the Popes seate crying Come wretched creature to the Iudgement of God So that the next day the Pope was found dead vpon his bed all his body being blacke and blew as if he had beene beaten and brused with blowes of a cudgell Nicholas the third died suddenly being stroken with an Apoplexie Leo the tenth died laughing and drinking roundly Clement the eight hauing conspired with Francis king of France against the Emperour Charles the fift was afterwards imprisoned by the Captaines of the Emperour and derided after a strange fashion and after they had pilled or sacked the Citie of Rome he was restored to his pontificall authoritie but finally was stifled or smothered with certaine Cardinals by the smoke of certaine Torches and waxen lights Hitherto haue we vnderstood the courses reasons wherfore the Reformed Christians will not accept the Popes for there Iudges in matter of religion For they say in the first place that it is repugnant to all lawes and rights both deuine and humane that in this cause or sute Popes should be both accusers and Iudges And that which is more according to the common Iudgment and opinion of the Canonists the Pope alone cannot pronounce sentence vpon an heresie but must therein be Iudged also by others Adding farther herevnto so many wicked acts of the Popes whereof albeit they were not conuicted and condemned but onely accused yet so it is that they not only cannot be Iudges in religion but are also incapable of accusing the meanest person before they haue sufficiently purged and excused themselues of all the before mentioned enormities Finally for so much as this is agreeable to all naturall right and reason that is to say that in all affaires and consultations of importance euery thing be resolued vpon and concluded according to the opinion and sentence of the greater and principall part especially when the greater part is esteemed or considered not onely according to the number of persons but cheifly according to the nature worthines and importance of the whole affaire or matter and goodnesse of the cause And Considering that all the Realmes and nations heretofore mentioned which accuse the Popes doe largly extend and amount to the two principal parts of Christendome consequently there remayning for the Romane Catholikes but one of the principall parts of Christendome The Reformed conclude that they may with all right reason reiect the Popes as incompetent and vnlawfull Iudges wherefore say the Reformed Let the Popes of Rome first and foremost purge themselues of all the aforesaid abhominable acts and hainous villanies whereof they are accused or else if they cannot doe it let them forbeare to intrude themselues in quality or title of Iudges touching the differences of Religion Otherwise the Reformed say that they shal haue iust occasion to make that answere to Popes which was heretofore addressed or returned to Pope Iohn Bishop by the Greeke Churches the which Churches the Pope had written vnto then that he alone was the head of all the Churches and the onely and proper Vicar of Iesus Christ they answered him breefly in these termes The letter of 7. Churches to the Pope We firmely beleeue thy great authoritie ouer them that are subiect vnto thee wee cannot endure thy great pride and ambition wee cannot iustifie thy great couetousnes The diuel be with thee for God is with vs. The Reformed come now to declare wherefore and how farre forth they will not acknowledge the Councells nor admit them for their Iudge For they refuse them as they say Why the Coūcels are refused to be iudges in religion for diuers and sundrie weightie reasons And first of all they affirme that there are diuers Councels which haue grosly erred not onely in discipline and outward order but also in that which concerneth the honour of our Saviour Iesus Christ The 1. reason of refusall whence it hath come to passe that oftentimes Provinciall Synodes haue beene corrected and controuled by Generall Councels and Generall Councels by provinciall Secondly The 2. reason of refusall the principall and best Councels haue not alwayes treated of all the points and articles of Chrstian Faith but onely of certaine differences which were then most questioned Moreover it appeareth by Histories that even in the best golden ages the pride and ambition or the curiosity or impudence and indiscretion or else the dissolutenesse or evill carriage of certaine Bishops and Pastors hath beene such as it seemes that oft-times in the Councels and Synodes the Spirit of God did not governe but rather the vncleane spirit who then prevailed got the vpper hand In briefe we reade that in these last ages such Councels haue beene held as haue brought in and confirmed false doctrine and vnprofitable frivolous and hurtfull ceremonies and that not by arguments or reasons or by the authority of the Word of God but rather by strong force by way of Armes And to the end no man may think all this to be devised as a false and malicious accusation the Reformed affirme that they can plainely proue it by a briefe rehearsall and register of the Councels for who shall diligently search into ancient and moderne Histories shall finde this to bee true that even as following the ancient tradition of the house of Elias all the time of the continuance of this world is divided into thrise three thousand yeeres In like manner all the time from the first comming of Iesus Christ vntill his last comming at the day of iudgement may bee fitly distributed into three periods or parts in which also all Realmes and Principalities haue felt some alteration and change We finde also that in those three periodes Three periods or partitions of Time of the new Testament or partitions of time true Christian religion and the vniversall Church hath increased and decreased like the moone For vntill about 500. yeeres after the birth of Christ although that during the sayd time certaine differences or controversies did arise touching the person of the Sonne of God and other very important points of religion against Ebion Cerinthus and diverse other Heretiques yet the truth hath alwayes obtained the vpper hand And during those first fiue hundred yeeres the Church of Christ flourished being as it were in full moone For in this first period were held the Apostolicall Councels and afterwards all the foure Oecumenicall Councels that is to say vniuersall of the Primitiue Church And indeed the first of all those Oecumenicall and Generall was assembled or called at Nice by the Emperour Constantine the Great Con. Nice which confuted and condemned the wicked Heretique Arrius The second was assembled or held at Constantinople by the Emperour Theodosius Con. Const which disprooued and convinced the Macedonian Heretiques The third was assembled in Ephesus Con. Ephes by the Emperour Theodosius the second sonne of Arcadius which condemned the Heretique Nestorius The fourth was called and held in Chalcedon by
which onely saluation can be obtained The Reformed Church beleeueth that the true Church is there where the word of God is sincerely and purely preached the Sacraments lawfully administred and distributed and where the outward discipline of the Church is duly obeyed Sot def lat deon'e pag. 991. Iug. Con Dist 4 Con Triden Ses 5. Con 2. The Church of Rome teacheth that the true notes of the Church are these that is to say consent in publike doctrine with the Church of Rome Secondly the personall succession of Bishops Thirdly the acknowledgment of the Pope 11. Of Counsels Mat. 18. Gal 5. Luk. 11. 1 Cor. 11. c. 119.12.62 The Reformed Church beleeueth that shee is not subiect nor tied to Councels but onely to the written Word of God Also that the Councells and auncient Fathers may erre when they swerue and turne aside any whit from the word of God The Church of Rome subiects and ties it selfe wholie to generall Councels as those that cannot erre Tap. Art 1 pag. 5. Sot assen lat de Concilijs The Reformed Church beleeueth that there are but two Sacramēts instituted by Iesus Christ 12. Of Sacraments Mat. 28. Mar. 16. 1 Cor. 11. Aug epist 218. ad Ian. lib. 3 de doct christ cap 9. Con Triden Ses 7. can 8. Linda lib. 4. cap. 57. 13. Of Markes Rom. 8. c. 3. 1 Timo. 2. that is to say Baptisme and the Lords Supper The Church of Rome teacheth that there are seuen Sacraments which conferre saluation Ex opere operato that is to say by the worke wrought yea euen without any good intention or affection of those that vse them The Reformed Church beleeueth that the afflictions and oppressions which the faithfull endure in this world are fatherly corrections which are sent vnto them from God for their amendment the chastisment of certaine sins or else are trialls and proofes of their faith or testimonies of the true doctrine they suffer for The Church of Rome teacheth Linda lib. 4 cap. 73. Con. Triden Ses 4. Can. 9. Tho. Aquin. l 4. Dist 4. Art 9. Sot Asseu de author that the Martirdom or suffering of the Saints is an expiatorie or purging oblation for sinne and that the paine or punishment which they endure deserueth a diminishing and mitigation of eternall punishment and moreouer life eternall The Reformed Church beleeueth 14. Of the Magistrate Rom. 13. that the Magistrate ought not only to take care of maintaining and defending the temporall goods of his subiects but also of true religion and of procuring their saluation The Church of Rome teacheth Sot in late schol Ibid. in assirt Cap. that the Magistrate must be debarred from entermedling with Ecclesiasticall affayres and with religion and also that Ecclesiasticall causes pertaine only to the Pope and his Prelates 15 Of Marriage Heb. 15. 1 Cor. 7. 1 Tim. 3.1 Chrisost hom in Tit. 2. con dist 28 Pigh cat Rom pag 552. The Reformed Church teacheth that Marriage is honorable among all And that it is a Diuelish doctrine to forbid it to any The Church of Rome affirmeth that such as are married liue in the flesh and that marriage is forbidden to Priests and to Ecclesiasticall persons And that it were more tolerable for an Ecclesiastical person to entertaine many Whores and Concubines then to betake himselfe to lawful marriage 16 Of humane traditions Col. 2. Mat. 11. 2 Iohn 1. Eph. 2. Gal. 3. Mat. 15. Con. Triden Ses can 1. Cat. Rom. pag. 319 499. Can. Triden Ses 4. can 1.1 Grat. con dist 5. The Reformed Church beleeueth that chrisme or annointing with oyle and other such like obseruations and traditions of the Church of Rome are directly repugnant and opposite to the word of God The Church of Rome teacheth that by the Sacrament which they call confirmation the faithfull receiue more graces then by the Sacrament of Baptisme And that extreame vnction confirmeth spirituall grace The Reformed Church beleeueth that none can be Iustified before God by any other meanes then onely faith in Christ Iesus 17. Of Vowes Io. 1. Heb. 10. The Church of Rome maintaineth that vowes of continency pouertie and obedience merrit eternall life Sot asser Can. And pag. 11. The reformed Church beleeveth that their sins are abolished and blotted out by the blood of the onely Mediator Iesus Christ The Romane Church beleeue that there is not onely a divine vertue in holy water but also an efficacie to cure and heale and to driue away diuels and in summe to defend and preserue all things against all inconveniences The Reformed Church beleeue 20. Of Invocation Exod. 20. Mat. 4. Act. 4. Apoc. 12. 1 Ioh. 4. Ecch. in Lom lib. 4. dist 48. Con. Trid. Sess 6. Rom. 3. Lind. l. 3.23 that we must call vpon God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost in spirit and in truth The Church of Rome maintaineth that we must call vpon Angels and hee-Saints and shee-Saints of Paradise attributing to each Saint a particular office as for example that Saint Leonard delivereth prisoners that Saint Valentine giveth bodily health Saint Roch or Saint Petronel cureth the fever Saint Clare the diseases of the eyes and Saint Anthony the tooth-ach God commandeth that none but hee alone should be honoured worshipped and adored 21. Of Reliques Deut. 4. Con. Trid. Sess 4. The Pope commandeth to honour and adore the bones reliques and images of the Saints The reformed Church beleeveth 22. Of Fasting 1 Tim 4. Col. 4. Rom. 14. Mat. 15. Soc. de iciun that the forbidding of certaine meates on certaine dayes out of an opinion of merit and holinesse is a doctrine of Divels The Roman Church teacheth that abstaining from certain meats is a work by which one may satisfie for sin and by which a man may apply vnto himselfe the merits of Iesus Christ The reformed Church beleeveth 23. Of Pardons and Indulgences 1 Ioh. 1.2 that the blood of Iesus Christ is the expiation or satisfaction for our sinnes Terrae Pro. 11.46 62. Extrava li. Tit. 9. Clem. 6. The Church of Rome teacheth that the Pardons and Indulgences of Popes are able to obtaine not only absolution of temporall and eternall punishment but moreouer eternall salvation 7. Of the absolute power or rule of the Pope Ephes 4. Col. 1. Cent fro Ie. de Turr. lib. 3. cap. 64. Fol. lib. 1. cent Rom. The Reformed Church beleeveth that Iesus Christ is the onely head who was crucified for vs and now raigneh with great Maiestie at the right hand of his heavenly Father The Church of Rome affirmeth that Iesus Christ is an invisible head and that the Pope of Rome is the visible head of the Church who surmounteth all Emperours and Monarches so much as the Sunne excelleth the Moone or as gold exceedeth lead Also that he is greater then Moses and Saint Paul that hee is like to Saint Peter yea verily that hee is God and not
tipice dux normaque Minorum See lib. con Fo. 228. Col. 4.231 Col. 1. Sedes nobis perpetuò da regni caelorum that is to say Good Saint Francis head of Friers minors which of Iesus Christ art the true figure Cause vs to haue part of heauenly honours and life to obtaine that ever doth endure And the Iacobins are so bold as not onely to compare there Saint Dominicke with our Sauiour Iesus Christ See epist Flor. Aut. intust part 3. art 23. 24. but which is more in many thinges they placed him afore Iesus Christ The golden legends of the he-Saints and shee-Saints are all at this day printed which sufficiently set forth the fained miracles of one Stanislaus Adulbertus and of such other Saints And for so much as the Popes approue and allow such bookes yea and propound them to Christians to be held in equall honour and reuerence with the written word of God Aut. 23.27 fo 137. From thence also the Reformed Christians conclude that the Popes are prophane Tyranny the second cause of refusall The second reason for which the Reformed will not accept the Popes for their Iudges The second reason is that they haue vsurped dominion and soveraignty ouer the Church For first of all the Pope causeth himselfe to be stiled the Head the Spouse and Soveraigne Bishop of the Church Howbeit that title cannot properly appertaine to any person but Christ Iesus alone In the second place because that the Pope will beare rule and haue soueraignty over all the earth and all the Potentates of the earth Of the donation of Constantine For touching the donation of Constantine the Great by which they striue to confirme their dominion and rule besides that it hath beene heretofore sharpely questioned by Nicolaus Cusan Laurentius Valla Volaterranus Aeneas Silvius and diverse other very learned Authours the which notwithstanding haue not ceased to bee patrons and defenders of the Romane Sea The Reformed Christians maintaine that they can convince the sayd donation of falshood and vntruth by these reasons following Ten reasons by which it is proved that the donation of Constantine the Great is false and counterfeit First because none of the best and most approoved Authors either affirme or speake any thing of this donation of Constantine 2. Because that Eusebius and other ancient Historians testifie that the Emperor Constantine divided the three parts of the world to his three sonnes Socr. Theolo Evagr. Ruffin Okeb Beda Sozom. hist pan 2 Vol. lib. grn 3. 3. Because the Instruments and Decrees which touching the same were imprinted are very different and their stile no whit agreeing 4. That it is an absurd thing and likewise incredible that Saint Peter and Saint Paul should haue appeared to Constantine in his sleepe and that hee should haue adored them as gods 5. That hee was never infected with the Leprosie 6. That he was not baptized by Sylvester at Rome but by Eusebius in Nicomedia Alb. Krant in Sax lib. 2. ca. 1. Mansil indefens part cap. 11. 7. That it is a prophane kinde of speech to say that the hand of God was seene by Constantine 8. That he could not giue to the Pope a greater right then he had himselfe 9. That hee could not conferre or bestow vpon the Pope power or authority over the Patriarch of Constantinople the sayd title at that time being not built nor finished 10. And lastly Euseb de vita Constan Ruff. l. 1 c. 39. Viues l. 24. hist Beul de Con. Nue l. 8. c. 4. because such donations contained in the priviledges and grants made to the Popes which they haue received from the Emperour Constantine are the certaine markes of Antichrist Surely by all these reasons aforesayd it manifestly appeareth say the Reformed that such donation was never made to the popes by Constantine but that it hath beene forged and counterfeited by the Popes themselues And concerning the wordes of our Saviour Christ pronounced to Saint Peter and to all other Preachers Teachers of the word of God Aug in Io. tract 10 12. de ver dom Ser. 20. Cyril in Dial. de Trin. lib 4. Ambr. Epist ad Ephes cap. 2. saying Feed my sheepe this sentence and speech doth not import or signifie a politique and outward dominion or authority but onely the ministery of the Gospell For in another place our Lord Iesus Christ taxeth the ambition of the Apostles for that some would beare rule and haue dominion over other some and for that vpon this occasion they entred into consultation Chrys hom 55. in Math. Ber. Epist 230. Mat. 20.25 Dist 4. ca. multi quicunque cap. 1. Sedis dist 99. si quis 7. Der. de por The Kings of the Nations saith Iesus Christ beare rule over them but it should not bee so among you yea and the very Canons haue expresly forbidden that the Bishop of Rome should be called Soveraigne Bishop or vniversall head of the Church wherefore say the Reformed the Popes beat themselues with their owne rodde seeing they cannot rightfully attribute or appropriate to themselues such authority and domination and that for diverse causes and reasons Corruption of Religion the third cause of refusall The 3. reason which the Reformed Christians produce for which they will not submit themselves to the iudgement of the Popes is this that they haue not only intricated and confounded religion and divine service with many vaine ceremonies Can. 9. dist 34. Can 4. in dist 82. Can praeb lib. decretal Greg. tit 7. can 5. but haue also grossely erred in doctrine For some decrees affirme of the Popes that they are not men but gods that they cannot bee iudged by any person in the world that they may dispose and dispense against the Apostles that they can change the properties of things that they can make something of nothing that they haue power to make iustice of iniustice Io. 1.4 2 Tim. 3. Mat. 15. Gal. 1. Ier. 7. Iren. Epist 4. Con. Trad. 4. con li. cer per. sur 7. Now how exceeding false all this is say the Reformed it appeareth by that which almighty God testifieth himselfe that there can be but one forme of religion that is to say that which is contained in the writings of the Prophets and of the Apostles yea verily that an Angell from heauen hath no power to adde thereunto nor from it to diminish Whereas the Pope for all that will haue religion to consist in humane traditions such as are the Agnus Dei which they call 2. The complaint of Maximilian the baptisme of Bels the invocations of Saints the single life of Priests the withdrawing or depriving of the Cup in the Lords Supper De coen dom lib. 3. decret Greg. tit 41. Cal. cum dist 2. the vsing of a strange language and not vnderstood in the outward service of the Masse Buls and Indulgences and other like traditions all which as they say came
called God sitting as God in the Temple of God The whore that is drunke with the blood of the Saints being seated vpon the Beast with seven heads who committeth fornication with the Kings of the earth and fighteth against the Lambe by whom shee shall be ouercome and finally shall bee forsaken by seven hornes or seven Kings For since that the Popes attribute to themselues more honour then to Iesus Christ and to the Magistrate and so advance and lift vp themselues aboue God Behold the reason why they dispence against the commandements of the Apostles against right and the law of Nature Ten arguments that the Pope is Antichrist that they place their acts aboue the iudgement of man that they equall their ordinances to divine institutions That they attribute to themselues the power of transferring and changing of kingdomes That they name themselues head spouse and high soueraigne Priest or Bishop of the Church The Heralds cry before the Pope Abasso Abasso that is all downe on your knees Dist 19. 11. 96. Bald. vlt. cap. Decius 1. de constit Felin c. eg 1. de iure Eber. Hardin Anna. Iron yea verily they terme themselues the cause of causes and the Lord of Lords That they are seated in the Temple of God being drunken with the blood of the Saints possessing the Citie set vpon seven hils which hath had soveraignty and rule ouer all the Kings of the earth In briefe seeing that all the things which haue beene foretold of Antichrist in the holy Scripture agree fitly sort rightly and are proper to the Pope we need expect no other Antichrist from Babylon Beholde wherefore the Reformed conclude from all the reasons before going that the Popes of Rome are the true Antichrist The villanies of the Popes the eight cause of refusall The eight reason In the eight place the Reformed Christians will not admit the Popes for their Iudges for these their filthy vices and villanies ensuing First they haue beene whoremongers 2. Tyrants 3. Possessed by Divels 4. Atheists without any sence or feeling of God 5. Tormentors or bloody persecuters 6. Traytors 7. Poysoners 8. Bastards All the which things the Reformed say they can sufficiently proue true by the testimonies of such Writers and Authors being Papists as in diverse ages past haue written bookes thereof which are at this day every where printed and set out and consequently may be read by every man And first of all the Reformed prooue That the Popes haue been whoremongers and Sodomites that diuerse Popes haue beene Brokers or Bawds whoremongers incestuous and Sodomites For Sergius the third committed filthinesse with diverse Harlots but especially with Marozia that famous strumpet of whom hee begat Pope Iohn the twelfth Landus the first begat Iohn the eleventh in beastly whoredome Iohn the eleuenth being heire to Landus the first came also by right of whoredome to the Papall dignity by the meanes of the Romane Courtezan Theodora Luitpran Firm. lib. 3. cap. 12. De gest imper Patr. praem Platin. Firm. l. 2.13 Luitp lib. the which being often enflamed with the fire of lust I would spare or favour chaste eares if I were not to expresse the very wordes of Luitprands did not onely allure and provoke the Pope to vse carnality with her but did also sometimes importune and compel him Iohn the thirteenth Mantuan was conuinced at a Sinode in the presence of the Emperour Otho the first of diverse notorious vices among which the principall was his horrible incontinency which was that hee committed incest with both his sisters that hee had made a brothell-house of the Laterane Palace that hee had forced Stephana his fathers concubine as also the widow Paniete and Anne together with his Neece And being convinced of all these villanous acts hee was deposed from the Papall throne but the whores restored him againe by a sedition and mutiny that they raised among the Nobility of Rome Alexander the sixt suffered Peter Mendoza Cardinall of Valence to abuse his bastard sonne the Marquis of Zanete Vates Volater as if he had beene his wife And how much the said Pope was tainted and polluted with lustfulnesse sufficiently appeareth by this Epitaph of his daughter Lucrece Hac iacet in tumba Lucrecia nomine sed re Thais Alexandri filia sponsa nurus That is to say Here lies entomb'd Lucrece by name but in her life Alexanders daughter daughter in law and wife Ioan or Ione Pont. Iohn the eight before called Gilberta being gotten with childe by a Cardinall was delivered in a publike Procession going towards the Church of Laterane betweene the Collosse or Statue and the Temple of Saint Clement Actus Sanara and that in the presence of all the people in the open street in which place also she died in labour vpon which occasion Baptist Mantuan composed these verses ensuing In Alphon. l. 3. Platin. Funct Hic pendebat adhuc sexum mentita virilem Foemina cui triplici Phrigiam diademate mitram Extollebat apax pontificalis adulter Non poterat quisquis deferrantes athere claues Non exploratis sumere testiculis Curigitur nostro mus hic cum tempore cessat Anne probat sese quilibet esse marem That is to say Here was a Wench disguis'd in mans attire to Popish triple Crowne that did aspire Shee was with child a Cardinall was the fire none afterwards might vse heauens opening keyes Vnlesse his markes of manhood were espied why ceaseth then the custome in our dayes Because each Pope himselfe a man hath tried We reade that Iulius the second besides diuers others did principally spoyle by Sodomie two very yong noble Gentlemen which Anne queene of France Ian. Panop Epist Quin qua ecclesia Commenta Mag Paris Greuel George Iuil had recommended and giuen in charge to Robert Cardinall of Nauetia to traine them vp in good instructions Innocent the third was so villanous a leacher that he abstained not euen from the Cardinals whose Sodomie hauing beene followed by Grouanni Delacasa a Florentine Archbishop of Beneuent The Booke was imprinted at Venice by Troy anq Xanius he wrote a a booke in Italian verses in prayse of Sodomie which hee termeth diuinum opus affirming that hee merited there by Sixtus the fourth set vp at Rome publike stewes and appointed them for fleshly villaines allowing to the Cardinal of Saint Lucie the act of Sodomie during the three hottest months of Summer adding for the conclusion or shutting vp Fiat quod petitur Iron Qucis Ioan Rauis Bap. Man lib. 4. Alphons Volat in declam ad Leo. that is be it done that is required or I grant thy request Iohn the fourth was deposed from his papall seate at the Councell of Constance because of his Sodomie rauishing of women and such other enormious and haynous acts and afterwards detayned prisoner at Hedelberge for the space of three yeeres Valer. Anctin Vergarius Agrippa Clement the eight was
THE CATHOLIQVE IVDGE OR A MODERATOR OF THE Catholique Moderator Where in forme or manner of a Plea or Suite at Law the differences betweene those of the Reformed Church and them of the Romish Church are decided and without partialitie is shewed which is the true Religion and Catholique Church for the instruction of either partie Together with eight strong Arguments or Reasons why the Popes cannot be competent Iudges in these controversies Written in the Dutch and French tongue by Iohn of the Crosse a Catholique Gentleman Translated out of French into English by the Right worshipfull and learned Knight Sir A. A. Pro. 17.15 Hee that iustifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the iust they both are an abhomination to the Lord. LONDON Printed by I. D. for Robert Mylbourne and are to be sold at his shop at the great South-doore of Pauls 1623. TO MONSIVER NICHOLAS MALAYR LORD OF TVT c. SIr The Authors Epistle more then twenty yeeres are past since lighting on the substance or matter of this present booke handled in Latin in forme of an Oration by the inducement of certain good Personages I was perswaded to reduce it into the forme of an Action or Suite at Lawe and to cause it to bee Printed in the Flemish tongue with hope that this small Treatise might conduce some-what towards the edifying of Christians And vnderstanding that diverse impressions haue beene sold in the Low-Countries Hereupon I at the last resolved to make it change language for the vse of our Churches and especially of the Churches in the Kingdome of France where are to be found these two formall complaining parties brought in as contending or pretending title in this cause of Religion that is to say they which make profession of the Romane Religion as accusers or Plaintiffes on the one part and they which make profession of the Reformed Religion as the accused or Defendants on the other part I assure my selfe that both the one and the other will herein finde occasion more seriously to consider of this so important businesse and debate yea and whosoever will not be wilfully blinde may easily here discerne how this suite or cause of Religion hath beene for many yeeres past wranglingly and cunningly pleaded by them that seeke for nothing else but to charge and burden their adverse partie with vniust and false accusations and reproches and to hinder the comming at length to a finall decision or determination God grant that even the most simple and ignorant may reade it heedfully and without preiudice or preiudging to the end they may seriously resolue to ioyne with the better party for the advancement of Gods glory of their saluation in our Sauior Iesus Christ For the rest Sir I haue presumed to dedicate vnto you the French edition of this religious suite or action concerning Religion hoping you will accept receiue and take it in as good part as I offer this my poore labour with a sincere affection especially because I vnderstand that you are much addicted to the reading of bookes which tend to the maintaining and defending of the doctrine of Iesus Christ Be pleased then I beseech you that I may here make vnto you some small publique acknowledgement and I humbly desire our good God to fit you with his especiall blessings most conducing and tending to his glory and your eternall salvation At Harlem about the end of Ianuary in the yeere of our Lord 1614. Your humble and most affectionate in service and dutie Iohn of the Crosse To the Christian Reader CHristian Reader whereas this little book containeth the principall controversies of Religion I thought good to adioyne hereto at the beginning a Catalogue of all the Authors whose testimonies are cited in diuers places of this Treatise to the end no man may thinke that the points or matter therein handled is onely the opinion of some small number of people and of late sprung vp but of many persons and in sundry times to the end also that every one diligently examining the sayd authors may satisfie and put himselfe out of all doubt So that neither the one nor the other party may haue iust reason to complaine of my partiality Reade heedfully and iudge vprightly A Register of the Authors titled in this Treatise for the better confirmation of the Truth A Augustinus Ambrosius Acatius Athanasius Andradius Antonius Florent Aeneas Silvius Albertus Cratzius Abbas Vrspergensis Augustinus Steuchius Arnobius Actius Zan. Agrippa Apollo Arnulphus Aucet Epis Arias Montanus B Bernardus Abbas clu Basilius Bonifacius Baldus Benna Cardinalis Beda Baronius Bernardus Mendoza C Chrysostome Cyrillus Clemens Alexandrinus Cyprianus Calixtus Clementis Clementinus Coletus Conformiatum Liber Concilium Trident. Coment Magist Pariseen Cuspimianus D Ducherius E Ecchius Evagrius Eutropius Extrauagants Eusebius Everard Archi. Salis Epiphanius Erasmus F Fellinus Francis Petrarch Flavius Blondus Fuccius G Gregorius Nazianzen Gelasius Gulielmus Budaeus Gerson Gregorius Magnus Gratianus Gabriel Biel. Grebelius G. Lilius Gallen-Annal H Hironimus Hulderius Huttenus Hesius Hermoadus Hieron Sauanarola Hiron Marius I Ieremius Iustinian Ius Canon Iason Ianus Pannon Iohannes Monlucius Iohan. de terra Cremata Iohan. Petrus Farra Iohan. Anarsimus Iohan. Iouianus Pontanus Iohan Functius Iohan Nouiamga L Lindanus Lombardus Laurentius Valla. Luitperandus Ficinencis Legenda Sanctorum M Marcilius Ficinus Mantuan Baptista Mabeus Marullus Matthaeus Parisiens Michael Centonas N Nicholaus Cusans Nauclerus O Orosius Origenes P Paphnutius Panormitan Paulus Weigerius Episcop Petrusius Soto Platina Petrus Premonstra Pighius Philippus Orcius Pautalion R Raphael Volaterranus Ruardus Tap. Ruffinus S Stella ventus Sabellicus Socrates Sigibertus Spiridion T Tertullianus Thomas Aquinus Theodoretus Trebellius Thomas Roden V Vincentius Valerius Anselmus Vicaelius Z Zezintus THE CATHOLIKE IVDGE All yee people and inhabitants of the world that loue the truth in sinceritie of heart be attentiue and giue eare for behold a great and most important cause is to be tried THE Soueraigne and Almightie God who is a most gracious Father of all his elect hath promised the Kingdome of Heauen to all true beleeuers euen as to his deere Children in his onely and well beloued Sonne And hath published and exhibited this his promise of the heauenly inheritance in the publike writings or records of the old and new Testament and hauing also sealed it with the Signet of the Sacraments he hath ouer and aboue deliuered and committed it into the hands of the inheritors Adioyning moreouer to the writings testimentarie certaine fatherly conditions which the heires of the same inheritance should be tied to performe and obserue But the Children are fallen into debate and they are deuided and seperated one from the other with great contestation The one of the parties acknowledgeth the Pope of Rome to be their visible head yea verily and the Lieftenant of the heauenly Testatour The other partie will not acknowledge the Pope of Rome to be such Euen thus they challendge and pretend right to the possession of
accused in the declaration vpon the articles of the Masters Sarbonists of Paris that he was the son of an Whore an Enchanter a Sodomite a forcer of women and a master of all abhomination Paul the third deliuered to Alexander one of his sisters against his wil to be his Whore to the end he might be made Cardinall of Hestia And the other sister whom he had likewise defloured hee caused to be made away by poyson because he perceiued that shee did beare greater affection to others then to himselfe The same Pope Paul committed filthines with his owne daughter Constantia and with his neece Laura Furnetia and set downe in his register the number of fortie fiue thousand Whores from whom he receiued monthly the reuenue or taxation imposed for there vnchast conuersation Many more like examples say the Reformed of the Popes villanies might be alledged but it is to be feared that the eares of well disposed persons would be thereby offended 2. The tirannie and crueltie of Popes It remaineth therefore in the second place for the Reformed to proue that the Popes haue beene cruell tyrants Iohn the 13. caused the eyes of some of his Cardinalls to be put out Luitpran lib. 6. intog of others their tongues to be cut out of others their noses and of others their priuie parts Boniface the seuenth caused Iohn the 13. by ambush or way-laying to be apprehended and to haue his eyes put out and suffering him to die in prison by that meanes obtained the papall Chaire Vrbane the sixt choosing new Cardinalls caused 7. of the old ones to be cast into prison fiue of which he commanded to be put into sackes and cast into the water Innocent the eight of set purpose Valer. Ansel Volateri marsil referred certaine Burgesses of Rome who did exhort him to vnion and concord to Lewis his nephew residing or abiding in the Hospitall of the holy Ghost where the said Nephew hauing at the said instant put to death two of them he made them to be cast out of the window saying that the discord and sedition could not by a more conuenient means be pacified Sergius the fift caused the body of Formosus to be taken out of the graue eight yeeres after he was dead and made him to be placed on the papall seate where hee caused his head with three of his fingers to be cut off the other two fingers hauing beene before cut off by Stephan the fift and all this being further put in execution according to his pleasure hee further commanded to cast the sayd headlesse bodie together with the head and three fingers into Tiber. O rage and outragiousnesse neuer before herd of say the Reformed 3. That the Popes haue had acquaintance with Diuels In the third place the Reformed Christians doe declare the Popes haue beene possessed with Diuells and haue familiaritie or commerce with euil spirits For Alexander the sixt bound himselfe by contract to the Diuell for his helpe and meanes to become Pope Paul the third Brimo Cardinal Luitpra lib. 6. was the cheefe among the Negromancers Benedict the ninth by charmes called vp diuels into certaine woods by diuelish art or skill allured and entised into his armes all the women that he would In the fourth place the Reformed shew that the Popes are prophane and Atheists 4 That Popes haue beene Atheists For wee read that Leo the 10. on a day answered Petro Pembo who alledged some place of scripture It is a good while since sufficiently knowne Vita Pontif. Exempla Hul. Aug. what profit and aduantage the fable of Christ hath brought to vs and to all our companie Nicholas the first sayd that it was more honest and decent secretly to haue carnall copulation with many Whores Peter Prom. Ren Cardi. then openly before all men to liue with a wife in marriage Siluester the second one day saying Masse was so troubled with the noyse of Diuells that with the very conceit and feare he fell into a burning fever and vnderstanding the Diuell would haue him performe his promise hee required vpon his death-bed that after his death they would cut off his hands and his tongue his priuie parts Gregorie the seuenth being in danger of death commanded that a certaine Cardinall should be called vnto him Ben. Cardina to whom he himselfe confessed that he was worthy to bee punished with death because hee had amonge much people and many nations sowed disfentions seditions and had wrongfully persecuted the Emperour Henry Eating of Porke being by his Physitian forbidden to Iulius the second he spared not to vomit this blasphemie Pantal. Paul Verger in despite of God c. The same Pope Iulius being very angry for that a cold Peacock was eaten which he commanded should be saued or set vp brake forth into another blasphemy against the divine Maiestie and when one of the Cardinals sitting at his table said vnto him that his Holines should not be so angry for a matter of so small importance Iulius answered him If God were so angry for the eating of an apple onely that hee cast our first parents out of Paradise why should it not be lawfull or allowable for me who am his Vicar to be offended for a peacocke seeing it is much more exquisite pleasing then an apple In the fift place the Reformed shew 5. That the Popes are tormentors that the Popes are most cruell persecuters which they proue by the examples following Iulius the 2. in the space of seven yeeres Huld Hut See Gerbert Gilb. Duth Erasm Colet Mattha Paris caused more then two hundred thousand to be murthered Gregorie the ninth caused to bee strangled against all right the Ambassadours of the Emperour by whom he vnderstood that Ierusalem was againe taken Clement the fourth made publiquely to be beheaded Conradine sonne of the King of Sicilie without any reason or lawfull forme of proceeding And what needeth it See the Booke of Martyrs say the Reformed to make here further mention of so many thousand persons as the Popes haue caused cruelly to be martyred in diuerse parts of the world and that onely for Religion In the sixt place 6. The Popes are traitors the Reformed Christians proue the treasons of Popes by certaine notable examples for to cite say they all the examples would fill a great booke The Emperour Fredericke made a publique complaint in the assembly at Norenberch See how the Emperour was imprisoned released by the Souldan of the treason of Alexander the third and that in the presence of the Princes of the Empire causing openly to bee read before the said Princes there assembled his owne trayterous letter which hee had sent to the Souldan or Emperour of the Turkes Gregorie the second made a secret prohibition of paying to the Emperor his ordinary impost or customes Alexander the sixt tooke and hyred the Turkes to ayd him against the French
the heuenly inheritance to the title of the true Church the which each partie maintaineth to appertaine vnto them The Accuser or Plaintife in this sute is the Pope together with all them that partake with him or depend vpon the sea of Rome The defendants or accused are all they that will not acknowledge nor admitt of the Pope but make publike profession of being of the reformed religion Both the one and the other parties alledge their reasons their placards and Charters their letters Patents and writings sealed and produce also witnesses deposed But both parties are much perplexed and troubled about chusing of a Iudge For each of them striueth to propound such a Iudge as thou beleeuest will be most fauourable and inclining to their side The Church of Rome referres it selfe to the sentence and iudgement of the Pope of Traditions of Councels of auncient Fathers and of miracles affirming moreouer that shee will not altogether exclude the word of God from this Iudgement or decision Contrarie-wise they of the reformed religion reiect and refuse the Iudges aboue-named saying that in this case or plea the Pope of Rome cannot be at the same time both Iudge and partie considering also that hee himselfe is accused of diuers impieties They reiect Traditions as suspected Iudges and reproueable Touching Councels the Fathers and miracles they doe not acknowledge them for Iudges but rather for Antentike witnesses whose testimonies they are ready to accept so that they agree with the tenor or publike writings of the Testament The Church of Rome accuseth them of the reformed to be reuolted or fallen away from the true Church that they haue forged or deuised new deuine seruices That they haue not mooued this debate against them but within these few yeres and therefore they affirme that the kingdome of heauen and the title of the true Church belongeth according to all right and reason vnto them and not in any sort vnto the reformed These reply that they are not declined nor seperated from the true Church but rather from the Sinagogue or Assembly of the vngodly that they haue not inuented a new doctrine nor new Traditions but that they walke in the same way of Saluation in which all the faithfull from the beginning of the world haue beene saued That indeede in times past they haue beene oppressed by their tiranie as Abell once was by his brother Caine Isacke by Ismaell and Iacob by Esau so that they were forced to hide themselues but that now like the moone they haue againe recouered their light attributing to themselues the names of first borne or Eldership So that there is concourse from all parts to these children and inheritours which are at such odds and debate and great trouble and confusion is raysed From words they passe to blowes to murders yea to ciuill warres and shedding of bloud to burning and hanging and in breefe to all kinds of inhumane punishments and executions Sometimes the one another while the other partie seemes to haue the vpper hand And the more they of the reformed religion are oppressed persecuted burned the more they boast of their aduancement victorie triumph In the meane time they protest that men should not in this case proceede by force and violence but according to right and reason And herein they doe appeale to God himselfe not acknowledging any other head or Soueraigne Iudge to the end that the Testatour himselfe may determine this controuersie by his last will which is contained in his holy word And to the end that this may bee the more commodiously effected they appeale also to an vniuersall Counsell wherein it may be freely permitted to reade and examine the codicells or scheduls and the sealed writings of the Testament and by them to vnderstand the last will of the heauenly Testatour The Church of Rome on the contrarie part protesteth that shee hath often caused generall Councels to bee assembled in which the words of the testament haue beene sufficiently examined and that by them it is found and appeareth that the name and title of the Church appertaineth to none but to her onely They of the reformed Church on the other side denie the sayd Councels to haue beene vniuersall or free for as much as the Popes haue not suffered them there to render or make a free confession of their faith neither giuen them hearing of there defences but contrarie to all right haue beene both accusers and Iudges hauing sentenced and condemned the cause of there brethren without hauing heard there Allegations Wherevpon they oft since protest that they haue in noe sort lost their sute and right but that they will continue remaine lawfull heires of the inheritance which was bequethed vnto them by their heauenly father so long as they shal obserue the conditions conteined in the Autentique writings of the Testament In the meane while the reformed say that they are prepared and determined to expect and tarrie for the iust Soueraigne Iudge Iesus Christ who will at length come to Iudge both the quicke and the dead and will make an end of these long controuersies in religion in such sort as that he will grant and assigne to them that shall haue right eternall life but will cast out them that are in the wronge to eternall condemnation The two parties haue not proceeded any farther in this their action or demand Now then the question is to which of these two parties the possession of eternall life and the title of the true Church ought to be adiudged True it is that this decision and iudgment appertaineth to Iesus Christ aboue the which also he will pronounce without farther appeale at the iudgement and Session which hee hath decreed and notified to the whole world more then sixteene hundred yeeres since and without faile will come and be within short time Be well advised and carefull in the meane time O yee Kings and Princes and all the Inhabitants of the earth to ioyne your selues with the better party lest that now leaving this difference vndecided Iesus Christ the soveraigne Iudge should condemne you at his last comming in iudgement And to the end you may pronounce iust sentence in this controversie in Religion shew your selues vpright Iudges and not partiall without condemning either of the parties before you haue heard them But if you haue hearkened with one eare as is meet to the plea and doctrine of the Church of Rome I desire you to lend the other also to the plea and doctrine of the reformed Church imitating herein Alexander the Great who was wont to heare the voyce of the accuser with his right eare in the meane while stopping his left one which hee reserved to hearken withall to him that was accused I will propound then and produce in the first place the doctrine and opinion of both parties and that out of the books and writings of each of them bona fide I will neither adde nor diminish any thing at all