they are not vpon the earth yet they are about the earth at least they be not in Heaven because oft times a question may arise vpō another the heads of mē now a days are curious a man hearing now that I can deliver out of Purgatorie will ask here a question whether I be so to empty all Purgatorie at once or not to whom my Canonist August de Ancho doth answere by a triple distinction Quantum ad absolutam meamjurisdictionem Quantum ad ordinatam executionem Quantum addivinam acceptionem First touching my absolute jurisdiction hee sayeth I am able to rid out all Purgatorie together for as many as bee vnder my jurisdiction as all be except onely infants vnbaptised in limbo and men departed onely cum Baptismo slaminis that is with the Baptisme of the spirit and such as haue no friends to doe for them that therefore pardons bee given these onely excepted for all other besids the Pope hee sayeth hath power to release all Purgatorie at once as touching his absolute jurisdiction Albeit Thomas Aquixas part 4 denyeth the same forsomuch as CHRIST himselfe hee sayeth when hee came downe did not onely vtterly at once release all Purgatorie As touching my ordinarie execution they hold that I may if I will but I ought not to doe it Thirdly as concerning the divyne acceptation that is how GOD would accept it if I did it that they say is vnknowne to them to everie creature yea and to the Pope himselfe And to the intent I would all men to see and vnderstand that I lack not witnesse besids these if I list to bring them out you shall heare the whole quyre of my divine Clergie brought out with a full voyoe testifying in my behalfe in their bookes tractations distinctions titles glosses and summaryes as by their owne words heere followeth The Pope say they being the viccar of IESVS CHRIST through out the whole world in the stead of the living GOD hath that dominion and lordship which CHRIST heere in earth would not haue although hee had it in habitu but gaue it to Peter in actu that is the vniversall jurisdiction both of spirituall things and also of temporall which double jurisdiction was signified by the two swords in the Ghospell And also by offering of the wise men who offered not onely incense but also gold to signifie not onely the spirituall dominion but also the temporall to belong to CHRIST and to his viccar For as wee read the earth is the LORDS and the fulnesse thereof and as CHRIST sayeth all power is given to him both in Heaven and earth So it is to be asfirmed inclusive That the viccar of CHRIST hath power on things coelestiall terrestiall and infernall which hee tooke immediatly of CHRIST All other take it immediatly by Peter and the Pope wherefore such as say that the Pope hath dominion onely in spirituall things in the world and not in temporall may bee likned to the councillers of the Kings of Syria 2. Reg. 20. Which said that the gods of the mountaines be their gods and therefore they haue overcome vs but let vs fight against them in the low meadows valleys where they haue no power and so wee shall prevaile over them so evill counsellers now a dayes through their pestiferous flatterie deceave Kings and Princes of the earth saying Popes and Prelats bee gods of mountaines that is of spirituall things onely but they bee not gods of valleyes that is they haue no dominion over temporall things and there fore let vs fight against them in the valleyes that is in the power of the temporall possessions and so we shall prevale over them But what sayeth the sentence of GOD vnto them let vs heare because saith hee the Sirians say that the God of mountaines is their god and no the god of valleyes therefore I will giue all this multitude into your hand and you shall know that I am the Lord what can bee more effectuall spoken to set foorth the Majestie of my jurisdiction which I receaved immediatly of the LORD of the LORD I say and no man For whereas Constantine the Emperour gaue to Silvester indowing him with this possession and patrimonie that is so to be exponed and taken not so much for a donation as to bee counted for a restitution made of that which tyranously was taken from him before And againe whereas I haue given at sundrie times to Lodovicus and other Emperours of my temporall lands and possessions yet that was done not so much for recognising of homage to thē as for keeping peace with them for I ow to Emperours no obediene that they can clame but they ow to mee as their superior And therefore for a deversitie betwixt their degree and mine in their consecration they take their vnction in their arme I on the head and as I am superior to them so am I superior to all lawes and free from all constitutions Which am able of my selfe and by my interpretation to preferre equitie being not writen before the law writen having all lawes within the chest of my breast as is aforesaid and whatsoever this my Sea shall enact approue or disproue all men ought to approue and reproue the same with out either judging disputing doubting or extracting Such is the priveledge given of CHRIST in the behalfe of Peter to the Church of Rome 186. That what kingdome soever countrie or province choosing to themselves bishops Ministers although they agree with all other Christsfaithfull people in the name of IESUS that is in faith charitie believing in the same GOD and in CHRIST his true Sonne and in the holie Ghost having also the same Creid The same Evangelists and Scriptures of the Apostles yet notwithstanding vnlesse that Bishops and Ministers take their origine and ordination from this Apostolicall state they are to bee counted not of the Church so that succession of faith only is not sufficient to make a Church exceptt he Ministers take their ordination by them which haue their succession from the Apostles so their faith supremacy and chayre of Peter keyes of Heaven power to binde and lowse all these bee inseparable to the Church of Rome So that it is to be presumed that GOD alwayes providing and S. Peter helping the Bishoprick and dyocy of Rome shall never fall from the faith and likewise is to bee presumed and presupposed that the Bishop of that Church is alwayes good and holy yea although hee bee not alwayes good or be destitute of his ownemerits yet the merits of S. Peter predecessor of that place bee sufficient for him who hath bequeathed and left a perpetuall dowrie of merits with inheritance of innocency to his posteritie 187. Yea though hee fall in homicide or adulterie hee may sinne but yet hee cannot bee accused but rather excused by the murtherers of Samson the shifts of the Hebrewes the adulterie of Iacob 188. And likewise if any of his Clergie should bee found
concoct and digested with such patience and rypnesse and delivered out with such gravitie of delebiration that nothing is thought in it necessary to be altered or detracted 122. Wherefore it is manifest and testified by the voice of holie Bishops that the dignitie of this my seat is to be reverenced through the whole world in that all the faith full submit themselues to it as to the head of the whole bodie 123. Whereof it is spoken to mee by the Prophet speaking of the Arke if this bee humbled whether shall yee runne for succour and where shall your glory become seing then this is so that so holie Bishops and Scriptures doe witnesse with mee what shall we say then to such as will take vpon them to judge of my doings to reprehend my proceedings or to require homage and tribute of mee to whom all other are subject 124. Against the first sort the Scripture speaketh Deuternomie Thou oughtest not to put thy syth in another mans Corne. Which thing to attempt against mee what is it but plaine sacriledge 125. According to my Canonists which thus defyne sacriledge to consist in three things either when a man judgeth of his Princes judgement or when the holie day is prophained or whē reverence is not given to Lawes and Canons 126. Against the second sort maketh the place of the booke of Kings where wee reade the Arke of GOD was brought from Gaba to Ierusalem and in the way the Arke inclining by reason of the vnruely oxen Ozias the Levit put to his hand to helpe and therefore was stricken of the LORD By this Arke is signified the Prelats by the inclination thereof the fall of Prelats 127. Which also bee signified by the Angels that Iacob did see going vp and downe the ladder 128. Also by the Prophet where hee sayeth hee bowed downe the Heavens and came downe By Ozias and the vnruelie oxen are meaned our subjects 129. Then like as Ozias was striken for putting his hand to the Arke inclyning no more must subjects rebuke their Prelats going away 130. Albeit heere may be answered againe that all bee not Prelats which bee so called for it is not the name that maketh a Bishop but the life 131. Against the third sort of such as would bring vs vnder the tribute and exactions of secular men making the New Testament where Peter was bid to giue the groate in the fishes mouth but not the head nor bodie of the fish No more is the head or bodie of the Church subdued to Kings but onely that which is in the mouth that is the extern things of the Church and yet not they neither 132. For so wee read in the booke of Genesis that Pharaoh in the time of derth subdued all the land of the Egyptians but yet hee ministred to the Preists so that hee neither tooke their possessions from them nor their libertie If then the Prelats of the Church must bee neither judged nor reprehended nor exacted how much more ought I to bee free from the same 133 Which am the Bishop of Bishops and head of Prelats 134. For it is not to bee thought that the case betwixt mee and other Prelats betwixt my Sea and other Churches bee like 135. Although the whole Catholick Apostolicke Church make a brydechamber of Christ yet the Catholick and Apostolick Church of Rome had the preheminence given over all other by the mouth of the LORD himselfe saying to Peter Thou art Peter 136. Thus a discretion and difference must bee had in the Church as it was betwixt Aaron and his children 137. Betwixt the threescore and twelue Disciples and the twelue Apostles betwixt the other Apostles and Peter 138. Wherefore it is to bee concluded an order difference of degrees in the Church betwixt powers rior and inferior without which order the vniversitie of the whole cannot consist 139. For as amongst the Angelicall creatures aboue in Heaven there is set a difference and inequalities of powers and orders some to bee Angels some Archangels some Cherubins some Seraphims 140. So in the Ecclesiasticall hierarchie of the Church militant heere on earth Priests must not bee equall with Bishops Bishops must not bee like in order with Arch-Bishops with Patriarchs or Primats 141. Who containe vnder them three Arch-Bishops as a King containeth three Dukes vnder him in the which number of Patriarchs cōmeth in the stare also of an hundreth fourty two Cardinals or principals fo called Because as the doore turneth by his hinges so the vniversall Church ought to be ruled by them 142. The next hiest order aboue these is mine who am Pope differing in power majoritie and honour reverentiall from these all other decrees of men 144. For the better declaration on whereof my Canonists make three kynds of power in the earth Immediato which is mine immediatly from GOD Derivato which belongeth to other inferior Prelats from me 145. Ministralis belonging to Emperors and Princes to minister for mee for the which cause the anoynting of Princes and my consecration doth differ for they are anoynted onely in the armes or shoulders and I in the head to signifie the difference of power betwixt Princes and mee 146. This order therefore of Priests Bishops and Arch-Bishops Patriarchs and others as a thing most convenient my Church of Rome hath set and instituted through all Churches following therein not onely the example of the angelicall armie in Heaven but also the Apostles 147. For amongst them also there was not an vniforme equalitie or institution of a degree 148. But a diversitie or distinction of authoritie and power albeit they were all Apostles together yet it was granted notwithstanding to Peter themselues also agreeing to the same that he should beare dominion and superioritie over all other Apostles 149. And therefore had his name given him Cephas that is head or beginning of the Apostlehood 150. Wherevpon the order of the Priesthood first in the New Testament began in Peter to whom it was said Thou art Peter and vpon thee will I build my Church 151. And I will give thee the keyes of Heaven and thou being converted confirme thy brethren 152. I haue prayed for thee that thy faith shall not faile wherefore seeing such power is given to Peter 153. And to mee in Peter beeing his successor 154. Who is hee then in all the world that ought not to bee subject to my decrees which hath such power in Heaven in Hell in Earth with the quicke and also the dead 155. Commanding and granting in my Bull sent to Vienna vnto all such as dyed in their peregrination to Rome that the paine of Hell shuld not touch them And also that all such as tooke the holie crosse vpon them should everie one at his request not onely bee delivered himselfe but also deliver three or foure soules whomso ever hee would haue out of Purgatorie 156. Againe having such promises and assurance that my faith shall not faile who then will
not beleeue in my doctrine for did not CHRIST himselfe first pray for Peter that his faith should not faile 157. Also haue I not a sure promise of Pauls owne mouth wrytting to my Church in these words God is my witnesse whom I serue in my spirit in the Ghospell of his Sonne that without ceasing I make mention of you alwayes in my prayers Rom. I. 158. Where fore I condemne all such worthilie which will not obey my decrees to be despossessed of all their honours without restitution 159. So all they that beleeue not my doctrine or stand against the priviledge of the Church especially of the Church of Rome I pronounce them Heretiques 160. And as the other before is called vnjust so this man is to bee called an heretique 161. For why he goeth against the faith which goeth against her who is the mother of faith 162. But heere may ryse perchance a doubt or seruple that if my faith and knowledge stand so sure by the promise of CHRIST and by the continuall prayer of S. Paul whither is it true or is it to bee granted that any other should excell men in knowledge or interpretation of holie Scripture 163. For looke whose knowledge is grounded vpon most reason his words should seeme to bee of more authoritie 164. Wherevnto I answere and grant that many there bee hath beene more abundantly indued with fuller grace of the holie Ghost and greater excellencie of knowledge therefore that the tractations of Augustine Hierom and others thought to bee preferred before the constitutions of dyvers Popes yet I say in determination of cause because they haue not the vertue and hight of their authoritie which is given to mee therefore in exponing of Scriptures they are to bee preferred but in decyding of matters they stand inferror to my authoritie by vertue of which authoritie 165. Both they themselues be allowed for doctors their works approved and also al other matters bee ruled through the power of the keyes which is given to me immediatly of CHRIST although I deny not but the same keyes bee also committed to other Prelats as they were to other Apostles besids Peter 166. Yet it is a thing to haue the keyes another thing to haue the vse of the keyes 167. Wherefore heere is to bee noted a distinction of keyes after the minde of my schoole doctors one key which is called Clavis ordinis Having authoritie to binde and loose but over the persons whom they binde and loose and this authoritie they take not immediatly of CHRIST but immediatly by mee the viccar of CHRIST The other is called Clavis Iurisdictionis Which I the viccar of CHRIST take immediatly of him having notonely authoritie to binde and loose but also dominion over them on whom this key is exercised by the jurisdiction of which key the fulnesse of my power is so great that whereas all others are subjects 168. Yea and Emperours themselues ought to subdue their executions to mee onely I am a subject to no creature 169. No not to my selfe except I list In foro poenitentiae to my Ghostly father submitting my selfe as a sinner but not as Pope so that my papall majestie ever remaineth vnminisched Superior to all men 170. Whom all persons ought to obey 171. and follow 172. Whom no man must judge nor accuse of cryme either of murther adulterie symony or such like 173. No man depose but I my selfe 174. No man can excommunicate mee yea though I communicat with the excommunicat for no Canon bindeth me whom no man must lye to 175. For hee that lyeth to mee is a Church robber 176. And who obeyeth not mee is an hereticke and an excommunicat person 177. For like as all the Iewes were commanded to obey the hie Priest of the Leviticall order of what state or condition soever they were so are all Christian men more and lesse bound to obey mee CHRISTS Lievetennant on earth concerning the obedience or disobedience of whom yee haue in Deut. 17. 178. Where the common glosse sayeth that hee who denyeth to the hie Priest obedientiam lyeth vnder the sentence of condemnation as much as hee that denyeth to GOD his omnipotentiam Thus then appeareth that the greatnesse of my Priest hood 179. Begunne in Melchizedeck solemnized in Aaron continued in the children of Aaron perfectionated in Christ represented in Peter exalted in the vniversall iurisdiction and manifested in Silvester so that through this preheminence of my Priest-hood having all things subject to mee 180. It may seeme well verified in mee that was spoken of CHRIST Psal. 8. Omnia subjecisti sub pedibus ejus oves boves vniversa pecoracampi Volucres coeli pisces maris That is to say Thou hast subdued all things vnder his feete sheepe and oxen and all cattell of the field the birds of Heaven and fish of the sea 181. Where it is to bee noted that by oxen Iewes and Heretiques by cattell of the field Paganes be signified for although as yet they bee out of the vse of my keyes of binding and lowsing yet they bee not out of jurisdiction of my keyes but if they returne I may absolucthem 182. By sheepe and all Cattell are meaned all Christian men both great and lesse whither they bee Emperours Princes Prelats or other By birds of the aire yee may vnderstand the Angels and potestars of Heaven who bee all subject to mee in that I am greater then the Angels and that in foure things as is afore declared and hath power to binde and louse in Heauen 183. And to giue Heaven to them that fight in warres 184. Lastly by the fishes of the sea are signified the soules departed in paine or purgatory as Gregorie by his prayer deliuered the soule of Traianus out of Hell and I haue power to deliver out of Purgatorie whom I please 185. Lastly by the fishes of the sea are signified such as bee in purgatorie In so much that they stand in need and necessitie of other mens helpe and yet bee in their journey Viatores de foro Papae id est Passengers and belonging to the court of the Pope therefore they may bee relieved out of the store-house of the Church by the participation of indulgence And for as much as some do object that my pardons cannot extend to them that bee departed for that it was said to Peter whatsoever thou shall lowse vpon earth and therefore seeing they are not vpon earth they cannot bee lowsed by mee heere I answere againe by my doctors that this word Super terram Vpon the earth may bee referred two manner of wayes first to him that is the lowser so that who shall lowse shall bee vpon the earth and so I grant that the Pope being dead can lowse no man Also it may bee referred to him that is lowsed so that whosoever is lowsed must be vpon the earth or about the earth And so the soules of Purgatorie may bee lowsed which albeit