concoct and digested with such patience and rypnesse and delivered out with such gravitie of delebiration that nothing is thought in it necessary to be altered or detracted 122. Wherefore it is manifest and testified by the voice of holie Bishops that the dignitie of this my seat is to be reverenced through the whole world in that all the faith full submit themselues to it as to the head of the whole bodie 123. Whereof it is spoken to mee by the Prophet speaking of the Arke if this bee humbled whether shall yee runne for succour and where shall your glory become seing then this is so that so holie Bishops and Scriptures doe witnesse with mee what shall we say then to such as will take vpon them to judge of my doings to reprehend my proceedings or to require homage and tribute of mee to whom all other are subject 124. Against the first sort the Scripture speaketh Deuternomie Thou oughtest not to put thy syth in another mans Corne. Which thing to attempt against mee what is it but plaine sacriledge 125. According to my Canonists which thus defyne sacriledge to consist in three things either when a man judgeth of his Princes judgement or when the holie day is prophained or whē reverence is not given to Lawes and Canons 126. Against the second sort maketh the place of the booke of Kings where wee reade the Arke of GOD was brought from Gaba to Ierusalem and in the way the Arke inclining by reason of the vnruely oxen Ozias the Levit put to his hand to helpe and therefore was stricken of the LORD By this Arke is signified the Prelats by the inclination thereof the fall of Prelats 127. Which also bee signified by the Angels that Iacob did see going vp and downe the ladder 128. Also by the Prophet where hee sayeth hee bowed downe the Heavens and came downe By Ozias and the vnruelie oxen are meaned our subjects 129. Then like as Ozias was striken for putting his hand to the Arke inclyning no more must subjects rebuke their Prelats going away 130. Albeit heere may be answered againe that all bee not Prelats which bee so called for it is not the name that maketh a Bishop but the life 131. Against the third sort of such as would bring vs vnder the tribute and exactions of secular men making the New Testament where Peter was bid to giue the groate in the fishes mouth but not the head nor bodie of the fish No more is the head or bodie of the Church subdued to Kings but onely that which is in the mouth that is the extern things of the Church and yet not they neither 132. For so wee read in the booke of Genesis that Pharaoh in the time of derth subdued all the land of the Egyptians but yet hee ministred to the Preists so that hee neither tooke their possessions from them nor their libertie If then the Prelats of the Church must bee neither judged nor reprehended nor exacted how much more ought I to bee free from the same 133 Which am the Bishop of Bishops and head of Prelats 134. For it is not to bee thought that the case betwixt mee and other Prelats betwixt my Sea and other Churches bee like 135. Although the whole Catholick Apostolicke Church make a brydechamber of Christ yet the Catholick and Apostolick Church of Rome had the preheminence given over all other by the mouth of the LORD himselfe saying to Peter Thou art Peter 136. Thus a discretion and difference must bee had in the Church as it was betwixt Aaron and his children 137. Betwixt the threescore and twelue Disciples and the twelue Apostles betwixt the other Apostles and Peter 138. Wherefore it is to bee concluded an order difference of degrees in the Church betwixt powers rior and inferior without which order the vniversitie of the whole cannot consist 139. For as amongst the Angelicall creatures aboue in Heaven there is set a difference and inequalities of powers and orders some to bee Angels some Archangels some Cherubins some Seraphims 140. So in the Ecclesiasticall hierarchie of the Church militant heere on earth Priests must not bee equall with Bishops Bishops must not bee like in order with Arch-Bishops with Patriarchs or Primats 141. Who containe vnder them three Arch-Bishops as a King containeth three Dukes vnder him in the which number of Patriarchs cōmeth in the stare also of an hundreth fourty two Cardinals or principals fo called Because as the doore turneth by his hinges so the vniversall Church ought to be ruled by them 142. The next hiest order aboue these is mine who am Pope differing in power majoritie and honour reverentiall from these all other decrees of men 144. For the better declaration on whereof my Canonists make three kynds of power in the earth Immediato which is mine immediatly from GOD Derivato which belongeth to other inferior Prelats from me 145. Ministralis belonging to Emperors and Princes to minister for mee for the which cause the anoynting of Princes and my consecration doth differ for they are anoynted onely in the armes or shoulders and I in the head to signifie the difference of power betwixt Princes and mee 146. This order therefore of Priests Bishops and Arch-Bishops Patriarchs and others as a thing most convenient my Church of Rome hath set and instituted through all Churches following therein not onely the example of the angelicall armie in Heaven but also the Apostles 147. For amongst them also there was not an vniforme equalitie or institution of a degree 148. But a diversitie or distinction of authoritie and power albeit they were all Apostles together yet it was granted notwithstanding to Peter themselues also agreeing to the same that he should beare dominion and superioritie over all other Apostles 149. And therefore had his name given him Cephas that is head or beginning of the Apostlehood 150. Wherevpon the order of the Priesthood first in the New Testament began in Peter to whom it was said Thou art Peter and vpon thee will I build my Church 151. And I will give thee the keyes of Heaven and thou being converted confirme thy brethren 152. I haue prayed for thee that thy faith shall not faile wherefore seeing such power is given to Peter 153. And to mee in Peter beeing his successor 154. Who is hee then in all the world that ought not to bee subject to my decrees which hath such power in Heaven in Hell in Earth with the quicke and also the dead 155. Commanding and granting in my Bull sent to Vienna vnto all such as dyed in their peregrination to Rome that the paine of Hell shuld not touch them And also that all such as tooke the holie crosse vpon them should everie one at his request not onely bee delivered himselfe but also deliver three or foure soules whomso ever hee would haue out of Purgatorie 156. Againe having such promises and assurance that my faith shall not faile who then will
borne to receaveorder or benefices Dispensation for pluralities of benefices Dispensation to make a man Bishop before he be 30. yeare old Dispensation to giue orders vnder age The Pope hath power to make and call a generall councill The Pope hath onely power to detriue an ecclesiasticall person and giue away his benefice being not vacant The Pope onely is able to absolue him who is excommunicat by name The Pope onely is to absolue him whom his Legat doth excommunicat The Pope judgeth onely in the causes of them that appeall vnto him and where hee judgeth no mar must appeale from him Onely hee hath authoritie to make Deacon Priest whom he had made subdeacon either vpon Sundayes or vpon other feasts Onely the Pope and none els at all times and in all places weareth the Palle The Pope only dispensses with a man either being not with murtherers or being vnworthie to bee made Bishop He onely either confirmeth or deposeth the Emperour when hee is chosen A man being excommunicat and his absolution referred to the Pope none may absolue that man but the Pope alon The same hath authotitie in any election before it be made to pronunce it non when it is made Hee doth Canonize Sancts and none els but hee Dispensation to how many dignities and personage in a Church and without charge and cure of the soule belongeth onely to the Pope To make that effectuall which is of none effect and contrarie-wayes belongeth onely to the Pope To plucke out a Monke out of his cloister both against his owne will and the Abbots pertaineth onely to the Pope His sentence maketh a law The same day in the which the Pope is consecrated he may giue orders Hee dispenseth in degrees of consanguinity and affinitie Hee is able to abolish lawes that is both civill and Canon where danger is of the soule It is in his dispensation to giue indulgences generall to certane places or persons Item to legitimate what person soever hee pleaseth as touching spritualities in all places as touching temporalities as honours inheritance To erect new religions to approue or reproue rewles ordinances and ceremonies in the Church Item to dispence and discharge and subject from the band of alledgence or oath made to any manner of person No man may accuse him of any cryme vnlesse of heresie and that neither except hee bee incorrigible The same is also free from all lawes so that hee cannot incur into any sentence of excommunication suspension irregularitie or into penelty of any cryme but into the note of cry me hee may well Finally Hee by his dispensation may grant yeato a simple Priest to minister the sacraments of confirmation to infants also to giue lower orders and to hallow churches and Virgins These bee the causes wherein I haue power to dispense and no man els neither Bishop nor metrapolitan nor legat without licence from mee AFter that I now sufficiently declared my power in earth in Heaven and in Purgatory how great it is and what is the fulnesse thereof in binding and loosing cōmāding permitting electing cōfirming deposing dispēsing doing vndoing I wil intreat a litle of my riches likewise and great possessions that everie man may see by my wealth and abundance of all things rents tyths tribute my silkes Purple myters Crownes of gold and silver Pearles and gumes lands and lordships how God heere prospereth and magnifieth his viccar in the earth For to mee pertaineth first the imperiall citie of Rome the Palace of Later an the Kingdome of Cicile is proper to mee Aprilia and Capua be mine also the Kingdome of England and Ir land bee they not brought to bee tributaries to mee 214. To these I admit also besids other Provinces and countries both in the occident and orient from the North to the South these dominions by name others moe 216. which Constantinus the Emperour gaue vnto mee not that they were not mine of before hee did giue them 217. For that I tooke them of him I tooke them not as a gift as is aforementioned but as restitution and that I randred them againe to Otho I did it not for my duetie to him but onely for peace sake what should I speake heere of my dayly enemies of my first fruits annates palles indulgences Bulls confessionals indulgences prescripts testamēts dispensations priviledges elections prebendes religious houses and such like which came to no small masse of money in so much that for a palle to the Arch-Bishop of Mentz which was wont to bee gotten for ten thousand 218 Florence now is growne to twentie seven thousand Florence which I receaved of Iacobus the Arch-Bishop not long before Basil counsell besids the friuits of other Bishoprickes in Germany comming to the number of fiftie whereby what advantage commeth vnto my Coffers it may partly bee conjectured But what shall I speake of Germany 219. when the whole world is my dyocie as my Cannonists doe say and all men are bound to belieue 220. except they will imagine as the Maniches doe two beginnings which is false and hereticall Moses sayeth In the beginning GOD made Heaven and earth and not in the beginnings 221. wherefore as I beginne so I conclude cōmanding declaring and pronouncing to stand vpon the necessitie of salvation for everie humane creature to be subject to mee
they are not vpon the earth yet they are about the earth at least they be not in Heaven because oft times a question may arise vpō another the heads of mē now a days are curious a man hearing now that I can deliver out of Purgatorie will ask here a question whether I be so to empty all Purgatorie at once or not to whom my Canonist August de Ancho doth answere by a triple distinction Quantum ad absolutam meamjurisdictionem Quantum ad ordinatam executionem Quantum addivinam acceptionem First touching my absolute jurisdiction hee sayeth I am able to rid out all Purgatorie together for as many as bee vnder my jurisdiction as all be except onely infants vnbaptised in limbo and men departed onely cum Baptismo slaminis that is with the Baptisme of the spirit and such as haue no friends to doe for them that therefore pardons bee given these onely excepted for all other besids the Pope hee sayeth hath power to release all Purgatorie at once as touching his absolute jurisdiction Albeit Thomas Aquixas part 4 denyeth the same forsomuch as CHRIST himselfe hee sayeth when hee came downe did not onely vtterly at once release all Purgatorie As touching my ordinarie execution they hold that I may if I will but I ought not to doe it Thirdly as concerning the divyne acceptation that is how GOD would accept it if I did it that they say is vnknowne to them to everie creature yea and to the Pope himselfe And to the intent I would all men to see and vnderstand that I lack not witnesse besids these if I list to bring them out you shall heare the whole quyre of my divine Clergie brought out with a full voyoe testifying in my behalfe in their bookes tractations distinctions titles glosses and summaryes as by their owne words heere followeth The Pope say they being the viccar of IESVS CHRIST through out the whole world in the stead of the living GOD hath that dominion and lordship which CHRIST heere in earth would not haue although hee had it in habitu but gaue it to Peter in actu that is the vniversall jurisdiction both of spirituall things and also of temporall which double jurisdiction was signified by the two swords in the Ghospell And also by offering of the wise men who offered not onely incense but also gold to signifie not onely the spirituall dominion but also the temporall to belong to CHRIST and to his viccar For as wee read the earth is the LORDS and the fulnesse thereof and as CHRIST sayeth all power is given to him both in Heaven and earth So it is to be asfirmed inclusive That the viccar of CHRIST hath power on things coelestiall terrestiall and infernall which hee tooke immediatly of CHRIST All other take it immediatly by Peter and the Pope wherefore such as say that the Pope hath dominion onely in spirituall things in the world and not in temporall may bee likned to the councillers of the Kings of Syria 2. Reg. 20. Which said that the gods of the mountaines be their gods and therefore they haue overcome vs but let vs fight against them in the low meadows valleys where they haue no power and so wee shall prevaile over them so evill counsellers now a dayes through their pestiferous flatterie deceave Kings and Princes of the earth saying Popes and Prelats bee gods of mountaines that is of spirituall things onely but they bee not gods of valleyes that is they haue no dominion over temporall things and there fore let vs fight against them in the valleyes that is in the power of the temporall possessions and so we shall prevale over them But what sayeth the sentence of GOD vnto them let vs heare because saith hee the Sirians say that the God of mountaines is their god and no the god of valleyes therefore I will giue all this multitude into your hand and you shall know that I am the Lord what can bee more effectuall spoken to set foorth the Majestie of my jurisdiction which I receaved immediatly of the LORD of the LORD I say and no man For whereas Constantine the Emperour gaue to Silvester indowing him with this possession and patrimonie that is so to be exponed and taken not so much for a donation as to bee counted for a restitution made of that which tyranously was taken from him before And againe whereas I haue given at sundrie times to Lodovicus and other Emperours of my temporall lands and possessions yet that was done not so much for recognising of homage to thē as for keeping peace with them for I ow to Emperours no obediene that they can clame but they ow to mee as their superior And therefore for a deversitie betwixt their degree and mine in their consecration they take their vnction in their arme I on the head and as I am superior to them so am I superior to all lawes and free from all constitutions Which am able of my selfe and by my interpretation to preferre equitie being not writen before the law writen having all lawes within the chest of my breast as is aforesaid and whatsoever this my Sea shall enact approue or disproue all men ought to approue and reproue the same with out either judging disputing doubting or extracting Such is the priveledge given of CHRIST in the behalfe of Peter to the Church of Rome 186. That what kingdome soever countrie or province choosing to themselves bishops Ministers although they agree with all other Christsfaithfull people in the name of IESUS that is in faith charitie believing in the same GOD and in CHRIST his true Sonne and in the holie Ghost having also the same Creid The same Evangelists and Scriptures of the Apostles yet notwithstanding vnlesse that Bishops and Ministers take their origine and ordination from this Apostolicall state they are to bee counted not of the Church so that succession of faith only is not sufficient to make a Church exceptt he Ministers take their ordination by them which haue their succession from the Apostles so their faith supremacy and chayre of Peter keyes of Heaven power to binde and lowse all these bee inseparable to the Church of Rome So that it is to be presumed that GOD alwayes providing and S. Peter helping the Bishoprick and dyocy of Rome shall never fall from the faith and likewise is to bee presumed and presupposed that the Bishop of that Church is alwayes good and holy yea although hee bee not alwayes good or be destitute of his ownemerits yet the merits of S. Peter predecessor of that place bee sufficient for him who hath bequeathed and left a perpetuall dowrie of merits with inheritance of innocency to his posteritie 187. Yea though hee fall in homicide or adulterie hee may sinne but yet hee cannot bee accused but rather excused by the murtherers of Samson the shifts of the Hebrewes the adulterie of Iacob 188. And likewise if any of his Clergie should bee found