â—8 Beda lib. 1. c. 31. l. 2. c. 2. Apud Godvvin in vit August Godvvin sup Stovv An. 603. Cambd. in Britan. p. 104. in diuers places S. Beda other ancient writers and by the Epitaph of S. Augustins tombe but coÌ„fessed also by diuers Protestants Againe in the yeare 601. he sent more Preachers and with them al things necessary for the furniture and seruice of the Church as holie vessels saith S. Beda Aultar Beda lib. 1. c. 29. clothes apparel for priests and Clarcks reliques of holie Apostles and Martirs and many bookes and a Palle to S. Augustin to vse only writeth S. Gregory at Masse Apud Bed sup appointed also him to be ouer al the Bishops and Priests of Britany and gaue him licence to institute 24. Bishopricks whereof 12. should be vnder his prouince and 12. vnder yorke Besides he sent rich presents of Bed lib. 1. c. 32. Gregor lib. 9. epist 59. 60. diuers sorts and letters vnto the King and Queene for to confirme them in their faith and sent order also into Gregor lib. 5. epist 10. France to buy such English youths as were there slaues and to send them vp to Rome there to be brought vp in vertue learning VVherein he gaue the example of the English Seminary which not long after our English Kings founded in Rome This was the exceeding loue of this B. Pope towards our Nation vvhom vve may vvel and must saith S. Beda lib. 2. c. 1. cal our Apostle and may lavvfullie pronounce of him that saying of the Apostle 1. Cor. â— Although he vvere not an Apostle to others yet he vvas vnto vs For the signe of his Apostleship vve are in our Lord. Neither was this great good so happilie begun and planted in our nation by S. Gregorie and his Legates neglected by the Popes his successors but rather diligentlie watered and furdered by them as appeareth by the letters Bed lib. 2. c. 10. 11. Huntingt l. 3. Bed lib. 2. c. 17. Hunting sup Bed lib. 4. c. 18. Hunt l. 4. p. 335. Malmesbur l. 1. Pontif. p. 197. VVestm onast A. 789. Malmesb. l. 2. Reg. p. 47. A. 804. P. Honorlus An. 635. Bed l. 3. c. 7. Gadvv in vit Birini P. Vitalian 668. Bed lib. 4. c. 1. 2. Gadvv in vit Theodori Antonin tit 14. c. 4. paragr 14. Lazius l. 3. de Cimmeriâ—s Ramus Poeta German apud CaÌ„bd in Britan. p. 105. Polid. lib. 5. Messages of diuers of them sent vnto our Princes and Bishops to that purpose as of P. Boniface 5. in the yeare 618. of P. Honorius in 633. of P. Agatho 679. P. Zacharie about 746. P. Adrian 789. P. Formosus 894. and others But most of al it was increased by P. Honorius his sending hither in the yeare 635. that Apostolical man S. Birin who conuerted the west Saxons and by P. Vitalian who in 668. sent hither those holie and great learned men S. Theodor and Adrian by whose teaching Englishmen in short time became the rarest men and best learned of their age and the first founders of the vniuersities in Paris and Pauia and consequentlie the chiefest fountaines of the learning which hath bene since in the west After this time Eardulf King of Northumberland being driuen out of his kingdome countrey P. Leo 3. in the yeare 808. P. Leo 3. An. 808. Amoinus l. 4. c. 94. Regino in chron Baron 808. sent Card Adalph his legate into England who with the helpe of Charles the greats Embassadors restored the King peaceablie vnto his kingdome Not long after P. Leo 4. dispensed P. Leo 4. 855. Gathezelin in vit S. Suithuni apud Sut. Baron 855. with King Ethelwal for to marry which he being a Subdeacon could not do lawfullie at the same kings request crowned his sonne Alfred VVestmonast 855. Baron sup King and adopted him for his sonne who afterward for his worthie deeds both in warre peace was surnamed the great and for al things became the rarest Prince that England and perhaps Christendom euer had Soone after in the yeare 883. at the suite of the King Alfred the great P. Martin P. Martin 1. 883. VVestmonast Baron A. 883. Gadvvin in vit Pleg 1. released the tribute which the English schoole or Seminary then in Rome paide sent to the King many guifts among which was a good piece of the holie Crosse In the yeare 990 when Richard Marques of Normandie had purposed to inuade England and make warre vpon king Ethelred P. Iohn 15. sent P. Ihon. 15. An. 990. Epist apud Malmesb. l. 2. Reg. c. 10. Baron An. 990. his Nuntio and letters to take vp the matter who happilie brought them to agreement and about the yeare 1059. P. Nicolas the second granted to king P. Nicolas 2. 1059. Epist ad Eduard R. apud Sur. in cit Eduardi Edward Conss and his successors aduocationem tuitionem omniuÌ„ totius Angliae Ecclesiarum the aduouzon protection of al the Churches in EnglaÌ„d And in the yeare 1094. P. Vrban 2. in P. Vrban 2. 1094. Malmesbur l. 1. Pontif. p. 223. Gadvvin in vit Anselmi a councel at Bari appointed that S. Anselme Archbishop of Canterburie and his successors should sit in Councels besides the Archdeacon of Rome who sitteth before the P. adding these honourable words Includamus hunc in orbe nostro tanquam alterius orbis Papam wheras before it was vnknowne saith Malmesbury what place belonged to our Archibishop the same place did P. Paschal 2. confirme in a councel at Rome about the yeare 1102. But besids this diuers other dignities haue bene graunted to the Sea of Canturb Malmesbur sup p. 208. 209. by the Popes as that it should be Primate ouer al Britany and the B legatinati Polid. lib. 13. Gadvvin in vit Theobaldi and other like dignities Moreouer in the yeare 1098. the Scottish men saith Genebrard out of Genebrard chron in Vrban 2. Pascali 2. Leone 9. Maior Boethius two Scottish Chroniclers obtained of P. Vrban 2. for their Prince that he might haue the name title and anointment of a king which the Hungarians and Polonians Baron An. 1000. had obtained for their Princes about the yeare 1000. whereupon Edgar was then first anointed King of Scotland And about 1107. P. Pascal P. Pascal 2. 1107. Malmesbur lib. 5. Reg. p. 163. 2. writing to king Henry 1. among other things promiseth so to fauor him and his sonne as vvho saith he hurteth you or him may seeme to haue hurt the Church of Rome And in the yeare 1152. when K. Steephen hauing vsurped the Crowne of England would haue caused the Bishops to Crowne his soÌ„ne Eustace thereby to exclude for euer the right heyre Henry 2. Pope Eugenius P. Eugenius 3. An. 1152. Stovv Aâ— 1152. Gadvvin in vit Theobaldi 3. sent commaundement to the Cleargie not to medle in that matter whereby it was hindered
Controuersies handled in this booke 1. Of the Popes supremacie Article 1. through out 2. Of the real presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the Alter Article 2. chap. 1. 2. 3. Of the Sacrifice of Masse Art 2. chap. 3. 4. 5. 6. 4. Of the Popes dispensations Article 3. through out 5. Of Original sinne concupiscence Article 4. through out 6. Of merit of good workes Art 8. through out 7. Of the distinction of mortal and venial sinns Art 6. through out 8. Of the sufficiencie of the holy Scripture Art 7. cap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 9. Of the difficultie of Scripture Ibid. chap. 6. 10. Of the vulgar peoples reading of scripture in vulgar tonges Ibid. c. 7. 11. Of the translating of holy Scripture into vulgar tonges Ibid. c. 8. 12. Of Traditions Art 7. chap. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Of the authority of late general counsayles ibid. chap. 13. 14. Of the oathes of Bishops Ibid. chap. 14. 15. Of the possibility of keeping Gods commandments Art 8. through out TO THE MOST HIGHE AND MIGHTIE PRINCE IAMES By the grace of God King of great Britanie France and Ireland Defendor of the Faith YF S. Paul Most Gratious Soueraigne being accused of the whole Synagog of the Iewes by their Orator Tertullus of diuers heynous crimes both against Gods and the Princes lawes found notwithstanding such equitie in the heathen President Festus as that he answered his aduersaries that it was not the Romans custome to coÌ„demne Act. 2â— any man before he haue his accusers present and place to make his answer and also such fauour at the The like reporteth Plutarch of K. Alexan. the great Act. 26. Iewish King Agrippa his hands as he both licenced him to speake for him selfe afforded him fauorable audience Much more cause haue your Maiesties Catholique Subiects being accused of the ministers by a hyred spokesman Bel to expect the like yea greater fauor equitie at your Graces handes For if the Romans though Heathens thought it iniustice to condemne any particular man at the clamors of a whole nation before his accusers were present and his defence were heard And if King Agrippa albeit He killed S. Iames and emprisoned S. Peter Act. 12. a Iew persecutor of Christians deemed it notwithstanding a Princes part to geueÌ„ audience to one accused of that Religion which he both hated and persecuted How much more wil a Christian Prince forbeare to condemne the vniuersal cause of his Catholique subiects at the slaunders and outcries of ministers one hyred Proctor before their accusers be brought face to face and they haue time and place graunted to answer for them selues wherein we shal account our selues more happy then S. Paul because we shal plead our cause not before a Iewish but a Christian King such a one as better knowerh the questions and customes of the Christians then King Agrippa did of the Iewes VVherfore seeing that of late Thomas Bel a fugitiue once from Protestants religion as he is now from Catholiques hath not only accused but also malitiously slaÌ„dered the vniuersal Catholique cause in a booke which he hath dedicated to your Maiestie termed it the Dovvnefall of Poperie and withal challengeth dareth yea adiureth in which case our B. Sauiour Matth. 26. though with danger of his life made answer al English Iesuits Seminary Priests and as he speaketh Iesuited Papists to answer him I haue presumed vpon your Gratious fauour to accept his chaleng and am ready to performe it hand to hand if your Maiestie graunt licence and in the meane time to dedicate to your Name this my confutation of his arguments and slaunders VVherin I speake not for my selfe as S. Paul did before King Agrippa but for the religion of your owne Progenitors and Predecessors for the faith of our Forefathers for the cause of al Catholiques and for the good I dare say of your Maiesties owne person kingdoms For though Bel calumniate Christian Kinges and pag. 17. Emperors with opening the window to al Antichristian tyranny and Catholiques generally with thinking p. 1. 22. Christ to be killed a thousand times a day and the like yet especially he slandereth the Popes with vsurping power proper to God and to depose Princes and dispose of their kingdomes at his pleasure therby to alienate your mind from the Sea Apostolike wherin he not onely abuseth your patieÌ„ce with telling you vntruths but greatly harmeth and endamageth your selfe and Realme by endeuoring through Vir Apostata prauo corde machinatur maluÌ„ omni tempore iurgia Seminat â—ouer c. 6. his false slanders to auert your minde from the Popes who haue bene the most ancient most assured and most beneficial frends which the Kinges Realme of England euer had VVhich thing that I may make manifest vnto your Grace I humbly beseech you geue me leaue to set downe some praticular examples of the mutual amitie kind offices benifites which haue euer bene betwixt the Popes and the Princes of this land VVherein if I be somewhat longer then men in Epistles The loue benefits of Popes to England and Kings therof S. Peter P. vse to be I hope that the varietie and profit of the matter wil make requital Not long after the Apostolike Seat was settled in Rome S. Peter the first Pope about the 63. yeare of Christ came hither as not only Gretians but Metaphrast tract de Pet. Paul apud Lippoman Cambden in descrip Britanâ—â— p. 52. And Nicephor as he saieth Protestants also confesse stayed here a long time conuerted many Nations to Christs faith erected Churches ordered Bishops and Priests and being admonished of an Angel returned from hence to Rome to suffer Martyrdome Neither was this loue to our Countrie extinguished by death but as he promised to some so he had it 2. Pet. 1. also in mind after his death and miraculously assisted it in the greatest distresses So that truly wrote S. Sergius Malmesbur lib. 1. Pont. Angl. p. 209. 1. Pope vnto our Kings of England almost a thousand yeares agoe that S. Peter was mindful of them Pope Alexander 3. to King Henry 2. â—ugubin de donat CoÌ„st that England was vnder S. Peters protection euer since Christs name was glorified there For when our country about the yeare 611. began to Apostatate from the faith of Christ and the Bishops were determined to forsake the land S. Perer appearing to Sainct Laurence Arch-bishop of Canturbury did seuerly rebuke and scourge him because he would abandon the flocke which I said S. Peter coÌ„mitted vnto thee This miracle is so certaine as some ProtestaÌ„ts confesse it though Gadvvin in the life of S. Laurence some others wil not beleue it because they haue neither seene nor put their singers into S. Laurence his wounds yet it may suffice any indifferent man that it was auouched by S. Laurence beleeued by King Edbald his people lib. 2. hist
In the yeare 1160. P. Adrian 4. gaue vnto King P. Adrian 4. 1160. Stovv An. 1160. Henrie 2. the dominion and regiment of Ireland and sent vnto him the Bul of his graunt with a ring of golde in VVestmon token of the inuestiture which grauÌ„t at the request of the said K. P. Alexander 3. P. Alexander 3. An. 1171. Houeden p. 1. Annal. p. 528. Polid. lib. 13. P. Lucius 3. 1185. Houed p. 2. p. 628. coÌ„firmed to him his heyres And as for P. Lucius 3. successor to the said Alexander his good wil appeareth by the great praise which he giueth to our English kings whom he writeth to haue far exceeded the rest of ChristiaÌ„ Princes in warlike prowes and noblenes of minde VVhich affection continued also in his successor P. Vrban 3. of whom as Houeden P. Vrban 3. An. 1185. part 2. p. 631. writeth K Henry 2. obtained many things whereof one was that he might crowne which of his sonnes he would of the kingdome of Ireland which he Stovv Ann. 1185. confirmed by a bul and in token of his good wil confirmation sent to him a crowne And lastlie P. Clement the P. Clement 3. An. 1189. Hovved p. 2. pag. 652. VVestmonast A. 1189. third in the yeare 1189. when not only the French king but also his sonnes and Nobles had conspired against the said K inuaded his dominions with a far greater power then he was able to resist sent a Cardinal to exhort them to peace who excommunicated the hinderers of the peace and threatned to interdict the French kings countrey vnles he made peace with England Likewise in the yeare 1193. when K Richard Ceur de lyon was taken prisoner as he came from the holie land by the Duke of Austria P. Celestin 3. P. Celestin 3. A. 1193. VVestmon Ann. 1193. Stovv 1195. Polid. l. 14. at the K request excommunicated the D and enioyned him to release the couenants which he had constrayned the K to make and to send home the pledges who not obeying the Pope he soone after died miserablie and was left vnburied vntil his sonne had sent home the pledges and sworne to stand to the iudgemeÌ„t of the Church And in the yeare 1207. P. Innocent 3. P. Innocent 3. An. 1207. Stovv Ann. 1207. sent to K Iohn an eloquent Epistle and diuers pretious Iewels And in the yeare 1215. when the Barons had extorted from the said king certaine charters and liberties the P. at the Kings request disanulled them and Stovv 1195. 1296. 1297. Gadvvin in vit Steph. Langton Polid. lib. 15. 16. excoÌ„municated the Barons which had rebelled against him when the said Barons had called in Lewis the Prince of France chosen him their King and yeelded the chiefest Citties holdes into his hands soe that England was in euident danger to be lost the P. sent his Legate to assist kinge Iohn and to forbid the French vpon paine of excoÌ„munication to enter into England which he stoutlie performed Also in the yeare 1253. P. Innocent 4. P. Innocent 4. An. 1253. Comin ventura nella relat de Napoli Polid. lib. 16. Stovv A. 1254. bestowed the Royal title and right of the kingdomes of Naples and Sicily vpon Edmond sonne to K Henry 3 and sent by a Cardinal the inuestiture thereof And 1257. P. Alexander 4. P. Alexander 4. Ann. 1257. VVestmon An. 1259. sent Messengers vnto Richard brother to the said king for to assure him of the Imperial dignity and to exhorte him to goe into Germany to receaue it which he did and was crowned king of Romans at Aquisgran And in the yeare 1292. when the Barons had wrested out of the said K. hands certaine liberties P. Vrban 4. at the P. Vrban A. 1262. Stovv Ann. 1262. 1264. kings suite sent a Legate to accurse the Barons that had rebelled in defence of the said liberties Againe in the yeare 1272. at the request of king Edward 1. P. Gregory P. Gregory 10. An. 1272. VVestmon An. 1272. Polid lib. 17. 10. excommunicated Guy of Monfort for killing the kings Coosin German in a church at Viterbo and condemned him of wilful and priuy murder of Sacriledge and treason declared him to be infamous and incapable of any office in the commonwealth and disherited his posterity vnto the fourth generation and excommunicated al those that intertained him and interdicted their dominions And in the same kings time was Cambridge of a Cambden in descript Cantabrig p. 435. ex Remington p. Clement 5. 1311. Clement â—it de Magâ—st c. 1. schoole made an vniuersity by the P. soone after in the yeare 1311. vnder king Edward the second P. Clement 5. appointed that in Oxford should be read two lectures of the Hebrew Arabick and Caldaick tongue and authorized it for one of the famousest vniuersities in Christendome Also in P. Ihon. 22. An. 1316. Polid. lib. 17. Stovv An. 2316. the yeare 1316. P. Iohn 22. at K Edward 2. his request sent two Legates to make peace betwixt England and Scotland and to reconcile Thomas Earle of Lancaster to the King who excommunicated the Scots because they would not agree to peace And in the same yeare at the kings petitioÌ„ the P. confirmed al the ancient priuiledges of the vniuersity of Cambridge which of long time they had enioyed by the benefit writeth Stow of the Stovv 1317. Popes predecessors Moreouer in the yeare 1489. Pope P. Innocent 8. A. 1489. Stovv Ann. 1486. Innocent the eight sent a Nuntio to take vp the variance betwixt the King of Scotland and his people but before his arriual the King was slaine And about the yeare 1504. When there arose a contention betwene K Henry 7. Ferdinand King of Spaine about the precedence P. Iulius 2. hauing P. Iulio 2. A. 1504. Valaterran Comin ventura Stovv ib. heard both their Embassadors gaue sentence for the King of England And in the yeare 1505. sent to the said King a sword Cap of maintenance as to a defendor of the Church But as no King of EnglaÌ„d deserued better of the Sea Apostolick then K Henry 8. did for a long time so none receaued more honor from thence then he did For he receaued not only from P. Iulius 2. in the yeare 1514. a sword and Stovv 1514. Cap of maintenance for defending him against the French king But also of Pope Leo 10. in the yeare 1521. P. Leo 10. A. 1521. Stovv A. 1521 Onuphr chron 1520. the most honourable title of Defendor of the faith for defendig by writing the Catholique faith against Luther VVhich title as it is more honorable then the titles of most Christian or Catholique giuen likewise by Popes to the French K and K. of Spaine so was it euer highlie estiemed of K. Henry and by him caused to be engrauen Stovv did see it An. 1547. on his tombe where he left the title out of his Supremacie And
the Citty Tociacum K. Richard Ceur de Lion at the exhortation of the P. went in person to the holy land with an army of 30. thowsand foote and fiue thowsand horse in which voiage he conquered the kingdome of Ciprus citty of Ptolemais and ouerthrew the Souldan in a great battel and the like enterprise afterward vndertooke K. Edward the K. Henry 2. An. 1241. Stovv An. 1241. first in the yeare 1241. King Henry 3. placed the Popes Legate in the most honourable roome of the table at a publique banquet in Christ-masse betwixt him selfe and the Archebishop of yorke And afterward vvith great pompe saith Stowe and innumerable company of Nobles and trumpets sounding before brought him to the Sea How deuout K. Richard 2. and Englishmen K. Richard 2. Stovv An. 1407. in his time were to the Sea of Rome appeareth by their building an hospital there for receit of English Pilgrims insteed of the foresaid Seminary which as it seemeth was destroyed in that great burning of Rome in the yeare 1084 in the place where S. Thomas of Canturbury had before built a chappel in honor of the B. Trinity This hospital was afterward in the raigne of K. Henry 6. and Henry 7. reedified and much encreased and lastlie in the yeare 1570 was much bewtifyed and augmented both in buildings and reuenews by P. Gregory 13. and by him conuerted to the auncient vse of a Seminary retayning stil the obligation of an hospital The affection of K. Henry 4. appeareth K. Henry 4. A. 1409. Stovv Ann. 1409. by his letter to the Pope A. 1409. which he beginneth thus Most holy father our humble recommendations in filial vvise premised And afterward hauing taken vvith our said sonne and also vvith our Prelats and Nobles mature deliberation vve beseech vvith al humility require your clemency vvhose state and honor vpon diuers causes as a deuout sonne of the Church so far as vve might vvith God vve haue euer embraced and do embrace by the expresse and vvhole assent of the estates aforesaid c. And as for King Henry 5. he in the yeare 1416. sent his K. Henry 5. An. 1416. Stovv Ann. 1416. Embassadors to the general Councel at Constance at whose procurement it vvas there ordained that England saith Note this Stowe should obtaine the name of a nation be said one of the fiue Nations that ovve their deuotiō to the Church of Rome vvhich thing vntil that time men of other Nations for enuie had letted Behould what an honor K. Henry 5. the Alexander of England and Conqueror of France and England in his most florishing triumphant time accounted it to owe deuotion to the Church of Rome VVhich now Ministers would accoūt so dishonourable And as for K. Henry K. Henry 7. An. 1505. 7. your Maiesties great grandfather his affection is euident by the sword and cup of maintenance sent to him from the Pope spoken of before But none of the kings of the Norman bloud euer shewed so great signes of loue affection to the Sea Apostolike as K. Henry 8. did for a long time K. Heury 8. A. 1511. 1521. Stovv 1511. 1512. 1513. Onuphr in Iul. 2. for first in the yeare 1511. he wrate to the French K. to desist from molesting Pope Iulius 2. and in the next yeare sent an army of ten thousand men into France for the Popes defence And in the yeare 1513. wēt him selfe in person with a royal army conquered Turwin and Turnay And not content to defend the Pope with his sword in the yeare 1521. wrate an excellēt booke Stovv An. 1521. in his defence against Luther And againe in the yeare 1527. when Pope Clement 7. was taken prisoner by the Emperors souldiers he gaue monethlie Stovv An. 1532. 60. thowsand Angels to the maintenance of an armie for the Popes deliuery And in this singular affection towards the Sea Apostolik continewed he vntil the 22. yeare of his raigne Stovv 1530. deinceps An. 1530. when not vpon any iniury offered by the P. or dislike of his religion which except the matter of supremacy he defended to his death and persecuted the Protestants but only vpon occasion of delaie saith Stowe made by the Pope in his controuersie of deuorcement and through displeasure of such reports as he he ard had bene made of him to the court of Rome and thirdlie pricked forvvards by such counsellers to follovv the example of the Germanes he first forbad the procurement of any thing from Rome and soone after prohibited al payments and appeales to Rome and lastlie tooke vpon him that supremacy which al his Christian predecessors had acknowledged to be in the Pope Thus your Maiestie seeth how long how honourablie and how profitablie also vnto both parties hath the mutual amity and league of friendship betwixt the Sea Apost and the Princes of al the foure Nations that haue swaied the Scepter of England continewed and flourished how of late it was broken by one Prince vpon meere passion contrary to the example of al his Predecessors and Successors also except one childe and a woeman VVhat dangers and troubles he and his kingdome incurred thereby and how his progeny according as Frier Poeto did then foretel him is now consumed and his Crowne translated to an other Royal lyne against which in his time he made sharpe war I need not here declare Only I wil say that him selfe being after more free from passion laboured to be reconciled to the Sea Apostolike and employed therein B. Gardener as he professed in a sermon at Paules Crosse and had easelie obtained it if he would haue acknowledged his fault and done penance VVhat remaineth for me to conclude this long epistle but prostrate at your Maiesties feet humblie to beseech you for your owne good and in the name of the foresaid Christian Princes that as you are the head of the fieft Nation which according to Gods prouidence foretolde by a holy man Hunting l. 6. p. 359. many hundred years agoe hath attained to the rule of this land so you would continew that most auncient honourable and proffitable league of friendship which was betwixt them al and the Sea Apostolicke who I beseech your grace wil giue you more faithful councel then your owne Progenitors and forefathers who can giue you more safe and secure directiō in gouernement of your kingdome then your owne Predecessors who soe happily and so long time gouerned it who are so worthie to giue you example or whom can you with so much honor imitate as so many so valiant so prudent Princes and yet they al with one voice counsel and request you to follow in this so importāt a matter not so much them selues as the councel of the wisest King that euer was yea of God himselfe in these words Thine ovvne Prouerb 27. friend and thy fathers friend see thou forsake not especiallie such a one as hath euer
auoucheth That ordinarily he can not depose Princes euen for iust causes 7. But let vs heare Bel disproue him self Anatomy of Popish tyrany in the Caueat to the Reader and lib. 2. cap. 4. §. 10. c. 9. 1. Contradiction Secular Priests saith he write plainly and resolutly that the Pope hath no power to depriue Kings of their royal Scepters and regalities nor to giue away their Kingdomes to an other In which opiniō likewise the French Papists do concurre iump with them Item The Seculars although they acknowledge the Popes power supereminent in Spiritualibus yet do they disclaime from it in temporalibus when he taketh vpon him to depose Kinges from their empires and translate their Kingdomes And least we should thinke these few Priests who wrote so were no Papists Bel him self testifieth that they are the Popes deare Vassals and professe the selfe same religion with Epistle to the King other Catholiques 8. The third vntruth conteined in the proposition is that we teach the doctrine of his proposition as a pointe of our faith wherevpon he inferreth in his conclusion our religion and faith to be false Because we teach no such doctrine at al and much lesse as a point of our religion or faith And the grauest best learned amongst Catholiques attribute to rhe Pope onely spiritual superiority ouer Princes and power to depose them in that case wherin our Sauiour said Math. 18. that it were better for a man to be cast into the sea then to liue to wit when they so scandalize others as their deposition is necessary for the saluation of soules as I haue already shewed out af Bellarmin Bel. parag 29. whose testimony in this matter Bel can not refuse seing he calleth him the mouth of Papists and auoucheth his doctrin to be the Popes owne doctrin And this doctrin good Christiā Princes account no more preiudicial or iniurious to their estates then they do the like doctrin of S. Paul 2. Cor. 10. where he professeth him self to haue power to destroy al loftines extolling it self against the knowledge of God to be ready to punish al disobedience 9. Wherfore to requite Bel with a syllogisme like vnto his owne I argue thus you Bel tel vs that we Papists saie the Pope is aboue al powers and potentates on earth that he can depose Kings and Emperours and translate their empiers at his good wil and pleasure But this your tale is a very tale false absurd and nothing else but a mere fable and consequently your late chalenge consisteth of mere falsehoods fables flat leasings The proposition is your owne wordes the truth of the assumption appeereth by my answer to your argument And thus much touching Bels vntruthes vttered in his proposition and proofe therof now let vs come to his dissemblinge CHAP. II. The opinion of protestants touching Princes Supremacie set dovvne LVTHER an Euangelist as he termeth him selfe or as other accompte him Luther lib. cont stat eccles in prologo in glossa cont decreta Caesar Ex Sur. An. 1531. 1539. Pope of Recusamy p. 31. 32. Magdeburg praefat Centur 7. Caluin in c. 7. Amos. an Apostle a prophet a third Elias a beginner of protestantisme in his booke of secular power condemneth those Princes who prescribe laws to their subiects in matter belonging to faith and the Church Magdeburgians his first and cheefest childeren write thus Let not Magistrats be heads of the Church because this Supremacy agreeth not to them Caluin saith they were blasphemers who attributed the supremacy to King Henry 8. And lest we shold think that only forayne Protestāts are of this opinion Antony Gilby in his admonition to England and Scotland Gilby calleth King Henry a monstrous bore for taking the supremacy that he displaced Christ was no better then the Romish Antichrist made him selfe a God And lately VVillet cōtract 791. part 1. and 3. p. 269. 270. Willet auoucheth That Bishops and Pastors haue a spiritual charge ouer Kings that Kings ought to yeeld obedience to those that haue ouersight of their soules That Heathen Princes had the same power and authority in the Church which Christian Princes haue and yet soone after affirmeth That heathen Princes cold not be heads of the Church that is to haue the Souereingty of external gouernment Againe That the King is nether mistical nor ministerial head of the Church that the name of head is vnproperly giuen to the Prince and if any think it to great Kings not so much is ministerial heads of the Church by vvillet a name for any mortal man we wil not saith he greatly contend about it So we see he denyeth both name and authority of the head of the Church to Kings 2. And his Maiesty perceaued that Reanolds and his fellows aymed at a Scottish Presbitry which agreeth with a Monarch Conference p. 82 83. as wel as God and the diuel page 79. and acknowledged his supremacy only to make their partes good with Bishops as Knox his fellow ministers in Scotland made his grandmother head of the Church therby to pul downe the Catholique Bishops Yea that the whole English Clergy is in their harts of the same opiniō appeareth by their open profession to agree in religion with forayne Protestants who plainly deny the supremicy of Princes by their writing and Apologia pag. 28. teaching that Christ alone can behead of the Church by their condemning Catholiques for attributing such authority to man and finally by their Synodical explication of the article of supremacy which they expound thus That Princes should rule al estates Lib. 39. Artic. art 37. and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiastical or temporal and restrayne with the ciuil sword the stubborne and euil doers wherein we see no power in Ecclesiastical causes granted to Princes but only ouer Ecclesiastical persons And we deny not that Princes haue any power ouer Ecclesiastical persons yea in the very canon of the Masse as priests pray for Papa nostro N. and Antistite nostro N. for our Pope and Byshop so they pray for Rege nostro N. acknowledging the one to be their King as the others to be their Prelates and consequently both to haue power ouer them For as S. Augustin said and it is euident Rex à Augustin in Psalm 44. 67. regendo dicitur a King is so called of power to gouerne And as ecclesiastical persons be ciuil or politique members of the common wealth wherein they liue so haue they See Stapelton relectione Controuersiae 2. q. 1. a. 1. ad 2. Victoria relectione de potesta ecclesiastica sect 7. the same politique or ciuil head which that commonwealth hath for otherwise either ciuil members should haue no ciuil head at al which were monstrous or not be vnder the head of that body whereof they be members but onely vnder a ciuil head of an other body which is
Iohannes Six emprisoned 9. Paschorlis 2. Boniface 8. Vrbanus 6. Clement 7. besyd Sergius 1. others whom they attempted to imprison They haue deposed as much as they could sixteene vz. Iohannes 12. al. 13. Benedict 5 Gregory 5. Benedict Sixteene deposed 8. and 9. Alexander 2. Gregory 6. and 7. Gelasius 2. Innocent 2. Alexander 3 Iohn 22. Vrban 6. Martin 5. by Alphons King of Arragon Platin. in Alexand. 3. Liberality of Popes tovvards England Stovve an 1171. Polidorus lib. 16. Comin ventura in relation de Napoli VVhen vvould Luther and Caluin haue giuen three Kingdomes to England Eugen. 4. by procurement of Philip Duke of Millen Iulius 2. whereas on the contrary side to omit spiritual benefits Popes haue bestowed the Empire vpon almost al them Emperours whom they deposed and haue refused to take the Empire from the Germans though they haue bene much sollicited thereto by the Grecians and to let passe their liberality to other Princes they haue bestowed the Kingdome of Ireland vpon Henry the second and of Naples and Sicily vpon Henry 3. and the most honourable title of defender of the faith vpon Henry 8. Kings of England hereby may the indifferent reader euen setting aside the iustice of the cause and considering only the fact clearly perceaue whether Christian Emperours and Princes haue more tiranized ouer Popes then Popes ouer them now let vs come to Bels proofe of his ould slaunder here againe renued of the Popes taking vpon them power proper to God alone 28. A Closse saith he affirmeth the Pope Bel pag. 14. Gloss lib. 1. tit 7. c. 3. to haue celestial arbitrement to be able to alter the nature of things applying the substance of one to an other and to make something of nothing and the Pope saith Bel is wel pleased there with Answer As for the Pope being pleased with the foresaid words it is more then Bel knoweth but sure I am he detesteth them if they be meant of power to create or proper to God alone But wel I see that which doth not displease Bel if it be giuen to Princes he condemneth as intolerable blasphemie if it be attributed to Popes For the foresaid words are al in the ciuil lawe and by the Emperours applied either to them selues or to the Pope as the Emperours Gratian Valentinian and Theodosius de sum Three Emperours say the P. hath celestial arbitrement Trin. lib. 1. affirme the Popes to haue celestial arbitrement and condemne them as infamous hereticks who follow not the religion of Pope Damasus and his arbitrement in spiritual matters may be called heauenlie because his authority therein came from heauen That of altering the nature of things and applying the substance of one to an other the Emperour Iustinian C. communia de leg lib. 2. applieth to him selfe Of vvhat things Popes or Princes can alter the nature and meaneth of ciuil contracts as legacis and feoffees in trust which by his imperial power he can alter and change and the like power saith the glosse hath the Pope in contracts pertayning to spiritual matters But of altering the nature of natural things neither the Emperour nor the glosse dreamed 29. But the words which Bel most vrgeth are that the Pope can make de nihilo aliquid something of nothing For saith he it is a thing proper to God to make something of nothing in al cases and at al tymes But besides that the glosse neither saith that the Pope can make de nihilo aliquid but de nullo aliquid neither yet in al cases and al times as Bel addeth the foresaid words are taken out of Iustinian C. de rei vxor act lib. 1. where the Emperour Of vvhat nothing Popes or Princes can make something saith that because he can make to be accompted a stipulation where none is much more he can an insufficient stipulatiō to be sufficient the like authority in humane contracts touching spiritual matters the glosse attributeth to the Pope this he meant when he said the Pope can de nullo fecere aliquid of no contract make one which Bel would applie to creatiō making creatures of nothing as God made the world 30. Secondlie he proueth his slaunder out of Gersons rep ort before answered and thirdlie out of Gregory 9. saying Ad firmamentum Gregor 9. lib. 1. de cre◠tit 33. c. 6. Caeli c. to the firmament of heauen that is of the vniuersal church God made two lights Pontifical authority and power Roial that we may knowe there is as much difference betweene Pope Kings as bet wixt sunne moone Is here any word of authority belonging to God or yet of deposing Kings but only a cōparison of Pontifical Royal power with the sunne moone allowed by the publique letters VVritten 1279. and one extāt in Baron tom 10. an 996. Matth. 16. vers 19. 18. Iob. 21. v. 15. 16. Act. 20. v. 18. Matth. 28. v. 19. of three Princes electors and a preferring of the Pontifical before the Royal which if Bel had any feeling of Christianity in him he would not deny Is not the loosing and binding of sinns in heauen earth of preaching the ghospel admnistring the sacraments of feeding Christs sheepe and the like which belongeth to Bishops as is euident out of scripture far more excellent then Royal power which as wel woemen and children as men infidels as Christians may haue 31. The sunne moone are of the same Royal povver far inferour to Pontifical nature and quality differing only in more or lesse light but Royal power is both of nature and quality far inferiour to Pontifical thas is more humane and begun by Constantin called Bishops Gods and professed him self vnder them Ruffin lib. 1. hist c. 2. men this supernatural and instituted by God that common to Infidels this proper to christians that passeth not earth this reacheth to heauen that concerneth only the body this the soule that helpeth men to worldhe and transitorie quietnes this to heauenlie and euerlasting rest Bel could not abide Pope Gregory saying Pontifical authority excelled Royal as far as the sunne excelleth the moone nor the glosse saying it excelled it 47. times how then wil he abide S. Chrisostom saying it excelleth the kingdome Chrisost l. 3. de sacerd Ambros lib. de dignit sacerd c. 2. as much as the soule douth the body or S. Ambrose saying that nothing can be equal to Pontifical dignity and that Royal glorie and Princes crownes are far more inferiour to it then lead is to glistering gould And againe nothing in this world is more Ibid. cap. 3. excellent then priests nothing higher then Bishops or S. Ignatius saying that nothing is more honourable Ignat. epist ad Smirnenscs in the church then Bishops and that we owe the first honour to God the second to Bishops the third to Kings he exclamed against the glosse for affirming the Pope
concluded thus I vvil not gaine Bed lib. 3. c. 25. Bar. An. 664. say such a Porter as this is but as far as I knovv and am able I vvil couet in al points to obey his ordinance And in the yeare 670 he bare saith S. Bede such loue and affection lib. 4. cap. 5. to the Apostolike Sea of Rome as if he might haue eskaped his sicknes he purposed to goe to Rome and to end his life in those holie places there But what he could not through death performe the valiant Prince King Cedwalla did in the very flour K. Cedualla An. 689. of his age and prosperity For in the yeare 689. forsaking his kingdome saith S. Beda he vvent to Rome thinking it to Beda lib. 5. c. 7. be a singular glory and renovvme for him to be regenerated vvith the Sacrament of Baptisme at the Sea Apostolicke And vvithal conceaued hope that as soone as by baptisme he vvas cleansed from sinne he should depart from this vvorld to immortal ioy VVhich by Gods prouidence was perfourmed and he honourablie buried by the Pope in S. Peters Church Not long after him to wit in the year 709. two English Kings Coenred and K. Coenred and Offa. 709. Offa forsooke their kingdomes went to Rome and there became Moncks Lib. 5. cap. 10. Baron 709. Huntingt l. 4. p. 337. Malmesb 1. reg c. 6. Marian. chro VVestmonast 710. Sigeb 707. Polid. lib. 4. Fox l. 2. K. Ina. An. 726. Lib. 5. cap. 7. Baron 726. Ethelvvead l. 2. c. 13. Huntingt l. 4. p. 338. Malmefbur l. 1. Marian chron Stovv 685. Fox l. 2. VVestmon An. 727. Geneb 741. Polid lib. 4. Stovvv in Ina. continuing saith S. Beda at the Apostles tombes in praying fasting dealing almes vntil their dying day Ina al. Hun successor to K. Cedwal in his kingdome succeeded him also in his deuotion to the Sea Apostolike for after he had raigned saith S. Beda 37. years he gaue ouer his kingdome vvent him selfe to the tombs and monuments of the Apostles in Rome as in those daies many English both of the Nobility and Commons spiritual and temporal men and vvoemen vvere vvont to doe vvith great emulation Neither went he only to Rome but became there a Monke and was the first that paied the Peter pence appointing that euery householder of his kingdome who English Seminary in Rome almost 900. years agoe had thirty peny worth of Cattel of one sort should pay yearlie one penny to Rome which money was partlie for the P. partlie for the maintenance of an English schoole or Seminary which VVestmon A. 727. 794. he then built in Rome for bringing vp of English youths there in vertue and learning Not long after about the 750. yeare S. Richard K. forsooke his kingdome S. Richard K. A. 750. Sur. 7. Februar Baron 750. leauing his two sonnes in Germany with S. Boniface an Englishman the Popes Legate there went him selfe in Pilgrimage to R. but dying in the way at Luca is there honourablie buried And the yeare 775. King Offa though K. Offa. An. 775. Fox l. z. Martyr a warlike Prince gaue ouer his kingdome went to Rome and there became a Monke and imitating the example of King Ina increased the English See Malmesbur l. 2. reg c. 2. p. 38. VVestmon An. 794. Bar. 775. Polid. l. 4 Hunting l. 4. p. 342. Greg. 7. l. 8. epâ—st vlt. Baron A. 782. Seminary begun by him and imposed the like pension of Peter pence vpon his kingdome of Mercia as Charles the great about the same time imposed vpon France the like tribute to be paid to Rome The loue and affection of King Kenulph a worthie K. Kenulph An. 808. Annal. Fran. Baron 808. Malmesbur 1. Reg. c. 4. p. 30. 33. Prince and successor to King Offa appeareth by his redeeming the Popes Legate taken of Pirats in the yeare 808. and by his submissiue letter to the Pope wherin he humblie craueth his blessing as al his predecessors had desireth to be adopted for his sonne as I saith the King loue you like a father embrace you vvith al obedience And protested to be willing to spend his life for the Pope After him King Ethelwolph in the K. Ethelvvolph An. 855. VVestmon Baron 855. Ethelvverd lib. 3. cap. 3. Srovv Ingulphus yeare 855. went to Rome tooke with him his best beloued sonne Alfred for to be instructed saith westmonaster of the Pope in manners and religion where he abode a whole yeare and procured his sonne to be crowned of the Pope and adopted of him for his sonne he also notablie repaired the English Seminary Malmesb. l. 2. cap. 2. p. 38. Stovv Ann. 839. at Rome which had bene burnt a litle before and confirming guifts of K. Ina and Offa imposed Malmesbur sup Marian. 877. Platina in Leone 4. the pension of Peter pence vpon al England which was afterward paid vntil the later end of K Henry 8. About the same time King Burdred leauing K. Burdred Ethelvvead l. 4. c. 3. Malmesb l. 1. c. 4. p. 33. Ingulph Stovv 875. K. Ganute a Dane 1032. Malmesb. l. 2. cap. 1. Ingulph Polid l 7. Huntingt lib 6. Stovv in Canute Marian A. 1033. his kingdome went to Rome and was there buried in the English schoole Neither would King Canute though a Dane be found vngrateful to the Sea Apost but went to Rome in the yeare 1032. confirmed the payment of the Peter pence gaue great guifts of golde siluer and pretious things to S. Peter obtayned of Pope Iohn immunity for the English Seminary And finally K. Edward Conf the last but K. Eduard Conf. An. 1056. Ealted in vit eius one of the Saxon bloud would haue gone to Rome in Pilgrimage had not his people vpon feare of the Danes inuasion hindred him yet sent he Embassadors to the Pope with great presents and confirmed al the dueties customes belonging to him in England And thus continewed the English Kings al the time of their raigne in singular affection and deuotion to The loue benefits of the NormaÌ„ Kings the Sea Apostolicke To whom as the Norman Princes succeeded so they followed them in their piety and religion For beside that they paid the Peeter pence in particular K. william Conqueror hauing K. VV. Conqueror An. 1066. Stovv in Herald subdued England and slaine K. Herald in the yeare 1066. sent straight his standard to the Pope as to his peculiar K. Henry 1. Malmesb. l. 1. Pont. p. 226. friend And K. Henry 1. professed by his Embassadour to P. Paschal 2. that England was a peculiar prouince of the Church of Rome and paid vnto her yearlie tribute King Henry 2. about the yeare K. Henry 2. An. 1180. Genebr in chron 1180. 1180. together with Lewis King of France ledde P. Alexanders horse and with great pompe conducted him K. Richard 1. Polid. lib. 14. Genebr 118. Stovv through