Articles but such as may be thought to have been venemous accusations for the practice of these enemies was ever to make truth odious or uttered obscurely or of not so great importance The Bishop said to Adam Reed Reed beleevest thou that God is in Heaven Adam answered Not as I do the Sacraments seven The Bishop said unto the King Sir Io he denieth that God is in Heaven The King said Adam what saiest thou He answered If it please your Majesty hear the end between the churl and me Then turning to the Bishop he said I neither think nor beleeve as thou thinkest but I am most assured that God is not only in Heaven but also on Earth but thou and thy faction declare by your works that either God is not at all or that he is so set up in Heaven that he regards not what is done upon the Earth for if thou didst beleeve firmly that God is in Heaven thou wouldest not make thy self check-mate to the King and altogether forget the charge that Jesus Christ gave unto his Apostles To preach his Gospel and not to play the proud Prelates as all the rabble of you do now And then he said unto the King Sir judge now whether the Bishop or I do beleeve best that God is in Heaven The Bishop could not revenge himself as he would and other taunts were given him But the King willing to put an end said unto Adam Wilt thou burn thy bill He answered Sir The Bishop's if you will With these and the like scoffs the Bishop and his party were so dashed that the greatest part of the accusations was turned into laughter and the King would not condemn them After that time none was accused for religion in the space of 30. years CHAP. V. Of COUNCELS 1. I Resume the narration of Councels not for any profitable information that may be reaped from their Decrees but rather that the wickedness of the Popes may appear the more clearly partly as it was condemned by these Councels in former times and partly as it did overrule and abuse some of them by crafty policies 2. The Cardinals of both the Popes Gregory and Benedict left them and A Councel at Pisa assembled a Councel at Pisa An. 1409. The Bishop Tarracon had a Sermon on the Text Purge out the Leaven c. He said These two were no more Popes then his shooes were Popes they are worse then Anna and Caiaphas and are like to Divels The definitive Sentence was pronounced that both Benedict and Gregory were Schismaticks and Hereticks and worthy to be deposed for their horrible sins The Acts of them both in the preceding year were annulled Alexander the V. was chosen Pope and an Epistle was written in his name unto the Bishop of Paris where the other two Popes are called the enemies of God and his Church and it is declared that they were deposed for their notorious crimes Ph. Mornae in Myster ex Monstrelet vol. 1. cap. 52. 53. 57. This Councel saith Bellarmin de Concil was a General Councel but it seems neither to be approved nor rejected since Antoninus affirmeth par 3. tit 22. cap. 5. that it was an unlawfull and not a true Councel and the event proves the same because it took not away but augmented the Schism And yet saith Bellarm. if it had been condemned without all doubt Pope Alexander the VI. had not called himself the sixth but the fifth Mark this reason yea it is almost the common opinion that Alexander and his Successour John were true Popes as indeed of those three they were most reverenced So he 3. In the year 1410. Pope John assembled a Councel at Rome a Mass A Councel at Rome of the Holy Ghost was said after the custom The Pope sitting in his Chair behold an ugly and dreadfull Owl coming from behind him flew too and fro with an ill-favoured shouting and standing sometimes upon a middle beam of the Church looked with staring eies upon the Pope All the people marvelled that such a night Fowl came in the day amongst such a multitude judging it an ominous token for behold said they how the Spirit appears in the shape of an Owl As they beheld one another scarcely could they keep their countenances from laughter Pope John began to sweat and to fret within and not finding by what means he could salve the matter he arose and went away In another Session the Owl appeared again and ever looked towards the Pope he was ashamed and commanded to drive her away but she was not afraid of their cries nor the things that were thrown at her and never removed untill they killed her They who were present did scoff at the Councel and went away and nothing was acted Nic. Clemangis in Fascic rer expetend 4. By much travel of the Emperour Sigismund was assembled An. 1414. at The 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 Constance a Councel of 309. Bishops 600. other Fathers 24. Dukes 140. Counts many Delegates from Cities and Incorporations and from Universities and many learned Lawyers with consent of Pope John All particulars were decided by the suffrages of four Nations to wit German Italian French and English every Nation had their several places and Presidents who continued not constantly but were often changed Here were 45. Sessions and many things concluded the principal were these In Sess 1. Nov. 16. it was determined with consent of P. John sitting as President that the Councel was lawfully called and the Ministers and Officials of the Councel were named In Sess 2. Mar. 2. An. 1215. the Emperor being present the Pope gave his renunciation in this manner I John Pope XXIV for the quieting of all Christian people do promise swear and vow unto God and the Church and this sacred Councel that I shal willingly and freely give peace unto the Church of Christ by way of simple renunciation of the Papacy and to do and fulfil it effectually with the advice of the present Councel if and when Peter de Luna Benedict the XIII and Angelus de Corario Greg. the XII so called in the time of their obedience shal by themselves or by their lawful Proctors forsake simply the Title which they pretend c. Instruments were taken thereupon In Sess 3. Mar. 25. it was ordained that the departing of the Pope should be no hindrance but the Councel may proceed Item that the Councel should not be dissolved until the Schism be removed and the Church be REFORMED in head and members In Sess 4. March 30. This Synod being assembled in the Holy Ghost and representing the Catholick Church militant hath immediate power from Christ unto which every man shall be obedient in things concerning faith extirpation of schism and general reformation of the Church both in head and members Item Pope John should not withdraw any Official of the Councel and if he shall attempt to do so or hath atempted it by censures and excommunications none of those things shal
Austin-gate an 602. Seven Bishops and one Arch-Bishop prepared to go On the way they came to a certain Anchorite and did ask his counsel whether they should leave their traditions as they heard that Augustine did require He answered If he be a man of God follow him They say How may we know whether he be a man of God He answered The Lord saith Take my yoke upon you and learn of me that I am humble and meek and lowly in heart therefore if the man be meek and humble in heart it is credible that he beareth the yoke of Christ and offereth it to be born of others but if he be proud it is certain that he is not of God nor should we hear his words They ask again how they should know whether he was proud or not He answered Procure you that he and his company be in the place of the Synod before you and if when ye approach he ariseth unto you then ye may know he is a servant of Christ and hear him obediently But if he despise you and will not arise at your coming who are more in number let him be despised of you And as this Anchorite did advise so did they for when they came into the place Augustine was there and did sit in his chair but did not move from his place When they saw it so they did think of his pride and were resolved to resist whatsoever he should propose The sum of his Oration is In the name of Gregory Bishop of Rome he chargeth them that they should preach the Word of God unto the Saxons that they should acknowledge him as their Arch-Bishop keep Easter and administer Baptism according to the custom of the Roman Church and although in other things ye do contrary unto our custom said he yet if ye will obey in these three things we will willingly bear with other things The Britans answer We will do none of those things which thou requirest nor will we acknowledge thee for our Arch-Bishop Beda hist lib. 2. cap. 2. Especially Dinoth an Abbot said They were not obliged to preach unto their enemies seeing the Saxons had spoiled them of their lands and did still continue to prey upon them For the celebration of Easter and administration of Baptism they defend themselves by the authority of the Eastern Church and their own continual practice by Joseph of Arimathea which they do judge of no less authority then that of the Roman Church was which Augustine did barely object Beda loc cit If we confer the proposition of the one and the answer of the other we may see the points of difference were many whereof four are expressed and the rest are couched in generality of the particulars let the Reader judge but the greatest was the matter of subjection So before that time they knew of no such thing as the subjection of their Church unto the Roman Church Then did he menace them that if they would not submit they should feel the force of enemies Beda expoundeth this as proceeding from the spirit of prophecy But the Authour of Catal. test ver lib. 6. sheweth from Galfrid a Cardinal who about the year 1150. did write Histor Britan. when Edelbert King of Kent saw that the Britans refused subjection unto Augustine and disdained to preach unto them he took it very ill and did stir up Edilfrid King of Northumberland and the other little Kings of the Saxons to raise an Army and to cut off Dinoth and those Presbyters who had despised them They followed his counsel and when they had levied a great Army they entred into the Province of the Britans came unto Leicester where Bremael Mayor of the City was waiting on them innumerable Monks and Eremites did come to that City from sundry Provinces of the Britans namely from the City Bangor that they might pray for the safety of their own people There Edelfrid fought with Bremael who had the least number yet made great havock on the enemy but at last fled Then Edelfrid entred the City and knowing for what end they were gathered there he commandeth to put them to the edge of the sword so on that day 1200. of them were honoured with martyrdom saith he and obtained place in the Kingdom of Heaven When that Saxon Tyrant was going against Bangor his madness being made known he was rencountred by these Dukes of the Britans Blederic of Cornubia Margadud of Demeti and Caduan of Venedoti in the fight they wound him and cause him to take the flight and of his Army they slue 10066. and on the Britans side Blederic was slain who was Commander in chief B. Parker in Antiquit. Britan. cap. 18. sheweth out of Aman. Xierxen a Prier Minorite that this War was raised for their disobedience to Augustine and the Saxons who were converted would have them to obey him And hence it is gathered to be false which some alledge that Augustine was dead before the War See Morton in his Protestants Appeal lib. 1. cap. 4. 9. It remains to inquire what other things were those among the Britans contrary to Rome and which of the two were erroneous We can find the particulars expressed no where but of the general the Romish Authours of the Catholick Apology as they call it give us sufficient proof for in their Text they say It is undoubted that our neighbours the Britans of Wales received the faith by the Preaching of the Apostles and held that faith at Augustin's coming not being in the mean time altered or corrupted by the Roman Church And in the margine they have added out of sundry Authours affirming say they truly that the Britans were converted by Joseph of Arimathea whereof his Sepulchre yet in Glassenbury and his Epitaph affixed thereunto and sundry ancient monuments of that Monastery are a sufficient proof neither should we doubt thereof and that the Britans after the receiving of the faith never forsook it for any manner of false preaching of others nor for torments and that this Land did never receive the doctrine and ceremonies of the Latine Church before the coming of the Saxons and when Augustine came hither they were not subject to the Romish yoke neither would acknowledge Augustine to be their Apostle So far they Baronius specifieth the year 35. to have been the year of the conversion of the Britans ex M. Sc. Histor Angl. in the Vatican Bibliotheke and Gildas loc cit saith in the daies of Tiberius Caesar Hence it is clear 1. That the Roman Church was not their Mother-Church 2. By the sentence of these Romish Apologists the Britans were not corrupted in the faith nor subjected to the Bishop of Rome And therefore seeing Augustine said that they were contrary to Rome in many things it must follow that the Romans were corrupt in many things and especially that they did not acknowledge the Bishop of Rome for their Patriarch These Apologists say also and it is likely others do use the same deceit
be advised hereupon against mooneday when every Presbytery shall have readie the names of such as they think meet for their presbytery to attend the Plat for Churches admit persons presented to Benefices and to designe Manses In Sess 15. Whereas before Commissioners of countries had the charge to enroll the Ministers their stipends at the Plat to receive presentations and to give collation to designe Manfes and gliebs henceforth the well constitute presbyteries and each one of them shall yearly ay and while the necessity thereof craves elect out of their number a brother in name of the Presbytery for enrolling expedition of their stipend at the Plat authorized instructed by them with commission subscribed by the Moderator and Clerk of the Presbytery To be shewed and produced unto the Modefiers And the same Commissioner to designe Manses gliebs within the bounds of their presbytery And in all things concerning the execution of his commission to be countable and subject to the judgement censure of the Presbytery from which he receives it And that all presentations be directed â—n time coming unto the Presbytery where the Benefice lyeth Providing in admission and deprivation of Ministers within Buchan Aberdien Garioch and Marre that Aberdien Buchan proceed with mutuall advice and so Marre Garioch likewise with mutuall advice and in case of wariance there the matter shall be referred to the Generall assembly X. It is thought meet for the common profite of all the people that an uniform order be keept in examination before the Communion and to this end that a short form of examination be penned before the next assembly whereunto four persons are named XI Because the patrimony of the Church hath been wasted by these who had the title of Benefices and thereby the provision of the Ministry failes All presbyteries are commanded to try the Beneficed within their boundes and in what condition they received their Benefice and in what condition they are presently and who have set tacks or have disponed the title of their Benefice or any part thereof without consent of the Generall assembly And to report unto the Provinciall Synod what they have found and the Synod to try if any thing hath been neglected by them and report unto the next Generall assembly XII Gâ—eat slander lyeth upon the Church through manifold murders notorious adulteries and incests and the parties being brought under process oftymes elude the Church by shifting from place to place so that the process can not be brought well to a finall Sentence therefore it is voted Whither parties falling into so odious crimes may summarily upon the notoriety of the crime be excommunicated and it is concluded affirmativè XIII Forsomuch as the dangerous inâ—urrection at the bridge of Dee being considered to have notoriously imported speciall prejudice to the true religion and the speciall authours and enterprisers thereof continuing under that slander have never intended to purge themselves thereof by confessing their offence Therefore the Assembly gives their power and commission unto the Presbytery of Edinhurgh with other nyne Ministers then named to summon before them in Edinburgh the Earls Lords Barous and free holders who were at that insurrection and to charge them to confesse their offense against the true Church of God and his religion and to make satisfaction for the slander committed by them Under the pain of excommunication And that before the first day of February next Referring to their discretion the particular dyets and order of process to be keept therein Providing that this commission be execute before the said day and requiring John Craig to remember this matter unto these commissioners as he will eschue the blame of the brethren in case of negligence Many things may be observed in this Assembly as 1. Their impartiality without respect of persons of whatsoever condition 2. B Spotswood reportes the Kings presence and many of his words in this assembly whereby he confutes what he had said before of the Kings dissimulation and indignation against the Assembly but he omittes what was done concerning the disciplin because though he and some others were present and voted unto â—hese Acts concerning the disciplin yet afterwards he and they became enemies thereof and accepted Bishopricks yea and the same year the K. hearing of the afflictions of the Antiepiscopal party in England wrote unto the Queen in their favors as also he did again in the year following as witnesseth Fuller in Church-histo li. 9. and expresseth the second Letter thus Hearing of the apprehension of Mr Vdall and Mr Cartwright and certain other Ministers of the Evangel within your realm of whose good erudition and faithfull travels in the Church we hear a very credible commendation howsoever that their diversity from the Bishops and others of your clergy in matters touching them in conscience hath been a mean by their delation to work them your disliking at this present we can not weighing the duty which we owe to such as are afflicted for their conscience in that profession but by our most effectuous and earnest Letter interpone us at your hands to stay any harder usage of them for that cause Requesting you most earnestly that for our cause and intercession it may please you to let them be relieved of their present strait and whatsoever further accusation or suit depending on that ground Respecting both their former merit in setting forth the Evangel the simplicity of their conscience in this defence which can not well be their let by communion and the great slander which can not fail to fall out upon their further streighting for any such occasion Which we assure us your zeal to religion besides the expectation we have of your good will to pleasure us will willingly accord to our request having such proofs from time to time of our like disposition to you in any matters which you recommend unto us ...... Dated Edinburgh June 12. 1591. Fuller saith One word from archb Whitgift befriended Mr Cartwright more then both the Letters from the King of Scotland But who can tell whither the archbishop was not moved with the earnestness of these Letters from such a Soliciter to speak a word for his antagonist lest he had been set at liberty whither he would or not Howsoever it was these Letters shew the Kings affection unto the cause and his esteem of their persons XXVIII The Nationall Assembly conveens at Edinburgh July 2. The 53. Assembly 1591. Nicol dalgleish is chosen Moderator I. Because the Assembly hath changed their place whereupon some may doubt of the authority thereof It is voted and coucluded that there is a reasonable and weighty cause for the change and that nothing is done in prejudice of their power seing the cause is the desire of his Ma. who for sundry reasons hath willed the Ass to site heerat this time and if any brother craves to be further satisfied the brethren of the Conference will resolve
is most properly a Pastor he that hath not received imposition of hands and hath received from Christ pastorall gifts and a call from a flock obeyth the call in feeding that flock conscienciously Or he that hath received imposition of hands and hath the charge of 100 or 200 flocks and they never seek him nor see him but he waites upon other affaires not belonging to a pastorall charge I grant in the Court of Rome and in the judgement of Satan a ceremony is better then substance But the question is Which of the two is the truest Pastor in the ballance of the Sanctuary Can any consciencious man think as the Court of Rome judgeth Another motive may be thought that since that Writer was guilty of perjury for many times had he subscribed that Confession abjuring Hierarchy and yet took a Prelacy one after another he could not speak nor write a good word of that disciplin into which he had sworn so oft nor of the maintainers of it but with some spight as appeares throgh all his booke which he calleth The History of the Church of Scotland but may rather be called The calumnies and railings against the Church of Scotland whereof he was an enemy and by which he was justly and solemly excommunicated in the year 1638. What is in that book of the faith doctrine or piety of the Church Many of these calumnies in this posthum book he had written before in a Reply ad Epist Philadelphi and it was told him in the Vindiciae that he had written against his conscience It is said Pag. 50. Why should one believe a man who makes not conscience of his words And Pag. 56. Whatsoever may have the shew of a reproach this ingrateson scrapeth together to spue it out against his Mother the Church In which words envy which appeares throughout vented it self wholly for what can be said or forged in a Narration more wickedly than to be silent in that which is good and to proclame what is evill or which may make a shew of evill And Pag. 67. Should not a Bishop whe though he were a Papist yet should at least have the shaddow of gravity be ashamed to fain like a brawling wife what all men know to be false And because in that pamphlet he had written as he doeth oft in this later book that the King applied himself contrary to his mind unto the will of the Ministers it was told him Pag. 59. What can be spoken more vilely and unworthily against the Royall honor then that he applied his will unto the wicked endeavours of his subjects and loosed the raines unto the boldnesse and crimes of wicked men But this is the imprudence by the just judgement of God of flatterers that when they wold most earnestly catch they do most offend So that in a word whosoever regardeth the honorable memory of K. James VI. or the credite of the Church of Scotland will not believe that book of lies and calumnies I return unto that Assembly I. The first three Sessions were taken up with the election of a Moderator and Clerk and one ordinance that Acts of every Assembly should be formed by certain brethren and be publickly read before the dissolving of the Assembly and be in-booked II. The 4. and 5. Sessions have some particulare references III. In Sess 6. The Commissioners that were appointed to deall with the excommunicat Earles report their diligence severally and that they submitt themselves unto the Church in all the prescribed articles The Assembly ordaines the same Commissioners to see the performance of their promises in all the articles so far as possibly can be performed for the time and after performance to absolve them from â—he Sentence of excommunication and to receive them into the bosom of the Church IV. In Sess 7. Notes in form of declaration of certain of the Acts of the G. Ass holden at Perth in Febr. last for explaining his Ms and the Assemblie's meaning for the satisfaction of them which were not acquainted therewith and which are ordained to be registred in the Acts of this present assemb 1. Concerning the lawfulness of the said Ass holden at Perth it 's declared that one of the reasons moving the brethren to acknowledge the lawfulnes of that Ass is found to have been that the Commissioners of the Church had accorded with his Maj. therein as is expressely set down in his Maj. Letters 2. The reason moving the Ass to grant the more willingly to the second article concerning the reproving his Maj. lawes was that his Maj s earnest constant affection to the religion and obedience to the word was evidently known unto the said Ass and that it was his Ms declared will intention alwayes to frame his lawes wholl Government according to the same for this cause the Ass agreeth to the said article 3. Concerning the article ordaining no mans name to be expressed in pulpit excepting notorious crimes c. the point of notoriety is further defined If the crime be so manifest and known to the world ut nulla tergiversatione celari possit 4. Concerning the Article ordaining that no convention of Pastors bee without his Ma. consent c. His Ma s consent is declared to be extended to all and whatsoever form of G. Ass or speciall permitted authorized by his law and as they have warrant in the word of God As being the most authentick form of consent that any King can give 5. Concerning the article of providing Pastors to Burghs It is declared that the reason thereof was is that his Majesty was content and promised that where the Gen. assembly findeth it necessaâ—y to place any person or persons in any of the saids townes his Majesty and the flock shall either give their consent thereunto or a sufficient reason of the refusall To be propounded either unto the wholl Assembly or to a competent number of the commissioners thereof as his Majesty shall think expedient V. Answers to the rest of his Maj s questions as they were propounded by his Majesty and his Commissioners in the present assembly 1. Concerning the propositions craving that before the conclusion of any weighty matters â—oncerning the estate of his Hieness or of his subjects his Ma s advice approbation be craved thereunto that the same being approved by his Ma. may have the better execution and if need require be authorized by law the assembly craves most humbly that his Ma. either by himselfe or his Commissioners in matters concerning his estate or the wholl estate of his subjects and others of great weight importance that have not been treared before would give his advice and approbation thereunto before any conclusion of the same And for the better obedience to be given to the like statutes in all time coming that his Majesty would ratify the same either by Act of Parliament or Secret Counsell as shall be thought needfull The which his Majesty promiseth to
Spiritual alliance did accurse the man who shall marry his god-mother Grego decreta 6. BONIFACE V. is said to have been a man of singular vertue and bountifulness especially toward those of the Clergy who were most vigilant in their calling He ordained that so great reverence should be had unto the Churches a refuge of impiety place of Gods worship that whosoever shall take his refuge into a Church should not be taken by force making the Law of God against murtherers and such ungodly men to be of no effect by his tradition because he loved them who bring saith I. Beda in Catal. Scriptor illust and that sacrilegious Except sacriledge persons should be accursed for he hateth them who take away In his time Testaments were of strength when they were confirmed by the Magistrates but his Successours would have this power to themselves His Epistles direct to England as in Beda's history wherein are sundry passages fighting against the perfection of Christ's satisfaction He sate 5. years and died an 622. 7. HONORIUS I. was a Monothelite Onuphrius in Annot. in Platin. A Pope condemned of heresie and Bellarmin de Ro. Pont. lib. 4. cap. 11. would purge him of this blot by the Epistles of a Monk Maximus and of Emanuel Caleca who lived about the year 1274. they cannot deny that they saw in the most common books of Councels this heresie imputed unto him in the sixth general Councel as also the Epistles of Sergius Bishop of Constantinople unto Honorius and of Honorius to Sergius were read in the twelfth Action or Session and in the sixteenth Action they both were accursed for that heresie and in the seventeenth a Confession was published contrary to the errour of the Monothelites and after the Confession Honorius Pope of old Rome is reckoned amongst the Hereticks see hereafter in Leo II. and some among the Romanists stick not to call him an Heretick as Melc Canus in loc Theol. li. 6. c. 8. Platina makes mention of his great care in building of Churches and transporting Ornaments from the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus into the Church of St. Peter but nothing of his spiritual building He appointed Processions on the Lords day whence was the compassing of Churches Catal. test verit lib. 9. He sate 12. years and then the Seat was vacant 1. year and 7. months 8. SEVERINUS was confirmed by Isaacius Eparch of Ravenna Election of the Pope for at that time the Election of the Pope was naught till he were confirmed by the Emperour or his Eparch Platin. Isaacius came to Rome for confirmation of the Pope and saw great Treasure in the Lateran Church he took it all away because the Souldiers were in great necessity in time of the wars against the Saraâ—ens yet he gave only a part of it to the Souldiers and sent the rest to Ravenna whence he sent a part unto the Emperour like unto all other Popes Severinus was more carefull of houses then of souls Platin. He by Epistle reproves the Scots for observing Penticost or Easter on another day than the Church of Rome but his reproof had no place there because they were not accustomed with the yoke of the Romish Bishops saith Catal. test ver He sate 1. year 2. months Beda hist lib. 2. cap. 19. hath written None free of Original sin except our Saviour an Epistle at this time thus Unto the most learned and most holy the Scotch Bishops and Presbyters and other Doctours and Abbots Hilarius Arch Priest and keeping the place of the holy Apostolical See John a Deacon and chosen in the name of God and John Primicerius and holding the place of the Apostolical See and John a servant and counseller of the same Apostolical See The writings which the Bearers brought unto Pope Gregory of good memory he departing this life have not been answered till now Which being opened lest the mist of so great a question should continue ...... Hereby we know that the Pelagian heresie beginneth to revive among you wherefore we exhort you earnestly that so venemous a work of superstition be put from your minds for it cannot be unknown unto you how that execrable heresie is damned seeing it hath not only been abolished out this 240. years but it is also daily condemned by us by a perpetual anathema and is buried and we exhort that among you their ashes be not stirred up whose weapons are burnt For who will not abhor the proud and wicked attempts of them who say A man may be without sin by his proper will and not by the grace of God And indeed the first foolish saying of blasphemy is to say A man is without sin Which cannot be except the only Mediatour of God and Man Christ Jesus who was conceived and born without sin For other men being born with Original sin are known to bear the testimony of Adam's transgression even they who are without Actual sin according to the Prophet saying Behold I was conceived in iniquity and in sin hath my mother born me What may be collected out of this Epistle I leave unto all Judicious Readers only I would that this were remarked that in the inscription they observe the stile and phrase of the Roman Court directing their Letters unto the Scotch Bishops c. whereas neither at that time nor many ages thereafter was any Bishop in Scotland but only Abbots who were Doctours and Presbyters in several congregations 9. JOHN IV. bestows all the Treasure that Isaacius and Severine had left on the redeeming of some captives of his Nation Dalmatia and Istria from the Lombards He transports the bodies of Vincentius and Anastasius Reliques Martyres from Dalmatia to Rome from the hands of enemies to the superstition of a more eminent place In his time Lotharis King of the Lombards a good Justitiary and Arrian did permit in every City of his Kingdom two Bishops one Catholick as they spoke then or orthodox and another Arrian John sate 1. year 9. months 10. THEODORUS I. the son of Theodorus Bishop of Jerusalem Pretended authority availeth not strove against Paul Bishop of Constantinople because he was a Monothelite and sought his deprivation but in vain for he dealt by authority and not by Scriptures or reason and Paul despiseth his authority Lotharis said he was puft up with ambition and not inspired by a good spirit and therefore he contemned him also saying He fostereth many errours and reproved one only He disswadeth the Emperour Constans from the errour of the Monothelites therefore the Emperour sought his life Thereafter all his care was to adorn and adore the bodies of the departed Saints and their Reliques he died an 647. 11. MARTIN I. augmenteth the number of holy daies he commandeth New Rites the Priests to shave their hair continually and that each Bishop should consecrate the chrism or holy ode yearly and send it through all the Parishes of his Diocy and that all the Clergy should at their
as may fall amongst the Souldiers in their march that none of them durst take an Apple without the licence of the owner upon pain of death The people being bewitched with such fair inducements did submit unto him as their Prince Doctour and Law-giver He deceived some by words and compelled others with the sword unto subjection The Persians as is touched were easily brought to his obedience When they prevailed over Christians they dealt with them without mercy in Jerusalem they shewed more then beastly cruelty in a Church of Caesarea they massacred above 7000. Christians they made Cyprus once without one Christian about the year 700. they slue in Isuaria 150000. and kept 7000. captives At that time Homar their Prince excused all this cruelty with pretext that he did only pursue the worshippers of images for about that time images were frequent in Christian Churches and the Sarazens could not look on an image for religion We may say then Homar was the rod of God correcting the idolatry and will worship of Christians and the same images did give great advantage to this common enemy by dissention of Christians as followeth in the next Century About the same time arose two several Kingdoms of the Sarazens the first in Asia whereof the chief City was builded by the ruines of Babylon and was called Baldac or Baldacut an 630. after two years Mahumet was poisoned by Albunar one of his Disciples to the end he might have experience of his Prophecies for Mahumet had said that within three daies after his death he would rise again But when Albunar had waited 12. daies he found his body torn by dogs and gathered his bones or what was remaining and buried them in a Pitcher at Macha in Persia He delivered other Prophecies but his followers have not as yet found the truth of them Not many years after the erection of this Kingdom the Aegyptians were wearied of the Roman Empire and sent for the Sarazens unto their aid but it was to their greater woe For the Sarazens made a prey of them and erected another Kingdom in Affrick whose Seat was Alcair or Babylon in Aegypt In both Kingdomes the Supream Governour both in Policy and Religion was called Calipha and they ruled the Provinces by Presidents whom they called Sultans or Soldans who were also High-Priests CHAP. IV. Of BRITAIN 1. THe Papishes do brag that the Roman Church is the Mother of all The Roman Church is the Mother of all other Churches Churches and that all Countries who ever believed in Christ were first converted to her faith by such as were precisely sent or at least had their authority from the Pope who lived in the time in which they were converted This say they is so openly set down in the History of the first conversion of every Country as no Protestant were he never so impudent can without blushing deny it So speaketh Thomas Hill a Doctour of Doway in his 4. reason Of his Catholick Religion If the like lies were not frequent amongst them it may seem a wonder how men can be so impudent if they but read the Acts of the Apostles where we have a conversion of Nations without the mention of a Church at Rome And the like may be said if they had read the Recognitions of Clemens whom some call the first Bishop of Rome and some call him the second and some the third all these Books are concerning the conversion of Nations and yet in them is little or nothing of a Church in Rome till he came to the last book and neither is there one word of sending Teachers from Rome into other Nations so that many Nations were converted before any Christian Church was at Rome Other Nations can shew by whom the light of the Gospel came unto them But for Especially not of the old Britans nor Scots Britan say they it is clear That Gregory the I. sent Augustine who is called The Apostle of the English And was not the Christian faith in Britan before that time Read the second Apology of Athanasius and in the first page you shall find that in Constantius time some from Britan were at the great Councel in Sardeis and in the former chapter Sect. 8. we have heard the testimony of Jerom That from Jerusalem and from Britan the Gate of Heaven is equally patent and in other places he mentioneth them and 200. years before him Tertullian against the Jews sheweth That the places of Britan which were unaccessible unto the Romans were subject unto Christ And what places these were Baronius in Annal. ad an 186. Sect. 6. teacheth That it is certain that the Romans did possess the South part of Britan and Adrian caused a Wall to be made betwixt Cart-den and Dumbarton to be a partition between them and the Scots But saith Baronius the Britans who did possess what was on the North-side of the Wall did often pass over and provoke the Romans unto Battel In the time of Eleutherius Bishop of Rome Lucius King of South Britan was a Christian and Baronius cannot deny but long before that the Gospel of Christ had been brought into Britan as saith he Testatur Gilda sapiens And at the same time Donald King of Scotland was a Christian and in the daies of Dioclesian when the persecution was hot in the South part many Christians took their refuge into the North part where the King Crathilint received them and for safety sent many of them into the Isle of Man and there builded a Church unto them that they might serve God freely It is true the South part did change their Inhabitants for division falling amongst them the one party sent for the Saxons for their aid and these were Heathens and subdued all the country except that which is now called South and North Wales and that for their prophaneness and contempt of Religion as Gildas testifieth in a little book de excidio Britannico which is in Bibliotheca Patr. de la Bigne tom 5. About the year 600. Ethelbert had married Bertha Gregory the I. lib. 9. Epist 59. calleth her Aldiberga a Christian who brought with her Lethard a Preacher Beda hist lib. 1. cap. 25. calleth him a Bishop he preached in a Church at Canterbury called Saint Martin's that had been long time before When Augustine was sent by Gregory and came thither he stayed in the Isle of Tenet untill he knew the King's will Beda ibid. By means of Bertha licence was granted and he preached before the King After his conversion Augustine had intelligence of the Britans and sent unto them and craved a meeting with them three of them came unto him he did speak at first fairly and desired them to join with him in conversion of the Heathens They answered We have our own Bishops without their knowledge we may do nothing Then by authority and procurement of the King he inviteth them to a Synod at a place which from him was called Austin-oke or
figure of a coal in the Tongs of the two Testaments which being lifted from the Altar did purge the lips of the Prophet Esay who by the only union of the flesh was free and lived mixt with the dead and He the Lord by inspiration of the Holy Ghost causeth that all souls who like dead coals having their understanding darkned with ungodliness were not kindled but now are inflamed with vicinity thereof now that they are kindled with the flame of the love of their Spouse it is the proper gift of the grace of God's Word Lib. 3. Christ is made the meat and drink of his Church by the Sacrament of his body and blood Lib. 6. Whatsoever a Teacher or Pastour of souls teacheth unless he shew it proceedeth from the Almighty God in the Old and New-Testament he is a murtherer of souls And again The words and examples of them from whom the milk of doctrine is poured into the hearts of the hearers should alwaies feed on the flowers not of the lower writings of worldly men but of the higher Apostolical Mountains Ib. lib. 1. Because the power of our will is not able to climb so high as we must ascend running after God therefore the Church crieth Draw me after thee Lib. 4. Whosoever would escape from the enemy whose power is in the air let him keep the right faith and enter into the holes of the Rock which bleâ—sed Paul demonstrateth 8. About the year 780. the old controversies concerning God's Predestination The Pelagian controversies are renewed in Spain and confuted by Pope Adrian and man's free-will were renewed in Spain Some saying that Predestination unto life or death is in the power of God and not in man's power Others asking Why should we indeavour to live holily if it be in the power of God And others asking Why should we pray unto God that we be not overcome in tentation if it be in our power or liberty of will At that time Pope Adrian did write unto the Spanish Bishops and propounded unto their consideration what upon the like occasion Fulgentius Epist Ruspen about the year 455. had written unto Eugyppius against a Sermon of a Pelagian The words of the Pelagian were They who affirm that some are destinated unto life and others unto death do trample grace in themselves damnably while they admit it for them reprehensively only Behold with what knots of impiety they do tie themselves If I be predestinated unto good it is needless that I resist evil but if I be born unto evil it availeth me not to do good And so on both sides the desire of praise and godliness being stopped one becometh secure and another desperate and thereby all exercise of righteousness is made void prayer ceaseth and working fainteth But it is not so and therefore let us pray uncessantly because the Lord saith Pray without intermission lest ye enter into tentation And let us strive against all sin not only by prayer but with diligence also because the Lord witnesseth that each one shall receive according to their own work The answer of Fulgentius which Pope Adrian did approve and send was thus God hath prepared his works of mercy and righteousness in his unchangeable eternity and as he was never ignorant of his future works so he was never improvident in the preparation of those works therefore he hath prepared good works for them who were to be justified and to the same who were to be glorified he hath prepared rewards but unto the wicked he hath not prepared evil wills or evil works but he hath prepared for them just and everlasting punishments This is the eternal predestination of the future works of God which as we know to be continually insinuated unto us by the doctrine of the Apostles so we preach confidently for blessed Paul both evidently and often teacheth us the predestination of them whom God saveth freely for he saith of God whom he foreknew them he predestinated and whom he predestinated them also he calleth Cerrtainly not others but whom he hath predestinated them doth he call and justifie nothing in the works is uncertain because nothing in his predestination faileth therefore God beginneth the works of his predestination by vocation and consummates them by glorification And yet not in them all whom he calleth but unto them who love God all things work together for good unto them who are called according to his purpose Therefore let all believers keep the truth of predestination because whosoever believeth not the counsel of God in this predestination shall not attain unto the glorious effect of the same predestination but whosoever is not predestinated unto glory is without doubt found to be appointed unto punishment which is known to be predestinated in God's preparation that thereby infidelity and impiety may be punished Wherefore the blessed Apostle Jude saith Certain men are crept in unawares who of old were fore-ordained to this judgement of our God but the Doctrine of the Holy Ghost saith warily that the wicked were ordained not unto sin but unto judgement that is not unto impiety but unto punishment for they were not predestinate unto this wicked impiety which they commit but unto the punishment which they receive in Divine equity Wherefore whereas thâ— Authour of that sermon saith Let us pray uncessantly because the Lord saith Pray without ceasing and then Let us wrestle against all sin not only by prayer but with diligence let us humbly seek Grace from God that we may have it continually working with us by which God would both keep us in diligence and when the work is done bring us unto the reward c. This Epistle of Pope Adrian is amongst the Epistles of the Popes which Charls the Great did cause to be collected into one volumn An. 791. 9. At that time was great contention for receiving the Mass of Pope Gregory Gregory's Mass was exalted and opposed into the Churches first by authority of Pope Adrian and then of King Charls some Churches had one Directory and some another who would not change When the Pope saw so great opposition and it may be understood that it was not small when the Pope was put to such a shift he said he would refer it unto the Will of God whether he would by any visible sign approve the Mass of Gregory or of Ambrose so these two books were layed together upon the Altar in Saint Peter's Church and he called upon God to shew which of the two he approved The dores were shut all night and the next morning when they returned into the Church the book of Ambrose was found lying as it was laid down and the other was all torn and dispersed thorow the Church The Pope maketh the Comment if we will believe Iacob de Voragine in vita Gregor that the Mass of Ambrose should lie untouched and the Mass of Gregory should be used thorow the World and so he did authorize and command that it
XIII the son of Albericus succeeded How old this father of fathers could be may be gathered by supputation of years when Hugh was expelled Albericus was but a boy and till this time were not passed 20 years neither was this Octavius or Pope John his fathers eldest son as Baronius hath marked and therefore he saith He who could not be a Deacon for age like a Stage-player acteth the Pope and nevertheless saith he consent made him Pope for it is a lesser evil to have a monstrous head then to be infamous with two heads And a little after he preferred this Pope above others which were chosen Canonically by the Clergy Let Platina tell what he was One saith he defiled from his infancy with all shame and filthiness given to hunting if he could spare any time from his luxury more then to prayer By the advice of the Senate he sent for Otho against Berengarius and when he was releeved he practised against his redeemer therefore as is before he was deposed and restored again by the Romans And immediately even in these same daies saith Platin. the most wicked man was judged to be strucken of God lest the Church had been wasted with a schism Some write saith he that this Monster was taken in the act of adultry and killed But he was intruded at that time by his father powerfully and delighting himself with another man's wife died suddenly without repentance Sigebert saith Sine viatico Fascic temp saith Behold O everliving God how unlike are they unto former Bishops O the depth of God's judgments who can search them out Let Bellarmin excuse him among the rest and pass him over in silence Platina saith he was worse then any Pope before him but he saith not and worse then any after him for worse Popes are coming Onuphrius on that place of Platina saith He first changed his name because he thought not his Christian name honourable enough but we have heard that others have done the like He sate 10 years 23. BENEDICT the V was chosen by the Romans although Leo the VIII who was advanced by the great Synod was yet alive wherefore Otho returned to Rome in wrath and restored Leo as is before 24. LEO the VIII sitting now peaceably did renounce in favour of the Emperour and his Successours all the Donations of Justinian of Charls the The Pope's resignation of former Donations Great of his son Lewis The words of the Bull in Crantz Saxon. lib. 4. cap. 10. are Leo Bishop the servant of God's servants unto Otto our spiritual son in Christ the Emperour Augustus and unto all his Successours Emperours and Kings of Italy Whatsoever the Lord Charls King of France and Lombardy and Patricius Romanus as also his father Pipin have given of the Royalty of this Kingdom of Italy unto blessed Peter the Apostle in the Church of Rome whether they were given by instruments by the Notary Etherius or whether they came by Oaths or Donations or any other way from Justinian Emperour or King Arithpert all these things we give and adjudge unto you Otto Emperour and to Alheida your wife and consort of the Empire and unto your consorts and successours of this Kingdom of Italy for ever being present the holy Evangelists and many Patronages of the Saints ....... that ye may have and possess all these things for ever for the uses of your Court the Military affairs and to fight against Pagans and Rebels of the Roman Empire and therefore by authority of this instrument we confirm and strengthen unto your posterity from generation to generation for ever and if any shall destroy this our authority and be found to violate it or do contrary unto it let him know that he shall fall under the wrath of blessed Peter Prince of the Apostles and our wrath and of all our Predecessours And moreover if he repent not of the evil let him be liable unto the Julian Law of Laese Majestatis c. After the solemn form fiat fiat this Bull was subscribed by all the Arch-Bishops Bishops Cardinals Priests and Deacons chief Officers of the Roman Church by the Consuls also Exconsuls Senatours and civil Lords and by all which by subscribing could give any confirmation The names fill up a page This Bull was kept at Florence for the use of the Emperour as Henry token a Canon of Magdeburg witnesseth in Catal. test ver lib. 11. Onuphrius proveth that this Leo was a lawfull Pope And whatsoever can be said against the Bull or Instrument Crantz li. cit cap. 11. saith It is more authentical and legal then that Decree of Constantine's Donation in longa Palea This Leo sate 2 years 25. JOHN the XIV was not chosen till Otho sent his Messengers unto the election as also this Pope did in other things reverence the Emperour and for this cause Peter Captain of the City two Consuls and the Elder men whom they call Decarchones and others rose against him they laid hands on him in the Lateran Church and kept him in Prison 11 moneths The Emperour made hast to Rome and put all the above-named persons in Prison till the cause was examined and then the Consuls were exiled into Germany the Elder men were hanged and Peter was given unto the pleasure of the Pope who caused him to be stript naked to shave his beard and hang him by the hair a whole day and set him upon an Ass with his hands under her tail then so to be led through the City in the mean time being scourged with rods and lastly banished out of the City After this manner did this Ghostly Father obey the Gospel Love your enemies saith Platina This Pope did first baptize Bells he called the great Bell in Lateran John He sate 7 years 26. BENEDICT the VI succeeded in place and miseries he was taken by Cintius Captain of the City and cast into the Prison of malefactors where he was strangled or as others say famished in the 18. moneth But I fear saith Platina that the reward of Benedict was according to his merits since none hath written that his death was revenged and Otho is accounted a very good man and a most ready defender of the Roman Church 27. DONUS the II sate one year without doing any thing worthy of record 28. BONIFACE the VII came to the Papacy by unlawfull means Platin When he saw that the Citizens conspired against him he hid himself and seeing no appearance of tranquility he stole all the Ornaments of Saint Peter's Church and fled into Constantinople Then 29. BENEDICT the VII was set up by the Romans Otho was offended that they had transgressed the Acts made in his fathers time he hastned to Rome and exerced severity against the rebellious Romans they in suffering deserved death did take unto themselves the name of Martyrs But Fasc temp maketh a distinction they were killed as some in the primitive Church were killed alike punishment but not alike cause Benedict
he suffered neither is that holy wine the Saviour's blood which was for us in bodily things but in ghostly understanding both be truly the bread his body and the wine his blood as was the heavenly bread which we call Manna CHAP. V. Of COUNCELS 1. IN this Century were no Synods assembled for doctrine or discipline A Synod at Rhemes opposeth the power of the Pope as in other times all Nations were so pestered with wars as is touched now only for some personal causes were some Synods among them all one is remarkable at Rhemes in the year 991. where Arnulph Bishop of the place was deposed for some trespass against the King and Gerebert Afterwards Pope Sylvester the II. was placed in that See And here by the way we may see what power Kings had then in deposing and investing Bishops Some of the Bishops would have had Arnulph's cause referred unto Pope John and others did alledge a Canon of the Synod at Carthage of 227 Bishops and Augustine was one of them Causes should be determined where they are begun that there is no need of Appeals unto Bishops beyond Sea that is as they understand it unto the See of Rome Then stood up Arnulph Bishop of Orleance and made a long Oration whereof a part is Let it be far from this holy assembly to defend or accuse any man against Divine or Human Laws .... We deserve to be drawn before the Thrones of Kings if we seem to contradict Divine Laws in any thing .... Most reverend Fathers we do reverence the Church of Rome for the memory of Saint Peter nor indeavour we to resist the Decrees of the Roman High-Priests yet following the authority of the Councel of Nice which the Church of Rome hath also reverenced continually But there are two things that we must alwaies look unto that is whether the silence or new constitutions of the Roman Pope seem to prejudge the received Laws and Decrees of former Councels If his silence shall prejudge then all Laws shall be silent when he is silent and if new Constitutions do prejudge to what end do all Laws serve which are made when all things are governed at the pleasure of one Ye see that these two things being once admitted the estate of the Churches of God is in danger and when we seek Laws by Laws we have no Laws But ô lamentable Rome who broughtest forth so many lights of Fathers unto our Grand-fathers and pourest forth in our time most monstrous darkness and infamous to the following ages Of old we hear of worthy Leo's and great Gregory's what shall I speak of Gelasius and Innocentius There is a long role of them which have filled the World with their doctrine The Universal Church might have been committed and was not committed unto them who for their good life and doctrine excelled all the World howbeit in their happiness this thy priviledge or intended usurpation was opposed by the Bishops of Affrick fearing as we think these miseries rather then the stamp of thy Dominion For what have we not seen in these our daies We have John surnamed Octavian walking in the puddle of uncleanness conspiring against Otho the Emperour whom he had Crowned Augustus Malefacius an horrible monster succeeds going beyond all the World in wickedness and defiled with the blood of former Popes and he also was condemned in the great Synod and chased away Shall it be Decreed that unto such Monsters void of all knowledge of Divine things Where was then the head of Omni-science in his breast innumerable Priests should be subject who are famous throughout the World for knowledge and godly conversation What is this Reverend Fathers and in whose default shall it be thought to be it is our it is our fault our ungodliness which seek our own things and not the things that concern Jesus Christ for if in any man who is elected unto a Bishoprick gravity of manners be required and good conversation and knowledge of divine and human things what is not to be required of him who seeks to be the Master of all Bishops What think ye Reverend Fathers of him who sits in a high Throne and glorieth in his gold and purple cloaths He is more like to Nero than to Peter or Paul nay that is not enough to wit if he be destitute of charity and puffed up with a conceit of knowledge he is Antichrist sitting in the Temple of God and shewing himself as if he were God But if he be destitute of knowledge nor hath charity he is an Idol in the Church of God from whom to seek responses is to advise with an Idol Let any Iesuit answer unto this dilemma for both the parts are sharply pointed and they cannot truly find a third Whither then shall we go the Gospel shews us that a certain man sought fruit thrice on a Fig-tree and because he found none he would cut it down but after intercession he delaied Let us therefore await our Primats and in the mean time let us search where we may find the green Pastures of God's Word Here is a right way of seeking resolution Some witnesses present in this sacred assembly shew that there may be found some worthy Priests of God in Germany and Belgia who are our neighbours Wherefore if the anger of Princes do not hinder the judgment of Bishops might be sought thence rather then from that City whien weigheth judgment by the purse Then he alledgeth and refuteth the Canons that were wont to be cited on the contrary and reports the like practices of the Church of France And then he saith If passage to Rome were stopped with Armies of besieging Barbarians or if Rome were serving a barbarous Prince at his pleasure or were advanced into some Kingdom shall there be no Councels in the mean time or shall the Bishops of the World to the damage of their own Countries await for Councels and Councels of ordering their affairs from their enemies And truly the Canon of Nice which by the testimony of the Romish Church goeth beyond all Councels and all Decrees commandeth that Councels be held twice every year and prescribes nothing therein concerning the authority of the Bishop of Rome But to speak more plainly and to confess openly after the fall of the Empire this City hath lost the Church of Alexandria and Antiochia and omitting mention of Asia and Affrick now Europe goeth away for the Church of Constantinople hath withdrawn her self the inward parts of Spain know not her judgments therefore there is a departing as the Apostle speaks not only of the Nations but of the Churches also that Antichrist seemeth to be before the dores whose Ministers have occupied all France and do oppress us with all their might And as the same Apostle saith now the mystery of iniquity is a working only who with-holds shall with-hold untill he be taken away that the son of perdition may be revealed the man of sin .... Which now is
of his Commission against the deposing of married Priests for that their heresie the people cried with shouting The Pope hath no Authority over Millan neither will we lose our liberty which our Fathers have maintained nor will we go under the yoke of any forain Church With this the Bells rang the Trumpets sounded and all the People were in an uproar so that at this time nothing could be altered nor in all the days of Landulf After his death his Brother Erlembald coming into his room stirred the former coal he went to Pope Alexander II. unto Luca ann 1065. and easily obtained a Decree against the Clergy The Arch-Bishop would have it examined on Easter-day but Erlembald and Ariald commoved the People so that Wido durst not go out at his gate In the next year Wido and his followers prepared themselves against their enemies and Ariald fled for fear when he was drawn back by force he was accused as the Author of the tumult and shamefully put to death then Erlembald held his peace But the next year he obtained another Decree That none should be accounted a lawful Bishop without the consent of the Pope notwithstanding the election and approbation of the People and Clergy In the absence of Wido he compelled the People and Clergy to subscribe this Decree The Bishop was astonished when he heard it and being now old and desirous of rest renounced his Bishoprick and sent the badges of his Office to the Emperor Henry IV. who sent Godifrid Castillionaeus into that See ann 1068. Pope Alexander threatned him with his curse that he should not be so rash and Erlembald by force thrust him out of the City And when Wido died the Pope sent Atho a Priest of Millan into that See at the request of Erlembald who also caused him to be received with great murmuration of the People that such dignity should depend on the Pope The Emperor did pursue his right and therefore a new broil began twixt him and the Pope The Pope accused the Emperor of Simony and Heresie By this means the Church of Millan was brought under the yoke of the See of Rome Ph. Mornay in Myst pag. 237. About that time the Saracens had divided Spain into several Dominions and those Lords were called Kings they could not agree among themselves and the Bishops took usually arms for their several Kings especially the Bishops of Ausa Gerumda and Barcinon went under the colours of King Zeluma against Almahad and were all three killed in battel Baron Annal. ad ann 1011. This division among the Saracens gave some advantage unto Alfonso V. and Ferdinand yet for some ages they could not subdue nor expel those Kings of Castile Infidels 9. Before this time Priests were forbidden to marry but could not be Contention for marriage of the Clergy restrained from their liberty and many had their own wife In the year 1074. Hildebrand in a Synod at Rome condemned all married Priests as Nicolaitans He directed his Bulls as they called them to Bishops Dukes and other Powers declaring them all to be no Priests which had a Wife forbidding People to salute them or pay them Tithes or to acknowledge them in any way This was a new example and as many said inconsiderate judgement saith Matth. Parisi in Williel Conquest and against the sentence of the Fathers especially it was against Canon Apostolor 6. saying Let not a Bishop or Presbyter put away his Wife under pretext of Religion or if he put her away let him be excommunicate It was against their own decrees Dist 28. c. Siquis If any shall teach That a Priest should for Religion forsake his Wife let him be anathema And Dist 31. c. Siquis If any do blame Marriage or shall detest a faithful Woman for lying with her own Husband or think the Man culpable as if for that cause he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven let him be anathema It was contrary to Pope Leo IX who in epist ad Nicet Abba saith We always confess It is not lawful unto a Bishop or Priest nor Deacon to forsake his own Wife for Religion but that he should give her food and raiment and not lie with her bodily as we read the holy Apostles did even as the blessed Apostle saith Have we not power to lead about a Wife a Sister Pol. Vergil de inven rer li. 5. c. 4. is large in this purpose and concludes thus This I may say That that forced chastity was so far from being better then married chastity that no crime did bring imprint or burn-mark more shame upon the Order more evil upon Religion or more sorrow unto good men then the blot of Priests lusts therefore it may be thought useful both unto the Christian Re-publique and to the Order that at last the liberty of marriage might be restored unto Priests which they may keep holily without infamy rather then to defile themselves most filthily with that vice The Index expurgatorius of the year 1571. hath ordained all these words and many more of that Chapter to be blotted out And what obedience was given unto this Decree of Hildebrand is clear in Naucle vol. 2. gener 36. where he hath this Epistle unto Constance Gregory Bishop the servant of God's servants unto the Clerks and Laicks both greater and lesser in the Diocy of Constance salutation and blessing We have sent unto our brother your Bishop Otho exhortatory letters by which according to the necessity of our Office by Apostolical Authority we have commanded him to exclude Simoniacal heresie altogether out of his Church and that he shall earnestly preach the chastity of Priests But your Bishop neither reverencing the command of blessed Peter nor taking heed unto his own duty as it is reported unto us hath not done what we did fatherly advise and not onely disobediently but rebelliously hath he as we have understood publikely permitted unto his Clerks altogether contrary unto our command or rather of blessed Peter that they which have wives may keep them and they which have none may have them by unlawful temerity which so soon as we heard taking it ill we wrote again unto him shewing how he had provoked our indignation and also we have summoned him unto our Synod at Rome to give the reasons and in the audience of the whole Convent declare the causes of his disobedience if they be reasonable These things most dear children we make known unto you that we may provide for your salvation for if your Bishop will with open hand fight against us and be contumacious it is not fit he should rule c. Wherefore as we have said by Apostolical Authority we command all those which are obedient unto God and blessed Peter if he shall continue hardened that ye give him no reverence of obedience nor think that to be any hurt unto your soul for if he will be contrary unto the Apostolical precepts we by the Authority of blessed Peter do absolve
Tribute and understand it as an indignity unto himself and his Realm The Pope was moved with the argument of his purse and restored the Bishop to his own and gave him a Palle Such was the custom in those days and until this present time in Germany France and Spain that albeit the Prince do principally name the Bishops yet they cannot be admitted unless they go to Rome for their Palle which custom is a burden to the Nations and bingeth no small gain to Rome Cumi Ventura in Thes Polit. Discepta de Vrbe Rom. 8. In this Century as reckoneth Sir Hen. Spelman in Concil were compiled Ecclesiastical Laws the Ecclesiastical Laws which go under the name of Aelfrick unto Wulfin Bishop among which are these I say unto you Priests I will not suffer your negligence in your Ministery but in truth I tell you what is ordained for Priests Christ himself hath given an example of Christian institution and purity of life or chastity therefore all who will walk with him in his way have forsaken all earthly things not looking unto their wives wherefore he saith in his Gospel Who hateth not his wife is not worthy to be my disciple C. II. After the ascension of Christ the departure of his Venerable Apostles so great a persecution was raised on earth that the Ministers of God could not meet in a Synod because the heathens lay in wait for them until Constantine having the Government of the earth became a Christian In many words there is condemned the marriage of Bishops and Priests and also second marriage and then C. X. it is said There be seven degrees in the Church Ostiarius Lector Exorcista Acoluthus Sub-Diaconus Diaconus Presbyter C. XVII Presbyter is the Missal Priest or Elder not for his age but ancient wisdom it is his office to consecrate the body of the Lord in the Sacrament even as our Savior hath ordained he should lead the people into the faith both by preaching and exercising the holy Ministery chastely being a pattern unto Christians and not living after the maner of Laicks There is no difference twixt a Bishop and a Priest but that a Bishop is appointed to give ordination and to visit or have care of things belonging unto God which may not be permitted unto the multitude they have both the same Order albeit in this respect the Bishop is more worthy C. XVIII There is no other Order in the Ministery of the Church but these seven Monks and Abbots are of another sort and not to be reckoned with them nor have they the name of any order and nevertheless they are called holy Orders and they lead the souls of their Priests unto blessedness if they abide holy C. XXIII A Presbyter or Mass-Priest should on Sundays and Mass-days teach the People in English the understanding of the Gospel and the Lord's Prayer and the Creed and that they learn the Creed or Christian Confession by heart as the Lord commandeth by the Prophet saying They are dumb dogs that cannot bark they must therefore bark and exhort the People lest we destroy them for want of teaching C. XXVII A Presbyter should not sell his Ministery C. XXVIII Nor pass from one Church to another for gain C. XXIX Nor be a drunkard C. XXX Nor a Merchant nor a Lawyer nor bear weapons The same Author hath a Letter of Pope Nicolaus unto King Edward called the Confessor where it is said It is clear that the Kings of England for their reverence and devotion which they have given to blessed Peter have flourished in glory and honor and by his defense they have obtained glorious triumphs by the merits of which blessed Apostle the Almighty God may bring to pass your desire and confirm unto you the Empire of your Fathers Kingdom We commit unto you and the Kings your Successors the advocation and maintaining of that place speaking of the Abbey of Westminster that Edward had re-builded and enlarged and of all the Churches in all England that in our place Vice Nostra Note here He would have the King to be his Vicar and not alone but Ye with the advice of Bishops and Abbots may ordain every where things that are just knowing that for these things you shall receive reward from Him whose Kingdom and Empire shall have no end The same Author page 571. saith The Ecclesiastical Laws of Maccabaeus King of Scots Note here an error in the name Maccabaeus for Macbeth of whom Buchanan saith lib. 7. In the beginning he made good Laws both many and useful which now are not known or are neglected taken out of his Register are these One who is entered into Orders call thou not before a profane Judge if he be summoned and appear do not thou judge him but remit him unto the holy Rulers Give willingly the tenth part of all the fruits of the ground unto the Pastors of the Churches and worship God continually with vows and oblations Who being accursed shall contemn the Authority of the Church for a whole year and shall not reconcile himself let him be accounted an enemy of the Realm and if he continue two years in that contumacy let him be forfaulted of all his goods If any shall accompany as a servant another man by whose charges he is not dayly sustained either unto the Church or publique Convention or a Market let him want the head Boet. Hist li. 12. hath these and others of his Civil Laws 9. Anselm an Italian was transported against his will as saith M. Fox in Act. from the Abbey Becheloin in Normandy unto the See of Canterbury This is he who said He had rather be in hell without sin then in heaven with sin A man of special note in his time for as Gul. Malmesbu de gest Anglo pontif li. 1. reporteth when the Greeks disputed at Barri against Pope Urban concerning the procession of the holy Ghost the Pope cried aloud Father and Master Anselm where are you come now and defend your Mother the Church And when they brought him into presence Urban said Let us take him into our world as the Pope of the other world He wrote many books The doctrine of faith in Century XI which to this day are commonly in hands and declare the doctrine of the faith as it was then professed In the general is a remarkable passage in lib. 1. epist 68. according to the Edition of the Jesuit The. Raynaud directed unto Lanfranc saying Concerning those things which are said in that little book you do by a wise and wholesome advice admonish to consider more exactly in the ballance of the minde and to confer with the Learned in their holy books and where reason faileth to confirm them by divine Authority I have done so both before and since I have received your fatherly and loving admonition so far as I could for that was my intention through all that disputation to assert nothing at all but what I saw undoubtingly might be
neck unto the sword nor do I think it expedient to advise any more with my Lords the Prelates nor if they will do otherwise do I consent unto them for it is more honest to deny quickly what is demanded unjustly then to drive off time by delays seeing he is the less deceived who is refused betimes When Gilbert had so made an end some English both Prelates and Nobles commend the yong Clerk that he had spoken so boldly for his Nation without flattering and not abashed at the gravity of such Authority but others because he spoke contrary unto their minde said A Scot is naturally violent and In naso Scoti piper But Roger Arch-Bishop of York which principally had moved this business to bring the Church of Scotland unto his See uttered a groan and then with a merry countenance laid his hand on Gilbert's head saying Ex tua phareta non exiit illae sagitta as if he had said When ye stand in a good cause do not forethink what ye shall say for in that hour it shall be given unto you This Gilbert was much respected at home after that And Pope Celestin put an end unto this debate for he sent his Bull unto King William granting that neither in Ecclesiastical nor Civil affairs the Nation should answer unto any forain Judge whatsoever except onely unto the Pope or his Legate specially constituted So far in that Register of Dunkel 5. The above named Henry II. was so admired thourgh the world for his Henry II. prudent and unfortunate prudence and prowess that Manuel Emperor of the Greeks Frederick Emperor of Germany the French King with many other famous Princes sent unto him as a School-Master of justice for determination of obscure doubts Alfonso King of Castile and Saucius King of Navar being at variance for some possessions did of their own accord submit themselves unto his judgement and he found an overture to both their good liking This is to be marked because the worshippers of Becket call him a vitious Prince In the year 1181. the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Master of the Templaries having no King and being distressed by Saladin did profer unto the same Henry the Kingdom of Jerusalem and brought unto him the keys of their Cities He refused because of his weighty affairs at home They were opprest by the Infidels and he had no more prosperity for his Son would have the Government as well as the Title of the Kingdom and the Father did the service of a Steward unto his Son yea and more disdainfully did the Son entreat his Father till he was taken away by death and his Brother Richard was also a grief unto his Father and so was the third Brother John The true cause of all his woes may be thought the oppression of some professors of truth for Pol. Virgil. in Hist Anglor lib. 13. testifieth that about the year 1160. thirty teachers came from Germany into England and taught the right use of Baptism of the Lord's Supper c. and were put to death It is true Virgil calleth them worshippers of Divels but we shall hear anon how all professors of truth were reviled and John of Sarisbuny at the same time wrote saying He who speaketh for the truth of faith or sincerity of maners according to the Law of God is called superstitious envious and which is capital an enemy of the King After four years others which were in contempt called Publicans and Waldenses taught in England that the Roman Church had left the faith of Christ and was become the whore of Babel the barren fig-tree no obedience should be given unto the Pope or his Bishops Monks were dead carion their vows frivolous their characters were the mark of the Beast Io. Bale Cent. 2. § 96. in Appen And in the year 1166. the same Henry drew some professors unto judgement at Oxford because they were said to dissent from the doctrine of the Roman Church he caused them to be burnt with an hot iron and banished them I. Fox in Act. Mon. 6. At that time were many married Priests in Britanny Ephleg left his Married Clerks Son Cedda to be his Successor in the Priesthood at Plinmouth Arnold Dunprust left his Son Robert likewise in the same County unto Robert did his Son succeed In Norfolk Wulkerel dimitted his Priest-hood at Dyssa unto his lawful Son William Hugh Howet in Sarisbury John in Exchester and Oliver in Nottingham all succeeded unto their Fathers Io. Bale Cent. 3. § 10. in Appen In Ireland fifteen Bishops of Lesmore succeeded lineally and hereditarily for the space of 200. years and of them eight Sons succeeded unto their fathers Bernard in Vita Malac. until the year 1121. when the Bishop Celsus having no Son did as by testament name Malachias Bishop of Connereth to be his Successor and his friends as heirs did resist for five years Malachias had correspondence with Bernard of Claraval and had two Monks sent from that Abbey to begin an Abbey of that Order in Ireland but they returned against the Bishops will wherefore Bernard wrote unto him his 317. Epistle exhorting that he would not leave off the purpose but rather be more vigilant in that new place and Land so unaccustomed with Monastical life and excusing the Monks that their returning was occasioned by the unto wardness of these brethren living in a Land without discipline and especially not accustomed to submit unto such counsels This Malchias did urge the single life of Priests in Ireland He went to Rome and became Legate but died in the way beside Bernard 7. John of Sarisbury Bishop of Carnotum was familiar with his Countrey-man Iohn Bishop of Sarisbury Pope Hadrian IV. when they were alone in a chamber at Benevento Hadrian asked him what the world thought and spake of him and of the Church After a little form of excuse he said I will tell what I hear spoken every where they say The Church of Rome which is the Mother of all Churches is become a step dame unto them and the Pope is called across and grief unto all men and intolerable for pride as the zeal of their Fathers had erected Churches so now they do decay and the Pope was glorious not onely in purple but in glancing gold the Cardinals and Bishops are called Scribes and Pharisees laying heavy burthens on mens shoulders which themselves will not touch with their finger their Palaces are glorious and the Churches of Christ are polluted by their hands they spoil the Nations as if they would scrape together the treasures of Croesus But the most High dealeth most wisely with them for they become often a prey unto others and I think so long as they stray out of the way they shall never want a scourge from God Then said the Pope What thinkest thou He answered There is danger on every side I fear the blame of flattering or lying if I alone do speak contrary unto the world and I
bread of the Mass and that the Eucharist should be carried with lighted candles unto the sick De celebrat Miss lib. 3. tit 41. c. Sanè It followeth to speak of his pride He sat eleven years 3. GREGORY the IX so soon as he was set in his Chair sent a Nuntio Steven into England to crave the tenth part of all movables both of the Nobility and Clergy for maintenance of his wars against the Emperor but under the name of wars against the Infidels Because they refused he excommunicateth them all until they obeyed P. Mornay in Myster The next year he sent his Legates through Europe who by preachings entreatings and excommunications purchased great sums of money as if it had been for aid of the holy Land but it could not be known into what gulf so vast sums were hid but the care of the holy Land was forgot and the charity of men grew cold Mat. Paris Behold the issue it was to repress the Emperor Frederick who is more execrable said the Pope then Pharaoh Nero or any Tyrant He sent his Legate Albert Beham into Germany to deprive all Bishops and to excommunicate all Laicks adhering unto the Emperor or who wished him well But at that time none of the Bishops nor Abbots regarded that commission and being assembled they openly protested That the Priest of Rome had no power in Germany without consent of the Bishops there Let the Priest of Rome feed his Italians said they we who are the dogs of this flock will beat away the wolves lurking under lambs skins what he will do to others ye may know seeing this disguised Vicar so dealeth with us The Pope accursed Frederick Duke of Austria as the chief of that Assembly and Eberhard Bishop of Salzburgh presently absolved him And all the Bishops with one consent accursed the Pope as the enemy of Christian peace a most damnable Arch-Heretick and more pestiferous then the Turks Jews or Tartars seeing he doth such things as those had never done the like Mornay in Myster ex Avent lib. 7. Annal. Boio Then Gregory sent unto the Canons and Monks charging them to choose other Prelates They would not Therefore he charged some of them to compear before him for their rebellion They contemned his summons Then the Princes and Clergy of Germany assembled again but the Pope died This opposition had he abroad neither wanted he enemies at home for in his first year was so great variance between him and the Citizens that he fled out of Rome about Easter to Viterbio and then to Pirusio and having no other means of revenge he excommunicated them all The cause of this sedition was the Citizens claimed an ancient custome and law that the Pope should not excommunicate any of them nor suspend the City with any interdiction for any excess He answered The Pope is less then God but greater then any man consequently greater then a Citizen yea greater is he then any Emperor and seeing he is their spiritual father he may chastise his children and reduce them so oft as they go astray Moreover the Romans alledged that their Bishops were tied to pay unto the Senate yearly tribute both by ancient and late laws of which they have been in use and possession until these days Gregory replied Albeit in time of persecution the Church for her defence and cause of peace had gratified the heads of the City with kindely rewards yet that should not now be pleaded as a debt This strife was not soon ended Mat. Paris ad An. 1234. It would seem incredible almost to read how vast sums of money this Pope did rake together by exactions voluntary offerings confirmations of Bishopricks removing variances betwixt Bishops and Magistrates and other Church-men and especially for dispensing with oaths by all which what inconveniences did arise it cannot be told saith Matth. Parisien ibid. for as there was nothing so hard or absurd wherewith the Pope could not dispense for money so the people trusting to dispensations did little regard how great evil they did As for example Henry King of England being desirous of a taxation did swear in Parliament that he would ratifie some ancient Liberties which they were suing and after the tax was granted he past from his oath by a dispensation At another time the same Henry did sign himself with the cross pretending and swearing that he would go into the holy Land against the Infidels when the money was amassed for his journey he gave over his journey being assured that the Pope would acquit him for 100. or 200. pounds From this sink of dispensations did more and more abound the plurality of Benefices in one mans person Bishopricks were bestowed on men without literature children were made Parsons kinsfolks were married within degrees in a word what kinde of iniquity was not committed under sure confidence of dispensations Matth. Parisien This Gregory made truce with the Emperor An. 1240. and within a few moneths he calleth for the Cardinals John de Columna and Raymond and said I am ashamed of the truce made with the enemy of the Church go therefore unto the Emperor thou John who wast mediator betwixt us and shew him that I will not accept the articles and that I am his enemy John answereth Far be that inconstancy from such an one I will not consent unto this counsel yea I earnestly contradict it Gregory saith Then from this forth I will not hold thee for a Cardinal John answereth Nor will I have thee for a Pope Thus they were parted with mutual defiance Ibid. When the King of France heard of this he commandeth to hold up all the moneys that the Legate had amassed under the name of relief for the holy Land and then the Pope was content to keep the truce Ibid. He was the Author of that hymn Salve Regina c. in which he giveth unto the blessed Virgin the proper worship of Christ In his name were published the Books of Decretals that were collected by Raymond a Dominican He sat fourteen years and died An. 1241. When the Cardinals came together for election Robert Somerset an English Cardinal was likely to have carried it and in the mean time he and some others who did incline that way were poisoned to the great infamy of the Roman Clergy saith Mat. Paris 4. CELESTIN the IV. a very old man attaineth the Chair by promises He sat eighteen days and was poisoned Then the See was vacant twenty and one moneths because the Emperor had some Cardinals under arrest whom at last he dismissed by intercession of Baldwin Greek Emperor and Raymund Earl of Tolouse 5. Here it shall not be amiss to insert the comparison of these former Popes A parallel of preceeding and following Popes with others following as it is in Io. Bale Catal. From Silvester the Il. until this year 1242. that is for the space of 240. years Antichrist did reign in the Roman Church like some accursed Lucifer for in
maner of Ecclesiastical honor the limbs of the divel and enemies of God in a word they bring Lucifer into the Church of Christ He taught also that there is no law belonging unto the salvation of man but the Gospel of Christ 6. Joachim Abbot of Curacon in Calabria about the year 1200. held and and taught that the Pope and his Court were the Antichrist because they were drowned in simony and luxury by their wickedness they hindered the Jews and Pagans from converting unto Christ He wrote prophetical pictures upon the Revelation with Italian expositions wherein he sharply taxeth the Pope and his Clergy In his Commentary on Jeremiah he saith The days shall be perillous from the year 1200. until the last times when the law of liberty shall appear the Gospel of Christ shall be preached and the Church shall be purged as the wheat from the chaff and tares Pope Innocentius the III. condemned him as thinking amiss of the Trinity and saying that he who believeth the Trinity of persons and unity of nature or essence establisheth a quaternity But as we said Antoninus sheweth that the Pope condemned that error as his but he condemned not himself And Mar. Luther in a peculiar Treatise cleareth this Joachim from all error of the faith in the Trinity Catal. test verit lib. 17. and certainly all is not sure that is set down in the Decretals M. Fox in Act. Monim sheweth ex Roge. Honeden that when Richard King of England went to Syria by the way he sent for Joachim to meet him in Sicily and asked him many things among the rest he asked what he thought of the coming of the Antichrist He began to expound the mystery of the seven Kings in the Apocalypse these are seven persecutors Herod Nero Constantius Mahumet Melsemutus Saladin and Antichrist and Antichrist is now sitting in the City of Rome and in his Apostolical throne as the Apostle saith he is an adversary and exalteth himself above all that is called God Also he foretold the estate of the Church all the Church of the Saints shall be hid for the elect of God what they know they shall know it to themselves so that they will not presume to preach publickly because of prevailing darkness not that they will leave to encourage and exhort the faithful privately but because they will not dare to preach publickly Vsser de Eccles statu cap. 6. ex Roge. Honen annal in Rich. II. 7. Conradus a Lichtenal was made abbas Vrspergensis An. 1215. In the History of Henry the V. Emperor he sheweth that many at that time did reprove peregrinations and indulgences and in that place he calleth them a novelty He writeth many things in favor of Popes yet the force of truth sometimes prevaileth with them he condemneth Pope Gregory the IX for excommunicating the Emperor without just causes and without all order he condemneth the Pope for taking Lands from the Emperor in his absence whereas he had forced him to go away and for killing some who were signed with the Cross because they were going to aid the Emperor against the Turks which saith he is most abominable to speak He made this rhime of the avarice of Rome Epephonema ex vita Phil. Imp. Gaude mater nostra Roma Quoniam aperiuntur cataractae Thesaurorum In terra Vt ad te confluant rivi aggeres Nummorum In magna copia Laetare super iniquitate hominum Quoniam ad recompensationem Tantorum malorum Datur tibi pretium Iocundare Super adjutrice tua discordia Quae erupit de puteo Infernalis abyssi Vt accumulentur tibi Multa pecuniarum praemia Habes quod semper sitisti Decanta canticum Quia per malitiam hominum Non per tuam religionem Orbem vicisti Ad te trahit homines Non ipsorum devotio Aut pura conscientia Sed scelerum multiplicium perpetratio Et litium decisio Pretio comparata c. Ex Catalog test ver lib 16. This is expounded of the frequent gadding to Rome in the days of Pope Innocentius the III. See pag. 317. 8. Thore 8. There is extant a constitution of Lewes surnamed the blessed King A protestation against the Pope's Bull and an appeal of France bearing the date An. 1228. sub tit de Taliis wherein he regrateth the avarice of Popes saying The exactions and grievous burthens of moneys that are laid on the Churches of our Kingdom by the Court of Rome and whereby the Kingdom is miserably exhausted and more yet may be by burthens which are said to be lately imposed We will that these be levied upon no condition nor gathered except onely for a reasonable pious and most urgent or inevitable necessity and by our express and willing consent and with the consent of the Church it self of our Kingdom At that time the Senate of Paris did present unto John Santroman the King's Advocate the Pope's Bull to be read and answered He replied saying The greatest confusion of all things would arise upon the accepting and comprobation of that Bull for by Authority of such in former times the people of the Kingdom had in great number gone out of the Kingdom unto Rome of whom some became slaves or clients to the Cardinals and some living more liberally had wasted their patrimony idly and others in the City or by the way had perished with the inconvenience of the air and frequent pestilence and so France was exhausted of subjects especially of the learned men He sheweth also how vast sums of money were carried away for vacancies and avowsancies of Bishopricks and Abbeys and other titles in the Church so that sometimes ten or twelve Bulls were sold for one Priesthood and if this custom shall continue said he it shall come to pass that who hath any store of moneys will send to Rome and buy a Priesthood unto his Son or Cousin The Rector of the University of Paris spake to the same purpose and having protested at length against the Bull he appealeth from the iniquity thereof unto the next Councel Brut. Fulmen ex Chronic. Britan. Armoric lib. 4. 9. And because we have heard a little of the exactions which the Court Romish Simony laid upon the Nations to make this more clear I will add from the same Brut. Fulmen pag. 66 67. an example of France there the Author saith It is most certain two sorts of simoniacal merchandise of those things that are called spiritual are exercised at Rome by the Pope one whereby Priesthoods are sold openly without dissimulation and that is very gainful another not so lucrative but no less abominable which is called Taxa poenitentiariae Apostolicae The names and titles of the former are innumerable but of such a multitude the principal are reckoned The tribute of Annates or vacancies by this word is understood a years revenue which is paid unto the holy treasury of the Pope and these are often doubled or tribled Item the tribute by
those which fled was Peter Pain who had been a hearer of Wickliff and then went into Bohemia and was sent unto the Councel of Basil where he argued for partaking of both elements and against the Civil Power of the Clergy William White being examined before William Bishop of Norwich An. 1428. did hold as he had also written that by Law Marriage was granted unto all persons of the militant Church but the Pope who is the Antichrist and his Counsellors which are the Clarks of Lucifer have abolished this Law to the undoing of the Priesthood after the loosing of Satan that is after the 1000. years from the incarnation Anno 3. of Henry the V. the Act was renewed against presentations unto Benefices to be purchased from the Pope but under colour of prejudice to the Incumbents in going so far for them but by this Act all presentations from the Pope were annulled An. 1439. under King Henry the VI. Richard Wiche was burnt the next year Eleanora Cobham Dutchess of Glocester was condemned to perpetual imprisonment in the Isle of Man and Robert only a Priest was condemned to death Philip Morice was excommunicated by Pope Eugenius and he appealed unto the General Councel 4. Richard King of England had made Truce with France for 30. years Troubles between France and England these being expired Henry the V. sent unto Charls the VII King of France An. 1415. claiming the Crown of France So Wars began Henry conquered a great part of France In the year 1419. Charls did dis-inherit his son Lewis and then the Kingdom was divided some cleaving unto Lewis who at that time was called King of Vierron because he lived there in Berry Charls agreed with Henry that Henry should take to wife the daughter of Charls and be proclaimed Regent of France and both should keep what they have and after the death of Charls the Crown of France shall remain with Henry and his heirs and that Henry with the Duke of Burgundy should pursue Lewis the Dolphin as an enemy of the Common-Wealth These two Kings died in one year Charls died first and Henry because his son was but eight moneths old ordained his brother Humphrey Duke of Glocester to be Protector of England and the Dukes of Bedford and Burgundy Protectors of France These two had continual Wars with Lewis Henry the VI. was Crowned King of England in the eighth year of his age and at Paris he was Crowned King of France in the tenth year of his age An. 1431. Five years thereafter the Duke of Bedford died and the Duke of Burgundy became an enemy to England then all things in France went backward from England but no cessation of wars untill the year 1475. when King Edward the IV. invaded France and then Truce was made for seven years at that time Lewis gave unto Edward 75000. crowns and 50000. crowns yearly during the Truce Henry the VII renewed the old claim An. 1487. Peace was made An. 1492. on condition that Charls should pay presently a great sum of money and then yearly 25000. crowns in the name of Tribute Tho. Cooper 5. At Saint Andrews Paul Craw was accused An. 1431. for following John Wickliff and Huss namely for denying that the substance of the Bread and Wine is changed or that confession is necessary to be made unto Priests or praiers unto Saints departed When he was condemned they did put a Bull of Brass in his mouth to the end he should not speak unto the people or they should not know for what he was burnt King James the I. then did set himself to reform the abuses that had crept into the Realm under the Reign of Robert the III. and his own captivity in England he made Laws against the disturbers of the common peace and against them who ride with more men then their yearly Revenues may sustain he punished Robbers and Rebels He considered the Clergy and saw that Benefices were not bestowed on learned men but as rewards done unto the Pope or a Bishop And he saw Monks abounding in wealth and more mindfull of their bellies than of books and the Churches served by some begging Friers which were hired by the Titulars to preach now and then and the Beneficed men did never see their Parishes unless it were to crave their Tithes When the King did publickly rebuke such enormities the Bishops answered and the Friers preached Church-men should be left unto the Pope and to God neither are they obliged to answer unto any prophane Magistrate When he could A glimpsâ— of Reformation not amend the present possessours he would provide for the time to come At Saint Andrews he founded some Schools to be Seminaries of all Estates and to the end the Schools should be had in the greater estimation he honoured the Masters with competent maintenance and their meetings and disputes with his Royal presence He gave strict command that the Masters should recommend unto him the most diligent and worthiest Disciples on whom he might bestow the vaking Benefices and he had alwaies by him a role of the recommended Students Likewise he turbed the Monasteries and said King David who erected so many Monasteries was a good Saint to the Church but an ill Saint to the Crown Buchan lib. 10. With consent of all the Estates he made an Act that all the Subjects should be ruled by the King's Laws only In Parliam 3. and if any did fly or appeal from the King's judgment he should be accounted a Rebel and punished accordingly In Parliam 8. James Kennedy Bishop of Saint Andrews was then exemplary he caused all Parsons and Vicars to dwell at their Parish Churches for preaching the Word of God unto their people and to visit them especially in time of sickness He indeavoured to visit all the Parishes within his Diocy four times in the year and inquired in every Parish if they were duly instructed by their Parson or Vicar and if the Sacraments were duly administred if the poor were helped and the young ones instructed in the grounds of Religion Where he found not this order observed he punished the Delinquents severely to the end God's glory might shine throughout his Diocy Ex M. S. histor in Biblioth Edimb 6. James the III. King of Scotland ordained by Act of Parliament An. 1466. that no Commenda old or new should have place within the Realm and that none shall purchase nor accept any Commenda under pain of rebellion otherwise then for the space of six moneths And that no Pension new or old of any Benefice Secular or Religious be sought nor accepted from any person without or within the Realm under the same pain James the III. Parlia 1. Hence we may guess at the abuses of Commendaes and Pensions out of Benefices as certainly complaints have been made at that time against them Here by the way the Reader may inquire what a Of Commenda Commenda is and how it began This we may
craving in the name of their Masters that a Book written by a Frier John Falkenbergh containing notorious errours and heresies may be examined by the Councel or Commissioners of the Nations or else they protest de injuria and they appeal unto the next General Councel Pope Martin answered saying I will inviolably observe and no way violate whatsoever hath been done Conciliariter in this Councel and these I do ratifie and approve and no otherwise Then Cardinal Antonius proclaimed liberty of departing unto every one and in the name of the Almighty God and of his Apostles Peter and Paul and of Pope Martin the V. he gave unto every one there present a full remission of all their sins once in their lives if that every one within two moneths after the knowledge hereof shall seek the Indulgence in forma c. Here the Cardinal of Ostia said Placet and Augustine de Lance in the name of the Pope said Placet and so it is written but no mention of Sigismund's Placet because the Councel was dismissed against his will 5. According to the Decree at Constance Pope Martin sent his Legates to Papia An. 1424. to open the Councel few Bishops came thither and the Pest beginning the Councel with common consent was removed to Sena more Prelates came there Alfonso King of Arragon intending to purchase the Kingdom of Sicily sought by all means chiefly by giving gold saith Platina to procure the adjournying of the Councel and to restore Pope Benedict the XIII But Pope Martin disappointed him by dissolving the Councel and nothing was done but only the next Councel was appointed to be at Basil An. 1431. 6. The Councel at Basil was began December 14. An. 1431. by the Legate Julian Cardinal of Sancti Angeli by Commission granted first by Pope The Councel at Basil Martin and confirmed by the lately elected Pope Eugenius the IV. as it is written in Sess 1. The Emperour Sigismund was Protector thereof whilest he lived sometimes by his Deputy William Duke of Bavier as appeareth in Sess 7. and sometimes personally as in Sess 14. In Sess 1. they propounded their main purposes 1. The extirpation of Heresie namely of the Bohemians 2. The quenching of the Wars in Christendom 3. Because the Vineyard of Christ is overspread and as it were laid wast with huge numbers of Thistles and Weeds of Vices that these may now be pulled up and the Church Mark this ye who say that the Roman Church hath never erred may flourish again and bring forth the fruit of honesty But the particulars that were treated in it may be reduced to four chief heads to wit concerning the Bohemians the Greeks the authority of General Councels above the Pope and the Reformation of the Church So omitting the order of time and Sessions for the clearer and more compendious method I will shew what was done in those 1. In Sess 4. the Bohemians were summoned to appear and a Safe-conduct was sent unto them Three hundred of them some Civilians and some Ministers came and disputed upon these four Articles 1. All who would be saved should receive the Communion under both kinds 2. All civil government is by the Law of God forbidden unto the Clergy 3. The Preaching of the Word is free unto all men having once received Ordination and free in any place Aen. Sylvius hath not this parenthesis and the Epistle of the Bohemians directed unto all the faithfull in the year 1431. saith Per eos quorum interest 4. Open crimes and scandals should not be suffered no not for avoiding greater evil The Deputies were ordered by their Commission to debate these Articles and no other and they would admit no argument grounded upon any Authority except of the Scripture alone Therefore the Fathers of the Councel charged Cardinal Cusanus to fight them in their own field and he was not ashamed to say The Scriptures belong to the well of the Church and not to the essence or necessity thereof either in the beginning or continuance And The Gospel is known by the Church but not the Church by the Gospel The Bohemians replied Such was not the mind nor voice of the Primitive Church which did administrate the Eucharist and expound the Scriptures otherwise then they do now Cusan answered Let not this move you that at divers times the Rites of the Sacraments be divers or that the Scriptures are applied unto the times or understood diversly so that at one time they are expounded according to the universally current Rite and when the Rite is changed the sence is also changed .... because when the sentence of the Church is changed divine judgement is changed The dispute continued fifty daies in the end the Councel approved the last three Articles in some sence And in Sess 13. they granted that the first was according to Christ's institution but say they the Church hath otherwise ordained and practised for weighty causes Nevertheless they would grant this unto the Bohemians and Moravians not as the bill of divorcement was granted unto the Jews but as lawfull by the authority of Christ Jesus and of his true Spouse the Church and as healthfull and profitable unto them who receive worthily Io. Cochlaeus and Garranza have omitted this dispute and conclusion but they are written by Aen. Sylvius and his Epitomizer Orth. Gratius in Fascic rer expetend fol. 96. Then Anno 1438. the Bohemians did supplicate that by allowance of the Councel they might have the Divine Service namely the Gospel and the Epistles and the Creed read unto the people in the vulgar language as it had been in that Kingdom by long custom and permission of the Church And that the Fathers there present would be carefull of the Reformation of the Church both in head and members as it is most necessary for Christian Religion and hath been of a long time wished by all godly souls and as they themselves had propounded from the beginning Orth. Gratius saith Many things were advised and conceived but had many obstructions the enemy of mankind procuring so Nevertheless the Bohemians failed not in their hopes neither would they fail in their indeavours 2. The second head was concerning the Greeks in hearing their Embassadours whose golden Bull was dated in the year of the World 6944. indict 14. An. Ch. D. N. 1435. November 26. and sending Legates unto Constantinople they gave a Safe-conduct and for the place of their meeting the Greeks propounded that if the Latines would go unto Constantinople the Clergy of the East would assemble upon their own charges but if the Latines will have the Greeks coming into the West their coming should be upon the expences of the Latines and the place of their assembly should be Basil or Avenion or Sabaudia at the option of the Greeks When they had agreed on these particulars in Sess 24. and 25. with consent of Pope Eugenius afterwards he drew the Greeks from the Councel as follows 3. The
Ernest Archb. of Magdeburgh was a dyng An. 1511. his Chaplain Clemens Schaw and two Franciscans were by him and one of the Franciscans said Famous Prince be of good confort wee will communicate unto your Highness not only all our good works but likewise of all the Order of the Minorites and without doubt when you have these you shall stand just and blessed before the throne of God Ernest answered By no means will I trust either in mine own works or in yours but the works of Christ only are sufficient Catalog Test. ver lib. 19. ex Cl. Schaw 11. John Picus Lord of Mirandula and Earle of Concordia was about that time admired for his learning his books began to be printed An. 1504. He wrote 900 Propositions which he defended in publick disputations at Rome amongst them were these following The true body of Christ is in heaven locally and on the altar sacramentally By the power of God one body can not be in diverse places at once Consecration is not made precisely by these words Hoc est corpus meum unless the antecedent words be added The Lord Jesus in the night he was betrayed ..... Neither the cross nor any image is to be adored with the worship of latria no nor as S. Thomas expresseth it The Doctours condemned these Theses And he wrote an Apologie defending them to be Catholick especially concerning the sacrament he said The body of Christ may be present without any conversion or annihilation of the bread He said May be and not is present to eschue their bonds without doubt he had spoken more plainly if he could have done it freely In an epistle unto the Emperour Maximilian An. 1500. he saith With such faith and piety as I can I beseech thee that with all diligence thou wouldest accomplish that thy most Holy purpose to restore the Christian Republick unto the antient liberty it is wasted by outward enemies and torne by inward and the sheepfold of Jesus Christ which was consecrated by his blood hath suffered and dayly suffereth farr worse from wolves under sheepskins then under their own colours Go-on then most worthy Caesar and excite Christian Kings by what means thou canst and shew thyself a faithfull servant unto Christ the King of all Kings who will quickly deliver his sheep as wel from outward enemies as from false shepherds In time of the conflict of the two Councells of Pisa and Lateran hee handled that question Whether in the cause of faith a Pope should be preferred before a Councell or contra and said according unto the Glosse of the Decree dist 19. c. Anastasius where it is said The Pope should in matter of faith seek a Councell and therefore the Synode is more than a Pope And he adds Wherefore the archdeacon of Bononia approving the glosse said It is dangerous to make our faith subject unto the pleasure of any man and so said Bernard What greater pride one man to prefer his judgement before all the world And when he had shewed his judgement that the greater number should be preferred before the lesser caeteris paribus he addeth But if the greater part would decern any thing against the word of God or against these things that should not be violat and a smaller number opposeth them wee should cleave unto the lesser number as in the Councell of Arimino and the second at Ephesus yea we should believe a Country man or an old wife rather than a Pope or a thousand Bishops if these bee contrary unto the Scriptures and the former follow the Gospell Likewise speaking of that question Whether the Pope and Councells may erre he saith It may be easily decided because he hath already shewed they may erre from the Scripture many Councels and Popes have fallen into heresy it oft hapneth that he who is accounted President of the Church hath not dutifully discharged his presidence and somtimes he can not be President at all seing it is recorded that in former time a woman was Pope and I remember of a learned man who in our age had attained great esteem of religiousness and taught albeit not altogether publickly that hee who was chosen Pope at that time was not Pope .... and I remember of another who was received and adored as Pope whom good and worthy men thought neither to be Pope nor that he could be Pope for he believed not that there was a God! and they did testify of his most wicked deedsin buying the papacy and exercising all kind of wickednes yea and they declared his most wicked words for it was affirmed that he confessed unto his familiar friends that he believed there was no God even since hee was ruler of the Papall See I heard of another Pope who in his time sayd unto his friends he believed not the immortality of souls and when hee was dead he appeared unto the same man and said that to his great losse and by everlasting fire he had found or knew that souls are immortall Ph. Morn in Myster This John had an oration in the Councell at Lateran before Pope Leo X. wherein he spake freely of a necessity of Reformation because of their corrupt manners their adulterate Lawes and canons their decaied religion even among the chiefest of them Godliness said he is almost turned into superstition righteousness into hatred or favour and men of all Estates doe sin openly so that vertue is oft blamed in good men and vice honoured in place of vertue especially by those who would have as it were the walls and hedges of their own crimes and strange insolency and contumacy unpunished These maladies these sores thou must heal o great highpriest or if thou refuse to cure them I fear lest he whose crown thou holdest on earth cut off and destroy the infected members not with fomentations but with fire and sword I think verily that He gives certain signs of his future medicine by pestilence famine and bloody warrs at such admonitions and heavenly thunders wee should have lifted up our ears unto repentance but wee rather loose them like the Moores which become deaf at the continuall noise of Nilus nor is it any marvell for Iohn Chrysostom thinks that all evill procedes from the Church and Hierom writes that he had found no man which had deceived the people but the Priests If thou wilt reforme and correct these things willing or unwilling thou shalt be thought by the Christian world to haue lifted up a standert of a full Reformation This thou o great high priest shouldest doe and none other on earth more then thou and if thou wilt not remember I pray thee that old Priest who was punished for not punishing the sin of his son for they who are set over others should not only be innocent themselves but resist the nocent and represse their wickedness And when he had shewed more particularly that the conversation of the clergy had very great need of Reformation he proves the same of their
and in this confidence I will never be ashamed for the oil of mercy is not kept without the vessell of assurance this is the confidence of man to mistrust himself and rely upon God to trust in our own works is not faith but unbelieff sins are remitted by the mercy of God and we should believe that sin can not be forgiven but by him against whom we have sinned and who can not sin and by whom only all sins are pardoned In the end when unto his lingring sicknes was added an hot fever he held the crosse in his armes saying Abide in mee ô sweet Saviour that I may abide in thee He took the sacrament in both kindes and repeating the same words he rendred his most glorious soul unto God who gave it So Ja. Thuan. hist Lib 21. and Pe Soave hist conc Tri. lib. 5. saith After his death Constantius Pontius was committed to prison for suspicion of heresy who was Confessor of Charles the Emperour in time of his solitariness and in whose armes he died This Pontius died in prison and Philip caused one to burn him in effigie and used such cruelty against his dead body that many were amazed and looked for no mercy from him who had been so merciless to that man whose infamy was not without the aspersion of his dear father II. FERDINAND II. assembled the Electours at Frankford and shewed the renuntiation of Charles this was accepted and he was received by them He sent for confirmation of the Romane Court Ere the Ambassadour was heard the Cardinals object The Imperiall seat can not vaike but by death or deprivation or eiuration and the last two belong unto the Pope only for as the Pope only can depose so eieration can be made before him only as for anything that had passed in Germany it was done by hereticks which have lost their power and therefore Ferdinand should purge himself in judgement and do pennance and send his Proctour with full power to renounce all that was done and he should submitt all unto the pleasure of the Pope only When the Ambassadour craved to be heard the Pope said Charles could not renounce but in his presence only nor can Ferdinand accept without his consent therefore he must satisfie within three months for such things as the Cardinals have to lay unto his charge So his Ambassadour was not heard Grisman advertiseth the Emperour who willed him to shew that if he were not admitted within three dayes he should make protestation that seing he had waited so long and could not be heard to the dishonour of his Master he will return that the Emperour may advise with the Electours what shall be most expedient unto the Imperial dignity Briefly Ferdinand could not be confirmed at Rome untill Pope Pius 4. Thuan. hist Lib. 21. An. 1559. Ferdinand held a Diete at Ausburgh where the Oratours of sundry Nations vere present and the Protestants did present their grievances to wit that albeit peace of religion was concluded confirmed by subscriptions seales yet the judges of the Chamber had enacted strict lawes in mixt causes against them and seing controversies do depend on religion they should be suspended conforme to the Articles of peace nor would the Popish Princes and Magistrates suffer their subjects freely to professe the Augustan Confession nor suffer them to sell their lands as the Articles do permitt that they may dwell in other territories but they imprisoned them or sent them away empty The other party wanted not replies The Emperour appoints another meeting when his Deputies shall hear both parties more fully The Protestants were content if a like number of Judges were chosen of both parties At that time they petitioned that liberty might be granted unto bb and clergy but it was not granted Ferdinand was addicted to Popery yet was not an enemy to Protestants Ere he was Emperour he was continually for warrs but afterwards he was desirous of peace He caused his son Maximilian to be chosen King of the Romanes An. 1561. and died An. 1564. CHAP III. Of diverse COVNTRIES IN the year 1516. Pope Leo X. under pretext to collect money for wars The occasion of the Reformation against the Turk sent indulgences through all Christendom granting pardon of sins both for guilt and punnishment unto all which would give money and extending this grace unto the dead if any would buy for them for his will was that for whomsoever the disbursment was made albeit they were in purgatory they should be free from their pain granting also liberty to eat eggs and milk on fast daies and to choose a Confessour unto themselves c. He began to distribute this harvest ere it was well sown giving unto certain persons the benefit to be reaped out of certain Provinces and reserving what pleased him for his own treasury Especially he gave the gain of Saxony and other parts of Germany about the seacost unto his Sister Magdalen and her husband Francis Cibo the base son of Pope Innocent VIII for recompense as he pretended of the charges the house of Cibo had sustained in the daies of Alexander VI. who was an enemy to the house of Medices and had chased Leo and others of that family out of Rome Magdalen living then at Genua agrieth with the B. Angelus Arembold and he proclaimed to give that power of selling these indulgences in Germany unto any which would ingage to bring up most money even so sordidly that none of credit would contract with him yet he wanted not merchants Pe. Soave in Hist. Conc. Trident. and he went into Denmark and Sweden Among these merchants was John Tecelius a Dominican who was once condemned by the Emperour Maximilian for adultery to bedrowned in the River at Ispruck but by intercession of Duke Frederik had escaped At this time returning into Germany he began to teach how great power he had from the Pope that albeit a man had defiled the Virgin Mary and had got her with childe he had power to forgive that sin for money and he had power to forgive not only sinnes already committed but whatsoever in one shall committ afterwards Shortly comes forth a little book under the name of Albert Bishop of Mentz commanding the pardoners to set forth these indulgences most diligently Joann Sleidan Commentar Libr. 13. It was the custom of Saxony that the Augustinians were imployed in the selling of Indulgences but Tecelius would rather employ the Dominicanes and they spent prodigally in taverns what others did spare from their necessaries to buy the pardons So the luxury of the pardon-mongers and the preaching of the Dominicans were scandalous to very many of all estates and the Augustinians took it ill that they were deprived of their priviledge Pe. Soave Iby II. MARTIN LVTHER was borne in Islebia a town of Mansfield The beginning of Martin Luther An. 1483. in the 22 year of his age he had finished his course of Philosophy in Erford
tumultuous talking of their Vocation and of the Supper After that day they changed again the form of Conference five men were chosen on either side to dispute all the matter peaceably On the one side were the five Ministers named before and on the other was Janus Bishop of Valencia Vallius Bishop of Seen Botiller an Abbot the Bishop of Salignac and Espensaeus the Sorbonist They agree on the order of disputation the time place and Notaries They began with the question of the Supper aforme of agreement was drawn up when it was shewd unto the Prelates they would not consent they framed another the next day and shew it unto the Ministers who would not admit that On the thrid day all the ten consented unto this forme We confess that Jesus Christ in the Supper offereth gives and truly exhibiteth unto us the substance of his body and blood by the operation of the Holy Ghost and that we eat spiritually the same body which died for us that we may be bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh to the end also that we may be quickned by him and may understand all things appertaining to our salvation And because faith being grounded on the word of God maketh things that are promised and understood by us to be present by this faith we truly and effectually receive the true and natural body of Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Ghost and in this respect we confess the presence of his body and blood in the Supper The other Prelates were content with this form but the Sorbonists would not and they blamed their chosen men that they had made a compact with the Ministers neither would they consent unto any more treating Thus was that Conference ended without any effect and the Ministers of Germany after three moneths did returne Ibid. Thus we have seen by what means God did revive the Gospell in France to wit by men of low condition at the first who suffered slaunders proscription stripes burning and every kind of vexation and when it pleased Him he joined unto the Church the Princes and Peers and He opened a wide doore unto the preaching of the Worde when the greatest enemies of the Trueth had the supreme power of government and yet seemed to be brought on their knies The University of Paris in proceedings ages had stood for the trueth and resisted errours creeping-in but at that time became most gross enemies And then Antony King of Navar not only resigned his part of the government unto the Queen and so unto the Guises but was also allured by fair promises of the Pope that he should have all his kingdom of Navar restored unto him and should have divorcement from his present wife and shall have the Queen of Scotland in marriage by whom he may be King of Scotland and England By such persuasions he left the Reformation and became a bitter enemy and seemed most of any to bring ruine unto the Church The Guises then and the Prelates lift up their heads again and used cruel butchery against the Reformed for in the year 1562. in the town Vassi the Reformed were assembled in a large Barn to heare the Word the Duke of Guise came upon them unawares and instantly killed 24. of them 45. were wounded so that within few dayes they died and the Minister with many others were carryed into prison At the same time by means of the Cardinal of Lorrain and the Marshall of Santandrae many of the common people in the town of Seenes and some of the Kings Counsellors were cruelly murdered It was done in like manner in many other places of France Osiander ex Beuther XLVII About the yeare 1540. sundry youngmen in Hungaria hearing The Gospell in Hungary of Luther and Melanthon went unto Witteberg to wit Steven Galssetsi Matthias Devai Andrew Batizi Steven Kis better known by the name Szegedin from his native town Benedict Abadi Emerik Ozorai and some others These being informed in the trueth return into their Country and preached the Gospell with happy success but not without persecution for the Monks stirred up the Civil power against them namely Devai was imprisoned at Cassow where a smith was also in the same prison for laiming the Kings horse in the shoeing there Devai informeth the smith in Religion afterwards the Kings horse amendes and the King commandeth to dismisse the smith and to burn Devai as an heretick The smith answereth I am of the same Religion with Devai and I will live or dy with him for I never knew what Religion or piety was untill I have learned it now from him When this was reported unto the King they were both set free The greatest enemy of those Teachers was George the Treasurer who had been a Monk of S. Pauls at Buda and among them all the most usefull in promoting the Truth was zegedin a learned man as his Works do shew he was persecuted from City to City where he came he had many hearers not only in the Schools but pulpits also and the more he was persecuted the more hearers flocked unto him and the Gospell was the more spread Amongst all those Students who went to Witteberg none maintained the opinion of Brentius concerning the Ubiquity but only Peter Melius and in the end he was convinced by Szegedin and did subscribe unto the truth Michael Starin a Baron became a preacher and Bishop of his own Barony near unto Tolna Mat. Scaric in vita Szegedini At Varadin a learned Mahumetan A dispâ—â—e between a papist and a Turk Deruis Gsielebi did provoke all the Franciscans unto disputation in matter of Religion Neither their Prelate George nor any of the Convent durst answer him wherefore the man like another Goliah did bragg against all Christians untill Bar. Georgieviz who had been a pilgrim and knew the Turkish language undertook the dispute The 29 day of May being the Pentecost in the year 1â—47 was appointed and many both Papists and Turcks assembled in the Monastery The Turk first asks where was God before the making of heaven and earth and other things This question seemed unto the Pilgrim to be impertinent as to the differences of Religion but lest the other might impute it unto his ignorance if he had declined it he said Before the creation God was in his own nature The Turk replieth This answer is dark and can not be understood Georgieviz said God was where He is now Deruis That could not be but He was in a cloud Georgieviz He could not be in a cloud for so a cloud had been before the heaven and the earth but this is contrary unto the words of Genesis The Turks read the books of Moses After more words on both sides Dervis bids the other propound then Georgieviz writeth out of the Alcoran these words in the Arabick language Bisem Allahe El rahmanne El ruoahim that is In the Name of God and of Mercy and of the Spirit and he
Caspar Contaren Reynold Poole Peter Bembus and Frederik Fregosius who all were sensible that the Church needed some Reformation Then Martyr was restored to his liberty of preaching but could not enjoy it long time for he became dangerously sick and by the advice of Physicians the Superiors of his order seeing that the air of that City did not agree with him made him General Visitor of the Order In that Office he so demeaned himself that good men much commended his integrity constancy and gravity and others feared him yet durst not discover their malice Not long after in a publick Convention of that Order he was made Prior of a Monastery in Luca some consented unto this promotion out of love others thinking it would be his ruine because of an enmity between Florence and Luca. But he engaged the hearts of the people there that he was no less beloved then if he had been born among them In that Colledge were many learned men and hopefull youths and he took care that the younger sort were instructed in the three languages for which end he had Paul Lacisius of Verona to read Latine Celsus Martinengus to read Greek and Immanuel Tremellius the Hebrew and for Divinity he himself daily expounded the Epistles of Paul and every night before supper he expounded a part of the Psalms Very many of the City of the Senators and Nobility resorted unto his Lecturs and he preached publickly every Lords day The enemies of the trueth could not endure him and laid snares for him nor could conceil their malice When he was admonished by his friends he chused to leave them and went to Strawsburgh What fruit his teaching brought forth may be known by this that in one years space after his departure eighteen Fellowes of that Colledge left it and went into the Reformed places among whom was Celsus Martinengus afterwards Minister of the Italian Church in Geneva Hieron Zanchius Im. Tremellius c. Many Citizens also went into exile voluntarily that they might enjoy the trueth in safety Ex Vita â—e Martyris Another instance was in Bonnonia in the year 1554. the Popes Governours attempted to make innovations there which the people would not receive contrary to their former Lawes The Innovators said They were not tied to former Lawes but had authority from the Pope who is King of the Countrey and may change statutes and ordinances without consent of the people Against this tyranny both the learned men and the people opposed themselves and in the Monastry of the black Friers was a generall Convention where Thomas de Finola Rector of the University set forth this Position All Rulers whether Supreme or Inferiour may and should be reformed or bridled to speak moderatly by them by whom they are chosen confirmed or admitted to their Office so oft as they break that promise made by oath unto their subjects Because the Prince is no less bound by oath unto their subjects then are the subjects unto their Prince and it should be kept and reformed equally according to Law and condition of the oath that is made by either party Vicenâ—ius de Placentia sustained this Position And when all reasons that the Popes Governors could alledge were heard the Pope was fain to take up the matter and did promise not only to keep the liberty of the people but that he should neither abrogate any antient Statute nor make any new one without their consent The Histor of the Reformation of Scotland Pag 399 edit Edinburgh 1644. which was writen by Jo. Knox albeit somesentences have been added by another after him At that time John Craig a Scotish man who afterwards was Minister of Edinburgh of whom mention is made hereafter was a Monk and considering the common doctrin of justification by works did not approve it and shewed unto an old Monk his arguments in the contrary The old man said It is true as you say but be silent lest you fall into danger for the dayes are evill But such was the mans zeal unto trueth that he could not contain himself and for this and other things that he taught he was carried to Rome and cast into prison with many hundreds more in the time of Paul 3 but they all escaped that night of the Popes death when the Citizens broke up the prisons XLIX John a Lasco a Noble man of Poland intending to see other Nations went to Zurik there he was easily perswaded by Zuinglius to betake himself Reformation in Poland to the studie of Divinity and where as he might have been advanced unto honour in his native Countrey yet such was his love to Christ and hatred to Popery that he choosed to embrace that Religion which hath it's soundation upon the Word of God In the year 1542. he was called to be Pastor at Embden the next year Anna the widow Countess of Oldenburgh invites him to reforme the Churches there which he endeavoured with great diligence Afterwards Edward King of England sent by information of Cranmer for him to be Preacher unto a Dutch Church at London In the first year of Queen Mary he obtained leave to return beyond sea a great part of his Congregation went with him and Martin Micron another Preacher to Copenhagen but the King would not suffer them to stay within his kingdoms unless they would embrace the doctrine of Luther concerning the local presence of Christs body and use the ceremonies ordained by him For the same cause they were refused by the Hans-towns and Churches of Saxony At last that vexed congregation was received at Embden Then he would visite his own Countrey after twenty years absence there he found many affecting a Reformation but few Preachers The Popish clergy sought by all means to destroy him or to have him bannished and they accused him unto the King for an heretick The King said Though they called him an heretick yet the States had not decerned so and he was ready to cleare himself from such imputations In the year 1557. a Parliament was assembled at Warsaw there was great contention for Religion The Princes whom they call Vaivodes crave that the Augustan Confession should be established The Bishops strove against it so that the Princes could not obtain any liberty Nevertheless after the Parliament they caused the Gospel to be preached in their own Provinces without the Kings permission John á Lasâ—o impugned the doctrine of the local presence and caused the trueth which the adversaries called Calvinisme to be received by many and unto this day that Church is miserably rent the King and most part are Popish many are Anabaptists few are Ubiquitaries yet a great many hold constantly the sounder Trueth L. When the Kings of Spain had subdued the Sarracens who had continued The Reformation in the Netherlands there some hundred years and expelled them out of the realm many of them not willing to leave the countrey fained themselves to be Christians and afterwards they were convinced to despise
such as disobeied or contemned the Superintendents in their function 3. That punishment be appointed for the abusers and contemners of the Sacraments 4. That no Letters of Session or warrant from any Judge be given to answer or pay tythes unto any person without speciall provision that the parishoners retain so much in their hands as is appointed for maintenance of the Ministry And that all such as are given heretofore be called in and discharged 5. That the Lords of the Session or any other Judges proceed not upon such Precepts or warnings past at the instance of them which lately have obtained fues of Vicarages and Manses and Churchyards and that sixe a kers if so much there be of the Gleeb be always reserved to the Minister according to the appointement of the book of Discipline 6. That no Letters of Session nor other Warrants take place untill the stipends contained in the book of Disciplin for maintenance of the Ministers be first consigned in the hands at least of the principalls of the parishioners 7. That punishment be appointed against all such as purchase bring home or execute within this realm the Popes Bulls The Tenour of the Supplication was this Please your Honours and the Wisdoms of such as are presently conveened with you A supplication of Barons burgesses in Counsell to understand that by many arguments we perceive what the pestilent generation of that Roman Antichrist within this realm pretends to wit that they would erect their idolatry take upon them Empire above our consciences and so to command us the true subjects of this realm and such as God of his mercy hath under our Soveraine made subject unto us in all things to obey their appetites Honesty craveth and conscience moveth us to make the very secrets of our hearts patent to your Honours in that behalf whichs is this That before ever these tyrants and dumb dogs empire above us and above such as God hath subjected unto us that wee the Barons and Gentle men professing Christ Jesus within this realm are fully determined to hazard life and whatsoever we have received from God in temporall things Most humbly therefore beseeching your Honours that such order may be taken that we have not occasion to take again the sword of just defence unto our hands which we have willingly after God had given Victory both to your Honours and us resigned over into your hands to the end that Gods gospell may be publickly preached within this realm the true Ministers thereof reasonably maintained idolatry suppressed and the committers there of punished according to the lawes of God and men In doeing whereof your Honours shall finde us not only obedient in all things lawfull but also ready at all times to bring under order and obedience such as would rebell against your just authority which in absence of our Soverain wee acknowledge to be in your hands besâ—eching your Honours with upright judgement and indifferency to look upon these few arâ—icles and by these our Brethren to signifie unto us such answer again as may declare your Honours worthy of that place whereunto God after some danger sustained in his mercy hath called you And let these enemies assure themselves that if your Honours put not order unto them that we shall shortly take such order that they shall neither be able to do what they list nor to live upon the sweat of the browes of such as are not debters unto them Let your Honours conceive nothing of us but all humble obedience in God But let the Papists be yet once again assured that their pride and idolatry we will not suffer This Supplication was sent by the Master of Lindsay the Lords of Lochinvar Pharniherst and Whittengham Tho. Menzies Provest of Aberdien and Ge. Lovell burgess of Dundy The Lords and Counsell made an Act ordinance answering to every head of these articles and commanded Letters to be answered thereupon At this time Lord James Stuard had returned from France and brought Letters from the Queen praying them to entertain quietnes and to suffer nothing to be attempted against the Contract of peace which was made at Lieth till her own coming home and to suffer the Religion publickly established to go forward c. This second fall got Satan after he had begun to trouble the Religion once established by Law The Histor. of Reformat Lib. 3. That book closeth with these words The books of discipline have been of late so often published that we shall forbear to print them at this time hoping that no good man will refâ—se to follow the same till God in a greater light establish a more perfite By these and many passages of the book it is cleare that at that time they did not judge it to be the constant rule of Disciplin in all time coming and so we will find that within few years the Assembly thought upon another Order XIV August 19. An. 1561. The Queen arrives at Lieth very many The Queens arrivall of all ranks come to congratulate her safe return much mirth was that week in Halirudhouse and Edinburgh On Sunday August 24. when preparation was for the Masse in the Chappell-Royal the hearts of the godly were stirred and some said openly Shall that Idol be suffered to take place again within this realm It shall not One carrying the candle was sore affrighted No Papist durst speak against them but Lord James took upon him to keep the Chappell-door when the Masse was ended the Priest was convoied betwixt the Lords of Coldingham Halirudhouse unto his chamber The next day the Queen comes into Privy Counsell Some were sent unto the Noblemen severally with these or such persuasions Alas will you chase our soverain from us She will incontinently return to her Galeys and then what will all Nations say of us may we not suffer her a litle while I doubt not but she will leave it if we were not assured that She may be won we should be as great enemies to the Masse as ye can bee her Uncles will go away and then we shall rule all at our pleasure would not we be as sorry to hurt the Religion as any of you would bee With these persuasions the fervency of many was abated and An Act concerning Religion an Act was made wherein her Majesty ordaines Letters to be directed and proclaimed that all the subjects should keep peace and Civil society while the Estates of the realme may be assembled and her Majesty shall have â—aken a finall order by their advice which her Majesty hopeth shall be to the contentment of all the Law bidding that none should take in hand privately or openly any alteration of the State of Religion or attempt any thing against the same which She hath found publickly universally standing at her arrivall under pain of death With certification that if any subjects shall come in the contrary he shall be held for a seditious person and raiser
Cambo refusing the censure of the Church violating the Ks Lawes and practizing against religion may be summoned according to the law That the Abbot of Holywood have no licence to depart out of the country And concerning D. Chalmers a Papist II. The Provest of Dundy and the Laird of Coluthy his Mas. commissioners crave that breethen may be authorized with commission to treat and conclude in such particulars as his Majesty hath to propound The assembly answereth They have found by experience â—ota that commission given to conclude hath done hurt unto the Church And where they are bidden not to medle with novelties they intend none III. Sundry references from Synods and presbyteries are discussed as one against the Bailives of Santandrews for a scandalous Letter published by them in presence of the congregation March 17 Another from Glasgow where Gawin graham and his complices were excommunicate and then upon repentance crave to be absolved they are remitted to their own presbytery after evidence of their repentance to be absolved c. The assembly conveenes at Edinburgh October 10. Robert pont is chosen The 46. Assembly Moderator I. The assembly is thinn Provinces are marked which have sent none and commissiones wherein all the commissioners come not that order may be consulted upon to correct them II. When an Act is concluded in the Generall assembly and no just cause interveenes to make a change of it it shall not be lawfull for any particular brother to call it into question in another Assembly III. The Commission for visiting the Colledges is renued II II. Because Commissioners are appointed and somtimes they depart before they have gotten their commission It is ordained that the Moderator receive from the Clerk the extract of every commission and send it timously unto the brethren IV. Ordaines every presbytety to call before them the Beneficed men within their own jurisdiction and take account how they have observed the Acts of the Assembly concerning the disposition of their church-livings and a just report to be made unto the next Assembly by the Moderator or their Commissioners as they will answer unto God and his Church And whereas some old possessors of taks pretend some particular reasons why the Church should consent It is ordained that such exceptions shall be first examined by the presbytery of that place and then returned unto the assembly that the suit may be decided according to equity V. The process led by the presbytery of Santand against Aleson Pierson with the process led by the same presbytery against Pa. Adamson and the process of the Synod of Fife justifying the accusation led against the said Patrik is exhibited and continued VI. In Sess 5. a supplication is read and allowed to be sent unto his Majesty as followes Sir the strict commission wee have received from the Eternall our God when in this your Ma s realm wee were made watch-men of his people and the fear full threatnings pronounced against these who neglect to execute faithfully every part of their weighty charge compell us presently to have recourse unto your Majesty perceiving things to fall forth to the great prejudice of Gods glory and no small appearance of utter wreck of this Church and Common well unless some remedy be hastily applied most humbly therefore beseeching your Majesty to weigh diligently and consider these few heads which with all reverence and observance wee do present looking for a gracious answer and speedy redress thereof 1. It is a great grief to the hearts of all them who fear God to see apostates sworn enemies to Christ to your Gr. and all your faithfull subjects forfeited for their treason some also suspected and heavily bruited for the murder of the most noble person your umquhile Father impugners of the truth by word and writ continuing still in their wickednes and unreconciled unto the Church To receive from your Majesty the Benefit of pacification to the prejudice of faithfull Ministers whom they labour violently by that means to dispossesse 2. That others from their youth nourished in the Church of God and thereafter fallen back fearfully and becom open runagates and blasphemers of the truth and maintainers of idolatry and of the man of sin lieutenant of Satan and oppressors of Gods people and nevertheless are received into Court authorized and so far countenanced that they are become familiar with your Majesty whereby besids the grief of your faithfull subjects many are brought to doubt what shall ensue upon such beginning 3. That an obstinat Papist sent into the Country to practize against God and quietness of your Gr. estate and therefore as worthy of death was imprisoned at your Ms command with promise that he shall not escape punishment yet as wee understand was by indirect means let depart and no tryall made to find out the author of his delivery 4. That your Majesty seemes to have too much liking of the enemies of God alswell in France as some within this realm who have never given testimony of any good meaning either in religion or your Majesties service besides the irreligious life and dissolute behaviour of them which in your Ma s service have succeeded to men that were known zealous in Gods cause and faithfull to your Gr. from your tender age 5. Since your Majesty took the Government in your own hand many promises have been made to take order for preserving the Church of God and continuance thereof unto posterity yet after long and continuall suit nothing is performed but in place of redress the Church is dayly bereft of her liberties priviledges 6. The thirds are set in tacks for sums of money in defraud of the Church so that Ministers hereafter cannot be provided 7. Abbecies are disponed without any provision made for the Ministers serving at the churches annexed thereunto directly against the Act of Parliam 8. Church-livings are given to children and translated into temporall Lordships 9. There is no punishment for incest witchcraft murder abominable oathes and other horrible crimes so that sin encreases dayly and provokes the wrath of God against the wholl country 10. Oftyms your Majesty interpones your authority by Letters of horning to stop the execution of the Acts made in the Gen. assembly in matters belonging properly unto the Church and no way concerning the Civill estate 11. There is a sore murmur among your Majesty lieges and a lamentable complaint that the Lawes of the Country have no place and none can be sure of his life lands nor goods These things threaten a misâ—rable confusion and the heavy hand of God to ensue Lastly wee most humbly beseech your Majesty to suffer us lament this great division among your Nobility and subjects the one part seeking by all means possible for their interess to persuad your Majesty to undo the other whereby continuall strife malice and rancor is fostered to the great danger of your Ma s person Whom God preserve unto his Church