus absolved him and he came in thus perjured notwithstanding the false pretence of Papists that the Pope can dispense with such oaths the matter of them being a thing lawful but not necessary Platina saith that he was suspected to have a hand in the tumult that imprisoned Pope Iohn and that he came to the Popedom Largitione potius quam virtue by gifts rather than virtue that is by Simonie He did lawfully if you will believe Baronius and Binnius create anoint and consecrate Lambert after his Father Wido Emperor that was not Heir yet after consecrated Arnulphus its like by constraint for such things the Roman Nobles hated him But he got Arnulphus to Rome who revenged the Pope by beheading many of the Princes that were hasting to meet him which was not like to win mens love § 104. He wrote an honest Epistle to the English Clergie perswading them to keep up the ministry and reproving them for indulging Pagan rites CHAP. XI The Progress of Counsels till Leo 9th especially in Italy France and Germany and their Behaviour § 1. CCCI. ODo Earl of Paris having Usurped the Kingdom in the Minority of Charles the simple the right Heir Fulke Bishop of Rhemes calleth a Synod and deposeth him and sets up Charles such Power had Prelates Some say the French Chose Odo by Arnulphu's Consent and some say that he dying desired that Charles might have Possession This was Anno 892. § 2. The great Devastations made by the Normans burning Cities Churches Monasteries and at last forcing Consent for a Habitation in Neustria I pass over and Petavius out of some Writers of their own will tell you that when Chartress was besieged by them the Virgin Marys smock which King Charles Calvus had brought thither from Besanson being carried cast them into so great a Terror that they fled away all in Confusion Where they had this Smock and how many Hundred Years after the Virgin Marys death it was found and how they knew it to be hers and how it was so long kept and where and why it did not many Miracles sooner till above 900 Years after Christ are Questions which I cannot Answer § 3. Italy and France were all this while fill'd with Civil Wars Wido and his Son Lambert being dead Berengarius got Possession of Italy whom Lewis after overcame and was made Emperor at Rome Crowned by the Pope But three years after taken by Berengarius was Deposed and had his Eyes put out Yet after this Berengarius was cut off and Lewis restored and Anointed by Pope Iohn 10. Rodulphus King of Burgundy was set up by some Italian Nobles against Berengarius and overthrowing his Army was called King of Italy Berengarius was kil'd by Treachery Rodulphus was soon Deposed and the Italians made Hugo Earl of Provence King At last he joyned his Son Lothariâ—s with him The younger Berengarius prevaileth against him driveth him to Provence and is made King Intending to marry his Son Adalbertus to Adaleidis the Widdow of Lotharius she invited Otho King of Germany into Italy and marryed him vvho after is made the first Germane Emperor Of â—ll which more after in the particular Order and place See Petav. lib. 8. c. 13. § 4. CCCII Anno. 893. Formosus had a Roman Council to Consult of some Relief of the Ruined Countries in vain For now men Secular and Ecclesiastical Confounded all by striving for Rule § 5. CCCIII. Anno 895. A Council at Tribur in Germany for Church Reformation Many of the Canons are to secure and advance the Clergy The ninth decideth a doubt if an Earl or civil Ruler Command the People to meet at one place on Civil accounts and the Bishop command them to meet at another on the same day none shall obey the
let the French know lest they should have stopt him he slipt away to Rome and thither removed his Seat that had been at Avignion 70 years to the great joy of the City impoverished by the absence of the Court. § 260. Anno 1378. Gregory the 11th being dead the People of Rome flock to the Cardinals and cry to them to choose no more Frenchmen least the Seat be again removed but an Italian and the best man that could be found least all should run to utter confusion Thirteen Cardinals were Frenchmen and four Italians The French were for a French Pope but they fell out among themselves while part of the French were for one and part for another by which it fell out that Barthol Episc. Barensis a Neapolitane was chosen an extraordinary good Pope The Cardinals cryed out that the People of Rome had by tumult force and arms constrained them to the choice of this man Vrban 6. and they fled to strong holds but at last came to Rome and owned the Pope But when he told them that he would not go to France and reproved their wickedness and told them how severely he resolved to punish them if they amended not they got away and declared that Vrban was a false Pope chosen by the Peoples tumults and force where the Cardinals were not free and that the Seat was void and they chose another Cardinal Gebennensis and called him Clement 7th And so whereas for seventy years there had been a Pope at Avignion and none at Rome now for forty years more there were two one at Avignion and one at Rome and sometimes three And indeed it passeth my skill to know how the Avignion Popes were Bishops of Rome who never saw Rome nor any of the People any more than he is a true Schoolmaster that never saw the School or Scholars And now the two Popes fall to fighting for it and the French Pope sending an Army of Britons against the Italian Pope at first they beat the Romans but next were so destroyed by them that few scaped home to bring the news The Italian bloody Wars still continue especially between the Venetians and Genoâ—eses Then had the Venetians the first Guns The Neapolitans also were ruined by Wars their Queen siding with one Pope Clement was destroyed by Charles that was for the other justly strangled as she had used her own Husband The Duke of Anjou also came with a great Army into Italy from Pope Clement to destroy Pope Vrban but the General died and the Souldiers scattered and returned home The Pope then desired of King Charles that his Nephew might be Prince of Naples and being denied threatned Charles and cited him to Nucena who came at his Summons but with an Army The Pope escaped to Genoa and King Charles upon his Fathers death called home to Hungary was murdered The Pope putteth seven of his old Cardinals in five Sacks and drowneth them in the Sea But to be strong enough he maketh no fewer than twenty nine new ones in one day He went to Naples thinking to surprize and deject the Kings two Sons but was defeated Italy still flamed with War He made 54 Cardinals of which he killed five and deposed seven and died saith Platina little lamented as his Epitaph sheweth as being rustick and inexorable though one of their best He died after eleven years An. 1389. § 261. CCCCLXVI An. 1388. A Council is held at Palentine in Spain under the Cardinals of the Antipope Clement about Shavings and Church-Orders § 262. An. 1389. Boniface 9. alias 8. is chosen at Rome and Clement dead in France Pet. de Luna is chosen there called Benedict 13. The Italians were still the furthest from Unity and peace all the Cities almost in war against each other so far were they from Eminency in Religious love and concord that they had not the common quietness of Heathens The Pope went to Perusium to reconcile them there where to shew what his power was over them the people killed fourscore of the Nobles before the Popes face which he took ill and departed He got possession of the Government of Rome he required Annals that is half a years value of every Benefice of him that received it All saith Platina save the English granted it and they would yield it of no Benefices but Bishopricks Had the Pope indeed been Head of all the World Annals would have come to a considerable Rent But going so far as the Antipodes to gather it would have made it come shorter home than the Spanish Gold and Silver doth from the West-Indies Instead of winning men by Preaching the Popes Arms now subdue Perusium and many Italian Cities to him Platina saith that his own Father that saw the man told him that a Priest cloathed in white carrying a Crucifix with certain Hymns to the Virgin Mary came from the Alps with a grave and pious look so preaching that all the people followed him even Nobles as well as others and that he pretended that he went to visit the Holy Fathers at Rome but the Pope suspected that he meant to be Pope or get too much interest and sent Souldiers and took him and burnt him to death some saying that he had some errour others saying no such thing was ever proved by him but it was reported by the Pope to hide his cruelty In these times saith Platina Chrysoloras Byzantinus brought Greek Learning into Italy that had been silent five hundred years § 263. An. 1404. Boniface dying Innocent 7. is chosen at Rome one part of Europe being for him and another for the Avignion Pope Tumultuante tota Italia saith Platina Tota Italia ad arma respiciebat Five and twenty Cities revolted from the Vicecomites and set up new Governments What Concord did the Pope keep in the World Platina saith he was not only slothful but could not endure to be told of his duty The Citizens of Rome petitioned him to endeavour the ending of the Schisme the King of France and the Avignion Pope being inclined to peace For answer he sent them to his Nephew Ludovicus to be murdered who presently killed eleven that came to consult with him casting them out at a window saying that was the only way to cure Sedition and Schisme Upon this the City takes Arms for revenge the Pope and his Nephew fly to Viterbium Ladislaus King of Apulia helps the Citizens they fall upon the Courtiers take the Capitol and other places c. The Pope sends an Army against them that overcometh them and forceth them to beg his return He dieth 1406. after two years and 23 days Reign and so there was only the Avignion Pope § 264. An. 1406. Gregory 12. is chosen at Rome taking an Oath as Innoc. 7. did to resign if the Unity of the Church required it The Princes of France had made their Pope Benedict 13. take the like Oath The Princes and Cardinals ashamed of two Popes and two Churches prest them
of 12 Bishops They are mostly forbidding Bishops to take money for their Ordinations Consecrations and other Actions And the first Canon requireth them to walk to all their Parishes and see that the Clerks did things rightly that Catechumens learnt the Creed and to preach to the People to forbear Murder Adultery Perjury False-witness and other mortal Sins to do as they would be done by and to believe the Resurrection Judgment and Recompence according to Works § 40. CLXXXIV An. 572. a Concilium Lucense did receive from Martin Bishop of Braccara 84. old Canons of which the 67th was against reading Apocrypha or any thing but the Canon of the Old and New Testament in Church § 41. After Iustinian's death his Sisters Son Iustinus was Emperor a sensual and covetous man who murdered presently a Kinsman of his own name upon suspicion that he was too great yet he drew up a good Profession of Faith exhorting all the Bishops to agree in it But Chosroes King of Persia invaded his Empire because the Greater Armenia which was then under the Persians as the Lesser was under the Romans to avoid the Persians persecutions had revolted to the Empire and destroyed their Rulers The Persians conquered so much of the Eastern part of the Empire and Iustine's Soldiers made so little resistance as drove him out of his wits and his Wife by intreaty got the Persians to make a Truce Tiberius was then made Caesar and afterward Emperor upon Iustine's death and Iustinian his Captain repelled the Persians and recovered much of what they had conquered § 42. An. 576. Divers Kings of France by War among themselves destroyed Churches and confounded all and a Council at Paris was called but in vain to have persuaded them to Peace § 43. After Benedictus Pelagius 2d was Bishop at Rome Tiberius an excellent Emperor quickly dyed and by his choice Mauritius succeeded him Pelagius by Gregory his Deacon wrote against the Bishops that would not condemn the tria Capitula And when all his writings prevailed not he got Smaragdus the Exorchate to force them by the Sword The great remedy which Rome hath trusted to § 44. CLXXXV Mâ—â—veus Son and Heir to Chilperic King of France marrying his Uncles Widow offended his Father and fled to St. Martin's Church at Tours and forced Bishop Gregory to give him the Sacrament The King could not get the Bishop to deliver him up he fled and the King called a Synod at Paris to judge Pretextatus a Bishop whom he accused for marrying him and confederating with him § 45. CLXXXVI The two Bishops forenamed Salonius and Sagittarius being again accused of Adultery and Murder and being freed by professing Repentance King Guntheramus called a Cubilone Synod and accused them of Treason and so deposed and banished them § 46. CLXXXVII An. 582. King Gunthram called a Synod at Mascou to revive the old Canons for restraining the Lust and Vices of the Bishops and Clergy § 47. CLXXXVIII An. 583. A Concil Brenacense is called to try Gregory Bishop of Tours falsly accused of charging the Queen of living in Adultery with a Bishop an Archdeacon and a Deacon bore false Witness but all came to light and Gregory was cleared by his Oath § 48. CLXXXIX An. 587. A Council at Constantinople increased the Church-divisions which continue to this day wherein Iohn Bishop of Constantinople was decreed to be called The Universal Bishop which Pope Pelagius could not endure O what hath this Question done to the World Who shall be the chief or greatest So much of the image and work of Satan hath been found in the professed Servants of a crucified Saviour and in those that have worshipped the Cross In this Synod Gregory Bishop of Antioch was tryed and acquitted of a false Accusation of Incest with his Sister another man's wise § 49. Pelagius writeth against Iohn's Universal Title saying Universalitatis nomen quod sibi illicitè usurpavit nolite attendere c. Nullus enim Patriarcharum hoc tam profano vocabulo unquam utatur quia si summus Patriarcha Universalis dicitur Patriarcharum nomen caeteris derogatur Sed absit hoc absit à fidelis cujusquam mente hoc sibi vel velle quempiam arripere unde honorem fratrum suorum imminuere ex quantulâcunque parte videatur Quà propter Charitas vestra neminem unquam suis in Epistolis Universalem nominet ne sibi debitum subtrahat cum alteri honorem offert indebitum Adversarius enim noster Diabolus qui contra humiles saeviens sicut Leo rugiens circuit quaerens quem devoret non jam ut cernimus caulas circuit Omnia qui soli uni Capiti cohaerent videlicet Christo per electionem pompatici sermonis ejusdem Christi sibi studeat membra subjugaâ—e Nec mirum quod ille tentater qui initium omnis peccati scit esse superbiam c. And so he goeth on exhorting them rather to dye than to submit to the Title Universal and resolving Excommunication against the User of it § 50. Binnius saith It is ridiculous hence to impugn the Primacy of the Church But Qu. 1. Is it not impudent after this for them to use the Title of Universal Qu. 2. Doth not this allow us to separate from them that usurp it Qu. 3. Doth not Pelagius here plainly distinguish between the place of Prime Patriarch which he claimeth and Universal Bishop or Patriarch which he damneth Qu. 4. Doth he not describe this damned Usurpation to be a subjecting all Christ's members to himself Qu. 5. Doth not the Pope now use both the name and thing as far as he can attain it Qu. 6. Did not Pelagius and Gregory know that Iohn did no more intend to put down all other Patriarchs or Bishops by this Title than the Pope doth Qu. 7. Doth not the Pope now claim that as by Divine Right which Iohn claimed but as of Humane Modesty can deny none of this § 51. CXC An. 587. Nine Bishops at Lyons repeated six old Canons about Women c. § 52. CXCI. An. 589. King Gunthram finding all things grow worse and that all was long of the Bishops onely saith Binnius called a Council at Mascou where the stricter keeping of the Lords-day was commanded § 53. Here Binnius noteth that Priscus is called Patriarch and that the Bishops of Venice Istria and Liguria continuing still separate from Rome chose Paulinus Bishop of Aquileia their Patriarch Quem sibi loco summi Pontificis supremum Antistitem constituerent Qu. Did the Bishops then believe that the Pope's Universal Government was essential to the Catholick Church And that none were the Church but his Subjects § 54. CXCII King Gunthram An. 589. by a Council at Valence setled his Benevolences on the Churches § 55. CXCIII An. 589. At Toletum King Recaredus called a Council and renounced Arrianism and recited several Canons among others that Bishops and Priests Wives might dwell with them but not lie with them And they
null and giveth no Authority which nullifieth the Roman succession § 56. Decrees about Souls § 57. Leo 10. a Cardinal at 13. and an Archbishop in his Childhood His Wars and bloodshed § 58. Luther The Reformation The end of Charles 5. § 59. Leo's death § 60. Reformers drive the Papists to Learning § 61. All Papist Princes owe their safety Crowns and deliverance from Papal deposition to the Reformation and Italy its peace § 62. The History of the Reformation and of Papists Murders of Martyrs passed by § 63. Freder of Saxony refuseth the Empire and Money and chose Charles § 64. Thirty five cases for which men must be denyed Communion in the Eucharist § 65. Later Reforming Papist Councils § 66 c. The Conclusion what this History specially discovereth § 70. A Poem of Mr. Herbert's called The Church Militant CHAP. 14. A Confutation of Papists and Sectaries who deny and oppose the Ministry of the Reformed Churches CHAP. 15. A Confutation of the prophane Opposers of the Ministry An Account of some Books lately Printed for and to be Sold by Thomas Simmons at the Prince's Arms in Ludgate-street A Supplement to Knowledge and Practice Wherein the main things necessary to be known and believed in order to Salvation are more fully explained and several new Directions given for the promoting of real Holiness both of Heart and Life To which is added a serious disswasive from some of the reigning and Customary sins of the Times viz. Swearing Lying Pride Gluttony Drunkenness Uncleanness Discontent Covetousness and Earthly-mindedness Anger and Malice and Idleness by Sam. Cradock B. D. late Rector of North-Cadbury in Somersetshire Vseful for the instruction of private Families Price bound 4 s. De Analogia sive Arte linguae Latinae Commentariolus In quo omnia etiam reconditioris Gramaticae Elementa ratione novâ tractantur ad brevissimos Canones rediguntur In usum Provectioris Adolescentiae Opera Wilhelmi Baxteri Philistoris Price bound 1 s. 6 d. The lively Effiges of the Reverend Mr. Mathew Pool So well performed as to represent his true Idea to all that knew him or had a Veneration for him Design'd on purpose to befriend those that would prefix it to his Synopsis Criticorum Price 6 d. Moral Prognostications 1. What shall befall the Churches on Earth till their Concord by the Restitution of their Primitive Purity Simplicity and Charity 2. How that Restitution is like to be made if ever and what shall befal them thenceforth unto the end in that Golden Age of Love Written by Richard Baxter when by the Kings Commission we in vain treated for Concord 1661. and now Published 1680 Price 1s The Nonconformists Advocate or an Account of their Judgment in certain things in which they are mis-understood Written principally in Vindication of a Letter from a Minister to a Person of Quality shewing some Reasons for his Nonconformity Price 1s There is Published every Thursday a Mercurius Librarius or A Faithful Account of all Books and Pamphlets Published every Week In which may be inserted any thing fit for a Publick Advertisement at a moderate Rate Directions to the Binder of Baxter's Church History c. After the Title Sheet follows a b c d e then B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S then AA BB CC DD EE FF GG HH II KK LL MM NN OO PP then SS TT VV XX YY ZZ AAA BBB CCC DDD EEE then GGG and so on to QQQ which Signiture ends the Book Church-History OF BISHOPS And their COUNCILS ABRIDGED c. CHAP. I. Of the sacred Ministry Episcopacy and Councils necessary Premonitions and of the Design of this Book § 1. GOD that could have enlightned the Earth without the Sun and Stars could immediately alone have taught his Church and communicated knowledge to mankind But as he is the most communicative good he was pleased not only to make his Creatures receptive of his own influx but also to give them the use and honour of being efficient sub-communicants under him and causes of good to themselves and to one another And as his Power gave Being and Motion his Wisdom gave Order and Harmony and his Love gave Goodness and Perfection felicity and love as he is the creating and conserving Cause of Nature and this in much inequality as he was the free disposer of his own so in the Kingdom of Grace he doth by the Spirit of Life Light and Love 1. Quicken and strengthen the dead and weak souls and awaken the slumbering and slothful 2. Illuminate the dark with Faith and Knowledge and 3. Sanctifie the malignant Enemies of holiness by the power of his communicated love making them friends and joyful lovers This Spirit first filled the Humane Nature of Christ our Head who first communicated it to some chosen persons in an eminent manner and degree as Nature maketh the heart and brain and other principal parts to be organical in making preserving and governing the rest To these he gave an eminence of Power to work Miracles of Wisdom to propagate the Word of life and infallibly by Preaching and Writing promulgate and record his sacred Gospel and of holy love to kindle the like by zealous holiness in the hearts of others To these organical persons he committed the Oeconomy of being the witnesses of his words and actions his resurrection and ascension and of recording them in writing of planting his first Churches and sealing the truth of their testimony by many Miracles promising them his Spirit to perform all that he committed to their trust and to bring all to their remembrance and to lead them into all truth and to communicate instrumentally his Spirit to others the sanctifying gifts by blessing their Doctrine and the miraculous gifts by their imposition of hands § 2. By these principal Ministers the first Church was planted at Ierusalem fitliest called the Mother-Church and after by those that were sent thence many Churches were gathered in many Kingdoms of the world darkness being not able to resist the light The Apostles and Evangelists and Prophets delivered to them the Oracles of God teaching them to observe all things that Christ had commanded them and practically teaching them the true Worship of God ordering their Assemblies and ordaining them such Officers for sacred Ministration as Christ would have continued to the end of the world and shewing the Churches the way by which they must be continued and describing all the work of the Office appointed them by Christ. § 3. The Apostles were not the Authors of the Gospel or of any essential part of the Christian Religion but the Receivers of it from Christ and Preachers of it to the world Christ is the Author and finisher or perfecter of our faith But they had besides the power of infallible remembring knowing and delivering it a double power about matters of Order in the Church 1. By the special gift of the Spirit 's inspiration to found and stablish
Pope and ordering the Apostolick Seats and all Bishops and Archbishops in all Provinces to receive Investiture from him and that none should Consecrate a Bishop unless he were praised and invested by the King and that they Anathematize all that rebel against this Decree and confiscate their Estates if they repent not But say Baronius and Binnius this is a lye and devised deceit to flatter the Emperor Henry a Schismatick And while Chroniclers may have the Lye given them so easily by Dissenters in matters of such publick Fact we are left at great uncertainty in History others as confidently giving the Lye to the Papal Flatterers as they do those of their own Religion that do not please them One of the Reasons against this Decree is the contrariety of the French Constitutions l. 1. c. 84. saying Not being ignorant of the sacred Canons we consented to the Ecclesiastick Order to wit that Bishops be chosen by the Election of the Clergy and PEOPLE according to the Statutes of the Canons out of their own Diocess without respect of Persons or Rewards for the merit of their life and their gift of wisdom that by example and word they may every way profit those that are under them 1. This indeed sheweth how Bishops by the Canons were to be chosen even till these days of Charles the Great he was to be taken for no Bishop that came not in by the Peoples as well as the Clergies Election or consent at least 2. But this contradicteth not what Sigibert and Gratian say the Emperor might still have a negative voice after all especially as to a Pope In very deed the door is safe that hath divers locks 1. It belongeth to the Clergy and Ordainers to judge who shall be A Bishop or Minister of Sacred things 2. It belongeth to the Flock to discern whom they will accept for THEIR Bishop or Pastor 3. It belongeth to the Magistrate to judge whom he will countenance or tolerate in that Office § 43. Paulus Diaconus the Historian was Secretary to Desiderius the Longobard King Charles in anger commanded his hand to be cut off for doing somewhat for his own King against him the Courtiers added that his eyes should be put out which made Charles consider and say If we do but cut off his hand where shall we find such another Historian § 44. Constantine the Emperor now dying called Copronymus the Papists call us to take notice what a Leader we follow that are against the Worship of Images saying that he dyed with the beginnings of Hell-fire convinced of his sin against the Virgin Mary and that all his life he loved the smell of dung and stinking things strong Arguments for Image-worship as worthy as Sigebert's and Gratian's to be suspected as Lyes or of little certainty § 45. While Leo Isaurus and Constantine lived the Councils of Bishops went with them and Images went down in the Eastern Empire Constantine dying his Son Leo succeeded him saith Binnius in his Heresie Impiety and Sacriledge that is in his opposition to Image-worship and such like Petavius saith he first feigned himself a Catholick that is for Images but after fell off His Sacriledge was that loving Jewels he took for himself a rich Crown which Maurice had devoted to the Virgin Mary whereupon Carbuncles arose on him and he dyed but had not Maurice himself a sadder death Thus partial Historians feign and apply Judgments § 46. Leo's Widow with her Son Constantine a Child next ruled and saith Binnius God by a Widow and an Orphan Child by a Wonder did tread down the Impiety that had been set up and restored Religion that is Images And indeed Rome's interest and proper way hath been chiefly advanced under Women and Rebels And it is no wonder if Irene a Woman and her Child were more for Images than their Predecessors Children use to play with Images and Womens Fancies are oft not unsuitable to them I think it as observable a matter as Binnius doth to note the Instruments § 47. There are in Binnius the Titles of 44 at least Epistles of Pope Adrian's recited The 36th saith He professeth that the Church of Rome doth embrace and reverence the Whole fourth Calcedon Council Remember then that the last Canon is approved which declareth the reason of the Roman Priviledges to be because it was the Imperial Seat and therefore that Constantine should have the like and that it was given it by the Fathers Most or many of them are thanks to Charles for giving St. Peter so many great Cities and Dukedoms and Exhortations to him to continue his bounty By their ordinary language you would not suspect any Selfishness Pride or Covetousness in the Popes it is but for St. Peter that they desire all § 48. In his Epistle to Constantine and Irene the Child and Mother to entice them to be for Images he tells a fabulous Story of a Vision of Constantine's sending him to Silvester as his Guide to be baptized of him and to be thereby cured of a Leprosie It was Peter and Paul that appeared to him and he asked Silvester whether there were left any Images of Peter and Paul which he affirmed and shewed him their Pictures and the Emperor cryed out These are the Men that appeared to me And part of their Message to him was that he should bring all the world into the subjection of the Church of Rome Was not here a strong Argument to a Woman and a Child to be for the Pope and for Images contrary to current History that tells us Constantine was baptized at Nicomedia a little before his death and without any credible proof Thus the Papal Rome was built When Adrian had given away the Western Empire to Charles yet he thus flattereth a Woman and Child in the East as if he had done them no wrong at all § 49. Paul Bishop of Const. having sworn against Images and repenting is said to resign his place and to tell them that they must have a General Council and Tarasius succeeding him being for Images got a promise of a Council It seems by their Epistles though they agreed about Images Pope Adrian and this Tarasius accused each other as suspected of Simony see Bin. p. 262. and the Epistles Irene knew that Tarasius was for her turn and Tarasius knew that Irene was for Pictures and so between them common notice was given abroad before-hand to the Bishops that lately had condemned Image-worship and pull'd them down that the Empress and the Patriarch were for restoring Images and would call a Council to that end and this was enough to prepare the majority of the Bishops for a sudden change § 50. Besides a Council at Wormes An. 772. to little purpose Velserus hath published one of that year at Dingolvinga in Bavaria under Duke Tassilo which had divers Canons of Equity and some of Superstition one was that certain Bishops and Abbots agreed that whosoever dyed first the rest
called at Constantinople which damned the Council of Nice 2. Irene having set up Images and murdered the Emperor her own Son as is aforesaid was deposed by Nicephorus who Reigned near ten years with Stauratius his Son he was no Friend to the Clergies power and was killed in Fight by the Bulgarians and his wounded Son Reigned a few months Michael Curopalates succeeded a Man of great Piety and Peace but unfit for War who being overcome by the Bulgarians he consented to give up the Empire to Leo Armenus a better and prosperous Soldier This Leo the 5th was of the mind of the former Leo's against Images and his mind being known the Bishops conformed presently insomuch that in his 2d year this Council called by him Anathematized the Bishops that would not renounce the Nicene 2d Council and when they lay prostrate on the earth it 's said some trod on some of them and they turned them at a Back-door out of the Council For the Patriarch Nicephorus that was for Images was deposed and Theodorus Melissenus that was against them put in his place and led the rest Thus did Council against Council thunder Anathema's and curse each other by separating them from Christ till few were left uncursed The Rulers of the Monasteries also were called in and those that would not consent against Images were rejected Nicetas Theodorus Studita were the Champions for Images and were both banished and imprisoned Theodore wrote to the Council for Images and tells them that To take away the venerable Adoration of the Images of Christ and of the Mother of God and of all the Saints was to overthrow the Oeconomy of Christ. And he continued in Prison to preach and write for Images Those Councils that pleased not the Papists we have not the Acts of as we have of such as Nic. 2. that pleased them Had we all the Speeches and Arguments used in this and other Councils against Images as largely as those that were for them we might better see which had the better management § 114. CCXLIV The Clergy had for many hundred years abrogated God's Law He that sheddeth Man's Blood by Man shall his Blood be shed and had put Pennance for the punishment instead of Death But now at last the murdering of one Iohn a Bishop inhonestè inauditè mordridatus as they then spake they were put to find some harder Penalty to save the Clergies Lives And so they set great Fines of Money on the Murderers and more than so He that wilfully murdered a Bishop must eat no flesh nor drink any Wine as long as he lived If Murder now had no greater a punishment Bishops would scarce be safe any more than others This was at a Council at a Village called Theorius or Dietenhoven § 115. Next succeedeth Pope Stephen at Rome Platina saith Stephen the 4th Anastasius and Binnius say Stephen the 5th Platina and others say that he Reigned but seven months Anastasius and others say seven years and seven months Platina saith he was the Son of Iulius a Roman Anastasius saith he was the Son of Marinus Charles dying the Empire came to his Son Ludovicus called Pius his Brothers dying also The Bishops of Italy saith Platina and others stir'd up Bernard to rebel against him but he was conquered and put to death as also were the Saxon Rebels Paschal first succeeding Stephen is made Pope without the Emperor's knowledge for which he excused himself as forced by the People that chose him The Emperor pardon'd it but demanded obedience as to their Elections for the time to come Platina in vit Paschal l. 1. who saith that Paschal was suspected of the Rebellion of Italy but disclaimed it and that the Emperor re-assumed many Cities to the Empire to prevent new Rebellions Some say that Bernard was but blinded Among others banished for Treason were Anselm Bishop of Milan and Theodulfe Bishop of Aurelia Orleance so that Italy and France joined in the Treason See Petav. Hist. Mâ—nd li. 8. c. 8. § 116. CCXLV Ludovicus Pius was so careful to reform the Bishops and Clergy that he raised their ill will against him being too pious for them that should have been the Teachers of Piety yea so slothful did they grow that though his Father and he had done extraordinary works for the promoting of Learning and Godliness yet Learning in his days grew to such decay that Learned Men became the common contempt and few of them were to be found but Wealth and Iurisdiction were the study care and interest of the Bishops Yet in his time at Aquisgrane there was a Council that wrote instead of Canons the most excellent Treatise for the Teaching and Government of the Teachers and Governors of the Church besides the regulation of Monasteries that ever any Council did before them Not in their own words but in the several Sermons and passages of the chief Fathers Isidore Hierom Gregory Augustine and Prosper that had written to the Clergy heretofore which they collected into 145 Chapters and Canons But you must know that the excellency of the Canons of Provincial Councils in France and Spain in these Ages did not shew the excellency of the Bishops so much as their Pravity and Necessity as the Medicine doth the Disease For such Canons were ordinarily drawn up by the will of the King by some one or few choice Men such as Paulinus Aquileiensis in his time to whom the rest consented because they knew the King would have it so § 117. In these Chapters of this Council they cite Isidore and Hierom at large proving that it was Presbyters that were called Bishops in Paul's Epistles and Acts 20. and that in those times the Church was ruled by the Common-Council of Presbyters till Schism shewed a necessity that one should rule among the rest They cite Isidore ' s words that Caeteri Apostoli cum Petro par consortium honoris acceperunt Et Non esse Episcopum qui praeese dilexerit non prodesse And Hierom ' s on Titus maintaining the foresaid Identity and his Sciat Episcopus Presbyter sibi Populum conservum esse non servum And his excellent Epistle ad Nâ—potianum Many Sermons of Augustine ' s describing his Collegiate Community of the Clergy Isidore ' s words Plerique Sacerdotes suae magis utilitatis causâ quam gregis praeesse desiderant Nec ut prosint praesules fieri cupiunt sed magis ut divites fiant honorentur suscipiunt sublimitatis culmen non pro Pastorali regimine sed pro totius regiminis vel honoris ambitione atque abjecto opere dignitatis solam nominis appetunt dignitatem Dum mali Sacerdotes Deo ignorante non fiant tamen ignorantur à Deo sed hic nescire Dei reprobare est If Isidore say true remember that I wrong not the Bishops in saying the same of them And if this was the case of the most as he affirmeth what better than we find could be
Balbus however he recalled Theodorus Studita from Prison and of Theophilus that succeeded him Petavius li. 8. c. 9. saith that Theophilus followed his Father in persecuting the Worshipers of Images but yet was a most strict requirer of Justice and reigning 12 years and three months died An. 841. the next year after the death of Ludovicus Pius He left his Son Michael a Child Emperor under the Rule of his Mother Theodora § 149. And now come up Images again by a Woman which ever since a Womans Reign almost had been cast out she ruled 14 years just as Irene did and sped as she for when her Son came to age he deposed her In this time Methodius first and Ignatius after were made Patriarchs of Constantinople And Bardas made Caesar deposed Ignatius because he would not excommunicate Theodora when she was deposed and set up the learned Photius in his place that came in as Nectarius had done from the Laity by sudden Ordination one honoured even by the Papists for his great learning but reviled for being against them § 150. CCLIII An. 842. This Woman had presently so much power on the mutable Bishops as in a Council at Constant. to turn them to be again for Images and as Theophanes saith Suddenly changing their judgment they cursed those that opposed Images and so after 120 years rejection they were restored and the Nicene 2d Council owned without any great difficulty And here all that were for Images accounted it Godliness and called them Ungodly that were against it and this Woman Theodora is stiled for it a very godly Woman though the other called it Idolatry and so while one side was cryed down as Profane and the other as Idolatrous the poor Church felt to its sorrow that Images were not taken for things indifferent Theophanes railing at Iohn the Patriarch of Constant. saith that Seeing so sudden and unexpected a change he that ruled impiously was struck with such a stupor and blindness of mind that he was ready to have killed himself and being the head of all the wickedness of an ungodly judgment that had led the Emperors by lyes and thrust them into the hell of impiety he was with ignominy cast out and good Methodius put in I recite the words to shew you what various Characters the interest of Images gave to men and what Godliness and Ungodliness Good men and Bad men are in the sense of many Historians § 151. The Pope dying Iohan. Diaconus seizeth on the place by force but Sergius is chosen against him and prevaileth I◠whose beginning Lotharius sent his Son Ludovicus with an Army to Rome Sigibert saith to be the Confirmer of the Pope and claim that right others say to be crowned To Lotharius they sware obedience but not to his Son Some great debate Anastasius tells us that a great company of Bishops had against the Pope and his Party but he tells us not what it was but that the Pope was too hard for them and glad when the French were gone § 152. It 's before said that after the Bishop's deposing him Lotharius was restored the three Brothers agreeing that Ludovicus should have Germany and part of France and Charles have France and Lotharius Narbon and Italy as Roman Emperor CCLIV The Archbishopric of Rhemes had been ten years without a Bishop upon Ebbo's removal or flight and two Presbyters successively Fulke and Hotho had been the Governors of it some will question the validity of their acts And a Council at Bellovacum makes Hincmarus Bishop § 153. Under Carolus Calvus the Church-Lands were much alienated especially Abbots Lands to Nobles and other Lay-men Whereupon CCLV. a Council at Melda Meaulx did by Ansegisus and Bernardus Levita draw up a Book of seven Parts lamenting the sins of Christians and the Sacriledge of the Laity and offered it to the King who refused it the Nobles being against it For which say the bold Expositors of God's Providences the Normans by Invasion troubled the Land § 154. Leo the 4th became Pope they durst not consecrate him without the Emperor's authority Anastas in Bin. p. 618. This Pope wrought great Miracles say they 1. He conquered a Basilisk that killed men by his looks as St. George conquered the Dragon 2. By the Cross he stopt a fire in the City But his good works contain a Volumn in Anastasius viz. the many Churches that he adorned enriched repaired the silver Vessels and Ornaments that he gave the Posts and Pillars and Altars that he beautified and the glory that he added to the Roman City and Churches c. yea when the Saracens came and spoiled St. Peter's Church in the Suburbs of Rome he caused the said Suburbs to be walled and fortified as a new City calling it Leonina from his name And he made two or three Prayers of six or seven lines long to desire God's protection of it by the intercession of St. Peter And he writeth a notable Homily in which he comprizeth much of the Canons teaching them all the Arts Gestures and Ceremonies of canting the Mass and precisely ordereth that every Priest do learn his Lesson and that if any of them be illiterate that cannot read he shall be suspended till he amend learn to read so learned was the Clergy in that Age. § 155. By the way the oft mention here of singing the Mass doth remember me to note that which is much over-looked viz. How Liturgies imposed first came up or were mostly propagated without any exception or opposition It was chiefly because they did sing them and had fitted them accordingly to their singing Notes like our Cathedral singing of our reading Psalms and Prayers And we all know that the People or Minister cannot make Psalms ex tempore but we must and do use forms in singing but the Prayers that were not sung but said were longer left free to the Speakers present skill § 156. CCLVI. An. 847. in a Council at Paris Lotharius caused the cause of Ebbo to be reviewed but after Summons he would never appear to his death § 157. CCLVII A Council at Mentz An. 847. repeated many Ecclesiastical Canons Among others Murderers still instead of death are but put upon long removal from the Communion no though they murder Priests In this Council a Woman called Thiota was judged to be whipt because she had professed to have Revelations foretelling the day of judgment that year putting the People in fear and even many Priests followed her as a Prophetess she confessed that a certain Priest persuaded her to do it for gain CHAP. X. Of the Councils about Ignatius and Photius and some others § 1. CCLVII AN. 848. A Synod at Mentz under Rabanus condemned Godescalcus a Presbyter and Monk of Rhemes as a Predestinarian Heretick Hincmarus Ep. ad P. Nicol. reciteth his Heresies to be 1. That as God hath predestinated some to life eternal so others to death eternal That he would not have all Men saved but
not because he causeth not Cap. 3. About Christ's death they like not those that say he dyed for all that from the days of Adam till then had been damned but would have all take up with this simple Doctrine that God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Cap. 4. They conclude that all true Believers regenerate by water and the Spirit have their sins washed by the blood of Christ And they could not have true Regeneration if they had not true Redemption But of the multitude of the faithful and redeemed some are eternally saved because they persevere others are lost because they persevere not in the salvation of faith which they had received and so make void the grace of redemption Cap. 6. About Grace and infirmed Free-will restored and healed by Christ they exhort Men to stick to the Scriptures and the Councils of Africa and Orange and not to follow the Aniles penè Fabulas Scotorum I suppose they mean the Followers of Iohan. Scotus Erignenae who was murdered by his Scholars 833 whom Godescalcus followed lest they should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Remembring Christians that while they are vexed with the prevalency of the wicked in the world they should not vex the sad Congregations with such superfluous things Cap. 7. They advise that because Bishops were set over the Cities that were untryed and almost ignorant of Letters and unlike the Apostolick Prescript by which means the Ecclesiastical vigor is lost that they would petition the Prince that when a Bishop was wanting the Canonical Election by the Clergy and the People might be permitted because the King was used to thrust his Favorites on the People that Men of tryed knowledge and life and not illiterate Men blinded by covetousness might be set as Bishops over the Flocks § 10. CCLXIII An. 855. A Council was held at Papia in Italy by the Order of the Emperour Ludovicus for the Reformation of the corrupt Clergy where they ordered that the Clergy and People chuse the Bishops and yet that the Laity on pretence of their Electing Power trample not on the Arch-Presbyter and that great Mens Chappels empty not the Churches with other old Canons recited § 11. Lotharius that so mischievously sought for the Empire against his Father and Brethren grew weary of what he had and divided his 3d part which was the Empire of Italy with Burgundy and Lorrain into three parts and gave his Son Lewis the Empire in Italy and his Son Lotharius Lorrain and his Son Charles Burgundy and entered himself into a Monastery But Charles dying the other two Brethren divided his Dominion and Lyons Belanson and Vienna fell to Lotharius § 12. We come now to the Reign of Pope Ioane according to a great number of their own Historians but David Blondel hath recited the Testimonies of multitudes on both sides and after all impartially past his conjecture that the Story was not true whose judgment I reverence and think most probable Whether at that time there was a Iohn the 8th or none till him that some call Iohn the 9th after Adrian the 2d is uncertain § 13. Leo dying if there was no Iohn or Ioane between a Schism was made the People most chusing Benedict and the Agents of the Emperor with part of the People and Bishops chusing one Anastasius a Cardinal Presbyter that had been Excommunicate by a former Pope Anastasius thought his choice so sure that entering Leonina the Roman Suburbs he went into St. Peter's own Church and broke down and burnt the Images and with a Mattock cast down to the ground even the Image of Christ and the Virgin Mary They went on and imprisoned Benedict quem omnis Romana Plebs eligerat saith Anast. in Bin. p. 659. But while the great Men and Officers of the Emperor did their utmost to constrain the People to consent to Anastasius they could not prevail and so they were fain to yield to the multitude to end the Tumult and Confusion and Benedict had the place § 14. By this Story it appeareth 1. That this Anastasius was against Images and that was like enough to be part of the cause why he had five years left his Church in Rome before and refused to appear before Pope or Council 2. That when the Emperor and his Officers were so violent for his choice even after he had broken down the Images in St. Peter's Church it is apparent that the Party even about Rome and in the West which was against Images was not small though they made no stir § 15. This Pope Benedict was he that confirmed Hincmarus's Council which nullified Ebbo's Ordinations aforesaid as is to be seen in his first Epist. Bin. p. 662 c. § 16. An. 856. Charles Calvus by a Synods concurrence at Carissiac sent Orders against Church-Robbers very strict And 857 a Council at Mentz was held CCLXIV where Gunthar Bishop of Colen sent a Letter that A terrible Tempest arose in which the People for fear all ran into St. Peter's Church And the Church-beams cracking as they fell a praying to God for mercy suddenly a mishapen Thunderbolt like a fiery Dragon pierced and tâ—re the Church and at one stroke killed three men among all the multitude though those three stood in several places that is one Priest that stood at St. Peter's Altar one Deacon that stood at St. Denis's Altar and one Lay-man at St. Mary's Altar And six others were struck almost dead but recovered At Trevirs also were many Prodigies § 17. Pope Nicolas 1. is chosen by the Emperor Ludovicus consent and all the People He greatly advanceth the Roman Seat by his activity and much by doing justice to the People that were oppressed by Tyrannical Prelates He had a great conflict with Iohn Bishop of Ravenna who long despised him and denied him his subjection But the Emperor took the Pope's part and so poor Iohn was fain to submit and cry miseremini mei peto misereri mei Anast. in Bin. p. 667. and to take an Oath of subjection to the Pope § 18. The great Schism now rose at Constantinople whether Ignatius or Photius should be Patriarch Michael the Emperor deposing Ignatius by the counsel of his Uncle Bardas and putting in Photius The Pope kept up his power by interposing uncalled into all such matters He sent some Bishops as Legates to counsel them by a Synod to decide the difference When these Bishops came thither they consented to Photius against Ignatius The Pope said they were bribed and false to their trust and deposed them though he thought he chose the best he had of which more anon § 19. Yet we have not done with worldly Prelates King Lotharius was weary of his Wife and loved a Whore Waldrada He openeth his case to the Bishops They call a Council and approve of his Divorce and his
Marriage with Waldrada The two great Archbishops of Colen and Triers are the Leaders The Pope is against it and accuseth the Bishops of owning Adultery They appear at Rome and he condemneth them of Impudency while with some immodest words they undertake to justifie the thing of which more anon He chargeth the Bishops of heinous Villany and they despised him He condemneth the Concilium Metense in which the Adultery was allowed § 20. This Pope falls out with Hincmarus Bishop of Rhemes justifying against him the cause of Rothaldus whom he had deposed He sends Messengers to the King of Bulgaria converted in his days whom the Emperor's Officers stop and abuse The Adversaries of Images were still strong at Constantinople Anast. Bin. p. 670 c. Epist. 2. He useth a notable Argument for Images viz. God is known only in the Image of his Works Why then may we not make Images of the Saints But why must Men be compelled to do it or else be Hereticks and why must they be worshipped Epist. 5. He is pitifully put to it to justifie the Election of Nectarius and Ambrose and yet to condemn that of Photius for being a Lay-man And Ep. 6 the same again in the instance also of Tarasius § 21. The 8th Epistle of this Pope Nicolas to the Emperor Michael doth shew that he had now shaken off the Imperial Power and therefore chargeth his Letters as full of Blasphemy Injury Madness c. partly for being so sawcy as to bid the Pope Send some to him which he saith was far from the godly Emperors Partly for blaming the deeds of the Prelates when he saith Their words must be regarded and their authority and not their deeds Partly for calling the Latine Tongue barbarous and Scythian in comparison of the Greek which he saith is to reproach God that made it Partly for saying that the Council that deposed Ignatius and set up Photius was of the same number of Bishops as the first Council of Nice where this high Pope's answer is worth the notice of our Papists Bin. p. 689. The small number hurteth not where Piety aboundeth Nor doth multitude profit where Impiety reigneth Yea by how much the more numerous is the Congregation of the malignant by so much the stronger are they to do mischief Nor must men glory in numbers when they fight not against the Rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness Glory not therefore in multitude because it is not the multitude but the cause that justifieth or damneth Fear not little Flocks c. This Doctrine was then fittest for the Pope in his Minority But the Letter is a Book pleading for the Roman Grandure and striving to bring the Emperor with others under his power § 22. In his Answer and Laws to the Bulgarians he difliketh their Severities against one that had pretended to be a Priest when he was not and had baptized many concluding that he had saved many and that they were not to be re-baptized Bin. p. 772. No not though he were no Christian that baptized them as after Consul Cap. 104. p. 782. To the Case Who are Patriarchs he saith properly they only that have succeeded Apostles which were only three Rome Alexandria and Antioch but improperly only Constantinople and Ierusalem But why then are not Ephesus Corinth Philippi c. Patriarchates And why had the rest of the Apostles no Successors Had they no Churches § 23. This Pope having Western security threatned Excommunication to the Emperor of the East unless he would depose Photius and restore Ignatius and threatned Lotharius for the cause of his rejected Wife and the Marriage of another as aforesaid and swaggered against Hincmarus Rhemensis for his deposing Rothaldus a Bishop and forced him to yield and condemned his Synod at Metz and would have proved that Pope Benedict had not confirmed it He and other Popes did make the Contentions of Bishops as well as of Princes a great means of their rising taking the part of him that appealed to Rome as injured and very oft of the truly injured By which means they had one Party still for them and all injured persons were ready to flie to them for help He Excommunicated the Bishops of Colen and Triers The poor Bishops that would fain be on the stronger side began now to be at a loss to know whether the Emperor or the Pope was the strongest They followed the Emperor and resisted the Pope a while The King and Hincmarus forbad Rothaldus going to Rome and imprisoned him But the Pope wearied them out by reason of the divisions of the Empire and Kingdom into so many hands of the French Line that being in continual suspicion of each other they needed the Pope's help Bin. p. 790. He ordereth Pennance instead of just death for one Cumarus that had murdered three of his own Sons viz. That for three years he pray at the Church-door and that for seven years he abstain from Wine three days in a week and for three years to go without shoes allowing him to eat Milk and Cheese but not Flesh and to enjoy his Possession but not have the Sacrament for seven years § 24. His Decretals begin That the Emperor's Iudgments and Laws are below the Canons and cannot dissolve them or prejudice them Tit. 4. 1. He saith All Patriarchal Dignity all Metropolitical Primacy all Bishops Chairs and the dignity of Churches of what Order soever were instituted by the Church of Rome But it 's he only did found it and erect it on the Rock of Faith now beginning who to St. Peter the Key-bearer of eternal life did commit the Rights both of the Terrene and the Celestial Empire Reader Had not the abuse of Humane Patriarchal Power and of Excommunications got up very high when this bold Pope made this Decree What! All Churches in the World made only by Rome Was not Ierusalem Antioch and many another made before it Did Christ say any thing of Rome Did not other Apostles build Churches by the same Apostolick Commission as Peter had Is not the Church built on the foundation of Prophets and Apostles Christ being the Head-corner Stone Did not others build the Church of Rome before Peter did it Did not Peter build other Churches before Rome Where and when did Christ give Peter the Imperial Power of Earth and Heaven did he not decide the Controversie who should be the chief or greatest with a prohibition of all Imperial Power With you it shall not be so § 25. But the next Dectee casteth Rome as low as this over-raised it If any one by Money or Humane-Favor or by Popular or Military Tumult be inthroned in the Apostolick Seats without the Concordant and Canonical Election of the Cardinals of that Church and then of the following Religious Clerks let him not be accounted a Pope or Apostolical but Apostatical By which Rome hath had so few Popes indeed and so many
he caused some Fellows so to cut and mangle the Face of the Pope that he would never after be seen abroad but kept close till he dyed which was after Three Years This Otho resolved to Revenge on Albericus And also the War between Hugo and Albericus broke out again Platina saith That Hugo was about to Revenge the Pope but then Dyed § 42. A Synod was at Narbon to end the Contention of two Bishops about the Extent of their Diocesses and Jurisdiction § 43. CCCXI. If yet you perceive not the sad State of the Church by Men's striving for Church-Dignities a Council at Soissons Anno 940. will tell you more You heard before how the Earl of Aquitane had got his Son to be made Arch-Bishop of Rhemes The Child in coats was but Five Years old It happened that he was put out again for his Infancy or Non-Age and Artaldus a Monk chosen in his stead This Council of Bishops was to decide the Câ—â—e between the two Arch-Bishops The Objection against one was his Infancy and his Father 's ill means to bring him in The Objection against the other was Perjury He had sworn that he would never accept an Arch-Bishoprick Alas Must the Church of France be Headed by one of these an Infant or a Perjured Monk The Synod cast out the Perjured Monk and judged the Seat to the Infant as being lawfully Chosen Power made it a Lawful Call And the Bishops went to Rhemes and Consecrated him § 44. In the Year 920. the French Nobles by consent at Soissons had Revolted from King Charles because he took Haganon a Man of low of Quality into his Privy-Council and made him Great Herveus Bishop of Rhemes had partly healed this Breach But Anno 922. it broke out again and the Nobles chose Robert King and Herveus Consecrated him But this Rebellion was their Ruin Three Years after dyeth Herveus And the next Year Robert Fighting against Charles was slain at Soissons yet his Army conquered the King's Shortly after Rodolph Duke of Burgundy is called in by the Nobles and made King as if the Kingdom had been void Charles on pretence of a Treaty is led by Heribert to a Castle and thence carryed to Perone where he dyed Anno 929. leaving a Son Lewis to Fight for the Kingdom And when Charles was in Prison Hugo rejected Rodulph and called Lewis out of England to be King Anno 936. But Hugo and Heribert would be his Masters and gave him little Quiet Heribert dyeth miserably and Repenteth Hugo Domineering the King craveth Aid of Otho out of Germany against him But shortly dyeth himself by a Disease got by a Fall in Hunting a Wolf Lotharius his Son succeedeth him In his Third Year Hugo the Great Duke of Orleance dyeth and Lotharius the King Anno 986. His Son Ludovicus succeeded who dyed Childless Anno 987. And in him ended the Line of Charles the Great For Charles Duke of Loraine that was next was by the Treachery of a Bishop taken by Hugo Capet the Son of the fore-said Duke Hugo and imprisoned to Death And this Hugo got Possession of the Crown So much briefly on the By of these Matters that they after interrupt us not too much See Dion Petav. lib. 8. c. 16. § 45. Marinus 2. alias Martin 3. is made Pope Anno 943. and Reigned three Years and some Months the common Time of Popes in that Age. In his time Artaldus strove again for the Seat of Rhemes § 46. CCCXII When Bishops would needs be Princes they taught Princes to resolve to be Bishops And as Heribert did at Rhemes so did the Emperor at Constantinople put in a Patriark Trypho a Monk on condition that he should hold it but till his own Son Theophylact came to Age. When the time came Trypho would not Resigne A Council is called where Bin. ex Curopal tells you the State of that Church alsâ— as too like the Western The Council being met Tryphon makes a Speech to them and saith That his Adversaries that had a mind to cast him out gave the reason that he knew not Letters But that they might all see that this was false and that he could Write and Read he call'd for Pen and Paper and having been taught thus much before wrote his Name thus Tryphon by the Mercy of God Arch-Bishop of Constantinople New Rome and Vniversal Patriark for that was then the Title The Emperor receiving the Paper it â—eems knowing that he could not Read writeth over head Knowing my self Vnworthy I Resigne the Throne to any that will And so sent the Paper to the Council and the Bishops wise and Good Men you must suppose Dethron'd Tryphon The Seat staid void five Months till Theophylact came to Age who then was chosen § 47. Anno 946. Agapetus the Second is made Pope in a time when Wars between the Hungarians and Henry Bavaria Berengarius and Otho c. made Miserable the Countries and Ignorance and Ambition the Churches § 48. CCCXIII. A Council at Virdun in France again tryed the Cause between the fore-said Infant and the Perjured Bishops Hugo and Artald and they undid what the last had done and Deposed Hugo and gave the Seat to Artald Yet we have not done with Doing and Vndoing For Pope Agapete now took Hugo's Part and wrote to the Bishops of France and Germany that Hugo that was in Possession was to be kept there But the Papists say he mistook by Hugo's Mis-information § 49. CCCXIV Anno 948. Another Council at Mosome was called for the same Business Hugo would not come in but sent the Pope's Letters which being not Canonical but his bare Command they rejected them cast out and Excommunicated Hugo till the next General-Council § 50. CCCXV. Anno 948. A General-Council of France and Germany is called at Engelenheim for the same Cause almost all France being disquieted about two Mens striving who should be the Great Arch-Bishop The Pope's Legate Marinus proved Hugo's Letters false and Hugo was Excommunicated and Artald setled But the Presence of two Kings Ludovicus and Otho did much there-to The Bishops thence removed to Triers called another Council where they judged for King Ludovicus against Duke Hugo and Excommunicated some Bishops Ordained by Bishop Hugo that was Ordained in his Child-hood And another Council at Rome confirmed these things § 51. Now cometh the Famous Pope Iohn the Twelfth the Son of Prince Albericus the Son of the Famous Whore A Child too Saith Baronius and Binius p. 1060. Quanquam hiuc Legitima aetas aliaque omnia deessent quae inlegitimo Pontifice requiruntur tamen accedente postea consensu totius Cleri visum est hunc potius esse Tolerandum quam Ecclesiam Schismate aliquo quod alioquin exortum fuisset dividendam He wanted Natural and Moral Endowments even All Things necessary to a Legitimate Pope say they And yet the After-Consent of the Clergy made him Tolerable c. Qu. 1.
the pretended KEYES § 202. Honorius 3d. succeedeth Innocent He confirmeth the Dominican and Franciscan Religions and Sainteth Francis He procureth a new expedition towards Ierusalem and the destruction of many The Emperor Friderick followeth his predecessors and invadeth Italy conquereth Sicily and Apulia being his own by his Mothers title But the Pope excommunicateth him and by the mediation of Iohn King of Ierusalem in title he is absolved § 203. CCCCXL. Stephen Laughton being restored a Synod at Oxford passed many general excommunications and there numbered all the Holy-dayes to be kept and made several Canons One good one was that every great Parish have two or three Presbyters because of the greatness of the work and if one should be sick c. Another repeated many old Canons that no fees be taken for Sacraments or Burials c. Another that no Clergy-mâ—n should keep their Concubines PVBLICKLY in their lodgings nor else where go to them with scandal A good caution for their credit § 204. CCCCXLI A German Council lamenting that Clergy-men kept their Concubines publickly and would not dismiss them forbids this publick keeping of them C. 1 2 3 5. But dealeth gently with them But C. 6. those that preach when the Bishop silenceth them it maketh infamous and intestable casting them out without hope of mercy or restitution ab officio et beneficio and rendering them uncapable for the time to come Here the Popes Legate demanded out of every Cathedral two Prebends to be given to Rome And great reason that he that giveth all even Bishopricks and Kingdoms should have some again even what he will But it was denied § 205. CCCCXLII Also in a Synod at Westminster An. 1226. the Pope demanding two Prebends out of every Cathedral the King answered that the matter belonged to all Christendom and when he saw what other Kingdoms did herein he would give his answer § 206. Gregory 9th is next Pope He commandeth the Emperor Friderick 2d to go recover Ierusalem and excommunicateth him aâ— a dissembler for his delaies He re-Sainteth St. Francis and St. Dominick He absolveth the Emperor upon his payment of an hundred and twenty thousand ounces of Gold for damage The greatest sedition and heresie saith Platina rose at Româ— that ever was there so that the Pope was banished But a plague ended it that left scarce the tenth man alive Again the Senators and the Pope agree not about Legislation and the Pope is fain to be gone again and gets the Emperor to promise him that their conjunct forces should assault the Romans The Emperor faileth and bids his Souldiers help the Romans himself departing the Pope by mony bireth them to help him and recovereth Rome He sendeth preachers abroad to call men to the holy War He Sainteth Elizabeth daughter to the King of Hungary An Army goeth into Asia with Theobald King of Navarre and others and is overthrown He would go to Rome but is kept out The Emperor taketh many Cities in Gregory's party get him into the City He again curseth the Emperor and deposeth him from his Empire by his presumptuous sentence The Venetians help the Pope The Emperor afflicteth them The Italians are divided In Pistoria two brothers one called Guelph was for the Pope and the other called Gibel was for the Emperor the City was 〈◊〉 and the name of Guelphs and Gibellines filled Italy with confusion The Romans were again falling off from the Pope but he went among them Carrying the heads of the Apostles you must believe it and by supplication and speeches moved the People to pity him and got them to fight against the Emperor which cost them and others of the Church party in Italy dear The Pope calleth a Council to depose the Emperor again to kill one man twice But the Emperor way-layeth them and taketh many Cardinals and Bishops and Imprisons them by the Pisanes help Gregory dyed for grief in his 14th year or 15th This is that Pope that by the help of Raymund made the Books of Decretals So much out of Platina Binnius addeth that the Emperor went with an Army into Asia in performance of his vow and received Ierusalem yielded to him And made ten years truce with Saladine and therefore was again excommunicated by the Pope § 207. In this Popes time saith Bin. the Divines of Paris after long disputation defined that it is a mortal sin for any man to have two benefices when one of them sufficeth to sustain him 208. Multitudes of the Albigenses were burnt and killed as Hereticks § 209. CCCCXLIII A Council at London under Otto the Popes Legate was held An. 1237. the King sending first to charge them to do nothing against his rights and leaving one to see to it The Legate was in danger for opposing Pluralities the Bishop of Worcester and multitudes theatning resistance and it was suspended § 210. Coelestine the 4th is next Pope but not by the Laterane Canon by two third parts of the Cardinals some say he lived 18 daies some 17 some 14 some say two Schismaticks were between § 211. The seat was void a year and eight months and more the Emperor keeping many Cardinals in prison but at the request of Baldwin of Constantinaple he released them § 212. Innocent 4th is next chosen who of a Cardinal-friend became by interest a Pope-enemy to the Emperor and daring not to stay in Italy fled into France and there calleth a Council of Bishops with these he hunted Princes and excommunicateth or curseth the Emperor where saith Matth. Paris An. 1245 one Priest being commanded to publish the curse he doth it thus Good People I am commanded to pronounce excommunication against the Emperor Frederick the Candles put out and Bells ringing But not knowing the reason though I know the hatred between them that one doth the wrong but which I know not as far as my power reacheth I excommunicate anathematize him that doth wrong absolve him that suffers the wrong which is so hurtful to all Christendome And at Lyons the Pope curseth him again The Emperor despised the Popes deposition and would not give up his Crown for fear of his curse The Popes party choose Henry Laudgrave of Thuringe Emperor who is quickly killed besieging Vlm as some say that party chose William Earl of Nassau after him Henry the Son of Friderick was drawn to rebel and being overcome by his Father soon after died And the Emperor not long after him by what death it is not agreed some say poysoned others say stifled by Mansfred his base Son some say he continued impenitent others that he repented of his opposing the Pope not probable some speak ill of him others extol him for Learning and worthiness § 193. Frederick being dead the Pope travels France and Matth. Paris saith that at his leaving Lyons a Cryer called the Citizens who had long entertained him to his farewel and that Cardinal Hugo made his farewel Speech telling
University of Wittenberge clave to him and especially Philip Melancthon that excellent man how the Free Cities with many Princes came in to them and joyned how many Petitions and Disputations there were about it how the Augustine Confession was written and the Apology for it how it turned to a War how the Elector of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hassâ—a were taken prisoners how Maurice of Saxony siding with the Emperour was made Elector and Iohn Frederick dispossest how the same Maurice after to vindicate Philip of Hassia took Arms against the Emperour and forced him to flight and finally to some degree of toleration for the Protestants All these things the History of the Reformation written by divers telleth you at large as also how many great and excellent Divines were suddenly raised up to stand for Reformation as soon as Tyranny was so far abated as that men might freely shew their minds it soon appeared that most had been long subjugated to the Pope more by violence than by consent when the Emperour was necessitated to a Toleration he consulted for some abatement to procure Concord and by Agricola Sidonius and Iulius Pflug an Antinomian turned back to Popery drew up a middle form of worship called the Interim which he would have all conform to till a General Council which divided the Reformers among themselves while some as moderate and to avoid total ruine of the Church yielded to part and others refused and multitudes of Ministers were therefore ejected and persecuted This great Emperour Charles the Fifth after long Wars and many Victories and sharp Persecutions was at last weary of all and resigned his Empire and betook himself to a private life in Spain where he died strongly suspected of repentance and inclination to the Reformed Doctrine himself He bequeathed nothing as was usual to any Religious House or Order There were found papers about him for the Protestant Doctrine of Justification his Confessor and another Doctor that attended him were hereupon suspected of Heresie and one persecuted and the other put to death by the Inquisition Thus errour sin and worldly violence are never true to themselves but must be repented of at last and none can stand to them when the light prevaileth § 60. But to return to Pope Leo when he had made above forty Cardinals exercised many cruelties and made a League with the Emperour against the French to drive them out of Italy when his Arms had prevailed and the French were expelled and Milan recovered and some Cities restored to the Church that is to the Pope the excessive joy for the Victory so â—oved him that saith Onuphrius he fell into a Fevâ—r of which he died but not without suspition of poyson The same Onuphrius whom I follow saith that he was a diligent observer of divine things given to the sacred Ceremonies but he was profusely given to Voluptuousness Hunting Hawking Luxury splendid Feastings Musick and to get money sold Cardinalships invented Offices c. and yet was the most liberal of all the Popes that ever had lived to that day excessively loving Musick c. This was Papal Piety by which he merited a Monument inscribed OPTIMO PRINCIPI LEONIX c. saith Onuphrius In all his life he desired nothing more ardently than the highest glory of liberality from which other Priests use to be very far off Perhaps for this glory Tecelius must get money by selling Pardons which began his fall Verily they have their reward saith Christ of Hypocrites that do their Alms to be seen of men § 61. It is to be noted that as the great ignorance and wicked lives of the Roman Clergy were the great advantage to Luthers success as the gross idolatry and wickedness of Heathens was to Christianity of old and the Learning and Piety of the Reformers were the means of their common acceptance so hereupon the Papacy perceived a necessity of greater Learning and some Reformation for its own defence from utter ruine whereupon many were awakened and addicted to seek Learning and some Provincial Councils made some Canons for amending the Clergies lives so that their encrease of Learning and some amendment of manners was occasioned by the Protestants yea the Popes themselves have since then been far less vicious and turbulent than before § 62. And all Christian Princes have cause to be thankful to the Reformers and to acknowledge that from them they have now the safety of their Crowns and Dignities and their peace and by them of Subjects they are restored to a great degree of freedome I mean even those that yet are Papists the Pope dare not now damn them as Henrician Hereticks as he long had done he dare not be so bold in taking away and giving Kingdomes he dare not execute his Laws against Princes Investituâ—es nor excommunicate them and depose them and absolve their Subjects nor interdict whole Kingdomes and shut up Church doors nor so much as openly profess that he hath power from God and S. Peter to depose Kings according to their Merits and to set up others in their stead O how much quieter is Italy Spain France Germany c. since the Reformation and how much less troubled with Papal terrours and wars than heretofore and all is for fear lest if the Pope should anger them the rest of the Princes should forsake him Heretofore if one Kingdome stood up against the Pope the rest were ready blindly to obey his Commands to fall upon them and destroy them But now the Reformed Nations have more strength to defend themselves and those that shall joyn with them The truth is it is Reformation that hath made even the Papists Princes Free-men § 63. The History of all the Roman horrid bloody cruelties by which they laboured to suppress Reformation I here omit because as it well deserveth it is written in many large volumns by it self I mean the bloody murders of the Albigenses Waldenses Bohemians the cruelties of the Inquisition in Spain Belgia and other parts The Massacre in France The burning people in England and the murders in Ireland and in other countries you may read them at large in many Histories In Thuanus Sleidan Illericus Morney Perin Moreland the Belgian and French Histories Foxe's Acts and Monuments and summarily in Mr. Sam. Clerks Martyrology And Carion Mâ—lancton Micreleus D. Paraeus Vignerius Scullâ—tus Bucholcer Fuactius and many others give you an account of the Reformation And the Lives of the German Divines written by Melchior Adaunes yea and of their Lawyers Physicians and Philosophers giveth not an unpleasant light into that History So that for me here to treat of the Reformation in a large volumn to do what is so often done already would be incougruous The making of Vrban the 6th the Emperours Schoolmaster Pope and the Wars in his time The Succession of Clement the 7th and the Italian Wars in his time between the Emperour and the French and others and the taking of
b By what Authority c Who made you the Governors of the Empire Judges of such matters Are Rebellions of Sons the Fathers fault d Must the King answer to a Court of Bishops all the evils that he permitteth the Bishops and such others to do e Lotharius had got the Nobles to begin f O humble Princeâ—â— O trayterous Prelates (g) It s pity but he had better Judges (h) It s like he lookt for better measures (i) Of a trayterous Son and Subjects (k) Was this keeping the fifth Commandement and Honouring the King O wicked Son and wicked Prelates l O insulting Traytors (m) They wrote him his Lesson confessed his sins for him (n) A Traytor in open Rebellion o O Oath (p) Against the Arms of his own Sons (q) Rebels must not be resisted in the Lent or Easter (r) Bâ—t a Bishop that doth but differ from the rest in a word must be banished * Here is a new sort of Imposition of the Bishops hands to depose a King so as never to be restored But it failed An. 835. In France Claudius Taurinensis set against Image-worship and going to Rome c. And Ionas Aurel writeth against him citing some of his Sentences too strong for the Answerer but in his Preface professeth that he never read or saw his Book Was not this an excellent Confuter * Thinking they would have resisted him The Pope submitted himself to all that was desired of a Subject till Ludovicus was gone ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ * Because he was made Deacon only by Ebbo ☜ ☜ ☜ * What a Council would those make ☜ ☜ * At Metz. ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☞ ☞ * Saith Harmar to his in Bin. p. 876. Ad hortos a Basilio spectante Michaele interfectus est ☞ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☜ * i.e. I pray you give up your Crown ☞ ☞ ☞ * Did the Church then hold that the Pope was the Supreme Ruler and Judge ☜ ☞ ☞ ☞ * How oft have such Oaths and Subscriptions been condemned in Councils And yet alas ☜ ☞ ☜ ☜ * By you * So great and holy a man also against the Pope * Luther was not the first ☜ ☞ So Epist. 62. for another Murderer See also Ep. 184 185 189 190 192. ☞ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☜ * we now know them ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☞ Saith Baronius and Binnius But in the 12th saith Pâ—atina and in the 8th say others What certainty is here ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ * Luitpr aud l. 1. c 8. Anno 897 ☞ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ See Petaâ—â—s Hist. or l. 8. c. 1◠☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ Binius p. 1057. Frodoard in Chronic ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ How many Canons did John and his perjured Adherents violate ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☜ Platina speaks this of John 16. called by him the 17th ☞ ☞ ☞ * He had saith Platina been Schoolmaster to Otho and the King of France and other great men Platina after others tells a terrible story of his Covenant with the Devil and his confession But I rather believe Onuphrius's vindication from that ignorant age This Othâ— was but a Child of ten years of age when he was made Emperor ☞ ☜ ☜ * Onuphr will tell you better that it was the 20th (*) So say Platina and many others also ☞ ☞ (*) Though a King may not ordain a Bishop Question whether he may remove an ordained Bishop from one Church to another the people only accepting him by free consent ☜ ☜ * Remember that rindx rindx lindx rindx rindx lindx lindx rindx An. 1059. (*) But others say the Emperor's consent also was put in lindx lindx rindx Bin. p. 1132. rindx ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ (*) And are Prelates so bad too that rule the Church (*) Was it a mark of a reprobate to obey the King against the Pope b And are there more Popes saved c How few Popes ever wrought miracles d It 's worth the enquiry what is the reason that we have no holy days Churches or Masses named for the honor of Kings save a few of late that were devoted to the Pope * Ah poor Pope then that must answer for all the world or Church even for those at the Antipâ—des which Pope Zachary believed not But you use to say that Kings are not for souls but for the body ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ * These were no Protestant Bishops and either wronged him or he was greatly changed ☜ ☜ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ * See in the Schoolmen what they hold particularly Menrisse de Trinit And Petaâ— de Trinit ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☜ * That is so called by themselves so that not only the denying of transubstantiation but also the Henrician heresie that is Royalty or that Kings are not to be deposed by Popes is here included and all Royalists to be exterminated or else the King to be deposed for not doing it a what upon suspicion ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ * O bountiful Pope ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☜ The Emperor saith Mat. Paris was forced to return from Ierusalem and make a truce because the Pope took his Cities in his absence and sought to betray him to the Soldan ☞ ☞ ☜ Mat. Paris an 1254. p. 893. ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ * Or pardoning Id. ibid. ☜ * The Bishop was for Magna Charta and the countreys liberties * Quod tamen saith he nec faceâ—e potuit nec debuit ☞ * Or Nassau or Holland as they diversly called him ☜ Mat. Paris p. 904. 905. ☞ But Platina saith this was done in Victor the 4ths days ☞ ☜ ☞ He died the first year ☜ ☜ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☜ They forbad any below a Bishop to examine or judge a Priest as his ordinar◠☜ ☜ ☜ The Emperour Lodoviâ— died ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☜ * A calumâ—◠†Vâ—der the Turks ☞ * What was the Church then â— * Which Councils have judged Heresie †Like a Lay Chancellour and his Surrogate ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☞ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ Bin pag. 319. ☞ See the old Reformers Doctrine ☞ ☞ ☜ ☜ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ See Paul Iovius and Guiâ—câ—ardine ☞ ☞ See the History of Charles Prinâ—e of Spains's death ☞ ☞ ☞ Councils by Anathema's