37. euery Catholike man is bound in conscience to employ his person and forces by direction of such as are vertuous intelligent in such cases but especially c. of Christs Vicar in earth whose soueraigne power and authoritie c. may best instruct and warrant a Christian Souldier how farre when and where either at home or abroade in ciuill or forreine warres made against the enemies or rebels of Gods Church he may and must breake with his temporall Soueraigne 131 Furthermore this Examinate saith that he cannot chuse but confesse from his heart that he doeth dislike and disallow all the Arguments Card. Allens Admonition to the Nobilitie of England published in a booke about the yeere 1588. Which did tend to perswade the late Queenes subiects to take part with the forces of the king of Spaine because she was deposed by the Popes Sentence and in some other respects therein mentioned and likewise all the perswasions and resolutions which were sent into Ireland during the late rebellion of the Earle of Tyrone either from Salamanca or from any place else tending to the same purpose with the former for example 132 That the late Queene being deposed and her D. Iohn D'Aquila his Proclamation Subiects absolued from the oath of their fidelitie by the highest Bishop vnto whom hee that reigneth in the highest the King of kings had giuen all power to plucke vp destroy plant and edifie ita vt ipsos Reges temporales si ad spirituale aedificium expedierit vsque ad depositionem à Regno puniat so as he may punish temporall kings if it be auaileable to spirituall edification be it to the deposition from their kingdomes the Irish were bound by the commandements of God and the obedience which they did owe to the highest Bishop to toyne with Don Iohn D'Aquila sent thithey from the King of Spaine by the Popes intreatie 133 That for asmuch as the Bishop of Rome had Ibidem now procured forces to be sent vnto them the Irish for the defence of their faith they should all vpon notice of the said Don Iohns proclamation with all their power come vnto him and that he would prosecute to death as heretiques and hatefull enemies to the Church all those who contemning his counsell should continue their obedience vnto the English 134 That it was lawfull for the Bishop of Rome Determinat Salaman◠1602. by force of armes to punish those who doe oppugne the Catholtcke faith that the warre vndertaken by Tyrone authoritate summi Pontificis by the Popes authoritie against the late Queene that oppugned the Catholicke faith was iust and that all the Catholicks were bound to ioyne with him with a great merit and hope of the greatest eternall retribution that they deserued as much thereby as if they bare armes against the Turke that all those Catholickes did sinne mortally that did follow the tents of the English against Tyrone that they could neuer obtaine euerlasting saluation nor bee absolued from their sinnes by any Priest except they did first repent and forsake the English that the same iudgement likewise was to bee giuen of them who in that warre did fauour the English with armes and prouision paid their ancient tributes or did contribute any thing vnto them and that they who folowed Tyrone were no rebels nor denied any obedience that was due nor did vsurpe vniustly the landes of the Queene but did rather by a most iust warre free their Countrey from a wicked Tyrant and defend the Catholicke faith as it became Christians and Catholickes 135 With the consideration of these things this Examinate saith his very heart is wounded finding such strength of wit pretences of religion so intolerably abused to the effusiō of blood and for priuate respects such as in his conscience God doth not allow nor the doctrine of the Catholicke Church agreed vpon doth approoue And he is the more moued herewith he auoweth partly because so many worthy English writers haue of later yeeres runne into this violent course labouring to vpholde it with all their strength and abilitie of learning and partly for that hee feareth except it may please God to moue the Popes heart for the staying of it what issue it will haue in the end Sanguis petit sanguinem blood will haue blood The Church did encrease by the suffrings of Martyrs but it may perhaps decrease by seeking of blood That hitherto was neuer accounted the seede of the Church And touching the reasons from Spaine carry what colour they shall yet neuer was it heard of before for ought this Examinate hath read that the subiects of any King might not assist their Soueraigne in his warres without the Popes allowance And besides it is not likely that the king of Spaine will in his princely iudgement approue that as D. Iohn D'aquila saith the Pope may depose any king from his Crowne if it be expedient for the Church If the Irish had not engaged themselues too farre in the rebellion then on foote before this Spanish Generall his Proclamation they could neuer out of doubt haue bene much moued with it It was the conquering of the Kingdome for his Master that he aimed at or otherwise their faith for him might haue lien in the dust Kings haue their owne ends in such cases and not the Popes Neither was the determination of Salamanca of any greater weight The authors of it sought to promote their Soueraignes affaires as if they had bene better Statesmen then Diuines For it will hardly appeare either in the Scriptures or in any ancient Father or Councel that subiects did euer merite heauen by bearing of armes against their Soueraignes 136 Here this Examinate was further put in minde of the charge which is imposed vpon the Romish priests now as it seemeth vnder his gouernement how they are to proceede for the aduancement of the Catholicke faith Thus hereof diuers haue written being men of great estimation 137 The zeale and duetie of Gods Priests is notably Card. Allen Admon pag. 32. 33. commended vnto vs in the cause of Athalia c. whom Ichoiada the high Priest calling vnto him forces both of the Priests and people caused to be slaine loe this is the Zeale and authoritie of Priests for the maintenance of righteousnesse and religion 138 Priests and Prophets haue bene principall workers Idem ibidem pag. 34. and Gods ministers in the depriuation of princes wherein the Prophet Elie was so notorious that to his honour it is thus saide of him in holy writ Hee cast downe kings and destroyed them and of Elizeus in the same place thus He neuer feared prince nor could of no man be ouercome And thus it was in the old Testament 139 That in the new Testament the Priestes haue Idem ibidem pag. 34. 35. much more soueraigne authoritie and the prince farre streighter charge to obey loue and cherish the Church that now euery kingdome that doeth not
A LARGE EXAMINATION TAKEN at Lambeth according to his Maiesties direction point by point of M. George Blakwell made Archpriest of England by Pope Clement 8. Vpon occasion of a certaine answere of his without the priuitie of the State to a Letter lately sent vnto him from Cardinall Bellarmine blaming him for taking the oath of Allegeance Together with the Cardinals Letter and M. Blakwels said answere vnto it Also M. Blakwels Letter to the Romish Catholickes in England aswell Ecclesiasticall as Lay. ¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker Printer to the Kings most Excellent Maiestie 1607. A COPY OF THE ACT OF M. BLAKwell his verifying and acknowledging of this his Examination c. Before his Maiesties Commissioners for causes Ecclesiasticall at Lambeth the first of February 1607. iuxta c. THis day Sir Thomas Crompton knight his Maiesties Aduocate did in the presence of M. George Blakwell exhibite into the Court foure seuerall writings The first was the originall letter it selfe as M. Blakwell confessed sent vnto him from Cardinall Bellarmine dated at Rome the xxviij day of September 1607. It was endorsed in this sort Admodum Reuerendo Domino D. Georgio Blacuello Archipresbytero Angliae and subscribed thus Reuerendae admodum D. V. frater seruus in Christo Robertus Cardinalis Bellarminus beginning with these wordes Venerabilis in Christo Domine frater Anni sunt ferè quadraginta quòd inuicem non viderimus c and ending with these words Vale viriliter age confortetur cor tuum The second was an answere of M. Blakwels to the said letter of the Cardinall written all of it with his owne hand and is the true copy he saith of that which he did send to the Cardinall the marginal quotations onely excepted which he confesseth he hath since added This letter beareth date the xiij of Nouember 1607. and beginning thus Doleo plurimùm quòd Illustrissima Amplitudo vestra de me propter Catholicam fidem incarcerato c. doeth thus end Nisi quod beatus Petrus aut soluerit aut ligauerit These two Letters did giue occasion of the other two writings exhibited the first whereof was an Examination of M. Blakwel taken at seuerall times by the Lord Archbishop of Canterburie as touching the particular points of his answere to the Cardinall and other necessary consequents thereupon depending It conteined 114. pages which were euery one of them subscribed vnto by M. Blakwell as he confessed with his owne hand it began in this maner He saith that because he perceiueth that diuers exceptions are taken against his late Letter c and ended with these words and therein he had his desire The fourth paper exhibited was a true copy as M. Blakwell acknowledged of a letter of his directed to all the Catholickes in England aswell Ecclesiasticall as Lay dated from the Clinke the xx of Ianuary 1607. It was thus endorsed To my reuerend Assistants with the rest of my deare brethren both of the Cleargie and Laitie and thus subscribed Georgius Blakwellus Archipresbyter Angliae Protonotarius Apostolicus The beginning of it was as followeth Very reuerend and my dearest beloued brethren both Priests and people Catholicke your seruant in bandes George Blakwell c and this was the end of it And confirme you in euery good worke and word And touching the contents both of his said Examination and letter exhibited into the Court as is aforesaid the same being shewed vnto him page by page subscribed with his owne hand as is aboue mentioned he did auow them to be true and that whatsoeuer is either in his said Letter or in his answeres throughout the course of his whole Examination to the questions matters propounded vnto him is agreeable to his conscience so farre forth as by his reading and learning hee is able to iudge And this he protested before God he had done simply and faithfully without any reseruations or euasions by any shifting or equiuocation either verball or mentall answering in euery thing according as he thought to the intent and meaning of his Examiner as if he had bene sworne agreeably to the rule of S. Bernard in the like case Quacunque arte verborum quis iuret Deus qui conscientiae testis est accipit sicut ille cui hoc iuratur intelligit and to that of S. Hierome Tantus in te sit veri amor vt quicquid dixeris iuratum putes And all the premisses hee acknowledged openly in Court and subscribed vnto them the day and yeere aboue written Georgius Blakwellus Archipresbyter Protonotarius Apostolicus Before vs R. Cant. Tho. London L. Cicestr James Mountagu Edw. Stanhop J. Bennet R. Swale Rich. Neile John King William Farrand CARDINAL BELlarmines Letter to the Arch-priest ¶ Admodum Reuerendo Domino Georgio Blacuello Archipresbytero Anglorum Robertus S. R. E. Cardinalis Bellarminus S. D. VEnerabilis in Christo Domine frater Anni sunt ferè quadraginta quòd inuicem non viderimus sed ego tamen veteris nostrae consuetudinis nunquam oblitus sum teque in vineâ Domini strenuè laborantem quando aliter non potui orationibus Deo commendare non destiti me quoque in tuâ memoriâ toto hoc tempore vixisse in tuis orationibus ad Altare Domini locum aliquem habuisse non dubito Ita igitur ad hoc vsque tempus non verbis aut literis sed opere veritate vt Sanctus Ioannes loquitur alter in alterius dilectione permansimus Sed hoc silentium rumpere coegit nuncius qui diebus istis de tuis vinculis carcere ad nos venit Qui quidem nuncius etsi tristis videri poterat ob iacturam pastoralis tuae sollicitudinis quam Ecclesia ista fecit tamen laetus quoque videbatur quoniam ad Martyrij gloriam quo dono Dei nullum est foelicius propinquabas vt qui tot annis gregem tuum verbo doctrinâ pauisses nunc exemplo patientiae gloriosiùs pasceres Verùm hanc laetitiam non mediocriter interturbauit ac ferè corrupit tristis alius nuncius qui de cōstantiâ tuâ in recusando illicito iuramento ab aduersarijs tentatâ fortè etiam labefactâ prostratâ successit Neque enim frater charissime iuramentum illud ideo licitum esse potuit quòd aliquo modo temperatum modificatum offerebatur Scis enim eiusmodi modificationes nihil esse aliud quà m Satanae dolos versutias vt fides Catholica de primatu sedis Apostolicae vel apertè vel occulté petatur pro quâ fide tot inclyti Martyres in istâ ipsâ Angliâ ad sanguinem vsque pugnârunt Certè enim quibuscunq verbis iuramentum ab aduersarijs fidei concipiatur in Regno isto eò tendit vt auctoritas capitis Ecclesiae à Successore Sancti Petri ad successorem Henrici octaui in Angliâ transferatur Quod enim obtenditur de periculo vitae Regis si summus Pontifex eam in Angliâ potestatem habeat
gloriosè erigas quam contristaueras laetamfacias Ecclesiam nec iam solùm veniam merearis à Domino sed coronam Vale viriliter age confortetur cor tuum Romae die 28. Septembris 1607. Reuerendae admodum D. V. frater seruus in Christo Robertus Cardinalis Bellarminus The same in English ¶ To the very Reuerend M. George Blakwell Arch-priest of the English Robert of the holy Church of Rome Cardinall Bellarmine sendeth greeting REuerend Sir and Brother in Christ It is almost fortie yeeres since we did see one the other But yet I haue neuer beene vnmindfull of our ancient acquaintance neither haue I ceased seeing I could doe you no other good to commend you labouring most painefully in the Lords vineyard in my prayers to God and I doubt not but that I haue liued all this while in your memorie and haue had some place in your prayers at the Lords Altar So therefore euen vnto this time we haue abidden as S. Iohn speaketh in the mutuall loue one of the other not in worde or letter but in deede and trueth But a late message which was brought vnto vs within a few dayes of your bonds and imprisonment hath inforced mee to breake off this silence which message although it seemed heauie in regard of the losse of your pastorall function which you haue exercised in that Church yet withall it seemed ioyous because you drew neere vnto the glory of Martyrdome then the which thing there is no gift of God more happy that you who haue fed your Flocke so many yeeres with the word and doctrine should now feede it more gloriously by the example of your patience But another heauy tidings did not a litle disquiet and almost take away this ioy which immediatly followed of the aduersaries assault and peraduenture of the slip and fall of your Constancie in refusing an vnlawfull Oath Neither truely most deare brother could that oath therefore be lawfull because it was offered in sort tempered and modified for you know that those kind of modifications are nothing els but sleights and subtilties of Satan that the Catholique faith touching the Primacie of the See Apostolike might either secretly or openly bee shot at for the which faith so many worthy Martyrs euen in that very England it selfe haue resisted vnto blood For most certaine it is that in whatsoeuer words the Oath is conceiued by the aduersaries of the faith in that Kingdome it tends to this end that the Authoritie of the head of the Church in England may bee transferred from the successour of S. Peter to the Successour of K. Henry the eight For that which is pretended of the danger of the Kings life if the supreme Bishop should haue the same power in England which he hath in all other Christian Kingdomes it is altogether idle as all that haue any vnderstanding may easily perceiue For it was neuer heard of from the Churches infancie vntill this day that euer any Pope did commaund that any Prince though an Heretike though an Ethnike though a Persecuter should be murdered or did approue of the fact when it was done by any other And why I pray you doth onely the King of England feare that which none of all the other Princes in Christendome either doeth feare or euer did feare But as I said these vaine pretexts are but the Trappes and Stratagemes of Sathan of which kinde I could produce not a few out of ancient Stories if I went about to write a booke and not an Epistle One onely for example sake I will call to your memory S. Gregorie Nazianzene in his first Oration against Iulian the Emperour reporteth that hee the more easily to beguile the simple Christians did insert the Images of the false gods into the pictures of the Emperour which the Romanes did vse to bow downe vnto with a ciuill kind of reuerence so that no man could doe reuerence to the Emperours picture but withall he must adore the Images of the false gods Whereupon it came to passe that many were deceiued and if there were any that found out the Emperours craft and refused to worship his picture those were most grieuously punished as men that had contemned the Emperour in his Image Some such like thing me thinkes I see in the Oath that is offered to you which is so craftily composed that no man can detest Treason against the King and make profession of his Ciuil subiection but he must be constrained perfidiously to denie the Primacy of the Apostolicke See But the seruants of Christ and especially the chiefe Priests of the Lord ought to be so farre from taking an vnlawfull Oath where they may indamage their Faith that they ought to beware that they giue not the least suspicion of dissimulation that they haue taken it Which thing that worthy Eleazar did most notably performe who would neither eate Swines flesh nor so much as faine to haue eaten it although hee saw the great torments that did hang ouer his head lest as himselfe speaketh in the second booke of the Maccabees many yong men might be brought through that Simulation to preuaricate with the Law Neither did Basill the great by his example which is more fit for our purpose carrie himselfe lesse worthily towards Valens the Emperour For as Theodoret writeth in his History when the Deputie of that hereticall Emperour did perswade Saint Basill that he should not resist the Emperour for a little Subtiltie of a few points of Doctrine that most holy and prudent man made answere That it was not to be endured that the least syllable of Gods word should be corrupted but rather all kinde of torment was to be embraced for the maintenance of the Trueth thereof Now I suppose that there want not amongst you who say that they are but Subtilties of Opinions that are conteined in the Oath that is offered to the Catholicks and that you are not to striue against the Kings Authoritie for such a litle matter But there are not wanting also amongst you holy men like vnto Basill the Great which will openly auow that the very least syllable of Gods Diuine Trueth is not to bee corrupted though many Torments were to be endured and death it selfe set before you Amongst whom it is meet that you should be one or rather the Standerd-bearer and Generall to the rest And whatsoeuer hath bene the cause that your Constancie hath quailed whether it be the suddennes of your apprehension or the bitternesse of your persecution or the imbecillitie of your old age yet we trust in the goodnesse of God and in your owne long continued vertue that it will come to passe that as you seeme in some part to haue imitated the fall of Peter and Marcellinus so you shall happily imitate their valour in recouering your strength and maintaining the trueth For if you wil diligently weigh the whole matter with your selfe truely you shall see it is no small matter that is called in
necessary for preseruation of the Realme from vniust vsurpation of Tyrants and auoyding other inconueniences which they had proued and might easily fall againe by the disorder of some wicked king Vnto this report as it seemeth and to some other idle conceits a Polonian of late hauing relation and making mention of the purpose aforesaid of king Henry the second and of king Iohn he writeth this Examinate saith in this sort speaking of the Parliament and of the oath of Allegeance Illud impiè legislatores per iusiurandum extorquent à Stanisla Cristanouie Examen Cathol fol. 34. Catholicis vt negent posse à Pontifice Regem deponi de ipsius Regnis ditionibus disponi Si enim honorariè piè tributarium regnum Pontifici quare disponere quare refractarium inobedientem Principem deponere nequit That is The law-makers doe impiously by an oath extort this from the Catholicks to denie that the King may be deposed by the Pope and his kingdomes and countries by him disposed of For if by an honourable and pious graunt the kingdome haue become tributarie to the Pope why may he not dispose of it why may he not depose the Prince being refractarie and disobedient 19 Concerning the which aforesaid assertions touching both the said kings this Examinate affirmeth they are vntrue Henry the second neuer made any such accord with Alexander the 3. as is aboue mentioned for ought this Examinate could euer reade in any Chronicle of credite He sware to Pope Alexander that he for his owne part would not depart from him or his successors Ro. Houeden Annal fol. 303 quamdiu ipsum sicut Regem Catholicum habuerint so long as they should entreate him as a Catholicke king And touching king Iohn inasmuch as his fact that way is of some more probabilitie but of as little trueth and that from the said reportes of them both Stanislaus Cristanouic doth inferre that the Pope may depose his Maiestie being but a tributarie King vnto him he this Examinate by taking his oath that the Pope had no Imperiall or Ciuill power ouer the king to depose him did thereby discharge his conscience for the iustifying of a trueth against the said false reports that of king Iohn being as vntrue as the former Which this Examinate saith he doth the more boldly affirme because he hath one of no small account in that he died for the Popes supremacie to take his part therein besides some other rules of regalitie in that behalfe Thus Sir Thomas More writeth against the author of the Beggers Supplication in king Henry the 8. time If he the authour of that supplication Sir Tho. More supplic of soules pag. 296. say as indeede some writers say that king Iohn made England and Ireland tributarie to the Pope and the See Apostolike by the grant of a thousand markes wee dare surely say againe that it is vntrue and that all Rome neither can shew such a grant nor neuer could and if they could it were nothing worth For neuer could any king of England giue away the Realme to the Pope or make the land tributarie though he would And this to bee agreeable to this Examinates owne iudgement hee doeth acknowledge as he saith with all his heart hoping that the same shal no way preiudice his constant resolution as touching the Popes supremacie nor offend any that loueth the Crowne and State of England 20 And as concerning his relying vpon his Maiesties words in the sense approoued by the Magistrate when he this Examinate tooke the oath of Allegeance and insinuating to Cardinall Bellarmine that the summe of it was accordingly Summum Pontificem non habere Imperialem ciuilem potestatem ad libitum ex suo appetitu deponendi Regem nostrum that the Pope hath not an Imperiall and ciuill power to depose our King when he pleaseth and at his owne appetite he hopeth likewise to giue therein some reasonable contentment For which purpose he saith it is to be obserued that there is an opinion long since broached by the Canonists which hath begun of later times to be more stiffely and with greater heate prosecuted and maintained then heretofore concerning the Popes authoritie in causes temporall the authors whereof doe with great confidence affirme that the Pope is as directly Lord of the whole world in temporalibus in temporalties as hee is the head of the vniuersall Church in spiritualibus in matters spirituall and that hee hath directly as souereigne an authoritie in respect of such his worldly dominion ouer all Emperours Kings and Princes to dispose of them and their kingdomes when occasion shall require as hee hath in regard of his spirituall supremacie ouer all Bishops and Cleargie men to aduance and depriue them when hee thinketh it conuenient and that they deserue it The chiefe patrons of this opinion are noted by Cardinall Bellarmine to be these Augustinus Triumphus Aluarus 〈…〉 Pelagius Hostiensis Panormitane and Syluester to whom this Examinate doeth adde Henricus Gandauensis Redericus Sancius Alexander Alensis Celsus Mancinus Tho. Bozius Franciscus Bozius Isidorus Mosconius Card Baronius Laelius Zecchus and Alexander Carerius who nameth diuers others as principall defenders of that opinion and 〈…〉 is himselfe so violent therein as hee doeth in effect anathematize all that do oppose themselues against it not sparing Cardinall Bellarmine himselfe against whom forasmuch as his drift is principally throughout his whole booke hee was much to blame this Examinate thinketh to entitle it to be written aduersus impios politicos nostritemporis haereticos against the wicked politickes hereticks of our time With this Carerius 〈…〉 such as are on that side doe resolutely concurre insomuch as they doubt not this Examinat consesseth to renew againe the long disliked and impugned assertions of the old Canonists and to publish them now vnto the world more eagerly then heretofore as aboue he hath touched for sound and Catholicke doctrine they saying 21 That Dauid did foretell that the Priesthood of 〈…〉 Anno 57. pag. 432. Christ should be according to the order of Melchisedech That when Christ being a King and a Priest receiued all iudgement of the Father that is most full iudiciall power hee ioyning the same with his priesthood did institute in the Church a Regall priesthood Bar. Ibidem pag. 433. translating in suos that is to S. Peter and his successours all the power hee had of his father That Franc Bezius de temporall Ecclesiae Monarchia in praesat ad Clemen S. except there should bee one supreme Monarch in the Church in all things the vnitie of the Church could not be preserued for seeing the Church by diuine institution doth consist of a Kingdome and a Priesthood is it were otherwise there should bee in the same absolutely one Monarch of the Kingdome and another of the Priesthood That if for the auoiding of the dissensions about sacred causes one supreme head is appointed
held by the law of God cum recta fide with a right faith 35 But here it being obiected that although the said oath was framed to meete with the opinion before by him mentioned yet that this his restraining of it thereunto doeth not attaine to that which he knew was intended by it For in his said letter to the Cardinall he doth cite sundry authors which speake of another kinde of authoritie ascribed to the Pope and tending by a nice distinction to this effect that in ordine ad spiritualia in order to things spirituall and indirectly all kings and princes with their kingdomes and countries are subordinate and subiect vnto him insomuch as if he see cause and that kings and princes will not be aduised by him in matters of the Church apperteining to their saluation he may not onely Excommunicate them but proceeding by degrees depose them absolue their subiects from their oathes of Allegeance and rightfully commaund them if neede be to beare armes against them which is as lewd and traiterous an opinion as the former and doeth tend to the same end with it though vnder diuers pretences So as if hee tooke the oath but with relation onely to the first opinion leauing himselfe free as touching the second it was all one as if he had not taken it at all and therefore being pressed to cleare this point he answereth as hereafter followeth 36 First he doth acknowledge the obiection to be very pertinent and rightly collected out of his letter confessing this second opinion not to come behinde the first either for the earnestnesse of those that defend it or for their learning and sufficiencie being such indeede as doe in credite farre ouersway the estimation of their opposites Cardinall Bellarmine himselfe hath laboured much in it and these authors following doe ioyne with him in that point Henricus Iohannes Driedo Iohannes de Turre crematâ Albertus Pighius Thomas Waldensis Petrus de Palude Cardinall Caietane Franciscus Victoria Dominicus Soto Nicolaus Sanderus to which number this Examinate saith he could adde diuers others as Martinus Aspilcueta Couarruuias c. Of which opinion Cardinall Bellarmine saith that it is communis sententia Catholicorum Theologorum the common opinion of Catholicke Diuines albeit Alexander Carerius and Rodericke Sancius doe affirme as much for the other In this number this Examinate confesseth that he did range himselfe in his late letter to the said Cardinall as inclining rather to his side then to the other being notwithstanding bound to neither of them vpon any danger of declining from the Catholicke faith So as if now hee vse his libertie therein as touching his Maiestie hee hath as he supposeth Cardinall Bellarmine himselfe for his author therein 37 For where there is this clause in the oath of Allegeance I doe further sweare that I doe from my heart detest and abiure as impious and hereticall this damnable doctrine and position that Princes which be excommunicated or depriued by the Pope may be deposed or murthered by their Subiects or any other whatsoeuer Cardinall Bellarmine saith that it was neuer heard of ab intio nascentis Ecclesiae vsque ad haec nostra tempora vt vllus Pontifex Maximus Principem vllum quamuis haereticum quamuis Ethnicum quamuis persecutorem caedi mandauerit from the first birth of the Church vnto these our times that any Pope euer commaunded any prince though an heretick though an Ethnicke though a persecuter to be slaine And that therefore the feare which is pretended of the Kings life if the Bishop of Rome had the same authoritie in England which hee hath in other Christian kingdomes is vaine and that all pretences tending that way are but stratagemata Satanae the deceits of Sathan The which affirmations of the Cardinals being true the same for ought this Examinate seeth doe iustifie the said part of the oath by him taken euen the very same which of all other parts in it is most misliked by many Catholickes in England For it must needs be granted generally that were it not in respect of the Popes excommunication of Kings and princes his deposing of them from their Crownes and his absoluing of their subiects from their Allegeance it could neuer be lawfull for any of them to rise vp against their lawfull kings and Soueraignes vnder whom they were borne And it is all one in this Examinats iudgment for the Pope to command a king to be murthered as to doe and commaund that whereby the same is by others of duetie to be effected And then it followeth out of the Cardinals words that it can neuer be lawfull by the Popes authoritie either direct or indirect for any subiect vpon any pretence whatsoeuer or vnder the countenance of any authoritie to excommunicate and depose Kings or absolue their Subiects from their Allegeance to lay violent hands vpon his Souereigne which is in effect that part of the oath aboue mentioned whereunto this Examinate did sweare 38 Furthermore because it was againe tolde this Examinate that this his last answere to part of the said oath stood after a sort but vpon an inference of the Cardinals meaning and was no way sufficient to satisfie the aforesaid obiection hee this Examinate renued his former desire of proceeding by such degrees as hee himselfe thought most fit for the discharge of his duety both to God and his Maiestie and thereupon saith that he beleeueth in his conscience that the Pope is S. Peters successour and the head of the Catholick Church and that although materiall and worldly keyes may open and shut vpon fauour and friendship yet the keyes of the kingdome of heauen doe respect no mens persons be they poore or rich noble or ignoble high or low kings or subiects so as in his iudgement none may be exempted from the Popes Excommunication when there is iust cause vpon due consideration of all circumstances to inflict it adding thereunto that hee holdeth it to be the duety of all Christian kings and princes to submit themselues in causes of religion to the Bishop of Rome as vnto their chiefe Bishop and Pastor of their soules Which profession thus made this Examinate desired that one point in his former Examination published in print might here be receiued as part of his answere to the obiection aboue specified Sect. 16. 39 For there this Examinat as he truly saith M Blakwels Exam. pag. 18 19. Being vrged to explicate himselfe touching the sence he relied vpon out of his Maiesties words when he took the oth of Allegeance in that it was said hee might so vnderstand them as not withstanding his oath that dutie which was expected was no way satisfied because his Maiesties meaning was euident that hee did account it to proceed from appetite and rashnesse in any of the Bishops of Rome whosoeuer who presuming to Excommunicate any King should by the same either absolue his Subiects from their obedience or excite them to beare Armes against him or authorize
that Reges non possunt esse serui Soueraignes cannot bee vassals so it doth no way derogate from the high dignitie and calling of the Bishop of Rome but rather doth greatly aduaunce it to say that because hee cannot erre there are therefore many things which hee cannot doe For example euen in the point questioned as the Pope cannot determine it to be lawfull vnder any pretence whatsoeuer for a man to commit adultery with his neighbours wife no more can he determine it to bee lawfull vnder any pretence whatsoeuer for any of his Maiesties subiects to beare armes against him both of them being against the morall law of God which the Gospel doeth in no one point preiudice Nor as he cannot by any determination or resolution vpon any pretence whatsoeuer make a sonne to bee no sonne during the life of his father no more can he make the borne subiect of any king not to be his subiect so long as the king liueth 90 That he is also altogether of this opinion that whereas the defining of the Popes said vndetermined authoritie to depose kings c. standing vpon this issue that either he hath indeede no such authoritie at all or else that he hath it as being dominus temporalium directè the lorde of temporall things directly or as dominus temporalium in ordine ad spiritualia indirectè the lord of temporall things in an order vnto spirituall things indirectly forasmuch as such a determination must of necessity include the condemnation of the opinion either of Cardinall Bellarmine and of that strong side that taketh his part which may breede some further trouble or of Cardinall Baronius and those that ioine with him being many and increasing dayly more and more with great confidency that they haue the trueth which no doubt will bee found inconuenient considering that their positions doe much more tend to the honour of the Church of Rome then those that are mainteined as peremptorily by the other side he this Examinate is of this opinion as he saith that there will neuer be any such determination as hath bene obiected or at least that it will not bee for many yeeres yet to come whilest there is so strong opposition concerning the manner how and in what sort Christ gaue Saint Peter that authority if he gaue it him at all viz whether directly or indirectly immediatly or by a certaine consequence except it may bee held to be sufficient leauing both the sides mentioned contending amongst themselues without any certaine grounds firme reasons impregnable testimonies either of Scriptures or Ancient Fathers first agreed vpon by the Church and concluded so to define as is imagined which this Examinate is fully assured the Pope and Cardinals being men of such excellencie and wisedome will neuer attempt 91 That although it may peraduenture bee confidently giuen out as it hath bene vntruely by many already that the Pope to haue authoritie to depose kings c. is defined at Rome to be held as a point of faith thereby still to keepe on foote the ancient opinion since Gregorie the seuenths time of the Popes authoritie in that behalfe for the good of Christian kings and Princes that they might be the rather induced to continue in some awe and feare if they did not their dueties belonging to Christianitie yet hee this Examinate thinketh it very necessary that no Catholicke should giue any faith to that report except he may see the same authentically so confirmed and euident as the Canon lawes in a case of such importance doe require which this Examinate is fully perswaded they shall neuer see or that if any such thing should happen to fall out this Examinate is verily perswaded it will not bee a generall resolution touching the Popes authoritie to depose kings c but onely to the point in question nowe amongst Catholickes here in England that it is not lawfull to take the said oath of Allegeance and then this Examinate further saith that the same will bee built vpon this false ground that the oath of Allegeance doeth include the oath against the Popes supremacie in causes Ecclesiasticall as he foreseeth already by the Cardinals letter vnto him and by the said Cristanouic who hauing set down the said oth at large writeth thus Quod iuramentum De Primatu Regis in spiritualibus And what oath Of the kings Supremacy in causes spiritual that therfore if any such resolution come authentically as is aforesaid the same as all Catholickes are to iudge of the Popes sinceritie being procured by surreption and false suggestions ad destructionem to destruction no Catholicke is bound to be ouer-ruled by it but the same notwithstanding euery Catholicke may safely and lawfully take the saide oath of Allegeance if according to the Statute in that behalfe made hee be required so to doe 92 That also whatsoeuer may fall out at Rome either touching the said oath of Allegeance or the Popes authoritie in temporalibus without any mention of it therin whether he hath it directly or indirectly the same will not be more amply set out and declared then it was before by Boniface Bonifac. de maior obedientia vnam sanctam the 8. where he writeth in this sort In hac eiusdem potestate duos esse gladios spiritualem viz temporalem Euangelicis dictis instruimur Nam dicentibus Apostolis Ecce duo gladij hîc in Ecclesiâ scil cùm Apostoli loquerentur non respondit Dominus nimis est sed satis Certè qui in potestate Petri temporalem gladium esse negat malè verbum attendit Domini proferentis Conuerte gladium tuum in vaginam Vterque ergo est in potestate Ecclesiae spiritualis scil materialis That is We are warranted by the wòrds of the Gospel that in his power were two swords the one spirituall the other temporall For when the Apostles saide Beholde here are two swords meaning in the Church sith the Apostles spake it Christ replied not it is too much but it is enough Assuredly whosoeuer denieth that the temporall sword is in S. Peters power he doth not wel marke the speech of Christ saying Put vp thy sword into the sheath Therefore both swords are in the power of the Church as well the temporall as the spirituall And a little after Veritate testante spiritualis potestas terrena instituere habet iudicare That is Trueth it selfe testifying that the spirituall power is to order and to iudge earthly affaires according to the prophet Ieremies words Ego constituite hodie super gentes regna caetera quae sequuntur I haue set thee this day ouer nations and kingdomes c All which particulars notwithstanding for the setting out of that Constitution purposely made against the king of France Clemens the fift shortly after made another constitution to the empeachment of the former wherein he writeth thus Nos Regi regno per definitionem declarationem bonae memoriae Bonifacij Papae 8
that the faith may hereby be endangered that I seeme to haue in some part resembled the fal of S. Peter S. Marcelline that it is not a small matter which by this oath is brought in danger but one of the principall heades of our faith foundations of Catholicke religion that I am to heare what S. Gregorie the great doth affirme and what S. Leo doth confirme and to attend what Sanders hath deliuered and that for this one most weighty point of doctrine Iohn Bishop of Rochester and Sir Tho. Moore were leaders vnto others to Martyrdome that I bee not wiser then I ought to bee and that my slip did peraduenture proceede not from any want of consideration but from humane frailtie These things haue I read with attention bewailing my case that such a heape of censorious animaduersions is by you compacted against mee who cannot comprehende or conceiue how any the least detriment may redound vnto the Primacie of the supreme Bishop by that sense which I with the acceptance of the Magistrate did propose before the taking of mine Oath But if the words seeme not outwardly to yeeld so pleasing a sound yet ought not the sense or vnderstanding to serue the wordes but the words the vnderstanding as is apparant out of the fiath booke of Gregories Decretals de verborum significatione Neither can I imagine how by receiuing that Oath there can grow any daunger vnto the faith the same implying nothing which may shadow out so much as a resemblance or shew of any thing which is formally a point of faith For as Couarruuias Martinus Couar parte 2. pag 504. Nauar. vt ibidem not atur a Couar vt patet in cap. Nouit de iud notab Binsfeld de iniuria damna dato cap. 7. pag. 353. Alan in respons ad Iust. Angl. fol. 326. b. ab Aspilcueta Binsfieldius do affirme there is no certaintie as yet defined by the Church touching the Popes authoritie in things temporall And Cardinall Allen of famous memorie saith in this cause It is a meere matter of diuinitie and of very neere coherence with Christian religion which although it bee not peraduenture definitely resolued for our side yet that it may and vseth to be by Theologicall arguments disputed on both parts our aduersaries if they know anything cannot be ignorant Thus saith hee But perhaps Innocentius 3. and Bonifacius 8. will bee brought to presse vs with but they as Bannes saith speake of power and Bannes in praeamb de Dominio Christi pag. 92. de iure iustitia dominion in order to things spirituall when it shall bee needfull to vse the same as may euidently appeare vnto him that will peruse the lawes themselues and this is an indirect power which doth not reach vnto our King for the affaires of England are now placed and setled in that state as that all order for the promoting of our spirituall affaires by the deposition of our King is quite extinguished and therefore there would bee care had lest you procure vnto vs a harder condition then yet we are in And to say truth notwithstanding Boniface his definition the King of France as is euident by the insuing declaration of Clement did not lose any part of his Clemens de priuileg cap. Mcruit dignitie or auncient right which Clement might not haue done if Boniface his definition had proceeded from the chaire as a matter of faith formally And in this behalfe I did heedfully obserue that which Caietane deliuered against the Caietan tom 1. tract 1. Apolog parte 2. cap. 13. Parisiens viz That it was one thing to determine de fide formaliter and another to determine de eo quod est fidei materialiter For the former doth import the determining of what is to be beleeued or not to be beleeued but the latter the deciding of questions which happen in things beleeued and it is cleare that when any question is determined after the second manner it is not said to be a determination touching faith but concerning such or such a matter When therefore it is said that the Pope cannot erre in a iudgement of faith I doe not take it to bee spoken but of a iudgement of faith formally that is when he determineth what is to be beleeued or not to be beleeued Thus saith he Out of which words I submitting my selfe vnto your most exquisite iudgement doe collect that if it were defined as a point of faith formally that the Pope hath power to depose kings indirectly that is in order to things spirituall vndoubtedly all men were by such a definition in thesi in the generall position bound firmely to beleeue it But if the question were propounded in hypothesi that is in the particular supposition whether the Pope hath power to depose our king matters continuing with vs in the state they now are in surely me thinketh sauing the iudgement of sharper wits that the determination of this question were of a matter which is of faith materially it being the decision of a doubt which happeneth in things beleeued and were not therfore to be called a determination concerning faith but touching such or such a matter but it is a decision touching a point of faith formally which blindeth vs to beleeue it Now therefore I being humbly prostrate at the sincerity of your most vpright iudgement doe earnestly beseech your Amplitude to iudge whether I haue staggered in any matter which is a point of faith formally or haue swarued from that course wherein the iudgements of the most learned Diuines are traced By what colour then am I drawen into the societie of S. Peters and S. Marcellines fal or why should Sanders be mentioned vnto Sanderus de claue Dauid cap. 9. me sith I haue followed his iudgement in his booke de Claue Dauid where hee saith The sword of the Church was giuen to edification and not to destruction to bestowe life not to bring death to defend the flocke not to annoy the sheepe to repell the woolfe not to deuoure the lambe And if I may proceede in my defence I see not by what reason those words recited either out of Gregory Nazianzene or Basil the great or Leo and Gregory the great or that laudable fact of Eleazarus or the martyrdomes of Sir Tho. More and Iohn Bishop of Rochester made famous by many mens writings can bee wrested against me seeing in my oath there is not the least signe which may carie with it any inconuenience against the faith or impaire any syllable in any point of faith or any whit empeach the diuine prohibition or may neuer so little derogate from any matter which is defined concerning the Primacie of the highest Bishop Surely it is farre from me to suffer the ancient possessions of the See Apostolike to bee at any time encroched vpon by the wit or subtiltie of any man I doe therefore very humbly intreate your Amplitude that these so grieuous imputations against
non habere Imperialem Ciuilem potestatem ad libitum ex suo appetitu deponendi Regem nostrum That the Pope hath not an Imperiall and Ciuill power to depose our King when he pleaseth and at his owne appetite suggesting that the said oath had no other meaning and that this sense was thrice insisted vpon before hee this Examinat tooke the said oath and allowed of by the Magistrate whereas the words of the oath which he this Examinat tooke for ought that appeared to the contrarie without any equiuocation or mentall euasion whatsoeuer are cleare and manifest viz. That the Pope neither of himselfe nor by any authoritie of the Church or See of Rome hath any power or authoritie to depose the King The oath saith that the Pope hath no power by any authoritie of the Church or See of Rome viz neither Imperiall Ciuill nor Ecclesiasticall whereas this Examinat telleth the Cardinall that he onely sware against his Imperiall and Ciuill power whereby he might not so proceede with his Maiestie 17. With these particular exceptions this Examinate being somewhat troubled desired againe that before he came to the answering of them he might a little as by the way bewayle himselfe and his present estate which he did in manner as followeth saying That it was no little griefe vnto him to be apprehended and cast into prison that thereupon he hoped his former troubles and oppositions against him would haue ceased that notwithstanding as matters are prosecuted and his proceedings interpreted hee receiueth nothing but discomfort from each side that his friendes might haue bene content to haue expounded his oath in the best part and the rather because they perceiued hee found thereby that he had giuen some reasonable contentmēt to the State for the ease of his imprisonment being an old man and troubled with many bodily infirmities and for the auoyding of some further extremities that Cardinall Bellarmine might well haue forborne his Letter vnto him as also his sharpe censures of him as if by taking the said oath hee had fallen with Peter in denying his Master and with Marcellinus who offered a false sacrifice and that thereby he this Examinate had brought in question one of the chiefe heads of faith and foundations of Catholicke religion that hee the said Cardinall might easily haue foreseene that albeit there had beene no copies of his Letter taken before it came to him this Examinate yet that such a vigilant eye is had ouer him in prison as that it is almost impossible for him to haue kept it vndiscouered especially there being such bruites of it cast abroad as there were euen by those that should haue concealed it that likewise the said Cardinall might not onely well haue thought that if it happened his Letter to be diuulged more hurt then good was likely thereof to ensue except he thought it fit to bring him this Examinate into greater hatred then he was before which could not auaile the common cause and to prouoke his Maiestie to some greater extremities then of his most milde and temperate disposition he is inclined vnto but likewise that it was his this Examinates part in all duety to answere his Letter which would be also as it hath now fallen out as impossible his case considered for him this Examinate to performe with any secrecie as it was that his the said Cardinals Letter should come vndiscryed vnto this Examinate that as hee greatly suspecteth the Cardinals said Letter was cunningly opened before it came to his this Examinates hands so he is perswaded that his answere vnto it will be vsed in the like sort before it come to the Cardinall and the rather he so thinketh for that he findeth alreadie the copie of it by skill and practise to be as soone published abroad here in England as this Examinate could dispatch it for Rome which doth greatly perplexe him and what may be the issue of it he knoweth not but feareth as he saith the worst at al hands that notwithstanding come what shall come his hopes being past which were neuer great his libertie restrained neuer to be recouered the graue expecting him which he most desireth no ioyes nor comforts but in his blessed Sauiour he is resolued with patience to expect and vndergoe it that these and many other such courses held with him do oftentimes exceedingly grieue and trouble him in that men abroad and at libertie haue no more care of poore men imprisoned for those causes which they would seeme most earnestly to affect and that thus hauing eased a litle his heart and referring himselfe and his cause to God he will now addresse himselfe to answere all the partes of the obiection aboue mentioned syncerely and truely from the bottome of his heart as becommeth a true Catholicke priest and as he is perswaded in his conscience without any equiuocation or euasion and without regard or feare of any mens persons or of any inconuenience or further danger that might thereby ensue vnto him or of any slanderous imputations which he doth easily foresee will be heaped vpon him of purpose to discredite both him and that which he findeth he must needes acknowledge except he should wilfully denie the trueth or shew himselfe obstinate and peruerse against lawfull authority which his present estate and conscience will not permit 18 And therefore now as touching his this Examinats signification vnto Cardinall Bellarmine that the effect of his oath was Summum Pontificem non habere Imperialem ciuilem potestatem ad libitum ex suo appetitu deponendi Regem nostrum That the Pope hath not an Imperiall and ciuill power to depose our King when he pleaseth and at his owne appetite he will as he saith answere the same not in grosse but by degrees saying first That amongst diuers prerogatiues attributed to the Pope in temporalibus in temporalties this is one which cannot be well denied by any viz. that the Pope is truely lord of all the temporalties belonging to the Bishopricke of Rome Within the compasse whereof there are some who haue included England and Ireland and one especially whose memorie this Examinate doth greatly honour but yet he must needes acknowledge his ouersight in that point Thus hee writeth Without the approbation of the See Apostolicke none can be lawfull King or Queene Admonit to the Nobilitie by Card. Allen 1588. pag. 8. of England by reason of the ancient accord made betweene Alexander the third the yeere 1171. and Henry the second then King when he was absolued for the death of Saint Thomas of Canterbury that no man might lawfully take that Crowne nor bee accounted as King till hee were confirmed by the Soueraigne Pastor of our soules which for the time should be this accord afterwards being renewed about the yeere 1210 by king Iohn who confirmed the same by oath to Pandulphus the Popes Legate at the special request and procurement of the Lords and Commons as a thing most
subiects haue thereby receiued great detriment especially subiects who haue spent their liues as supposing the cause was iust which they vndertooke this in the meane while being indeed their case that as what they did therein was in truth wicked and rebellious so when either that which they took in hand had not good successe or when afterwards the Pope and such Princes grew to an agreement they were euer for the most part reputed according to their deserts for Rebels and Traitours vnder pretence of some thing or other that was amisse in their proceedings and that therefore he hopeth that in time all Catholickes will hereafter by other mens harmes learne to beware and not bee drawen to any disobedience against their Soueraignes vnder any pretence whatsoeuer 77 The authours of the late most wicked and barbarous treason commonly termed the Gun-powder treason had as this Examinate verily thinketh some intendment to haue aduanced thereby the Catholicke cause for that his Maiestie did still persist in the same course which was held by the late Queene his predecessor or by what other inducements this Examinate knoweth not Howbeit as this was their iust reward here that they were condemned and executed for traitours so doe they worthily reape amongst all discreete Catholikes and wise men abroad in other Countries nothing but shame and infamy to the memorie of their owne names and posteritie which this Examinate wisheth from the bottome of his heart may euer be the successe of all manner of persons whatsoeuer that shall imagine or seeke to contriue any hurt to his Maiestie the Prince or any other of his Highnesse posteritie or to the present state of this kingdome vnder any colour or pretence of conscience religion fauour towards the Bishops of Rome or any thing els whatsoeuer Only this Examinat here addeth that as he doth very well approue that Catesby with his fellowes should bee chronicled for traitours by any or wheresoeuer so he disliketh that the said Cristanouic also who is aboue named should endeuour after a sort to qualifie their offence by casting an vntrue and shamefull scandall vpon this whole nation where after a long discourse to prooue that English men haue from time to time conspited against their kings not for religion but in respect of their owne rebellious nature he concludeth thus with relation to the said Gun-powder traitors Causam tenes lector coniurationum Anglicanarum quarum furorem falsò religioni Stanista Cristanouic exam Cath. fol. 18. Catholicae legislatores tribuunt that is Thus Reader you haue the true cause of the English conspiracies the furie whereof their Law-makers doe falsly impute to the Catholique religion And againe Non ergo Catholicum sed Anglicanum ingenium Reges Ibidem Angliae non sinit securos esse that is It is not therefore the Catholique but the English humor which will not suffer the Kings of England to liue secure For as this Examinate saith what this fellow affirmeth of English men may bee as well iustified of any nation in Christendome if such a rash iudgement might be grounded vpon such like arguments as he hath vsed But here this Examinate remembring his drift wisheth in his heart that it might be neuer forgotten by any Catholiques or other English men whosoeuer what guerdon commendation and infamous renowme they may iustly expect that for any cause whatsoeuer as is aforesaid shall attempt any thing against their Soueraigne 78 Thus farre this Examinate hauing opened his iudgement vpon such occasions as were ministred vnto him he vsed sundry speeches how much it troubled him that either his Maiestie or the State should doubt of his sinceritie and Allegeance and therefore for a conclusion and as it were to adde his seale to all that before he hath said he further affirmeth viz That he doeth truely and sincerely from the bottome of his heart acknowledge professe testifie and declare in his conscience before God and the world that King Iames his Soueraigne lord is iure diuino and by the positiue lawes of this realme lawfull and rightfull King of this realme and of all other his Maiesties Dominions and Countries both de facto and de iure and that it was not lawfull either for his Maiesties Subiects to haue withstood him by force from being their king nor euer can be lawful for them now that he is their king to rise vp against him or seeke by any wayes or meanes to hurt him either in his health or in his regall estate although he denieth the Popes supremacie in causes Ecclesiasticall and seeketh as he may to suppresse all those that dissent from him in those points of Religion which hee imbraceth and though likewise they his said subiects being either Catholikes or Protestants had sufficient numbers forces and ability so to doe without any scandall to the Catholike cause and without any danger to themselues either in their goods or liues 79 That the Pope iure diuino by the lawe of God neither of himselfe nor by any authority of the Church or See of Rome or by any other meanes with any other hath any power or authority either directly or indirectly in ordine ad spiritualia whether the said authoritie bee termed spiritual or temporall or mixt or howsoeuer it is or may be termed to depose the King or to dispose any of his Maiesties kingdomes or dominions or to authorize any forreine Prince to inuade or annoy him or his countreys or to discharge any of his subiects of their Allegeance and obedience to his Maiestie or to giue license or leaue to any of them to beare armes raise tumult or to offer any violence or hurt to his Maiesties Roial person State or gouernment or to any of his Maiesties subiects within his Maiesties dominions 80 That he doeth also affirme from his heart that notwithstanding any declaration or Sentence of Excommunication or depriuation made or graunted or to bee made or graunted by the Pope or his successours or by any authoritie deriued or pretended to be deriued from him or his See against the said King his heires or successours or any absolution of the said subiects from their obedience hee will beare faith and true alleageance to his Maiestie his Heires and Successours and him and them will defend to the vttermost of his power against all conspiracies and attempts whatsoeuer which shall bee made against his or their persons their crowne and dignitie by reason or colour of any such sentence or declaration or otherwise by reason or colour of any authoritie or power ascribed to the Pope in temporalibus directly or indirectly in ordine ad spiritualia whether the said authoritie be termed spirituall or temporall or mixt or howsoeuer it is or may be termed and will do his best endeauour to disclose and make knowen vnto his Maiestie his Heires and Successours all treasons and traiterous conspiracies which hee shall know or heare of to bee against him or any of them 81 That furthermore he
doeth auow it from his heart that hee doeth abhorre detest and abiure as impious and hereticall this damnable doctrine and position that Princes which be excommunicated by the Pope or are depriued by him of their kingdomes by this pretended authoritie in Temporalibus either directly or indirectly in ordine ad spiritualia whether the said authoritie be termed spirituall or temporall or mixt or howsoeuer it is or may be termed may be deposed or murthered by their subiects or any other whatsoeuer notwithstanding any commaundement direction or aduise directly or indirectly giuen to the contrary by any manner of person whosoeuer and notwithstanding any exposition or declaration of the Popes interpretatiue will that if any in zeale by reason either of the said Excommunication or depriuation or of them both wil either aduenture to take vp armes against such a King or to lay violent hands vpon his person the Pope is bound by his office to approue it because the same did tend to the execution of his Sentence and to the promoting of the end he aimed at 82 That hee also doeth beleeue and is in his conscience resolued that neither the Pope nor any person whatsoeuer hath power to absolue him of this oath or of any part thereof whereby he might truely thinke himselfe discharged in any one point of his Allegeance before by him professed and that therefore hee doeth renounce all Pardons and Dispensations in that behalfe 83 And that lastly hee doeth plainely and sincerely acknowledge as in the presence of God and vpon his Allegeance to his Maiestie that what hee this Examinate hath deliuered and is here set downe in this his Examination the same doeth conteine his true iudgement so farre as his learning reacheth without any equiuocation or mentall cuasion or secret reseruation whatsoeuer and is to be vnderstood according to the expresse words as they are set downe and according to the plaine and commonsense and vnderstanding of the same 84 But heere againe it being obiected that albeit he this Examinate hath very well discharged his duetie as well in his expressing his iudgment in the points aboue propounded vnto him that of the Popes Supremacie in causes Ecclesiastical some other touches of certaine things not appertaining to the oath of Alleageance excepted yet forasmuch as the same doeth depend vpon this vncertaintie whether the Pope will define it to bee a matter of faith and accordingly then to be acknowledged by Popish Catholickes that hee may depose Kings and deale with their subiects as is aforesaid and that thereby his Maiestie and all other Christian Kings and Princes as their occasions fall out shall still rest vnassured of the loyaltie of their subiects and of their owne safeties it was necessary that hee this Examinate should also cleare this point for answere whereunto he saith as followeth 85 That hee did not imagine any such matter would haue bene propounded vnto him because it is well knowen to all that bee learned that no man can iudge before hand de futuris contingentibus of future contingents and therefore he desired that he might be forborne 86 But hereunto this reply being made that although there can bee no certaine iudgement de futur is contingentibus soil contingant vel non contingant whether they shall happen or not happen yet of a certaine and determinate thing propounded what might be thought of it if it should happen there may before hand a direct and sure iudgement be giuen For example it is futurum contingens whether euer any King and Parliament in ENGLAND will make a Statute to restore to the Pope his Supremacie here as fully as euer he had it and yet it is not to bee doubted but that he this Examinat if he were now asked whether in his iudgement such a Statute were lawfull and iust or not and might accordingly be put in execution he would out of question answere before hand affirmatiuely and euen so it being told this Examinate that hee might doe in the case propounded after some deliberation thus he answered viz 87 That as hee writ vnto the Cardinall although it should be determined to be a point fidei formaliter of faith formally that the Pope might deale with Princes as is aforesaid and were accordingly so to be receiued in thesi in the generall position yet this question propounded in hypothesi by way of particular supposition an Papa habeat potestatem deponendi Regem nostrum rebus in co statu quo nunc sunt permanentibus apud nos whether the Pope haue power to depose our King matters continuing with vs in the state wherein now they are he this Examinat saith now as he writ then that the determination of this question touching his Maiestie should only be of that which is fidei materialiter of faith materially quia esset determinatio de quaestione quae in rebus creditis accidit proinde non diceretur determinatio de fide sed de tali materiâ because it should bee the decision of a question which hapneth about things beleeued and therefore is not to be said to bee a determination touching Faith but concerning such or such a matter wherein because as hee hath before obserued out of Syluester and Couarruuias the Pope may be deceiued hee this Examinat saith that in his iudgment let them define at Rome what they list in this matter yet if the same should be offered to be practised against his Maiestie it ought not to bee entertained receiued or obeyed by any of his Maiesties subiects the same tending not to edification but to destruction 88 Against this answere such exceptions being taken as are before set downe after some further enforcing of them with many circumstances and repetitions of sundry points by him before acknowledged hee was at the last content further to enlarge himselfe in maner hereafter ensuing affirming viz That in his iudgement the Pope will neuer determine it to bee a matter of faith for Catholickes to beleeue that hee hath authoritie to depose Emperours or Kings to absolue their subiects from their Allegeance and to authorize them either to disobey them or to beare armes against them because hitherto when it might haue beene better done and with lesse scandall and inconuenience it hath not beene so defined notwithstanding that the Popes themselues in their owne persons and the citie of Rome it selfe haue bene in greater danger and perill then they now are and this Examinatis fully resolued that the present Pope and the Cardinals his assistants are as graue wise and prouident now to foresee what euill and inconuenience might grow to the Church by such a resolution as euer any of their predecessors were in times past 89 That he is fully perswaded that as it doth tend to the expressing of the supereminent excellencie of the iustice of God to say that he cannot doe any thing that is vniust and of the great honour and dignitie of Kings and Princes to affirme of them