his Hetrurians leauied in Italie and his Sweuians raised in Germanie he beginneth with Alsatia next neighbour to Sweuia and wasteth it then falling vpon the Thuringer confederated with the Bohemian hee inforceth him to submission and routeth the Bohemian This done through the reconciliation of the Colennois at Confluence hee treateth a league with the Dukes of Brabant Lotharinge with whom and his associates descending to Aquisgran with great solemnity he is there crowned by the fore-said Colennois Finally meeting with Otho not farre from Colen he put him to flight and without his companions enforceth him to flie againe into England When the Princes perceiued these prosperous successes to attend Philip being now throughly wearied with these ciuill combustions by a generall consent they conclude to send an honourable Embassie to his Holinesse who vpon restitution of Philip into fauour should intreat his fatherhood to confirme him in the Rights of the Empire He giueth audience and returneth for aunswere that vnlesse Philip will giue vnto Richard his brothers sonne newly created Earle of Thuscanie Spolet and Marchia Anconitana with the daughter of Philip hee will neuer harken vnto the Emperours Ambassie Behold here another trick of Popish discontent By this match hee onely meant and hoped to inuest his Nephew in the perpetuall inheritance of these goodly Lordships Thus haue these Holy fathers long since accustomed vnder the habit of Saint Peter to fish rather to inrich their Nephewes their kindred and their Gossips then to be carefull ouer the Church and the common-weale yea in these respects they haue often moued warres so that the meanes by which God hath ordained to reconcile families to corroborat peace they haue inuerted to maintaine factions and to serue their owne purposes After the Embassadors had heard the proposed condition altogether impertinent to the businesse whereabout they had taken so much paines they tooke it as a strange motion That the daughter of a King should be affianced to the base Nephew of a Pope Howbeit not to offend his Holinesse they answered that they had no commission to treat of any such ouerture but desire that by some people of his owne hee would acquaint their Lord and Master with his Holinesse request Whereupon with more heat then good discretion he adioyneth vnto the Embassadors of Philip now vpon their returne Hugoline and Leo Cardinals of Hostia and Saint Crosses in Ierusalem Who arriuing at Augusta were honourably receiued and highly feasted but vpon notice of the proud and preposterous message of their Master nothing ashamed to violate the Constitutions of his Lord Peramount the King and his Counsell secretly laughing at the Legats discoursing vpon matters nothing tending to Peace and Absolution from Augusta the Court remoued to Spiers and so to Northius And there after long debatement the peace was ratified and the Bishops Nephew reiected vpon condition that the daughter of Philip whom the foole-Bishop eagerlie instanced should be affianced to Otho And that he liuing in priuate during the life of Philip after his death should succeed in the Empire Not long after this treatie Philip died for leauing Saxonie and for recreation sake retiring vnto Babenberg in Sweuia he was traiterously slaine in his Chamber there solely remaining after the opening of a vain by Otho of Wittelsback Nephew vnto him vpon whom Frederick as we told you before had bestowed Bauaria The cause of his discontent arose for that being a suter to his daughter in regard of some imputation of disloyaltie he had beene repulsed and the Lady by the Emperour her fathers good liking affianced to Otho After this lamentable regicide Otho by the generall consent of the Nobility assembled at Francofurt is saluted Emperour ⧠Otho the fourth OTho by consent of the Princes being thus installed in the Imperial throne setteth all things through Germany in good order and then with a warlike Armie marching by the vally of Trent hee passeth by Lombardie and so commeth to Rome to receiue the Imperiall diademe where by the Pope the Clergie and the people hee is heartely welcommed and honourably receiued And so much the rather the Pope studied to honour and gratifie his Maiestie for that hee had heretofore alwaies assisted his partie against Philip his predecessour But this extraordinarie kindnesse was of no long continuance betweene these new friends but being soone ripe soone vanished and turned into hatred For vpon the very day of the Coronation an affray began betweene the Dutch and the Romanes about the donatiues which the Emperors accustomed to bestow at this time amongst the souldiers so that as report went about one thousand and one hundred men were slaine and as many wounded Whereupon Otho being moued at so great an indignity complained vnto the Romans for reparation of amends which they promised but performed so slowly that the Emperor began to enter into suspition that the Pope himselfe became a fautor of the tumult whereupon hee departed towards Millan and there laying aside his Imperiall ensignes hee infested Tuscanie Mark Ancona and Romandiola vulgo S. Peters patrimony Moreouer in warlike manner he inuaded Apulia subdued the Dutchy of Capua and tooke from Frederick the second many other Cities pertayning to the kingdome of Sicil at that time mistrusting no such outrage Vpon intelligence hereof Innocent admonisheth Otho to restore the feodary possessions of the Church and to abstaine from further violence But Caesar not only reiecteth his admonitions but infesteth those possessions with more and more souldier-like depredations Innocent flyeth to Excommunication depriueth him of his Imperiall titles and absolueth the Princes of their oth of allegiance towards Otho And that more is prohibiteth vnder paine of damnation that no man serue account or call Otho Lord or Emperor It is reported that he caused the Princes anew to sweare vnto Frederick King of Sicil being as yet an Infant and him he made choice of to succeed in his place Whereupon Otho returned into Germany where albeit in the Assembly of Noremberg vpon complaint of the Popish tyranny and the cowardize of the Princes he had entred a strict bond of alliance with many and had moreouer taken sharpe reuenge vppon Herman Lantgraue of Thuringe by wasting his territories for that at the Popes commandement he had violated his faith yet at last being forsaken of his people hee was glad to retire into Saxonie where the fourth day after his royall mariage at Northuis with the daughter of Philip he fell sick and died ⧠Fredericke the second He raigned 1212. About the thirteenth yeare of King IOHN FRederick the second by the vniuersall consent of all Writers a Prince worthy all attributes of honour as well for his gouernment in peace as his cariage in warre vpon the deiection of Otho at the commandement of Innocent the third tooke vpon him the Imperiall Crowne at Aquisgran And in the yeare next following Otho departing at Perusium he was crowned at Rome and honoured with the name
was demanded lest he should giue an euill president to others the Siluer being taken out from the Fishes mouth he deliuered it vnto the Kings Officers Moreouer when he vnderstood that his Disciples distracted through the ambition of superioritie contended for Primacie hee told them That not they but Temporall Princes were to affect Soueraigntie hereby putting them in minde of their Calling as dis-vnited from worldly Gouernement and humane Policies At last after his glorious resurrection he sent them to Preach the Gospel ouer the whole world but with no other Commission then what he himselfe had receiued from his Father Intimating by this Mandat that they were neuer called nor chosen for Lordship but that through the Preaching of the Gospel and the glad tidings of saluation they were bound to beget a Congregation to the Father in eternitie That Him they should loue feare and inuocate with all their power And being astonished with no torments calumnies nor threates they should not forbeare to confesse his holy Name before all men That in Prayer they should carie themselues zealously faithfully constantly modestly soberly and chastly That vpon cause of offences they should studie mildnesse compassion towards good men oppressed and patience amidst their miseries That by the bond of peace they should retaine vnitie of spirit And finally that casting away the care of earthly easements they should meekly indure pouertie and worldly displeasures that thus by their doctrine and example of life Christ might be glorified the Church increased and their Ministerie admired And surely the Apostles and their successors in all their trauailes ouer the face of the earth thus vndertaken by the commandement of their Master so behaued themselues in all occurrances but especially in this obseruancie of difference betweene politicall Gouernement and Ecclesiasticall orders that by this note onely they were acknowledged to bee the true Disciples and followers of their glorified Master For they not onely Preached with puritie the euerlasting will of God without intermingling of humane fancies but also in all places accustomed to teach That vpon earth Caesars Kings were to bee acknowledged next vnto God and to be reuerenced before all other mortall men They stiled them their Lords payed them tribute made intercession vnto God for their welfare And vnto such as spake euill of the Magistrate they threatned reuenge from aboue From all worldly affaires especially from the abuse of Armes they abhorred Knowing that the twofold sword of the Church was intrusted to saluation and regeneration and not for distruction So farre were they euen from imagination to thinke it lawfull to disenthronize any King or Potentate though a most wicked one either to absolue his people from their Othes of Allegiance or to proue masteries with him about Precedencies But rather they thought it a worke worthy their calling by the space of two hundred and seuentie yeeres to suffer most bitter and terrible persecutions and those too rather to bee indured by stedfast faith in Christ Iesus by zealous calling vpon his Name and by glorious Martyrdome then by rebellious impatiencie and violent Meditation of requitall And all this not without admirable increase and good successe to the Church of Christ For in what Age was the face of the Church more amiable or liker the head thereof euen Christ Iesus then when after his ascension his Disciples striuing to fulfill his Testament and their successors treading in the very same footesteps Preached faithfully and purely the Gospel through Iudaea Samaria and Palestine After that when so glorious and conspicuous as when with their fellow labourers taking their Iournyes towards other Nations but especially towards Rome at that time the chiefe Seate of the Empire and the bordering Regions they imployed their times in dressing in Planting and in watering the Lords vineyard viz. From the time of Linus to Siluester and Caesar Constantine by the space of two hundred and fiftie yeeres vnder most vnsufferable Persecutions euen to the losse of their liues and dearest bloods But assoone as Constantine by the diuine prouidence had giuen peace to the afflicted Churches and that the Bishops being deliuered from their lurking corners from Vaults and from dennes wherein during the time of Persecution they had safe conducted their bodies then I say shamed they not to giue themselues ouer to the delights of the world to vnprofitable idlenesse to liue a pleasurable life to degenerate from the wayes of their predecessors through neglect of Gods word being wholly seduced with carnall affections Then began they to giue coulorable clothing to the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles by Canons Decretals and Ceremonies Then began they to deuise new appellations of Dignitie To preferre one Church before all other and finally blushed not to confound all orders both Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall Whereupon presently followed so vniuersall a confusion of Doctrine Discipline and Order that they no longer seemed to represent the late Pastours of the Lords flocke but rauening Wolues not Priests but blasphemers not Doctors but deiectors of soules from the sweete aspect of the face of God For surely they did not onely obscure in a wonderous maner the sinceritie of the Christian doctrine by their humane traditions gaue it so great a scandall by superstitious impietie and heathenish inuocation of Soules departed and so wickedly polluted it with blasphemous Idolatrie But all honestie and discipline being troden vnderfoote in all seducement and oppression of veritie they spent their whole dayes in Sodomiticall abuses in Wantonnesse in Luxurie in Ribaldrie in Whoring in Sacrilege in Contention in Necromancie in Charmes in Homicide and such like transgressions And that more is being possessed with a diabolical affectation of Gouernment pride cleane contrarie to the Diuine commandement they began to busie themselues in secular affaires to withdrawe their faiths from the subiection of Kings to vsurpe vpon other mens patrimonies to thrust in their crooked Syckles and that at aduenture into another mans Haruest to arrogate both Presences to challenge the iurisdiction of both Swords to tollerate no equall much lesse no Superiour to defraude one of his right an other of his Honour to giue Law to Kings and prescribe them ordinances basely to esteeme of Emperours as if they reigned at will to accurse them and murder them To set Princes together by the eares to sow dissentions to patronize factions to absolue Subiects from their Othes of Allegiance and finally by their nouell and slie Policies to mooue them to vnlawfull Rebellions So farre forth that after they had once pleaded prescription in their incrochments they more defaced the Maiestie of the Romane Empire by their dissimulations slaughters warre and such varieties of wickednesses then any forraine or barbarous enemy could haue done by the Sword or violence For to let passe the Empire of the East ruinated by the cunning and slie cariage of the Romane Bishops the Grecians being first expulsed Italy by the Lombards and presently they againe being oppressed
fit here to be pretermitted Innocent the second he whom a little before Lotharius had restored vnto the Papacie had caused to be painted in a Table the Pope as it were sitting in his chaire and the Emperor with his hands held vp together receiuing the Imperiall Diadem where vnder were written the foresaid two verses Rex venit ante fores c. When this picture with the inscription was shewed vnto his Maiesty it did greatly displease him and casting foorth some obiurgatorie word he instanced the Pope to take it away which hee promised to doe least so friuolous a spectacle might giue matter of discontent to many worthy personages then residing in the City Frederick is departed and Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople vnderstanding with what desire of reuenge the Popes stomack burned against William King of Apulia by Palcologus his Orator and Embassador he offereth vnto the Pope his voluntary seruice and withall to expulse William out of Italie vpon condition If the businesse tooke expected issue that then according to the treaty the Grecian should inioy three maritime cities in Apulia Doubt not I beseech you but that he who had already depriued William of Apulia for contemning such religious wares as are Popish Bulls and Curses did not straine much curtesie to accept of the Articles Whereof William taking notice and withall somewhat fearefull by his Embassadours moueth his holinesse to hearken vnto peace promising not only to restore vnto the Church whatsoeuer he had taken away but also that he would adde somewhat of his owne thereto Moreouer that hee would thencefoorth containe the Romans rebells to the Church in their due obedience These were honourable conditions but that the Pope should not accept therof the Cardinalls disswaded him like true men of armes hoping to reape more crownes by war then by peace Whereupon warre is proclaimed against William Hee leuieth an army throughout Sicily landeth in Apulia wasteth the country by sword and fire and finally routeth Emanuel who had pitched his Tents not far from Brundusium vnto Beneuent where at that time the Pope with his Cardinalls resided he gaue such sharpe assaults that in despaire of their liues he inforced them to sue for peace William accordeth and is receiued into fauour and proclaimed king of both kingdoms on this side and beyond Pharum but vpon oath that from thenceforth hee would neuer againe infest the territories of the Church Thus as you heare matters being ignominiously compounded the Pope riding in visitation through the territories of the Cassinates Marsi Reatini Narnienses and Tudertini at last ariueth at Ouieta and there is giuen to vnderstand that Rome is in combustion the Consuls doing their vtmost to restore the City to it former liberty Hereupon groundeth He his deadly hatred against Frederick most greeuously complaining that being in distresse between the swords of the Romans and William that contrary vnto his superabundant promises against all right he had forsaken him yea that he was now so incircled with perils that he could not liue in security at Rome As if the Emperor were a vessell especially chosen rather to patronize the Popes wilfull errors and ouersights then to defend the innocency of the Christian flock committed vnto his tutelage But Fredericke taking in euill part many the Popes actions but especially the alienation of Apulia being an appendancy of the imperiall dignity without his consent or knowledge As also calling to remembrance That the Pope had wrested from the late Emperors the right of Inuestiture of Prelates That by his ministers hee had impouerished the subiects of the Empire and by their subtill dispersions of treasonable practises had done what in them lay to raise sedition throughout the Empire Vpon these grounds I say the Emperours Maiesty now thought it high time to put remedy vnto these violent intrusions vpon the regalties of the Empire Hereupon hee exacteth an oth of fidelity of all the Bishops of Germany The Popes Legats such as were not called in by his good pleasure he commandeth to depart the Teutonick kingdom prohihiteth his people either to appeale or trauaile to the Romish Court and in his mandats causeth his name to be inserted before the Popes Vpon the proclaiming of this Inhibition it happened that a certaine Bishop in his way from Rome whether as a contemner of the Emperors edict or vpon any other cause I know not was taken prisoner and committed to ward Now hath the Pope found an occasion by the taking of this Bishop to fulminate his long-conceiued displeasure against the Emperor and by a proud Embassie seemeth only to be agreeued that the Bishop is not deliuered from Captiuity but withall interlaceth both in his letters as also in the speeches of his legat many blundering Items which did abundantly insinuate in what manner he deemed the Emperor to be obliged vnto him For by his letters he wisht him to re-consider how from him he had receiued the confirmation of the Imperiall crowne and yet did his Holinesse nothing repent it had the fauours which he had bestowed vpon him been far more beneficiall Vpon the reading of which letters the nobility falling into discontent one of the Legats rose vp and resolutely tooke vpon him to broach That the Romane Empire was transferred from the Grecians to the Almans not to be called Emperor but King of the Teutonicks vntil he were confirmed by the Apostolique sea Before consecration he was a King after an Emperor Whence then hath hee his Empire if not of the Pope By the election of the nobility he hath the name of a king by consecration of the Pope the stile of an Emperor and Caesar Augustus Ergo per Papam imperat Search Antiquity Zachary inobled Charles and gaue him the sirname of Great that he mought be Emperor and ordained that euer after the Teutonic King should bee Emperor and Champion of the Apostolique Sea That Apulia by him should be pacified and restored to the Church being in truth holden of S. Peter and not of the Empire Rome is the seat of the Pope Aquis in Arden is the Emperors Whatsoeuer the Emperor possesseth he holdeth it whollie of the Pope As Zachary transferred the Empire from the Greeks to the Teutonics So may the Pope retransfer it from the Almans to the Grecians Behold it is in his power to giue it to whom he pleaseth beeing onlie constituted of God ouer Kingdoms and people to destroie to pull downe to build and to plant In conclusion he termeth the Germans cowards for that they could neither expulse Roger out of Italy nor would at anie time bring the Danes and Frislanders to subiection Vpon the hearing of these scandalous exorbitations both the Emperor conceiued a iust displeasure and the whole nobility so stormed thereat that Otto of Wittelspach drawing the sword which he accustomed to beare before the Emperor had shethed it in the body of the Legat had not the Emperor thrust betweene them Of these abuses the
Emperor hearing hereof setteth Italie in order and with a compleat army marcheth towards Lyons there face to face to bandy with this insolent Prelate But thinke you a Pope to be so silly an Asse as to deale with his forewarned enemy no beleeue it His conscience can not assure his heart to look him in the face He must deale altogether vpon aduantage ciuill dissentions alienations of obedience trecheries periuries discontents of neighbour-Princes and subiects At which weapons he now dealeth with the Emperour and hauing his scouts his espialls and Intelligencers in euery corner through the world by their seruices he worketh the banished gentlemen of Parma to returne to their country and there to plot out myriads of rebellions against those Cities which as yet in Italie stood well affected to the Emperors seruice Whereupon before his Maiesty could come to Taurinum in feare that the residue of the Italian people would one follow anothers example he quitteth his Lyons-iourny and by letters directed both vnto the King of France as also to the prelats there assembled in most honest termes he refuteth his enemies obiections discourseth at large vpon the insufficiency and nullity of a Popish curse and withall strongly prepareth by sea to reduce Parma to its former obedience But good Emperour the greater thy learning the more their griefe the greater thy courage the more vigilant is thy diuill-like enemy for thy ruine Thou staiest at Grossetum about the sea coast of Sienna there to refresh thy wearied and ouerwrought spirits with some disports of hauking Thou wilt not get thee into Germanie nor repasse the mountaines Then will thy ghostly father meditate night and day to vndoe thee then will he traiterously inueigle thy principall seruants some by wrested sentences of Scripture and some by corruption of mony to worke thy downfall Thus imitate they Christ in blessing their enemies Thus honor they Kings according to Saint Peter But thanke thy God the conspiracie was detected and the traytors worthely punished Nocentius beeing fallen into a desperate fury for that he had failed in these his most nefarious proiects in seeing the Emperor for this time fully cleered from his diuelish intendments grew yet resolute not to giue ouer vntill hee had really dispossest him of his crowne life Which to effect by threats exhortations promises he aweth the Princes of Germanie to depose Frederick and in his place to set vp Henrie Lantgraue of Thuringe But this gentleman following the seruice of his master at the siege of Vlmes was deadly wounded the same yeere wherin he was nominated King So also his successor William beeing imploied in other wars performed nothing in fauour of his Furiousnesse Whereupon the Pope obseruing his Anathems to be vilified his rebellious hirelings in Italy to be throughly persecuted his aduersary to be resolute and vndaunted after long and manifold trecheries plotted and frustrated at last he procureth him to be poisoned in the two and thirtith yeere of his raigne and the fifty seauenth of his age on the very same day wheron he was declared Emperor Caesar Augustus Thus this most worthy Heros this Frederick the second Emperor of Germany king of both Sicils and Hierusalem Lord of Sardinia and Italie Duke of Sweuia an excellent Prince adorned with all good gifts dained by God vnto man aswell for the furniture of mind as body valiant honorable liberall a great linguist and excellent well learned finished his mortall race who had he not been diuerted from turning his Christian Armes against the Pagans by the rebellions of Italy and the Papall abetments thereto verely he had merited more praise of the Christian world then Alexander in due could haue exacted of his Macedonian subiectes Verely If this our Age miserably shaken with this inueterate Papall tyranny by this president would learne what emolument peace and plenty would accrue both to the Church and common-weale by due ballancing the temporall and Ecclesiasticall Authorities then would I not doubt but to behold the German Empire most great most glorious and the Papall vsurpation once again reduced to its pure and primitiue integrity More in commendation of this good Emperor I can not say but onely wish that the Motto which was once vnderwritten Brutus his statue and now due to him vtinam viueres might at this day be reuiued in the hearts of all Christian Potentates to reuindicate their pristinate prerogatiues But who shall recomfort the Laments of Sion Albeit that this most worthy Generall was gathered in peace to the bed of his fathers yet Death had no priuiledge to giue period either to the extinguishment or satiation of these Popes neuer dying malice For against all humane beliefe and the diuine precepts it raged with so inhumane a feruencie against this Emperors posterity that it neuer gaue ouer vntil it had depriued his issue both of life and Empire For forthwith from the decease of Frederick these three Popish Sultans Innocent the third Alexander and Vrban the fourth following the continual streame of their proud fortunes imployed the vtmost of their meanes to re-inuest the Kingdome of Naples in the Church and to strip thereof the House of Sweuia but in vaine for Manfred maintained and retained it valiantly as yet against all their violences vntill Clement the fifth following the claime of his Predecessor Vrbans Intrusion called Charles Earle of Prouince and Aniow out of France to take possession thereof vpon condition that Manfred being expulsed Hee should yearely pay vnto the Church of Rome in the Name of a Tenure thirtie thousand Duckets And for farther encouragement Not to accept the inuestiture thereof though freelie offered from the Romane Emperour hee caused him to be stiled King of both Sicils Which done in the Lateran Church hee is inaugurated with the Crowne of Sicil and Hierusalem And after manie and various conflicts hee not onely ouerthroweth and slayeth Manfred at Beneuent betrayed by his people but also extinguisheth the sole heire of the noble house of Sweuia the stem of many worthy Emperors Conrade the son of Conrade whō he got vnto his power by treasō neer Naples there by the wicked dispensatorie counsel of the Pope with more then Phalarian cruelty struck off his head for going about to recouer his owne but indeed vpon suggestion that hee persecuted the Church For Clement after he had heard the opinion of manie wise men perswading him that Conrade as being the onely branch of the most noble house of Sweuia was to be preferred and obliged to the Romane sea by fauours and affinitie turned himselfe to Charles and would needes know of him what he also deemed To whom the Traytor made this butcherly Reply Vita Conradini mors Caroli Mors Conradini vita Coroli i. The life of Conrade will be death to Charles The death of Conrade life to Charles By which his brutish opinion hee thus whetted on a minde already prepared for murder by manifest
honorable friends from railing so furious is the fire of a Popish conscience No maruell for this is that Boniface the eight who like the Diuell in the Gospell censured all principalities and powers to bee in his donation who vsurped vpon both swords and would needs haue inforced the whole world to haue acknowledged him their Lord Peramount glorying that to him were committed the keies of Heauen gate That he ought to be iudged of no man no though hee carried a million of soules with him to hell for company ⧠Henricus Septimus Hee raigned Anno 1308. About the second yeere of Edward the second AFter the decease of Albert Henrie of that name the seuenth of the House of Lucelburge by the lawfull suffrage of the Electors is nominated Emperor Clement the fift then High-Priest liuing at Auignion well fare the iarre betweene him and Philip the French King in odium Philippi gaue so courteous and facil a way vnto this election that sending his Legats through all the quarters of Germanie and Italie hee gaue strict commandement that Henry should be acknowledged Emperor and really confirmed in the election prouided that within the space of two yeares hee should come to Rome to be crowned and personally visit Italy which now by reason of sixty yeares absence of the Germane Emperours was miserably afflicted with intestine dissensions But the Pope could not long be Master of his own breast hee must needes follow the accustomed knauerie of his vafrous predecessours For when Henrie in satisfaction of his promises had made his perambulation throughout euerie Prouince of Italie had twice rowted Rupert King of Apulia with the Vrsins approached Rome and expected his Coronation in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Peter The Pope repenting him of his forwardnesse by calling to minde of Henries powerfulnesse and Ruperts friendship at first commandeth the Cardinals not to proceede to Henries inauguration and then againe vpon the Emperours serious expostulation changing his interdiction hee assenteth conditionally that hee take an oath of fidelity to the sea of Saint Peter Which when his Maiestie refused alleadging the president to be new and but lately vsurped in the dayes of some fewe of his Predecessours That the chiefest Prince of Christendome should be obliged by an oath of fealtie to the seruant of seruants at last with much a-doe but vtterly against the Popes minde by the loyall seruice of Steuen of Colonna he was crowned by the Cardinals For Clement himselfe in deadlie hatred against Him reuolted to Rupert King of Apulia by a lawfull triall condemned of high treason and reuersed his sentence of condemnation not so much for any defect in Law but in extreame malice against his Maiestie Thus was the quarrell pickt against Henry obserue the cause thereof I beseech you and tell me if the president hold not with their practises at this day But by the suddaine and immature departure of this religious Emperor nothing was effected For Henrie now being resolued to take vpon him the Crowne of Sicilie being thereunto nominated by the Sicilians vpon the vigil of the Assumption of our Lady was come as farre as Bonconuent Where by Bernard the false dominican Monke who before times had giuen many hypocriticall testimonies of seruice towards his Maiestie by a new and neuer heard of example at Masse mingled poison and the powder of Adamant which as men say bringeth speediest death into the communion cup and so slew his Lord and soueraigne All the wakes Annals records songs rithmes verses and Epigrams written in those daies doe make ample relation of this tragedy But the whole Rabble and blame them not of the Dominicans do vtterlie deny it giuing out that in griefe of mind for that he could not be fully reuenged vpon his enemies hee gaue vp tho ghost after he had receiued letters from his Holinesse in testimoniall of this afore-said villaines innocencie But howeuer These faire glosses could not so exempt their Order from the suspition of this murder but that many of their Couent together with their houses were burnt and destroyed by sword and fire in manie places throughout Tuscanie and Lombardy ⧠Lodouicus Bauarus He raigned Anno 1314. About the seuenth yeare of Edward the second HEnry last spoken of being thus dispatched the tempest which in his life time lay smothered in embers in hideous maner now breaketh out vpon the head of his successors For Frederick of Austria and Lewes of Bauaria being both by the discordant suffrages of the Electors named for Caesars Iohn the 22. findeth an occasion to disquiet them both and first in very ignominious fashion hee quarelleth with Frederick And thus it fared Conrade the Bishop of Gurcia was sent to Rome by the Austrians to desire his Holinesse in fauour of Frederick to giue assent to the election and to represse Lewes where in making his Oration he chanced to discourse vpon the praises of Frederick his grandfathers and great-grandfathers concluding that the Christian world was likely to reape nothing contrarie to expectation considering That it was alwaies seene that from good and valiant Parents discended good and valiant children yet by your fauour most arrogantly and impertinently replied his Holinesse Of all men liuing without question Salomon was the wisest and yet he begot a sonne most foolish Not obscurely intimating thereby that Frederick was degenerated from the vertues of his auncestors and therefore vnworthy of the Imperiall diademe VVas this displeasure deeme yee of continuance no surely for then had it not beene papall But at that time Iohn had no neede of Fredericke Lewes Iudas-like was saluted King and the beloued sonne But now Mapheus with his sonnes the Visconti are vp in Italy and assaulting Genoa And thereupon must a league of reconciliation be priuily contracted with Frederick to the expulsion of Lewes and the re-ordering of Mapheus Eight yeares after his election Frederick was foiled in field and taken prisoner Howbeit the Pope prosecuteth Lewes with continuall malice denounceth him an Enemie to the Church a Schismatike and an Heretike First for that immediatly vpon his Election without his Holinesse permission hee had stiled himselfe Emperour secondly for that hee presumed to relieue certaine of his yonger bretheren being condemned of heresie and outlawed after excommunication and thirdly for his rash assistance sent to Galeas Visconti of Millan against his holy forces Whereupon Lewes vnderstanding by the best Diuines and Lawyers of that age that the acts and sayings of Iohn were repugnant to Christ his Doctrine That the Pope in truth ought to be subiect to the Emperor and not the Emperor to him in temporall causes tooke thereat such incouragement that he appealed from the Pope male informato as the Lawyers speake to the Pope meliùs informando at the next generall Councel to be held when he sate at Rome in Peters chaire Meane time valiantly and vigilantly hee preuenteth all iniuries and diuulgeth the Tenor of the Appeale throughout all the
that Iohn king of Bohemia Henry Duke of Bauaria had traiterously cōspired to elect a new Emperor he suffered himselfe with small intreaty to be disswaded from his former resolution of Absolution yea after the king of France his Maiestie had capitulated a peace full sore against his mind vpon request to haue it ratified by his Holines he flatly denied it cauelling that Lewes being now declared an heretike ought not again to be accounted a Christian at the kings plesure Thus may you see how the Popes were accustomed to play fast and loose with the German Emperors Well the Absolution by this nicity being adiourned and the Emperor well obseruing wherunto these pontifical policies tended summoneth the Princes and Electors to a Diet at Rensium There with ease by his affability liberality and clemency he so deuoteth their loyalties to his seruice that by solemne oath they not onely auow to maintaine and defend the honor of the Empire but they also decreed the Processes of Iohn late Pope of Rome returned against his Maiestie to be void and of no validity yea that a Bishop ought not to entertaine any such practises against an Emperour for that their iurisdictions were meerly of distinct natures Benedict dieth Clement the 6. succeedeth an effeminat Prelat extraordinarily ambitious of honor potencie Who had no sooner seated his foot in the chair of Lucifer but his furious Genius took such hold of his hart that in Latin Dutch libels affixed vpon church dores he summoneth his Maiestie vnder the censure of extream penāce within three daies space to make satisfaction to God the church meaning himself as also to desist frō further medling in the affaires of the Empire which limitation being expired no appearance recorded he proceedeth to sentence of cōtumacie Afterwards whē his Proctors craued forgiuenes with an offer to performe all iniunctions to vtmost he was not ashamed to motion so foule an attonement as neuer Pagan demanded of his Captiue slaue viz. That hee should confesse and acknowledge all his errors and heresies That he should resigne the Empire and simply commit his children and all his moueables into his tuition Where is now become O Lucifer thy pastoral humility where thy fatherly aspect where thy representatiue Holinesse Notwithstanding albeit the poorest refuse of the world would not haue accepted of these basest conditions yet this good Emperour fore-seeing that if he should not bend warre slaughter spoiles would ensue he receiued the pontificall libell signed it with his seale and swore to obserue it so farre forth humiliating his deiection that vpon relation thereof the whole Colledge of the scarlet-roabed-fathers could not chuse but receiue it with vnaccustomed admiratiō But the Emperor vpon sounder aduice considering with himselfe that without the consent of the Electors and of the Princes the estates of the Empire it was against the fundamentall Law to accept of any such Capitulation in the next assembly at Frankford hee causeth the tenor of the reconciliation to be read before the whole Assembly They giue sentence that it tendeth in most points to the preiudice and destruction of the state and therefore reiect it They promise to stand fast vnto his Maiestie in case as before he would re-assume his courage and resolutely defend the honour of the Empire And to conclude they dispatch an Embassie to the Pope with intimation that from thence-forth he should cease from such friuolous conuentions being purposely deuised to dishonour the Maiestie of the German Empire They arriue before his Holinesse they expostulate the rigour of the Articles to the preiudice of the Empire nothing else they inforce nothing else they demand But his Holinesse inraged like an illuded Tigresse layeth all the blame vpon Lewes with deeper hart-burning then before falleth into treatie with Iohn and Charles Kings of Bohemia heretofore ouerthrowne by Lewes and with their vncle Baldwin Archbishop of Treuers to destoy Lewes and his whole posterity The bargaine agreed vpon by these Pseudo Christians in the yeare of our Sauiour 1346. vpon Maundy-Thursday hee is most irreligiously accursed by Benedict and by the renouation of the Processe sent out by his predecessour Iohn declared an Heretique and scismatique To aggrauate the despight and by effects to shew the solidity of his religion hee commandeth the Electors within a proportioned time to make choise of another Loe the Emperor rather then he will be an instrument of slaughter and faction disgraceth his high calling by acceptance of basest articles but the Pope rather then he will want of his will vnico statu as the prouerb is will depose set vp commend dispraise blesse and curse and without all respects either of conscience or humanity set all Christendome on outrage to be reuenged on one creature Were this the practise but of One the imputation were excusable as a defect in manners but through the whole Legend of euery Emperours life you shall obserue the one abstinent yea timorous for conscience sake to defile euen his imaginations with humane blood the other rigorous wrathfull impatient and quarrelsome somtime vpon donatiues sometime vpon iura imperij and sometimes vpon non augmenting of Saint Peters patrimonie Which irreligious and Antichristian outrages albeit they know them in their consciences to be absolutely diabolicall repugnant to Christian Doctrine and pernicious to all ciuill society yet rather then any Pope or Popeling will let fall any one particle of vnlawfull vsurpation gained by any the wickedest of his predecessours words and workes shall flie at randon vpon euery occasion so that it would amaze a very Turke to heare with what shifts with what euasions and distinctions of spiritualia they will stuffe whole volumes in iustifying of their falsifications in wresting and curtailing of Authors in denying manifest Records in railing on their opposites and pressing mens consciences with miracles policies and impostures Insomuch that if words will not worke impostures shall seduce if impostures prooue fruitlesse swords shall walke if swords be preuented then poisons and treasonable practises shall put end to the controuersie Blood must satiate or the Church cannot be satisfied But to our History The Electors haue a peremptory day giuen them against which if they produce not their Anti-emperor the Pope protesteth by no irreligious reliques that rather then the Church shall want a Lieuetenant an Aduocate Himselfe must bee Captaine and chiefe Iustice hee will set vp One of his sole Election Well oaths must be kept inuiolable especially with traitors and so doth his Holinesse And thus he beginneth his web Henrie of Wittenberg Archbishop of Mogunce and one of the electors for his loiall adherency vnto his Lord and master to curry fauour with the Bohemians he depriueth of all his ecclesiasticall and temporall capacities and into his place he intrudeth Gerlace his Chaplein the Nephew of Adolph of Nassaw once King of Romans This new Papall Bishop in satisfaction of his Lord and masters
periury to die vnreuenged For at what time Lewes king of France according to the Conuentions of the League with Caesar persecuted his Holinesse so far ouergone in pride through the assistance of the Venetians as hee doubted not to scorne all conditions of peace yet after the battell of Rauenna such was the disastrous fortune of him and his that the peace which but euen now hee scorned now hee humbly seeketh to his cost experimenting that for all his iesting Peters keyes at a pinch did him more seruice then many thousands of Pauls swords After this ouerthrow and some other crosses hee died and left Leo the tenth his successour as well in seat as in trecherous disposition For in the beginning of his pontificie estranging himselfe from the French King he adhered to Caesar Sforza the Millanois against the French then in March vpon an inuasion against Millan Vpon the slaughter of the Heluetians at Marignan Frederick and Sforza being reduced into order he violated his league with Maximilian and returned againe to the friendship of Francis Vnto whom after he had obtained a Graunt that the pragmaticall Sanction should be abolished in France and a new inserted hee conserred the titles of the Constantinopolitan Empire In this donation whether should a Christian more admire his preposterous liberality in giuing away an other mans right or abhorre his trecherie in doing his vtmost to crosse Maximilian so well-deseruing an Emperor But Caesar finding himselfe deceiued whether in this confrontment or in some other I am not able to say is reported to haue said in Dutch That hee could well auow that none of the Popes had kept faith with him And that Leo should be the last of that ranke vnto whom hee would giue credit And that hee said so and did so the sequel proued For within a few yeares after falling into a laske he yeelded vp his ghost in the yeare of Saluation 1519. By whom by the pleasure of almighty God it might haue come to passe that hee who had beene so often illuded by Popish practises might haue taken some course in so great an alteration and blessed reformation of religion to haue begun primitiue restauration to their finall destruction But being preuented by immature death what was in his minde he bequeathed to be executed by the potencie of his liuing successor Charles his brothers sonne ⧠Charles the fift He raigned Anno 1519. about the eleuenth yeare of Henry the eighth BVt what Penne as it ought in suting ornament is able to delineat to life the treacheries which from time to time these Patrons of confusion bounded out against this Charles this potent and thrice honorable Emperour In so wonderfull an alteration of religion such as since the corruption of the Primitiue neuer befell the Christian world who can but wonder at the daring presumption of the Popes in prouoking so happy and so worthy a Potentate who taking into notice his singular affection in defending and vpholding the Papacie can chuse but accurse the ingratitude of such desperat persons For vpon the decease of Maximilian the Electors being assembled at Frankfort Charles and Francis king of France became competitors for the diademe Leo the tenth being in bonds of strict friendship with Francis and according to the innated humours of the Church hauing receiued his fee fauoured and pleaded his best plea in barre of Charles to the preferment of his bountifull client Francis His cautions consisted of three principles the first imported a consideratiue feare of his Greatnes being by inheritance a Prince indowed with many spacious and wealthy Kingdomes The second was taken from his peculiar and figure-casting imagination In that forsooth this Charles by no obscure and lineamentall predictions of face and disposition should resemble the man fore-told in certaine verses of an auncient Prophet Who arising in the North should be the motiue of greeuous alterations to fall vpon all Italy but especially vpon the Romish sea The third from pretence of equity by letters signified vnto the Lords of the Election That it stoode not with Law for Charles to aspire vnto the Empire for that the Kings of Naples were the Churches Liege-men and time out of minde by oath had capitulated with the Bishops neuer to affect the Romane Empire but to rest contented with their inheritances But by the integrity of Frederick Duke of Saxonie in manifestation of his loyalty towards Maximilian his deceased Master vnto whom all his life time hee stood most deuoted Charles preuailed Leo now turning Vulpes followes the streame for the present cleanly falleth off from the French And finding Grace to attend Charles there courts he and thether hee dispatcheth his Commendatorie miseries Charles requireth his Amen to the Election as also his dispensation to retaine with the Empire the Kingdome of Naples the Law of Inuestiture in no point gaine-saying it But giue a Pope leaue I pray you to fly to his wits he must and doth plot out new deuises to impeach the Greatnes of Charles Hee sendeth his Breues and messengers throughout Germanie to forbid the Diet at Wormes of purpose to put off his Coronation at Aquisgran But when his pontifical improbity perceiued his positiue diuersions to be illuded and the resolution of the Electors to be such as could not be daunted in their proceedings by force feare flattery nor threats hee then fell againe to the renuing of his league with the late-forsaken French Amongst other Articles inserting this for one That both the Sicils should be taken from Charles That the gouernment of Italie should be altered and the protection of the Cities shared betweene the French and his Holines Now the question is for how long time this Combination stood immutable so long doubt you not as it stood with the welfare of Leo and the aduantage of his sea And this is an especial note to be alwaies obserued through the whole discourse of these liues For as soone as the French King vpon confidence of this Popish League had broken with Caesar sent Robert de la March Charles his rebel to infest Netherland yea and his men of warre into Italy to assay the surprise of Rhegium a towne late belonging to the Church Leo fearing the potencie of the French and calling their fidelities into suspect to make sure work for the maintenance of his owne stake and to reduce a restitution to the Church of those townes which the French had vsurped Now againe the third time hee followeth the Fortunes of Caesar Desiring of his Maiesty after his most courteous reception that Parma Placentia might be restored to the Church Francis Sforza to the Dutchy of Millan the French expulsed Italy and the Papacy being setled in a peaceable estate might thenceforth be secured from all feare of the French But Paul dying By the succession of Adrian the sixt a Germane borne the Papall Anger for a while lay silenced For
Wherewith Martin Azpileneta vnto whose doctrine Gregory the thirteenth gaue the attestation of vnanswerable and Holy And of whom the Iesuit Horat. Tursellimus in the life of Lauerius affirmeth That hee was a man excellent for his honestie and learning congratulateth himselfe and boasteth that he commanded vnto a certaine great Prince the Apothegme Qui nescit dissimulare nescit viuere Whereof the sayde Prince made afterwards great vse and profite These were the passions that troubled our forraigne Nouellists In lieu of many to auoid prolixity now let vs proceed to examine at what marke the Romanists on this side the sea doe also leuell And Saunders for that hee will satisfie vs by Scripture is traced by Bellarmine and magnified by our aduersaries to be a man of most eminent learning shall bee speaker for the whole factorie But by the way you must note that these had their priuate respects in their hearts while they held their pens in their hands So this our Country-man was not destitute of his priuate passion also which was either an ouer-hard conceit against his deerest Soueraigne Queen Elizabeth out of whose Kingdome hee was banished or an ouer-weeing respect deuoted vnto the seruice and gracious aspect of Pope Pius the fift vnto whom hee stood many wayes beholden Otherwise your consciences would assure you that he would neuer haue broached so manifest a lye The worke whereat hee aymed and the greeuances which disquieted his penne your discretions may iudge of by reuoking to minde the daies wherein hee liued and the personage that then reigned Mutato nomine the positions you know as yet are as peremptorily maintained and therefore aboue the rest fittest to be spoken vnto With a liuely suke to corroborat a bad matter hee groundeth his first authority his reasons arguments as flowing from the bitternesse of his priuate braine I will ouer-passe vpon the second booke of Cronicles the 26. Chapter where we read Oziam regem cùm sacerdotum officium vsurpauit á Pontifice fuisse de templo eiectum Et cum propter idem peccatū lepra a Deo percussus fuisset coactùm etiam fuisse ex vrbe discedere regnum filio renunciare Quod non sponte sua sed ex sententia sacerdotis vrbe regni administratione priuatus fuerit patet Nā legimus Leuit. 13. Quicunque inquit Lex maculatus fuerit lepra seperatus est ad arbitrium sacerdotis solus habitabit extra castra Cum ergo haec fuerit Lex in Israel simul legimus 2. Paralip 26. Regem habitasse extra vrbem in domo solitaria filium eius in vrbe iudicasse populum terrae cogimur dicere fuisse cū ad arbitrium sacerdotis separatum consequentèr regnandi authoritate priuatum Si ergo propter lepram corporalem poterat sacerdos olim regem iudicare regno priuare quare id non potest modo propter lepram spiritualem id est propter haeresim quae per lepram figurabatur vt August decet in questionibus Euangelicis lib. 2. quaest 40. praesertim cum 1. Cor. 10. Paulus dicat Contigisse Iudeis omnia in figuris Haec ille That Ozias the King when he vsurped vpon the office of the Priest-hood was by the Priest cast out of the temple And when for the same sinne he was strucken by God with leaprosie he was constrained to depart out of the City to resigne the kingdom to his sonne That not of his own accord but by the sentence of the high Priest hee was banished the City and depriued of the gouernment of the kingdome It appeareth Leuit. 13. whosoeuer saith the Law shall bee touched with the leaprosie and is seperated by the iudgement of the Priest he shall dwell by himselfe without the tents Sithence then this was the Law in Israel as also that we read 2. Paralip 26. That the King dwelled without the City in a solitary Mansion and that his sonne iudged the people of the land within the City wee must of necessity confesse that hee was sequestred by the iudgment of the Priest and consequently depriued of all authority of gouernment If then in respect of corporall leprosie the Priest of old might dispose of the King and dispossesse him of his kingdome Wherefore now may not the Pope doe the like in case of spirituall leprosie viz. for heresie figured by Leprosie as saith S. Augustin in his Euangelicall questions lib. 2. quaest 40. Especially when in the first to the Cor. ca. 10. Paul saith That all things were manifested vnto the Iewes in figures Hitherto Saunders Take him at his word and heere were learning enough to deceiue millions of soules but examine him by his owne authority and you shall find him in a miserable taking vnlesse God be mercifull For to prooue it most false That Ozias was depriued of his regall Authority by the sole iudgement of the high Priest Nothing through the whole History of the Kings is more liuely expressed then that Ozias from the sixteenth yeere of his age when he began to raign to the 60. yeere wherein he died was perpetuall King Neither was he at any time during his naturall life depriued of his kingdome Without question he dwelled in an House apart And in that respect for the nature of his Disease hee could not dispatch the office of a King which is of fact But that bereaued him not of the right of his kingdome neither of his Kingly capacity for so wee should deny that Children being crowned as in times past Ioas and Iosias were and men of full age if they had fallen into irrecouerable sicknesses either of mind or body to be Kings sithence the one by nonage the other by sicknesse are necessarilie sequestred from managing the State which consisteth in action 2. But Ozias continued king as long as he liued For the scripture saith In the seuen and twentith yeere of Ieroboam king of Israel raigned Azarias called also Ozias and Zacharias the sonne of Amazias king of Iuda Sixteen yeere old was he when he began to raigne and he raigned fifty two yeeres in Ierusalem Behold our Romanist here plainely detected of an vntrueth as I promised gone before and that by the truest testimony that humane satisfaction can vnder the concaue of the heauens demand But to bewray the true genius of impudency I will yet go farther to his and his partakers finall confusion Witnesse the 2. of Kings v. 27. In the two and fiftieth yeere of Azarias King of Iuda Pekan the sonne of Romeliah raigned ouer Israel in Samaria Heere is plaine dealing and matter vpon record How shall we here beleeue this Romanist when the spirit of trueth and Antiquity giueth vs assurance that he continued King thirty six yeers after his Coronation To the further verifying wherof if it were possible Iosephus recordeth in his 9. book of Antiquities cap. 11. That Azarias or Ozias dyed in the sixty eight yeere of his age and in the
reduced to their pristinate forme and integrity then no longer should wee behold the Christian people turmoyled in discords no Princes murdered no oaths of allegeance impugned no equiuocation iustified nor Turkish inuasions so powerfully maintained But of these abuses and many more mentioned by mine Author and still maintained but not with auncient obstinacie for want of this implored reformation let him that hath a stomach to bee informed read the Apology brought out of Spaine and printed at Antwarp in the yeare 1527. There in order shall hee finde as much as followeth the summe whereof drawen into heads shall suffice for this present 1 The Breues of Clement the seuenth wherein hee loadeth Caesar with as many calumniations as his witte could deuise and those most false and forged 2 The aunswere of the Emperour Charles the fifth vnto these forgeries 3 The second Breues of the Pope wherein vppon repentance that hee had falsly accused Caesar hee sendeth vnto his Nuncio to forbid him the deliuery of the former Breues 4 The answer of Caesar to these second Breues 5 An Epistle of Charles Caesar vnto the Colledge of Cardinalls desiring them that in case his Holinesse did continue either to denie or differ a generall Councell that they themselues would proclaime it Now that wee haue fully informed you how this halfe-deplumed Estritch hath notwithstanding opposed against the two last Emperours Ferdinand and Maximilian and not at this day feareth not to bee troublesome vnto their successour Rodolph As also how his patience hath beene nettled by the transaction of Passauia and the Edicts of peace deuised ratified and proclaimed by these three late worthy Emperours It shall not for a perclous vnto your wearied mindes I hope proue a loathing seruice if I shall in order recite vnto you at what warde his Holinesse at this day lieth considering that hee is not able any longer to set father against sonne and sonne against father in open action Prince against Prince and people against Prince and Prince against people These practises are reuealed and absolute now must they erect and but once erect an order to purpose An order that must commit all villanies and his Popeship not seene therein an order that must studie Matchiauell entertaine intelligence and able in it selfe to negotiat in Princes affaires without posting and reposting to the view of the world for their dispatches to Rome an order of all orders that euer were deuised the most cruell and truly bestial the bane of mankinde and the fire-brands of Christendome Of whom if any worthy pen would take the paines to indict a Legend the world should soone perceiue that they to the vnderpropping of this declining sea within these few yeares haue committed as many forgeries villanies and seducements to warre and murder as their Masters before them haue done in many Ages So furious are their humours so irregular their consciences to worke pleasing seruices to their politique Monarch Bound they are to auert whatsoeuer they shall thinke or know preiudiciall to the Romish sea Bound they are as much as in them lieth to hinder the propagation of the Gospel Then their calling being such their seruice such and such their vowes let vs learne amongst many of their actions by some few what peace in religion is to be expected from such persons that hereafter we may be able to discerne the man by his speech as the Lion by his clawes Notes of priuate passion HE that playeth the Prologue is Conradus Brunus attired in his third booke cap. 1. pag 305. oppugning railing and annihilating the Transaction of Passauia and the peace granted thereupon a peace so religiously ratified by such and so many hand-writings and so solemnly sworne vnto by such iust honourable and worthy personages At his first entrance you shall know him by his brazen face and now you shall heare him speake The Edict saith hee is friuolous void and at no hand to be obserued His reason because a Catholique ought not liue peaceably with such Heretiques for so should they neuer be offended nor abolished Yea so much the rather were the association so ordered to be abhorred and abominable for that a Catholique meeting one of them should be adiudged to haue assented to the peace But to offend them with whom there is no communion can be no breach of peace as whom the Lawes of the Empire doe subiect vnder a curse and expose to offence without punishment Finally whom all diuine and humane constitutions would haue to be vtterly extirpated The next that presenteth himselfe is Paul Windich in his booke de Haereticis extirpandis pag. 324. And hee termeth this religious peace to be nothing but a breathing a delay or a toleration pag. 327. He saith that in his minde he can but wonder at the madnesse of the Sectaries For foolishly auouching and so often babling out the Decrees of the Diets for the free exercise of their religion If I should stand to present you with Melchion Hosius and Posserinus who wrote whole discourses vnto Henry and Stephan Kings of Polonia to take into their serious cogitations the extirpation of the Euangelicall professors I should but weary you with words Two lines shall suffice With the Protestant Polonians the assurance giuen vpon Faith is at no hand to be obserued for that an oath ought not to be the bond of iniquitie Iames Menochius the Lawyer Consil 100. Num. 225. excuseth the Romane Emperor Sigismund in that he violated his safe conduct As concerning the which ouersight the impudent assertions of the Iesuits of Treuers are worthy the relation published in a certaine booke intituled The Concertation of the Catholicke Church Printed 1583. pag. 4. Husse did require safe conduct of Sigismund Sigismund signed it but the Christian world viz. the fathers of the Councel of Constance being Sigismunds superiors did disalow it Simanch a Bishop of Pacia that lying spirit blushed not to affirme in his Catholique Institution Cap. 46. Num. 52. That at no hand faith was to bee kept towards Heretiques no not vpon oath And therefore it was iustly decreed That against the tenor of the oath Husse and Ierome of Prage were burned and a Canon prouided That an oath made towards an Heretique was not to be regarded And at last concludeth That as warning thereof ought often to bee giuen so is it very necessary that it be often re-iterated and at no time to be silenced as often as any mention of this peace is obiected O! Why should I offend the chast cares of any good Christian with such infernall stuffe Smally hath he profited in the schoole of Gods word that in his owne conscience is not able to decide controuersies of much more cunning cariage then any of these In regard whereof I will here cease and affirme That in knowing of one you know all such is their malice in seruice of the Romish sea towards Emperor Kings Princes and free States Let him that hath a mind to bee further
and fully satisfied peruse the most excellent treatises printed this present yeere 1609. For Conclusion vnto these plaine and pregnant presidents of Popish tyranny by time and vsurpation practised vppon the sacred Maiesties of mightie Princes mine Authour truely to aggrauate their immoderate pride and further to encourage the aggreeued parties to hasten their Reformation for warrantize out of diuers Authours hee hath culled out many irresistable testimonies to prooue That Rome is Babylon and the Bishop thereof Antichrist Which for that in mine opinion in few words they haue beene more liuelier represented vnto your consideratiue consciences in his Maiesties most excellent Premonition then which nothing can be spoken more fullie truely and indifferently without spleene or ambiguitie I will heere craue pardon to ouerpasse them and in lieu therof content you with some few both theorique and practique notes hatched vpon the same grounds but practised vpon other states of later daies in diuers parts of Christendome And first of their Iesuiticall Theoriques thus collected into order and eight times printed as mine Authour affirmeth Regulae Iuris Romani 1. The Bishop of Rome hath in himselfe all manner of power both spiritual temporall Authority to commād to forbid to curse to excōmunicat al power of punishing right of Election and conferring the lieutenancy of the Empire Power to create depose magistrates euen Emperors Kings Princes so of al other Potentates their subiects These aphorisms are to be receiued as an article of faith He that alloweth not or beleeueth not so much is to be reputed a most detestable Heretique 2. On the contrary all Ecclesiasticall persons Bishops Prelates Priests Monks Nuns and all their temporall goods their priuiledges and estates are vtterly exempted and freed from all obedience of temporall Lords from their commands contributions and superiorities and that aswell in personall and reall impleadings as in ciuill and criminall actions Neither are they bound to obey Emperor King or any Lay Magistrate Yea Caesar Kings and Princes ought to instruct his fortresses rather to ecclesiasticall persons then to Lay Captaines 3. Albeit the Pope be a Man yet for that he is Gods vicar on earth a reason wherfore diuine honor is due to him he can not erre in points concerning Christian doctrine no although all other ecclesiasticall fathers yea and the Councels themselues should fall into error An argument That from Councels we must appeale to the Pope but not e contra From the Pope to the Councel 4. The Validity interpretations and power of innouating the sacred Scriptures resteth in the bosome of the Pope but his Holinesse decrees as simply necessary to faith and saluation are immutable forcible and obligatory 5. The constitutions Statutes ordinances parliaments edicts Confederacies al letters patents of Emperors Kings Princes other estates which fauour any other religion then the modern Roman ought to be reputed voide and of no force no although an oath be interposed 6. The Edict of religion concluded by the general consent of the German Nation is not obligatory for that it was procured by force That it was granted but to serue the time as a Delay or Toleration viz. vntill the publication of the Councell of Trent which followed in the yeere 1564. 7. That now the Romanists are to imploy their vtmost indeuours by fire sword poison powder warre or any other engine to suppresse all heretiques but especially the Lutherans and Caluinists with their fautors and the politique catholiques who had rather maintaine peace then adioyne their forces to the Catholique side in extirpation of heresies 8. But this rule is not without exceptiō If they haue cause to feare that the proiect be not likely to second imagination or that danger or detriment be likely to arise thereof to the Catholique cause In this case some regard is to bee had to the time and a better season to be expected Yet some are againe of opinion That time is not to be respected For what requitall shall a Iesuit returne to so benigne a parent as the Pope if hee stand tampering vpon the safetie of his conscience or the security of his life And therefore without any longer temporizing it were better that in all places these Lutherans and Caluinists were speedily banished suppressed or vtterly rooted out so that hereafter not so much as one seed may be left to restore so much as the remembrance of their Religion 9. As soon as the Roman-Catholique subiects in their Conciliables haue decreed That the Emperor King or Prince vnder whom they serue is to be accounted a Tyrant then is it lawfull for them to renounce him and to hold themselues free from their oath of allegeance But if they be deemed to hold their assemblies Then is it granted vnto euery priuate subiect yea praise-worthie and meritorious to murder such a King or Prince but with prouiso that hee proceede not before hee haue vsed the counsell of some Iesuit or such like Theologian Wherein the Munke Iames Clement who slew Henry the third with an inuenomed knife made true vse of this Rule And in those dayes hee was adiudged to haue acted as meritorious an action that should haue played the like part by his successour Henry the fourth 10 If subiects haue a Lutheran or Caluinist to their King or Prince who indeuoreth to bring them into Heresies you must alwaies vnderstand what Heresies they meane they are those subiects quitted of homage fealty towards their soueraigne Masters To whom it is lawfull and granted to renounce murder or imprison such an anointed and high Magistrate 11 That Emperors Kings Princes may be poysoned by their vassals and seruants in case the Theologians or Iesuits being learned and graue men doe account them for tyrants prouided that the concluded party to die doe not amend nor procure his owne voluntary destruction 12 The Pope hath the free gift of all the kingdoms principalities and territories of all hereticall and infidel Princes and such donations shall be firme and auailable to all constructions and purposes 13 It is lawfull and granted to Iesuits and all other Catholique Priests in case they happen to be examined before heretique Magistrates to vse equiuocation mental reseruation false names and counterfeit apparrell the better to insinuate and dispatch their treacheries 14 That it is lawfull for Iesuites and such like Romanists to equiuocate to the demaunds of Magistrates And that as well by oath as without But this is to be vnderstoode when the Respondent doth not account the Demaundant for a competent Iudge or Magistrate Or when the Respondent doth imagine that the Iudge though competent hath no lawfull pretence of examination Or when hee supposeth his Aduersarie hath no iust cause of questioning him 15 That such Catholiques are not bound to aunswere priuate Catholiques from the heart and with conscience but to equiuocate and answer them with double meanings 16 That this equiuocation is a profitable Arte and good policy