another reason the opinions of Haymo are different from that Exegesis I will name but one Haymo on the Revel lib. 1. near the end saith The Pillars of the Temple are not only they who are more perfect as Paul saith Peter and James and John which seemed to be Pillars c. Here Haymo not only calleth these three more perfect but Pillars also which is more then Paul saith but this Exegesis speaks not so much of them for on Gal. 2. at these words which seemed to be something or as we have Who were of reputation it is written there They seemed unto themselves to be something for they did seem to have learning and vertue of themselves but they neither had learning nor vertue of themselves nor of their own merits and therefore although they did seem unto the people to be something they were nothing He who writes so liberally of the three Apostles would not probably have written so sparingly of them in the other place and so the Authour of the Exegesis but by Remigius Bishop of Lions and is contrary to the present Church of Rome in many particulars following would not have called Peter the head of the Church Who then is the Authour of that Exegesis The above-named Remigius Bishop of Lions as Bishop Usher proveth loc cit and we may find that his doctrine in that Exegesis doth accord with that which we have heard he did maintain concerning election free-will c. as appears by these passages On Rom. 5. he saith As by Adam sin and death did enter so by Christ came justification and eternal life therefore the Apostle saith We are reconciled unto God because as by one man sin entred into the World that is into the universality of mankind except Christ which is from above and by sin death came so death both of body and soul hath gone over all men even as on the first man in whom all have sinned So by our Lord Jesus Christ justification hath entred and by justification life eternal ... for in him all men have sinned which were in his loins as Levi was in the loins of his father when he paied tithes And he saith congruously that sin entred first and then death by sin because so soon as he did sin he became mortal as the Lord had foretold saying In whatsoever day thou shalt eat thereof thou shalt die the death He did sin by coveting and eating and he was made mortal in sinning Amongst other things observe here that Remigius makes no exception of sin in the universality of mankind but only of Christ and therefore the Virgin Mary is not excepted and after the same manner do all the Ancients speak in this point On Cap. 9. What man can declare why the Almighty God did chuse Jacob before he was born and rejected Esau when neither the one nor the other could do any good or ill except that on him that is on Jacob he would bestow his grace and mercy and on Esau he would fullfill his just judgment .... therefore as it was not the purpose of God and his predestination according to election of the good merit of Jacob so the election of the Gentiles was not according to the election of merits but according to the free grace and predestination of God therefore for what cause Jacob was chosen without good works and Esau was hated without ill works it is only known unto God who knows all things before they be and whose judgment is alwaies just ..... He said unto Moses I will have mercy on whom ... This is the order On whom I will have mercy by calling him unto my faith I will have mercy by giving him my faith that he may beleeve in me and I will shew compassion on him that he may live righteously and be mercifull and persevere in good works according to which he shall receive the reward Therefore not of him who willeth understand is the will nor of him who runneth is the race but of God shewing mercy is mercy that he giveth unto man to will good to do and to persevere The only good will is not sufficient unless also the mercy of God prevene him unto this end to give unto him to will what is good and to perfect the same good as the Psalmist saith His mercy shall prevene me and his mercy shall follow me But haply one will say Why are the Elect rewarded or what reward have they deserved if both the good will and the perfecting of the good work be given unto them of God I answer therefore are the Elect worthy of remuneration because so soon as they do perceive that they are prevened by the grace of God they do labour with all their indeavours to obey his will For the Scripture saith to Pharao The Scripture speaketh not by it self but another by it as here God speaketh These last words I have marked against them which say The Scriptures is dumb and dead At these words Hath not the Potter power ... he saith So the Almighty God the Potter of mankind hath power out of the mass of perdition and sin that is out of the mass of mankind to make one vessel unto honour that is to create one for this end that he may be honoured in him and that he honour him by calling him unto his faith and by saving him unto life and another unto dis-honour that is in his just judgment to destroy the Reprobates because of their wickedness for of a corrupt mass all the vessels are corrupt but if the Potter by the Engine of his Art will purifie some of them from the fault of the mass by baking it in the fire may he not be magnified in those And that he suffereth some unpurified he is not to be blamed because he continueth in his power for the mass is his On Cap. 11. at these words I have left 7000 ... saith he neither saith he Are left unto me but I have left and reserved unto my self 7000 men which when others became Idolaters have not bowed ....... And it is to be considered because according to the election of God's grace that is according to the gift of Predestination the remnant is saved not according to the merit of their works wherefore he saith in the Epistle unto the Ephes As he hath chosen us before the foundation of the World in him i. e. in Christ that we should be holy and unblamable And if of grace they are saved who beleeve amongst the Jews not now was it of the works of the Law by which they thought to be justified who continue in infidelity else grace were not grace that is if they were saved otherwise which cannot be but by the grace of God or else grace it self were not grace but a merit ..... But the election hath obtained it that is they who were chosen out of that multitude whom before he called a remnant now he calleth election and as before circumcision is taken for the
of Monuments amongst other things he saith of the Roman Church This is proper unto the Romans to infer calumnies to defer persons to bring menaces and carry away riches Such are they whose business thou mayest hear to be commended in ease whose prey is in peace whose fighting is in fleeing and victory in cups they regard no man nor order nor time they are in judgement Scythians in chamber vipers at feasts Peasants in understanding stones in discerning pratling daws to anger fire to forgive iron in friendship pards in deceit foxes in pride bulls to devour minotaurs c. He wrote to Honorius II. refuting the appellations to Rome because it was a novelty contrary unto the Scriptures and very hurtful unto the Church He sheweth the condition of Rome briefly in two verses Vrbs felix si vel dominis urbs illa careret Vel dominis esset turpe carere fide He was apprehended and imprisoned at Rome Mornay in Myster 7. Honorius Augustodunensis was famous for his learning and godliness about the year 1110. Gesner testifieth of many of his books as yet extant he wrote one De Papa Imperatore against the Pope In Dialog de praedesti libe arbit he writeth of the Roman Church in this maner Turn thee to the Citizens of Babylon and behold what they are and how they walk behold come to the top of the mountain that thou mayest see all the houses of the damned City Look to the Princes and Judges of it that is the Cardinals and Bishops amongst them is the seat of the Beast at all times they are prone to ill and ever insationably intangled with the things of iniquity they not onely practice wickedly but teach others to do the like they sell holy things and buy wickedness by all means they endeavor that they go not alone to hell Turn thee to the Clergy and among them thou shalt see the pavilion of the Beast they neglect divine service but they are busie in the service of gain they defile the Priesthood with filthiness and deceive the people with hypocrisie by their wicked deeds they deny God they cast aside the Scriptures and how can they who are blinde lead blinde people unto salvation Behold the Convents of the Monks and among them thou shalt see the tabernacle of the Beast by seigned profession they scorn God and provoke his wrath with their habit they deceive the world Look to the habitations of the Nuns and amongst them thou shalt see a bed strawed for the Beast from their tender years they learn luxury they are more shameless then any bordeller and she will have the palm of victory who exceedeth others in wickedness c. In the same dialogue he saith Because some are predestinated the grace of God preveeneth them that they have a will and it followeth them that they may do but seeing predestination is unchangeable the wicked being justly forsaken neither will nor can do good they hear admonitions with deaf ears because none cometh unto the Father unless the son by grace that is by the holy Ghost drawing them and in his mercy he loveth whom he willeth and in his justice he reprobateth whom he willeth neither can they say Why doest thou so The kingdom of heaven is not according to merits but of grace for what deserveth man but ill In the same dialogue he had said Degrees of glory shall be according to the diversity of merits but then he addeth We receive grace for grace we receive grace when God preveeneth us that we have will and followeth us that we may do according to this grace he giveth another grace when he rewardeth with glory In Ps 6. Save me according to thy mercy and not according to my merits In Ser. de Natal Dom. All men before and under the Law and under Grace are saved by the nativity of Christ 8. Rupert Tuitiensis was Abbot of that Monastery near to Colein about the year 1112. Gesner hath a large Catalogue of his works In his Commentary upon John lib. 1. cap. 1. he saith By onely grace are we brought into the Kingdom of Heaven which we can conquess not by merits of our own works Ibid. lib. 2. cap. 2. Christ buildeth his Church on a sure rock to wit on himself Cephas had his name changed and was called Peter from this rock whereby is signified that upon all which are built on that foundation which is Christ shall be named a new name as the Prophet saith which the mouth of the Lord hath named Ibid. lib. 12. cap. 15. The Church of the elect sojourning in this world abideth not always in one estate but sometimes shineth with the graces of the Spirit sometimes it is obscure and shineth less being under oppression until the mutability of this world be finished And cap. 16. It is the rule of the Catholique Church to direct her prayers unto God the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord because there is no other door nor way but by him his name onely is the necessary chariot of all prayer And De Vict. Verbi lib. 12. cap. 11. What and how many are the chief Sacraments of our salvation the holy Baptism and the Eucharist of the body and blood of our Lord these both are the gifts of our Lord the one for remission of sins and the other for distribution of many graces In Prolog in Apocalyp he saith Blessed are the meek saith the Lord for they shall inherit the earth both of them who shall enjoy and who shall not enjoy we have a remarkable example in the spies for among those Joshua and Caleb were meek that is they acknowledged the truth and were not repugnant unto it What is the holy Scripture but the very Land of promise and what it was to them to go bodily out of the Land of Egypt and to enter into the Land of promise is unto us to go out of the land of darkness or ignorance and to enter into the knowledge of God by the truth of the Scriptures When we read or hear the Scriptures we see not God face to face but the vision of God which certainly will be perfected is begun here by the Scriptures Ibid. lib. 2. cap. 2. Neither do they promote the sons of the Church for their vertues but the daughters that is the effeminate and vicious persons for their gifts unto the offices of the Church Do not they who are so promoted hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans for Clemens reporteth that Nicolaus was rebuked for his jealousie towards his wife and that he answered Let any man have her who listeth And from this answer the unbelievers inferred that the Apostles permitted unto all men the common use of women Is not this like unto that doctrine that they will not have lawful marriage because it is forbidden by the laws of the Church and nevertheless they live incontinently yea they do worse imitating the married when they please and though they have not a lawful bed
words If it be lawful to celebrate for a penny it were far better and precious to celebrate without pennies this they say thinking that simony is committed in these exactions Oh how great a wickedness and madness to exact forty fifty or sixty florens for the absolution of a City and relaxation of a Church-yard I am silent of other things simple and secular people do abhor all these things 28. Jagielo Duke of Lituania was married to Heduigis Queen of Poland The conversion of Lituania An. 1386. with condition that he should embrace the Christian faith and annex that Dukedom to the Crown of Poland he and his three Brothers Borissus Suidrigielo and Vidold were baptized at Cracow Febr. 14. The next year he called a general convention of all the people of Lituania at Vilna in the beginning of Lent and took with him the Bishop of Gesna and some Priests There he propoundeth unto them the forsaking of their Idolatry and the embracing the Christian Religion he allured them with exhortations and promises but the Priests being ignorant of the language could teach them nothing at all The barbarous people were loath to leave the customs of their Ancestors but when they saw that at commandment of the King the fire in the Temple of Vilna to be extinguished and the Altar broken and the Serpents which they had worshipped to be killed and dead and their holy groves destroyed without the hurt of any man the people wondered and said How is it that our gods do not revenge themselves on these wicked Christians if any of us had done the like we had perished by the wrath of the gods Then were they willing to follow the Religion of their Prince and because it had been wearisome to baptize them all this honor was given to some of the Nobles to baptize them severally and the vulgar sort were set in companies and the Priests cast water upon them and gave unto every company a name saying I baptize ye in the name c. and so in one day 30000 barbarous people were baptized Ale Guaguin in Rer. Polon To. 1. 29. Nicolaus de Lyra a Jew by birth and then a converted Christian wrote Annotations on all the Bible which were in great account among the School-men but in many Articles of faith he differeth from the Papists now as appeareth clearly by these passages When Jerome had written in Prologin lib. Tobiae The book of Tobiah which the Jews following the catalogue of divine Scriptures have reckoned among those which they call Hagiographa de Lyra saith He should rather have said among the Apocrypha or he taketh the Hagiographa largely And in his Postilla he saith When I have written as God hath helped upon all the Canonical books of the holy Scriptures ..... trusting in his help I intend to write of the other books which are not of the Canon to wit the book of Wisdom Ecclesiasticus Judith Tobias and the books of Maccabees ...... We must know that the books of the sacred Scriptures which are called Canonical are of such authority that whatever is written there it is held true without controversie and consequential also what is manifestly concluded thereupon for as in the writings of Philosophers truth is known by reducing unto the first principles that are known in themselves so in the Scriptures of Catholick Doctors truth is known in so far as things to be believed can be reduced unto the Canonical writings of the sacred Scripture which we have by revelation from God who cannot lye therfore the knowledg of these writings is necessary unto the Church for which cause of the exposition of them it may be said what is written Eccles 24. All these are the book of life that is all the books that are expounded in the preceding work are contained in the book of life that is in the books of truth revealed by God who is life for as divine predestination is called the book of life so this Scripture revealed by God is called the book of life both because it is from him which is life essentially as is said and it leadeth unto the blessed life And next it is to be considered that the books which are not of the Canon are received to be read by the Church for information of manners but their authority is not such that they are thought sufficient to prove things in controversie as Jerome teacheth in the Prologue on Judith c. On Deut. 17. at the words Thou shalt not decline he saith Here an Hebrew Glossa saith If he say unto thee The right hand is the left hand or the left is the right thou must receive such a sentence But this is manifestly false since the sentence of no man of whatsoever authority is to be received if it be manifestly false or erroneous and this is clear by what is said in the text They shall judge unto thee the truth of judgement and they shall teach thee according to his law Hence it is clear that if they speak false or decline from God's Law manifestly they should not be heard On Psal 124. or rather 125. on these words Like mount Sion he saith because as mount Sion is unmoveable so they who trust in the Lord are not moved from the stability of faith therefore it followeth shall not be moved for ever to wit who dwell in the spiritual Jerusalem by faith formed by love And the cause of this stability followeth The mountains are about it that is the Angels are deputed to keep the Church and the Lord is round about his people as he saith in Matth. ult Behold I am with you unto the end of the world On Daniel at the last words he saith The last two Chapters to wit of Susanna and the History of Bell and Dragon are not of the Canon therefore now I leave them and intend to take in hand the other books which are Canonical On Matth. 1. at the words Iudah begot Phares he rehearseth an opinion of Jerome which he confuteth and he addeth a general reason saying The sayings of Saints are not of such authority but we may think the contrary in those things which are not determined by the sacred Scripture therefore Augustine in Epist ad Vincent saith of the writings of the Saints This sort of writings is to be distinguished from the Canonical Scriptures and testimonies are not brought from them so that we may not think the contrary On chap. 10. at the words He gave them power over unclean spirits he saith If it be asked Why Preachers do not such miracles now Gregory answereth Because when the Catholick faith is sufficiently proved by the miracles of Christ and his Apostles it is needless to reiterate such proof any more And a little after Ye have received freely to wit grace which God hath bestowed on you whether grace making acceptable or grace which is freely given Give it freely even as ye have received for for spiritual acts as for administration
shaved and made a Monk And Aventin in Annal. saith When Volarad a Bishop and Burchard Abbot of Saint Dionis at Paris were sent to understand the Pope's judgement his answer was I find in the sacred story of Divine Scriptures that the people fell away from their wretchless and lascivious King who despised the counsel of the wise men and created a sufficient man one of themselves King God himself allowing their doings all power and rule belong unto God Princes are his Ministers in their Kingdomes and rulers are chosen for the people that they should follow the will of God the chief ruler in all things and not to do what they list he is a true King that guideth the people committed to his charge according to the prescript and line of God's Law all that he hath as power glory riches honour and dignity he receiveth of the people the people create their King and the people may when the cause so requireth forsake their King It is lawfull therefore for the French and Germans to refuse this unkind Monster and to chuse one who may be able in War and Peace by his wisedom to protect and keep in safety their wives children parents goods and lives So Pope Zachary giveth his advice and pretendeth not any interest into the matter Then he writ unto Boniface Bishop of Mentz that he might anoint Pipin King of France and declare all his Subjects free from their Oath of Allegiance unto their lazy Soveraign And now the Reader may judge what Pipin did receive from Pope Zachary This was the work of many years and so ended An. 752. Here observe that Pipin was anointed but anointing The custom of anointing Kings is late or borrowed from the Iews of Kings was not in custom amongst Christians in the daies of Lactantius who in Institut lib. 4. cap. 7. speaking of Christ's name saith It was commanded unto the Jews to make an holy oil wherewith those were anointed who were called unto the Priesthood or Kingdom and now among the Romans the Robe of Purpure is the sign of their royal assumed power so unto them the anointing with oil gave the name and royal power And Augustine on Psal 45. saith It was the custom only of the Jewish Nation to anoint Kings and Priests whereby was taught that among none other but the Jewish people was the King and Priest of the world to be born Anastasius Patriarch of Constantinople did anoint Emperour Leo the I. and thereafter that came into custom to shew that the Emperour was a true Christian and free from heresie They want no colours for bringing into the Christian Church Jewish or Heathenish rites 5. John Damascen who was called Chrysoras for distinction from another Iohn Damascen of that name who lived about the year 300. had been amongst the Sarazens and for fear of death did make profession of Mahumetism but being escaped did write in defence of the Orthodox faith and began the first systeme of Divinity amongst the Greeks as afterwards Pe. Lombard among the Latines he was a maintainer of images but in many other things was an adversary to the present doctrine of Rome Lib. 1. de Orthod fide cap. 1. he saith All that is given unto us by the Law and Prophets Apostles and Evangelists we embrace acknowledge and reverence seeking no further God therefore being ignorant of nothing and providing whatsoever is profitable for us to know hath revealed it but he hath hid in silence those things whereof we could not indure the weight therefore let us love these things and abide in them neither should we pass beyond the bounds appointed by his eternal will not transgress the Divine Tradition any way Lib 3. Cap. 17. The Lord's flesh is inriched with Divine Efficacy because of the hypostatical union neither doth it fall or hath it exceeded its proper nature nor its natural properties And Cap. 18. he saith The communication of Omnipotency unto Christ-man or his Man-hood may be declared two waies First That this man Christ is almighty by communication of properties Next The proper works of God are given to the flesh as the instrument of the Deity And Lib. 4. Cap. 18. After he hath at length recommended the reading of the Scriptures he reckoneth the Books of the Old-Testament according to the Hebrew and then he saith The Wisedom of Solomon and of Jesus son of Sirach are pleasant and good but are not numbred among the Prophetical books nor were put into the Ark. And in Cap. 25. he commendeth Virginity and then he addeth this we say not derogating from marriage God forbid for we know that God blessed marriage by his presence and it is said Marriage is honourable amongst all men In Cap. 14. he saith By invocation and by working of the Holy Ghost the Bread and Wine and Water are supernaturally changed into the Body and Blood of Christ The Papishes make use of this testimony for their Transubstantiation but there is also a supernatural change of the Water in Baptism and yet no Transubstantiation neither do the Greeks believe it to this day but only a mystical change in regard of the use and effect 6. In the Epistles of Pope Zachary to Boniface it is evident that divers Many in Italy and Stain did oppose the Popes Bishops and Priests contemned the pretended Apostolical authority and his excommunications In the Epistle of Pope Adrian it appeareth that Leo Patriarch of Ravenna with-held many things from the See of Rome and that he despised the Judges whom the Pope sent thither and that he opened the Letters that were sent by some of his Diocy unto the Pope Also Regimbald and other Bishops of Lombardy did allow their Clergy to marry against the Decree of Rome Ex Epist Adrian ad Carol. When Maurice Bishop of Istria professed himself to be the faithfull servant of Saint Peter and required Pensions there unto him the people pulled out his eys and said their land was the Territory of Charls and not of the Pope Catal. test ver lib. 8. Paulin Bishop of Aquileia in his book against Felix and Eliphand Bishops of Uurgelita and Tâleâo commendeth the Holy Scriptures and condemneth all opinions whatsoever that cannot be proved out of them he saith The Church is built upon the Rock Christ and it may be shaken by Hereticks but cannot be drowned because it is strengthned by the right hand of Christ he saith Teachers and every Christian should fight against heretical opinions and refute them for a Souldier of Christ should not be basely afraid for the force of approaching Battel nor by straying seek the lurking holes of harmless escaping but being girded with the weapons of their own Warfare should couragiously pierce the hearts of their enemies with spiritual darts out of the Bow of the Scriptures 7. Aponius a French man then writ several books in Cant. lib. 1. he saith Aponius The Lord hath given his fiery word unto this World in the
Richard a Deacon with others upon several occasions of sedition amongst the people When Chetumar was dead so great was the sedition there that no Presbyter did abide untill Walinch being Duke sent again unto Virgilius who sent Hiemo and Reginbald Presbyters and Majoran a Deacon with others and in the year 794. Charls sent Erick to be their Duke who expelled a great number of the Huns and then that land of Pannonia Inferiour continued under obedience of the King and the Christian faith was embraced by the people Catal. test ver lib. 9. In all these is no mention of sending to or from Rome for their Reformation 13. In this Century the Turks came out of Scithia or Tartary into the Province Turks became Mahametans of Alami thence into Colchis out of that into Armenia and then into Asia the less An. 755. Histories do vary concerning their original but the most probable opinion is that they are descended of the Tartars because Pompon Mela who lived in the daies of the Emperour Claudius reckoneth Turcae among the Scythians Lib. 1. Cap. Chalybes and as Io. Lampadius after Mechovius witnesseth the Turks and Tartars have the same manner of Apparel one manner of Riding one manner of Bows and Arrows and in Language they differ only in dialect as the Italian and Spaniard At that time the Turks hindered the Sarazens from conquering in Asia and Europe God raising up one wicked enemy against another that his Church might have breathing except that they prevailed in the Mediterrane Isles and Peloponnesus In the end these two did agree upon conditions 1. That the Turks should be called Sarazens and imbrance Mahumetism 2. They should have the Province of Hircana or Sogdiana 3. They should be subject unto the Calipha of Babylon They continued living by Pastorage without a Prince of their own untill Civil Wars among the Sarazens about the year 1050 and therefore I speak no more of them untill the 11. Century CHAP. IV. Of BRITAN 1. BEda a Presbyter in the Monastery at Weeremouth neer Durham for Beda Venerable and hiâ doctrines his godliness and modesty was called Venerable and is still accounted worthy of that Title He was credulous in believing of false miracles and slipped into some corruptions of the times as confession and chrism yet even in these he differeth from the latter times for on Jam. 5. at these words Let them pray anointing he saith We read in the Gospel that the Apostles did so and the custom of the Church holdeth that the weak should be anointed with oil by the Presbyters and prayer being conjoined be healed nor only by the Presbyters but as Pope Innocentius writeth even any Christian may anoint in his own necessity or of others Here he speaketh of anointing as a means of healing and not a Sacrament for the dying And on the words Confess your sins one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed he saith In this sentence should be that discretion that we should confess to one another daily and light sins and beleeve to be healed by their daily prayer And moreover the uncleanness of more grievous leprosie let us according to the Law confess unto the Priest and have a care to be cleansed at his will how and how long time he shall command He seeth in these words no warrant that any should confess unto a Priest but one to another mutually and as he saith coaequaliter and that to the end they may be healed and what he would have done unto the Priest he borroweth it from the Law of Moses And on Mar. chap. 3. when he hath spoken of the miracles that were done by the Apostles he saith Now when the number of Believers is multiplied many within the holy Church have the life or conversation of vertue but have not the signs or miracles of vertue because miracle is in vain shewed outwardly if it fail that should work inwardly for according to the saying of the Apostle of the Gentils Tongues are a sign not to believers but to unbelievers Here he sheweth that miracles were not necessary when the Gospel is confirmed and received As for the articles of positive doctrine he is clear Of the perfection of the Scriptures on 1 Pet. 4. at these words If any speak as the words of God he saith Fearing lest any man speak or command any thing but the will of God or but what is evidently commanded in the Holy Scriptures and be found as a false witness of God or sacrilegious or introducing any thing different from the Lord's doctrine or leaving or passing-by any of these things which are pleasant unto God seeing He most manifestly commandeth Preachers concerning those whom they shall teach saying Teaching them to observe whatsoever I have commanded you For he commandeth to deliver those things to be observed by their hearers which he hath commanded and no other things and those things not in part only but all And on the 2 Pet. 1. neer the end Who giving heed unto the words of the Prophets do well that thereby they may have the light of knowledge these should first know that none of the holy Prophets did preach unto the people through their interpretation but what they had learned from the Lord that did they commend to be done by their hearers and what heavenly mysteries they had perceived in secret these simply either by word or writ did they deliver unto the people of God and not as the Diviners of the Gentils who what they had forged out of their own hearts these things did they deliver unto the deceived people as the Oracles of God Therefore as the Prophets did write not their own but God's words so the reader of these should not follow his own interpretation lest he stray from the true sence but by all means he should attend this how he who writ would have his words understood So far he And how the right sence may be had he teacheth in Philip. 1. from Augustine saying When words make the Scripture ambiguous first we must see that we distinguish or pronounce them not wrong and when after such diligence we find it uncertain how to distinguish or to pronounce them look to the rule of faith which we have from plainer places of the Scripture and from the authority of the Church But if both or all or more parts be dubious then we should consult the Text it self by the following and preceding parts where the ambiguity is to the end we may see unto which of these many senses it will give suffrage and suffer it self to be conjoined Concerning the person and natures of Christ on 2 Pet. 2. he saith Arrius who said that our Redeemer is in respect of divinity inferiour unto the Father and Photinus who said that Christ is Man and not God and Manichaeus who said Christ is God only and not a very man and Hebron who said Christ was not before Mary and took his original
cause precedes not efficient but deficient that is the forsaking of the chief good and coveting inferiour things when the soul falleth from the love of God and coveteth inferiour things ..... But albeit God is not the cause of our ill will nor any subsisting nature but the affection of the reasonable creature falling from the love of the Creator yet we may not say that he is not the just revenger of our wicked thoughts or eternal Predestinator of just judgment and vengeance which this fellow would by such ambiguities make void Again this man saith There is no predestination of God but of them who are prepared for everlasting blessedness We know surely that this is an errour of this age ..... It is to be marked in the writings of the Prophets that the word predestination is not expressly mentioned yet because things concerning both predestinations appear and are declared most openly the Apostle most confidently useth their testimonies for confirming this doctrine and hath given them to be so understood by the Church teaching us by his authority and example and informing us that we should not contentiously and idly strive for the word predestination in the Oracles of the holy Prophets but by godly and peaceable understanding wheresoever the matter is manifestly declared we should without doubting acknowledge and maintain the predestination of God And if it be asked How shall the World be judged righteously whom the necessity of predestination forceth to perish Far be it that any of us should say it because it is most open blasphemy that God by his predestination forceth any man to sin and to perish by sin But by the judgment of predestination whom continuing in their sins he hath decreed to punish he rather calleth them from their sins and stirreth in them by hearing a wholsom terrour that they fearing may be amended and amending should not be damned It is also most false that the fellow affirmeth that there is no predestination of punishment for if punishment were not predestinate for the Divel and his Angels and all the wicked that are to be punished with them Truth would not say Go into everlasting fire prepared for the Divel and his Angels And where he saith Predestination is alwaies to be understood of the gifts of God's bounty it is also false for it is found and truly understood of the judgments of just damnation Of which damned through their own deserving and the just judgment of God when this man saith Cap. 14. § 4. that they are justly forsaken in the damned mass according to the merit of original sin and they are suffered to live wickedly and are at last to be condemned with everlasting fire even unwillingly and contradicting himself he saith no other thing but that in Divine judgment they are predestinate unto everlasting life for if all that mass be condemned certainly it is condemned in the just judgment of God and without doubt unto everlasting perdition and punishment And it is a wonder how he saith Cap. 14. That God hath predestinate pain unto sinners and hath not predestinate sinners unto pain for when he predestinated pain for them he was not ignorant who were to be punished And when he confesseth saying The foreknowed if God foreknew certainly who were to be punished with these torments what else did he when he prepared most certain pain for every one of them but predestinated them certainly for pain For surely these only shall suffer whom he hath foreknown to suffer and what is it that by unchangeable prescience he hath foreknown them for pain It was not to be feared that what he foreknew to be justly he hath not predestinated to do it justly There is indeed another condition of mens laws who so ordain certain punishments unto delinquents that nevertheless they know not those which do sin thus or which shall be tormented in these punishments and therefore they may appoint and prepare punishments for sinners and know not that the punishments are just and yet not appoint for punishments the sinners whom they know not at all but if they knew certainly the persons which are worthy of those punishments they might justly ordain them for the pain as they appoint the pain for delinquents as in the execution of judgment whom they find guilty of capital crimes they both rehearse unto them the death which is appointed by the Law and by open sentence they adjudge them unto death which is done by a certain knowledge of judgment that they dare appoint as punishment for sinners so sinners for punishments Seeing then both these are rightly and justly done in the Courts of men being informed and directed according to certain knowledge that they discern justly and irreprovably pain for sinners and sinners for pain and yet not any of those guilty persons is compelled unto sin by the Laws nor Judges but only because he who hath sinned is justly punished how much rather may we beleeve certainly that this is done in Divine judgment that because by eternal knowledge he knows the pain which in justice is due for sinners and the sinners to whom it is due seeing he causeth none to sin he predestinates most justly both punishments which he knows to be most just for sinners and sinners who are never unknown unto him but most certainly known by eternal verity for everlasting punishment So and more writeth Florus And the judgment of Prudentius is in the abovenamed history Vsser cap. 11 where among other things he shews that when Aeneas who had been a member of the Carisiac Synod was to be ordained Bishop of Paris Prudentius being called unto his ordination did excuse himself by Letter and sent unto Wenilo Metropolitan of Senonen four articles which if the elect Bishop would not subscribe he did protest that he would no way consent unto his ordination These Articles are First That he confess that as free-will is lost in Adam by merit of disobedience so it is restored unto us by our Lord Jesus Christ and freed now in hope but afterwards really as the Apostle saith We are saved by hope that nevertheless we have alwaies need of the grace of the Almighty God for every good work whether for thinking or beginning or working or perseverantly perfecting and that without that grace we can no way either think or will or do any good 2. That he beleeve and confess that in the most high and secret purpose of God some are by the gracious mercy of God before all ages predestinated for life and some by his unsearchable righteousness are predestinated for pain to wit that whether in them which shall be saved or condemned he hath predestinated that which he foreknew he would do in judging as the Prophet saith Qui fecit quae futura sunt Esa 45. juxta LXX Interp. 3. That he beleeve and confess with all the Catholicks that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for all men beleeving in him through the world and not for
some words do follow Geo. Cassander in Liturgica saith At the first the Mass was said otherwise then now ..... and it is not done more holily then it was before when it was hallowed with the only words of the Lord and with the Lord's prayer And from Walafrid Strabo he saith All which is now done with a multitude of prayers lessons songs and consecrations the Apostles and those who next followed them did as is thought with prayers and remembrance of the Lord's sufferings even as He commanded In the same Chapter he saith In the next times when the Epistle and the Gospel was read the Mass was done and other things were added at diverse times by the Popes Gelasius and Gregorius 3. When the Sacrament began to be termed a Sacrifice it is uncertain but this is certain it was not called properly A Sacrament is not a Sacrifice a Sacrifice by the purest primitive Church especially in the time of Justine Martyr Lactantius Firmian and Augustine For in the daies of Justine the Pagans did revile the Christians and called them Atheists because they offered not sacrifice nor incense unto their God Justine in Apolog. 2. answereth They do offer such sacrifices as they knew were acceptable unto him to wit the sacrifices of prayer and thanksgiving as for the creatures which God hath appointed for the sustentation of man we keep them for the use and necessity of the poor but we burn them not with fire Lactantius had the same occasion in Institut lib. 6. cap. 24 25 and so Augustine de Civit. Dei lib. 10. cap. 4. but neither of the two hath any syllable of the sacrifice of the Mass or of the Lord's body on the Altar Nevertheless Augustine in Enchirid cap. 110. and elsewhere and Cyprian have called the Sacrament a Sacrifice yet not properly or but figuratively to wit because it is a memorial and remembrance of that true and only Sacrifice which was once offered by Christ Cyprian Epist 63. ordin Pammel So speaketh the Gloss on Gratian for where it is said de consecr lib. 2. cap. Quid sit out of Gregory the great Though Christ living immortally dieth not now yet in this Sacrament he dieth and his flesh suffereth for the salvation of the people the Gloss addeth that is His death and passion is represented So doth Chrysostom in Heb. hom 17 and Augustin de Verb. Dom. ser 28. speak and many others saying We offer the same sacrifice which Christ did offer or rather we offer the remembrance of that sacrifice So also teacheth Lombard lib. 4. cap. 12. B. G. Christ died once on the Cross and there he was offered but he is offered daily in the Sacrament because in the Sacrament is a remembrance of that which was once done and because it is a memorial representation and remembrance of that true sacrifice and holy oblation on the Altar of the Cross At some times also the Ancients call the Sacrament a Sacrifice because of the offerings which the people brought when they came to the Sacrament Cyprian de oper eleemos saith Thou who art rich comest into the Church without a sacrifice and takest a part of the sacrifice which the poorer hath offered Bellarmin de Eucharist lib. 1. cap. 27. hath the like words from Irenaeus lib. 1. cap. 32 acknowledging that those Fathers spoke so of the bread and wine which the people offered And Alcwin de divin offic at the words Sursum corda saith The Priest exhorts the people as if he said Now when ye are sufficiently instructed and confirmed by the Apostolical and Evangelical Precepts direct your hearts from earthly cares upward unto the Lord that I may be able to offer worthily the sacrifice which ye have offered unto me to be offered unto God So whereas the Ancients did most usually abstain from the name of Altar and Sacrifice terming those Tables and Eucharist afterwards the Church being established in the truth of doctrine the Pastours did adventure upon a greater liberty of words not doubting to be soundly understood by Catholick hearers But because the degenerating ages have wrested these words to a proper signification clean cotrary to the first intention it should not be thought amiss in them who contain themselves now within the more ancient restraints and are content with the first terms since the other have occasioned that intollerable errour of the real sacrifice in the Mass To the end this may be more evident I shall repeat the The original of the Christian Sacrifice custom of this matter from the beginning Chrysostom on 1 Cor. 11. hom 27. saith As in the three thousand who at first did beleeve they did all eat together and they did possess all things in common so also it was when the Apostle writ this yet not so certainly but that some doubting of the communion were remaining and descending unto posterity and when it came to pass that some were poor and some were rich they did not give all things in community but they made the common Tables on the appointed daies as was decent and the collection being done after the communication of the Sacrament they all came to a common feast and the dishes were carried by the honester poor ones and they who had nothing were invited by them and they sate down all together but in progress of time this custom went away for by this division it came that some did adjoin themselves in one company and some in another and they said I am his and I am his as the Apostle amending this saith in the beginning of the Epistle Justine near the end of his greater Apology saith Let the rich men if they please every one bestow as they will and let that which is brought be laid down beside the Bishop ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã To wit when the first custom was left off they brought a quantity of Bread and Wine or of the first Corns or Raisins whereof so much was taken as did serve for the elements of the Sacrament and the rest was eaten by the Believers as in a feast and some was sent unto sick persons or diststributed among the poor When the Church had more liberty and became more wealthy as in the daies of Constantine the oblations were richer and a part thereof was appointed for maintenance of the Preachers according to that of Jerom They who serve at the Altar are sustained by the offerings at the Altar Then the voluntary offerings were called Sacrifices after the manner of the law of Moses and the Presbyters did consecrate them by prayer as is manifest by the Liturgies where they say O Lord we thy servants and also thy holy people being mindfull of the blessed suffering and resurrection and the glorious ascension of Christ thy Son our Lord God do offer unto thy most excellent Majesty out of thy gifts this pure sacrifice .... upon which things it may please thee to look with a favourable and gracious eye and to
This Act is to be expounded by another following in the Councel at Cabilon And the Fathers protest that if it seem they have passed bounds in admonishing his clemency the Act be amended Ca. 8. We will that Bishops have power to provide rule govern and dispense Spiritual and Ecclesiastical things according to the authority of Canons and that Laicks be obedient unto Bishops in their ministry to rule the Churches of God to defend widows and fatherless And that Bishops should consent unto Counts and Judges to do justice and that just Laws be not corrupted by lies false witness false oaths or rewards Ca. 10. We decree that there be a distinction between them which are said to have left the World and them who yet follow it It is therefore provided by a Law of the Fathers that who are separated from the secular life should abstain from worldly pleasures as that they be not present at games nor unhonest and filthy bankets Jerom ad Nepotian saith We should love the houses of all Christians as our own but so that they may know us rather for comforters in their griefs then feasters in their joviality let them not be Usurers nor seekers of filthy gain nor exerce any fraud let them fly the love of money as the mother of many evils let them leave secular offices and affairs let them not ascend the steps of honour ambitiously let them not take gifts for the benefits of Divine medicine beware of guile and oaths fly envy hatred and back-biting nor walk with wandring eys with unstable and wanton tongues or proud carriage but let them shew forth the shamefacedness of their minds in simple habit and conversation let them altogether abhor the filthiness of words as well as of deeds eschue the frequent visitations of widows and virgins and no way haunt the houses of women let them indeavour alwaies to keep the chastity of an undefiled body giving due obedience unto their Superiours Lastly let them be diligent in teaching and reading in Hymns and Psalms continually They who give themselves to be servants in God's worship should be such that all that while they study to knowledge they may administer doctrine unto the people Ca. 11. Abbots and Monks are ordained to conform their lives unto the rule of Benedict even as they have promised Ca. 12. Monks are forbidden to go out of their Monasteries unless upon necessity and with leave of their Abbot Ca. 16. To leave the world is to resist the pleasures of the world as Paul saith Who use the World as if they used it not Ca. 17. We who have left the World should wholly observe this that we have spiritual armour and forsake secular armour nor may we stay the Laity from bearing weapons because it is an old custom Ca. 24. We ordain that fasting be kept four times a year by all men that is the first week of March and all should come unto the Church on the fourth sixth and Sabboth daies the second week of June on the same daies and let all fast untill the ninth hour or third hour after noon likewise the third week of September and the whole week before Christ's nativity Ca. 35. If any shall proudly contemn the Fasts and will not keep them with other Christians it is ordained in the Gangrene Councel that he shall be accursed untill he profess amendment Ca. 38. We command that Tithes be alwaies payed which God hath commanded to be given unto him lest if any one hold from God his due God take away his necessaries from him for his sin Ca. 44. Let the people be alwaies admonished to make their Oblations in the Church for this is a soverain remedy for their own souls and the souls of theirs Ca. 45. Let Priests admonish the people alwaies to learn their Creed which is the sum of faith and the Lord's prayer and we will that they be condignly censured which contemn to learn these two and therefore they should send their children unto a School or Monastery or to a Priest that they may learn the Catholick faith and the Lord's prayer that they may be able to teach others at home and who cannot otherwise let him learn them in his own language 2. In the Councel at Worms is first a Confession of faith which is a plain and sound exposition of the Creed of the Apostles and no mention in it of Christ's descending into Hell Ca. 1. None should presume to make chrism but the Bishop Ca. 4. Let no Church be consecrated untill the Bishop receive the gift of the Church confirmed by Charter and sufficient means for him who shall serve in it Ca. 8. Of the Revenues of the Church and Offerings of the Beleevers let four portions be made one for the Bishop another to the Clarks for their service a third for the poor and strangers and the fourth to be kept for the Fabrick of the Church Ca. 10. All Clarks are forbidden to lie with their wives upon pain of deposition Ca. 17. Let no Bishop Priest nor Deacon have Dogs for hunting nor Hawks Ca. 25. Let Pennance be injoined unto Penitents at the pleasure of the Priests according to the difference of faults and quality of time persons places age sighs and affection of offenders Ca. 32. All Christians are forbidden to marry any of their kindred so far as can be known Ca. 35. Women who cause themselves to make abortion should without all doubt be punished as murtherers but who in their sleep do smother their babes we should judge more easily of them because they have fallen into this mischance unwillingly Ca. 41. Who continue in malice and envy after they are admonished by the Priest should be excommunicated Ca. 51. Unto each Church a manse should be given free from all service and the Priests should give no service but Ecclesiastical for Tithes for the peoples oblations alterages Church-yards but if they have any other thing let them pay dues unto their Superiours Ca. 51. When means may be had at the sight of the Bishop let every Church have their own Presbyter Ca. 52. If a Church be new built in a Village let the Tithes of that Village be payed unto that Church Ca. 61. When witnesses cannot be had to testifie of the certainty that an Infant was baptized nor themselves can shew that they were baptized without all scruple they may be baptized Our neighbours the Mores advise us to do so because they redeem many such from the Barbarians 3. In the first words of the Councel at Rhemes An. 815 it is said expressly This is assembled by the Emperour after the manner of ancient Emperours Here the Epistles and Gospels were read for information of Deacons Ca. 6. The Missals were examined for information of Priests Ca. 9. The rules of Benedict were read for reformation of Monks Ca. 10. Liber Pastorales of Gregory was read for reformation of Pastours Ca. 11. Divers Sentences of several Fathers were read that both Prelates
propounded unto Papists degrading Formosus If he did erre how then stands their doctrine that a Pope in his Chair with his Cardinals cannot erre Bellarm. de Rom. Pontif. lib. 4. cap. 3. 5. 6. If John did not erre how then did not Pope Martin erre in repelling the doings of his Predecessour Or how did not Pope Formosus erre in all that he did and said contrary to his Canonical Oath If Formosus did not erre how did his Successours not erre of whom one did annull his Decrees and Consecrations and another did confirm them and annull the contrary Bellarmin saith A Pope may erre in matter de facto or in quaestione facti non juris But here we see that one of them condemned the Decrees of another in quaestione juris or in respect of lawfullness yea the lawfulness of their being Popes and although Pope John in his Synod at Ravenna had discharged that the like be not attempted by any judgment of the Holy Ghost and are not these words blasphemous Yet Pope Sergius the III would not be discharged but did the like and worse Was not here Pope contra Pope and that in their very Chair and Synod And do not all the ancient Historians condemn these men as unlawfull Popes who had forsaken the waies of the more ancient good Bishops What is now become of their continual succession And from whom have they now their Ordination and Consecration even from such as both Popes and Cardinals have judged worthy to be accursed 12. LANDUS lived obscurely six moneths at that time when Rodulph overcame Berengarins as Platina thinks Then saith Sigonius they assembled to chuse a new Pope but nothing was done according to Laws for Aldebert by the perswasion of his mother-in-law Theodora gave a Pope not from the Romans nor by the votes of the Clergy but as she pleased from Ravenna 13. JOHN the XIII came to the Papacy in this manner as Luithprand Behold the Succession of Popes Arch-Deacon at Ticino hath written at the same time Theodora a most shameless whore and Roman Lady burned in lust with the beauty of this John coming to Rome she had not only lust but compelled him to lie with her in the mean time the Bishop of Bononia died and John was set in his place before John was consecrated Peter Bishop of Ravenna died and through ambition of the whore John forsook Bononia and usurped the See of Ravenna Then God did take away the Pope who had so unjustly installed him and the whore not willing that her Paramour should be so far distant from her imbracing forced him to accept the Papal Chair When Baronius had related these words of Luithprand he subjoins Thou hast heard Reader the most lamentable estate of this time when Theodora the elder a noble whore held the Monarchy in the City but whence came so great dignity unto so infamous a woman she was a noble Roman of the blood of the Senatours excellent in beauty and crafty in wit and conquered the Monarchy by her Adulterer Stephen the VI. mark the succession of Popes Theodora having attained the Dominion of Rome caused her posterity to follow in the same she had two daughters Marozia and Theodora not only alike but more given to venery Marozia married the fore-named Aldebert and in adultry she did bear unto Pope Sergius a son called John Aldebert usurped the Dominion of Rome and then the whores did cut off and thrust in Popes at their pleasure This John shewed himself a Souldier more then a Bishop for he did take Arms against the Sarazens in Italy and expelled them Platina saith The Church had need of such a Bishop At the intreaty of King Rodulph he ordained a child of five years old to be Bishop of Rhemes Wherefore Baronius ad An. 908. § 4. cried Thou seest Reader by authority of what Pope if he may be called a Pope this was brought into the Church to wit of John then whom none is more filthy As his entry into that Chair was most infamous so his death was most wicked for when Adelbert was defunct Marozia would have married Guido or Vido Marquess of Tuscany that so she might convey unto him the Dominion of Rome which did appertain unto her son Albericus Pope John withstood her therefore she caused Vido to pluck him out of the way and having put him in prison he caused a Pillow to be laied upon his mouth in the 14 year of his Papacy Platin. 14. JOHN the XII son of Pope Sergius the III was preferred by his mother Marozia the people would not consent unto his election Onuphr in Annotat. on Platin. ad Ioh. 11. Fasciculus tempor saith He was intruded and immediately cast out again therefore he is not reckoned in the Catalogue of Popes and in a tumult 15. LEO the VI was set up He is commended by Platina for his civil vertue in respect of these corrupt times Io. Funccius saith He did nothing worthy of knowledge except that he was desirous of peace because saith Bale perhaps he was glad that Jesabel would suffer him to live but she could not comport the repulse and so caused him to be poisoned in the 7 moneth 16. STEPHEN the VII was like to his Predecessour and after 2 years was poisoned by Marozia After the death of Vido Marozia invited Hugh Duke of Burgundy and now King of Italy to take the Dominion of Rome which he could not bring to pass unless he would marry her although he was the brother of Vido and therefore Luithprand writ of her Nubere germanis satagens Herodia binis c. It hapned that when Albericus at his mothers command was holding the water in an uncomely gesture under the hands of his stepfather Hugh gave the boy a blow he resolved to revenge it and stirred the Romans against Hugh and was the first assaulter in his own Palace Hugh leapt over the wall and escaped Albericus brought again the former government by Consuls and under that title he governed Rome and the election of the Pope depended on him and after Stephen he set up again his brother John 17. JOHN the XII being restored did nothing worthy of record saith Platina He sate 4 years 10 moneths 18. LEO the VII is also obscure he sate 2 years 19. STEPHEN the VIII was vexed by the Romans Naucler saith For his unhonest wounds he came not abroad and lived a wretched life for a space he sate 3 years and died An. 932. Onuphr 20. MARTIN the III in 2 years restored some Churches and was bountifull to the poor but he fed not souls neither did Baronius exclude him from the name of Monster 21. AGAPETUS the II was chosen in a troublesom time therefore he sought the aid of Otho as is said before Fasciculus tempor ad An. 964. saith of him and his Successours Holiness left the Popes and went unto the Emperours at this time as is most evident He sate 9 years 7 moneths 22. JOHN the
embrace this shew of honor that for reverence of the Roman Church they might be the more respected in their own jurisdiction and sometimes the more easily advance themselves above their Competitors Sometimes the Popes sent Legates into other Diocies with such modesty that they had Authority to attempt nothing without concurrence of the Bishops or Synod of that Countrey Albeit these Legations were partly godly and at the worst were tolerable yet they were not potestativae or imperious but charitativae or exhortatory Nevertheless the Popes brought the Churches and Bishops into subjection by such means for afterwards they were sent onely for ambitious usurpation covetousness and worldly affairs The ordinary Legates at Picen Romandiola Bononia Ferraria Avenion and if there be any such others are Provincial Deputies Praetores or Vice-Roys The Nuntio's at the Court of the Emperor or of any King or Prince or State are Ambassadors or Spies for secular affairs The affairs of any Church that are gainful if they be of less account are reserved unto the judgement of the Nuntio yet not definitively but to be determined at Rome and things of more weight are reserved for the Court of Rome wholly In the mean time the power of Metropolitans and Bishops is neglected The ancient Bishops of Rome did severely enjoyn their Legates to acknowledge duly the inferior Bishops within their own jurisdiction but now they pass by the Metropolitans and draw all actions unto themselves and the Court of Rome Also their ambiton and avarice have so provoked some Nations that they will admit no Legate as Sicilie and France hath entrenched their office These particulars are more fully written by Spalatens de Rep. Eccles lib. 4. cap. 12. Of BRITANNY 1. AS I touched in the former Century England was oppressed by the Danes in England Danes so that Swan a Danish King did bear the Scepter of England and when he was a dying he left England to Harald Denmark to Canut and Nor way to Swan his three Sons Harald lived not long After him and the death of the unfortunate English King Agelred great contention was in England for the Crown some were for Edmond âronside the Son of Agelred and some for Canut After many bloody fights both parties agree to try the quarrel twixt them two onely in sight of both Armies they make the essay with swords and sharp stroakes in the end upon the motion of Canut they agree and kiss one another to the joy of both Armies ann 10. 6. and they covenant for parting the Land during their lives and they lived as brâthren Within a few years a Son of Edrik Duke of Mercia killed Edmond traitorously and brought his two Sons unto Canut and said God save our onely King Thereafter Canut reigned in England twenty years and all the Counsellors swear unto him By their advice he sent the two Sons of Edmond unto his Brother Swan King of Denmark willing him to put them out of the way He abhorring such a fact sent them to Solomon King of Hungarie where Edwin was married with the King's Daughter and left her soon a Widow and the other Brother Edward married Agatha the Daughter of the Emperor Henry III. It is written that Canut established Laws Ecclesiastical as well as Civil among which are these First All men should holily worship God onely throughout all ages they should most religiously hold fast the one rule of Christian Religion they should with due loyalty and obedience honor King Canut We further command that every one of each Order shall diligently and holily keep the Religion of his own Office and Function namely the Servants of God Bishops Abbots Monks Regulars and Nuns and square their life according to their prescribed rule Let them pray oft and much unto Christ both night and day for all Christian People And all the Ministers of God especially the Priests we entreat and command to obey God and keep dear chastity that they may escape God's wrath and hells fire seeing they know certainly it is not lawful for them to have fellowship with women for lust and who shall abstain from them let him have God's mercy and on earth the honor due unto a Thane Let every The beginning of Knâght ââoa among Priests one pay his Tithes yearly Each one should prepare thrice a year at least to receive the Eucharist so that he may eat the same to wholesom remedies and not to damnation If any woman commit adultery to the open shame of the world let her nose and ears be cut off c. Spelman in Concil Canut died ann 1039. and his Son Hardiknut reigned four years and his Brother two years Then the Danes failed after they had been Kings of England twenty eight years and vexed it 255. years 2. After the death of Grim King of Scots Malcolm would not accept Troubles in Scotland the Crown until the Law which was made in his Father's time concerning Succession were confirmed with consent of the Parliament He was molested by the Danes and in token of his two victories two stones were set up in Anguise in two several places as yet bearing the name of their Captain Came. At that time Malcolm divided a great part of the patrimony of the Crown among his chief Captains so that from that time the Kings Revenues were small and therefore the Nobility gave unto the King the Wards and Marriages of their Sons if yong He which was so careful of Succession had no Sons Duncan King the Son of his eldest Daughter was killed by Macbeth his Cousen-German and Successor In a word while some strove for the ancient Liberty and others for the priviledge of Succession ten Kings were killed by their Successors until the year 1103. 3. When England was freed from the Danes they sent to Normandy Alteration in England inviting Edward the Confessor and Brother to King Edmund to come He fearing their inconstancy did refuse until they sent pledges to abide in Normandy and then was Crowned ann 1045. In his time was that Law made which concerneth the King's Oath at Coronation A King because he is the Lieutenant of the most High King was appointed to this end that he should regard and govern the earthly Kingdom and People of God and above all things his holy Church and defend her from wrongs and root out Malefactors from her yea scatter and destroy them which unless he do he cannot be justly called a King A King should fear God and above all things love him and establish his command throughout his Kingdom He should also keep nourish maintain and govern the holy Church of his Kingdom with all integrity and liberty according to the Constitutions of his Fathers and Predecessors and defend it against enemies so as God may be honored above all and ever had in minde He should establish good Laws and approved Customs and abolish evil and remove them all out of his Realm He should do right Judgement in
us consider Whether it were fitting that God should forgive sin through mercy onely and without all payment of that honor which was taken from him To forgive sins thus is no other but not to punish and because to order sin rightly without satisfaction is no other but not to punish if it be not punished it is past without order but it is not fit that God should let sin pass without order therefore it is not fit that God should let sin pass without punishment and moreover if sin pass unpunished both the sinner and the not-sinner do fare alike with God which is not convenient unto God Yet more we all know that the righteousness of men is under a Law that according to its quantity the measure of retribution should be recompensed and if sin be neither paid nor punished it is under no Law and therefore if unrighteousness were let pass through mercy onely it were more free then righeousness is which were very inconvenient and this inconvenience were yet more that it would make unrighteousness equal unto God because as God is liable unto no Law so were unrighteousness And albeit he command us to forgive one another yet that is but because he so ordereth us that we take not in hand what belongeth unto him alone seeing to revenge is proper unto him who is Lord of all and when earthly powers do it rightly God doth it seeing they are ordained by him for the same effect As for his liberty and bountifulness we should think so reasonably of them that we destroy not his honor for liberty is but in things expedient and fitting nor can that be termed bountifulness which worketh any thing unfit for God And where it is said What God willeth is just and what God willeth not is not just that is not to be understood as if God would any inconvenient thing and it were just because God willeth it for it followeth if God will lye it were just to lye but rather that he were not God for a will cannot lye but such wherein truth is corrupt or rather which is corrupt by forsaking truth therefore when it is said If God will lye it is no other but if God be of that nature which can lye for this cause it followeth not that a lye is just unless it be understood as of two impossible things we say if this be that is because neither the one nor the other is as if one would say If the water be dry the fire is moist for neither of them is true And so it is true onely of these things which are not unbeseeming that God will them to say If God will this it is just Cap. 13. Nothing is less tolerable in the order of things then that the creature take away the honor which is due unto the Creator and pay not what he taketh away but nothing is suffered more unjustly then which is intolerable and therefore I think thou wilt not say that God should permit that which is unjust to be permitted as that the creature should not repay what he hath taken from God also seeing nothing is better then God nothing is more just then strictest justice which preserveth his honor in the dispensation of things and this justice is no other thing but God himself therefore God keepeth nothing more justly then the honor of his own excellency And think you that he keepeth it wholly if he suffer it to be taken from him so that it be neither paid nor he which hath taken it away be punished and if you dare not say so it followeth necessarily that the honor which is taken must be paid or punishment follow or else God were not just unto himself or that he is unable in both which to think were impiety Cap. 15. If you will say Why doth God permit his honor to be minced in the least certainly the honor of God cannot really be increased or minced for he is his honor incorruptibly and no way changeable nevertheless when each creature doth either reasonably or naturally keep its order which is commanded unto it it is said to obey God and to honor him and this is the reasonable creature especially to which is given to understand what it oweth which when it doth what it oweth it honoreth God not because it conferreth any thing on him but because it submitteth it self willingly unto his will and dispensation and so far as it may it continueth its order in the universality of things and the comliness of that universality but when it willeth not what it should it dishonoreth God so far as it can because it will not submit it self willingly unto his dispensation and it consoundeth the order and beauty of the universality so far as it may howbeit it cannot in the least do harm or defile the power and honor of God For if the things that are within the compass of heaven would not be under heaven or depart from heaven they cannot be but under heaven nor flee from heaven but by drawing nearer unto heaven for from whence and what way and whithersoever they go they are still under heaven and the more they go from any part of heaven they come the nearer unto the opposite part So albeit a man or bad angel will not be subject unto the will and dispensation of God they cannot flee from it because if they will flee from his commanding will they run under his punishing will And if you ask What way can they flee not but by his will permitting and what they will or do wickedly his infinite wisdom turneth it to the order and beauty of the forenamed universality for the same willing satisfaction of their perversity or requiring of punishment on them that satisfie not willingly besides that God doth many ways bring good out of evil have their place and continue the beauty of order in the same universality Cap. 19. This then is most sure if God could let sin go unpunished without satisfaction that is without willing payment of the debt a sinner could not attain unto blessedness at least that which he had before he sinned for in that way a man could not be restored such as he was before sin And whereas all nations do pray Forgive us our sins he who payeth not saith in vain Forgive and he who payeth prayeth because this belongeth unto payment that he doth supplicate for God is debtor to none and every creature is indebted unto him wherefore it is not fit that man deal with God as one with his fellow Cap. 20. Neither will you doubt I think that the satisfaction should be according to the measure of the fault Then what will you pay for your fault if you say repentance a contrite and humble heart abstinence and such toil of the body mercy in giving and forgiving and obedience In all these what give you unto God when you give any thing that you owe howbeit you had not sinned you may not reckon that for
to his charge seeing no Pagan King hath attempted that against the See Apostolique which he hath not been ashamed to do Hence it appeareth that the Popes were always busie to seek their advantage in troubled waters and sometimes with little speed Whereas before the Sheriff and Bishop kept their Court together King William gave unto the Bishops an entire jurisdiction by themselves to judge all causes relating to Religion This was the first Spiritual Court in England and henceforth the Spiritual Power began to transcend the Secular Courts CENTURY XII CHAP. I. Of EMPERORS 1. HENRY V. after the death of his father inviteth Pope Paschalis to Contentions betwixt the Emperor and Popes come unto Ausburgh for redressing some former tumults Now Paschalis becometh the more haughty and in the way assembleth a Synod at Guardistella where preveening the Diet at Ausburgh he reneweth the Acts of Pope Gregory VII concerning the Investiture of Bishops he setteth up and putteth down Bishops at his pleasure because said he in the casket of the Roman high Priests breast all Laws are contained and now men must speak more considerately with him and account all his words as Laws whatsoever dare lift up it self against the high Priest must be beaten to dust This was strange news unto the Emperor who was confident that the Pope would make no novations without his advice Paschalis got intelligence of this disgust and therefore stayed his journey and appointeth another Synod at Treca intending to accurse the Emperor The Emperor preventeth him and assembleth a Synod at Mentz for staying the Pope's attempts In the mean time Paschalis requireth oath of all the Bishops assembled at Treca that they shall continue constant with the Roman See and he excommunicateth particularly and by name all the Bishops at Mentz On the other side Henry alledgeth that the Scepter was come into his hand from God and therefore according to the custom and Laws of his Ancestors he would not suffer the prerogatives of the Republique to fail in his person but these Popes think on nothing but the ruine of the Empire and the drawing of Christian people under their yoke they had deceived him in his rude and tender years in setting him against his dearest Father and now they conspire against himself nor will they stay their ambition until they have robbed all others of their dignities and honors These and other reasons he caused to be published and concluded thus Albeit I be able both by right and arms to defend all these customs that have been established by so many holy Fathers and maintained through so many ages yet I would willingly acquit my self of the Papal Synods if Monks Priests and Bishops would restore unto me the sinews of the Empire to wit the Revenues Cities Towns Regalities Castles and in a word give unto Caesar what appertaineth unto Caesar and they remain contented with their Tithes serving God and caring for his people Paschalis demandeth that the whole matter continue undiscussed till the next year 1110. and in the mean time that there be no innovation that is the Emperor shall meddle with nothing then in controversie The next year Henry goeth with 30000. horse besides Italians towards Rome wheresoever he came he was received as Emperor At Sutrio the Legates of Paschalis shew him that the Pope is willing to Crown him if he will establish the Liberties of the Church discharge all Laick Investitures and take from the Church all the Dukedoms Marqueships Counties Advocations Coyns Taxes and other Royalties The Emperor consenteth saith Naucler after Gotfred and with joy marched to Rome and kissed the Pope's foot at St. Peters on the steps and went in together When all were set and the Emperor came unto the altar to receive the Communion from the Pope he saith Lord Emperor the body of our Lord that was born of the Virgin Mary and suffered for us on the Cross as the Church believeth I give to day unto thee for confirmation of true peace betwixt me and thee Some days thereafter the Emperor intreateth the Pope that he would not deprive the Bishops who had before received Investiture from him The Pope refuseth they come to hotter words and then was such a stir that if the Emperor had not defended himself with his own hands he had been slain in the end as it pleased God among many Romans that were slain and taken he taketh the Pope and carrieth him out of the City and indenteth with him both for his Coronation and the Investitures in times following especially that all Abbots and Bishops should take their Investiture from the Emperor per virgam annulum and their consecration from other Bishops as formerly and no Bishops shall be consecrated until first they have received Investiture from the Emperor except onely those who formerly were wont to receive Investiture from the Roman Bishop or any other Arch-Bishop Both parties did swear thus As this part of the lively body is divided they were at Mass so let him be divided from the Kingdom of Christ who shall violate these articles The Emperor was crowned in Rome and returned with joy into Germany Within a few moneths Paschalis calleth a Synod at Lateran he revoketh the former articles and affirmeth that agreement to have been made onely for the freedom of some captives and he went about to excommunicate the Emperor wherefore Adelbert Bishop of Mentz and sundry others in Germany rebelled But the Emperor prevaileth and held Adelbert in prison three years In the year 1118. Henry went towards Rome Paschalis hearing that he was approaching and having offended some chief Citizens fled unto Pulia In his absence the Emperor would be crowned again by Maurice Bishop of Bracara to shew unto the world that he acknowledgeth not his Crown to be received from the Pope Then he returned into Germany and Paschalis into Rome where within few days he died Gelasius renewed the sentence against the Emperor wherefore he marched the third time to Rome the Pope flieth and the Emperor causeth to be choose Gregory VIII and recommendeth him unto the family of Frangepanes At this time the Bishops of Germany stir up the Saxons against the Emperor in behalf of Pope Gelasius and then of Calixtus and fought an open battel in February ann 1122. At last Henry despairing of peace unless he would yield unto the proud Prelate he renounceth his former priviledge of Investitures in the time of Calixtus All this time he had hard fortune and did acknowledge Divine Justice in revenging his rebellion against his Father He reigned twenty years and died without succession In the days of Henry IV. Alexius Comnenus was Emperor of Constantinople at first he envied the expedition of the Latins yet their first victory may be under God ascribed unto his aid His Son Calo Johannes was an excellent Prince liberal a lover of justice and victorious in Europe against the Scythians and Huns and in Asia against the Turks and Saracens and
pontem In Sion omnibus est via plebibus in Phlegetontem Stat sibi gloria pompa superbia divitiarum Hoc prope tempore nemo studens fore pons animarum Qui stat in agmine primus in ordine Presbyteratus Est vitio levis officio brevis inguine fractus Then of the Prelates and Clergy he saith Vos volo credere quod volo dicere Pseudoprophetas Nulla feracius ac numerosius hâc tulit aetas His sacra nomina sacraque tegmina corda superba Agnus eis patet in tunica latet anguis in herba Quilibet improbus extat episcopus Abba creatur Vi precio prece Dignus homo nece sceptra lucratur Nullus ei timor haudque sui memor est aliarum Non sine Simone sed sine canone dux animarum When he hath hinted at the manifold impieties of the Clergy he striketh again at the head Per sibi pervia Pastor it ostia fur aliunde Lex mala furibus his subeuntibus intrat abunde O mala secula venditur Infula Pontificalis Infula venditur haud reprehenditur emptio talis Venditur annulus hinc lucra Romulus urget auget Est modo mortua Roma superflua quando resurget Roma superfluit arida corruit afflua plena Clamitat tacet erigit jacet dat egena Roma dat omnibus omnia dantibus omnia Romae Cum pretio quia juris ibi via jus perit omne Fas mihi scribere fas mihi dicere Roma peristi Obruta moenibus obruta moribus occubuisti Aurea pectora castaque pectora jam perierunt Tempora pessima scilicet ultima jam subierunt Stat simulatio corruit actio Relligionis Heu sua propria deputat omnia Rex Babylonis Behold here he calleth Rome Babylon and the Pope the King of it 24. In that Century were many pamphlets and rhimes written in all languages almost against the errors and vices of Popes Bishops and Clergy namely a book was written having the picture of Christ casting buyers and sellers out of the Temple and another of the Pope sitting upon his throne above each were some rhimes written shewing the maners of the times above the Pope thus Curia vult marcas bursus exhaurit arcas Si bursaeparcas fuge Papas Patriarchas Si dederis marcas eis impleveris arcas Culpâ solveris quacunque ligatus eris Intus quis tu quis ego sum quid quaeris ut intrem Fers aliquid non Staforis Fero. Quid Satis Intra 25. In Tom. 2. Concilior printed at Colein An. 1551. is a little book with Abuses in the Church this title Opusculum Tripartitum de negotiis Ecclesiae In the third part thereof are noted many filthy abuses in the Church and faults of the Clergy and Prelates are noted Cap. 1. It is commonly heard how wicked women say That they have more gain by their sin on one festival day then in an whole week or fifteen working-days It is also sure of many other sins that they be innumerably more committed on festival days then in other days and therefore it seemeth it were more acceptable unto God that there were fewer festival days in the Church or at least that workmen might after the hearing of the Service go about their work seeing many have not maintenance to themselves and their families but by their work and the wealthier sort do waste more on festival days in tap-houses then in other days In some Cathedral Churches is a custom that when some Canons will not pay unto the Clerks what is due the Clerks suspend them from the Service and so in these Churches is no Service and sometimes for a very naughty occasion it were better that other punishments were laid on these Canons In many Cathedral Churches so few Clerks are present at the Canonical hours that sometimes they be scarcely four or six albeit in these Churches a great multitude of them have their entertainment for that Service onely now all these abuses might be helped and especially that men be not compelled unto new festivals Cap. 2. Because no inferior dare speak against the Roman Church it were very decent that the Lord Pope and the Lords the Cardinals would diligently observe what things are to be reformed in the Roman Church and that they would begin there to the end the reformation which belongeth unto them of others may have the better success for behold how great mischief and scandal hath flowed through all the world that I speak not of other things in so many vacations of Popes that have happened in our days Cap. 3. All the world is offended and speaketh against the multitude of poor religious men who are not now called Religious but Trutannii this turneth to the great contempt of that Religion Albeit that Order may be called good and there be some good men among them yet it seemeth expedient that they be not multiplied except onely in so far as the world may be able conveniently to bear them Cap. 4. Seeing bad Prelates are the cause of innumerable evils there should be greater diligence in their admission by a prudent trial of the person by them who are not accustomed to lye Again there is so great difficulty in the deposition of Prelates according to the Laws by the multitude of witnesses which is required that none of them how wicked soever they be is feared for deposition and therefore innumerable Churches lying many years under a pestiferous Prelate are destroyed both temporally and spiritually therefore it seemeth expedient that a Law were made for removing wicked Prelates more easily whence a double benefit would follow to wit the deliverance of the Churches which perish under them and a fear in other bad Prelates It seemeth also that there is not so great reason of keeping this difficulty now as was of old because then all the Prelates almost were good men and their adversaries rose wickedly against them but now none accuseth a Prelate but they which are good men and are moved with the zeal of God against bad Prelates There is so great negligence of Prelates in correcting that seldom any is heard to correct even they who are reputed to be good men and seeing many evils follow upon this some remedy should be provided There is so great vanity and prodigality in the families of many Prelates in their clothes cutted watered flowered and their shoe-ties of gold and such other many things that in the Court of any secular Prince or King is not found so great vanity and it were decent that in the families of the Successors of the Apostles stricter discipline were seen in their habit or accoutrement as was ordained by Laws Cap. 6. Rich Benefices are bestowed for the most part on such persons which never reside there and scarcely will ye finde a Bishop which dispenseth not easily with their non-residence to the great dammage of souls When a Curate putteth a Vicar in his Parish there is no respect unto the
neck unto the sword nor do I think it expedient to advise any more with my Lords the Prelates nor if they will do otherwise do I consent unto them for it is more honest to deny quickly what is demanded unjustly then to drive off time by delays seeing he is the less deceived who is refused betimes When Gilbert had so made an end some English both Prelates and Nobles commend the yong Clerk that he had spoken so boldly for his Nation without flattering and not abashed at the gravity of such Authority but others because he spoke contrary unto their minde said A Scot is naturally violent and In naso Scoti piper But Roger Arch-Bishop of York which principally had moved this business to bring the Church of Scotland unto his See uttered a groan and then with a merry countenance laid his hand on Gilbert's head saying Ex tua phareta non exiit illae sagitta as if he had said When ye stand in a good cause do not forethink what ye shall say for in that hour it shall be given unto you This Gilbert was much respected at home after that And Pope Celestin put an end unto this debate for he sent his Bull unto King William granting that neither in Ecclesiastical nor Civil affairs the Nation should answer unto any forain Judge whatsoever except onely unto the Pope or his Legate specially constituted So far in that Register of Dunkel 5. The above named Henry II. was so admired thourgh the world for his Henry II. prudent and unfortunate prudence and prowess that Manuel Emperor of the Greeks Frederick Emperor of Germany the French King with many other famous Princes sent unto him as a School-Master of justice for determination of obscure doubts Alfonso King of Castile and Saucius King of Navar being at variance for some possessions did of their own accord submit themselves unto his judgement and he found an overture to both their good liking This is to be marked because the worshippers of Becket call him a vitious Prince In the year 1181. the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Master of the Templaries having no King and being distressed by Saladin did profer unto the same Henry the Kingdom of Jerusalem and brought unto him the keys of their Cities He refused because of his weighty affairs at home They were opprest by the Infidels and he had no more prosperity for his Son would have the Government as well as the Title of the Kingdom and the Father did the service of a Steward unto his Son yea and more disdainfully did the Son entreat his Father till he was taken away by death and his Brother Richard was also a grief unto his Father and so was the third Brother John The true cause of all his woes may be thought the oppression of some professors of truth for Pol. Virgil. in Hist Anglor lib. 13. testifieth that about the year 1160. thirty teachers came from Germany into England and taught the right use of Baptism of the Lord's Supper c. and were put to death It is true Virgil calleth them worshippers of Divels but we shall hear anon how all professors of truth were reviled and John of Sarisbuny at the same time wrote saying He who speaketh for the truth of faith or sincerity of maners according to the Law of God is called superstitious envious and which is capital an enemy of the King After four years others which were in contempt called Publicans and Waldenses taught in England that the Roman Church had left the faith of Christ and was become the whore of Babel the barren fig-tree no obedience should be given unto the Pope or his Bishops Monks were dead carion their vows frivolous their characters were the mark of the Beast Io. Bale Cent. 2. § 96. in Appen And in the year 1166. the same Henry drew some professors unto judgement at Oxford because they were said to dissent from the doctrine of the Roman Church he caused them to be burnt with an hot iron and banished them I. Fox in Act. Mon. 6. At that time were many married Priests in Britanny Ephleg left his Married Clerks Son Cedda to be his Successor in the Priesthood at Plinmouth Arnold Dunprust left his Son Robert likewise in the same County unto Robert did his Son succeed In Norfolk Wulkerel dimitted his Priest-hood at Dyssa unto his lawful Son William Hugh Howet in Sarisbury John in Exchester and Oliver in Nottingham all succeeded unto their Fathers Io. Bale Cent. 3. § 10. in Appen In Ireland fifteen Bishops of Lesmore succeeded lineally and hereditarily for the space of 200. years and of them eight Sons succeeded unto their fathers Bernard in Vita Malac. until the year 1121. when the Bishop Celsus having no Son did as by testament name Malachias Bishop of Connereth to be his Successor and his friends as heirs did resist for five years Malachias had correspondence with Bernard of Claraval and had two Monks sent from that Abbey to begin an Abbey of that Order in Ireland but they returned against the Bishops will wherefore Bernard wrote unto him his 317. Epistle exhorting that he would not leave off the purpose but rather be more vigilant in that new place and Land so unaccustomed with Monastical life and excusing the Monks that their returning was occasioned by the unto wardness of these brethren living in a Land without discipline and especially not accustomed to submit unto such counsels This Malchias did urge the single life of Priests in Ireland He went to Rome and became Legate but died in the way beside Bernard 7. John of Sarisbury Bishop of Carnotum was familiar with his Countrey-man Iohn Bishop of Sarisbury Pope Hadrian IV. when they were alone in a chamber at Benevento Hadrian asked him what the world thought and spake of him and of the Church After a little form of excuse he said I will tell what I hear spoken every where they say The Church of Rome which is the Mother of all Churches is become a step dame unto them and the Pope is called across and grief unto all men and intolerable for pride as the zeal of their Fathers had erected Churches so now they do decay and the Pope was glorious not onely in purple but in glancing gold the Cardinals and Bishops are called Scribes and Pharisees laying heavy burthens on mens shoulders which themselves will not touch with their finger their Palaces are glorious and the Churches of Christ are polluted by their hands they spoil the Nations as if they would scrape together the treasures of Croesus But the most High dealeth most wisely with them for they become often a prey unto others and I think so long as they stray out of the way they shall never want a scourge from God Then said the Pope What thinkest thou He answered There is danger on every side I fear the blame of flattering or lying if I alone do speak contrary unto the world and I
have any propriety but they may have the use of utensils of books and other moveables that they shall get lawfully and the Friers may use such things as their General or Provincials shall think good reserving the dominion of the houses and places unto such as is known it belongeth unto neither may they sell their moveables or give them away from their Order unless a Cardinal of the Roman Church who shall be Governor of the Order shall give power and consent unto their General or Provincials Innocentius the IV. declared that the propriety of the Minorites goods belongeth unto the Apostolical See and he gave them power to appoint Procurators who might sell or any way change their goods for their use and to change the Procurators as they thought good And so though they had vowed simple poverty yet they devised ways of possession yea they sought the possessions of other Monks and as Matth. Paris saith ad An. 1235. it was told them It is a shame unto them and scandal unto others to change their rule and profession so soon Their way of purchasing was thus They had liberty to hear confessions as the Dominicans had to preach and they did ask persons of whatsoever quality Hast thou made thy confession If it were answered Yea they said To whom if it were answered To our Priest the Frier said What an idiot is that he never learned Divinity nor hath he read the Decrees nor hath he learned to solve a question those Priests are blinde guides of the blinde come unto us we can distinguish between leprosie and leprosie unto us are the mysteries and secrets of God revealed confess unto us to whom so great priviledges are granted by the Apostolical See Therefore many Nobles and others left their Bishops and Priests and made their confessions unto the Friers and gave them their tithes and offerings as is manifest by the querulous Letters that were collected by Petrus de Vineis Epist lib. 1. And then the Friers began to rear up georgeous buildings for themselves and the Priests were for the most part but contemned and poor Some Popes made Decree in favor of the Friers for the benefit of the Church and some made contrary Decrees for them Honorius the IV. Gregory the IX Alexander the IV. Clemens the IV. and V. against them and for the Curates was especially John the XXII who made himself Pope and others after him In his time some that were called pauperes de paupere vita and Beguini separated themselves from their Order and returned to their Institution Pope John condemned them and their constitution but these were zealous of their first rule even so zealous that at Massiles four of them were condemned by their own Order the Inquisitors and were burnt because they would not consent unto the dispensation that was granted unto them Others in many places of France called these four Martyrs and said If the Pope hath consented unto their death he is an Heretick Such doings and speeches provoked Pope John the XXII first to suspend and then to condemn the Decrees of his Predecessors that had confirmed the Institution of that Order as commanded and practised by Christ Geo. Calixtus in his book De nova arte hath those things at more length ex Nic. Eimer the Author of Directori Inquisitor and Alvar. Pelagius de Planctu Eccles After Pope John were many Bulls both for and against the Friers Then starteth up a new controversie between the Friers and the Priests The Priests said Of Tithes The Tithes being the proper patrimony of the Church should be paid unto them who serve in the Church and not unto idle bellies who have not charge in the Church The Friers move other two questions 1. By what Law should Tithes be paid 2. Unto whom they should be paid For the first they say It was the uniform consent of the Church that God commandeth the payment of Tithes under the Gospel as under the Law So Origen on Numer cap. 18. August de temp Ser. 219 48. and such was the practise in many ages saith Concil Matiscon 2. cap. 5. But at that time the Friers held It was a judicial Law binding the Jews only yet so as it may be continued by Princes and the Church hath enjoyned the payment of the tenth part of the increase neither may any refuse to pay the Tithe and more also if the Church shall enjoyn more as she hath power indeed Tho. Aquin. in Sum. 2. 2. qu. 87. The other question was before without scruple that Tithes should be paid unto Church-men and a division should be of them as of all other Church-goods one unto the Bishop another for the Curate and a third for the fabrick of the Church and the fourth for the poor and strangers But the Friers made a new distinction saying In Tithes two things are to be considered to wit the power of receiving them and the Tithes themselve the power is spiritual and belongeth unto them that serve at the altar for their service but the things called Tithes are corporal and therefore may be given unto Laicks Tho. Aquin. ib. By this distinction the Priests were cheated and afterwards the Tithes were given to Abbeys and Monasteries By the way note that the Frier Thomas calleth the Friers Laicks as they were never reckoned among the Clergy unless they were promoted and received Orders And we may Their subdivisions see how the Franciscans were subdivided as also other Orders into Sects some kept the first Institution and go coursely apparelled living onely by begging and others want not their ease nor abundance they say They have nothing and yet enjoy plenty and they excuse their practise which is contrary unto their profession with a distinction They have riches in common but nothing in propriety This cause why Friers are so many ways subdivided is marked by Bellarmin de Monach. l. 2. c. 2. Every Sect saith he is hot at the beginning and then they become colder then ariseth some one or other who reduceth the Sect to the first Institution with some particular Rite in remembrance of himself and this is called a new Religion Until this day these two Orders kept the Office of Inquisition wheresoever the Pope commandeth Their office saith Francis Pegna in Directo Inquisitor but principally the Fransciscans exercise it How they discharge this Office Agrippa de vanitat scien cap. 96. sheweth saying Whereas their jurisdiction should be grounded upon Theological traditions and holy Scriptures they exercise it according to the canon-Canon-Law and Papal Decrees as if it were impossible the Pope can err and they throw away the holy Scriptures as a dead letter or but a shadow of truth yea and they say as a buckler and fortress of Hereticks neither admit they the ancient traditions of Fathers and Doctors saying Those might be deceived and deceive but the holy Church of Rome cannot err nor the Pope the head thereof and they set before
more licence maketh us all the worse he who is the servant of servants will be Lord of Lords as if he were a God he despiseth the holy assemblies and counsels of his Brethren yea of his Lords he feareth that he be called to account for what he doth dayly against laws and good order he speaketh great things as if he were God he hath new purposes in his head to set up an Empire unto himself that wicked man whom they usually now call Antichrist in whose forehead is written the name of blasphemy I am God I cannot err changeth laws establisheth his own spoileth defraudeth killeth and sitteth in the Temple of God domineering far and wide As in the days of the ancient Sibylla Hydaspes that most ancient King hath under the name of a prophecying childe told the prosperity and named the Romans long before Troy was and Prophets have foretold in dark words that every one cannot understand The majesty of the Roman people by whom the world was governed is now away and the power hath returned into Asia the East shall rule again and the West shall be a servant Kingdoms are multiplied the highest power is I will not say torn but dissolved and broken into many the Emperor is but a title and onely a shadow now there be ten Kings together who have taken their part of the ancient Roman Empire not to rule it but to destroy it Those ten horns which St. Augustine could not understand the Turks Greeks Egyptians Africans Spaniards French English Germans Italians and Sicilians do possess the Roman Provinces and a little horn is grown up among them which hath eyes and a mouth speaking great things especially it compelleth three of these Kingdoms to wit of Sicily Italy and Germany to serve it What is more clear then this prophesie c. 12. Petrus de Vineis Chancellor of the Emperor Frederick the II. wrote Petrus de Vineis against the maners of the Pope's Court. six books of Epistles which were printed in the year 1566. some of them are inserted in Catalog test verit lib. 16. He wrote many in name of the Emperor unto several Princes The second Epistle of the first book he directed unto the Kings and Princes generally exhorting them that they obey not the Pope and his Cardinals who feed upon the alms of the poor and oppress the children of the Church The following ages saith he may be wise when they know what hath been before them and as the wax receiveth impression from the signature so mortal men are framed by example O that I had tasted of such happiness that Christian Princes had left unto us such timely warning as we from the experience of our wounded Majesty do leave unto you the Clergy who are made fat by the alms of the poor do oppress the children when they are ordained Apostolical Fathers though they be the children of our subjects yet forgetting their fatherly duty will not vouchsafe to reverence Emperor nor King What is spoken in borrowed words is clear by the presumption of Pope Innocent the IV. for in a general Councel as he calleth it he durst pronounce a sentence of deposition which he cannot maintain without a strange prejudice of all Kings albeit I was neither summoned nor convicted of any fraud or offence What cause have ye all and every King of every Countrey to fear from the wrath of such a Prince of Priests It is not enough that he attempteth to dethrown us albeit we by the power of God were crowned after the election of the Princes and approbation of the whole Church and people living in the Religion of Christian faith and albeit in respect of the Imperial Diadem no rigor can be exercised against us even though lawful causes were proved against us but the abuse of that Priestly power would so overthrow us that we should be neither first nor last And this indeed ye do when ye obey them who counterfeit holiness and their ambition hopeth to swallow you all O that your simple credulity would beware as Christ hath warned of that leaven of the Scribes and Pharisees how many filthinesses of that Court might ye abhor which shame and dishonesty will not suffer me to name truly the wealthy revenues wherewith they are enriched to the impoverishing of many Kingdoms have made them mad among us Christians are become beggers that the Patarens may be fed among them ye bring down your own houses that ye may build up your adversaries houses there It hath been our care that those things should be written for you albeit not declaring sufficiently what I wish but other things I will acquaint you with in a more private way to wit to what uses your prodigality may employ the riches of the poor What can be done in chusing an Emperor unless peace which we intend by able mediators to establish be at least superficially restored betwixt us and the Church what may we intend concerning the common and particular affairs of all Kings c. In Epist 3. he faith It is no where found that by any Law of God or man the high Priest of Rome may at his pleasure transfer the Empire or judge Kings or Princes by depriving them of their temporal Kingdoms for albeit according to the Law of men or of custom our consecration belongeth unto him yet he hath no more power to deprive us then the Prelates of any other Nation who after their custom do consecrate and anoint their Kings In Epist 13. unto the King of France It is notorious and the world cannot hide it how that Apostolical Father hath impugned our innocency with both the swords for while at his command we were passing over sea he our adversary and enemy invaded the Kingdom of Sicily and hath spoiled it many ways then after our returning into the Kingdom by the manifold intercession of the Alman Princes a peace was made with the Church and though I did my service yet that Apostolical man laid his hands more heavily upon us and proprio motu without any cause on my part he hath devised whatever could be devised to our ruine and by proclaiming the sentence of excommunication against us and by his Missives and Nuntios he publisheth unto all men the titles of defaming us Lastly To supplant us he aspiring as it were to build the tower of Babylon against the fort of David hath called all the Prelates he could unto a particular Councel so aiming to set the East before the North but the wondrous providence of God by whom we live and reign beholding the purpose of so great iniquity and turning his thoughts into nothing hath brought the Cardinals and Prelates both of France and some other Nations into our hands whom many others being drowned in the sea we keep fast as our enemies Let not your Highness marvel si Augustus tenet in Augusto that Caesar keepeth in prison the Prelates of France who would have imprisoned Caesar In Epist
the beloved children of their Mother the Church they have made a book not of instruction but derogation not admonishing but biting and because the book is a seminary of great scandal and hath bred much trouble and dammage to souls and hath hindred believers from former devotion and their wonted giving of alms and from entering into that Religion therefore that book which beareth the title Tractatus brevis de periculis novissimorum temporum we condemn as wicked and execrable commanding that whosoever shall have that book he shall burn it within eight days after sight of this our Sentence and pronouncing the sentence of excommunication against all that shall dispise this our command c. That book was burnt quickly at Anagnia 15. Hugo Barchinonensis Cardinal S. Sabinae wrote many books at that time In his preface before Joshua he reckoneth the Canonical Books as they be in the Hebrew and Greek Testaments among the Apocrypha he putteth Ecclesiasticus Wisdom Maccabees Judith because saith he they are doubtful On the Prologue of Jerome before the books of the Kings he saith The Church receiveth the Apocrypha books not for proof of faith but instruction of maners Here it may be marked that as yet yea and until the Councel of Trent the books of Maccabees and such others were not accounted Canonical as also witnesseth Pererius in Daniel lib. 16. and others whom I have named elsewhere As for the 47. Canon of the third Councel at Carthage from which Bellarm. de verbo Dei lib. 1. would derive the Authority of the Divine Canon Baronius ad An. 397. testifieth It was not a Canon of that Synod so saith Binius Annotat. in Conc. Carthag 3. I return to Hugo on Psal 77. he saith Many Clerks are the geâeration of vipers they persecute their Mother the Church and so far as they can they slay Christ their Father On Matth. 16. Upon this rock i. e. upon this foundation and that rock is Christ 1 Cor. 10. none can lay another foundation but that which is laid even Christ Jesus On 2 Tim. 3. All Scripture that is the holy Scripture which containeth all things necessary unto salvation is perfect therefore it hath the priviledge to be called The Scripture by an antonomasia Catalog test ver lib. 16. Pope Alexander deposed him Naucler gener 42. 16. Humbert de Romania fifth General of the Dominicans about the year 1250. wrote a book De ratione tollendi schisma inter Graecos Latinos In par 2. cap. 11. he saith The cause of the Schism was the intolerable burthens of Popes in exactions excommunications and statutes Catalog test ibid. 17. Pope Honorius the IV. sent John Bishop of Tusculo into Germany Germany against the Pope to exact from all Bishops Priests and Abbots the fourth part of all their substance for five years unto the maintenance of his Soldiers against Peter King of Aragon For this cause a frequent Assembly conveened at Wirtzburgh the Emperor Rodulph came there When the petition was propounded the Elector of Colein refusing did appeal unto a general Councel when he was alledging his reasons the Legate interrupted and threatened him with the Pope's curse Then all the Priests and Monks scoffed at the Legate and began to buffet him that if the Legate had not commanded his Marshal to convey him away he had not escaped with his life Then Probus Bishop of Tull. said How long most dear Colleagues shall those vultures of Romulus abuse our patience I will not say our foolishness how long shall we endure their wickedness avarice pride and luxury this most wicked sort of Masters of Synagogues will not cease till they bring us all into poverty and wretched slavery By our jars this malady waxeth by our differences these rogues are safe so long as they command we shall never have peace nor piety Lately they raised the Saxons and Suevians one against the other those instruments of Satan or Antichrists have sown the seeds of discord in Germany When Conradin a yong man of very good hope was seeking according to the Law of nature the inheritance of his Fathers they circumvented him with fraud and killed him most cruelly He rehearseth many such tricks done by the Popes then he saith As twelve years ago Gregory the X. dealt with the tenths the same will Honorius the IV. do with the fourths That he might strip us of our gold he armed the Turks against us and this Pope is more desirous of tribute then of our welfare Those Satans speak of light and intend darkness to deceive the people and that they regard not Christ our Lord and God their aims and works unless we be blinde do prove the issue sheweth and the holy Scriptures describeth Wherefore Fathers devoted to Christ awaken provide against these calamities I am not ignorant what this Tusculan is I know the man he is gold thirsty a false usurer a vile slave of money I fear not his menaces I appeal unto the Senate of Christendom c. All the Assembly approved what he had said and nothing was done for the Pope Wherefore Probus was accursed at Rome but in the greater estimation at home and with all good men Ph. Mornay in Myster ex Aventin lib. 7. 18. Nicolaus de Biberach General of the Carmelites lived about the Against the Carmelites year 1270. he bewailed with tears the corrupt estate of his Order Whereas in the wilderness they did attend constantly on prayer reading and handy works now said he since they dwell in Cities under their mother hypocrisie their study is ease idleness lust and luxury When he had bestowed his time five years in that charge and with grief saw no amendment he wrote a book against them which he called Ignea sagitta and returned into a Desart about the mount Ewatrof In that book he calleth them step-sons reprobates cauterised vagabonds pratlers unhappy counsellors wicked discoursers Citizens of Sodom despisers of the best Testament the tail of the dragon drawing down the third part of the stars from heaven and casting them on the earth Revel 12. In chap. 5. he saith Tell me what new religion is this in your Cities from morning until even ye run two and two thorow the streets and he is your leader which goeth about roaring and seeking whom he may devour and so that prophesie The wicked walk in a compass is most true of you for the chief purpose of your gading is not to visit the fatherless but yong women not widows in heaviness but wanton maids Nuns and Mistresses and each cast their eyes on another and words of lustfulness corrupting good maners enflaming the hearts c. That is not pure religion Wo is me my dear friends seeing ye are wrapped in the clay of the world why think ye that ye are not defiled I. Bale Cent. 4. § 42. in Appe 2. In another Treatise that he calleth Occultus he writeth that he had been at Rome and had seen their feigned
and tokens of bondage and have no Land in Scotland unless they shall dwell in it and if they will not dwell there the Scots should give them for their present possessions 30000 marks of Silver All this time the English were not of one accord for the King followed the counsel of Spencer Earl of Arundel the other Nobility caused the King to banish him but the next year he was restored to the great disturbance of the Kingdom at last they conspire to imprison the King and Hugh Spencer suffered death Tho. Cooper 2. When King Robert came to great age he ordained in Parliament his Successors to wit his Son David a child of eight years old which was espoused to Johanna Daughter of Edward the II. and if he should die without childe he ordained his Son in law Robert Stuart to succeed After he had exhorted the Estates to keep amity and unity he gave them three counsels 1. To beware that the Isles Aebudes be never given unto one man 2. That they never hazzard all their strength in one fight with the English 3. That they make not long truce with them After him Thomas Randolf Earl of Murray was chosen Regent of Scotland he was a good Justiciary and by no means would spare thieves and robbers So that when a Gentleman came from the Pope's Court and thought himself secure because he had obtained the Pope's pardon Thomas caused to apprehend him and said The pardon of sin belongeth unto the Pope but punishment of the body is in the King's hand Buchan lib. 9. 3. An. 1328. Charls the IV. King of France died without children then The title of England unto France Edward the III. King of England his Sisters Son claimeth the Crown of France as nearest Heir The French prefer Philip de Valois the Uncle's Son and they exclude Edward by a Law which they call Salica excluding women from succession At the first when the Estates of France had received Philip Edward did him homage for his Lands in France but when he was denied of a just demand wars began between these two Nations which ceased not altogether until the year 1495. as Tho. Cooper sheweth or rather until the days of Queen Elizabeth for sometimes the French prevailed and sometimes the English even so far as to be crowned at Paris and held Parliaments and had Deputies governing France Sometimes were truce of thirteen years or of ten years but never an absolute peace before Queen Elizabeth In the year 1393. the King of Armenia came into France and shewed how the Turks and Scythians were not only oppressing Hungary but were aiming at the conquest of all Christendom and in the mean time Christians were devouring one another with such words he perswaded both the Kings into a truce for four years Frossard Hist lib. 4. But I leave Civil affairs and return unto the Church 4. In the year 1306. an English Eremite preached at Pauls in London that some Sacraments that were then in use in the Church were not of Christ's institution therefore he was committed to prison Io. Bale ex Io. Baconthorp in Sent. lib. 4. dist 2. q. 1. 5. That John Baconthorp wrote on the Sentences where he followeth the truth in many things especially he refuteth sundry subtilties of Io. Scotus as Baptista Mantuanus hath marked Iste tenebrosi damnat vestigia Scoti Et per sacra novis it documenta viis Hunc habeant quibus est sapientia grata redundat Istius in sacris fontibus omne sophos He wrote de Domino Christi where he proveth that the highest Bishop in every Kingdom should be under Princes Bale Cent. 4. sect 82. 6. Richard Primate of Ireland alias Armachanus was his disciple and taught the same doctrine he translated the Bible into Irish In a Sermon at Paul's Cross in London An. 1356. he said In the estate of innocence none had been a beggar therefore according to that estate unless the law of necessity do press men none desireth nor should be a beggar as neither was Christ willingly a beggar the Law also forbiddeth it Deut. 15. There shall not be a beggar among you He discovered the hypocrisie of Friers in that though they professed poverty yet they had stately houses like the Palaces of Princes and more costly Churches then any Cathedral more richer ornaments then all the Princes more and better books then all the Doctors they had Cloisters and walking places so stately and large that men of Arms might fight on horse-back and encounter one another with their spears in them and their apparel richer then the greatest Prelates These Sermons are extant The next year he appeared before Innocentius the VI. and some of the four Orders of Friers appeared against him and he proved his propositions stoutly and manifestly against them that in many respects they had lest their first rules but saith Walsing in Edwar. III. the English Clergy sent not unto him according to their promises but the Friers wanted not plenty of money and so lite pendente before the cause was decided the Friers obtained a confirmation of their priviledges Armachanus died there at Avenion and was canonized 7. William Ockam was a disciple of Jo. Scotus but he became adversary of his doctrine he was the Author of the Sect of Nominales whereby new occasions of controversies arose to withdraw men from the study of faith He was a follower of Pope Nicolaus the V. and therefore was excommunicated by Pope John Then he thought it more safe to live under the Emperor's protection and he said unto the Emperor Lewis Defend me Caesar from the injury of the Pope by thy sword and I will defend thee by the word by writing and invincible reasons and so they did so long as they lived He wrote a Compendium Errorum of Pope John the XXII and a dialogue between a Clark and a Soldier wherein he handleth these questions 1. Whether Ockam's questions the Pope hath any primacy by right from God 2. Whether Peter had any primacy or was ever Bishop of Rome 3. Whether the Pope and Church of Rome may err Concerning the Emperor he discusseth 1. Whether one man may discharge the offices both of Priest and Emperor 2. Whether the Emperor hath his power from God only or from the Pope also 3. Whether the Pope and Church of Rome have any power from Christ to commit any jurisdiction unto Caesar and to other Princes 4. Whether Caesar after his election hath power to rule the Republick 5. Whether Kings anointed by a Bishop receive any power from him 6. Whether these Kings be any way subject unto their anointer 7. Whether the seven Electors give as great authority unto the elected Caesar as succession giveth unto other Princes c. All which he disputeth on both sides and concludeth always against the Extravagants He wrote also against Pope Clemens and calleth him an Heretick the Antichrist an hater of Christian poverty a foe of the Common-wealth an
cast down arose Nimrod who as Joseph witnesseth advised men that they should not ascribe unto God what came happily unto them but that it was given unto them for their own vertue and that they trust in their own vertue and not in God the multitude was ready to obey their commands and thought it grievous slavishness to be subject unto God and so he called men from the fear of God and made them proud to the contempt and injury of God nevertheless he brought that sacrilegious presumption into tyranny When the Patriarch Abraham refused it these arose speaking vain and great things boasting that their lips and words were their own and disdaining that God should rule over men Their children the Sadduces Joseph is witness did affirm that both good and evil are propounded to the election of men and each one chuseth this or that according to his own will without God When these were rebuked by the Prophet arose some Hebrews Greeks and Roman Christians saying that according to their merits they had received the grace of faith these were refuted by the Apostle Then arose Pelagius which proudly took arms against the grace of God and his help and when he was condemned by the Catholick Fathers Julian and Celestius renewed the same heresie and when it was quenched again by the Orthodox Fathers it was stirred up again by Cassianus and was lashed by Prosper About that time the same heresie waxed in Britain for which as venerable Beda in his Ecclesiastical History and Henry Honington in Histor Anglor reporteth Germanus of Antisiodore and Lupus of Treda Bishops although the Divels raised a most terrible storm against them by Sea yet they came over and confuted it stoutly But behold when the heresie was a little cut down pestiferous twigs did spring up again as the same Historians have written which the same Germanus and Severus Bishop of Tours coming into Britain did cut down again Moreover before and after these times the Scotiani by sending wholesome Epistles into the bounds of the Roman See did purge out the reliques of this plague as witnesseth the same Beda and holy Prosper maketh mention of them And although this vile fig-tree hath been so oft cut down so oft rooted up burnt and turned into ashes and even trod under foot yet it ceased not to wax so broad so thick and by the vitious juyce of it how much more subtilly so much more dangerously doth it spread therefore I being zealous for the cause of God do put willingly my hand unto this fire for I am not ignorant that these pestiferous Pelagians will with raging mindes and hideous cries bark against me and will seek to tear this paper with violent teeth as those are wont to carp at other mens writings which have nothing of their own hand But as Josephus telleth did not the Chaldeans and Mesopotamians for this cause rise against Abraham did not the ancient Prophets suffer many things from the false prophets for the cause of God did not some ignorants accuse Paul of madness and wrest all his excellent Epistles did not Julian the disciple of Pelagius with so many accusations brawl against Augustine the most glorious follower of the Apostles and the most stout defender of grace against the ungracious Pelagians and did not Julian boast that he would winnow his books and discover and shew the impiety of his writings did not other maintainers of Pelagius in France when Augustine was defunct presume to disprove his writings did not many writers oppose the most wholesome doctrine even of Christ and the Fathers and what am I I know I am not better then our so great Fathers nor greater then my Lord ..... why then should I refuse to suffer with them c. Hence it appeareth that errors have been always abroad in the world and some have opposed them and they who love God should and will oppose the errors as they are able Afterwards he was Confessor to King Edward the III. and then Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 10. About that time a book was written in English called The Complaint and Prayer of a Plough-man the Author of it is said to have been Robert Langland a Priest about the year 1360. Io. Bale Cent. 6. 37. After a general complaint of the iniquity of the time the Author writeth zealously against auricular confession as contrary to Scripture and utility of the Republick and as a device of man against the simony of selling pardons against the Pope as the adversary of Christ since Christ commandeth to bless them who curse us and to love our enemies but the Pope fighteth and curseth for small offences Christ forbade a Priest to be a Lord over his Brethren as the men of these new religions do yea whosoever will live as Christ hath taught he is accounted a fool and if he speak of Christ's doctrine he is called an Heretick and is cursed He complaineth there of the unmarried Priests committing wickedness and by bad example provoking others of images in Churches as idolatry of false Pastors which feed upon their flocks and feed them not nor suffer others to feed them which punish a poor man for his sin and suffer a rich man to continue in iniquity for a little money which punish the violation of mans Law more then the contempt of God's Law which are more worthy to be condemned then Pilate seeing he would once not have Christ condemned but they condemn him now said he in his Doctrine and Servants whom these Priests accurse and burn they have forsaken both the old and new Testaments and taken them to another Law the Canon Law and they comment on God's Word according to their own Laws they are wolves in lamb skins they stand more for their riches which they rob off Christ's flock then they care for the sheep they are become shop-men to the rich Merchant the Pope in selling his wares pardons in every Countrey to make him rich they promise the blessings of Heaven without pain for money Again he speaketh of the Pope that he calleth himself the Successor of Peter whereas Peter did acknowledge Christ and kept the hests of his Law but the Pope hath undone Christ's Law for advancing his own Decretals he calleth himself the Vicar of Christ whereas Christ said Wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them but the Pope hath made himself a Pseudo-christ or Antichrist since he professeth himself to be the Vicar of Christ and indeed hath undone the ordinances of Christ and maketh himself to be worshipped as God on earth as proud Nebuchadnezzar sometime did therefore all men should leave this Nebuchadnezzar this false god and false christ and his laws which are contrary to Christ's teaching He writeth of Purgatory that if such a thing were no Pope could feel such pains for he might deliver himself as well as others and yet he hath no power to keep himself nor others out of
Indulgence unto all who would aid him in his Wars John Huss writ against the impiety of these pardons and the people being so informed spoke also against them and called the Pope the Antichrist who durst proclaim Wars and take the Cross on his shoulders against the Christians The Magistrates imprisoned some for such speeches but the people joined and forced the Magistrates to let the prisoners go except three that were privily beheaded in prison when the people saw the blood running out at the dores came and took away their bodies and buried them honourably and cried These are Saints which have given their bodies for the testimony of God They buried them in the Church of Bethleem as the Relicks of Martyrs saith Aene. Sylvius in Histor Bohem. cap. 35. The other party being more wealthy and therefore fearing the Pope were instant against him and prevailed with the King that John Huss was banished the Town The people cried out against the Prelates and Priests as the Authors of the banishment accusing them of simony adultry pride c. not sparing to lay open their vices and eagerly craving a Reformation of the Clergy The King being moved with that out-crying required greater exactions of such Clarks as were delated and known to be prophane Then the other party took occasion to complain of all sparing none whom they knew to be the enemies of John Huss So many Clarks were brought into great distress others into fear and the most part were glad to fall in at least not to fall out with the purer sort and John Huss had liberty to return unto his Church at Bethleem the people received comfort the King great gain and the Priests fell into the net which they had prepared for others But John Huss was the more accused before the Pope who directed his Bull unto the King to suppress John Huss and his doctrine Briefly for his cause amongst others was the Councel gathered at Constance to which he was summoned by the Pope and got a Safe-conduct from the Emperour that he should only answer unto such things whereof he was blamed and undoubtedly he should return into his own Country in safety He resolved to appear and affixed Letters on the dores of Cathedral Churches Parish Churches Abbeys and Cloisters signifying that he was going to the General Councel to give an account of his faith and if any man had suspicion of his doctrine he craved that they would declare it before the Bishop of Prague or if they pleased before the Councel Then An. 1414. August 30. all the Barons of Bohemia were assembled at the Abbey of St. James in Prague the Bishop being present There John Huss presented a Supplication craving this favour that if the Bishop of Nazareth Inquisitor of Heresie within that Diocy had any suspicion of his doctrine he would declare it there and he protested that he was willing to suffer correction if he deserved it Or if the Bishop had no accusation against him that they would give him a testimonial by which he being as it were armed might go the more confidently unto Constance The Bishop professed openly that he knew no offence in him and only advised him to purge himself of the Excommunication This was put in form of an Act and sent unto the Emperour with John Huss It hapned that August 27. Conrad the Arch-Bishop held a Synod with his Prelates where a Proctor appeared in the name of John Huss requiring that since John Huss was ready to give an account of his faith they or any of them who would accuse him of obstinacy should write in their names and according to the Law both of God and Man prepare themselves to suffer the like punishment if they could not prove it legally against him as he was ready to answer with God's help before the Arch-Bishop and his Prelates or in the insuing Councel Answer was made by Ulric Suab Marshal to the Arch Bishop that his Master was busied with the affairs of the King and therefore the Proctor should wait a little in some place without Court This he did but got no other answer and therefore he made protestation of his proffer and craved instrument upon the refusal from a Notary there present The History of John Huss fol. 4. October 15. John Huss took his journey being accompanied by two Noble-men John Lord de Chlum and M. Wencelat de Duba and thâir followers Wheresoever he came he notified his coming by Letters affixed on most patent places craving that whosoever could impute any errour or obstinacy unto him they would prepare themselves to the Councel where he was willing to satisfie every one In all his journey he was friendly received even by Curats and Priests so that he writ in an Epistle that he had found no enemies in any place but in Bohemia And if his coming into any City was known the streets were full of people desirous to see him namely at Nuremberg the Curats came unto him and conferred with him He said He was desirous to shew his mind openly and to keep nothing secret So after dinner he talked with them untill night before some Senatours and many Citizens they all held him in singular reverence except one Doctour and one Curat who checked all that he spake although they gave no reason Stanislaus de Xnoyma a Bohemian was going to Constance to be one of his accusers by the way he died of a Feaver November 3. John Huss came to Constance and lodged with an honest Matron named Faith On the morrow the two Noble men shewed unto the Pope that they had brought John Huss and intreated that he might remain without molestation according to his Safe-conduct The Pope answered Although John Huss had killed his Brother no hurt should be done unto him during his abode there November 29. two Bishops and the Burgh-Master were sent for him to come before the Pope and his Cardinals to render some knowledge of his doctirne as he had craved and they were ready to hear He answered He was desirous to shew his doctrine not in private but publickly before the Councel and yet he would obey this demand So committing himself unto the Lord Jesus and protesting that he would rather die for the glory of God and prosession of the truth that he had learned out of the holy Scriptures then deny any part thereof he came unto the Pope's Court. There first he was questioned generally of the errors that were spread of him He answered Reverend Fathers understand that my minde is to die rather then to be found culpable of one error for this cause am I come willingly unto this Councel to shew my self ready to suffer correction if any can prove me to be in any error The Cardinals replied Thou speakest modestly and so left him with the Lord de Chlum under a guard of armed men Then they sent a subtle Monk under shew of rudeness and simplicity to intrap him by questions but the other
be regarded but are nul In Sess 5. Apr. 6. was another Decree much to the same purpose In Sess 6. Apr. 17. a Procuratory of renunciation was sent to Pope John and the Messengers were ordred to exhort him to return Item Commissioners were named out of the four Nations to examine John Huss unto the definitive Sentence inclusivè Item a Citation was sent to Jerom of Prague to appear before the Councel within 15. daies 5. daies being allowed for each of three citations And a Safe-conduct was granted in these terms By the tenor hereof we give all Safe-conduct from all violence justice being excepted so far as in us lieth and the Orthodox Faith requires with certification that whether he appear or not we will proceed against him In Sess 7. May 2. a Citation was directed against Pope John In Sess 8. May 4. the Articles against John Wickliff were read these and he and his memory were condemned and it was ordained that his bones should be taken up and burnt In Sess 9. the execution of the citation against Pope John was exhibited In Sess 10. May 14. Pope John for his notorious simony or selling of Benefices and because he is not only diffamed but really defiled with other grievous crimes and is incorrigible is suspended from all spiritual administration and the process is to be followed unto his deposition In Sess 11. May 15. the Articles against Pope John were read and sent unto him together with a citation to appear hear and see himself deposed in the next Session In Sess 12. May 29. the Commissioners unto Pope John made their report and it was ordained that if the Papal Chair should be vacant another Pope should not be chosen without the consent of the Councel Item definitive Sentence of Deposition was pronounced against Pope John the XXIV for his departing from the City privily in the night and disguised in habit and for the scandal given by him in troubling the peace and union of the Church contrary to his promise oath and vow unto God and the Church and this sacred Councel Item That none of these three who in time of their obedience were called Pope John the XXIV Benedict the XII and Gregory the XIII should be chosen Pope or if they shall be chosen their election shall be null In Sess 13. June 15. Although Christ did institute after Supper and gave unto his Disciples both kindes bread and wine hoc non obstante the Authority of holy Canons and the approved Custom of the Church hath kept and keepeth that the holy Sacrament is not given after Supper nor taken by any not fasting excepting the case of infirmity or other necessity allowed by Law and the Church And although in the primitive Church this Sacrament was received by Believers under both kindes yet ..... we command under the pain of excommunication that no Priest communicate unto the people under both kindes of bread and wine This was the first time that such an Act was made in a Councel In Sess 14. June 24. Charls de Malatestis Rector of Romandiola being sent Proctor by Pope Gregory approveth the Councel and simply renounceth his Papacy Item The Acts canonically done by Pope Gregory the XIII before that instant were approved and his Cardinals were received with the song Te Deum laudamus Item It was ordained that a Pope should be chosen in manner time and place as the Councel shall appoint Item Citation was directed against Pope Benedict In Sess 15. July 6. The Articles of John Huss were read to wit 1. The holy Catholick Church is but one which is the universality of the predestinated 2. Paul was never a member of the Divel although he did some acts like to the acts of the malignant Church 3. Praesciti or those who are foreknown are not any part of the Church since no part of her falleth finally because the charity of predestination falleth not away 4. The two natures God-head and man-hood are one Christ 5. Although he who is foreknown be in grace according to present righteousness yet he is never a part of the holy Church but he who is predestinated abideth ever a member of the Church although he fall from temporary grace yet he never falleth from the grace of predestination 6. Taking the Church for the company of the predestinated whether they be in grace or not according to present righteousness after that manner is an Article of the Faith 7. Peter was not nor is the head of the Catholick Church 8. Priests living criminously defile the power of Priest-hood and as unfaithful Children they think amiss of the seven Sacraments of the Keys Offices Censures Manners Rites worshipping Reliques Indulgences and Orders 9. The Papal power hath flowed from Caesar 10. None without revelation can reasonably say of himself or of any other that he is the head of a particular Church neither is the Priest of Rome the head of that Church 11. We should not believe that who is particular high Priest of Rome is the head of any particular Church unless God hath predestinated him 12. None hath the place of Christ or of Peter unless he follow them in manners 13. The Pope is not the true Successor of Peter and if he follow avarice he is the Vicar of Judas Iscariot and the Cardinals are not the Successors of the Colledge of the Apostles unless they follow their manners and keep the commands of Christ 14. Doctors holding that one worthy of Ecclesiastical censure if he will not amend should be given unto Secular power assuredly in this they follow the high Priests Scribes and Pharisees in delivering Christ unto Pilate because he would not follow them in all things and they were worse murtherers then Pilate 15. Ecclesiastical obedience is an human invention and contrary to the express authority of Scripture 16. Mens works are either vicious or godly for if a man be vicious his works are vicious and if he be vertuous his works are vertuous for as mortal sin infecteth all the actions of a vicious man so vertue quickneth all the actions of a vertuous man 17. A Priest of Christ living according to his Law and having knowledge of the Scriptures and affection to edifie people should preach notwithstanding any pretended excommunication 18. Who by command accepteth the Office of a Preacher and cometh to the Office of Priest-hood should also execute that Office notwithstanding any pretended excommunication 19. By Church censures of excommunication suspension and interdiction the Clergy for their own exaltation supplant the Lay-people multiply avarice protect malice and prepare a way unto Antichrist it is an evident token that such censures proceed from Antichrist that by such censures which they call fulminations they proceed especially against them who discover the wickedness of Antichrist and he will principally maintain himself by the Clergy 20. If the Pope be an evil man especially if he be praescitus then as the Apostle Judas he is a Divel a
Thief and Son of perdition nor is he the Head of the holy militant Church since he is not a member thereof 21. The grace of predestination is the bond wherewith the Church of Christ and every member thereof is united unto Christ the Head insolubly 22. A Pope or Prelate being wicked or praescitus is equivocally a Pastor and truly a Thief and Robber 23. A Pope should not be called most holy no not in respect of his Office for then a King may be called most holy yea an Hang-man may be called holy yea the Divel may be called holy for he is the Officer of God 24. If a Pope live contrary unto Christ although he be chosen lawfully according to the institution of men yet he entereth otherwise then by Christ even although he enter by election prescribed by God for Judas was lawfully chosen by Christ unto the Apostleship and yet he went the wrong way into the sheepfold 25. The condemnation of the forty five Articles of John Wickliff made by the Doctors is unreasonable and unjust and a feigned cause is alledged by them to wit none of them is Catholick 26. Whether one be chosen lawfully or unlawfully we should believe the works of the elected for in so far as he worketh unto the edification of the Church so far hath he authority from God 27. There is no appearance that there should be an head governing the Church in spiritual things who should always remain with the militant Church 28. Christ can rule his Church better without these monstrous heads to wit by his Apostles and true Disciples who are spread through the World 29. The Apostles and faithful Priests of the Lord did diligently rule the Church in things necessary unto salvation before the Office of a Pope was known and so might they until the day of judgement although there were not a Pope 30. None is a Civil Lord none is a Prelate none is a Bishop so long as he is in mortal sin These Articles were condemned partly as notoriously heretical and rejected by the holy Fathers partly as scandalous and offensive unto pious ears partly erroneous and partly as timerarious and seditious Then the condemnatory Sentence of John Huss was read The Deputies of the four Nations and the President the Cardinal of Ostia and the Emperor cried Placet Item This assertion any Tyrant may and should be killed meritoriously by any of his Subjects either by privy plots or glozing flattery notwithstanding any covenant or oath of fidelity and not waiting the sentence of any Judge This assertion was condemned as heretical scandalous and strewing a way unto perjuries lies falshood and treasons In Sess 16. July 11. Commissioners were sent into Arragon to deal with Benedict for renouncing his Title Item None may go from the Councel without licence granted by the Presidents of the four Nations under pain of deprivation In Sess 17. July 15. The Emperour undertook to go into Arragon to deal with Pope Benedict and excommunication was denounced against every hinderer of his journy Item Prayers and Processions should be made in Constance every Sunday for his happy success with pardon for a hundred daies to all such as should be present at the Processions and all Prelates should be present in their Pontificals granting also unto every Priest who should say a Mass for the same success another hundred daies indulgence and to every person saying devoutly a Pater noster and an Ave Maria for the Emperour's safety a pardon of forty daies after the wonted manner in the Church In Sess 18. August 17. Two Judges were deputed to hear causes and grievances that were to be presented unto the Councel untill the definitive Sentence exclusivè Item As great faith and obedience should be given unto the Acts of the Councel as to the Bulls Apostolical In Sess 19. September 23. Jerom of Prague who had been accused imprisoned and constrained to abjure read his recantation forsaking all those articles that were called the heresies of Wickliff and Huss and consenting unto the Roman Church and the present Councel especially in the Articles concerning the power of the Keys Sacraments Orders Offices Censures and Indulgences Reliques Liberty of the Church and all other things belonging unto Religion and he consented unto the condemnations and the Sentences pronounced against Wickliff and Huss Item Notwithstanding any Safe-conduct given or to be given by Emperours Kings or others inquisition may be made against an Heretick or any suspected of heresie and process may be made according to Law even although such a person would not have come without such a Safe-conduct This is indeed Nulla fides servanda haereticis In Sess 20. November 21. Frederick Duke of Austria was summoned under pain of excommunication and forfeiting of all his Lands that he held of the Pope or Emperour to render the Cities Castles and Lands that he had taken from George Bishop of Trent January 20. An. 1416. in a general Congregation appeared the Commissioners who had been sent unto Pope Benedict and they presented twelve Articles penned and consented unto at Narbon December 13. between the Emperour and King of Hungary and the Commissioners of the Councels on the one part and the Kings and Princes following Pope Benedict on the other part for union of the Church to wit That a new Process should be intended against Pope Benedict and in case of contumacy he should be Canonically deposed and a Pope should be chosen by the Councel whom they all should acknowledge as only and lawfull Pope In another general Congregation February 4. these Articles were approved and subscribed by the Fathers of the Councel and by the Embassadors and Proctors of the Kings of England Scotland Cyprus Navar Norway of the Dukes of Burgundy Britain Savoy Austria Holland Zealand c. and by the Proctors of Bishops Generals of Orders Priors c. In Sess 21. May 30. James Bishop of Lauda made a Sermon and Jerom of Prague stood up in a high seat and craving and having obtained audience he professed that he had wickedly consented unto the condemnation of Wickliff and Huss that he had lied in approving that Sentence and he revoketh now and for ever his consent thereunto affirming that he had never found any heresie or error in the books of Wickliff nor Huss although he had said so before c. Wherefore he was presently condemned and indured the fire constantly In Sess 22. October 15. The Ambassadors of Arragon were accepted into the Councel In Sess 23. November 5. Commission was given unto certain Deputies to go into Arragon and there to examine Witnesses in the cause of Pope Benedict who will not renounce In Sess 24. November 28. Citation was directed against Pope Benedict In Sess 25. December 14. The Church Glomucen in Bohemia was given in Commenda unto the Bishop Lutomisten for a certain space In Sess 26. December 24. The order of Ambassadors from Princes in this Councel shall not prejudice their
right hereafter In Sess 27 and 28. The above named Frederick was accused and accursed In Sess 29. March 8. 1417. Peter de Luna alias Pope Benedict the XIII was convicted of obstinacy In Sess 30. March 10. The withdrawing of the King of Arragon from obedience unto Peter de Luna was approved In Sess 31. Was an Act in favor of the Bishop Bajonen In Sess 32. April 1. Peter de Luna was convicted of contumacy and it was ordained to make process against him until deposition exclusivè to this effect some were deputed to hear witnesses in his cause In Sess 33. May 12. Sigismund now being present The depositions of the witnesses were published and Peter de Luna was summoned to object if he could against them and against the instruments and executions In Sess 34. June 5. The process was heard and approved and further deliberation is to be had In Sess 35. June 18. Voices were granted in the Councel unto the Ambassadors of the King of Castile and his denying of obedience unto the said Peter was approved In Sess 36. Iuly 22. All censures pronounced by Pope Benedict against whatsoever person since November 9. An. 1415. were declared null In Sess 37. Iuly 26. Peter de Luna was deposed simpliciter from Papacy as a Schismatick Heretick perjured and disobedient and all men were forbidden to obey him as a Pope under pain of excommunication and all that may follow thereupon In Sess 38. Iuly 28. All censures against the Ambassadors of Castile since April 1. An. 1415. were annulled In Sess 39. October 9. For removing and preventing schisms in all time coming it was ordained that General Councels should be assembled the first to begin within five years after this present the second to begin after seven years from the other and thenceforth one to be assembled every tenth year in the places which the high Priest shall name with consent of every Councel within a moneth before the dissolution of each Councel or in his absence every Councel shall name the place of the ensuing Councel And the Pope with consent of the Cardinals may abbreviate the time but no way adjourn it nor change the place being once named as is said Item Articles were penned which the Pope should professe and binde himself to observe at the time of the election of which this is the tenour In the name of the holy and undivided Trinity Amen In the year of our Lord I N. elected to be Pope professe with heart and mouth unto the Almighty God whose Church I undertake to govern by his aid and unto blessed Peter Prince of the Apostles during this my frail life to believe firmly the holy and Catholick Faith after the tradition of the Apostles of the General Councels and other holy Fathers namely of the eight first Generall Councels to wit of Nice of Constantinople of Ephesus of Chalcedon the second and third at Constantinople of Nice and of Constantinople and of the General Councels at Lateran Lions and Vien and to preserve them to the uttermost to confirm defend and preach the same to the spending of my life and blood and by all means possible to prosecute and observe the Rites of the Sacraments canonically delivered unto the Catholick Church And this my profession and confession written at my command by the Notary I have subscribed with my hand and I offer it sincerely with a pure minde and devout conscience unto thee the Almighty God on the Altar in presence of these Witnesses at Item It was enacted that no Prelate should be transported against his will without weighty and reasonable cause which cause the party being cited shall be decided by the Cardinals of the Church or the most part of them In Sess 40. October 30. Before this Councel shall be dissolved Reformation shall be made by the Pope who is to be chosen and by the Councel after these Articles that are propounded by the Councel 1. The number quality and Nation of the Cardinals 2. Of reservations unto the Apostolical See 3. Of Annates 4. Of collation of Benefices and gratiis expectativis or avousances 5. Of appellation to the Roman Court 6. What causes are to be treated at Rome or not 7. For what causes and how a Pope should be corrected and deposed 8. The extirpation of Simony 9. Of dispensations 10. Of Indulgences 11. Of the provision of the Pope and his Cardinals 12. Of Commendaes 13. Of Tithes Item In this Sess 41. November 8. Order was prescribed concerning the election of the Pope at this time So Odo de Columna was chosen as is above In all these Sessions John Cardinal of Ostia was President and sate in Pontificalibus but thenceforth Martin possessed the Chair and the Decrees were framed in his name yet so that the Cardinal of Ostia in name of the Councel subjoyned Placet and one Ardecinus in name of the Emperor did the like as is expressed in Sess 44. In Sess 42. December 8. A Bull was read discharging the Emperor and the Count Palatine of their bond for sure keeping of Pope John who then was to be delivered unto Pope Martin In Sess 43. March 21. An. 1418. All exemptions of Churches Monasteries Convents Priories and other Benefices that have been purchased after the death of Pope Gregory the XI are declared null Item All unions and incorporations made since that time All fruits of Churches Monasteries and Benefices in time of vacancy should not be given unto the Pope nor his Exchequer but are to be left according to antient Law or Custom All simoniack ordinations confirmations and provisions of Churches Monasteries Dignities and Benefices already made or that shall be made are declared null All dispensations of Benefices of Cure that are granted in favour of whatsoever person and are not conformable to the constitution of Boniface the VIII that is that any person should enjoy the Benefice and not able to discharge the Office such dispensations are null Item No Nation should be tied to pay the Tithe of Church-revenues unto the Pope without the consent and subscription of the Cardinals or most part of them and without the consent of the Prelates of that Nation Item Priests are forbidden to conform themselves in their habits unto Secular Courts and a certain habit is prescribed unto them All this Winter the Emperor did press the reformation of the Clergy according to the Decree of Session 39. When the Cardinals and Bishops said Incipiemus à Minoritis Sigismund said Imo à Majoritis meaning the Pope and Cardinals Wherefore the Pope made haste to bring the Councel to an end In Sess 44. April 9. was much debate for the place of the next Councel at last Papia was named In Sess 45. April 22. Cardinal Umbald stepped up without consent especially of the Emperour saith Platin. in Martin the V. and cried Domini ite in pace In the mean time came the Embassadours of Vladislaus King of Poland and of Vitold Duke of Lituania
third head was of the Authority of General Councels As in the Councel at Constance so here in Session 2. After long debate of the Prelates and Divines it was decreed by ninety Fathers thus This Synod being lawfully assembled in the holy Ghost and being a General Councel representing the militant Church hath power immediately from Christ unto which every one of whatsoever estate or dignity although Papal should obey in such things as concern Faith and extirpation of Schism and general Reformation of God's Church in the head and members Item It declareth that whosoever of whatsoever estate or dignity although Papal shall contumaciously refuse to obey the Commands Statutes Ordinances or Precepts of this holy Synod or of whatsoever other General Councel lawfully assembled in the premises or things belonging thereunto unlesse he repent should be subject unto condign pennance and be duly punished Pope Eugenius was offended at these Acts therefore he sought to divide the Fathers then to intrench their liberty and lastly to remove the Councel to Bolonia pretending his own infirmity that he could not undertake so long a journey though the Councel require his presence nor is there hope of Reforming the Germans and the Greeks will not passe the Alps. The Emperour replied The peace of the Latines should not be disturbed for any hope of peace with the Greeks and so many Nations had condescended unto the Councel at Basil and will account him as an Author of Schism if he practice in the contrary Nevertheless Eugenius by his Bull dissolved the Councel and summoned the President and all the Fathers unto Bolonia under pain of his curse On the other side in Session 3. An. 1432. April 29. they renew the two former Decrees and decern that Eugenius can no way dissolve the Councel because that were contrary unto the Decrees of Constance and tendeth to the grievous danger of the Faith and the disturbance of the Church and scandall of all Christian people And they sent John a Doctour of Divinity unto the Pope and the Cardinals with him humbly entreating obtesting and admonishing him and them to revoke the published dissolution and to assist and aid the Councel with his and their presence unlesse they have a Canonical reason of absence and if not threatning him and them that they will proceed according to order of Law against each of them At that time Sigismund assembled a Diet of the Germans and invited other Nations to send their Ambassadours for preventing the schism and the Councell sent their Commissioners thither It was concluded there That the Councel should continue at Basil and the Decrees thereof be received by all Then Eugenius considering his own difficulties that the Emperour with the Germans and the Kings of France and Hungary were for the Councel and that he had not peace at Rome for he was at variance with the Columnenses for the treasury of Pope Martin he sent his Bull revoking the dissolution and confirming all that was done in the Councel Session 16. February 5. An. 1434. And his Cardinals were received into the Councel April 24. After the death of Sigismund Eugenius would again take away the Councel and summoned the Fathers to appear before him at Ferraria But in Session 26. July 31. An. 1437. they wrote a large libel of Eugenius his crimes to wit his simoniacal presentations unjust dilapidations of Church-revenues perjuries scandalous attempts c. and they charge him to appear before them within sixty days with certification that whether he appear or not they will proceed against him by cognoscing and determining as the Synod by aid of the Holy Ghost shall judge expedient for the Church of God And when the President Julian received Letters from Eugenius to discharge the Councel he returned his contrary reasons especially the Bohemians may boast and say Is not here the hand of God behold Armies have fled so oft before us and now the universal Church flyeth from us behold neither by Arms nor by Reason can we be overcome And since the Nations expect a Reformation of the Church by this Councel if it be dissolved they will say that we do mock both God and man And when there shall be no more hope of Reformation the Laicks shall justly rush upon us after the manner of the Hussites and truly there is such a publick fame they will think that they shall offer a good sacrifice unto God who shall spoil or kill a Clergy-man the Clergy now are come into a gulf of miseries and shall be odious both unto God and man And whereas you pretend your wars although you were to lose Rome yet you should rather renounce all then dissolve the Councel since the salvation of one Soul for which Christ died is more dear unto him then any Castle or City or all the World or Heaven it self and your Office is to save Souls if you will follow Christ or else the ax is laid unto the root of the tree the tree is ready to fall and can stand no longer whatsoever cause of delay be pretended men say It cannot be for good whereas you fear the Councel will take away temporalities from the Church this is marvellous for that might be suspected if the Councel did not consist wholly of Church-men But I fear that it befal unto us as unto the Jews who said If we suffer this Man the Romans will come and take away our Nation so if we say If we suffer the Councel the Laity will come and take away our temporalities But as in the just judgement of God the Romans destroyed their Nation who would not suffer Christ to live so it is much to be feared lest in the same just judgement it come to pass that because we will not suffer the Councel to stand we shall lose our temporalities and oh that we lose not both bodies and souls Lastly whereas you call the holy Councel an unlawful Assembly it dependeth upon the Councel at Constance if that was lawful so is this but none doubteth of that but it was lawful and if one will say The Decrees thereof were not lawful then the election of Pope Martin is not valid and if Martin was not Pope then neither is your Holiness who was chosen by the Cardinals whom Martin did create Out of the Epistle of Julian ad Eugen. in Fascic rer expetend Nevertheless Cardinal Julian was perswaded to forsake the Councel and went unto Eugenius Then Lewis Cardinal Arelaten was chosen President of the Councel And Eugenius sent abroad his Bull against the Councel The contents of that Bull will appear by the responsory Epistle of the Councel dated October 29. An. 1437. They shew the scope of the Councel to wit the Reformation of the Church in head and members ..... and the practises of Eugenius in the contrary and the manifold inconveniencies of the Schism namely that as at Corinth one said I am Paul's and another I am Apollo's so now one saith I am the Pope's and another
decent union in Christ of twoe persons man and woman keeping a chast bed without breach and it is a signe of a great truth to wit the coupling of Christ with the Church and a believing soul By faith wee affirme that if God give a contrite and humbled heart for sin unto a falling sinner having the true faith of Christ and if with heart and mind and really he repent of his former sins such a one being so truly disposed if he find a presbyter able to discerne good from evill and whose lips preserve the knowledge of Gods law he should reveale uprightly unto such a priest his sins by confession by whom as a judge ruling in stead of God and the Church according to the law of the Lord the weight of the fault may be rightly discerned to the end he may be ashamed and being corrected he may have advice of repentance unto reformation of himself and being either loosed or bound by Christs keyes he may obey humbly and that such humble contrition of the heart is a sacrament that is a signe of true grace bestowed on the repentant But if there be not a heart contrite humbled through faith abhorring vice and an afflicted Spirit embracing the will of God and also confession with relaxation of the fault and moreover if fained satisfaction be added wee pronounce it to be a vain signe and void of the grace of Christ The anointing of the sicke containes two things in it first a cause of a more ready approaching unto the diseased for this it is not a sacrament the other is the thing signified by that unction which is given by God in Christ for which thing prayer especially should be made in true faith that it may be given unto the sick believer as blessed James commandeth saying Is any sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and let them pray for him anointing him in the name of God and the prayer of the faithfull shall save him and the Lord wil relieve him and if he be in sins they shall be forgiven him By faith of the sick the signe of unction assures him of the forgiveness of sins When wee have declared the faith of the Catholick Church and her truth by which truth holiness is given unto her it remaines to declare by the same certainty of faith the communion of Saints The communion of the Saints is when the members of the Holy Church doe for common benefite use the good free saving and administring grace of God which is given without repentance and they exercise themselves according to the grace of God given unto them to the common utility of others It is cleare then that the elect only are partakers of true faith grace and righteousness in Christ by his merite unto the glory of eternall salvation as also they receive the sacraments to the evidence of faith albeit they have been seduced yet damnation shall not ceize upon them But the wicked of unformed faith albeit they communicate truly in the Sacraments digniries administrations and publick manners if they he destitute of true faith they communicate unworthily as hypocrites and if they follow the erroneous by their leading they fall into seduction and deceit By faith of Christs grace wee pronounce freely that who communicateth with a lively faith by the same he attaineth through Christ true remission of his sins and also because he partaketh of the Sacraments of the Church he getteth by the same faith and certainty the relaxation of crimes and at the time of the last judgement in the resurrection the glorification of his soul Amen The Letter which they sent with this Confession is worthy of reading But for brevity I omit it When the Confession was delivered their adversaries ceased not to accuse them still as if they had writen otherwise then they did believe or practize and so the King went on in cruelty against them Wherefore they sent another Apologie where in they tooke God to witness of the injuries done unto them by their adversaries and that they had writenin singleness of heatt nor did their tongue dare to speak what their heart did not believe There also they expresse them selves more clearly in some particulares as concerning the Eucharist they say Wee do not only believe and confesse that the bread is the naturall bodie and the wine is the naturall blood sacramentally but also that the bread is the Spirituall bodie and the wine is the Spirituall blood And to believe this we are induced by the saying of the Apostle Paul The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ and the cup ..... for wee that are many are one bread and one bodie for wee are partakers of one bread and of one cup ...... The Redeemer of mankind hath commanded to take eate and to doe that in remembrance of him but no command is given unto believers to worship the sacramental subsistence of Christ's body and blood for Christ gave unto his disciples sitting what they should use and they obeying him did eat and drink but did not worship the sacrament And the Apostles and their successours for a long space of time went to the houses of believers and break the bread with joy and certainly they did not worship the sacrament nor in so doing did they erre nor were called hereticks But they did worship the personall subsistence of Christ at the right hand of the Father And unto the true worshippers of the Divine Majesty it is commanded in both the Testaments the old and new to worship and adore Christ very God and Man not in the sacramentall existence but in his naturall and personall subsistence at the right hand of his Father For the old Testament as the triumpher over Satan tempting him remembreth saith It is wrtiten Thou shall worship the Lord thy God and him only shall thou serve The vessell of election explaines the New when he saith God hath exalted him and given him a name which is a bove every name that at the name of JESUS every knee should bowe .... The incarnat truth confirmes this when he saith That all men should honour the Sonne as they honour the Father But none doeth worship the Father in any creature but only in heaven as that prayer published by Christ testifieth Our Father which art in heaven c. In the words following because they were accused that they did not worship the Virgine Mary nor the Saints they shew that they did esteem of the Virgine as blessed above all women not only for that she was sanctified but also for that the Sonne of God did assume a body of her body and they esteem of all them who were sanctified by faith in the grace of God through Christs merite and so as blessed of God they doe honour them with due honour they love them and would follow them but they can not give them more honour than Gods word directs them 10. When
thereof for here we should follow the custom of the Church and in no way swerve from it and seing his doctrine had been already condemned by general Councels no account should be made thereof again and there shall be no end of contention if it be lawfull for every private man to call into question the things which prudent and learned men with great deliberation have established ..... Nevertheless it can not be denied that God who is the avenger of all wrong doth thus plague his Church for the sins of the Ministers thereof as the Scripture saith The iniquity of the people proceeds from the priests and Elders for certainly they have sinned at Rome these many years full grievously and sundry wayes even from the highest Bishop unto the lowest clerk we have all gone out of the way every one to his own way nor have any of us done any good A good confession if amendement follow wherefore we must all give glory unto God and humble ourselves before him and consider from whence we are fallen As for mee I will endevoure to redresse it and I will see that the Romane Court which perhaps hath been the occasion of all this mischieff be first reformed sharply as Christ did first purge the Temple that as it hath been the example of vice so it may be the beginning of amendement and pattern of vertue and so much the rather because all the world crieth for a Reformation ... but this must be done by degrees because all sudden mutation is dangerous c. These instructions are expressed word by word in Fascic rer expetend and others The Princes did conveen at Nurembergh in March An. 1523. the Emperour was not there and their answer was an humble request that the Pope would perform his promise and for the only remedy of all abuses he would call a free Councell within Germany and not delay it above a yeare The copy of this Brieve was brought unto Luther he translateth it unto Dutch and affixeth his Notes on the margine But whereas Hadrian so plainly confesseth the viciousness of the Romane Court which he thought was none of his fault as never been there before and delayeth the amendement it is the usual policy of the Popes when they can not eschue solicitations otherwise they do promise largely that while men trust to their promises they may find the means either by favour of Princes or by power of arms to mantain their dignity which is like to stagger by free and Generall Councels Jo. Sleid. Lib. 4. Because of this Brieve and the conceit that many had of Hadrian's integrity all men did expect a Reformation But behold he becomes ingracious unto all men for he deprives the best men of their Benefices for his own advantage in bestowing the same Benefices on others therefore he was called unrighteous and covetous and when they which were deprived did complain he said The times wherinto a man falleth do much vary his fortune for the golden times of Leo were abundant with plenty and peace but the broiles and famine and pestilence in time of the interreigne had laid wast the estate of the Commonwealth and caused these evils to be imputed unto him most innocently Onuphr He spake also of reforming the dissolute manners of the City and said that according to the lawes he would punnish blasphemy simony usury unlawfull lusts Then he was taken away by death not without suspicion of wrong He canonized Benno and Antoninus Bishop of Florence he conspired with the Emperour against Francis I. King of France he held that a Pope even as Pope may be an heretick and teach heresy and that indeed some of them had been hereticks Bellarm. de Ro. Pon. Lih. 4. c. 2. He died at Rome Septemb. 14. An. 1523. II. CLEMENS VII the sister-son of Leo X. after contention of two months came into the chair by paying 20000. Ducats and giving a stately house Rome unto his competitour Pompejus Columna He had been called Julius and would have retained his name as Hadrian did but the Cardinals would not suffer him It was Hadrians designe to make the Emperour powerfull in Italy but Clemens fearing the fortune of Charles was for the King of France He had observed that Hadrian was not wary enough in the affaires of Germany especially in confessing the faults of the Court and in asking their advice concerning the remedies whereupon he had given them occasion to petition a Councell and to propound their 100. Grievances therefore he took another course with the Germanes as followes here c. 3. Sect. 18. He keept the Jubilee An. 1525. but all that yeare he was perplexed for fear of the Emperour untill he heard that Francis King of France was at liberty in March 1526. immediatly he sent unto him and drew up a league against the Emperour which was sealed in May by him Francis and some Princes of Italy and he absolves Francis from his oath that he had given in Spain This was called Liga Sanctissima Then as being free he writes menacingly unto the Emperour and even the next day he directes another Brieve which was more smooth The Emp. wrote his answers accordingly as in Hist Council Tr. l. 1. and at the same time he writes unto the colledge of the Cardinals That it was grievous unto him to consider how the Pope could so forget his dignity as to disturbe the common peace and even at that time when he the Emperour having made peace with France thought that he had setled the Christian world he had received such Letters as he could never have expected from the Father of the Church and he thinks these had been writen by advice of them all this said he is the more grievous that such Letters were brought from the Pope and the Fathers pillars of the true religion threatning warr against the Empe. defender of the Church and who had deserved better of them for in respect unto them he had shut his eares against the just complaints of the German-Princes he had discharged the Diet which was appointed at Spira ..... and now he had sent the copy of the Popes Letters unto them to the end that they after consideration would aid the Christian commonwealth now fainting and put the Pope from such dangerous courses or if he will not that they would admonish him of his duty and exhort him to call a general Councell or if he refuse that or delay it for a longer space than is expedient he entreates that holy Senate that they would call a Councell so soon as may be but if they also will accept his just demand with deaf eares it lieth on him according to his authority to use all just and convenient remedies Those Letters were delivered unto the Colledge Decemb. 12. Before that time to wit Septemb. 20. the Columnenses the chief Citizens perceiving that Clemens sought only his own interest came unawarrs into the Vatican none resisting because all men did hate the Pope said
refuse if upon no other account yet ro save themselves from suspition But when he had sent his Nuntio unto them severally none of them would consent every one had their own excuse and a common one was the hindering of the Councell and yet saith Pe. Soave many thought the raising of the Councell had not been displeasing unto him seing he did alwaies furnish occasions of fomenting that opinion Of his relation unto the Councell more followes in that place After the Councell he published a Bull which is annexed to the Canons of the Councell out of it I have extracted these words The duty of the Apostolick service which is committed unto us requires that the things which the almighty Lord hath vouchsafed for provident direction of his Church to inspire from above unto the holy Fathers assembled in his name Wee should speedily execute the same to his praise and glory Observe what false and hypocriticall pretenses Therefore seeing according to the disposition of the Tridentine Councell all who shall hereafter happen to be advanced unto Cathedrall and superiour Churches or who shall happen to be Overseers of dignities chanonries or other Church-Benefices having the cure of souls are obliged to make open profession of the orthodox faith and to promise and sweare that they shall continue in obedience unto the Romane Church Wee willing ..... that the tenour it self which is noted by these presents be published .... and observed and under paines .... wee command that it be framed by Apostolick authority .... after this and no other forme .... to wit I. N. do with firme faith believe and professe all and every thing contained in the summ of faith which the holy Church of Rome useth to wit Here is the Confession of Athanasius and immediatly it followes I most firmely embrace the Apostolicall and ecclesiasticall traditions and other obseruances and constitutions of the same Church I do admitt the holy Scripture according to that sense which the holy mother the Church held and holdeth unto which Church it belongeth to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the Scriptures nor shall I ever accept or expound the Sctiptures but according to the unanimous consent of the Fathers I confesse also that there be truly and properly seven sacraments of the new law instituted by Jesus Christ for salvation of mankind albeit they be not all necessary unto every one these are baptisme confirmation the eucharist pennance extreme unction orders and marriage and that these do conferre grace and of these baptisme confirmation marriage should not be reiterated without sacriledge I receive and approve all the received and approoved rites of the Catholick Church in the solemn administration of all the forenamed sacraments I embrace all and every thing that was defined and declarad concerning originall sin and justification in the Synode of Trent I professe also that in the Masse is offered unto God a very proper sacrifice of attonement for the quick and the dead and that in the most holy sacrament of the Euchatist is verily really and substantially the body and blood together with the soul and Deity of Christ Jesus and that there is a conversion of the whole substance of the bread into his body and of the whole substance of the wine into his blood which conversion the Catholick Church calleth Transsubstantiation I confesse also that all and whole Christ and the very sacrament are received under one kind only I hold constantly that there is a purgatory and that the souls there-in are aided by the prayers of believers also that the Saints reigning with Christ are to be worshipped and invocated and that they offer prayers unto God for us and that their relicques are to be worshipped I most constantly affirme that the images of Christ and of the mother of God ever a Virgine and of other Saints should be had and retained and that due honour worship should be given unto them That the power of indulgences is left by Christ in the Church and that the use of them is very profitable to the salvation of Christians I acknowledge that the holy Catholick and Apostolick Church of Rome is the mother and Mistris of all Churches and I promise and swear obedience unto the Romane Pope the successour of blessed Peter Prince of the Apostles and Vicar of Jesus Christ And all other things that were delivered defined and declared by holy canons and Occumenicall Councells and especially by the most holy Synode at Trent These do I undoubtedly receive and professe And also all contrary things and whatsoever heresies were condemned rejected and anathematized I also doe condemne reject and anathematize And the same true catholicke faith without which no man can be saved which I do at this present willingly professe and sincerely hold I the same N. doe vow and swear that I shall have care so farre as lieth in mee that the same faith shall be kept whole and unviolated most constantly with the help of God untill the last breath of my life and that it shall be kept and taught preached by my subjects or by such as I shall have charge of in my calling So may God help mee and these holy Euangels of God Wee will that these present Letters be read in our Apostolicall Chancelary ...... Given at S. Peters in Rome An. 1564. Novembr 13. and fifth year of our Papacy These were read and puplished Decembr 9. Here is a tenure of Episcopall profession and it is a summ of Papistry After the Councell the Pope thought himself secure and spent the rest of his time in building sumptuous houses and entertaining some Princes with Princely feasts He built in the Vatican a place like unto the amphitheater for all such games He was most expert in dissembling addicted to all pleasures of meat wyne and venery which were thought to have hastened his death for he died ex nimia venere Decembr 9. An. 1565. Jac. Thuan. CHAP II. Of EMPEROVRS CHARLES V. the nephew of Maximilian and King of Spain c. was chosen King of the Romanes he had the largest Dominions of any Emperour for many hundred years he was crowned at Aken An. 1520. and held a Diet at Worms An. 1521. where unto Luther was summoned there it was ordained that Luthers books should be burnt and himself be bannished out of the Empire but of his Acts concerning Religion we will God willing speak more hereafter The Pope had been his Tutour and the King of France was prevailing in Lombardy wherefore the Pope and the Emperour made a League against France and they drewe in Henry VIII King of England with them Charles began his warrsin Lombardy but was not there personally at the battell of Pavy Francis was taken prisoner and carried to Madrid afterwards he was dismissed and gave his two sonnes in hostage and marryed Leonor the Emperours Sister But Francis got from Pope Clement a dispensation of his oath which he had given to Charles for
his conclusions by writting Because neither Faber nor any other would object the Burg-master in the name of the Senate breakes up the assembly and they give Order that through their jurisdiction all traditions of men be layd aside and the gospell be taught sincerely according to the books of the old new Testament So saith Pe. Soave when neither the diligence of Doctours and bb nor the condemning Bulls of the Pope nor the rigid edict of the Emperour could prevaile any way against the doctrine of Luther but it rather took deeper root all men almost did judge a generall Councell to be the only remedy but the severall aimes of severall sorts as of the Princes people Romane Court and of the Pope cast them upon severall thoughts concerning the way of ordering and place of the Councell Pe. Soave writes of these aimes and purposes particularly The death of Pope Leo makes a pause heerin At that time Satan was busy sowing his tares by the first Anabaptists whose names let them perish The Anabaptists against them Luther was the first that did write from his Pathmos as he spoke They pretend to have revelations from the Spirit and conferences with God Melanchton was not a little troubled with them The epistle of Luther unto Melanchton is worth the reading wherein he saith I commend not thy timorousness and first seing they bear witnes of themselues they should not be heard for that but as John adviseth Try the Spirits Ye have the Counsell of Gamaliell to delay for as yet I heare of nothing either done or said by them which Satan can not do My advice is that you try whether they can proove their calling For God never hath sent any but being either called by men or declared by signes no not his own Sonne The Prophets formerly had their power according to the Law and propheticall Order as we now by men I would in no way accept of them if they assert their calling by a naked revelation seing God would not let Samuel speak but by the accessory authority of Heli. This is especially necessary unto the publick function of preaching And that yee may try their private Spirit you may enquire whether they know anguish of mind divine birth death and hell If you hear that they speak all things smooth pleasant devote as they call it and religious albeit they say they have been ravished into the third heaven approove them not because they want the signe of the Son of man which is ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã the only proover of Christians and sure searcher of Spirits Wouldst thou know the place and way of talking with God heare As a lion he hath broken all my bones and I was cast forth from his face and My soul was filled with sorowes and my life drew neer unto hell The Divine Majesty speakes not as they say immediatley so that a man may see him yea man shall not see him and live Nature can not endure the little starr of his speach and therefore he speakes by men because wee can not endure him speaking The Virgine was troubled when she heard the Angell so did Daniel and Jeremy complaine Correct me in judgement and be not a terrour unto me What more Is it possible that his Majesty can speak familiarly with the old man and not first kill and make him wither lest his wicked smells do stinck seing he is a consuming fire Even the dreams and visions of the Saints are terrible at least when they are known Try therefore and hear not a glorious Jesus unless thou know that he was crucified Ex tom 2. epist Lutheri fol. 41. XII In March 1522. Luther returneth into Wittembergh and by Luther returnes An. 1522. Letter he shewes unto the Elector the cause of his returning saying Your Highness knowes my cause or now be pleased to know that I have not the gospell from men but from heaven by Jesus Christ our Lord so that I truly may as here after I will call my self his servant and Evangelist Whereas I did offer my selfe unto congnisance of my cause and became subject unto the judgement of others I did it not that I had any doubt of my doctrine but in modesty that I might call others but when I see that too much modesty turns to the detriment of the gospell and Satan when I have scarcely given him ahandbreadth would take up all the field my conscience presseth me to take another course I hope I have satisfied your H. that I have yielded for a year for the Devil knowes well that I did it not for fear or distrust ..... Now I am come back to Wittembergh with a higher and stronger guarde than the Elector of Saxony can give me nor came it ever into my thought to seek defence from your H. yea I am confident your H. shall have better guarde and defense by me than you can give me and if I knew that your H. either would or could maintaine me I had not returned at all It is not any sword that can provide for or helpe this cause God only must rule and worke here without any industry or help of man therefore in this cause he who trusts most firmely in God shall defend himself and others most safely And seing I find your Ho. so weak in faith I can no way attribute so much unto your Ho. that I can think to be defended or delivered out of danger by you I shall preserve your Ho. soul body and estate free from all damnage and danger in this my cause whether your Ho. believe it or not Let your Ho. know also and doubt not that it is decreed otherwise in heaven then at Norinbergh concerning this business for we shall see that they who think they have devoured and destroyed the Gospell are not yet come to a Benedicito He is another and more potent Prince then Dude N. with whom we have to do He knowes me and I him pretty well If your Illustrious Ho. did believe you should see the wonderfulness and glory of God and seing you believe not you have seen none of those things Unto God be glory and praise for ever Then more particularly he saith I was called by the letters of the Church and people of Wittembergh now in my absence Satan hath fallen upon my flock the Anabaptists were there and some other troubles and hath stirred such troubles that require my presence necessarily and further I fear a great sedition in Germany which they will desire to remove or for a time delay by joint prayers Ard in another epistle unto Melanchton he saith Prepare me a lodging for the translation of the Bible presseth me to return unto you After his returning he preached every day and in his Sermons as Abr. Scultet expresseth his words he spoke against not what was done in reformation during his absence but the manner and the necessity of doing some things In his absence he by letters had exhorted them to
Caspar Contaren Reynold Poole Peter Bembus and Frederik Fregosius who all were sensible that the Church needed some Reformation Then Martyr was restored to his liberty of preaching but could not enjoy it long time for he became dangerously sick and by the advice of Physicians the Superiors of his order seeing that the air of that City did not agree with him made him General Visitor of the Order In that Office he so demeaned himself that good men much commended his integrity constancy and gravity and others feared him yet durst not discover their malice Not long after in a publick Convention of that Order he was made Prior of a Monastery in Luca some consented unto this promotion out of love others thinking it would be his ruine because of an enmity between Florence and Luca. But he engaged the hearts of the people there that he was no less beloved then if he had been born among them In that Colledge were many learned men and hopefull youths and he took care that the younger sort were instructed in the three languages for which end he had Paul Lacisius of Verona to read Latine Celsus Martinengus to read Greek and Immanuel Tremellius the Hebrew and for Divinity he himself daily expounded the Epistles of Paul and every night before supper he expounded a part of the Psalms Very many of the City of the Senators and Nobility resorted unto his Lecturs and he preached publickly every Lords day The enemies of the trueth could not endure him and laid snares for him nor could conceil their malice When he was admonished by his friends he chused to leave them and went to Strawsburgh What fruit his teaching brought forth may be known by this that in one years space after his departure eighteen Fellowes of that Colledge left it and went into the Reformed places among whom was Celsus Martinengus afterwards Minister of the Italian Church in Geneva Hieron Zanchius Im. Tremellius c. Many Citizens also went into exile voluntarily that they might enjoy the trueth in safety Ex Vita âe Martyris Another instance was in Bonnonia in the year 1554. the Popes Governours attempted to make innovations there which the people would not receive contrary to their former Lawes The Innovators said They were not tied to former Lawes but had authority from the Pope who is King of the Countrey and may change statutes and ordinances without consent of the people Against this tyranny both the learned men and the people opposed themselves and in the Monastry of the black Friers was a generall Convention where Thomas de Finola Rector of the University set forth this Position All Rulers whether Supreme or Inferiour may and should be reformed or bridled to speak moderatly by them by whom they are chosen confirmed or admitted to their Office so oft as they break that promise made by oath unto their subjects Because the Prince is no less bound by oath unto their subjects then are the subjects unto their Prince and it should be kept and reformed equally according to Law and condition of the oath that is made by either party Vicenâius de Placentia sustained this Position And when all reasons that the Popes Governors could alledge were heard the Pope was fain to take up the matter and did promise not only to keep the liberty of the people but that he should neither abrogate any antient Statute nor make any new one without their consent The Histor of the Reformation of Scotland Pag 399 edit Edinburgh 1644. which was writen by Jo. Knox albeit somesentences have been added by another after him At that time John Craig a Scotish man who afterwards was Minister of Edinburgh of whom mention is made hereafter was a Monk and considering the common doctrin of justification by works did not approve it and shewed unto an old Monk his arguments in the contrary The old man said It is true as you say but be silent lest you fall into danger for the dayes are evill But such was the mans zeal unto trueth that he could not contain himself and for this and other things that he taught he was carried to Rome and cast into prison with many hundreds more in the time of Paul 3 but they all escaped that night of the Popes death when the Citizens broke up the prisons XLIX John a Lasco a Noble man of Poland intending to see other Nations went to Zurik there he was easily perswaded by Zuinglius to betake himself Reformation in Poland to the studie of Divinity and where as he might have been advanced unto honour in his native Countrey yet such was his love to Christ and hatred to Popery that he choosed to embrace that Religion which hath it's soundation upon the Word of God In the year 1542. he was called to be Pastor at Embden the next year Anna the widow Countess of Oldenburgh invites him to reforme the Churches there which he endeavoured with great diligence Afterwards Edward King of England sent by information of Cranmer for him to be Preacher unto a Dutch Church at London In the first year of Queen Mary he obtained leave to return beyond sea a great part of his Congregation went with him and Martin Micron another Preacher to Copenhagen but the King would not suffer them to stay within his kingdoms unless they would embrace the doctrine of Luther concerning the local presence of Christs body and use the ceremonies ordained by him For the same cause they were refused by the Hans-towns and Churches of Saxony At last that vexed congregation was received at Embden Then he would visite his own Countrey after twenty years absence there he found many affecting a Reformation but few Preachers The Popish clergy sought by all means to destroy him or to have him bannished and they accused him unto the King for an heretick The King said Though they called him an heretick yet the States had not decerned so and he was ready to cleare himself from such imputations In the year 1557. a Parliament was assembled at Warsaw there was great contention for Religion The Princes whom they call Vaivodes crave that the Augustan Confession should be established The Bishops strove against it so that the Princes could not obtain any liberty Nevertheless after the Parliament they caused the Gospel to be preached in their own Provinces without the Kings permission John á Lasâo impugned the doctrine of the local presence and caused the trueth which the adversaries called Calvinisme to be received by many and unto this day that Church is miserably rent the King and most part are Popish many are Anabaptists few are Ubiquitaries yet a great many hold constantly the sounder Trueth L. When the Kings of Spain had subdued the Sarracens who had continued The Reformation in the Netherlands there some hundred years and expelled them out of the realm many of them not willing to leave the countrey fained themselves to be Christians and afterwards they were convinced to despise
the Scripture requires This was by and by reported to the Bishop in words varying a little that a Bishop must be a preacher or els he is a dumbe dog He is sent for and said The reporters are manifest liars The reporters are called and they affirm that he had said so and they profer to bring more witnesses He still saith They are lyaââ More witnesses are brought and many come to heare Then said Seton My Lord you may consider what eares these asses have they can not discern betwixt Paul Esaie Zacharie and Malachie and Frier Alex. Seton I said indeed Paul saith A Bishop should be a teacher Esaâe saith shepherds not feeding their flocks are dumbeâ oggs Zacharie saith they are idle pastours and I declared what those have said and my Lord if you be not offended at them you can not be offended at mee therefore I say again these men are manifest lyaâs which have reported that I called you or any other Bishop no Bishops but belly gods The Bishop was offended but durst not at that time proceed against him because he was learned bold and in favour with the King and his Confessour But he and his complices did judge it not expedient such a man to bee with the King and so they endeavoure to make him odious unto the King and call him an heretick The King did remember how in private confession the Frier had admonished him for his lusts of the flesh and loved noâ such advice and said He knew more of that man than any of them and then subscribes their accusation and promiseth to follow their advice in punishing him and all of that sect Seton is informed of these things and fleeth to Berwick whence he wrote unto the King in this manner Most Gracious Soverain Lord under the Lord and King of all of whom only thy Highness and Majesty hath power and authority to exercize justice within thy realme under God who is King Lord of all realms and thy Seatons letter against the iniquity impiety usurpation of bb and his advice to the King Ma. and all mortall Kings are but servants unto that only immortall Prince Chr. Jesus .... It 's not unknown to thy gracious Highness how thy Mas. somtime servant Oratour and ever shall be to my lifes end is departed out of thy realme ..... but I believe the cause of my departing is unknown which only is Because the bb and churchmen of thy realme have heertofore had such authority over thy subjects that apparently they were rather King and thou the Subject which unjust regiment is of it self false and contrary to holy Scripture Thou art the King Master and they are thy subjects which is true and testified by the word of God And also because they will give no man of whatsoever degree whom they once call hereticks audience time nor place to speak and use defence which is against all lawe .... So that if I might have had audience and shewd my just defence .... I should never have fled .... albeit it had cost mee my life But because I believed that I could have no audience they are so great with thy Ma. I have departed not doubting but moved of God untill a better time that God illuminate thy Ma. even to give every man audience as thou shouldst mayst and art bound by the law of God who are accused to death And to certify thy Highness that these are not vain words here I offer me to come into thy realm again if thy Ma. will give mee audience and hear what I have for mee according to the word of God and cause any Bishop abbot frier or Secular which is most cunning some of them can not read their Matins who are made Judges of heresy to impugne mee by the law of God and if my part be found wrong thy Ma. being present and judge I refuse no pain .... and if I convince them by the law of God and that they have nothing to lay to my charge but the law of man and their own inuentions to uphold their own glory and pridefull life and dayly scourging thy poor subjects I refer myself unto thy Ma. as judge Whether he hath the victory that holds him at the law of God which can not fail nor be false or they that hold themselves at the law of man which is very oft plain contrary and therefore of necessity false for all thing contrary to verity which is Christ and his law is of necessity a ly And to witness that this comes of all my heart I shall remain at Berwick whil I shall have thy Mas. answer and shall without fail return having thy hand writing that I shall have audience and place to speak I desire no more whereof if I had been sure I should never have departed .... Pardon mee to say that which lieth to thy Mas. charge Thou art bound by the law of God albeit they ly and say It appertaines not to thy Ma. to intermedle with such matters to cause every man who in any case is accused of his life to have their just defense and their accusers produced according to their own law They do blinde thy Ma. eies that knowest nothing of thy law but if I prove not this out of their own law I offer mee to the death Thy Ma. therefore may learn by dayly experience seing they neither feare the King of heaven as their lives testifie neither Thee their natural Prince as their vsurped power in their actions shewes why thy Highness should be no longer blinded Thou mayst consider that they intend nothing else but only the upholding of their barded mules augmenting their insatiable avarice and continually overthrowing swallowing up thy poore subiects never preaching nor teaching out of the law of God as they should the ignorant people but contend who may be most high most rich and nearest thy Ma to put thy temporall Lords and Lieges out of thy Counsell favour who should bee and are most tender servants to thy Ma. in all time of need to the defense of Thee and thy Crown ...... Let thy Ma. take boldness and authority which thou hast of God and suffer not their cruell persecution to proceed without audience given to him who is accused ... and then no doubt thou shalt have thy subiects hearts and all that they can do in time of need tranquillity justice and policy and finally the kingdom of heaven May it please you to give a copy of this to the Clergy and keep the originall and thy Ma. shall have experience if I go against one word that I have spoken c. This Letter was delivered unto the King and it was read by many but no answer was returned and the man went into England and preached some years the gospell to the comfort of his hearers The histo of Reformat Others spoke also against the licenciousness of the Clergy that a new resolution was taken to burne moe A
baptisme pennance and sacrament of the altar little or nothing differing from the Church of Rome 3. he declareth that the cause of our justification is the only mercy of the Father promised freely unto us for his son Christs sake and for the merit of his passion yet good works are necessary with inward contrition charity and other spirituall graces and good motions that is when wee have received remission of our sins or are justified we must give obedience unto God in observing his Law 4. he commandeth pastors to teach their people that images should not be worshipped and are but representers of vertue and good example and therefore no incence knieling nor offering should be done unto them 5. Saints are to be praised or Christ is to be praised in them for their graces and good example that they have left unto us but wee obtain all grace by the only Mediation of Jesus Christ and of none other 6. concerning ceremonies as holy vestures holy water bearing candles on Candlemes-day and some such others he admits them to be good so far as they put men in remembrance of spirituall things but so that they contain in them no power to remit or take a way sin c. There he addeth other iniunctions specially he causethto translate the Bible and commandeth all priests to have a Latine and English Bible lying open in their parish-churches that whosoever pleaseth may read them Then diverse images were demolished An. 1538 especially the most notable stocks of idolatry at Walsingham Worchester ... which had devices to role their âies and to stirre other parts of their body and many other false juglings wherewith simple people had been deceived all which was then made known and destroyed Jo. Foxe in Acts. In the same year followeth the ruine of all religious as they had been called houses by advice of the same L-Cromwell Lord of the privy seale So that all friers Nuns and sects of religion were rooted out of England to the number of 645. Abbeys priories and Nuneries and by Act of Parliament their lands did return to the heirs of the first Donours All that time Steeven Gardener Bishop of Winchester so dealt with the king by representing unto him the grudge of his subjects for rejecting the pope and for his dealing toward his wifes he had then married Anna Sister to the Duke of Cleve An. 1539. and for these his late doings that he persuadeth him for taking away suspicion of heresy to consent unto the burning of John Lambert yea Gardener prevaileth so that the king hearkned no more unto L. Cromwell but contrariwise he beheaded him and Walter L. Hungerford July 28 An. 1540. Tho. Cooper He made an Act discharging the Translation of the Bible made by W. Tindall and restraining the authorized Translation with many limitations An. 34. Henr. VIII It came then to passe that the estate of Religion seemed more and more to decay and popish injunctions were authorized establishing Transubstantiation vowes of chastity private Masses and auricular confession and forbidding communion in both kinds and marriage of priests wherefore some said Henry had forsaken the Pope but not popery and he annulled not those former Statutes Such was the craft of the venemous serpent But God raiseth up some good instruments for Thomas Cranmer archb of Canterburry resists Gardener and the Counsel of England was divided some were for the old Religion and some for the Reformed and Statutes of both sorts were in force So in one day at Smith field An. 1541. Gardener with his faction for refusing his articles caused burn three godly men Do. Robert Barnes Tho. Garret Will Jerom priests and Tho Cranmer with his side caused hang drawe and quarter other three Ed. Powell Ric. Fetherston Tho. Abell for denying the kings Supremacy and maintaining the Bishop of Rome's authority Jo. Foxe in Acts. A stranger beholding these said Good God how can men live here on the one side Papists are hanged and on the other anti-papists are burnt The people were brought marvelously into doubt of Religion All the number of them which suffered in England for maintaining Papacy which was called Treason wer 24 persons but of the other sort many were burnt and so many were imprisoned the same year that room could not be found in the prisons of London and many were kept in other houses by intercession of the L. Chanceller Audley many of them were given to the custody of Noble men where they were used favourably In that year Henry was divorced from his fourth wife by Sentence of his Clergy which did hate her for Lutheranisme as they spoke yet with her own consent and within a month he married Catherin Howard a brothers daughter of the house of Norfolk the next year she was accused of adultery with Tho. Culpeper and beheaded in the Tower with Jane Lady Rocheford as accessory unto her deeds After that Henry began to misse his good Counseller L. Cromwell and to perceive the scope of Gardener he wrote unto Archbisbop Cranmer to reforme pilgrimages and idolatry and he permits to eat flesh in Lent pretending a civill respect and the benâfite of the people But bloodie Gardener âeaseth not from persecution and burnt in one fire Ro. Testwood Ja. Filmer Jo. Marbeck and Antonie pierson at Winchester An. 1543 and great numbers at Calice amongst whom was the abovenamed Alex. Seton The Commissioners of this bloody Inquisition were restrained by the Lords of parliament An. 1545 that no inditements should be received against any person but by the oaths of 12. men at least of honesty credite and free of malice Item that no person should be put in ward before his enditement were heard judged except at the Kings speciall command Item An. 35. Henr. VIII c. 16. it was enacted that the king should have full authority to appoint 16. of the clergy and 16 of the Temporalty to peruse and examine the canons constitutions and ordinances Provincial and Synodal and according to their discretions with his Royall consent to setle and establish an order of Ecclesiasticall lawes to be observed in time coming in all spirituall courts As these Acts did in some measure shew the mind of the King so Gardener ceaseth not yea he spareth not the godly Lady the Kings sixth wife and sent to apprehend her but by her wisedom and submission unto the King she was saved out of the butchers handes In a word Henry was much led by his Counsellers he died in January 1547. When he saw death approaching he nameth his son Edward to be his heire and failing him he appointeth the Crown unto Mary and failing her unto Elisabeth he appointeth 16. Counsellours as Governours of his son amongst whom were Th. Cranmer and Gardener but afterward he caused to blott out Gardeners name because said he he would trouble all the rest he is of so turbulent a spirit The chieff of these Counsellers was Edward Seymer Earle of Herford uncle to king
began to praise God that he had so mercifully heard them in their extremity and had sent such support that without effusion of blood the rage of their enemies might be stayd The same night the Earle of Argile and L. James were sent from Sterlin and coming the next day began to advise unto agreement of which they were all willing but some were suspicious that promises would not be keeped longer then their adversaries saw their advantage John willock came with them of the West country then he and Iohn knox went to the Earle of Argile and L. Iames accusing them that they had deftauded the brethren of their dutifull assistance in such necessity They both answered Their heart was constant with their brethren and they would defend that cause to the uttermost of their power but because they had promised to endeavoure a concorde and to assist the Queen if yee shall refuse reasonable offers in conscience and honour we could do no less than be faithfull in our promise made and therefore we yet require that the brethren may be persuaded to consent unto a reasonable appointment and we promise in Gods presence that if the Queen shall break in any jote thereof we with our whole power will concurre with the brethren in all time coming So Maie 28. the appointment containing the forenamed conditions was concluded and free entry was made unto the Queen the Duke and the French men Before the departing of the Congregation A peace was made Iohn knox had a Sermon exhorting them all unto constancy and unfainedly to thank God for that it had pleased his mercy to stay the malice of the enemy without effusion of blood and that none should be weary to support such as shall hereafter be persecuted for said he I am assured that no part of this promise shall be longer keeped than the Queen and the French men have the upper hand Many of the adversaries were at the Sermon And before the Lords went away this bond was drawn-up At Perth the last day of May in the year 1559. the Congregations of the West Country with the Congregations of Fife Perth Dundy Anguise Merns and Montrose being conveened in the town of Terth in the name of Jesus Christ A new bond for setting forth his glory understanding nothing more necessary for the same than to keep constant amity unity and fellowship together according as they are commanded by God Are confederated and become bounden and obliged in the presence of God to concur and assist together in doing all things required of God in his Scripture that may be to his glory And at their whol powers to destroy and put away all things that do dishonour to his name so that God may be truly and purely worshipped And incase any trouble be intended against the said Congregation or any part or member thereof the whole congregation shall concur assist and conveen together to the defense of the same congregation or person troubled And shall not spare labours goods substance bodies and lifes in maintaining the liberty of the whole congregation and every member thereof against whatsoever person shall intend the said trouble for cause of Religion or any other cause depending thereupon or lay to their charge under pretense thereof although it happen to be coloured with any other outward cause In witnessing and testimony of the which the whole congregation fore said have ordained and appointed the Noble men and persons underwritten to subscribe these presents It was subscribed by the Earls Argile and Glencairn and by the Lords James Stuart Boyd Uchiltry and Mathew cambell of Tarmganart The hist of refor li. 2 Immediatly after their departing all the heads of the Capituâââon were broken some citizens were exiled others were fined in great sums the Magistrats thrust out of their office new ones against the usuall manner intruded and four companies left for a garrison and these were charged to permit no other Service but of the Roman Church Some desiring matters to be carried more peaceably told her these things would be interpreted a breach of the Articles She answered The promise was to leave no French Souldiers in the town which she had done for those were al Scots men It was replied that all who took wages of the French King would be called French Souldiers She said Promises are not to be kept to hereticks and if she could make an honest excuse after the fact committed she would take upon her conscience to kill and undo all that Sect And Princes should not be so strictly urged to keep promises These speeches beeing divulged did procure to her much ill nor did she after that time see a good day but was despised and misregarded by all sorts of people The Earle of Argile and L. James thinking their honour touched by the breach of the peace did forsake her and went to the Congregation Therefore they were charged to appear before Her Counsell but they answer Seing the Queen had broken conditions which by warrant from herself they had made with the Lords of the Congregation they would medle no more in such dishonest courses and do their best to repair things Thè Noble men were gone to Santandrews and because they feared some sudden attempt for the Queen and the Frenches lay at Faulkland they sent to the Lairds of Dun Pittarrow and entreated them of Angulse Merns to meet at Santandrews Juny 4 and they went to Creil whither all that had warning came with great forewardness and were not a little encouraged by John Knox in a Sermon he told them that then they saw it true what he had said at Perth concerning the Queens sincerity and exhorted them to be no longer deluded with fair promises of them who had no regard of contracts covenants nor oaths and because there will be no quietnes till one of the parties were Masters he wished them to prepare themselves to dy as men or to live victorious By this exhortation the hearers were so moved that immediatly they pull down altars images and all the moniments of idolatry within the town and the next day they did the like in Anstruther from thence they hasten to S. Andrews The Bishop hearing what they had done and thinking they would attempt the same reformation in the City came to it well accompanied to withstand them but when he had tried the affections of the people he goeth the next morning unto the Queen That day being sunday John Knox preached in the Parish-church he compared the estate of the Church which was at Jerusalem when Christ purged the temple unto the estate of the present Church and declared what was the duty of these to whom God had given authority and power He did so incite the hearers that after Sermon they went and made spoil of the Churches and rased the monasteries of the black and gray Friers I will not scan whither the acts of such zeal was according to Gods law but to speak
that the Masse and the opinions which they teach the people concerning it be laid to the square of the first institution that the world may know whither their teachers had offended or not in that which they have affirmed whither the action of the Masse be not expressely repugnant unto the last Supper of the Lord Jesus whither the sayer of it commit not horrible blasphemy in vsurping The sayer of Masse is a blasphemer upon the offices of Christ Al. Anderson denied that the Priest takes upon him Christs office A masse-book was brought and it wat read out of the beginning of the Canon Suscipe Sancta Trinitas hanc oblationem quam ego indignus peccator offero tibi vivo Deo et vero pro peccatis toâius Ecclesiae vivorum et mortuorum Then said the Minister If to offer for the sins of the whole Church be not the proper office of Christ only let the Scripture judge and if a vile man whom ye call priest proudly takes the same upon him let your own books witnes Al. Anderson said Christ offered the propitiatory and none can do that but we offer the remembrance It was answered We praise God that yee deny a sacrifice propitiatory in the Masse and we offer to prove that in moe than an hundred places of your Papisticall Doctors it is affirmed that the Masse is a sacrifice propitiatory But whereas ye alledge that yee offer Christ in remembrance we aske first Unto whom do yee offer him and next By what authority are ye assured of well-doing In God the Father falleth no oblivion and if ye will shift and say that ye offer not as if God were forgetfull but as willing to apply Christs merits to his Church we demand of you What power and commandement have ye to do so We know that our Master commanded his Apostles to do what He did in remembrance of him and plain it is that Christ took bread gave thanks brak the bread and gave it to his disciples saying Take eat ..... here is a command to take and eat to take and to drink but to offer Christs body either for remembrance or application we find not and therefore we say To take upon you an office which is not given unto you is uniust vsurpation and not lawfull power Then Alexander vseth some words of shifting but the Lords require him to answer directly Then said he I am better acquainted with philosophy than with Theology Then John Lesley then Parson of Vne and immediatly was sent by the Bishops and their faction to be agent in their business with the Queen and thereafter was called Bishop of Rosse was demanded to answer unto that argument After some litle pause he said If our Master hath nothing to say unto it I have nothing for I know nothing but the Canon-law and the greatest reason that ever I could find there is Volumus and Nolumus The Nobility seeing that neither the one nor the other would answer directly say Wee have been miserably deceived for if the Masse may not obtain remission of sin to the quick and to the dead wherefore were all the Abbeys so richly doted and endowed with our lands Hereby it is clear as also by what is written of the Parliament that the Papists had liberty to plead for their Religion and were required to say what they could not only with safety and assurance of protection but they did appeare and shew their weakness At that time the book of Discipline was not allowed nor reiected but delayd and thereafter it was approved by the Counsell for their own part but not authorised and some additions were noted and this provision expressely added That the Bishops Abbots Priors and other Beneficed men who had already adioined them unto the Religion shall enioy their benefices during their lives they upholding and sustaining the Ministery and Ministers for their part The issue of this provision was many Church-men gave away and sold their Manses gleebs tyths and other things to the prejudice of the Church so that the entertainment of Ministers was very small in many places nothing at all and the gleebs could hardly be recovered XIII At Edinburgh December 20. An. 1560. was the first Nationall assembly where conveened the Ministers and Commissionares from Shires The first assembly of the Church and Burghs about the number of 44. persons 1. They designe Ministers and Readers unto severall parishes throughout the Countrie 2. It was appointed that in time coming the election of Minister Elders and deacons shall be in the publick church and premonition to be on the sunday preceeding 3. It is found by the law of God marriages may be solemnized betwixt parties of the second or third degrees of consanguinity and others that are not prohibited by the word of God and therefore to desire the Lords and Estates to interpose their authority and make lawes thereupon 4. It is appointed that for punishment of fornication the law of God be observed and these shall make publick repentance which vse carnall copulation betwixt the promise and solemnization of their marriage 5. that earnest supplication be made unto the Estates of the realm and to the Lords of Secret counsell that all Judges ordinary and Judiciall Officers as Lords of the Session Shireffs Stewarts Balives and other ordinary Judges be professours of the trueth according to the word of God and all Ministers of the word to be removed from such Offices according to the Civill law 6. To supplicate the Parliament and Secret Counsell that for eschuing the wrath of the Eternall and removing the plagues threatned in His law Sharp punishment be ordained against idolaters and mantainers thereof in contempt of Gods true Religion and Acts of Parliament namely which say Masse or cause it to be said or are present thereat And a catalogue of their names is writen They appoint Comissioners to attend the Parliament if any shall be called with these supplications It is to be observed from the fift Act that Ministers of the word were forbbidden to be Judges in Civil causes which is against the former practise when Bishops and other prelats were Lords of Parliament and sat in Civill Courts No Parliament was called as was expected but a Convention of Estates was appointed to be in May before which time Papists resort to Edinburgh in great numbers and began to brag of their power The Commissioners which were appointed In a Convention of the Estates An. 1561. Papistry is again forbidden by the Assembly of the Church conveen May 17. An 1561. and draw up these articles to be presented unto the Convention that idolatry and all monuments thereof should be suppressed throughout the realm that the sayers maintainers and heareâs of the Masse should be punished according to the Act of Parliament 2. That cârtain provision be made for maintenance of the Superintendents Ministers and Readers that Superintendents be planted where none are That punishment be appointed for
such as disobeied or contemned the Superintendents in their function 3. That punishment be appointed for the abusers and contemners of the Sacraments 4. That no Letters of Session or warrant from any Judge be given to answer or pay tythes unto any person without speciall provision that the parishoners retain so much in their hands as is appointed for maintenance of the Ministry And that all such as are given heretofore be called in and discharged 5. That the Lords of the Session or any other Judges proceed not upon such Precepts or warnings past at the instance of them which lately have obtained fues of Vicarages and Manses and Churchyards and that sixe a kers if so much there be of the Gleeb be always reserved to the Minister according to the appointement of the book of Discipline 6. That no Letters of Session nor other Warrants take place untill the stipends contained in the book of Disciplin for maintenance of the Ministers be first consigned in the hands at least of the principalls of the parishioners 7. That punishment be appointed against all such as purchase bring home or execute within this realm the Popes Bulls The Tenour of the Supplication was this Please your Honours and the Wisdoms of such as are presently conveened with you A supplication of Barons burgesses in Counsell to understand that by many arguments we perceive what the pestilent generation of that Roman Antichrist within this realm pretends to wit that they would erect their idolatry take upon them Empire above our consciences and so to command us the true subjects of this realm and such as God of his mercy hath under our Soveraine made subject unto us in all things to obey their appetites Honesty craveth and conscience moveth us to make the very secrets of our hearts patent to your Honours in that behalf whichs is this That before ever these tyrants and dumb dogs empire above us and above such as God hath subjected unto us that wee the Barons and Gentle men professing Christ Jesus within this realm are fully determined to hazard life and whatsoever we have received from God in temporall things Most humbly therefore beseeching your Honours that such order may be taken that we have not occasion to take again the sword of just defence unto our hands which we have willingly after God had given Victory both to your Honours and us resigned over into your hands to the end that Gods gospell may be publickly preached within this realm the true Ministers thereof reasonably maintained idolatry suppressed and the committers there of punished according to the lawes of God and men In doeing whereof your Honours shall finde us not only obedient in all things lawfull but also ready at all times to bring under order and obedience such as would rebell against your just authority which in absence of our Soverain wee acknowledge to be in your hands besâeching your Honours with upright judgement and indifferency to look upon these few arâicles and by these our Brethren to signifie unto us such answer again as may declare your Honours worthy of that place whereunto God after some danger sustained in his mercy hath called you And let these enemies assure themselves that if your Honours put not order unto them that we shall shortly take such order that they shall neither be able to do what they list nor to live upon the sweat of the browes of such as are not debters unto them Let your Honours conceive nothing of us but all humble obedience in God But let the Papists be yet once again assured that their pride and idolatry we will not suffer This Supplication was sent by the Master of Lindsay the Lords of Lochinvar Pharniherst and Whittengham Tho. Menzies Provest of Aberdien and Ge. Lovell burgess of Dundy The Lords and Counsell made an Act ordinance answering to every head of these articles and commanded Letters to be answered thereupon At this time Lord James Stuard had returned from France and brought Letters from the Queen praying them to entertain quietnes and to suffer nothing to be attempted against the Contract of peace which was made at Lieth till her own coming home and to suffer the Religion publickly established to go forward c. This second fall got Satan after he had begun to trouble the Religion once established by Law The Histor. of Reformat Lib. 3. That book closeth with these words The books of discipline have been of late so often published that we shall forbear to print them at this time hoping that no good man will refâse to follow the same till God in a greater light establish a more perfite By these and many passages of the book it is cleare that at that time they did not judge it to be the constant rule of Disciplin in all time coming and so we will find that within few years the Assembly thought upon another Order XIV August 19. An. 1561. The Queen arrives at Lieth very many The Queens arrivall of all ranks come to congratulate her safe return much mirth was that week in Halirudhouse and Edinburgh On Sunday August 24. when preparation was for the Masse in the Chappell-Royal the hearts of the godly were stirred and some said openly Shall that Idol be suffered to take place again within this realm It shall not One carrying the candle was sore affrighted No Papist durst speak against them but Lord James took upon him to keep the Chappell-door when the Masse was ended the Priest was convoied betwixt the Lords of Coldingham Halirudhouse unto his chamber The next day the Queen comes into Privy Counsell Some were sent unto the Noblemen severally with these or such persuasions Alas will you chase our soverain from us She will incontinently return to her Galeys and then what will all Nations say of us may we not suffer her a litle while I doubt not but she will leave it if we were not assured that She may be won we should be as great enemies to the Masse as ye can bee her Uncles will go away and then we shall rule all at our pleasure would not we be as sorry to hurt the Religion as any of you would bee With these persuasions the fervency of many was abated and An Act concerning Religion an Act was made wherein her Majesty ordaines Letters to be directed and proclaimed that all the subjects should keep peace and Civil society while the Estates of the realme may be assembled and her Majesty shall have âaken a finall order by their advice which her Majesty hopeth shall be to the contentment of all the Law bidding that none should take in hand privately or openly any alteration of the State of Religion or attempt any thing against the same which She hath found publickly universally standing at her arrivall under pain of death With certification that if any subjects shall come in the contrary he shall be held for a seditious person and raiser
your Ma. that all affection set aside you declare yourself so upright in this case that ye may give evident demonstration to all your subjects that the fear of God joyned with the love of common tranquillity hath the principall seat in your Majestics heart This further Madam in conscience we speak that as your Ma. in Gods name doth crave of us obedience which to render in all things lawfull we are most willing So in the same name do we the wholl professors of Christs Evangell within this your Mas. realm crave of you and of your Counsell sharp punishment of this crime And for performance thereof that without delay the principal actors of this hainous crime and the persuaders of this publick villany may be called before the Chief Justice of this realm to suffer an assise and to be punished according to the lawes of the same and your Majesties answer most humbly we beseech This supplication was presented by sundry Gentle-men Some Courtiers ask Who dare avowe this The Lord Lindsay answered A thousand Gentlemen within Edinburgh Others advise the Queen to give a gentle answer till the Convention were dissolved And so the Queen said Her uncle is a stranger and hath a young company with him but she shall put such order unto him and all others that heereafter they shall have no occasion to complain The Histor. of the Reformat libr. 4. Two assemblies An. 1562. XV. In Juny 1562. The assembly gives order to draw up a Supplication unto the Queen for abolishing the Masse and other superstitious rites of the Roman Religion for inflicting punishment against blasphemy contempt of the word profanation of the sacraments the violation of the sabbath adultery fornication and such other vices that are condemned by Gods word and the lawes of the countrey have not taken notice of And it was petitioned that the actions of divorcement should either be remitted to the judgement of the Church or trusted to men of good knowledge and conversation And that Papists be excluded from places in Counsell and Session The draught of this Supplication was judged by the Courtiers to be tarte in some expressions and they took upon them to write another containing the same things but in a more acceptable phrase It was presented by the Superintendents of Lothian and Fife and when the Queen had read some of it she said Here are many faire words I can not tell what the hearts are And so for our painted oratory we were termed flatterers and dissemblers but we received no other answer Ibid. Spotswood saith Her answer was that she would do nothing in prejudice of the Religion she professed and hoped before a year were expired to have the Masse and Catholick profession restored through the whole Kingdom And thus she parted from them in choler In this assembly was appointed an Order of Visitation for regulating the Superintendents to wit for examination of Ministers lives and doctrine then of the elders And some were appointed to visite the Churches in the Shires where were no Superintendents as George Hay to Visite Carrick and Cunningham John Knox to visite Kile and Galloway c. Alexander Gordon Bishop of Galloway did professe the Reformed Religion and in this assembly petitioneth the Superintendency of Galloway It was denied unto him At that time the Abbot of Corsrainell sought disputation with John Knox it continued three daies at Maiboll the Abbot made choise of the matter to prove the sacrifice of the Masse especially from Melchisedek's offering as he alledged bread and wine unto God The Papists looked for a revolt in Religion and they would have had some occasion to brag of their disputation According to the appointment of the preceeding assembly the next conveenes at Edinburgh December 25. John Knox made the prayer for assistance of Gods Spirit In the 2. and 3. Sessions Superintendents and then Ministers were removed and censured severally Complaints were made that Churches want Ministers Ministers had not stipends wicked men were permitted to be Schoolmasters idolatry was erected in sundry parts of the Nation For redress of this last some said A new Supplication should be presented unto the Queen Others said What answer was given to the former One in name of the Queen said It is well knowen what troubles have occurred since the last Assembly The Queen visiting the North was troubled by the Gordons and the Earle was killed at Coriechy and therefore it is no wonder though the Queen hath not answered but before the Parliament in May they doubt not but such order shall be taken as they all shall have occasion of contentement This satisfied the assembly for that time The Lord Controller required the Commissioners of Burghs to declare by word or writ what course they would take for entertaiment of their Ministers Decemb. 29. inhibition is made to all serving in the Ministry which have entred being slaunderous before in doctrine and have not satisfied the Church and which have not been presented by the people unto the Superintendent and he after tryall had not appointed them unto their charge And this Act to have strength aswell against them that are called Bishops as others pretending to any Ministry within the Church Decemb. 30. the assembly gives power to every Superintendent within his own bounds in their Synodall assembly and with consent of the greater part of Ministers and elders to transport Ministers from one Church to another and ordaines the Minister so decerned to obey And ordaines the Superintendents to hold their Synods twice in the year to wit in Aprile and October Commission is given to the Superintendents of Anguise Lothian Glascow and Fife with Da. forrest to travell with the Lords of Secret Counsell concerning the causes that should come in judgement of the Church and what order of execution shall be taken therein Ordaines the communion to be ministred four times in the year within burghes and twice yearly in the Landward Also that uniformity shall bee kept in the ministration of the Sacraments and solemnisation of marriage and burialls according to the book of Geneva By this book is meaned that book called The common order which was conform to the English Church in Geneve and was usually printed before the Psalmes in Meeter Likewise a slaunder was raised upon Paul Meffan Minister at Jedburgh commission was given to John Knox and certain Elders of Edinburgh to go into that town and try the slaunder and report the truth unto the Session of the Church of Edinburgh to whom with the assistance of the Superintendent of Lothian commission is given to decern therein His woman-servant had brought forth a child and would not tell who was the father of it but said She was forced in an eevening and knew not by whom The Matter could hardly be tryed but at last the womans brother was brought to examination and Paul seeing that though before he had alwayes denied the fact yet then fled so taking the crime upon him
and the man made the matter so plain that all doubt was removed Then those Judges for this odious crime did deprive him of all function within the Church of Scotland and for his contumacy in not appearing before them did excommunicat him The author of the The Histor of Reformat saith this is recorded not only for a warning example unto others but likewise that the world may see what difference is betwixt the Church of God and the Romish Church seeing many of their Bishops and Priests yea and Popes are known to be guilty in such crimes and no way censured XVI The Papists at Easter An. 1563. began to say Masse more boldly than before namely John Hamilton Bishop of Santandrews the Prior 1563. Masse is practised of Whithern and many other priests monks This was offensive to many and therefore the Shirefs and others which had civill power especially in the West parts resolve that they will not complain to the Queen nor Counsell but execute former proclamations against the sayers of Masse and so some priests in the West were apprehended The Queen The QueeÌ conferrech a I. Knox. was offended and sent for John Knox to come to her in Lochlevin and dealt with him that he would persuad the people and especially the Gentle men of the West Country not to punish any man for using what Religion they please John answereth If her Ma. would punish malefactors according to the lawes he could promise quietness upon the part of all which professe the Lord Jesus within Scotland but if she thought to delude the lawes he feareth some will let the Papists understand that they shall not be suffered to offend Gods Majesty without punishment When âhe Queen heard these and other words to this purpose she takes another course and directes summons against Masse-mongers in the straitest form with expedition to compeare on May 19 one day before the Parliament The Bishop of Santandrews the before named Prior the Parson of Saucher and others do compear At first the Bishop refuseth to answer before Civill Judges yet in end they all come into the Queens will and She designes them to severall prisons Then said some See what the Queen hath done the like was never done within this realm we doubt not but all shall be well Others fore spake things as it came to passe that it was but deceit and so soon as the Parliament is ended the Papists will be set at liberty and therefore advised the Nobility that they be not abused Many had their private business to procure in the Parliament especially the Act of oblivion and they said They might not urge the Queen at that time for if they did so she will hold no Parliament and what then may become of them and their friends but let this Parliament passe over whensoever the Queen craves any thing as She must do before her marriage Religion shall be the first thing that shall be established Much was spoken against A Parliament that politicall delay but in vain An act of oblivion was past of all things done in the publick cause from the year 1558. till September 1. in the year 1561 Manses and gliebs were appointed for Ministers adultery to be punished with death of both persons but nothing for establishing of admonition unto the Nobility Religion In time of this Parliament John Knox said in a Sermon before maây of the Nobility and other members My Lords I praise my God throgh Jesus Christ that in your presence I may powr forth the sorow of my heart yea yourselves shall be witnesses if I make any ly in things by past from the beginning of Gods mighty works within this realm I have been with you in your most desperat tentations ask your own consciences and let them answer before God if that I not I but Gods Spirit by mee in your greatest extremity willed you not ever to depend upon your God and in his name promised unto you victory preservation from your enemies if yee would depend upon his protection and prefer his glory before your lives and wordly commodities in your most extreme dangers I have been with you Santiohnston Couper-moore and the charges of Edinburgh are yet recent in my heart yea that dark and dolorous night when all you my Lords with shame fear left this town is yet in my mind and God forbid that ever I forget it What was my exhortation unto you and what is fallen in vain of all that ever God promised unto you by my mouth yee yourselves live and testify There is not one of you against whom death destruction was threatned perished in that danger and how many of your enemies hath God plagued before your eies shall this be the thankfulness that yee shall render unto your God to betray his cause when yee have it in your hands to establish it as you please Yee say The Queen will not agree with us Ask yee of her what by Gods word yee may justly require and if She will not agree with you in God you are not bound to agree with her in the devill Let her plainly understand so far of your mindes and steal not from your former stoutnes in God and he will prosper you in your enterprises But I can see nothing but a recooling from Christ Jesus that the man that first and most speedily fleeth from Christs Ensigne holdes himself most happy Yea I hear some say that we have nothing of our Religion established by law nor Parliament albeit the malicious words of such can neither hurt he trueth of God nor yet us that thereupon depend yet the speaker of this treason committed against God and against this poor common wealth deserves the gallowes for our Religion being commanded and so established by God is received within this realm in publick Parliament And if they will say It was no Parliament we must and will say and also prove that Parliament was al 's lawfull a Parliament as ever any that passed before it in this realm I say If the King then living was King and the Queen now in this realm be lawfull Queen that Parliament can not be denied And now my Lords to put an end to all I hear of the Queens marriage Dukes Brethren to Emperours and Kings strive all for the best gain But this my Lords will I say note the day and beare witnes hereafter Whensoever the Nobility of Scotland who professe the Lord Jesus consents that an infidell and all Papists are infidels shall be Head to our Soverain ye do so far as in you lieth to banish Christ Iesus from this realm yea to bring Gods vengeance upon the Country a plague upon yourselves and possibly yee shall do small confort to your Soveraigne This manner of speaking saith the History of Reformation was judged intolerable both Papists and Protestants were offended at it and some posted to give the Queen advertisement that Knox had spoken against her
wee must for both thirds and two parts are rigorously taken from us aâd our tenants One said if others will follow my Counsell the Guard and the Papists shall complain al 's long as the Ministers have done Then the former sharpness was coloured and the speaker alledgeth that he meaneth not of all Ministers Christopher goodman an English answereth My Lord Secretary if you can shew what just tittle either the Queen hath to the third or the Papists to the two parts then I think I could resolve whither she be debtour to Ministers within burgh or not The Secretary replieth Ne sit peregrinus curiosus in aliena Republica Goodman answereth Albeit I be a stranger in your policy yet I am not so in the Church of God and therefore the care doth no less appertain unto mee here than if I were in the midst of England The Hist of Reformation Lib. cit This debate was because the Popish prelates were permitted to enjoy their tyths enduring their life so that a competent stipend were provided unto the Ministers and when the Queen returned home at the demand of the Counsell the Prelats condescended to quite the third part of the tyths for entertainment of the Queen's family and the provision of Ministers but the Guard received the thirds and gave nothing or little unto Ministers and they had oft complained of their want In all these quick reasonings I. Knox spoke not a word but thereafter he said I have traveled Right honourable and beloved Brethren since my last returning into this realm in an upright conscience before my God seeking nothing more as he is witnes than the advancement of his glory and the stabillty of his Church within this realm and of late dayes I have been accused as a seditious man and as one that usurpes to myself power that becomes mee not true it is I have given advertisement to the Brethren in diverse quarters of the extremity intended against the faithfull for looking to a priest going to Masse and for observing those that transgresse against just laws but that here in I have usurped further power than was given mee till that by you I be condemned I utteâly deny for I say by you that is by the Generall Assembly I have all just power to advertise the brethren from time totime of dangers appearing as I have powr to preach the word of God in the pulpit of Edinburgh for by you was I appointed unto the one as unto the other and therefore in the name of God I crave your judgements the danger that appeared unto mee in my accusation was not so fearfull as the words that came to my ears were dolorous to my heart for these words were plainly spoken and that by some Protestants What can the Pope do more than to send forth his letters and require them to be obeied Let mee have your judgements therefore whither I have usurped any power to myself or If I have obeied your commandement Ibid. John Knox is removed and then the Lord Lindsay the Lairds of Kilwood Abbotshall Cuninghamheed the Superintendents of Anguise Fife Lothian West and Galloway Mrs John Row W. Christeson Ro. Hamilton Chri. goodman with the most part of the assembly did declare that they remember very well that Jo. Knox would have had himselfe exonered of the foresaid charge and that the Church at that time would not suffer him to refuse it but that he should continue as before to advertise from time to time as occasion shall be given An extract of the Acts of tbe nationall assemblies 3. The Noble men and Barons present do finally consent that for their own parts the tenants or labourers of the ground shall have their own tyths upon composition 4 It was thought needfull for confirmation of the book of discipline that certain commissioners or any three or four of them shall revise it and consider diligently the contents thereof noting their judgements in write and reporte the same unto the next assembly or if any Parliament shall interveen they shall report their judgements unto the Lords of the Articles 5. All Ministers and Readers having Manses at their Churches shall make residence there 6. Concerning Thomas duncanson who was Schoolmaster and Reader in Sterlin and having committed fornication had made publick repentance it was ordained that he shall abstain from that office in the Church untill the Church of Sterlin make request for him unto the Superintendents and he shall marry the woman if she require it 7. Alexander Jardin Minister at Kilspindy having committed fornication and therefore suspended by the Superintendent of Fife and thereafter had made publick repentance and married the same woman Is again suspended from all function in the Ministery untill the next Assembly and then to receive his answere 8. Commission was given unto five Ministers to take cognition of a complaint given by the Superintendent of Fife against Ge. Lesly Minister at Stramiglo and to decide therein and to notify their Sentence unto the Superintendent of Anguise In this year by past was great death and dearth through all the Country that the prices of corne and flesh was triple above the custom The writer of The Histo of Reformotion saith God did so according to the threatning in the law punish our ingratitude that suffered them to defile the Land with that abomination that he had so potently purged by the power of his word and for the riotous feasting both in City and country but alas who lookes to the true cause of our calamity Likewise in the winter following fell great rain which in the falling freezed so vehemently that the earth was but a shot of ice the fowls both great small could not flee but freezed and died and some were layd by the fire that their feathers might dissolve This frost is said to have been in January An. 1563. to wit according to the old account which was not changed in Scotland untill the year 1600. and then was changed but continueth in England untill the year 1660. CHAP. â Of COVNCELS I. IT hath been shewd with what difficulty the Councel was called to Trents the History of it is most exquisitly penned by Petro Soave a Venetian The opening of Councel of Trent and translated into sundry languages here I add a compend faithfully and plainly in so far as concerneth the mannaging the Articles of doctrin for the most part When Pope Paul could no longer decline the calling of this councel as is before in the beginning of the year 1545. he sent three Legats John Maria de Monte a Card. Bishop of Palestina Marcellus Cervinus a priest Cardinall de Sancta Cruce and Reginald Pool a deacon Cardinal of S. Mary in Cosmedin with a Breve of legation but no particular instruction being as yet uncertain what commission to give them and intending to dispose as occasions namely the affairs of the Emperour shall require When the Legates were gone he consults the Cardinals what faculty is
no less respect Here was mentioned the example of Luther who having to do with the German Friers and Doctors of Rome did submit himself unto the Pope and when Leo took the words as real and did against the mans mind Luther was more invective against the Pope then he was before against the pardon-mongers Neither could the Legats and the Italian Prelats accord with the Imperialist and Spanish Bishops in the articles of Reformation the one party striving to recover their antient liberty and to crub the Roman Cardinals and the other being zealous of the prerogatives of the Court The Pope is advertised of all these and by advice of Deubts at Rome the Super-Synod framed the articles of doctrine and judged it hard to deny all the articles of reformation or to grant them all at last he directed the Legats to yeeld in some and to cause so many as they could to be delayd unto the next Session In the mean while he consulteth what may ensue upon such difficulties both from the Prelats and Divines he feareth worse a coming he knew the Emperour had temporized with him and now when he prevailes in Germany he will by all meanes use the Councel for subduing Italy and Rome The nearest remedy thinks the Pope is to secure himself against the Synod But how to dissolve it is not seasonable so many things being as yet not spoken of To suspend it will require some weighty cause and were to little purpose for they would immediatly remove that cause To transfer it into another place where himself had absolute power seemes fittest He could not judge Rome a fit place because the Germans would talk of it Bolonia seemes fittest because it is nigh the Alpes and in a fertile soil Then for the manner he will not be named in it but let the Legats do it by authority of their former Bull of the date Febr. 22. 1545 in so doing the blame might be imputed unto them and yet he uphold them or if by any emergent occasion he shall change his mind he may do it without dishonour This he directeth a cousin of Car. De Monte unto the Legats with Letters of credit At the first the Legats were amazed not knowing what shew to pretend but then they talk of the intemperatnes of the aire as appeares said they by the infirmity of some Prelats and the âestimony of Fracastorius Physicion of the Synod and the Pop's pensionary So the Session VII was held on March 3. An. 1547. VII The next day in a General congregation they begin to talk of removing the Councel The Imperialists said There is not so epidemik a The Councel is removed disease as was pretended Nevertheless the Legats will have it voiced and by degrees prevailed to leap into Bolonia A Session was held March 13 a decree was read for removing and to keep the ninth Session at Bolonia Aprile 21. Thirty and five Bishops and three Generals did assent Card. Pacceco and 17 Bishops were for the negative The Imperial Ambassadour required that these remove not untill his Ma. were informed and gave order Those Newes were offensive unto the Emperour taking it as a contempt of him and judging that a weapon was wrested from him by managing of which he had the fairer opportunity to have brought all Germany into obedience He wrote unto the Fathers at Trent commending their constancy and requiring that they remove not Those consult Whether they should do any Synodal Act but all did judge it would turn to a schism Letters were sent mutually between them at Trent and them at Bolonia and both vsed the name of the Synod The Pope sent more Prelats unto Bolonia where in many congregations nothing was handled but how their removing might be defended The Emperour directeth his Letters unto Bolonia and unto Rome representing some inconvenients of removing the Synod and profering some advantages if it be set on foot at Treat again The Bolonians answer They can do nothing without order from the Head of the Church The Pope answered He had already committed his full power unto the Councel The Ambassadors called those answers ascoffing of their Master and according to their Order they made Protestation that the Translation is unlawfull and that all things are void which have followed or shall follow thereupon seing the authority of those few can not give lawes unto all Chistendom and because the Pope and those Fathers are deficient the Emperour will not fail to provide for the Church as it becomes unto him by antient lawes and consent both of holy Fathers and of the whole world Nevertheless the Councel was not restored untill Car. De Monte became P. Julius February 2. in the year 1551. The Emperour sent to congratulate his coronation and to reduce the Synod This P. is now put to his thoughts on the one side he considereth that he was not only called the chief Agent of Transsering it but he had also hitherto mantained it and the same motives of Pope Paul were as yet pressing to wit the designes of the Emperour and of the Prelats aiming at their own interests to the preiudice of the Papal See On the other hand if he called not the Councel again it were scandalous to the world and beget a bad conceit Consultation about the restoring of it of him in the beginning of his Papacy it would provoke the Emperour to vse National Councels yea and forces against him As for the dissuading reasons he thought It could not be called levity in him because before he was a Servant and obedient unto his Lord but now he is Lord and the present dangers must be shunned So he calleth a Congregation of the Cardinals especially the Imperialists that they may fall upon that advice where unto he was inclining They judge it fittest to restore the Councel because before the election in the Conclave he had sworn to do it and again at his coronation besides other reasons He obiecteth principaly the danger of the Papal authority Some answered God who had founded the Roman Church and avanced it above others will dissipate all contrary counsel Some in simplicity think so and others knew not what to say Car. Crescentius said Greatest exploits are difficult because of some causes unknown or lightly accounted of for the present there is more fear that the Princes and world will depart de facto than in the Synod by disputs or decrees there is danger both wayes but the most honourable and least dangeroâs must be chosen The appearing dangers in the Synod may be preveened by holding the Fathers upon other purposes many especially the Italians may be persuaded with hope Princes may be counterpoised differences may be fomented and a wise man will find remedies upon emergent occasions This opinion was embraced and Nuntij were dispatched into Germany and France to represent the ingenuous applause of the Pope unto their common desire Vnto the Emperour it was propounded that in
respect of the vast charges of the Papal Chamber upon the Legats the poor Italian Bishops and other extraordinaries it were expedient to calculat the time of beginning and proceeding and that no hour be spentidly As also it is necessary that before hand his Ma. were assured of the Germans both Catholiks and Protestants and bind themselves unto the Decrees especially what things are already established should not be called into question As he had condescended to further the affairs of his Ma. by holding the Synod in that place so he craves that his sincerity be not abused unto a burdening of himself and hopeth if any shall attempt against him by caviliations or calumnies his Ma. will not marvel if he use the remedies that shall occur for defense of the authority which he hath received immediatly from God The Emperour returns answer extolling his wisdom both in remitting the Synod and in his considerations As for himself and Germany in a Decree at Ausburgh a yeare ago they all even Protestants had submitted themselves as the Copy which he sent shewes but of the particulars that are determined it will be expedient to speak of them when parties are brought together And he promiseth to be a Protector of his Holiness and of his life if occasion require About that time the Emperour propounded in another Diet at Ausburgh that now the Synod was to be opened at Trent It pleased the Popish but the Reformed submitted themselves conditionally 1. that the Pope should not preside but himself be subiect unto the Synod 2. the things that were acted against them should be rëexamined 3. The Divines of the Augustan Confession should have decisive voices Now the Emperour gives unto the Pope account of the absolute submission of the one party and of the conditions required by the other and he demandeth a copy of the Bull of convocation before it be published to the end he may make a Decree concerning it in the Diet and cause it be received by them all Those things did not please the Court of Rome and a Bull was sent conform to the late one for the Pope said If the Germans will refuse he is delivered from his fears of the Synod as also from the scandal for the want of it or if they accept it they shall not be able to practize any thing against him All both Papists and Protestants spoke against the Pop's pride appearing in that Bull but the Emperour calmed their animosities by fair promises He sent unto the Pope for more smooth words in the Bull but all in vain The opening of the Synod was appointed to be May. 1. An. 1551. In the beginning of the year the Pope consulteth how to have trusty Presidents and to save great charges many Legats must have much moneys and he dareth not trust one alone wherefore he sent Marcellus Crescentius Car. de S. Marcello Legat and two Nuntij Sebastianus Pighinus arch Bishop of Siponto and Aloiâus Lipomanus Bishop of Verona all of equal authority and as large as the Letters of his predecessor did bear he commanded them to open the Synod at the day appointed even though there were no other Prelats present VIII Very few Prelats came nevertheles a Session was held and a The Councel is opened Decree was published to wit The Synod is open and the next Session shall be September 1. At that day another Decree was made The third Session shall be October 2. In this second Session Letters were presented from Henry King of France the Inscription was offensive because he called A protestation of France against it them not a Synod but a Convent they refuse to open the Letter as not directed unto them Then said the Bishop of Mentz If yee will not receive Letters from the King of France calling you a holy Convent how will yee he arken unto the Protestants calling you a malignant Convent Then the Legate said The word may be taken in good part and otherwise wee protest that it shall not be prejudiciall The Contens of the Letter was to shew the equity on his part of the present warrs against the Emperour and Pope in protecting Octavius Farnes Duke of Parma he was devote unto the Apostolical See albeit he be compelled to take Arms agaigst Pope Julius he had sent unto Rome and there had protested that if the Pope do judge the protection of Parma which he had so lawfully undertaken even by the Pop's permission to be a just cause of stirring up all Europ into warr he was sory but it can not be imputed unto him who is most willing to accept the Decrees if due order be observed in making them If the Pope will continue in warring he can not send his Prelats unto Trent where they have not secure access nor can France be tied unto their Decrees but he will use the remedies of his Ancestors by National Councels When the Letters were read the Orator makes protestation to the same purpose The Speaker of the Synod after some private conference with the Legate said The Kings modesty is acceptable but they can not accept the person of the French Abbot who had made the protestation and according to Law they summon him apud acta to be present October 2 to receive answer and they forbid to make any note of these actions There was variety of opinions concerning this protestation The Imperialists said It is null because an Act of the greater part of any Vniversality is esteemed lawfull when the lesser being called will not be present and the French Bishops might have come without passing thorow any of the Pop's territories Others said To cal in word and exclude indeed is not to envite and albeit one may come from France to Trent not passing thorow the Pop's territoâies yet he must come through the Emperours Laââs which is all one in respect of the time The Major part hath full authority when the lesser part can not or will not appear and is silent because silence presupposeth consent but when it protests it hath it's place especially if the hinderance be from him who calleth The French Orator said This can not be a lawfull Synod because the Presidents confer privatly with the Emperours Embassador nor communicat with any other and yet the Speaker saith The holy Synod receives the Letters and when the Letters were read the answer of the Presidents only was given in name of the Synod They can not say these are matters of smal importance seing it is a matter of dividing the Church But truly those and other delaying answers were devised untill they were informed from Rome In the mean while the French King was the more bitter against the Reformed lest he be suspected of Lutheranism The Prelats at trent held congregations now and treated of the Eâcharist but after another manner A new methode of debating than they had done before because the Prelats understood not the subtilities of the Divines the Presidents gave
the pure doctrine of the Gospell might be restored and impious errors be put away of which matter the Bishops of Rome should have a special care because of a long time they have assumed the title Pastor of the Church but experience shewes that they have more care in establishing their tyranny and introducing errors then of seeking the glory of God this is so notoriously manifest that the Pop's dearest friends can not but confess it if there be any shame in them Also they said They marveled what moved the Pope and what hope hath he in calling them to his Synod seing he can not be ignorant that they do not acknowledge his jurisdiction neither is it needfull to shew that according to their mind he hath no power by law of God or man to call a Synod and the rather that he is the author of the dissensions in the Church and most tyrannously warreth against the Trueth We acknowledge no other jurisdiction but of the most renoumed the Emperour Ferdinand As for them who are Legates they would honour them as Noble men and would have shewd them more honor if they had not come in name of the Pope Thus the Legates with their Interpreter Gaspar Schoneich a Noble Silesian went to Lubek and sent to Frederik King of Denmark craving access to shew him their commission He returned answer that neither his father nor himself had any medling with the Popes nor now will he accept any mandats from him The Pope sent also Jerom Martineng unto Elisabeth Queen of England when she understood of it she sent into Flanders and discharged him All these Commissions were especially that those Princes would send unto the Synod but experience had taught them that no good did accompany Papal Synods In his Breve unto the King of France he demanded also his consent unto a league which the Pope intended but never was publickly propounded in Trent to wit for taking Arms against the Turk and all hereticks meaning the Protestants XI At Easter the Pope sent unto Trent two Legats Hercules Gonzaga Car. of Mantua and Frier Jerulam Car. Seripando they arrived on the third The Synod is opened day of the feast of the resurrection and found none but nine Bishops before them Wherefore the Pope dispatches moe Italians and they all thought their journey vain because the Emperour had not as yet sent his Commissions When those were brought the Pope sent three Legats more Stanislaus Osius Car. of Varnia Lewes Simoneta a Canonist who had passed thorow all the Offices of the Court and Mark de Altemps his sistersson The first was sent in July An. 1561. and Simoneta was commanded in September to go quickly and at his first arriving to cause say the Masse of the holy Ghost for opening the Synod and delay no time with suspensions nor translations as they had done before but to bring it to an end quickly because they had not need to spend many months seeing the weightiest points were already defined and others were disputed and set in order that little was remaining but the publication Simoneta arrived at Trent December 6 besides the Cardinals were present 92 Bishops in all and before him was a Letter from Rome directing him to A new order in the Synod wait another Commission to open the Synod because the Emperours Ambassadors were not come The Pope is informed that the Spanish Bishops and more eagerly those of France aimed to retrench the Papal authority Then he sent De Altempts in the end of December with commission to open the Synod January 15. without any delay On that day a Congregation sate after arguing on both sides whether it should be called a new Synod or continuation of the former a decree was framed The Councel beginneth to be celebrated in January all suspensions being removed It was also decreed that no Sermon should be delivered before it be censured by Egidius Foscarar Bishop of Modena as Master of the holy palace of Rome and that none should propound any purpose except the Legates These last words were added under pretext of keeping order and they carried them so artificially that few espied the craft and only four did oppose Peter Guerrero Archb. of Granata Francis Bionco Bishop Orensis Andrew de la questa Bishop of Leon and Antonio Collermero Bishop of Almeria Those decrees were read and the next Session appointed to February 26. In the congregation January 27. the Legats propound three things 1. to examin the books written since the heresies began and the censures of the Romanists against them to the end the Synod may make a decree concerning them both 2. All having interest in them should be cited lest they say that they are condemned before they be heard 3. A Safe-conduct should be granted unto all them that are fallen into heresy with a liberal promise of singular clemency if they will repent and acknowledge the authority of the Catholik Church Afâer reasoning to and fro in sundry congregations concerning the books it seemed sufficient for tâe present to depute some few for reading the Index of Paul 4 and to let them that are interessed understand by some little part of the decree that they shall be heard if they come and to envite all Of a Safe conduct men unto the Synod But they would not grant a Safe-conduct lest it were prejudicial to the Inquisiâions seiâg every man might say I am a Protestant and upon my journy but referred it unto more consideration February 13. the Emperours Ambassadors went to the Legates and petitioned five things 1 that the word Continuare should not be used because it makes the Protestant refuse the Synod 2. The Session might be adjournied or matters of less importance be handled 3 That the Confessionists be not exasperated in the bâgânning by condemning their books 4. That an ample Safe-conduct bâ granted unto the Protestants 5. Whatsoever was handeled in the congregâtiâns should be conceiled The Legats answer February 17 Seing it is necessary to give satisfaction unto all as they may as they will not name the word Continuation so it is necessary to abstain from the contrary lest they provoke the Spaniards they promise to spend the ensuing Session on light matters and to give a large time for others they will not condem the Confession of Ausburgh they will speak of the Index in the end of the Synod a Safe-conduct can not be penned before this Session but in the decree they will add a clause granting power unto the Congregation to give a Safe-conduct The Pope was offended that they had granted so much nevertheless they proceed but slowly because it was so determined in the congregation In the Session February 26. a decree was read according to these premisses and the next Session was appointed to May 14. XII March 2. information came from Rome unto the Legats that Confusion of thougts at Trent and Rome heretiâks should not be envited unto repentance with promise
and also Quod qui facit contra conscientiam Divinis in rebus aedificat ad gehennam ...... Beare with me Madam I beseech you if I chuse rather to offend your earthly Majesty then to offend the heavenly Majesty of God ...... I will draw to an end most B. Grindals petitions humbly praying that you will consider these short petitions I. that you would referr all these ecclesiasticall matters unto the Bishops and Divines of the Church of your realm according to the exemple of all Christian Emperours and Princes of all ages for indeed they are to be judged as an Antient writes in Ecclesia seu Synodo non in Palatio When your Majesty hath questions of the laws of your realm you do not decide them in your Court or palace but send them to your Judges to be determined ......... Ambrose to Theodosius used these words Si de causâs pecuniariis Comites tuos consulis quanto magis in causa Religionis Sacerdotes Domini aequum est consulas ...... My second petition is that when you deal in matters of faith and religion or matters that touch the Church of Christ which is the Spouse bought with so dear a price you would not pronounce so resolutely and peremptorily quasi ex authoritatâ as you may do in civil and external matters but alwayes remember that in Gods cause the will of God and not the will of any creature is to take place It is the Antichristian voice Sic volo sic jubeo sâet pro ratione voluntas In Gods matters all Princes ought to bow their Scepters to the Son of God and to ask counsell at his mouth what they ought to do David exhorts all Kings and rulers to serve God with fear and trembling Remember Madam that you are a mortal creature look not only as was said to Theodosius upon the people and princely array wherewith you are apparelled but consider also what it is that is covered there with .......... Must you not one day appear ante terrendum tribunal Crucifixi ut recipias ibi prout gesseris in corpore sive bonum sive malum And although you are a mighty Prince yet remember ...... As the Psalmist saith 76. Terribilis est is qui aufert Spiritum principum terribilis super omnes Reges terrae Wherefore I beseech you Madam in visceribus Christi when you deal in these religious causes set the Majesty of God before your eies laying aside all earthly Majesty determin with yourself to obey his voice and with all humility say unto him Non mea sed tua voluntas fiat God hath blessed you with great felicity now many years beware you do not impute it to your deserts or policy but give God the glory ...... Take heed you never think of declining from God lest it be verified of you which is written of Joash Cum corroboratus esset elevatum est cor ejus in interitum suum neglexit Deum He concludes trusting better of her and praying for her What could be written saith Fuller with more spirit and less animosity More humility and less dejection I see a lambe in his own can be a Lion in God and his Churches cause Say not that Orbitas senectus only encouraged Grindall in this his writing whose necessary boldness did arise partly from his confidence in the goodness of the cause for which partly from the gratiousnes of the Queen to whom he made his adress But alas all in vain Leicester had so filled her eares with complaints against him there was no room to receive this petition But to return to the former purpose we see from this Letter that the form of Exercise was allowed by ten Bishops and the history shewes that the Ministers who used that exercise were not conformists unto the rites But NB. VVhit gift's severity iâ opposed some Bishops of that age were so zealous of their authority and jealous of the prophecyings that diligent Ministers must needs conform or then the flocks shall want teaching and the Queen must bear the blam of all More of these trouble followers here I add that â Whitgift succeeding to Grindal was the first Reformed Bishop that was Counselor of State and most vehement in pressing conformity yet not without many checks and lets For not only did the Counsell sent Letters unto that Archbishop willing him to relent of his severity but as the same author writes in the Parliament Aâ 1587. the House of Commons presented unto the House of Lords a petition complaining that many parishes were destitute of preachers and craving amongst other things that no oath nor subscription might be tendered to any at their enterance into the Ministery but such as is expressly prescribed by the statutes of the realm excep the oath against corrupt entring That they may not be troubled for omission of some rites or portions prescribed in the book of Common prayer That such as had been suspended or deprived for no other offence but only for not subscribing might be restored and that the Bishops would forbear their excommunication exofficio mero of godly and learned preachers not detected for open offence of life or apparent error in doctrine c. And the Lords rancountred the Bishops so hardly especially against plurality of Benefices that matters flying so high the Archbishop conceived it the safest way to apply himself by petition unto the Queen in this manner The wofull and distressed estate whereinto we are like to fall forceth us with grief of heart in most humble manner to crave your Majesties soveraign protection For the pretence being made of the maintenance and increase of learned ministry when it is throughly weighed decrieth learning spoileth their livings takes away the set form of prayer in the Church and it is the means to bring in confusion and barbarisme How dangerous innovations are in a setled Estate whosoever hath judgement perceiveth Set dangers apart yet such great inconveniences may ensue as will make an estate lamentable and miserable Our nighbours miseries may make us fearfull but that we know who ruleth the same All the Churches in Europe can not compare with England in the number of learned Ministers These benefits of your Majesties most sacred and carefull government with hearty joy we feel and humbly acknowledge senseless are they that repine at it The respect hereof made the Prophet to say Dij estis All the faithfull and discreet clergy say O Deacertè Nothing is impossible with God Requests without grounded reasons are lightly to be rejected We therefore not as Directors but as humble Remembrancers beseech your Highness favourable beholding of our estate present and what it will be in time to come if the Bill against pluralities should take any place c. With this petition was annexed a catalogue of pretended inconveniences So that in effect no thing was enacted in relation to this matter but at the dissolution of the Parliament the Bishops were more âevere then
before as followes But mark the different spirits and Genius of these two Archbishops Grindal and Whitgift appearing in their Letters that were directed unto one and the same person This is that Do. Whitgift who bandied and rebandied with Thomas Carthwright The Supplication or Admonition unto the Parliament in the year 1571. whereof hereafter and in defence of Episcopacy and al the other enormities made use of that invincible cannon The Royall power and pleasure And for his arguing thus it was the Royall power and pleasure to make him Archbishop of Canterburry even when Grindal was alive but such was his modesty that he would not accept it untill the old man under restraint was dead Observe then Some Ministers will be ambitious and superstitious and impute all the disorders of the Church unto Royall power and pleasure Pause a little and we will heare another song When men are obstupefied with this Medusa's head the Prelats will chant Episcopacy is De Jure Divino and No Bishop no King and authority may be enchanted to believe it And then the old common tune may be heard again Ego Rex meus as Wolsey Archbishop of York sang in former times or the tune of Canterburry You may not meddle with churchmen how ever they live or whatsoever they do as Thomas Becket said to King Henry II. or the tune of Whinchester I summon you to appear and answer in our Synode as Bishop Henry of Bloys said unto his Brother King Steven Who desireth to know those more particularly may find them and more in the Antipathy of English Lordly prelacie both to Regal Monarchy and Civill unity written by William Prynne Part. 1. 2. Ann. 1641. Neither will they rest here but they will averr If no Bishop then no Presbyter and no Sacrament and consequently no Church And so both King and Church are established upon Episcopacy What loyal heart or who fearing God will not oppose such birds in the shell What remaines but to say plainly Episcopacy is the Rock on which State Church are built Certainly a ground-stone that beares so vast a burden as the security or rather the Beeing of both State and Church must have a fast and sure foundation But where shall we find that foundation Not in the Scripture unless we admit Popish miss-interpretations And if these be admitted we may not stay there but foreward another step and that is known to wit The Pope is the Rock Pope Gregory I. did not suspect what mischief was to follow upon his Masse nor did Hazael know what he was himself to do but let every man look to the tendency of such Tenets 11. The Nationall assembly of Scotland conveens at Edinburgh Juny 25 The assembly VII An. 1564. By voices John Willock is continued Moderator Many Noble men were in the town but very few came the first day wherefore many said they wondered why it was so Lundy of that ilk said I wonder not at their absence but rather that at the last assembly they drew themselves apart and drew away some Ministers and would had them to conclude things that was never propounded to the publick assembly which is prejudiciall to the liberty of the Church therefore my judgement is that they be informed of this offense which many have conceived of their former acting and that they be humbly required that if they be Brethren they would assist their brethren with their presence and Counsell for wee had never greater need Or if they be minded to fall back from us it were better wee knew it now than afterwards All the assembly agreed and gave commission to certain brethren to signify the mind of the assembly unto the Lords which was done the same day The next day came the Duke Earles Argyle Murray Morton Gleincairn Marshall the Officers of State But they drew themselves apart as before and sent M. Geo. Hay Minister of the Court to require the Superintendents and some other Ministers to come and confer with them The Assembly answereth They are now conveened to deliberate on the common affaires of the Church and they could not spare such men whose judgement is necessary nor was is it expedientâ that others should sit without them as it were idle and therefore as they have told them before if they acknowledge themselves members of the Church they should joyn with others and propound in publick what they thought good and shall have the assistance of all but to send a part more hurte and scandall might arise than profit or confort unto the Church seing it is to be feared that all will not be content with the reasonings and conclusions of a few They gave this answer because the Courtiers had endeavoured to draw some Ministers into their faction and to have sustained their opinions arguments When the Lords perceived that they could not prevail by that means they return and purge themselves that they never meant to divide themselves from the Church but only because they had certain Heads or articles wherein they crave some conference yet so that no conclusion shall be taken nor vote required till the propositions and reasonings were heard and considered by the whole Body Upon that condition three Superintendents and four Ministers were directed unto them and because their questions did especially concern John Knox they called for him and they had long debates upon these points 1. That subjects have delivered an innocent from the hands of their King and therein had not offended God 2. Subjects have refused to smite innocents when the King had commanded and in so doing denied not just obedience 3. Subjects stricking an innocent at the command of their King are murtherers before God 4. God hath not only of a subject made a King but had armed subjects against their King and commanded them to take vengeance upon him according to His Law 5. Gods people have execute Gods law against their King having no more regarde unto him in that behalfe than if the had been a subject They could not agree in these points nor was any of them propounded in publike In Sess 3. Commissioners were appointed to present unto the Lords of the Secret Counsell the articles following and report answer unto the present Assembly and if need shall bee to reason with the Lords upon these articles 1. That according to the Acts of Parliament before her Majesties return as also conform to her Majesties promise after her arrivall Christs true Religion be de novo approved ratified and established throughout all the realm and that all idolatry especially the Masse be abolished over all so that no other face of religion be permitted And for the same effect that the Ministers be provided by a sure appointment where they shall receive their livings alswell for the time by past as for the time to come and not to live as beggars as presently they live 2. To desire and with all humility to require that transgressors of the ordinances
alswell in time past as henceforth may be punished according to these lawes especially the contemners of the lawes in Aberdien Cars of Gourie and other places as shall be specified When the Noble men heard these articles they said they thought it not convenient to propound them in that manner but rather they would collect them into two heads thus First they would declare unto her Majesty the good mindes and obedience of them there assembled and as for religion seing it concerneth the said Lords most especially being members of the Church they would deale with her Majesty that the same may be observed according to the Order established at her Highness arrivall And they say they doubt not but they shall obtain so gracious answer from her Majesty as may satisfy the assembly And concerning the sustentation of the Ministers they will likewise deale for it and they hope that they shall be reasonably satisfied Thereafter the same Lords declare how they were not only accepted by her Majesty in good part but that shee had accorded to the performance of the petitions and they promise in her Majesties name unto the assembly the accomplishment For said they if they were not persuaded in their hearts that her Majesty meant sinceerly they would not have been messingers of her answer On the other side all the assembly thank God and her Majesty that their reasonable petitions were so graciously answered and they desire the same Lords reciprocally to promise unto her Majesty in their behalfe all dutifull obedience love and submission which can be expected by any Christian Prince of most faithfull and humble subjects Promising also that if any of their number shall happen to forget the duty of a good subject in offending against her Majesties lawes they all shall concurr ingenuously to the punition of the offender according to the quality of the trespasse and as they shall be required Item concerning the jurisdiction of the Church the assembly nameth four Superintendents Elleven Ministers and four Gentle men to conveen the morn and conferr on the causes and jurisdiction pertaining unto the Church and report their opinions Item it is concluded that a Minister being once placed may not leave that congregation without the knowledge of the flock and consent of the Superintendent or wholl Church and his cause be considered whither lawfull or not Item it is decerned that Pa. Cowston shall not leave his congregation nor go out of the country even albeit he petitioneth it for a time to augment his knowledge Item whereas the Commissioner of Murray had complained on Wi. Sutherland parson of Moy that he had committed fornication and when he was charged to marry the woman he had despitefully torn the Commissioners letters whereupon he was charged to compear before this assembly and hath not come the Assemblie deprives him of all ecclesiasticall function and ordaines the Commissioner to proceed with censures against him for his contempt On Decemb. 13. was a Parliam at Edinb But saith the Hist of Refor the Queen would not cause proclame the Parliament untill she had desired the Earle of Murray by whose means chiefly the Earle of Lennox came into Scotland and was then to be restored that there shall no word be spoken in the Parliament or at least nothing concluded concerning Religion But he answered He could not promise it Some articles were then presented by the Commissioners of the Church especially for abolishing the Masse and punishment of vice but nothing was granted excep that it was statute a hat scandalous livers shall be punished first by prison and then publickly shewed unto the people with ignominy But this was not put in execution The Nationall assembly The VIII Nationall Assembly conveenes at Edinburgh Decemb. 25. Jo. Erskin Superintendent is chosen Moderator It is ordained that the publick affairs shall first in order be treated and then particulars shal be propounded in writ and if any persons cause requires hasty resolution it shall be dispatched in this assembly or els it shall be referred unto the Superintendent of the bounds and certain Ministers to examine it and put their judgement in writ which shall be reported unto the next assemblie 2. The assemblie causeth propounde unto the Lords of Secret Counsell the articles following and humbly require their H. H. to solicite the Queens Majesty for answer 1. To signifie that the transgressors of the proclamations that have been against the sayers and hearers of Masse and the abusers of the sacraments are so common that it may be greatly feared that judgements shall shortly follow unless remedy be provided in time 2. To require the paiment of Ministers stipends 3. That Superintedents may be placed in such parts where none are 4. That these be punished who do shut the church-doors against the preachers coming to preach the word 5. humbly to require of her Majesty what the Church can expect of Benefices vaking or that shall vake 6. By what means Ministers shall come to the possession of Manses glebs whither they be set in fue or not 7. That the Act concerning the reparing of churches be put into execution III. Because there is a common report that many ignorants and of leud conversation are admitted to be Ministers and exhorters and Readers the Superintendents of Anguise Lothian and the West were ordained to visite certain bounds alloted now unto them and John Knox is to visite the Churches of Fife and Perth and others to visite other parts with power to trie suspend depose as they shall finde cause IV. Unto a supplication of Paull Meffan containing sundrie particulars it is answered that the assemblie is ready to accept him if he shall present himselfe before them shewing signes of unfained repentance and be willing to obey as the Church shall appoint unto him But to delete his processe the Church can no way condescend nor think they that petition to proceed from the Holy Ghost seeing David was not ashamed to write his own offense for glorifying God And to admitt him into the Ministry within the realm it is judged no way tollerable untill the memory of his crime be more deeply buried and some Church make request for him And it is signified unto him that the Church is grievously offended that he being excommunicat in Scotland hath taken upon him a Ministry in England I omitt the censures of Superintendents and Commissioners of visiting because it was ordinary Here also is mention of exhorters these were men not furnished with sufficient gifts for the Ministry and because of the scarcety of Ministers were permitted not only to read in a Church but to exercize also their talent in exhorting the people and if they did increase in gifts were admitted into the Ministry III. February following the Queen was in Fife and the Papists waxing more bold went to Masse and uttered words of blasphemie Which was delated to the Lords of Counsell As also some Popish Bishops Priests did brag that
established in all time coming concerning the wholl liberty of the patrimony of the Church and the due restoring of it unto the just owners according to the Word of God With certification to all and sundry of what estate or degree soever they bee that compeares not due advertisement being made unto them that they shall be repute heerafter as hinderers of this most godly purpose and as dissimulate brethren unworthy to be esteemed heerafter of Christs flock Seing God of his mercy at this present hath offered some better occasion than in time by past and hath begun to tread Sathan under foot And for the due requisition admonition in name of the eternall God to the effect foresaid of all and sundry the Brethren alswell in Burgh as Land the Church presently conveened in this Generall Assembly Giveth their full power commission unto their beloveds N. N. for the bounds of In verification heerof these are subscribed by the common Clerk of the Church in the Generall Assembly and second Session thereof at Edinburgh Juny 26. An. 1567. The Histor of Reformat Shewes that the Assembly waâ induced to write these Missives and Commissions by the Noble men who had risen in defence of the young Prince because the Hamiltons and others had declared themselves for the Queen and many were Neuters The assembly continued two days especially for their ordinary particulares 3. It is ordained that it is not lawfull that a man should marry her whom before in his wife's time he had polluted with adultery 4. A publick fast is appointed namely in Edinburgh July 13. 20. The Assembly conveens again Iuly 21. where were four Earls seven Lords many Barons and Commissioners of Burghs besids Superintendents and Ministers Many Noble men which by Missives were required to come would not but sent excuses that they could not repair to Edinburgh because there was so strong a garrison there but for the Church affaires they would not be any way deficient One of their Letters I transcribe because it coutaines not only their purpose in time coming but the sum of the other Missives Wee have received your writing dated at Edinburgh Iuny 26. shewing that albeit God of his goodnes hath sent the light of the Euangell of salvation within this realm to the great confort prosperity of all the faithfull and their posterity nevertheless Sathan with his Ministers at every light occasion hath frustrate in times bypast the Ministers of their life and sustentation the lame and impotent members of Christ also ftustrat of their livings lying in the streets both hungry and cold And the wholl flock of Christ Iesus within this realm continually threatned to be made sacrifices by the practises of the enemies as your writing containes at length for remedying the which yee desire us to be in Edinburgh the 21. of this instant at the Assembly of the Church where a perpetuall order may be taken for the liberty of the Church of God the sustentation of the Ministry and failed members thereof so that all the members of the Church might by sure union and conjunction be more able to gainstand the violence of the foresaid enemies for answer it is not unknown unto you how the Nobility of the realm are divided because the Queen's Maj. is holden where she is and that the town of Edinburgh where yee disire us to conveen is keept straitly by one part of the Nobility and men of warr of their retinue to whose opinion wee are not adjoyned as yet And therefore wee can not think ourselves sure to conveen the said day and place yee desire us to keep And also think maruell that the whole multitude of Protestants have been desired to conveen in such a place the matter standing as it doth Nevertheless wee shall be well willing for our own part to set forward at all times the light of Christs Euangell to be truly preached the Ministers thereof to be sustained and the surth setting of the policy of the Church in all sorts so far as it may stand by law even as wee have been in all times by past since it pleased God to open our eies and shew the light of his blessed word and thus we will comber you with no longer letter prayes God to have you in his eternal protection c. The Lords that were in Edinburgh hearing these answers gave upon July 23. unto the Assembly these articles where upon they had agreed 1. that the Acts of Parliament holden at Edinburgh August 14. An. 1560. concerning Religion and abolishing the Popes authority should have the force of a publick law and that Parliament be defended as a lawfull parliament and be confirmed by the first Parliament that shall conveen 2. That thirds or any more reasonable portion of Benefices shall be allowed for mantenance of the Ministry and that there shall be a charitable course taken concerning exaction of tiths from the poore Labourers moreover that nothing shall passe in Parliament till the affaires of the Church be first considered approved established 3. that none should be received in the Universities Colledges or Schools for instruction of the youth but after due tryall of capacity and hability 4. that all crimes and offenses against God should be punished according to His word and that there shall a law be made there upon at the first Parliament 5. As for the horrible murder of the late King husband to the Queen which was so hainous before God man all true Professors in whatsoeuer rank or condition do promise to striue that all persons should be brought to condigne punishment who shall be found guilty of that crime 6. They all promise to protect the young Prince against all violence lest he be murdered as his father was and that the Prince should be committed to the care of foure wise and godly men that by good education hee might be fitted for that High calling 7. They promise to beat down and abolish Popery idolatry and superstition with any thing that may contribute unto it As also to set up and further the true worship of God his governement the Church and all that may concerne the purity of Religion and life And for this end to conveen and take Armes if need require 8. And that all Princes and Kings heerafter in this realm before their Coronation shall take oath to maintain the true Religion now professed in the Church of Scotland and suppresse all things contrary unto it and that are not agreeing with it These articles were subscribed by all the Earles and Lords and many Barons and Commissioners of Burghs At the same time Commissioners were appointed to conveen and advise upon the assignation of the stipends of the Ministry lately assigned by the Queens Majesty and the payment thereof The next Assenbly is appointed to conveen Decemb. 25. at Edinburgh The renunciation of the Crown and Royall power by the Qâeen in favor of the Prince her son with a commission to
judgement and to obey and underly their iniunctions for these things And being required to declare openly in the fear of God and in uprightness of conscience his simple meaning concerning the estate of Bishops and the corruptions thereof he craved conference with Ja. Lowson Jo. Craig Ro. Pont Da. Lindsay and the Laird of Colluthy that he might be further resolved and give his simple meaning therein The Assembly grantes this petition And where as the Presbyteries of Edinburgh Dalkeith and Lithgow had made protestation against the Sentence given by the King Secret Counsell in favours of Robert mongomery finding the Assembly Judges to the saids Presbyteries in that matter as the Protestation beares The wholl assembly after reading of that Sentence and protestation in one voice ad heres thereunto and the said Robert for his part allowes it and adheres unto it In Sess 13. Robert mongomery compeares and in face of the Assembly declares and promiseth before God that he shall not medle nor attempt more concerning the Bishoprick of Glasgow nor bruik use or take upon him the same nor any other office in the Church without rhe advice and consent of the Generall assembly and renounces the Letters and charge given to the Gen. assembly at his instance and the Letters purchased by him against David Weemes and protestes that in the matter of the Bishoprick of Glasgow he meaneth no other way then all the Brethren do mean VII In Sess The age of intrant Minister 7. Seing sundry Ministers have been intruded upon the Church and presented to Benefices having cure who because of their young years and want of experience and judgement can not be able to discharge that high sacred Calling The Assembly in one mind hath voted and concludes that none be admitted unto the Ministery nor Collationed to any Benefice of cure unless he bee of the age of 25. years except such as for singular and rare qualities shall be judged by the Gen. assembly to be meet and worthy VIII In respect of many inconveniences and mis-order fallen forth by the ambition covetousnes and indirect dealing of many who go about to enter iâto the Ministry and being entred use unlawfull meanes to decline all correction and punishment for their offences The wholl Assembly hath voted and concluded conform to the word of God and most godly Acts of antient Councells that no man pretend to ecclesiastiacll function office or Benefice by any absolute gift collation or admission of the Civill Magjstrate or patron or by Letters of horning or whatsoever other means than is established by the word of God and Acts of the Generall Church and hitherto ordinarily used within the Reformed Church of Scotland And also that none being received into an Ecclesiasticall office or Benefice seek any way by the Civill power to exeem and with draw himself from the jurisdiction of the Church nor procure obtend nor use any Letters of charge either by themselves or any other in their name or at their command or instance To empair hurt or stay the said Jurisdiction disciplin or correction of manners or punishment for their offences and enormities nor to make any appellation from the Gen. assembly to stop the disciplin and order of ecclesiasticall Policy and jurisdiction granted by Gods word to the Office-bearers within the said church under the pain of excommunication summarily and without any process to be pronounced by the judgement of eldership by Minister or Ministers to be appointed by them thereunto how soon it shall be known that any of the saids heads is transgressed And this Act to be no way prejudiciall to Laick patrones in their presentations untill the lawes be reformed according to the word of God IX Because the sabbothday is many wayes profaned to the great dishonor of God especially by holding markers both in burgh and in landward that day the assembly enioynes straitly to every eldership to take order therewith within their own bounds as they may by the Law of God as they will shew their zeal to God and obedience to the Church X. The Assembly in one voice gives commission to Ja. Lowson John Craig Ro. Pont Da. Lindsay John Brand John Dury To passe unto the King and shew unto his Ma. that concerning the Articles sent by the Master of requests to have been answered by the Church being so weighty and important a part of them also being obscure and captious they could not presently resolve upon them all But for the better resolutions they have ordained certain brethren to conferre upon them untill the next assembly which they have appointed to conveen the sooner for that effect And more lamentably to deplore unto his Gr. wherein the jurisdiction of the Church is and hath been heavily hurt preiudged and namely by Letters given out in Glasgow discharging the Presbytery to proceed against M. Robert Mongomery by charge of horning against the wholl Church of Scotland used by the decreet Sentence of the Secret Counsell finding them Judges in the action of Ro. Mongomery by missives sent to gentle men to assist the placing of him in the pulpit of Glasgow against the will of the Church by giving Benefices pleno jure and abbacies in heritage And with all humility due reverence and gentleness that appertaines to exhort his Majesty unto the reforming hereof and maintaining the jurisdiction given by God unto his Church And also to give admonition unto the Duke's Gr. Earls of Arran and Goury in the premisses And what they do heer in to report unto the next Assembly Like wise ordaines the particular Elderships to have a copy of the Articles sent by the King that they may be the better advised to give answer resoluedly in the next assembly XI The Assembly ordaines certain persons to erect presbyteries in all parts of Rules ordering the Presbyteââes the realm where they are not as yet And unto some doubts that are propounded concerning them these answers are given 1. The Moderator may continue from one Synod to another and his election to be by the particular presbytery 2. The number of such as are associat to the Eldership for disciplin and correction of manners which are not Pastors or Teachers and not traveling in the word be not equall in number with the other but fewer the proportion to be as the necessity of the Eldership craves 3. The resort of the Elders who travell not in the word shall be no more straited but as the weightiness and occasion upon intimation advertisement made by their Teachers shall require at which time they should give their godly concurrence yet exhorting them who commodiously may resort to be present at all time 4. The Ministers who do not resort unto the Exercise and presbytery shall be subject to the penalty atbitrall to be appointed at the discretion of the particular presbytery and the same to be agreed-upon by the subscription of every Minister thereof and if any be found
Cambo refusing the censure of the Church violating the Ks Lawes and practizing against religion may be summoned according to the law That the Abbot of Holywood have no licence to depart out of the country And concerning D. Chalmers a Papist II. The Provest of Dundy and the Laird of Coluthy his Mas. commissioners crave that breethen may be authorized with commission to treat and conclude in such particulars as his Majesty hath to propound The assembly answereth They have found by experience âota that commission given to conclude hath done hurt unto the Church And where they are bidden not to medle with novelties they intend none III. Sundry references from Synods and presbyteries are discussed as one against the Bailives of Santandrews for a scandalous Letter published by them in presence of the congregation March 17 Another from Glasgow where Gawin graham and his complices were excommunicate and then upon repentance crave to be absolved they are remitted to their own presbytery after evidence of their repentance to be absolved c. The assembly conveenes at Edinburgh October 10. Robert pont is chosen The 46. Assembly Moderator I. The assembly is thinn Provinces are marked which have sent none and commissiones wherein all the commissioners come not that order may be consulted upon to correct them II. When an Act is concluded in the Generall assembly and no just cause interveenes to make a change of it it shall not be lawfull for any particular brother to call it into question in another Assembly III. The Commission for visiting the Colledges is renued II II. Because Commissioners are appointed and somtimes they depart before they have gotten their commission It is ordained that the Moderator receive from the Clerk the extract of every commission and send it timously unto the brethren IV. Ordaines every presbytety to call before them the Beneficed men within their own jurisdiction and take account how they have observed the Acts of the Assembly concerning the disposition of their church-livings and a just report to be made unto the next Assembly by the Moderator or their Commissioners as they will answer unto God and his Church And whereas some old possessors of taks pretend some particular reasons why the Church should consent It is ordained that such exceptions shall be first examined by the presbytery of that place and then returned unto the assembly that the suit may be decided according to equity V. The process led by the presbytery of Santand against Aleson Pierson with the process led by the same presbytery against Pa. Adamson and the process of the Synod of Fife justifying the accusation led against the said Patrik is exhibited and continued VI. In Sess 5. a supplication is read and allowed to be sent unto his Majesty as followes Sir the strict commission wee have received from the Eternall our God when in this your Ma s realm wee were made watch-men of his people and the fear full threatnings pronounced against these who neglect to execute faithfully every part of their weighty charge compell us presently to have recourse unto your Majesty perceiving things to fall forth to the great prejudice of Gods glory and no small appearance of utter wreck of this Church and Common well unless some remedy be hastily applied most humbly therefore beseeching your Majesty to weigh diligently and consider these few heads which with all reverence and observance wee do present looking for a gracious answer and speedy redress thereof 1. It is a great grief to the hearts of all them who fear God to see apostates sworn enemies to Christ to your Gr. and all your faithfull subjects forfeited for their treason some also suspected and heavily bruited for the murder of the most noble person your umquhile Father impugners of the truth by word and writ continuing still in their wickednes and unreconciled unto the Church To receive from your Majesty the Benefit of pacification to the prejudice of faithfull Ministers whom they labour violently by that means to dispossesse 2. That others from their youth nourished in the Church of God and thereafter fallen back fearfully and becom open runagates and blasphemers of the truth and maintainers of idolatry and of the man of sin lieutenant of Satan and oppressors of Gods people and nevertheless are received into Court authorized and so far countenanced that they are become familiar with your Majesty whereby besids the grief of your faithfull subjects many are brought to doubt what shall ensue upon such beginning 3. That an obstinat Papist sent into the Country to practize against God and quietness of your Gr. estate and therefore as worthy of death was imprisoned at your Ms command with promise that he shall not escape punishment yet as wee understand was by indirect means let depart and no tryall made to find out the author of his delivery 4. That your Majesty seemes to have too much liking of the enemies of God alswell in France as some within this realm who have never given testimony of any good meaning either in religion or your Majesties service besides the irreligious life and dissolute behaviour of them which in your Ma s service have succeeded to men that were known zealous in Gods cause and faithfull to your Gr. from your tender age 5. Since your Majesty took the Government in your own hand many promises have been made to take order for preserving the Church of God and continuance thereof unto posterity yet after long and continuall suit nothing is performed but in place of redress the Church is dayly bereft of her liberties priviledges 6. The thirds are set in tacks for sums of money in defraud of the Church so that Ministers hereafter cannot be provided 7. Abbecies are disponed without any provision made for the Ministers serving at the churches annexed thereunto directly against the Act of Parliam 8. Church-livings are given to children and translated into temporall Lordships 9. There is no punishment for incest witchcraft murder abominable oathes and other horrible crimes so that sin encreases dayly and provokes the wrath of God against the wholl country 10. Oftyms your Majesty interpones your authority by Letters of horning to stop the execution of the Acts made in the Gen. assembly in matters belonging properly unto the Church and no way concerning the Civill estate 11. There is a sore murmur among your Majesty lieges and a lamentable complaint that the Lawes of the Country have no place and none can be sure of his life lands nor goods These things threaten a misârable confusion and the heavy hand of God to ensue Lastly wee most humbly beseech your Majesty to suffer us lament this great division among your Nobility and subjects the one part seeking by all means possible for their interess to persuad your Majesty to undo the other whereby continuall strife malice and rancor is fostered to the great danger of your Ma s person Whom God preserve unto his Church
of these propositions not with that addition Physicè probabiliter or the like Under the pain of the censure foresaid XI In Sess 16. His Ma s answers were returned from Sterlin 1. Understanding the first point to be meant of granting the benefit of pacification unto David Chalmers his Master and knowing that man to have been fotfeited only for that common action of his being at the field of Langside for which pardon was granted to so many he thought it no new or strange thing at the request of such as moved him to grant unto him the same benefit which many others had obtained yet no way intending to spare the due punishment of him or any other that may be charged or found guilty of the murder of his dearest Father or that are or shall be adversaries to the religion or impugners thereof against the lawes the execution of which he hath been is and will be willing to further 2. The second head being particularly mean'd of Fintry his M. wisheth the assembly to remember how he hath dealt in that matter and what testimoniall the Church of Edinb gave him nor hath his Majesty hindered the proceedings of the Church against him nor any other but mindeth to hold hand thereunto according to the lawes The third being meant of Wi. Holt an English man escaping out of the castle of Edinburgh his Majesty hath answered the Queen's late Ambassador and it is no strange thing to hear of a mans escaping but what they understand by indirect means of letting him depart his Majesty being specially informed thereof will after due tryall see the offenders punished according to their deservings The fourth head being very Generall his Majesty thinks the assembly will not judge it pertinent unto them to have vote in chusing his servants or to be too curious of the occasions of placing or removing them nor of the intelligence twixt him and other Countries for entertaining Civill peace from which no Princes or Common wealths abstain though being diverse in religion The 5. Head containing a generall complaint upon some specialls appearingly expressed in the matters following his Majesty wisheth the Assembly as they would be specially directly answered so to form their petitions forbearing particular exampls to ground their generall propositions and to remember that since he took the Government in his own person moe good lawes have been made for advancement of the Church and true religion then were before and the defect of the execution hath not been his default The sixth concerning the tack set to Seagy of certain victualls out of the superplus of the thirds which he had before in pension that is no new thing nor any way prohibited he could alswell content him with the pension as he had before free of all paiment of duty the necessary considerations moving to grant it are well enough known to many he is employd in publick service wanting the living whereunto he is provided in title during his father's life and his service is and may be necessary both to his Hi. and the Church For any thing that may be thought omitted in the provision of Ministers serving at the Churches annexed to Abbeys in the late disposition of them that is well supplied by the Act of Parliament The execution whereof is stayed these two years in their own default rather then any other way whill they have been craving their assignations continued as before and as yet have not answered his message sent by his Master of requests unto the Assembly at Santandrews Nevertheless his Ma. made choise of certain Barons and others of good qualification known to be zealous to the furtherance of that good work hoping to have had the assignations formed before the Assembly but being uncertain of the time appointed thereunto this year is doubtfull if they come to Edinburgh But if they come his Maj. shall sent them direction to proceed and also other things most needfull shall be resolved without delay Concerning the giving of church-livings to children and translating them to temporall Lordships his Majesty considereth his own losse and hinderance of his service there-in Whatsoever abuse hath entred before he accepted the government time and the approbations of these provisions by decriets of the Session have brought the matter unto that estate as it can be helped no other way but by the Parliament unto which when it shall be propounded his Majesty shall hold hand to have all possible reformation thereof The default of punishing vices mentioned in the. 9. head and of the provision of the poor and punishing vagabonds can not justly be imputed unto his Ma. who was ever willing to give commission unto such as the Ministers thought meetest to execute the same The. 10. head being generall his Majesty would be glad not only to have it explained but to hear all good advices that shal be offered for reformation of that which may be found amiss and how his lawes may have place and justice administred to the confort common benefit of all his good subjects The 10. head is also very generall as for that one exemple the removing of the Principall of Aberdien to be Minister of Santandrews his Majesty trusteth the assembly will not think that matter the substance being well considered to be either so proper to the Church or so improper unto the Civill estate but that his Hi. and Counsell had good ground and reason to direct his Letters as he did upon the generall respect of the north country wherein none was prejudged seing there was no charge containing power to denounce at the first but rather to do the thing required or compeare and show a cause in the contraty What is said before briefly of a process against Pa. Adamson is cleared by The Historicall Narration that he had a long and filthy sicknes and for curing it he had sought help of a witch and recovering health in some measure he in a preaching before the King declared against the Lords which lately had guarded the King and against the Ministry for which he was warned by the Presbytery of Santandrews and the witch with whom he had consulted and from the Presbyrery the cause was brought before the Synod of Fife In the Assembly the processe was found orderly deduced and he had been warned by the Synod apud acta to compear before the Generall assembly in October for contumacy in not compearing by the assembly he was suspended from the office of the Ministry and it was appointed that farther tryall should be taken of his life and corrupt doctrine But he pretending that he was going to the well of Spae for his health purchased from the K. security that during his absence the church should not proceed against him yet it was his purpose to stay in England and there to seek the advice of the most corrupt sort for the overthrow of disciplin in the Church of Scotland for he thoughr that the surest course to keep his Benefice At
otherwise provided be discharged 3. That Judges may be appointed iâ all Shyres for executing the Acts of Parliament made against the breakers of the Sabbath adulterers and such open transgressors of the Lawes 4. That in chief Burrowes there be teaching ordinarily four times in the week and seing moreover the disciplin visitation of the sick and other business are ordinary to Pastors therefore let two Ministers be appointed unto such Townes 5. That order be taken how Colledge-churches may be served 6. That order may be taken for Manse and gleebs unto Ministers making residence at Abbey-churches as also that such as have or shall have Manse and gleeb may have necessaries theâeunto to wit fuell pasturage feall and devat as was of old 7. That all gifts of Benefices having the cure of souls and have been disponed by your Ma pleno jure and not qualified persons presented unto them with ordinary tryall and Collation following thereupon May be declared null according to the Lawes already made and that your Ma. would give now presentations unto qualified persons and the nullity of the former gift be discussed alswell by way of exception as of action 8. That all presentations or gifts of Benefices of cure less than prelacies disponed alsweell by your Majesty as by laick parrons not allowable by the municipall law of the realm and form observed in the Reformed Church here since your Mas coronation may be annulled and new presentations granted as in the former 9. That all Collations granted by men having no Commission nor ecclesiasticall function in the Church nor in that place country at âhe time of giving the Collation Be declared null and the fruits be sequestred at the least untill the person claming right by that Collation be a new examined and admitted if he be found worthy by them who shall be appointed for that effect and authorized by this present assembly 10. That the Benefices of cure under prelacies whereunto Ministers are admitted may be free from payment of first fruits and fifty penny and may have their signatures of presentation exped by the Privy Seal on your Ma s own subscription only and the Secretarie's without any paiment or cautioner made to the Treasuter and these poor men which have already payd or found caution for payment whereof the Treasuter hath not already charged himselfe in his accounpts may have the same refounded or discharged 11. Seing the fault of not depriving unworthy culpable and no-resident Ministers proceeds from that sundry of the Bishops have been negligent and in some other parts there was no Bishop nor Commissioner and so the Acts are not execut therefore a Commission be given to some qualified persons Ministers to sit in Edinburgh and call the Nonresidents and others worthy of deprivation and deprive them So that there may be consultation of learned men and the process may be led without fear or boast 12. It is heavily complained by many poor Ministers having parsonages and vicarages assigned unto them that they are exorbitantly used in taxations albeit their Benefices be long since decaied by the want of corps presents up most cloathes pasch-fines offerings and such things usually payd in time of Papistry which was the greatest part of these Benefices and yet they must pay the extremity of the old taxation and the most part of the Prelacies are exeemed from preaching or Service in the Church and have relieff off the fuars and vasalls that therefore there may be some more equitable order of taxation appointed in time coming 13. That it will please his Majesty to cause consider what prelacies have vaiked since the Act of Parliament made in Octob. 1581. and that speciall assignation be made for sustaining Ministers of the churches belonging to them out of the readiest fruits of these churches or the provision to be declared null according to the Act. 14. That the Bishops or Commissioners of Argyle and the âsles may be tied to attend on the Generall assemblies and to keep theyr Exercise and Synodall assemblies as in other parts which shall be a furtherance unto your Mr s obedience seing otherwise they seem as exeemed out of your Dominion 15 That your Ma. will give direction unto some persons of experience and good will to search enquire try the true estate of the rentalls of all prelacies and other Benefices at this present and in whose fault or by what occasion they are so hurt and dismembred and thereafter the best remedies may be considered and provided to help them for the good alswell of the King as of the Church 16. That your Majesty will cause the Lords of Session declare whither your Majesty or the Earle of Orknay have right to the patronages of the Benefices of Orknay and Yetland to the end thal titles of Benefices conferred to Ministers be not ever in danger of annulling upon uncertanty of the right of the patronage 17. That no persons or stipends be put in the books of modification but only such as the Commissioners of the Church shall declare to be qualified and resident at their churches 18. That vicarages pensions and salaries when they vaik after the decease or deprivation of the present possessor may accrease and be joyned to the principall Benefice and be assigned to the Minister in his stipend 19. That all Readers heretofore provided to vicarages or stipends may still possess the same untill their decease or deprivation and none to be admitted to the title of any Benefice of cure or stipend in the book of modification in time coming but qualified Ministers 20. That the wholl rents of the Benefices of cure under prelacies that are disponed since your Ma s coronaâion may be assigned wholly and allowed unto them in their stipends 21. That the judgement of all causes concerning the deprivation of Ministers from their Benefice in the second instance shall come by way of appellation unto the Generall assembly and there take finall end and not before the Lords of Session by way of reducing X. In Sess 18. the brethren directed unto the King with certain Articles craving publick resolution report his Ma s answer that in all the Heads he found litle difficulty and hath agreed unto them I. That there be a Generall Assembly once every year and ofter pro re nata II. Concerning Provinciall Synods The power of Provinciall Assemblies 1. these are constitut for weighty matters necessary to be treated by mutuall consent and assistance of Brethren within the Province as need requires 2. This Assembly hath power to handle order and redress all thângs done amisse or omitted in the particular assemblies 3. It hath power to depose the office-bearers of that Province for just and good causes deserving deprivation His Majesty agreed not to this but in this manner of addition Except Bishops and Commissioners 4. And generally these Assemblies have the wholl power of the particular Elderships or presbyteries whereof they are collected III. Concerning Presbyteries
justly be thought it had been for the Câown and Kingdom 's good if they had continued so but as Bishop Spotswood Pag. 365. saith the temporalities formerly disponed which were not a few being all in the same Parliament confitmed and those that were remaining were in a short time begged from him no thing was left I will not say as he saith to reward a well deserving servant but to the Crown itself He sayth also in the preceeding page for example The Duke of Lennox his Agents possessed themselves in the Bishopriek of Glasgow as his Father had obtained before and Robeât Mongomery being no more acknowledged did resigne his title in favor of William Erskin Parson of Campsie as followes See also what hath been in other Nations Irland was a free Kingdom by itself some thousands of years but when they received Diocesan Bishops immediatly their Kingdom was changed When Numidia received such Bishops they became slaves to the Mahumetanes Who âxcluded the Roman Emperor from Rome and Italy the Bishop of Rome the Politicall rising of the one was the ruin of the other And since the other sort of Emperors have acknowledge their power to stand upon the power of the Roman B. they have but the shadow of an Emp. Hovv fond a thing is it to conceive that a K. or kingdom can not stand without Lordly Bs certainly it is a strange and new principle of State Objection 1. May not Bishops be good men Answer yea and some good men have been Bishops But 1. compare the number of good Bishops with the number of proâd and ............ Bishops and compare the good they have done unto Kings and Kingdoms with what ill others have done unto Kings Kingdoms 2. In the example of Bishop Grindall see what hath been the practise of a good Bishop and what hath been his entertainment by others 3. Consider how a Lordship changeth manners as when Queen Elisabet gave unto a Minister a Patent unto a Bishoprick she said Tooday I have marred a good Minister 4. Consider not so much what may be but what usually comes to pass or rather what should bee according to the pattern prescribed by Him who is wisest 5. It may be answered unto this question by another Can he be a good man to whom the will of any man is the law of his conscience Ja. Nicolson Min. at Miegle received from Kings Iames in the year 1608. a Patent unto the Bishoprick of Dunkell and after that he was diseased in body for a long time and also grieved in time of his sicknes David Lindsay then Minister at Dundy and his brother-in-law went to visit him and Iames said unto him I give you may advice and see that you never forget it Bee never a Bishop if you be a Bishop you must resolve to take the will of your Soveraigne as the law of your couscience He said so with grief and from his own experience as I heard from two faihfull witnesses to wit his brother who was also a minister and his son Whether others have the like experiment I leave it unto consideration 6. Can be be a good man who undertakes âo offices then he is able to discharge If he say that he will discharge them by his under Officers will he make his accouns unto God by his under Officers and by them go into heaven or hell but vvhere hath a Preacher a vvarrand to do so In the dayes of John Chrysostom that Human Episopacy was more Spirituall and far less Secular for it was not a Secular Lordship and nevertheless behold what he saith in Homil. 1. On the epistle unto Titus I can not admire sufficiently of them who are desirous of such burdens O the most unhappy and the mosâ wretched of men considerest thou not what thou desuest c. I wish that all who are ambitious of episcopacy would read seriously what he hath written in that place and in the Morale part of the homily immediatly following Object 2. Seing Authority will have Bishops may not good men take Bishopriks rather then suffer other men to take them Ans 1. This is as if one would say If Authority will have men to make shipwrack of their consciences may not good men make shipwrack of their consciences rather then others 2. William Couper Minister at Perth was continually preaching against episcopacy K. James hearing of him thought the readiest way to shut up his mouth was to try him with a Bishoprick when the Patent was tendered unto Couper as a testimony of the Kings favor he sought the advice of John Hall then Minister at Edinburgh who smelling the others inconstancy said Take it take it another knave will take it 3. A Courtier said once unto K. James Sir you give Bishopriks unto men of whom some are unable to preach some are not prudent and some are scandalous The King answered as I have heard it oft reported by credible men What shall I doe no honest men will take one This answer holds firmly if they know what hath been said in the second fifth and sixth answers unto the preceeding objection XXIV In England after the Reformation good and many men did oppose A Sâpplication to the Parliament of England against Episcopacy episcopacy I will not commend all that did oppose but posterity may know what hath been done About the year 1570. was great opposition against Bishops and their government and their superstitious rites as witnesseth an Admonition to the Parliament which came into my hand by the reprinting of it in the year 1642 and is worthy the reading the words are Seing nothing in this mortall life is more diligently to be sought for and carefully to be looked unto than the restitution of true religion and reformation of Gods Church it shall be your parts dearly beloved in this present Parliament assembled as much as in you lieth diligently to promote the same and to employ your wholl labor and study not only in abandoning all popish remnants both in ceremonies and regiment but also in bringing-in and placing in Gods Church those things only which God himselfe in his word commandeth because it is not enough to take paines in taking away evill but also to be occupied in placing good in stead thereof Now because many men see not all things and the world in this respect is marvelously blinded it hath been thought good to proferr unto your godly considerations a true platform of a Church reformed to the end that it being layd before your eies to behold the great unlikeness betwixt it and this our English Church you may learn either with perfect hatred to detest the one and with singular love to embrace and carefully endeavoure to plant the other or els to be without excuse before the Maâesty of our God who for the discharge of our conscience and manifestation of his truth hath by us revealed unto you at this present the sincerity and simplicity of his Gospell Not that you should
his scruple II. The Act made in the Assembly An. 1588. concerning beggares shall be published again in all churches by the Minister there and put to execution by the Ministers so far as concerneth them as they will be answerable unto the Church III. The subscription of the book of polieyâ which was enjoyned by the preceeding assembly hath been neglected by many presbyteries therefore the Assembly ordaines the former Act to be observed before the next Assembly And the Moderator of each presbytery to see the execution thereof under the penalty of 40. sh to be employd unto the use the poor besids other censure of the Church IV. Seing sacriledge is an universall sin regning throgh the Countrey and is esteemed commonly to be no sin nor is known unto many it is thought good that this monster be described in its own colors and therefore Rob. Pont is appointed to take paines on that subject and others are appointed to visite and peruse his travells and to give him their judgements therein that the same being perfected may be presented again unto the Assembly V. Because the order heretofore in giving power unto certain brethren named to read and give answers unto the bils that are brought unto the Ge. assembly seemes unto some to be inconvenient and derogative unto the Provinciall Assemblies specially in so far as the things that were doubtsom unto them and were referred unto the full assembly are committed to the decision of four or five brethren Therefore it is appointed that hereafter that certain brethren be chosen by the Assembly who shall have only power to receive such bills read and consider if they be brought pertinently and if they be impertinent to give such answer on the back of the bill but if they be pertinent to bring them before the Assembly to be answered there yet with their opinion by word what they have considered thereof VI. These who have the name of Bishops and somtime have been in the Ministry and now neither will serve the Church whereof they take up the fruits nor pay the stipends of them that serve As they are appointed by the Plat but spend the rents on profane uses should be censured by the church and if they amend not should be excommunicated VII In Sess 11. compeare the Lord Provand President with two other Lords of the Collegde of Justice Culros Barn barrow and in name of the Session declare that they are informed that the L. of Halyairds one of their number was yester day called at the instance of Pa. Simson Min. at Sterlin for calling him a suborner or seducer which matter is presently depending before the Session being a Civill cause and proper to their cognition and the Church is not Judge thereof and therefore they crave that the Assembly should not proceed in that cause untill it take an end before them and do nothing in prejudice of the Colledge of Justice These were removed and after consultation they were called-in again answer was made The Assembly will do nothing in prejudice or to the hurt of the Session nor medle with any Civill cause but this being a matter of slander they had reason to purge their own members thereof without any prejudice of the Civill Judicature and crave that as their Lordships would not wish the hinderance of their own judicature so they would not take it ill that the Church proceed in purging their own members in an ecclesiasticall way In Sess 13. it is propounded again whether it be expedient to proceed in that cause before that the Lords of the Session had given out their Sentence decisive It was thought meet to demand the L. Justice whither he doetâ acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Church in this cause He answereth he acknowledges with reverence the judgement of the Assembly in all causes appertaining unto them but this cause is Civill whereof the Lords are Judges primariò and presently dependes before them and the Church can not be Judges primariò He is removed again and after advice he is called-in the Assembly declares that they find themselves Judges of this cause primariò and therefore will proceed in it Requiring that he will declare what he can say in the contrary He takes instruments of their interloquiture and protesteth for remede of law Because his protestation was made only verbo and containes severall heads they crave that he give his protestation unto the Clerk in write VIII An Act of the Lords of the Checker upon a Supplication made by some Ministers dated at Halyrud-house Febr. 10. 1590. declaring their meaning That all Ministers who have vitiate any Benefice of cure in wholl or in part by purchasing unto themselves their heires or assignayes or set long tacks of it within the worth thereof Be compelled by censure of the Church to restore that Benefice to the own integrity for the use of the Minister presently serving the cure And to that effect require the Generall assembly Commissioners and presbytery of the bounds where the Benefices lye to take notice of such persons and to proceed against them as said is in most strict form as such a great enormity requires ay and whill they shall redintegrate the Benefice without any other process of law The Assembly approves this Act and ordaines it to be put into execution by every Presbytery according to the tenor of it IX Forsomuch as many things have been done by Ministers and others pretending the title and name of the Church greatly prejudicial to themselves and the disciplin and the Patrimony or living of the Church And by priviledge of good lawes it is granted and lawfull unto them to remede themselves by revocation thereof Therefore the wholl assembly after deliberation have revoked and by these presents do revoke all and whatsoever thing done by them or others cloathed with the title name of the Church prejudiciall to themselves their disciplin their patrimony and living as being enormely hurt thereby And protests according to the disposition of the said law solemnely that they may be heard in time place to seek remedy thereof And it is ordained that every Presbytery shall receive a copy of this revocation and give command to the Ministers within their boundes to intimate the same from their pulpits X. A form of examination before the Communion being penned by Iohn Craig is approved and ordained to be printed XI Commissioners are appointed to present unto his Majesty and Counsell with all humility the petitions of the Assembly to wit that the Acts of Parliament that are made for suppression of the enormities following may be put to execution as against Iesuites namely Iames Gordon the reeeipters of them and excommunicate Papists namely the Laird of Fentry and the Master of Anguise profaners of Sacraments and privat men women givers thereof idolaters pilgrimages Popish Magistrats sayers hearers of Masse apostates publick markets on the Lords day violent invaders of Ministers profaning of the Lords day by
or in name of any of the Brethren 3. Because Mr Craig is old he craves that shey would give in liete five or sixe Ministers out of which he may chuse two to serve his house 4. Seing the standing of religion and the welfare of his Ma s person are so inseparably joyned that whosoever are enemies to the one are common enemies to both therefore let some be appointed in every Presbytery to advertise inform him diligenly for the more speedy remedy not only of whatsoever practises they can hear of Papists and the Spanish faction but of their receipters and of the practises of Bothwell whose wholl courses as they are directly against his person so they tend wholly to the subversion of religion With directjon also unto them to inform all the Barons and honest men tenderers of his Ma s wee fair to atrend and give inteligence of these practises as they can learn from time to time 5. That where is any port or landing place some brethren be specially appoinred to deal so with the Burghs that they take sufficient tryall according to the law made of all who shall come into or passe forth of this eountrey from whence they came whither they intend what is their purpose and so after good and sufficient tryall if there be any thing of weight importance that they fail not to acquaint his Majesty there with to the end he may the more readily discover all forrein or intestiue practises which are or shall be plotted against the estate of the present religion And this he craves to be done so faithfully as he hath good opinion of their earnest affection no less to the preserving of his person as to the defence of the common cause As also he promiseth to aid and assist you in all your good resolutions that may tend to the furtherance of peace and quietness with the advancement of true religion presently professed within this realm The humble answers of the assembly 1. Unto the first it is agreed according to the Act of Parliament which was delivered with the Articles 2. It is ordained by the wholl Church that no Minister utter from pulpit any rash or unreverent speaches against his Majesty or Counsell or their proceedings but that all their publick admonitions proceed upon just necessary causes sufficient warrant in all fear love and reverence Under the pain of deposing those that do in the contrary from the function of the Ministry 3. The Commissioners that are directed unto his Majesty shall nominate the Brethren and whom he shall chuse shall be admitted by the presbytery where his Majesty makes residence for the time The 4 5. are condescended unto and order taken as the Commissioners will give particular information V. No Colledge shali make disposition of their rents or livings by tack or any other title without the advice consent of the Generall assembly Vnder the pain of deposition of the persons disponing VI. For furtherance of the residence of Ministers it is appointed that all parishes shall build manses where are none or where they be ruinous upon their own expences or if they refuse after they are duly required not only shall they be judged the only cause of the Ministers not residence but it shall be lawfull unto the Minister his aires exequitors or assignayes departing to retain the possession of the Manse built by him if he build or repair the same upon his own expences ay and whill the Intrant Minister refound unto him or his foresaids the wholl expences at least so much as the Parish can not be moved to refound And that the presbytery at the Intrants admission take order for performing this providing that the expences exceed not 400. marks And the presbytery after the repairing or bigging of the Manse shall take exact tryall and account of the expences and give him their allowance to be registred in their books And likewise the Minister succeeding shall have âhe like title to crave of the Intrant after him the like expences ay untill the Parish shall outquite the Manse VII Commissioners are appointed to attend the Parliament with the petitions of the Assembly VIII As the books of Presbyteries are tryed in rhe Provinciall assemblies so the books of the Synods should be brought unto every Generall assembly for the better understanding of their proceedings Under the pain of the censure of the Church IX For remedying controversies among Ministers it is concluded that where any plea thogh in a civill matter ariseth betwixt two brethren if they be both of one presbytery they shall chuse what number they please thereof and the elected shall chuse an overman and they shall summarly decide and give Sentence which shall be irrevocable or without appellation And if they be of sundry presbyterics they shall chuse equall number out of them both and the elected shall elect an Overman and these shall give Sentence as said is without appellation And if any shall refuse this form submission he shall be held by the Church to be contumatioâs X. The Generall assembly by the authority given by God unto them dischargeth all and every Christian within the Church of Scotland from reparing to any of the King of Spain his dominions where the tyranny of Inquisition is used for merchandice negotiation or exercing of sea-faring occupation Untill the Kings Majesty by advice of Counsell have fought and obtained speciall liberty from that King for all his subje s to negotiat there without danger for the cause of religion Under the pain of incurring the censures of the Church untill the last Sentenee of excommunication The reader may judge of the fyve articles and the answers B. Spotswood saith the first two articles were savouring of discontent but he gives not a reason and he saith the King esteeming the second answer to be no restraint but rather to Minister an excuse to the unruly sort when they transgressed rejected it as not satisfying his demand whereupon the petitions of the Church against the Papists at the same time and against the erections of tyths into temporalities were not regarded And the merchants saith he offending at the Act made concerning them did petition his Majesty and Counsell for mantaining their liberty which was granted and nevertheless the Church proceeded in their censures till the merchants promised to surcease their trade with Spain how soon their accounts were made and they be payd of their debitors in these parts As for Bothwell he had fled into England when his treasonous attemps were discovered and when the English Ambassador did interceed for him the King said His offenses were unpardonable and to be abhorred of all Christian Princes In Juny he returned privily into Scotland and found rhe means to surprise the King within Halirud house and caused him subscribe articles which the King afterward did revoke in a Convention of the Estares as dis-honorable and made offer to grant the same upon a new
with advice of his Counsell certain Barons and gentle men are directed to remain in the south parts of this realm hath promitted and by these presents promits in the word of a Prince that the same Barons shall not be licenced to return unto the said north parts nor shall any favor or pardon be granted unto the said Earles Iesuits nor other above specified any order be taken nor dispenced with without the speciall knowledge and advice of the Lieutenent or Commissioner for the time and sixe of the principall Barons at least inhabitants of the said north parts subscribers of this present Band And this to do wee the said Noble men Barons and other foresaids have sworn and swear by the great God our Creatour Jesus Christ his Sone our Redeener and the Holy Ghost our Sanctifier witness of the verity here agreed upon add revenger of the breach thereof and further wee oblige us thereunto under the pain of periury infamy and losse of credite of honor estimation in time coming besides the Lawes to be executed against us In witnes whereof we have subscribed these presents with our hands as followes even as his Ma. in token of allowance and approbation of the premisses hath subscribed the same Act At Aberdien the day of March 1592. Sic subscribitur Ja. R. Lennox Athol Mar Marshall James L. Lindsay John L. Innerness John Mr of Forbes c. With this is written the Proclamation made at Halirudhouse Jan. 5 1592. 1593. according to the reckoning now Forsomuch as albeit the dangerous effects of the couered and busie travells of Jesuits Seminary-priests born subjects of this realm and others strangers in these late years have been feared and espied and for that cause by sundry lovable lawes Acts proclamations both their own remaining and the receiving of them have been prohibited under diverse high paines yet their coloured simplicity hath so far prevailed as they have not only purchased unto themselves favor credite to be keept huirded entertained in sundry parts of the realm After many promises made that they shall depart forth of the same but also have taken occasion and leisure to persuade sundry of his Hieness's subjects to apostasie from that religion wherein they were once instructed grounded and have confirmed in their errors and at last have seduced them to cast off their due obedience which they owe unto his Majesty and enter into a treasonous conspiracy for in-bringing of strangers Spainards into this realm the next Spring or sooner to the overthrow of his Hieness and all professing the true religion with him and to the ruin and conquest of this antient Kingdom and liberty which this Nation hath enioyed so many ages that it may be subject hereafter to the slavery tyranny of that proud Nation which hath made so unlawfull cruell conquest in diverse parts of the world alâwell upon the Christians as infidels wheresoever the aid of Spain hath been sought Regarding in end no better the inbringers than them against whom they were brought being once victors commanders as easily may be proved by speciall exampls which the malitious aâd minaturall subjects of this Land would repute but as generall and improbable discourses published in hatred of that Nation to which they have already sold themselves slaves and are their friends factors in this Land as they speak and write Were it not thath it pleased the almighty God to make the proof heerof certain and without all doubt by detecting of the simple trueth of the intention finall causes of all the crafty practises of these pernicions trafficking Papists Jesuites and Seminary-priests against God true religion his Ma and liberty of this Country namely Mr Iames Gordon father-brother to the Earle of Huntly Ro. Abercromy father-brother to the Laird of Murtle whose letters directions advices yea and the messingers or carryers of their credits and certain others chieff instruments and furtherers of their trade God hath casten into his Hieness hands when the ship appointed for their transporting was in full readiness Whereby his Majesty is now not only sufficiently forewarned of the imminent danger to the true religion his own estate person his realm and faithfull subjects but resolved with Gods help by whose providence he hath been so wonderfully delivered from many former perrills to try the full circumstances of this so high a conspiracy and detestable treason To withstand it and punish it and on all guilty thereof in example to all posterity that none of his subjects heretofore abused and deceived by the crafty illusions of these pernicious and busie workmen shall remain any longer doubtfull of the truth of his Majesties mind intention Ordaines Letters to be directed to Officers of arms shirrefs in that part to make publication of the premisses by open proclamations at the market-crosses of the head burghs of this realm and other places needfull for warning them of the many dangers if they shall suffer themselves to be any longer in error by these deceiving spirits to the perrill of their souls landes and goods And therefore to abstain from further hearking to their treasonous persuasions and from all entertaining receiving supply intercommoning or having intelligence with them directly or indirectly under whatsoever pretext or color Under pain of treason Commanding also all sundry his Ma s faithfull obedient subjects that love feare God wish the standing wel fare of his Majesty their Soverain Lord King professing with him the true and Christian religion and desire that their own wifes chidren and posterity should now and hereafter enjoy the commodities of this their native Countrey unconquest and made slaves in souls bodies to merciless strangers That they implore the mercy protection of the Almighty God for their defense save guard and put themselves in arms by all good meanes they can remaining in full readiness to pursue or defend as they shall be certified by his Majesty or other wayes find the occasion urgent in the mean time diligently espying and getting intelligence of the treasonable courses and proceedings of the said Jesuits priests their favorers mantainers and receipters and make advertisement to his Counsell thereof with all speed celerity as they will answer unto God and his Majesty thereupon Sic subscribitur James R. These being read the Assembly gives their power commission unto Pa. Galloway Pe. Black burn Pa. Simson to give information unto his Majesty residing then at Sterlin of the evident dander imminent to the Church of God within this realm according to the instruction given unto them and to present unto his Majesty their humble articles petitions for removing the said dangers and to insist with all humility and due reverence for hit Ma s good answer thereunto and to report with all diligence his Ma s answer before the Assembly dissolve The tenor of the articles followes The same dangers which before by the crafty pernicious
use without favor and no part thereof be disponed to their friends or any other person for their commodity 6 Great reason their forsciture alwaye preceeding That all persons be inhibited under the pain of treason and losse of life lands and goods to receipt supply rise-with or concurr or have intelligence with the foresaid excommunicats under whatsoever pretense of vasalls or dependes 7 To be ready at my charge it is very meet But I understand not the last clause That all the subjects be charged to put themselves in arms by all good means they can remaning in full readines to pursue and defend as they shall be certified by his Majesty or otherwise finding occasions urgent 8 I shall omitt no diligence in that which can be required at my hands as I shall answer to God That the ship arrived at Montros be apprehended and the persons which were within her together with others which have had any dealing with them according as they shall be given up in writ be called and diligently examined for discovery of the practises and purposes which they have presently in hand 9, Distingue tempora conciliabis Scripturas The meaning of this the bearers will expound unto you Forsomuch as the Lord Hume hath controveened sundry points wherein he was obliged unto the Church of Edinb by his promise at the receiving of his subscription as in not satisfying the Synod of Fife in not receiving a Minister into his house in not removing out of his bounds Captain Andrew Gray and Thomas Tyry whereby as also by his scandalous life since his subscription he hath given just cause of suspicion unto the Church and all good men that as yet in his heart he is not sanctified truly or converted to the true religion Therefore that his Majesty would take earnest tryall of the premisses and thereby judge if there appear in him such sincerity of religion life as his Majesty may trust him and the Church may expect true friendship in so dangerous a time in the cause of religion and if that be not found that his Majesty would remove him from his company and discharge him of all publick office and command 10 The complaints belong not unto your offices alwayes That the guard presently taken up be tryed together with the Captaines because many complaints are given unto the Assembly against them IV. I have satisfied the bearers Subscribitur Iames R. Whereas a horrible superstition is used in Garioch and in other parts of the Countrey in not labouring a parcell of ground dedicated to the devill under the name of the good mans croft the Church for remedy hereof hath found meet that an article be propounded unto the Parliament that an Act may proceed for ordaining all persons possessors of such lands to cause tille and labour them before a certain day to be appointed thereunto or in case of disobedience the same landes to fall into the Kings handes to be disponed unto sueh persons as shall please his Majesty who will labor them V. Alexander Lord Hume compeares and is asked by the Moderator Whither he confesseth with his heart and mouth as before the Lord that he was justly casten out of the Church by the Sentence of excommuniation pronounced against him by the Synod of Fife and as he will answer upon pain of salvation The from of absolution of excommunication damnation to speak the truth simply He protestes and acknowledges that he was justly excommunicat and confesses his fault in deserving it Then he is asked Why he sought not to be relaxed from that Sentence according to the direction to the Presbytery of Edinburgh He excuseth himselve by ignorance of that part of the Act. And being accused Why he detained the stipends of some Ministers namely of Chirnside he answereth he is ready to pay whatsoever he oweth by law Why he hath no observed the conditions named in the Act of the Presbytery of Edinburg to wit that he should have a Minister in his Family and remove Tho. Tyry out of his company He remembreth not that he was required to have a Minister in his family but now he is willing to accept any whom the Church shall appoint as for Tho. Tyry he was in was in his service after that time but understood not that he was obliged to remove him untill the Church did excommunicate him and since that time he hath discharged removed him He is asked Whither he knew a priest named Cowy or any that was set on land out of that ship coming lately from Flanders He denieth both He is asked Whether the Jesuit Mackwherry was in his house lately He confesses that he was in this house within these five dayes and came without out his knowledge nor had he any missive or commission unto him and he stayd not above an halfhour Lastly the said Lord confesseth and protestes in the presence of God whom he takes to witness and the Lord Jesus who will judge the quick the dead that he professeth from his heart the religion pâesently professed by the Church here present whereof he hath already subscribed the Articles before the Presbytery of Edinburgh and now acknowledgeth to be the only true infallible religion which leadeth unto salvation and wherein he intends to live and dy and which he shall to his uttermost defend against all the enemies thereof and as he shall answer to the dreadfull God he forsakes the Romane religion as Antichristian and directly opposite to the truth of God and his true Service And these things he testifieth by lifting up his hand and declaring before God that he hath no dispensation nor indulgence to subscribe or sweare Certain brethren are appointed to conferre with him at his own lodging for the fuller tryall of his resolution On the second day thereafter Alex. L. Hume compeares and humbly craves to be absolved from the Sentence of excommunication protesting that in time coming he will give proof of obedience and service unto God and maintain the truth of His religion presently professed by the Church here present unto his lifes end and howbeit some time he had been of a different religion now he avoweth since he hath been better informed in the Heads wherein he differed the Confession of faith and religion presently professed by the Assembly and if hereafter he shall decline from it he submits himselfe unto the Censure of the Church hoping by Gods grace that he shall never make defection Because all these answers and professions have been passed by word only the Assembly judgeth it meet that some articles be written and then subscribed by him and thirdly to consider of his absolution The next day these Articles were propounded in write unto him 1. That Alexander L. Hume ratify approve the subscription and oath given by him unto the Confession of faith at Edinburgh December 22. last or subscribe again in face of the Assembly 2. That he
remove and hold out of his company all Papists and traffickers against the true religion and whatsoever persons shall be delated unto his Lp. to be corrupt in religion and that he shall receive and entertain within his family Archbald Oswall as his ordinary Pastor and failing him another godly Minister by advice of the Presbytery of Dumbar and that he make his family subject unto the word and disciplin 4. That he resort unto the publick hearing of the word in all places where he shall repair or have his residence and that he communicate when occasion offereth 4. That he make all his servants tennants subject to the disciplin of the Church where they remain 5. That he repaire all the ruinous churches within the Priory of Coudingam and provide sufficient livings for Pastors planted or to he planted at them according to the Act of Parliament and so of all Churches within his bounds so far as law and reason require 6. That he make ready payment to the Ministers of Chirnside Swintoun and Fisshak of their stipends according to their assignations and decreets if he be obliged thereunto by law 7. That he concur by his counsell credite and assistance for maintenance of the true religion publickly professed within this realm and the maintainers thereof against all who within the Country or without shall come in the contrary 8. That he neither receive maintain nor intercommone or have intelligence with the excommunicat Papist Lords Jesuites priests or trafficking papists nor solicite for them nor shew them favor directly nor indirectly in judgement nor out of judgemenâ 9. That he neither argue nor suffer any arguing to be against the true religion or any point thereof in the places where he may inhibite it 10. That he employ himselfe carefully to apprehend and present to Justice Alexand. Macquirrhy and whatsoever Jesuits Seminary-priest and trafficking Papists that shall resort within his bounds and that he do nothing which may be found by the Minister appointed for the tryall of his behavior to be prejudiciall unto the true religion presently professed by the Generall assembly now convened And if he shal be found to contraveen any one of the foresaid points in that case he consent to be summarily excommunicate upon the notoriety of the fact And in testimony of his acceptation of these conditions that he subscribe these presents with his hand These articles being read severally he consenteth unto and in token of his acceptation of them all he protests that he doth it sinceerly and subscribes them earnestly craving that in respect of his repentance obedience the Church would relaxe him from the Sentence of excommunication In respect that Alexander L. hume hath so professed and subscribed the Generall Church gives commission unto whatsoever presbytery that shall understand of his contraveening of the said conditions To call him and try him in that contravention and convict him thereof if he shall be found guilry and the Sentence of conviction to be directed and sent unto the Presbytery of Edinburgh To whom the Church gives commission to pronounce the Sentence of excommunication summarily against him Then the action of his absolution is committed unto David Lindsay After exhortation unto sincerity and constant walking the said Lord is asked Whither he be sory in his heart for the offence he had committed and that he had deserved the Sentence and that he was separated from the Church so long time and if now he thirsteth earnestly to be joyned thereunto as a member of Christs body and doth promise as he shall answer unto God to continue in time coming a constant professor of the true religion presently and publickly allowed by the Church of Scotland to his lifes end and to shew the fruits of a true Christian in his life and remove all scandalous persons out of his company He answereth protesting before God it is his true meaning and he intendes to shew the same by evident effects in time coming The foresaid David gives thankes unto God and prayeth for increase of grace unto the penitent then solemly absolves him from the Sentence of excommunication and in name of the Assembly embraces him as a member reconciled unto the Church VI. In Sess 13. Because the King had conceived an offence as was made known unto the Assembly by some against John Ross a Minister The assembly ordaines that the Kings Ministers with other twelve shall conveen immediatly after the rising at this time in the present place and enquire the matter and handle it narrowly and thereafter bring it before the assembly publickly And so many of the Synod of Perth as are here present are warned to attend them when they shall be called In Sess 18. these brethren report their proceeding advice in write as followes 1. They have found that the people departed not out of the church before the end of the doctrine as it was reported unto his Majesty and that the Synod had pronounced no damnatory sentence against the young man but that they admonished him upon such causes and considerations following 1. That he delivered that doctrine at that time when rebells and enemies of the King were on the fields and so it might seem unto the people that the Church allowed Bothwells treasonable attempts and that the Assembly had placed him in that place to alienate the mindes of the people from his Ma s obedience 2. In respect of certain speaches delivered by him without a sufficient warrand so far as they could see or understand and namely that sentence pronounced against the House of Guise de futuro 3. In respect of the hard expressions concerning his Majesty which were thought to have craved greater years and more experience And all the brethren both of the Conference and of the Provinciall of Perth in one voice acknowledge that there is just cause of a sharper rebuke and threatning of heavy judgements out of that text than hath been or should have been uttered by him and what he uttered as he depones before God and upon his conscience he spoke it out of love seeking his Ma s standing and not of a preoccupied mind prejudged opinion or troubled affection but with his soul thirsting and seeking alwise his Ma s honor and wee l in God And therefore approve his wholl doctrine in that point as it hath been read and declared by himselfe in such heads as might seem most offensive And as concerning the admonition of the Provinciall of Perth and the causes moving them thereunto the brethren do reverence allowe their judgement in all things upon consideration as is before expressed Only concerning that sentence of the House of Guise de future because none of the brethren heard it and he himself professeth that to his remembrance he spoke it not nor had he such meaning at any time and confesses it a fault if any such word hath escaped him The brethren think that in that point if he hath spoken so he hath
disposed friends to provide sufficient stipends unto his churches 10. That he shall acknowledge his faults for which he was justly excommunicat especially his apostasy and the burning of Dunibr 11. That he shall have an ord Minister continually resident in his family With power to them to conveen March 22. instant or sooner if they can and to confer with Huntly and to resolve in the articles named and to report his resolution at the next Gen. Assembly to be holden at Dundy May 10. next III. Upon petitions presented in names of the Earls of Anguse and Arroll the Ministers of Murray and Aberdien are ordained to confer likewise with Arroll and the Ministers of Anguse Merns are ordained to confer with the Earle of Anguse Upon the same articles excepting these concerning the slaughter of Murray and to report their resolutions as said is And these commissions to be extended unto the Lairds of Bonitoun and Newtoun if they offer themselves to satisfy the Church And if these excommunicat persons or any of them shall resort to any other place within the realm the assembly gives full power and commission to the Ministers of the Presbytery where they shall happen to resort to travell and confer with them in the above written articles IV. Articles sent unto the King by the Ministry are 1. It is humbly craved that your Majesty with advice of the Estates presently conveened considering how it hath pleased God to give good success to this present convention and that all things here concluded tend to the peace and quietness of the whole estates within this Country and the disappointing of the expectation of the adversaries Would publish by open proclamation the good successe of this present convention Together with the declaration of your Ma s intention uttered by your selfe at this time in presence of your Estates Declaring your good will to maintain the true religion presently professed within your Country with the disciplin adjoyned thereunto and the Ministers to whom the charge of the same is committed And to declare that your Majesties will is that whatsoever law Act or proclamation hath been made prejudiciall to the same shall be esteemed contrary to your Majesties meaning and to have no force nor effect in any time hereafter And that none of your subjects pretend under color thereof to molest or trouble any of the saids Ministers but that they be under your Majesties protection And that you will esteem the controveeners as troublers of your estaâe and punish them accordingly 2. That all Papists Jesuits and excommunicates remaining within the Countrey be charged to passe out of it before May 1. next or to satisfy the Church and if they obey not before that day that Sherifs Provests and Bailives be commanded to apprehend them within their bounds and present them unto your Ma. or Counsell to be punished according to lawes And if these be negligent in apprehending them that commssion be given to certain most zealous persons and willing to do the same 3. That it may please your Majesty according to your wonted clemency to relaxe presently the Ministers of Edinb from the horn and suffer them peaceably to remain within the Country as also to relieve and set at freedom the Gentle men Professors of Religion who now are under challenge seing your Majesty knowes that their love to Religion moved them to these things where with they are burdened 4. Seing Edinburgh hath that honor to be the chief Burgh of this country and the place where Religion since the beginning hath been most florishing and now are both destitute of their own Ministers and called from time to time before your Majesty which is no small grief to their hearts in respect your Majesty knowes that the greatest part of the Town are most willing to give your Majesty all obedience and to hazard life and substance for your Majesties standing That it may please your Majesty favorably to deal with them according to your accustomed gentleness that it may appeare your Majesty is more enclined to shew favor unto them who mean uprightly unto your Hieness than to Papists wee are moved to crave this that all your subjects may see a generall agreement 5. That it may please your Majesty seeing David Black hath obeyed the things were enjoyned unto him to give him lyberty to return to his flock and also John Welsh and John Howeson 6. Because many complaints of hurting mutilating Ministers are given in before us namely ...... We most humbly crave that your Majesty will take some substantiall order for punishing the offenders to the example of others 7. That provision be made for planting of Churches and that the augmentations and planting of new Churches ordained in the year 1595 be allowed Follow the answers The first is granted in substance the 2. is granted concerning the first part of the 3. the Ministers of Edinburg are ordained to be relaxed upon caution that they shall underly the law as for these Gentle men let them by mediation of friends be suiters for themselves As for the 4. his Majesty will no way trouble innocent men but only the guilty and mindeth to be at a point with them shortly Concerning the 6. a commission is ordained to call and punish the offenders And certain persons are appointed to take order alswell for planting churches as with the augmentations that are granted So it is written in the book B. Spotswood shewes that the advice of the deputed Ministers concerning the 13. articles was conceived by them otherwise as 1. They held it not expedient to make any law or Act of that matter lest a door be opened to turbulent spirits otherwise they did think it lawfull to his Majesty by himself or by his Commissioners to propound in a Gen. assembly what soever point his Majesty desired to be resolved in or to be reformed in specie externi ordinis seing substantia externae administrationis Eccelesiasticae est plenissime prodita insacris literis ...... For the. 2. Their advice was that that the Acts already made which are hurtfull to religion and prejudiciall to the liberty of the word should be discharged and no Act to be past hereafter concerning religion without advice consent of the Church As for matters of Estate mentioned in the article they craved a further explanation of that point He goeth on in the rest of them in that manner and he saith that the King held not these sufficient and a little after he saith Hereupon ensued a reasoning which keeped a long time and ended in good agreement and so the Ministers were dimitted to wit from the Counsell and assembling in the ordinary place they corrected their first answers in this sort to wit as it is written But how long time that reasoning did take up it may be understood that the assembly did conveen first in the church where the Kings Commissioners desired them to go unto the King and all the speaches on both sides
the presbytery alledging that they had not power to take away any action from them which was in process and not decided They made also a Visitation of the Colledges and made new canones concerning the election of the Rector and his continuance to be but for a year and the exemption Anotheâ step was the vote in Perliament of all the Masters from the Church Session Concerning the next stepp unto Prelacy which was the vote in Parliament The Historicall Narration saith At the Parliament in December 1597. the workmen for Episcopacy the commissioners of the Assembly presented a petition in name of the church that Ministers may have vote in Parliament They had not commission to petition it either for the Church in generall or for Ministers in particulare It is true it was an old complaint of the Generall assemblies that others who had the Benefices of the Prelacies did vote in Parliament in name of the Church and therefore they petitioned that none do vote in name of the Church but they who shall have commission from the Church if there were any necessity that some must vote in name of the Church but that Ministers in particulaâe should vote in Parliament was not petitioned The Assembly in October 1581. being required by the King to give some Overture how he shall not be prejudged seing they have damned the office of Bishops whereunto is annexed a temporall jurisdiction by whom the Prince was served by voting in Parliament assisting in Counsell contributing in taxations and the like Thretty Barons and Commissioners from Burrous and Ministers were appointed to consult apart upon it After consultation they returned to the Assembly with this Overture that for voting in Parliament and assisting in Counsell commissioners from the Generall assembly shall supply the place of Prelates as for exercing criminall and Civill jurisdiction the head Bailives may exerce it The Assembly allowed the Overture but did not determin to send commissioners for that effect When the same question was propounded by the Convention of Estates in Octob. 1582. answer was returned from the assembly that they would not consent any should vote but they who bear office in the Church and were authorized with commission from the Church but they did not determin whither Min. or Barons or Burgesses who were Elders The Assembly in May 1592. enjoined every brother to consider whither Minister may vote in Parliament in place of the old Prelates but no conclusion was resolved-upon So the Assemblies were never earnest for vote in Parliament but complained that the Lords which had the abbacies priories and Bishopricks voted in name of the Church by whom the Church was damnified in sufficient maintenance for the Service of God or answered to the King complaining for the want of the third Estate But the ground is not right that of necessity the Church must be an Estate of Parliament for by the Church is meaned either the Ministry only according to the Popish sense taking the Clergy only for the Church Ot the Ministry together with the commonality of Professors which is the right acceptation of the word Ministers may not lawfully sit as members in Parliament because the Parliament is a Civile Court or great Counsell conveened for making Lawes concerning rights of inheritances weights and measures forfeitures losse of limbs or life and the like whereof Ministers should not make lawes seing they are set apart to preach the gospell c And howbeit Church-affaires or matters of religion be somtime treated in Parliament yet it is a Civile assembly and their proceeding or sanction of such lawes is Civile If yee will comprehend all the pâofessors or members of the Church under the name of the Church then all the subjects within the kingdom shall make but the third Estate or the wholl Country is but a part of the Parliament Moreover the subjects being considered materially they are the same persons both in the Church and Commonwealth but considered with diverse respects they are distinguished formally as citizens of the Kingdom their body is represented in Parliament as members of the Church they should medle only with things spirituall in their Judicatories and Councells The truth is None voteth in Parliament in name of the Church or as ecclesiasticall persons but only as Barons or in respect of the Baronies annexed to the Bishoprick abbacy or priory So that if prelates were not Barons the Church would have no vote I grant Ministers may be present at Parliaments but with the book of God in their hands if they be required in any doubt nor should the Estates make any Act eoncerning religion without the advice and consent of her representative Body but Ministers should not be members of that Court nor none other in name of the Church The Noble men who possessed the great How it was carried Benefices and so many others as they could move to assist them opposed this vote but by the Kings earnest dealing with sundries it was granted that so many as his Majesty shall provide to the office place title dignity of Bishop abbot or other prelate shall at all times have vote in parliament It was thought no honest man in the Ministry would accept these titles dignities and the Estates were the more liberall in their grant The consideration of the office was remitted to the consultation agreement of the King generall assembly but expressely without prejudice of the Jurisdiction disciplin of the Church in Generall or Provinciall assemblies presbyteries Sessions But what office of Bishop abbot or prior should be and not prejudiciall to the disciplin of the Church is hard to determin The Commissioners as if they had procured a great benefite to the Church sent their Missives to the presbyteries to inform them with what difficulty they had obtained this and what danger was in delay and therefore had anticipate the time of the Assembly and with the Kings consent had appointed it to be holden the seventh of March. Under fair pretenses the diets appointed by ordinary assemblies were altered and either anticipated to surprize men or prorogated till they had prepared persons or dressed purposes till at last the whole liberty of appointing any diet at all was reft out of their hands In the Missives they inform lykewise what order was taken for the Plat and provision of stipends to make the other point the more acceptable XXXVI Nevertheless the judicious and sinceerer sort of the Ministry 1598. discover the Mystery of iniquity lurking in this pretended benefite of Ministers-vote in Parliament at the Synode especially of Lothian and Fife about the end of February In the Synod of Fife David Ferguson the antientest Minister of Scotland had a discourse of the travell and paines taken by the Ministry to purge this Church from the corrupt estate of Bishops But now sayd he I perceive a purpose to erect it again I can compare the manner of bringing it in to
within this realm And seeing we are called before your L. L. to hear and see it found and declared that we have very contemptuously conveened and Assembled ourselves in a generall Assembly at Aberdien the first tuysday of July last and therefore that Assembly to be declared unlawfull as at more length is contained in the summons Wee in confideration of the premisses and other reasons to be given by us have just cause to decline your L. Ls judgement as no way competent in the cause above specified and by these presents simpliciter decline the same seing we are most willing to submit ourselves to the tryall of the generall assembly the only Judges competent By these presents subscribed with our hands October 24. And it was subscribed by all the fourthien They were nevertheless required to answer unto the summons and they did answer for clearing themselves but with protestation of adhering to their declinature In summa they declare that they had done nothing but according to an Act of Parliament in the year 1592. and they offred to disprove the indorsation of the charge and whereas their declinature was taken in ill part they do acknowledge themselves willing to submit unto the judgement of the Counsell in any matter wherein any other subject ought to submit neither is it a new thing to decline their judgement in some cases seing there is extant a declinature subscribed by moe then 300. Ministers and namely by some of these who now are their greatest adversaries And it it usuall unto the subjects in some Civill causes to decline the judgement of the Counsell and to take them unto the judgement of the Lords of the Session or of the Justice generall or even of a Regality They were sent to their severall prisons and Robert Youngson who that day had joyned with them confessing his trouble of conscience for his former oversight was imprisoned in Sterlin After that time they published an Apology wherein they enlarged their answers and the reasons of their declinature whereof a touch followes and in end they say Let it be supposed that it was an offence to hold the Assembly yet it should not be imputed unto them particularly but unto the presbyteries unto whom the Letters of the generall Commissioners were directed and who had ordered them to go and keep the Assembly and afterwards had approved their proceedings Notwithstanding all their allegations John Forbes John Welsh Robert Dury Andrew Duncan Iohn Sharp and Alexander Strachan were brought by the Guard from Blackness to Lithgow to be arraigned January 10. before the Counsell of treason because they had declined the Counsell It was said commonly that the extraordinary discovery of the powder plot at London would have moved the King to desist from troubling Ministers either in England for their not conformity unto the rites or in Scotland for standing to their ratified liberty when all the churches were required to give thanks unto God for that Benefit But the Earle of Dunbar was sent from Court to manage that business Ere the Ministers were brought to the Bar some Counsellers were sent unto them to move them take up their declinature After advice with some other Ministers there present they answered They would take up the declinature if the Counsel would delete the process and decreet standing against them The Lords replied The Counsell could not annull their decreet which was registred Others were sent unto them again to advise them to pass from the declinature pro loco tempore assuring them that the Counsell would pass from all process persute They would not answer without advice of their Brethren who were there about thretty and then they answerd The testimony that was given could not be recalled without prejudice of the Trueth And they craved licence to advice with their own presbyteries upon caution that they shold return into prison This was denied All that number of Ministers accompanied the imprisoned unto the Bar about one a clok There were present in the Counsell the Earles of Montrose Dunfernlin Chancellor Mar Lithgow Dunbar and Lords Glams Elphinston Abercromy Scoon Balmerino Newbotle Tullibairn Blantyre Haliroodhous and Barons Whittingam Pennicook Clerkinton Murdo-Cairny Kilsyth and Master of Elphinston to assist the Justice Deput as Assessors in the cause Sir Thomas Hamilton the Kings Advocat compeared to accuse The Dittay was read importing their treasonable declinature of the Royal authority grounded upon an act of Parliament in the year 1584. I omit the particular aggravations because they may be known by the answers The substance of their defence by their Advocat Thomas Hope afterwards the Kings Advocat and Lord Craig-hall was The declinature is not against either the title nor intention of the law which was made only against such as derogat from the K. royall authority but this declinature left his authority fully The law served only against such as were summoned super inquirendis but these were accused and committed to prison for a deed or action Their declinature was propounded by way of defence and therefore can not be accounted treason The law naming the penalty of treason is odious and therefore should not be enlarged but rather restrained That which is treason in a case expressed may not be extended unto other cases not expressed That law judgeth not such a case to be treason but only forbids such a thing under the pain of treason The act bearing only the incurring of treason the penalty can never be justly inflicted unless the fact be found treasonable by law But no law defineth the declinature of an incompetent Iudge to be treason Neither did these decline the Kings judicatory simply but the Counsels and that only in this and and such causes They were ever and yet are content to be judged by his Majesty and the Generall assembly seing according to God's Word and the lawes of the realm which have distinguished the Civil and Ecclesiasticall jurisdictions the matters of the Church should be judged and cognosced by the Church and it's assemblies which were aswel ratified confirmed by the lawes of the countrey as any other Iudicatory To judge of the lawfuldess or unlawfulness of a gen assembly belongs unto a generall assembly and hath been the practise of our Church even when his Majesty was present as the Assembly at Perth in the year 1596. was controverted notwithstanding his Majesties presence at it and then he was so far from judging the lawfulness of it by himself or his Counsell that in the next generall Assembly at Dundy he did require the question to be decided there as properly pertaining to that Judicatory It hath been lawfull and in continuall practise that his Majesty and Secret Counsell have in sundry causes been declined and the cause drawn to the ordinary and competent Judge as in matters Civill unto the Session in matters criminall unto the Justiciary matters of divorce unto the Comissaries yea the meanest Regalities have power to decline suprem
which charge by diverse supplications given-in unto the Counsell the impannelled offred to reduce and to disprove but could not be heard and yet by vertue of that forged charge were they put to the horn Albeit all those former intimations of his Majesties will were true and had come to their knowledge yet could they not truly be found guilty of contempt sedition in their meeting proceeding in respect of an Act of Parliament James 6 parl 6. An. 1579. act 92 and law made in King Robert 2. and cited de verborum significatione both shewing the Civill jurisdiction judgement to be free from all contempt of his Majesties authority or of the Lords of Secret Counsell albeit they shall proceed in judgement according to law notwithstanding any privy writing charge or command directed unto them in the contrary by his Majesty or Counsell or any command directed unto them under the great Seal or Signet or privy seal repugnant to law whereupon it must follow much more A spirituall Judicatory which hath not institution or ground from Civill authority but from Gods word which is in nature different and distinguished both by the ordinance of God and lawes of the Land albeit the Iudicatory is not instituted yet is approved by Acts of Parliament may proceed lawfully notwithstanding any signification of his Majesties will or of the Counsell in the contrary and yet be free of all contempt or seditious proceeding And in the assembly at Dundy 1597. Sess 7. the article concerning no convention of Pastors without his Majesties knowledge and consent the King being present declared his consent to be extended unto all and whatsoever generall assembly or speciall permitted and authorized by his lawes accordingly as they have warrant in the word of God as being the most authentick form of consent that any King can give Next the Kings Commissioner was present with them consented unto their down-sitting acknowledged their authority by presenting the Counsels Letter craved answer unto it and consented unto sândry things done there his consent was craved in every thing and obtained in some As for the formality of their proceeding the work being such as concerned the house of God and so therein being subject unto the censure of the Overseers of Gods house so they submit themselves and their proceedings to be censured judged according to the word of God by a lawfull free generall assembly and in their apologies written upon occasion at other times they make clear their formality as 1. Whereas the Moderator of the last assembly was not present it could be no impediment of holding the assembly seing his absence was through his fault 2. His preaching was supplied by the teaching of the ordinary Minister of the town 3. As for the election of a new Moderator after prayer by the Moderator of the late Synod at their appointment liets were made and it was needless to remove them who were upon the liets Such circumstances are not to be stood upon when the substance was in perrill Neither have they reason to alledge this objection who have challenged it if they would call to mind how in the assembly at Perth An. 1596. without any election or liets the late Moderator being absent David Lindsay at the nomination of two or three Brethren entred Moderator others who were present not being asked 4. The ordinary Clerck refused to do his office because he was threatned by Laureston Therefore he was dispenced with and of their number one was chosen pro illa vice as is the custom of Synods Presbyteries 5. The place was not privat but where the Presbytery and Synod sat ordinarily and al 's publick as the Counsell-house of Dundy or Edinburgh where Generall assemblies have been held As for their paucity that proceeded partly from the weather and partly by a trick of the Commissioners pointing in their last Letter at another day then which was appointed before And in the assembly of Gods servants where the number is not defined by a law rarity makes it not unlawfull if the meeting be ordinary and established by law unto which all who have interess may resort and which may be judged lawfull or approved by the next ordinary meeting as this hath been already approved by many Presbyteries 3. For any thing that was done there were moe than needed a sufficient number to sense or begin an assembly by prayer and to adjourny it unto another day for causes moving and a prayer in end This hath been practized in the Parliaments and in Church as at Santandrews in April An. 1597. As for them who came after the dissolving they had the like commission and warrands to come and were stayd as said is and when they came they could find no unlawfulness in the proceedings of their Brethren and seing their approbation concerned only the written process according to the subscribed copy which they received equity requires that the Generall Assembly should judge thereof before it be called unlawfull In the written process they found no signification of any proceeding charge which is the chief ground of the alledged contempt Lastly it is against all order that commissioners directed from the Presbyteries should be challenged for executing their commission namely when their execution is approved by their Presbyteries and the Presbyteries are not challenged After the Advocat the prisoners so cleared themselves and their cause that their adversaries were astonished their doubting Brethren resolved and every one that stood-by were satisfied Then the Interloquiture went-on not by voting formally but after secret rounding All the exceptions and defences were rejected and the Interloquiture was pronounced in name of all the Assessors consenting howbeit some made opposition in the mean time Yea some of the Counsell reported that none consented but the Earl of Dunbar the President the Chancelor the Earl of Montrose and the Controler Neither was the cause reasoned in presence of the Assise the most part of them not having entred into the place of judgement untill they were called to take their oath and to be enclosed Those were John Livinston of Dânipace Sir Archbald Sterlin of Kier Sir John Forrest of Carden Sir John hume of North-Berwik James Shaw of Sawchy James Swenton of Innerkithen a Papist Henry Stuart of Craig-hall a dissolute man Sir George Hume of Broxmouth George Hume of the Deans Gawin Hume of Johnscleuch Thomas Livinston of Pantoun Robert Livinston of Westquarter Sir Patrik Hume of Polwart James Gib younger of Caribben and Alexand. Hume of Rentoun Craig-hall was chosen Chancellor of the Assise or Foreman of the Jury Their Advocat exhorted the Iury to consider that it was not the naked deed of Declining that was the dittay of the impannelled but the quality of the deed to wit a treasonous declinature which was to be tryed Therefore willed them to judge whether it was treason or not But the Kings Advocat charged them to find only whether the prisoners had declined the Councels
judgement or not which the Iustice and Lords had already found treasonable Their Advocat willed them to remember his defences which he resumed briefly and to judge truly equitably and not according to the alledged lawes which were not only repealed and abrogated in part and were made in a violent time when in the Kings minority the chief men both of the Common-welth and Church weâe forced to forsake the Land nor was any man before that day conuicted of treason for declining the Counsell nothwithstanding that Act but against it at the very ploclaming of it at the market cross of Edinburgh Robert Pont and Walter Backanquell in name of the Church took protestations documents of their dis-assenting in the hands of John Mackeson Notare publick After him Iohn Forbes deduced summarily their proceedings at Aberdien explained the word Simpliciter which they had used in the Declinature protested as they had done before the Councell that in all Civill affaires they acknowledge his Majesty and the authority of the Secret Counsell as far as any other subject but in the affaires of Christs Kingdom and the Church which God hath distinguished from the former they had lawfully declined the judgement of the civil Iudicatory and he exhorted the Gentle men of the Assise to remember that they were bound by the confession of faith to maintain the disciplin professed in our Church alswel as the Ministers He read a part of the confession to this purpose and inferred They could not but be guilty of perjury if they for fear or pleasure of any man should decern that to be treason which themselves had upon the lawfull command of authority sworn and subscribed Iohn Welsh followed with a discourse of the grounds of their declinature and required them to consider that they were not the first who had declined the Counsell in the like case as others also had done in other cases and namely that there is extant a Declinature of the King Counsell subscribed by three or four hundred Ministers or thereby yea by some of the commissioners of the Generall assembly and by those who are called Bishops and are the only men who have procured all those troubls and on whom they there do lay all the guilt of those troubls which they have suffered and are like to suffer He read also another part of the confession of faith concerning the present purpose The Kings Advocat interrupted him and willed the Assise to consider that they had no more to try but whether the impanelled had declined or not The Justice willed the Assise to remove in all hast Iohn Forbes seeing there was no longer stay charged the Earl of Dumbar to report in their names unto his Majesty what punishment followed upon the breach of the oath made unto the Gibeonites and how the like was to be feared to fall upon his Majesties posterity and the whol Land if they shall violat the great oath that they have made and then he read another passage of the confession concerning aequivocation double dealing When the Jury was enclosed Dunipace moved them with reasons so that they were inclined to absolve the impannelled Wherefore some were directed to deal with the Assisers and some were directed to deal with the arraigned Ministers to see if yet they could be moved to depart from their declinature Whereas according to the law none should have access unto the Assisers after they be inclosed For the starute James 6. Parli 11 1587. Act. 91. it was ordained that all Assisers be inclosed and none suffered to repair unto them under whatsoever pretence nor any of the Assise to come forth untill after agreement they return their answer unto the Judge otherwise the person to be pronounced clean and innocent of the crime alledged But it was sufficiently known that the Foreman came forth unto the Lord Justice and other Lords and the Clerks resorted unto the Assise Much travell was to persuad the Assisers that no harm was intended against the prisoners in their person life or goods to induce them to convict the prisoners Sixe cleansed them simpliciter to wit Dunipace Kier Johnscleuch Westquarter Pantoun and Sawchy When the Forman returned and reported the Sentence of the Jury Dunipace said publickly that he not only absolved them as innocent of treason but acknowledged them to be honest Ministers faithfull servants of Christ and good subjects The Judge delayd the Sentence of punishment untill the Kings will were further known and ordained the prisoners to be carried into ward again and to be straitly keept that no man have access unto them The prisoners embraced one another and thanked God for his presence in the action They were convoyd unto the place about ten a clok at night by some of the Guarde The people said It was certanly a work of darknes to make Christs faithfull Ministers traitors O if the King were never in greater danger then by such men On the morrow they were convoyd to Blackness a great number of Ministers accompanying them and parted from them with thanks giving prayers and many tears and more confirmed in the cause Then the Commissioners of the generall assembly thought it a âit time to try the constancy of other Ministers being so terrified as they supposed that nothing would be refused Therefore all the Synods of the realm were appointed in the Kings name to conveen upon one and the same day in February within their bounds respectivè that so one Synod might not know the resolution of another The King had one or more Commissioners at every Synod to crave answer unto five Articles which were directed to the Synod of Mers and Teviotdale with David Macgill a Senator of the Session and Gawin Hamilton Bishop of Galloway to wit 1. That in the next General Assembly no Acts made in any preceding Assembly where his Majesty was present should be in any way touched altered or interpreted 2. That the estate of Bishops be not medled with but continued in the same condition wherein they are at present untill his Majesties will and pleasure be further known 3. That there be no alteration of any of the Commissioners except upon the trial of some notable fault in their doctrine life or conversation 4. That notwithstanding any appellation the Commissioners should proceed they alwaies being answerable unto the General Assembly for their proceedings 5. That they acknowledge the Warrant of their meetings to come by permission of the Prince That Synod would give no answer so did many others and some referred them unto the General Assembly The Ministers of the Dutch and French Churches at London being mis-informed sent Letters unto the Ministers of Edenburgh regrating the mis-behaviour of the imprisoned Ministers Wherefore those in blackness wrote an Apologetick not only declaring their proceedings but also painting forth the Commissioners of the General Assembly in their own colours that under pretence of a limited Commission from the General Assembly they arrogate the full
Idols Silvester the II. did worse ...... The Church which is represented by the Councel is the Mother of all Believers and therefore the Mother of the Pope and she is so called by Anacletus and Calixtus The Church is the Spouse of Christ and the Pope is but his Vicar now the Vicar cannot be superiour unto the Spouse but rather obedient unto her Sylvius lib. cit The result of the Diets was that in respect of the person and place of Eugenius the Councel should be intreated to surcease from process against him After great concertation an Act was past in the great Congregation May 15. concluding the first three Truths And unto that Request they published their Answer January 17. An. 1438. The sum is Because Pope Eugenius will not repent of his wicked attempt unless he be suspended from his administration so now since he hath sinned more hainously they have no hope that he will repent for simple intreating therefore they will proceed to his deposition yet not hastily but as they have allowed more then due space of citation so after he is suspended they will delay his deprivation and wait his amendment His citation was upon ninety days Then came forth the Acts of the Councel of Ferraria against the Councel of Basil and the Acts of this against the other as they be annexed unto the Councel of Basil In Session 34. June 25. An. 1439. Pope Eugenius alias Gabriel being convicted of notorious contumacy of disobedience unto the commands of the Church universal of continual contemning the Canons of the Councels of disturbing the peace of God's Church of Simony Perjury Schism Heresie ...... was simpliciter deprived of the Papacy And in Session 39. in November immediately following Amadaeus Duke of Savoy who had been an Eremite in Ripalia a Wilderness in the Diocy Gebennen was chosen Pope and called Felix the V. After that nothing was done but for defense of the Councel Answers were published refuting the libels of Pope Eugenius and his Councel it were were wearisome to relate all yet I shall hint at one Reply dated October 7. An. 1439. After the Preface whereas Eugenius said The Authority of Councels above the Pope was established only by the faction of Pope John the XXIII They say All the Fathers consented in Councel deposing two Popes and electing a third And Pope Martin with consent of the whole Councel defined it to be an errour if any dare say that it is not of the necessity of salvation to believe that the Church of Rome is supream among all Churches if by the Church of Rome be understood the Church universal or General Councel Item When any shall be suspected of the Heresies of Wickliff he should be demanded Whether he believe that whatsoever the Councel of Constance hath defined concerning Faith and Salvation should be approved and held by all Believers and yet Martin was not ignorant of the former Act And in this Councel at Basil the same was renewed when there was no difference of factions In the end they compare Eugenius unto the Jews Donatists Arians and other Hereticks who were wont to call the better part Hereticks divellish and separated from the true Church so doth Eugenius now c. IV. The fourth principal purpose of that Councel was the Reformation of the Church according to the Act of Session 41. at Constance So in Session 12. it was ordained That every Church and Monastery should chuse their own Prelate without any reservation to the Roman Pope but onely of those places that are under the Roman Church in respect of Dominion In Session 15. Every Bishop should have a Synod twice or at least once every year which shall continue two or three days or longer as seemeth good unto him and there he shall admonish his own Clergy of their general and particular duties he should diligently inquire of their manners he should exhort them unto good manners and direct those who have charge of souls to instruct their people with wholesome doctrine and admonitions the Provincial Statutes should be read and any compendious Treatise concerning the administration of the Sacraments and other things conducing to the instruction of Priests he should by due correction beat down simony usury and fornication and revoke the dilapidations of Church-goods he should reform the abuses of the Clergy and other people so far as concerneth Divine Service and especially he should take heed that his Diocy be not infected with heresie errours scandals lottery divination inchantation superstition or any other divellish device Item In every Province shall be a Provincial Synod within two years after this Councel and after that a Provincial Synod every third year where all the Arch-Bishops and all the Suffragans and all quorum interest should be present where an Arch-Bishop or one in his name should have the Exhortation admonition shall be that Benefices and Orders should be bestowed on the worthiest without simony and that mature examination be had of such as the cure of souls is committed unto and that Church-goods be not abused it should be inquired how Bishops bestow Benefices and confirm Elections and preach unto their People and punish the vices of their Subjects observe the Episcopal Synods and discharge other parts of their Office It shall also be inquired of the Metropolitan in all these particulars if any contentions arise to disturb the peace of a Province the Synod should indeavour to settle them if such discords arise between Kingdoms or Princedoms the Bishops should assemble Synods in both and concur one with another to take away the occasion of these discords respecting only the glory of God and welfare of the People In the Provincial Synods it shall be advised what is to be propounded in the insuing General Councel In Session 20. It is not necessary to forsake the company of excommunicated persons unless the Sentence be laid and published against such a certain person or persons expresly and their cause can have no tergiversation nor excuse by Law Item That no City nor place can be subject unto Ecclesiastical Interdiction but for the fault of the Governours of that place not for the fault of a private or any forraign person Item No appellations should be made after the first being annulled In Session 21. Annates should not be required by the Roman Church nor elsewhere for confirmation of Election nor for a Collation In other Sessions Statutes were made concerning the Service in the Mass the election and profession of Priests the number and quality of Cardinals and reservation of cases unto Rome In Session 30. An. 1437. Laicks are not tied by the command of Christ to communicate of both bread and wine but the Church hath power to direct how it should be administred ..... that whether they communicate in one kinde or in both according to the Ordinance of the Church it is profitable to salvation unto the worthy Communicant yet the laudable custom of the Church should be observed
as a Law In Session 36. It was then at first declared That the blessed Virgin was never defiled with original sin and the Feast of her conception was confirmed to be kept December 8. In Session 43. Pope Felix ordained the Feast of Maries visitation to be kept July 22 and to cause it to be observed he granted unto every one observing it indulgence of injoyned pennance for an hundred days Pope Eugenius inticed the Daulphin of France to dissolve that Councel by force and he brought above thirty thousand Souldiers to Basil but the Swisers being but four thousand did vanquish him as the Lacedemonians did Xerxes that is few to wit an hundred and fifty of the Victours remaining alive and eight thousand French died in the place Because of these troubles the Councel held no Sessions from August 10. An. 1442. until May 16. An. 1448. Then the Ambassadours would not continue longer and the Emperour undertook to procure another more peaceable Councel within three years and Pope Felix with his Assessors appointed Lions as the most convenient place But in the publick Session on the day aforesaid it was determined that the present Councel should be continued and be resumed after that time or in case of trouble it should be transferred to Lausanna But they assembled not at all 7. Much noise had been of a General Councel between the Eastern and The Councel of Ferraria and Florence Western Churches for the space of twelve years especially and when the Councel of Basil was convened some conceived hope of an union but the aims and motives of the leading parties as was touched before shew that no good could follow Many have written of that Councel at Ferraria and Florence among them all none hath the circumstances so fully as Sylvester Sguropulus who was Assessour unto the Patriarch of Constantinople and present in most of the consultations both before and in time of that Councel The Emperour John Palaeologus intended to have gone unto Basil the first offence was given by them at Basil who in their Letters unto the Greeks said The Fathers assembled in the General Councel as they had abolished the late Heresie of the Bohemians so they were ready to cut down the old Heresie of the Greeks The Greeks said unto the Oratours of Basil How can we approve them who in the very Preface say that we are old Hereticks we cannot admire sufficiently with what face they can feign this of us who but ye did think to upbraid us with the infamous name of Hereticks or what Heresie can be in us who have never transgressed nor departed from the Traditions of the Apostles Councels and Fathers this is a heavy stumbling-block unto us and therefore first of all we crave a remedy of this The Latines said It was not done of purpose but a meer escape of the writer we for our selves and for all our Nation say that we did never suspect such a thing of you neither say we now that ye maintain any Heresie and we are ready to proclaim this unto the World by any way ye please This Apology did not calm their animosities of the Patriarch especially until the Emperour said O that God would grant an universal Synod that by his blessing there may be an union of the Churches of Christ and Christians might agree in peace this were a great work and to be admired in all time coming yea not only a great work but more then hath been done in the former occumenial Synods yea more then was done by great Constantine in the first Councel for at that time there was peace in all the World and one Arrius with twenty or thirty more was contradictory unto the Doctrine of the Church and all others were Orthodox but that Heresie was of short standing for it arose and was condemned within the space of three years But unto this Synod which is now intended many yea innumerable people shall be assembled for consider how many are in Italy Germany Spain Britain and other places of the West how many Bishops are there Monks Doctors and Philosophers mighty and proud Nations many also shall be from these our parts who do reverence our Religion and are not in number inferiour unto the others such as the Trapezuntians Iberians Cercasians Mincreliens Goths Russians Walachians Servians the Islanders besides the Patriarchs and their Provinces I hear also of a great Nation in Ethiopia which is populous and Orthodox according with our tenets in all points who also as I suppose shall be called unto this Synod thus many are for us also And the Schism hath been of long continuance for they have been driving it these five hundred years almost how great a work were it then to solder and unite so many Nations so long time at variance and to bring all the World into one Church and we have hope by what hath been written unto us and as we hear that there shall be an union by the help of God and if it be this Church shall be much bettered for the King of Germany said unto me when I was with him that it concerned me to procure the union for if you do this said he you shall establish the Church since our folks have transgressed in many things and the Eastern Church hath a better order and if you effectuate not the union yet you may amend our people He spoke also many other things and I know certainly his good purposes and what he intendeth to do for us if the union go on and among other things he hath promised that I shall be his Successour in his Kingdom This Oration was heard with much joy Then it was propounded that the Pope and the Councel should be first united The Latines promised that it should be so and said They are already upon agreement But the Patriarch could not disgest that the Councel had called them old Hereticks and that the Pope Eugenius will not come personally unto the Councel But John one of the Oratours from Basil perceiving that Joseph was ambitious and desirous of honour flattered him with glozing words saying If he were once there how would he be admired all men would honour him and especially all the Fathers of the Synod and they will bring presents unto him and they will follow his advice as one who is wiser then they all are Letters were sent unto the Councel especially to amend their former Preface and for a Safe-conduct When these were returned the Emperour sent unto Trapesus Iberia and other Nations inviting them to send their Bishops and Oratours unto the Councel and he invited the three Patriarchs Some Nations sent two Bishops and one Oratour and some sent one Bishop and one Oratour The Patriarchs sent their Commissions unto some Greeks within the Empire as the Patriarch of Alexandria named Anthony Bishop of Heraclea and Mark a Monk whom the Emperour afterwards made Bishop of Ephesus for honouring his Commission Antiochia named Joseph then Bishop of Ephesus
asscribe or take upon them any part thereof in placing or displacing Ministers of Gods word in spirituall livings or offices without the Churches admission or in stopping the mouths of preachers or taking upon them the judgement and tryall of doctrin or of hindering or dis-annulling the censures of the Church or exeeming any offender there from 2. That the Presbyteries consisting of Pastors or Teachers and such as are commonly called Elders according to Gods word and now according to his Ma s direction appointed in diverse parts of this realm for disciplin and keeping order in ecclesiasticall affaires Be approved established by authority and paines prescribed against them that stubbornly oppose themselves 3. That the Synodall assemblies consisting of sundry Presbyteries and Nationall consisting of the wholl be approved and by vertue Act of Counsell presently and of Parliament hereafter have power to conveen so oft as occasion shall require to advise treat conclude and make ordinances in such things as concern the well of the Church and their charge in doctrin and disciplin with liberty to appoint times places for that effect 4. That Presbyteries and such as they will direct of their own number have the same power in designing manses gliebs and repairing of Churches as Bishops or Commissioners had before 5. That every Church have their severall Pastor to be sustained on the tyths of the parish where he serves and to that end the manses of churches that are annexed to great Benefices or prelacies be dissolved pensions given out of the tiths and tacks of the same set by the Collectors or possessors may be revoked c. Likewise a Supplication unto the King and Counsell was read for redress of many enormities 1. That the slanderous proclamation at Perth July 12. and published in all townes and parish-churches and to the perpetuall infamy of Gods servants is printed may be perused and diligently considered and triall be made whither any Minister be culpable of such odious crimes and if they be culpable that they be punished with all rigor of law And otherwise that the givers out of so blasphemous reports and devisers and diters of that infamous libell be punished accordingly And that by Act of Counsell and open proclamation the Ministry be declared innocent of such wicked and hainous crimes 2. That the unaccustomed violence used against Jo. Howeson drawing him out of the seat of the presbytery ...... And against David Weemes Minister be so punished that none be bold to attempt the like hereafter 3. That Colin Campbell Archbald and Wi. Heggets burgesses of Glasgow with their complices be punished according to justice for the uproar made by them against the Students and shedding their blood 4. that the proclamation lately made for the liberty of the Assemblies may be enlarged and more plainly cleared 5. That your Lp s will give his Majesty to understand how wicked instruments they are who persuaded his Gr. to allow and take upon himself all the mischiefs and ungodly proceedings whereby his Gr. and the Church Country were brought into such misery and danger 6. That all Acts of Counsell made against Presbyteries assemblies charging them to desist from proceeding in discipline and ecclesiasticall censures against scandalous persons be annulled and deleted and the Act made against J. Dury 7. That his Majesty and Lords will weigh what great inconvenients and absurdities fall out upon the Act of Counsell made concerning the absolute power and for removing them to delete that Act never to be remembred 8. That his Gr. and Lords provide carefully foresee that by wicked practise of dimission or association of authority the Church the Kings Majesty and country be not hurt and that the same be stayd in time 9. That the stipend appointed unto the Minister of Sterlin and now wickedly purchased by Ro. Mongomery to his young son be restored for sustentation of a qualified man to teach that flock which by his ungodly dealing and apostasy hath been destitute so long time 9. That it would please your Majesty and Lords to have compassion upon that Noble and godly man James Hamilton Earle of Arran somtyme a comfortable instrument in Reforming the Church of God and now visited by the hand of God and bereft under pretence of Law 10. That Commissioners be deputed in each part for visiting the Colledges The Assembly gives commission unto nyneteen Ministers with the Ministers of the Kings house to present this Supplication unto the Kâng and the Estates now conveened at Halirud house or unto the Parliament when it shall be holden crave answer c. In the next Session these brethren report that the Lords crave the advice of the Church who should sit in their names to vote in Counsell and Parliament seing now they are about the taking order for a Counsell consisting of three Estates For better resolution in this particulare it was thought meet to enquire of the Lords what is their meaning in this proposition In the following session answer was returned that the meaning is Whither the Church will consent that some of the Bishops should for the Church be upon the Counsell The assembly resolves they can not agree that any shall vote in name of the Church but they who bear office in the Church and are authorized with commission thereunto Two Ministers are appointed to return this aâswer unto the Lords In this Convention of Estates nothing was done in the affaires of the Church they were all for securing themselves XX. On January 28. year 1583. the King withdrew himselfe from the 1583. Another change of Court Nobility that had separated the Duke and Arran from him and he went unto the Castle of Santandrews untill he sent for other Noble men to be of his Counsell and the entituled Earle of Arran was let out of Duplin and came unto the King whereupon in the end of that year followed great alteration The Generall assembly conveenes at Edinb April 24. Tho. The 45. Assembly Smeton is chosen Moderator I. Three Ministers were sent unto the King to humbly desire Commissioners for assisting the assembly in treating and concluding c. And seing his Majesty had sent Ambassadors into England that he would be pleased to endeavoure an union be made betwixt the two Kingdoms and other Christian Princes and Nations professing the true religion against the persecution of Papists and them that are confederat in that bloody League of Trent and also that her Majesty would disburden their Brethren of England from the yoke of ceremonies imposed upon them against the liberty contained in Gods word Likewise in Sess 5. others were ordained to supplicate his Majesty earnestly that the French Ambassador may be sent away because his travell is suspected to tend against religion and the Commonwell That a Jesuit Holt may be tryed and according to his offense punished That the Lord Seton's son may be accused for his Letters unto Jesuits That a brother of