fayn to post to Rome and there to bring the Archb. in hatred in the Court of Rome made his Abbay tributary to Pope Alexander The Pope well contented with this not onely graunteth the Abbot his desire but also in cōtumely of the archbishop dubbeth the Abbot with all such ornaments as to a Prelate apperteined and so in the yeare 1178. sent home the Abbot triumphantly with his ring and mitre and other ensignes of victory with letters also to the Archbishop inioyning him immediatly vpon the sight thereof to consecrate the Abbot in his own Church without making any profession Although with these letters the archbishop was shrewedly pressed yet notwithstanding hys stout hart would not stoupe for this but layd his appeale against the same and so the consecratiō for that time was suspended Then Roger for his more defence getting the kings letters trauailed vp the second time to Rome where greuously he complayned to Pope Alexander of the Archbyshop At the same time a generall councell was summoned to be kept at Lateran where Richard the foresayd arch bishop was also looked for amongst other Bishops to be present Who thē came as farre as Paris but being there durst approch no further so retyred home again Wherupon the Pope being offended with his contēpt without any more delay exalted the Abbot with his own consecration and inuested him with all pompe and glory howbeit prouiding before that the sayd consecration should redoūd to no preiudice agaynst the liberties of the mother church of Canterbury and so vpon the same wrot to the Archbishop his letters of certificate with this additiō annexed Saluo iure dignitate Cant. Ecclesiae that is to say Sauing the liberties and dignity of the Church of Cant. c. After the counsell ended Roger the Abbot returneth home although with an empty purse yet full of victory triūph The Archbishop againe thinking to worke some greuaunce to the Austen Monkes had procured in this meane time letters from Pope Alexander to the Bishop of Durhā and Abbot of S. Albons that they should cause the sayd Roger Abbot of the Austen monks to shew vnto the Archbishop at y◠old priuiledges of his house which in deed being shewed seemed to be rased new written with Bulles of lead not after the maner nor stile of that age nor pretending no such antiquity as should seeme to reach frō the time of Austen but rather newly coūterfeit All this notwithstanding the Abbot bearing him bold vpon the Popes fauour ceased not stil to disquiet ouercrow the Archbishop by all wayes he could in exempting all his Priestes and laimen belonging to his iurisdiction from the archb obedience forbidding also that none of his should come to his Chapters or Sinods nor to feare any sentence of his curse or excommunication Wherupon the Archbishop about the month of Nouember the same yere sayling ouer to Normandy where the king was thought to take his iourney to the pope to complain of the Abbot but being stayd by the king was not suffered to passe any further the king labouring what he could to bring them to agreement neuerthelesse the Pope and his Romaines sayth my story Aurum argentum magis quà m iusticiam sitientes seditiones inter eos litigia commouebant that is caring more for golde and siluer then for iustice still stirred coales of sedition and debate betweene them Ex Historia Geruasij The next yere after this insuing which was the yeare of our Lord 1184. dyed Richard the Archbishop aforesaid in the 38 yere of king Henry 2. After whose dicease much trouble happened about the election of a new Archb. betwene the king and monkes of Canterbury And now to enter here into the story of Baldwin aboue mētioned first the king sēt to the monks that they should consider with themselues about the election of their Archbishop and to be ready agaynst the time that he would send for them to the court Vpon this the Couent gladly assembling together agreed in themselues vpon one whom they thought chiefly to preferre yet naming foure moe that if the king would refuse one the other yet might stand Now the practise in the monkes was first to keepe the election only in their owne handes as much as they could And secondly euer to geue the election either to some Prior or Monk of their own house or to some Abbot or Bishop which some time had bene of theyr company Wherby as much inconuenience and blind superstition was bred in the church of England so the same disliked both the king and the Byshops not a litle As this past on the king when he saw his time willed the monks of Canterbury to be cited or sent for to vnderstand what they had concluded in their election Wherupō the Monkes sent vp their Prior called Alanus with certaine other Monks to Reding where the king thē lay about the moneth of August Who at first were curtuously enterteined but after the king had intelligēce whom they had nominated elected they were sēt home agayne with cold cheare the king willing thē to pray better and to aduise more earnestly vpon the matter amongst themselues Alanus the Prior with his felowes thus departed who comming home in conclusion so concluded amongst them selues that they would remitt no iote of their liberties to the king without the popes consent and knowledge The king vnderstanding hereof sent his Ambassadours likewise to the Pope for the fortefying of his cause being in that mean time grieuously offēded with the Prior saying that he was proud would make archbishop whom he listed and would be the second Pope in England c. Not long after this as these letters were sent vp to Rome the king sent for Alanus the Prior and moe of the monks to come to him Whom he entreateth desiring thē in gentle speech that they would shew so much gentlenes fauor to him being their Lord King as becōmeth hys frendes and subiects to doe as to conferre with the Byshops of the Realme about this matter and to take some better councel so as might redoūd to Gods glory his honor wealth of the publicke state with other like words to the same effect To whom when the Prior agayne had answered with thankes due reuerence according to the kinges request the Bishops and Monks went to confer together about the matter And first the Bishoppes maruelled why the monks should exclude them out of the election seing they were professed Suffraganes to the sayd church of Canterbury Neither is there any Prince quoth the bishop of Bathe that will refuse our counsell There be some counsels sayd the Monkes whereat you may be called but as touching the doing of this electiō it pertaineth nothing vnto you further then to publish onely and denounce y◠party whō we haue chosen The bishop of London then asked if
sending playne word to the king by solemne message that his grace without all delay should seclude frō him Peter B. of Winchester and other aliens of Pictauia or if he would not they with the common assent of the realme would displace him with his wicked councellours from his kingdome and haue within themselues tractation for choosing a new king The king at the hearing of this message being mightely moued partly to feare partly to indignation especally hauing the late example of king Iohn his father before his eyes was cast in great perplexity doubting what was best to be done But Winchester with his wicked councell so wrought with the king that he proceeded with all seuerity agaynst them In so much that in short time the sparkles of poisoued coūcell kindling more and more grew to a sharpe battayle betweene the king and Richard Earle Marshall with other nobles to the great disquietnesse of the whole Realme The which warre before was presignified by terrible thundering and lightning heard al england ouer in the moneth of march with such aboundaūee of raine and flouds growing vpon the same as cast down milnes ouercouered the fields threw downe houses and did much harine through the whole Realme To prosecute here at large the whole discourse of thys warre betwene the king and Earl Marshall which continued neare the space of two yeares to declare all the parts and circumstances thereof what trouble it brought what damage it wrought to the whole realm what traines were layd what slanghter of men what waste of whole countryes ensued from Wales vnto Shrewsbery how the marshall ioyned himselfe with Leoline Prince of Walles how the Pictauians were almost all slayne destroyd how the king was distressed what forgery wily wint wrought by the kings letters to entrap the Marshall to betray him to the Irishmen among whom he was at length slayne all this I referr to other authors Who at large do entreat of the same as Math. Parisiens Florilegus such other This is to be noted and obserued whithe rather perteineth to our Ecclesiasticall history to see what sedition and continuall disquietnes was in those dayes among all Christen people almost being vnder the popes Catholick obediēce But especially to marke the corrupt doctrine then reigning it is to be maruelled or rather lamented to see the king and the people then so blinded in the principall point and article of their saluation as we finde in storyes which making mention of a house or Monastery of Conuertes builded the same yeare by the king at London do expres in playne wordes that he then did it Pro redemptione animae suae Regis Ioannis patris sui omnium antecessorum suorum i. For the redemptiō of his soule of the soule of king Iohn his father for the soules of all his auncieers c. Whereby may be vnderstand in what palpable darknes of blind ignoraunce the sely soules redeined by Christ were then inwrapped which did not know nor yet wee taught the right doctrine and first principles of their redemption Ex Math. Parisien sipag 86. Mention was made a litle before pag. 275. of dissoluing the election of Iohn Prior of Cāterbury which was chosen by the Monkes to be Archbishop of the sayd churche of Canterbury but by the pope was defeited After whom one Iohn Blūd was elected who trauelling vp to Rome this yeare an 1233. to be confirmed of the Pope was also repealed and vnetected agayne for that it was thought in England so complayned of to the Pope that he had receiued of Peter Bishop of Winchester a thousand markes and had another thousand promised him of the sayd Winchester who by his mony thought to make him of his side and also wrote to the Emperor to helpe forward his promotion in the court of Rome Notwithstanding both he with his geuing and the other with his taking of bribes were both detected and disapoynted of theyr purpose For the Pope hating then the Emperour for the same cause admitted not the election pretending the cause for that he was proued to holde to benefices without his dispensation After whom by the commaundement of the Pope one Edmund Chanon of Salisbury was ordeyned Archbyshop and had his Palle sent to him from the Pope which Edmunde after for his vertues was Canonised of the Popishe Monkes there for a Saynte and called S. Edmund About which time also Robert Brosted was made B. of Lincolne This Edmund accompanied with other Byshoppes during this trouble betwene the king and his nobles being in councell at Westminster in the yeare next ensuing which was 1234. came vetering their minde boldely in the name of the Lords declaring vnto the king as became his saythfull seruantes that his councell which then he folowed was not found nor safe but cruell and daungerous both to him and to the state of the Realme meaning the councell of Peter Winchester and of Peter Riuall with other adherentes 1. FIrst and in primis for that they hate and contemne the English nation calling them traitours and rebels and turning the kings heart from the loue of hys naturall subiectes and the hartes of them from hym as appeareth by the Earle Marschal and other sowing discorde among them 2. Item by the sayd Counsaile to wit by the foresaid bishop and his fellowes king Iohn the kings father lost first the heartes of his Barons after that lost Normandy and afterward other landes also and in the end wasted all hys treasure so that since that tyme the regiment of England had neuer no quiet after 3. By the sayd Counsayle also in their time and memorye the kingdome of England had bene troubled and suspended and in conclusion became tributary she that was before the Prince of Prouincies and so warre insuing vpon the same the sayd Kyng Iohn his father incurred great daunger of death and at last was extinguished lacking both peace of hys kingdome and of his own heart 4. Item by the sayd counsayle the Castle of Bedford was kept long tyme agaynst the king to the great losse both of men treasure beside the losse of Rupella to the shame of the Realme of England 5. Moreouer through their wicked counsayle at this present great perturbation seemed to hang ouer the whole realme for els if it had not bene for their counsayle and that true iustice and iudgement might haue bene ministred vnto the kinges subiects these tumultes had neuer bene stirred and the king might haue had his land vnwasted and his treasure vnconsumed 6. Item in that sayth and alleageance wherwith they were obliged vnto him they protested vnto him that the sayd his councell was not a councell of peace but of deuision and disquietnesse to the end that they which otherwise by peace could not aspire by disturbing and disheriting other might be exalted 7. Item for that all the castles fortes munitions also all the offices of the
the whole summe whereof was found yerely to be three score thousaÌ„d Markes to the which summe the reuenues of the whole crowne of England and not extend Ex Math. Parisiens fol 185. a. The Nobles then vnderstanding the miserable oppression of the Realme being assembled together at Dinistable for certayne causes sent one Fulco in the name of the whole nobility vnto M. Martinus the Popes Marchaunt with this message that he iudelayedly vpon the same warning should prepare himselfe to be gone out of the realme vnder payn of being cut all to pieces At which message the Legate being sore agaâ— went straight to the king to know whether his conseÌ„t was to the same or not Of whom when he found litle better comfort he tooke hys leaue of the king who had him adue in the deuils name faith M. Paris and thus was the realme rid of M. Martinus Ex Mat. Paris 185. b. an 1245. As soone as Pope Innocent had hereof intelligence by the coÌ„playnt of his Legate he was in a mighty rage And furthermore remembring how yâ— french king the king of Arragon not long before had denied him entraunce into theyr land and being therfore in displeasure with theÌ„ likewise began in great anger to knit his browes and said it is best that we fall in agreement with our prince whereby we may the sooner bring vnder these little petty kinges and so the great Dragon being pacified these litle serpents we shall handle at our owne pleasure as we lift After this immediarly theÌ„ folowed the generall councell of Lions to the which councell the states and Lordes of the Realme with the consent of the communaltye sent two Bulles One conteining a generall suplication to the Pope and the councell the other with the Articles of such greuaunces which they desired to be redressed whereof relation is made sufficiently before pag. 267. The other bill of the Supplication because it is not before expressed I thought here to exhibite for two causes First that men now in these dayes may see the pitifull blindnesse of those ignoraunt dayes wherein our English nation here did so blindely humble themselues and stand to the Popes curtesy Whom rather they should haue shaken of as the Grecians did Secondly that the pride of the Pope might the better appeare in his coulours who so disdaynefully reiected the humble sute of our Lordes and Nobles when they had much more cause to disdayne rather to stampe him vnder their feet The tenour of the SupplicatioÌ„ was this ¶ The copy of the Supplication written in the names of all the nobles and commons of England to Pope Innocent the 4. in the generall Councell at Lyons anno 1245. ¶ To the reuerend Father in Christ Pope Innocent chiefe Byshop the nobles with the whole comminaltye of the Realme of England sendeth commendation with kissing of his blessed feet OVr mother the Church of Rome we loue with all our hartes as our duety is and couet the encrease of her honour with so much affection as we may as to whome we ought alwayes to flye for refuge whereby the griefe lying vpon the childe maye finde comfort at the mothers hand Which succour the mother is bound so much the rather to imparte to her childe how muche more kinde and beneficial she findeth him in relieuing her necessitiee Neither is it to the sayd our mother vnknowne how beneficiall and bountifull a geuer the Realme of England hath bene now of long tyme for the more amplifying of her exaltation as appeared by our yerely subsidie whiche we terme by the name of Peterpence Now the sayd Church not contented with this yearly subsidie hath sent diuers Legates for other contributions at diuers and sondry times to be taxed and leuyed out of the same Realme al which contributions and taxes notwithstanding haue bene louingly and liberally graunted Furthermore neither is it vnknowne to your fatherhood how our forefathers like good Catholickes both louing and fearing their maker for the soules health as well of themselues as of their progenitours and successors also haue founded Monasteryes and largely haue endued the same both with their owne proper landes and also patronages of benefices whereby suche religious persons prosessing the first and chiefest perfection of holy Religion in theyr Monasteries might with more peace and tranquillitie occupy themselues deuoutly in Gods seruice as to the order appertained And also their Clearkes presented by them into their benefices might sustaine the other exteriour labours for them in that seconde order of religion and so discharge and defend them from all hasardes so that the saide religious monasteries cannot be defrauded of those their patronages and collations of benefices but the same must touche vs also very neare and worke intollerable griefe vnto our hearts And now see we beseche you which is lamentable to behold what iniuries we sustaine by you and your predecessors who not considering those our subsidies and coÌ„tributions aboue remembred doe suffer also your Italians and forreiners whych be out of number to be possessed in our Churches and benefices in Englande pertaining to the right and patronage of those monasteries aforesayde which forreiners neither defending the sayd religious persones whome they ought to see to nor yet hauing the language whereby they may instructe the flocke take no regarde of their soules but vtterly leaue them of wilde wolues to be deuoured Wherefore it may truely be said of them that they are no good shepheards where as neither they know their shepe nor the shepe do know the voyce of their shepherds neither do they kepe any hospitalitie but only take vp the rents of those benefices carying them out of the Realme wherewith our brethren our nephewes and our kinsfolkes might be susteined who coulde and woulde dwell uppon them and employ such exercises of mercie hospitalitie as their dutie required Whereof a great nuÌ„ber now for mere necessitie are lay men and faine to flie out of the realme And now to the enteÌ„t more fully to certify you of the truth ye shall vnderstand that the sayd Italians and strangers receiuing of yerely rentes out of Englande not so little as 60000. Markes by yeare besides other auailes and exises deducted doe reape in the said our kingdome of England more emoluments of meere rents then doth the king himselfe being both the tutour of the Church and gouernour of the land Furthermore where as at the first creation of your Papacie we were in good hope and yet are that by meanes of your fatherly goodnesse we shoulde enioy our franchises and free collation of our benefices and donatiues to be reduced againe to the former state nowe commeth an other greeuance which we cannot but signifie vnto yoâ—â—ressing vs aboue measure which we receiue by M. Martinusâ— who entring late into our lande without leaue of our king with greater power then euer was sene before in any Legate although he beareth not
vppon the same and in the time also of the sayde Parliament holden at Winchester the Pope sent two English Friers into the realme whose names were Iohn and Alexander with full authoritie after the largest sorte for newe contributions Who first pretending lowly submission to the King while they had leaue graunted to range about the Realme afterwarde comming to the Bishops and rich Abbots shewed themselues foorth in theyr full authoritie in such sort as they became rather tyrants then extortioners Amongest other comming to Robert byshop of Lyncolne who of all other bare a speciall minde to the order of Obseruauntes these two Friers as proude as Lucifer bringing foorth the terrible Mandate wyth the Popes Bulles required and eke commaunded vnder the Popes mightie curse to haue the gathering in his Diocesse of vi thousand markes Likewise of the Abbot of s. Albons they required iiii hundred Markes vnder great penaltie and that in short time to be paide The Bishop although well liking before that order of those Friers yet seeing the impudent behauiour and more impudent request of those Marchauntes thus aunswered to them againe that thys exaction sauing sayde hee the Popes authoritie was neuer heard of before and neyther was honest nor yet possible to be performed and moreouer was such as did not only concerne him but the whole publicke state of the Clergie and of the whole Realme in general and therfore it should be absurdly and rashly done of him to geue them aunswere heerein before the king and the rest of the Counsell wyth other to whome the matter generally did appertaine were made priuie thereunto c. and so for that time he shoke them of Paris fol. 210. Furthermore as touching the Abbot of S. Albones when he also alleged the same causes he pretended moreouer that he would appeale and so did to the Pope and his Cardinals Whereupon immediatly was sent downe from Pope Innocent an other Legate called Ioannes Anglicus an English Frier and Cardinall who bringing downe a newe speciall precept to the foresayde Abbot cited him eyther to appere at London the morow after S. Giles day or to disbourse to the vse of the Pope the foresayde 4. hundreth markes By reason whereof the Abbot was driuen to send his Proctors againe with a newe supplication to the Pope at Lyons who in the ende through great instaunce of monyed friendes agreed with the Abbot for two hundreth markes besides hys other charges born◠so was that matter compounded little to the Abbots profite Parisiens fol. 213. To recite all damages and greuaunces receiued by the B. of Rome in this realme of England neither is any history sufficiently able to comprehend nor if it were vnueth is there any that would beleeue it Notwtstanding to those aboue declared thys one I thought to commit like wise to memorie to the intēt that they which liue in this age now may behold and wonder in themselues to see in what miserable slauery passing all measure not onely the subiects but kings also of this Realme were brought vnto vnder the intollerable yoke of the popes tyrannie which in those daies neither durst any man cast of nor yet was able to abide As by this example ensuing with infinite other like to the same may appeare In the yeare of our Lorde 1248. after that Pope Innocent the 4. had taken such order in the Realme that all Prelates of the Churche were suspended from collation of any benefice before the Popes kinsfolkes and Clearkes of Italy had ben first prouided for It happened vpō the same that the Abbot of Abingdon had a commaundement from the pope to bestow some benefice of his Church in all hast to a certaine Priest of Rome which the Abbot as an obedient childe to his father the Pope was prest and ready to accomplish accordingly But the Romane priest not contented with such as fell next hand would tarye his time to haue such as were principall and for hys owne appetite hauing a speciall eye to the benefice of the church of S. Helene in Abingdon which was then estemed woorth an C. marks by yere besides other vailes and commodities belonging to the same the collation whereof the priest required by the authoritie Apostolicall to be graunted to him As thys past on it chaunced at last the incumbent to die and the benefice to be emptie Which estsoones being knowen the same day commeth a commaundement with great charge from the King to the Abbot to giue the benefice to one Aethelmare the kings brother by the mother-side who at the same time was possessed wyth so many benefices as the number and value therof was vnknowen The Abbot heere being in great perplexitie and not knowing what to doe whether to gratifie his king or to obey the Pope tooke counsell with his friendes Who well aduising the matter gaue him counsell rather to preferre the brother of his Prince and patrone so that the king would vndertake to stande in his defence against the Pope rather then the Romish priest whom alwaies he shuld haue lying there as a spie and watcher of him and like a thorne euer in his eye and so the king assuring the Abbot of hys vndoubted protection and indemnitie against al harmes the benefice was conferred foorthwyth to the kings brother The Romane priest not a litle agreued therat speedeth himselfe in all hast to the Byshop of Rome certifying him what was done and partly also as the maner is of men making it worse then it was Uppon whose complaint the Pope estsoones in great anger cited vp the Abbot personally to appeare before him to answer to the crime of disobedience The abbot trusting vpon the kings promise and protection which neither could helpe him in that case neither durst oppose himselfe against the Pope being both aged and sickely was driuen to trauaile vp to the Court of Rome in great heauines and bitternesse of minde Where in conclusion after much vexation and bitter rebukes besides great expenses he was faine to satisfie the Pope after his owne will compounding to giue hym yearely 50. markes in part of making amends for his trespasse of disobedience Ex Mat. Parisiens fol 222. To this also may be added an other like fact of the pope as outragious as thys against the house of Binham For when the benefice of Westle in the Diocesse of Eley was voide by the death of the incumbent who was an Italian one of the popes chamber the donatiō of which benefice belōged to the priorie of Binham an other Italian which was a bastard and vnlearned borne in the City of Ianua called Herrigetto de Malachana de volta brought downe the popes letters to M. Berardo de Nympha the Popes agent here in England with strait charge and full authority commanding him to see the sayd benefice to be conferred in any case to Herrigetto Yea and though the benefice had bene geuen already yet notwythstanding the possessor
drue neare vppon which day it was looked for that Repington should preach This man was a Canon of Leicester had before taken his first degree vnto Doctorship who preaching the same time at Bradgate for the same Sermon he became first suspected and hated of the Pharisaicall broode of the Fryers But through the great amd notable dexteritie of his wit which all men did behold and see in him accompanied with like modesty and honesty he did so ouercome or at the least asswage thys cruelty and persecution whiche was towardes him that shortly after by the consent of the whole fellowship he was admitted doctour Who as soone as he had taken it vpon him by and by he stepped forth in the schooles and began immediately to shewe forth and vtter that whiche he had long hidden and dissembled Protesting opeÌ„ly that in all morall matters he would defend Wickliffe But as touching the sacrament he woulde as yet hold his peace vntill suche time as the Lorde shall otherwise illuminate the hartes and mindes of the clergye Nowe the day of Corpus Christi aforesayd approching neare when the Fryers vnderstood that this man should preach shortly fearing least that he would rub the galles of their religion they conuented with the Archb. of Cant. that the same day a little before that Phillip shold preach Wickliffes conclusions which were priuately condemned should be openly diffamed in the presence of the whole vniuersitie The doing of which matter was committed to Peter Stokes Fryer stonderd bearer and chiefe champion of that side against Wickliffe There were also letters sent vnto the commissary that he shoulde helpe and ayde him in publishing of the same conclusions as is before declared These thinges thus done and finished Repingdon at the houre appointed proceeded to his sermon In the which sermon among many other thinges he was reported to haue vttered these sayinges or to this effect That the Popes or Byshops ought not to be recommended aboue temporall Lordes Also that in morall matters he woulde defend maister Wickliffe as a true Catholicke doctor Moreouer that the Duke of Lancaster was very earnestly affected and minded in this matter and would that all such should be receaued vnder hys protection Besides many thinges moe which touched the prayse and defence of Wickliffe And finally in concluding his sermon he dimissed the people with this sentence I will sayd he in the speculatiue doctrine as appertayning to the matter of the sacrament of the auâ—ter keep silence and hold my peace vntill such time as God otherwise shall instruct and illuminate the hartes of the Clergie When the sermon was done Repington entred into Saint Frideswides Church accompanied with many of his friendes who as the enemies surmised were priuilye weaponed vnder their garmentes if need had bene Frier Stokes the Carmelite aforesayd suspecting all this to be against him and being afrayd of hurt kept to himself wtin the sanctuary of the church not daring as then to put out his hed The Vicechauncellor and Repington friendly saluting one an other in the church porch sent away the people and so departed euery man home to his owne house There was not a little ioy thorough the whole vniuersitie for that sermon but in the meanetime the vnquiet busie Carmelite slept not his matter For first by his letters he declared the whole order of the matter vnto the archbishop exaggerating the perils and daungers that he was in requiring and desiring his helpe and ayd pretermitting nothing wherby to moue stirre vp the archbishops minde which of his owne nature was as hote as a toste as they say and ready inough to prosecute the matter of his owne accord though no man had prickt him forward thereunto Besides all this 3. dayes after with a fierce and bold courage the sayd Fryer breathing out threatninges and heresies agaynst them tooke the way vnto the schooles mynding there to proue that the Pope and the Bishops ought to be prayed for before the Lordes temporall Whiles thys Frier was thus occupyed in the schooles he was mocked and derided of all men and shortly after he was sent for by the Archbishop to London whom immediately after the Vicechauncellor Brightwell followed vp to purge and cleare themselues and their adherentes from the accusations of this Frier Peter At the length they being examined vpon Wickliffes conclusions that were condemned they did all consent that they were worthily condemned The Vicechauncelor being afterward accused for the contempt of the Archbishops letters when as he perceaued sawe that no excuse would preuayle to auoyd that daunger huÌ„bling himselfe vpon his knees he desired pardon The which when he had now againe as is aforesaid albeit very hardly obtayned By the help of the Bishop of Winchester he was sent away agayn with certayne commandementes and suspencions of heretickes Then began the hatred on eyther part somewat to appeare and shew and specially all men were offended and in the toppes of these Friers and religious men vpoÌ„ whom whatsoeuer trouble or mischiefe was raysed vp they did impute it as to the authors and causers of the same Amongest whome there was one Henry Crompe a monke Cistertion a well learned deuine which afterward was accused by the Byshops of heresie He at that time was openly suspected by the Commissary because in his lectures he called the heretickes Lolardes from his actes as they terme them in the schoole Then he comming by and by vp to London made his complaynt vnto the Archbish. and to the kinges councell Whereupon he obtayning the letters of the king and of his counsaile by the vertue therof returning againe to the vniuersity was released restored again to his former state the wordes of whiche letter here followeth vnder written * The copy of the kinges letter THe king to the Vicechauncellour and procuratoure of the Vniuersitie of Oxforde greeting Where as we of late vnderstanding by the grieuous complaynt of Henry Crompe monke and regent in deuinitie within the sayd vniuersitie howe that he being assisted by the reuerend father in God the Archb. of Cant. and by other clerkes and deuines in the Citty of London to proceede in thee condemnation of certayne conclusions erroneous and hereticall hath bene therfore molested by you And that you through sinister suggestion of some aduersaryes pretending the peace of the sayd vniuersitie to haue bene broken by the sayde Henry in his last lecture did therefore call him before you to appeare and answere and for his not appearing did therefore pronounce him as obstinate and conuicte of peace breaking also haue suspended the sayd Henry from his lectures and all scholasticall actes And whereas we by our writte did call you vp for the same to appeare and aunswere before our counsayle vnto the premisses so that all thinges being well tryed and examined by the sayd counsayle it was found and determined that all your processe agaynst the
to passe according vnto Zisca his will and minde and that vpon him alone the whole state of Boheme did depend he sought priuie meanes to recōcile and get Zisca into his fauour promising him the gouernance of the whole kingdom the guiding of all his hostes armies and great yearely reuenues if he would proclaime him King and cause the Cities to be sworne vnto him Upō which cōditions whē as Zisca for the performance of the couenants went vnto the Emperour being on his iourney at the Castle of Priscouia he was stricken with sicknesse and died It is reported that when he was demaunded beyng sicke in what place he would be buried he commaunded the skinne to be pulled off from his dead carkase and the flesh to bee cast vnto the foules and beastes and that a drumme should be made of his skinne which they should vse in their battailes affirming that as soone as their enimies should heare the sound of that drumme they would not abide but take their flight The Thaborites despising all other Images yet set vp the Picture of Zisca ouer the gates of the Citie ¶ The Epitaphe of Iohn Zisca the valiant Captaine of the Bohemians I Iohn Zisca not inferiour to any Emperour or Captain in warlike policie a seueare punisher of the pride and auarice of the Clergy and a defender of my countrey do lie heere That which Appius Claudius by geuing good counsell and M. Furius Camillus by valiantnesse did for the Romaines the same I being blinde haue done for my Bohemians I neuer slacked oportunitie of battaile neither did fortune at any time faile me I being blinde did foresee all oportunitie of well ordering or doing my businesse Eleuen times in ioining battaile I went victour out of the field I seemed to haue worthely defended the cause of the miserable and hungry against the delicate fatte and glotonous Priests and for that cause to haue receiued help at the hande of God If their enuy had not let it without doubt I had deserued to be numbred amongst the most famous men Notwithstanding my bones lye heere in this halowed place euen in despite of the Pope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ Iohn Zisca a Bohemian enemy to all wicked and couetous Priestes but with a godly zeale And thus haue you the actes and doings of this worthy Zisca and other Bohemians which for the more credite we haue drawne out of Aeneas Syluius onely his rayling tearmes excepted which we haue heere suppressed All this while the Emperour with the whole power of the Germaines were not so busie on the one side but Martin the Pope was as much occupied on the other side who about the same time directed downe a terrible Bull full of all poison to all Byshops and Archbyshops agaynst all such as tooke any part or side with Wickleffe Iohn Hus Hierome or with their doctrine and opinions The copie of which Bull which I found in an olde written monument I wish the reader throughly to peruse wherein he shall see the Pope to poure out at once all his poison The Bull of Pope Martine directed foorth against the followers of Iohn Wickliffe of England of Iohn Husse of Boheme and Hierome of Prage MArtine Bishop the seruant of Gods seruants to our reuerend brethren the Archbishops of Salzeburgen Gueznen and Pragē to the Bishops of Dlumcen Luthomuslen Bambergen Misnen Patauiē Uratislauien Ratisponen Cra. ouien Poznamen and Nitrien also to our beloued children the Inquisitours appointed of the Prelates aboue recited or where else soeuer vnto whome these present letters shall come greeting and Apostolicall benediction Amongst all other pastorall cares where with we are oppressed this chefly and specially doth inforce vs that heretikes with their false doctrine and errours being vtterly expulsed from amōgst the cōpany of Christen mē and rooted out so farre forth as God will make vs able to do the right and Catholike faith may remaine sound and vndefiled and that all Christian people immoueable and iuiolate may stande and abide in the sinceritie of the same fayth the whole vayle of obscuritie being remoued But lately in diuers places of the world but especially in Bohemia and the Dukedome of Morauia and in the straights adioining thereunto certaine Archheretickes haue risen and sprong vp not against one only but against diuers sundry documēts of the Catholike faith being landlopers schismatikes and seditious persons fraught with diuelish pride Woluish madnes deceiued by the subtlety of Sathan and frō one euill vanity brought to a worse Who although they rose vp sprang in diuers parts of the world yet agreed they all in one hauing their tailes as it were knit together to wit Iohn Wickliffe of England I. Hus of Bohemia Hierome of Prage of dammable memorie who drew with thē no small nūber to miserable ruine and infidelitie For when as those such like pestiferous persons did in the beginning of their poisoned doctrine obstinately sow and spread abroad peruerse false opinions the prelates who had the regiment execution of the iudiciall power like dumme dogs not able to barke neither yet reuenging speedely with the Apostle all such disobediēce nor regarding corporally to cast out of the lords house as they were enioined by the canons those subtill and pestilēt Archheretickes and their Woluish fury and cruelty with all expedition but suffering their false and pernicious doctrine negligētly by their ouerlong delaies to growe and waxe strōg a great multitude of people in stead of true doctrine receiued those things which they did lōg falsly pernitiously and damnably sow among them and geuing credite vnto them fell from the right faith and are intangled the more pitie in the foule errors of Paganisme In so much that those Archheretickes and suche as spring of them haue infected the Catholicke flock of Christ in diuers climates of the world and parts bordering vpon the same and haue caused them to putrifie in the filthie dunghill of their lies Wherefore the generall Synode of Constance was compelled with Sainct Augustine to exclaime against so great and ruinous a plague of faythfull men and of the sound and true faith it selfe saieng what shall the Soueraigne medicine of the Church do wyth motherly loue seeking the health of hir sheepe chasing as it were amongst a companie of men franticke and hauing the disease of the Lethargie What shall she desist and leaue off hir good purpose No not so But rather let hir if there be no remedie be sharpe to both these sorts which are the greenous enemies of her wombe For the Phisition is sharpe vnto the man bestraught and raging in his frensie and yet is he a father to his owne rude and vnmanerly sonne in binding the one in beating the other by shewing therein his great loue vnto them both But if they be negligent and suffer them to perish sayth Augustine this mansuetude is rather to be supposed
written in his boke intituled Rapularium where as hee wryteth that in the Councell of Basill An. 1536. the Archbyshop of Lions did declare that in the time of Pope Martine there came out of France to the court of Rome 9. millions of golde which was gathered of the Byshops and Prelates besides those whych could not be counted of the poore clergy which daily without number runne vnto the court of Rome carying with them all their whole substance The archbishop of Turonne sayde also at Basil in the yeare of our Lord 1439. that three millions of gold came vnto Rome in his time within the space of 14. yeres from the prelates prelacies wherof no accompt could be made beside the poore cleargy which daily run to that court Let the man which feareth God iudge what a deuouring gulf this is A million containeth x. C.M. And what made Pope Pius the 2. to labor so earnestly to Lewes the 11. the French Kinge who as is aforesayde was a great enemy to the house of Burgoin that he wold according to his former promise abolishe vtterly extinct the constitution established before at the Counsell of Bitures by king Charles the 7. his predecessour called Pragmatica Sanctio but onely the ambition of that sea which had no measure and their auarice which had no ende the storie is this King Charles 7. the French king willing to obey and folow the councel of Basil did sommon a Parliament at Bitures Where by the full consent of all the states in Fraunce both spiritual and temporal a certain constitution was decreed and published called Pragmatica Sanctio wherein was comprehended briefly the pith and effect of all the Canons and decrees cōcluded in the councel of Basil The which constitution the saide king Charles willed and commaunded through all his realme inuiolably to be obserued and ratified for the honor and increase of Christian religion for euer This was An. 1438. It followed that after the decease of thys foresayde Charles the 7. succeded king Lewys 11. who had promised before being Dolphine to Pope Pius that if he euer came to the crowne the foresayd Sanctio Pragmatica should be abolished Wherupon Pope Pius hearing him to be crowned did send vnto him Iohn Balueus a Cardinall wyth hys great letterg patent willing him to be mindful of hys promise made The king eyther willing or els pretending a will to performe and accomplish what he had promised directed the Popes letters patēt wyth the sayd Cardinal to the counsaile of Paris requiring them to consult vpon the cause Thus the matter beyng brought and proposed in the Parliament house the kings Atturney named Ioannes Romanus a man wel spoken singularly witted and wel reasoned stepping foorth with great eloquence and no les boldnes prooued the sayd Sanction to be profitable holy and necessary for the wealth of the realme and in no case to be abolished Unto whose sentence the Uniuersity of Paris adioyning their consent did appeal from the attempts of the Pope to the next generall Councell The Cardinall vnderstanding this toke no litle indignation thereat fretting and fuming and threatning many terrible things against them but al his minatory words notwithstanding he returned againe to the king hys purpose not obtained An. 1438. Ex Ioan. Mario Thus the Popes purpose in France was disappoynted which also in Germanie had come to the like effect if Fredericke the Emperor had there done his part lykewise toward the Germaines Who at the same time bewailing their miserable estate wēt about wyth humble sute to perswade the Emperor that he should no longer be vnder the subiection of the Popes of Rome except they had first obtained certaine things of them as touching the Charter of Appeales declaring their estate to be far worse although vndeserued then the Frenchmen or Italians whose seruants and especially of the Italians they are worthely to be called except that their estate were altered The nobles comminalty of Germanie did instantly intreate with most waighty reasons examples both for the vtilitie and profite of the Empire to haue the Emperours aide and helpe therin for that which he was bound vnto them by an oth alledging also the great dishonor ignominie in that they alone had not the vse of their owne lawes declaring how the French natiō had not made their sute vnto their king in vaine against the exactions of Popes by whom they were defended whych also prouided decrees and ordinances for the liberty of his people caused the same to be obserued the which thing the Emperor ought to foresee within hys Empire to prouide for hys people and states of his empire as well as other Kings doe For what shall come to passe therby if that forreine nations hauing recourse vnto their kings being relieued and defended by them from the said exactions and the Germains states of the Empyre flying vnto theyr Emperour be by him forsaken or rather betraied depriued of their owne lawes and decrees The Emperor being mooued partly ouercome by theyr perswasions promised that he wold prouide no lesse for them then the king of Fraunce had done for the Frenchmen and to make decrees in that behalfe but the graue authoritie of Aeneas Syluius as Platina wryteth in the history of Pius the second brake of the matter who by his subtile and pestiserous perswasions did so bewitche the Emperour that hee contemning the equall iust and necessary requestes of hys subiects chose the sayd Aeneas to be hys Ambassadour vnto Calixtus then newly chosen Pope to sweare vnto hym in his name to promise the absolute obedience of al Germany as the only coūtry as they call it of obedience neglecting the ordinances decrees of their country as before he had done vnto Eugenius the 4. being Ambassadour for the sayd Fredcrike promising that he all the Germaines would be obedient vnto him from hēceforth in al matters as well spirituall as temporall Thus twise Friderike of Austrich contemned and derided the Germaines frustrating them of their natiue decrees and ordinances brought them vnder subiection and bondage of the Pope whych partly was the cause that 7. yeres before his death he caused his sonne Maximiliā not only to be chosen but also crowned king of Romains and did associate hym to the ministration of the Empire least after hys death as it came to passe the Empire shoulde bee transported into an other family suspecting the Germains whom he had twise cōtrary to his lawes made subiect and in bondage vnto the Popes exactions first be fore he was crowned in the time of Eugenius the 4. and again the second time after hys coronation and death of Pope Nicholas the 5. denying their requests Wherupon Germany being in this miserable pouerty and greuous subiection vnder the Popes tiranny and polling with teares and sighs lamenting their estate continued so almost vnto Luthers time as the hystories
properly appertain briefly with this one short distinction I answer these all such other like places where S. Peter with his successours are called head of the church chiefe of Bishops Prince of the Apostles c. In which places this worde head chiefe and Prince of the Apostles may be taken two maner of waies to note either dominiō or els commendation For so we read sometime Caput and princeps to be wordes not of authoritie but of excellencie wherby is declared the chiefest and worthiest part among many parts and not possessour and gouernour of the whole Like as in the person of mā the hed is the principal part of the whole body being endued with reason furnished with most excellēt senses by the which the whole body of mā is directed so thereof is deriued by a metaphor to what man or thing soeuer nature or condition hath giuen the greatest excellēcie of gifts and properties aboue other partes or mēbers the same societie to be called of the said parties Caput or Princeps head or Prince And yet the same head or Prince so called hath not alwayes dominion or iurisdictiō of the rest So we call in our vulgar speach the head or chiefe men of the parish who for their riches wisdom or place are most specially noted After like phrase of speach we call the head man of the Inquest him that hath the first place And yet neither they nor these haue any dominion or iurisdiction vpon the residue In a schoole the chiefest Scholer in learning is not therefore the maister or gouernour of his fellowes Neither hath M. Cicero any title thereby to claime subiection and seruice of all other Oratours because he is named Princeps eloquentiae and goeth before them in that kind of phrase The same Cicero Lib. 1. offic calleth Cratippū principem huius aetatis Philosophorum as Homerus also may be called Poetarum Princeps And yet neither Philosophers to Cratippus nor Poetes to Homere owe anye thing els but onely fame and praise And what if S. Peter the blessed Apostle be called and counted of the old auncient Doctours as head and Prince of the Apostles which is as much as Coryphaeus Apostolorum for his excellent faith for his deuine confession singular affection to the Lorde Iesus yet what Interest or charge either hath he to chalenge ouer the Apostles or the Pope after him ouer all other bishops the whole church of Christ although the Pope haue the like excellencie of Christes faith which Peter had as would God he had As concerning these allegations therfore out of the Doctors two thinges are to be obserued First that neither these names and titles though they be geuen to Peter doe geue him any state or dominion aboue other Apostles nor yet the succession of him doth further any whit this celsitude and regalitie of the Pope to aduance him aboue his fellow Archbishops as he now doth And if our aduersaries would needs prouoke vs to the numbring of testimonies deuiding the house speaking of the writers and Counsels of the Primitiue age for these aforesaid testimonies alleaged on their side I could on the contrary part recite out of the witnesse of Doctours out of the examples of Councels practises of Emperors no lesse then 60. voices much more repugnant against their assertion then there is for the Pope The tractation wherof for this present I do refer either to them that haue more laisure at this time to discourse them or els omit it to an other time if the good pleasure of the Lord shall be to graunt me further laisure in an other Booke to intreat thereof at large in such order as if the Lord so graunt shal appeare sufficient matter to proue by the Doctors general Councels examples and histories of time that the Bishops of Rome during the first 500. yeres after Christ although for the greatnes of the Empire were somewhat more magnified then the other and therfore were sought of many and were flattred of some and they themselues diuers did set forth themselues more then they should yet by the commō consent of churches were stopped of their purpose so that by the consension of the most part within the compasse of that age the Bishops of Rome had not this regall state of title iurisdiction and fulnes of power which now they vsurpe but were taken as Archbishops of equal honour of equal merite with other Archbishops rulers of the church And if any preferment was giuen vnto them some thing aboue the rest yet neither was it so giuen of all nor of the most part secondly neither was it so giuen of them for any such necessitie of Gods worde aut iure aliquo diuino as which did so bind them thereunto nor yet so much for the respect of Peter his succession as for certaine other causes and respects as may be gathered to the number of 13. Of which the first is the greatnesse of the citie and Monarchie of Rome The second is the authoritie of the Emperor Constantine the great first of the Emperors conuerted to the faith and ruling in the same citie by whom the vniuersal libertie of the church was first promooted and the causes of the bishops being then at variance were committed partly to the bishop of Rome partly to other bishops nere by to be decided as appeareth Euseb. lib. 10. cap. 5. The third was the Councel of Nice which confirmed the preeminence of that church to haue the ouersight of the churches bordering about it The fourth cause of aduauncing the church of Rome was the vnquiet state of the Greek church much troubled in those dayes with sects factions and dissentions wherof we may read Socrat. lib. 2. cap 15. Sozom. lib. 3. cap. 8. The fift when Synodes were called by other Metropolitanes then if it chanced the bishops of Rome to be absent and their sentence being absent to be required by the occasion therof they began at length to take their sentence for a Canon or rule Ecclesiasticall thereby to refuse other Synodes where their decree or sentēce was not required An other cause was that when any common matter was in hand in other places whatsoeuer was done commonly the maner was to write to the Romaine bishop for his approbatiō in the same for publike vnitie and consent to be had in Christes church as appeareth Lib. 10. Epist. 78. Ambrosij ad Theophilum Item for that the testimonie somtimes of the Romain bishop was woont in those dayes also to be desired for admitting teachers and bishops in other churches whereof we haue example in Socrat lib. 4. cap. 37. Moreouer this was a great setting vp of that church when as their sentence not only was required but also receiued diuers times of other bishops And when Bishops of other prouinces were at any dissention among thēselues they of their owne accord appealed to the bishop of Rome desiring him to
it is manifest that he defiled by adultery her first husband yet liuing she beyng worthy to haue the promise of mariage kept vnto her Therefore because that whiche is done agaynst the Lord turneth to the wrong of all men and specially in so great a mischiefe by reason of the consequence by which she is iudged of the people both a woman adultres or defamed I like a bridle Asse by the power of the Lord and not by the voyce of a perfect mā being not able to bear so great a burdé take in hand to rebuke the madnes of the sayd false Prophet Balaam whiche at the instaunce of kyng Balaac 1. of the Prince of deuils whom he serueth and ready to cursie the people blessed of the Lord I beseeche you most excellent Prince and Lord Phillip by the grace of God king of Fraunce that like as the Aungell of God in tyme past mette in the way with a sword drawne the prophet Balaam goyng to curse Gods people so you whiche are vnwilling to execute iustice and therefore like the Aungell of the Lorde and minister of power and office woulde meete with a naked sworde this sayde wicked man whiche is farre worse then Balaam that he performe not that euill whiche he intendeth to the people First I propound that the foresayd man that nameth himselfe Boniface is no Pope but wrongfully keepeth the fear which he hath in deede to the great damage of all the soules of Gods holy Church I say also that his entring was many waies faulty and he entred not in at the doore but otherwaies and therfore is to be iudged a theefe a robber 2. I propound also that the sayde Boniface is a manifest hereticke and vtterly cut off from the body of the holy Church because of many kindes of heresies whiche are to be declared in conuenient tyme and place 3. I propound also that the sayde Boniface is an horrible simoniacall such a one as hath not bin sithens the beginning of the world and the mischiefe of this sinne in him is so notorious to all the world whiche thing is manifest to all that will playnly vnderstand in so much that he beyng openly slaūdered said openly that he could not commit simony 4. I propound also that the sayd Boniface being wrapt in infinite manifest haynous sinnes is so hardened in thē that he is vtterly not possible to be corrected and lying in doungeon of mischiefe so deepe that he may not be suffered any longer without the ouerthrow of the state of the church His mouth is full of cursing his feete and steps are swift to shed bloud He vtterly teareth in peeces the Churches which he ought to cherishe wasting wickedly the goodes of the poore making much of wicked men that geue hym rewardes persecuting the righteous and among the people not gathering but scattering bringing in new sectes of destruction that haue not bene heard of Blaspheming the way of truth and by robbery thinking himselfe equall to that Lord Iesus Christ which is blessed for euer And he beyng most couetous thirsteth for gold couereth gold by some deuise getteth gold of euery people vtterly not regardig the worshipping of God with sayned wordes sometimes by flattering sometimes by threatning sometime by false teaching and all to get mony withall he maketh marchādise of vs all enuying all thinges but hys owne louing no man nourishing warre persecuting hating the peace of his subiectes He is rooted in all vnspeakeable sinnes contrarying and striuing against all the wayes doctrines of the Lord. He is truly the abhomination of the people which Daniel the Lordes Prophet described Therfore I answere that lawes weapons and all the elemēts ought to rise against him which thus ouerthroweth the state of the Church for whose sinnes God plagueth the whole world And finally nothing remaineth to hym being so vnsatiable to satisfie him wtall but onely the vnsatiable mouth of hell and the fire that cannot be quenched continuing for euer Therfore seing that in a generall coūcel it so becommeth and I see this wicked man to be damned which offendeth both God and al men I aske and require as instantly as I can and beseech you my Lord and King aforesaid that ye would declare to the prelates doctours people princes your brethren in Christ chiefly to the Cardinals and all Prelates and call a Councell In the which when this foresaid wicked man is condemned by the worshipfull Cardinals the church may be prouided of a shephearde for that Councell I offer my selfe ready lawfully to pursue the foresaide things And where as the saide man being in highest dignity in the meane time cannot be suspended of hys superiour therefore he ought to be taken suspended in deede for the things aforesaid seing his state is called into iudgement by the meanes aforesaid I beseech and require the said Cardinals by you and I presently require them the church of God that this wicked man being put in prison the Church of Rome may be prouided of a Vicar which may minister those things that shall appertaine vntil the Church of God be prouided of a bishop vtterly to take away all occasion of a schisme And least the saide wicked man should let and hinder the prosecuting therof I require these things of you my Lord king aforesaid affirming you to be bounde to doe this for many causes First for faithes sake Secondly for your kingly dignitie to whose office it belongeth to roote out such wicked men Thirdly for your oth sake which ye made for the defence of the Churches of your Realme which the foresaid rauener vtterly teareth in peeces Fourthly because ye be the patron of the Churches therfore ye are not bound onely to the defence of them but to the calling for againe of their goodes which the foresaide man hath wasted Fiftly ye following the footesteps of your auncetors ought to deliuer your mother the Romish church from so wicked a hand wherein by oppression shee is tied bound I require that a publike instrument may be made of these requestes by the notaries here present vnder the witnes of the worshipfull men that be here present These things were done and spoken as is aforesayd at Paris in the Kings hous◠of Lupara After this protestation of master Nagareta immediatly insued the appeale of the king pronoūced and published against the sayd Boniface in forme as foloweth The appeale made by the king and the louers of the Realme against Boniface IN the name of God Amen In the yeare of our Lorde 1303 Indictione prima 13. day of Iune and the 9 yeare of the Popedom of Boniface Pope the 8. By the tenour of this publique instrumēt be it vnto all men knowen that the most noble prince and Lorde Philip by the grace of God king of Fraunce the famous and reuerend fathers in Christ Archbishops Bishops religious men Abbots and Priors here vndernamed in
of our auncestors which doubted not to shedde their owne bloud for the encrease and defence of the Churches liberty and the faith and coueting to prouide for the puritie of faith and the state of the Church as also to auoid the hurt of the generall slaunder being not able to passe ouer any longer the premisses with wincking and dissembling and my conscience driuing to the same seeing this estimate opinion of him in these matters is not rashly of vs conceiued but vehemently and plainly increased by many and continuall cryings of credible men and great authoritie oft and oftentimes beaten vnto vs fearing moreouer the destruction of the faith both of vs and of al other subiects and specially of kings and princes of the world which ought to reproue negligence which acknowledge that we haue receiued power geuen vs from the Lord to the promoting and increasement of it we agree to your requestes in this behalfe and to the calling and assembling a councell for the glory of God sauing the honour and reuerence that is due to the holy Romish church in all thinges whereby the trueth may appeare in the premisses and all errour auoided that the state of the vniuersall Church and all Christianitie and the matters of faith and the holy land may be prouided for the slauÌ„ders ieoperdies haÌ„ging ouer vs may be withstanded we be ready offer our selues gladly as much as in vs is to bestowe our labour and diligent paine therabouts Earnestly requiring and beseeching in the mercifull bowels of Iesu Christ you Archbishops and other Prelates here present as children of the Church and pillers of faith called of the Lorde to the promoting encrease and preseruing thereof to care for the same that with all diligence ye wold geue heede as becommeth you and effectually you would labor by al wayes and fit meanes to the calling and assembling of this councel in which we intend to be personally present And left the said Boniface which hath boldly and wrongfully many times threatned to proceede against vs stopping and hindring our purposes and intent â—â—ast any of his workes of darkenesse if there be any should come to light directly or indirectly hindering the calling and gathering of this councel or least any state being in the same realme that wil in dede procede against vs or our state churches Prelates Barons other faithfull vassals our subiects our lands or our realme and the state of the realme by abusing any spirituall sworde in excommunicating suspending or otherwais by any meanes for vs and our welwillers and them that will followe vs we prouoke appeale in wryting to the foresayd general councell which we instantly desire to be called and to one lawâ—ull chiefe Bishop that shall be or to any other to whome we shoulde appeale and yet not going from the appellation made by M. William of Nagareta to whom we sticked then and also yet sticke requiring earnestly a witnes of our appellation of you Prelates Notaries expressedly to renue such prouocation and appellation when and afore whome it shal be thought meete to you Then the Archbishops within wrytten byshops Abbots and Priors aunswered the premisses as it is founde in the actes prouoked and appealed agreed to and protested and made prouocation and appellation agreement and protestation as is contained more fully in a certaine paper there openly and plainely red whose tenor followeth with these wordes We Archbishoppes of Nicosen Remen Senoren Narbonen Turonen and bishops of Landuiren Belnacen Catolacen Antisiodorem Meldimen Nurmen Carnotem Aurelianen Ambiauen Morinen Silanen Andeganen Abricen Constant Ebroicen Lexonicen Sagien Caloromont Lemonicen Auicen Masticoren And we Abbots of Cluniac promostraten of the greater monasterie of the court of S. Dionise in Fraunce Camped S. Victors S. Genoueue S. Marten Landmoen Figiacem Bellicem in Lemociuio and Frier Hugh visiter of the houses of the order of knights of S. Iohn in Ierusalem in Fraunce and the father Priour of S. Martine in the fieldes hearing these things which were sayd propounded and obiected yesterday to day by you the Lords Earles and William aforesaide against the Lorde Boniface the 8. and Pope being mooued with suche sayings purposes assertations and your othes your request and other lawfull causes and were compelled by need considering that the matter of our faith which is Christes is handled in the premisses Wee that be called to part of this care to the defence and maintenaunce of the faith of soules of the realme although vnworthy yet coueting to with stande the ieoperdies that hang ouer vs by reason of the premisses and other causes thinking the calling gathering of the sayd Councell profitable necessary that the innocencie of the Lord Boniface himself may clearely be discussed as we desire our coÌ„sciences bearing witnesse that it may be determined on him by the Councell touching such things as are laide against him and that may be done which they decree according to the Canons We aunswere you our Lord king and you our Lordes Earles and William that the honor reuerence of the holy Romish church salued in all poyntes wee agree to your due requestes in this behalfe for the calling of the Councell and are ready to geue helpe and diligent labour to the calling and gathering of the said CouÌ„cell according to the decrees of the holy fathers and to the lawfull orders of the Canons not intending by any meanes to make parties of this matter nor to sticke to any that maketh parties Yet least the sayde Boniface being mooued or prouoked by these things as wee feare by likely coniectures and threatnings made against vs for the foresayde things that he will proceede against our parish Churches and our subiectes by some meanes or cause to proceede against vs by some authoritie of his owne or others by excommunication suspension interditing deposing depriuing or by some other meanes and colour sought to some impeachment or trouble of the sayd Councell and that we may sitte in the same Councell to iudge and do al other things that belong to the office of Prelates that our frends that sticke to vs would sticke to vs in all thinges may remaine safe for our selues our parish Churches our subiectes and them that sticke to vs or would sticke to vs in this behalfe we prouoke and appeale in wryting to the foresayde Councell that is to be gathered and to him that shall be the true and lawfull highest Bishop and to him or them to whome of right we shoulde appeale too and earnestly require our appellations committing vs our parish churches our subiectes friendes and them that sticke to vs our state and theirs our right goodes to the godly defence of the foresaide councell and of him that shall be the true and lawfull highest bishop and we protest to renewe this appellation where when and afore whome it shal be thought meete This was done at Paris at Lupara in the chamber of the sayd Lord
the time thus passed the people and Cardinals were in great expectation waiting when the Pope according to his othe would geue ouer wyth the other pope also And not long after the matter began in deede betwene the two Popes to be attempted by letters from one to another assigning both day and place where and whē they should meete together but yet no effect did folow This so passing on great murmuring was among the Cardinals to see their holy periured father so to neglecte his othe and vow aforenamed In so much that at length diuers of them did forsake the Pope as being periured as no lesse he was sending moreouer to kings and princes of other lands for their counsell and assistance therein to appease the schisme Amongest the rest Cardinall Bituriensis was sent to the king of Englande who publishing diuers propositions and cōclusions remaining in the registers of Thomas Arundell disputeth that the pope ought to be subiect to lawes and councels Then K. Henry moued to write to Gregory the pope directeth his letter here vnder ensuing which was the yeare of our Lorde 1409. The contents of the letter be these The letter of king Henry the fourth to Pope Gregory 12. MOst blessed father if the discrete prouidence of the Apostolike sea would call to mind with what great pearils the vniuersall world hath ben damnified hetherto vnder pretēce of thys present schisme and especially would consider what slaughter of Christen people to the number of two hūdreth thousand as they say hath bene throughe the occasion of warre raised vp in diuers quarters of the world and now of late to the number of thirty M. souldiours which haue bene slaine through the dissention moued about the Bishopricke of Leodium betwene two set vp one by the authoritie of one Pope the other by the authoritie of the other Pope fighting in campe for the title of that Bishoprike Certes yee would lament in spirite be fore greeued in minde for the same So that with good conscience you wold relinquish rather the honour of the sea Apostolike then to suffer such horrible bloudshed heereafter to ensue vnder the cloake of dissimulation followinge herein the example of the true mother in the booke of kings who pleading before Salomon for the right of her childe rather would depart from the childe then the childe shoulde bee parted by the sword And although it may be vehemently suspected by the new creation of 9. Cardinals by you last made contrary to your othe as other men do say that you do but little heede or care for ceasing the schisme Yet farre be it from the hearing and noting of the world that your circumspect seat shoulde euer be noted distained with such an inconstancie of minde whereby the last errour may be worse then the first Ex Chron. D. Albani part 2. ¶ King Henry the 4. to the Cardinals ANd to the Cardinalles likewise the sayde King directeth an other letter wyth these contentes heere following Wee desiring to shewe what zeale wee haue had and haue to the reformation of peace of the Churche by the consent of the states of the Realme haue directed to the Byshop of Rome our letters after the tenoure of the copie herewith in these presentes enclosed to bee executed effectually Wherefore we seriously beseeche your reuerende colledge that if it chaunce the sayde Gregory to be present at the councell of Pise and to render vp hys Popedome according to your desire and hys owne othe you then so ordaine for hys state totally that chiefly God may be pleased therby and that both the sayde Gregory and also wee which loue intierly hys honor and commodity may haue cause to geue you worthely condigne thankes for the same Ibid. This being done in the yere of our Lorde 1409. afterward in the yere next folowing an 1410. the Cardinals of both the Popes to witte of Gregorius and Benedictus By common aduise assembled together at the citie of Pise for the reformation of vnity and peace in the Churche To the which assembly a great multitude of Prelates and bishops being conuented a newe Pope was chosen named Alexander 5. But to thys election neither Gregorius nor Benedictus did fully agree Whereby there were 3. Popes together in the Romaine churche that is to vnderstande not 3. crownes vpon one Popes head but 3. heads in one Popish churche together This Alexander being newly made pope scarcely had well warmed his triple crowne but straight geueth out full remission not of a fewe but of all maner of sinnes whatsoeuer to all them that conferred any thing to the monastery of◠Bartlemew by Smithfeld resorting to the saide church any of these dayes following to wit on Maundy thursday good Friday Easter euen the feast of the Annunciation from the first euēsong to the latter But thys Pope which was so liberall in geuing remission of many yeares to other was not able to geue one yere of life to himselfe for within the same yere he died In whose stead stept vp Pope Iohn 23. In the time of this Alexander great stirre began in the country of Bohemia by the occasion of the bokes of Iohn Wickliffe which then comming to the hands of I. Husse and of other both men women especially of the lay sort and artificers began there to doe much good In so much that diuers of them not onely men but women also partly by reading of those bookes translated into their tounge partly by the setting forwarde of Iohn Husse a notable learned man and a singulare preacher at that time in the vniuersitye of Prage were in short time so ripe in iudgement and prompt in the scriptures that they began to moue questions yea and to reason wyth the Priestes touchyng matters of the Scriptures By reason whereof complaint was brought to the sayd Pope Alexander the fifte who caused eftsoones the forenamed Iohn Husse to bee cyted vp to Rome But when hee came not at the Popes citation then the sayde Pope Alexander addressed hys letters to the Archbyshop of Suinco Wherein he straightly charged him to prohibit and forbid by the authority Apostolicall all manner of preachings or sermons to be made to the people but onely in Cathedrall Churches or Colledges or Parish churches or in Monasteries or els in theyr Churchyardes And that the articles of Wickliffe shoulde in no case of any person of what state condition or degree so euer be suffered to be holdē taught or defended eyther priuily or apertlye Commaunding moreouer and charging the sayde Archbyshop that wyth foure Bachelers of Diuinitie and two Doctours of the Canon lawe ioyned vnto hym would proceede vpon the same and so prouide that no person in churches schooles or any other place should teach defend or approoue any of the foresayd Articles So that who so euer should attempt the contrary should be accounted an hereticke And vnles he
summoned by the Emperour Sigismund and Pope Iohn 23. about the natiuity of our Lord Iesus an 1414. began the same yeare to be assembled about the latter end of the yere Which first beginning as the maner is with a Masâ—e of the holy Ghost as they were singing according to their custoÌ„e the Himne Veni sancte spiritus there was at the same time a certayne Bill set vp in the Church by some well disposed man as it seemed wherein was conteyned these wordes folowing Alijs rebus occupati nunc adesse vobis noÌ„ possumus That is to say We are otherwise occupyed at this tyme we can not intend to come to you Here is also to be remeÌ„bred the worthye saying of the Emperour Sigismund when talke was ministred as touching the reformation of the spiritualtye and some sayde quod oporteat in cipere a minoritis that is that reformation ought first to beginne at the Minorites The Emperour aunswering againe Non a minoritis sed a maioritis that is not with the Minorites sayth he but with the Maiorites Meaning the reformation ought first to begin with the Pope Cardinals Byshops and other superior states of the church and so to discend after to the inferiors This much by the way now to the purpose and order of the Sessions as we promised The which counsell continued as is aforesayd by the space of iiij yeares and had in it 45. Sessions wherein many things were concluded the which altogether were to long to be recited in this place as the deposition of three seueral Popes whiche were before spoken of the hearing of certaine Legates Yet I minde to make some briefe recapitulation of the most principall matters there done in the sessions orderly ensuing 1. In the first Session chiefly was coÌ„cluded first that this Councell was lawfully congregate 2. Item that the going away of the pope should be no let or stay but the Councell might proceed ¶ Wherein note gentle Reader that the authority of the generall Councell is aboue the Pope contrary to their owne doctrine 3. Item this Councell should not be dissolued before the Church were reformed as well in the superiours as inferiours In the 4. Session amongest other thinges this was first concluded That a Synode congregate in the holy Ghost making a generall councel representing the whole Catholicke Church here militant hath power of Christ immediately to the which power euery person of what state or dignity so euer he be yea being the pope himselfe ought to be obedient in all such things as concerne the generall reformation of the Church aswell in the heades as in the subiectes Item the sayd Pope should not translate the Court of Rome and the officers of the same from the Citty of Constance And that all his censures doinges and workinges after the time of his departure whatsoeuer he shoulde enterprise to do to the preiudice of this Councell should be of no effect In the 5. Session the same Articles were repeated and concluded agayne In the 6. Session procuration and citation was sent out agaynst the Pope Item commissioners were appointed out of the foure nations for the hearing of Iohn Hus which shal be hereafter mentioned in his story folowing Item the memory of Iohn Wickliffe was condemned and the sentence geuen in the Councel holden at Rome vpon the condemnation and burning of Wickliffes bookes was there confirmed Item in the same Session Citation was sent out agaynst Ierome of Prage The tenor whereof foloweth after in the story of the sayd Ierome Item in this Session was decreed agaynst libelles of infamy In the 7. Session nothing was handled but that the tenour of the citation agaynst Pope Iohn was recited In the 8. Session the sentence and condemnation of Iohn Wickliffe and his 45. Articles was recited and sentence geueÌ„ against his memory bones to be burned The tenor wherof is rehearsed in the history of Iohn Wickliâ—fes before passed fol. 449. In the 9. Session The matter cause of Pope Iohn was agayn intreated and commissioners appoynted to enquire vpon his cause and iudges for the same In the 10. Session Suspension was geuen out reade agaynst the sayd Pope In the 11. and 12. Sessions Notaries were assigned definitiue sentence geuen agaynst the said Pope where also was decreed that none of them that contended before for the Papacy should be chosen Pope In the 13. Session was decreed Quod nullus praes biter sub pena excommunicationis comunicet populo sub vtraque specie panis vini This is that no Priest vnder payne of excommunication shall communicate vnto the people vnder both kindes of bread and wine In the 14. Session came in that resignation of pope Gregory the 12. which was one of the 3. before mentioned striuing for the Papacy with certayne other Articles concerning the election of the Bishop of Rome and the ratification of their resigning which gaue ouer the Papacy Then ensueth the 15. Session in the which silence was commanded on all partes vnder pain of excommunicatioÌ„ and the great curse that no persoÌ„ or persons high or low of what estate or degree so euer he were Emperour Kyng Cardinall or other should disturbe the sayd Session wyth any maner of noise either by hand foot or voyce This being done the sentence condemnation against Iohn Hus was read and pulished whiche after in the story of Iohn Hus foloweth to be sene more at large In the 16. Session Ambassadors were assigned by the Councell to go into Arragon to Benedictus the 13. to entreat with him for the resignation of his Papacy as the other two had done before Item power was geuen to iudges to cite vnder pain of depriuation all such as priuily departed away from the Councell in the whiche Session also the sentence agaynst Iohn Hus was confirmed and ratified In the 17. Session the Emperour tooke vpon him a iourney to the king of Arragon to entreat with pope Benedictus An excommunication denounced agaynst al such as should go about to empeche the Emperours iourney about that matter c. Item prayâ—rs and processions were determined to be made by the Councell euery Sonday for the same cause with an hundred dayes of pardon geuen to theÌ„ that would be present thereat and that all Prelats should be present at euery of these sayd Masses and processions in theyr Pontificalibus Graunting besides to euery Priest that sayd one Masse for the same a 100. dayes of pardon And to all other that once a day should say one Pater noster and one Aue for the safety of the Emperour xl dayes of pardon In the 18. Session certayne iudges were assigned for the hearing of matters which the Councell had no leasure to heare It was there also decreed that suche letters and Buls as were written in the name of that councell should be receiued with no lesse credite and authority then the
affirmed and proued that he shoulde ascende and come in another way for Iudas Iscariot was truely and lawfully chosen of the Lorde Iesus Christ vnto his Bishopricke as Christe sayth in the sixt of Iohn and yet he came in an other way into the sheepe folde and was a thefe and a Deuill and the sonne of perdition Did he not come in another waye when as our Sauiour spake thus of him he that eateth breade with me shall lift vp his heele agaynst me The same also is proued by Saynte Bernarde vnto Pope Eugenius Then sayde Paletz beholde the â—â—ror and maddenesse of this man for what more furious or madde thing canne there be then to say Iudas is chosen by Christ and notwithstanding he did ascende an other way and not by Christ. Iohn Husse aunswered verely both partes are true that he was electe and chosen by Christ and also that he did ascende and come in another way for he was a Theefe a Deuill and the sonne of perdition Then sayde Palettez cannot a manne be truely and lawefully chosen Pope or Byshoppe and afterwarde liue contrarye vnto Christe and that notwithstanding he doth not ascende any other wayes But I sayde Iohn Husse doe saye that whosoeuer doth enter into anye Byshoppricke or like office by Simonye not to the intent to labour and trauell in the Church of God but rather to liue delicately voluptuouslye and vnrighteously and to the intent to aduaunce hymselfe with all kinde of pride euery suche man ascendeth and commeth vppe by an other way and according vnto the Gospell he is a theefe and a robber The 7. Article The condemnation of the forty fyue Articles of Wickliffe made by the Doctours is vnreasonable and wicked and the cause by them alleadged is fayned and vntrue That is to say that none of those Articles are Catholicke but that euery of them be either hereticall erronious or offenciue The aunswere I haue wrytten it thus in my treatise the forty fyue Articles are condemned for this cause that none of those forty fyue is a Catholicke Article but eache of them is either hereticall erronious or offenciue O Mayster Doctour where is your proofe you fayne a cause which you doe not poue c. As it appeareth more at large in my Treatise Then sayd the Cardinall of Cambraye Iohn Husse thou diddest saye that thou wouldest not defend any errour of Iohn Wickliffes And now it appeareth in your bookes that you haue openly defended his Articles Iohn Hus aunswered Reuerend Father euen as I sayde before so doe I now say agayne that I will not defende any errours of Iohn Wickliffes neyther of anye other mannes but for so muche as it seemed vnto me to be agaynst conscience simply to consent vnto the condemnation of them no Scripture beyng alledged or brought contrary and agaynst them thereupon I woulde not consent or agree vnto the condemnation of them And for so much as the reason whiche is copulatiue can not be verifyed in euery poynt according to euery part thereof Nowe there remayneth sixe Articles of 39. These are sayd to be drawen out of an other treatise which he wrote agaynst Stanislaus de Znoyma The first Article No man is lawfully elect or chosen in that the Electours or the greater part of them haue consented with a liuely voyce according to the custome of men to elect and choose any person or that he is thereby the manifest and true Successour of Christ or Uicare of Peter in the Ecclesiasticall office but in that that any man doth most aboundantlye worke meritoriouslye to the profitte of the Churche he hath thereby more aboundant power geuen him of God thereunto The answere These things which follow are also written in my booke It standeth in the power and handes of wicked Electours to choose a woman into the Ecclesiasticall office as it appeareth by the election of Agnes whiche was called Iohn who held and occupyed the Popes place dignitye by the space of two yeares and more It may also be that they doe choose a Theefe a Murderer or a Deuil and consequently they may also elect and choose Antichrist It may also be that for loue couetousnesse or hatred they doe choose some person whom God doth not allowe And it appeareth that that person is not lawfully elect and and chosen In so much as the Electours or the greater part of them haue consented and agreed together according to the custome of men vpon any person or that he is thereby the manifest Successour or Uicare of Peter the Apostle or any other in the Ecclesiasticall office Therefore they which most accordingly vnto the scripture doe elect and choose reuelation being sette a parte doe onelye pronounce and determine by some probable reason vppon hym they doe electe and choose wherevppon whether the Electours doe so choose good or euill we ought to geue creditte vnto the workes of hym that is chosen for in that poynt that any manne doth moste aboundauntly worke meritoriously to the profitte of the Church he hath thereby more aboundaunt power geuen him of God thereunto And hereupon sayth Christ in the 10. of Iohn geue credit vnto workes The 2. Article The Pope being a reprobate is not the head of the holy Church of God The aunswere I wrote it thus in my Treatise that I woulde willinglye receiue a probable and effectuall reason of the Doctour howe thys question is contrary vnto the fayth to say that if the Pope be a reprobate how is he the head of the holy churche Beholde the trueth cannot decay or fayle in disputation for did Christ dispute agaynst the fayth when he demaunded of the Scribes and Pharisyes Math. 12. Ye stocke and ofspring of Uypers how can ye speake good thinges when you your selues are wicked and euill and beholde I demaunde of the Scribes if the Pope be a reprobate and the stocke of Uipers how is he the head of the holy Church of GOD that the Scribes and Pharisyes which were in the Councell house of Prage make aunswere hereunto For it is more possible that a reprobate man shoulde speake good thinges for so much as he may be in state of grace according vnto present iustice then to be the head of the holy Church of God Also in the 5. of Iohn our Sauiour complayneth vppon the Iewes saying How can you beleue which doe seeke for glory amongest your selues and doe not seeke for the glory that commeth onely of God And I likewise doe complayne how that if the Pope be a reprobate can he be the head of the Church of God which receiueth hys glory of the world and seketh not for the glory of GOD For it is more possible that the Pope being a Reprobate should beleue then that he should be the head of the Churche of God For so much as he taketh his glory of the world The 3. Article There is no sparke of apparance that there ought to be one head in the spiritualtye to
vniuersitie of Prage should be restored againe and reformed and that they which had bene the disturbers thereof should be really punished That the principall heretickes and doctors of that secte should be sente vp to the sea Apostolique namely Ionnes Iessenetz Iacobellus de Misna Symon de Tysna Symon de Rochinzano Christiannus de Brachatitz Ioannes Cardinalis Zdenko de loben The prouost of Alhalowes Zaislaus de Suiertitz and Michael de Czisko That all secular men which communicated vnder both kinds should abiure that heresie and sweare to stoppe the same heereafter That they which were ordeined Priestes by the suffragane of the Archbishop of Prage taken by the Lord Zenko should not be dispensed with but sent vp to the Sea Apostolicke That the treatises of Iohn Wickliffe translated into the Bohemian tongue by Iohn Husse and Iacobellus should be brought to the Ordinary That the treatises of Iohn Husse condemned in the Councell should also be brought to the Ordinarie That all the tractations of Iacobellus De vtraque specie de Antichristo wherein he ralleth the Pope Antichrist Et de remanentia panis post consecrationem should likewise be brought and burned That all songs and balates made to the preiudice of the Councell and of the Catholike persons of both states should be forbid to be soong in Cities townes and villages vnder great and extreame punishment That none should preach the word without the licence of the Ordinarie or of the parson of that place That Ordinaries and Prelates hauing iurisdiction should not be stopped in their iurisdiction by the secular power vnder paine of excommunication That all and singular parsons shall be commaunded to obedience vnder paine of excōmunication and that whosoeuer knoweth any person to fauour any Wicleuistes or their doctrine or that keepeth company with suspect persons he shall present the same to his Diocesans or his officials That the confederacie of the seculars made betweene themselues or any of the spiritualtie to the preiudice of the foresaid Councell and of the Apostolicke sea Church of Rome in the fauour of Iohn Hus Hierome of Prage and other in the said Councell cōdemned shal be dissolued That the rites and ceremonies of Christian Religion touching Gods seruice Images and worshipping of reliques shall be obserued and transgressours of the same be punished That all and singular either spirituall or secular that shall preach teach holde or maintaine the opinions and Articles of Iohn Wickliffe Iohn Hus and Hierome in this Councell condemned and conuict of the same shall be holden for heretickes and falling in relapse shall bee burned That all secular persons being monished and charged by the Ordinaries shall be bound to geue their aide and furtherance vnto them touching the premisses The Bohemians notwithstanding these cruell Articles contemning the vaine deuises of these Prelates and fathers of the Councell ceased not to proceede in their league and purpose begon ioyning themselues more strongly together In this meane time it hapned that during this Councell of Constance after the deposing of Pope Iohn and spoiling of his goodes which came to 75. thousand poūds of golde and siluer as is reported in the story of Sainct Albans Pope Martin vpon the day of S. Martin was elected Concerning whose election great preparation was made before of the Councell so that beside the Cardinals fiue other Bishops of euery nation should enter into the conclaue who there together should be kept wyth thin diet till they had founded a Pope At last when they were together they agreed vpon this man and not tarieng for opening of the dore like mad men for hast brast open an hole in the wall crieng out habemus papam Martinum we haue a Martine Pope The Emperour hearing thereof with the like hast came apace and falling downe kissed the new Popes feete Then went they all to the Church together and sang Te Deum The next day following this Martine was made priest which before was but a Cardinall Deacon and the next day after was consecrate Bishop and sang his first masse whereat was present 140. mitted Bishops After thys the next morow the new holy Pope ordeined a generall procession where a certaine Clarke was appointed to stand with flaxe and fire who setting the flaxe on fire thus said Ecce pater sancte sic transit gloria mundi i. behold holye father thus vadeth the transitorie glory of this worlde Which done the same day the holy father was brought vp vnto an high scaffold saith the story I will not say to an high mountaine where was offered to him all the glory of the world c. there to be crowned for a triple Kyng This done the same day after dinner the new crowned Pope was with great triumph brought through y◠middest of the Citie of Constance where all the Bishops and Abbots followed with their miters The Popes horsse was all trapt with red skarlet downe to the ground The Cardinals horses were all in white silke the Emperour on the right side and prince Electour on the left playeng both the Popes footemen went on foote leading the Popes horse by the bridle As this Pageant thus with the great gyant proceeded and came to the market place there the Iewes according to the maner offered to him their lawe and ceremonies Which the Pope receiuing cast behind him saieng Recedant vetera noua sunt omnia i. Let olde thinges passe all things be made new c. Ex hist. S. Alb. ex paralip Vrsperg This was an 1417. Thus the Pope being now cōfirmed in his kingdome first beginneth to write his letters to the Bohemians wherin partly he moueth them to Catholicke obedience partly he dissembleth with them faining that if it were not for the Emperours request he woulde enter processe against them Thirdly and finally he threatneth to attempt the vttermost against them and with all force to inuade them as well with the Apostolicall as also with the secular arme if they did still persist as they begōn Albeit these new threates of the new Bishop did nothing moue the constant harts of the Bohemians whome the inward zeale of Christes word had before inflamed Although it had bene to be wished such bloudshead and warres not to haue followed yet to say the truth how could these Rabines greatly blame them heerein whome their bloudy tirannie had before prouoked so iniustly if nowe with their glosing letters they could not so easely appease them againe Wherfore these foresaid Bohemians partly for the loue of Iohn Hus and Hierome their countreymen partly for the hatred of their malignant Papistry assembling together first agreed to celebrate a solemne memoriall of the death of Iohn Husse and Hierome decreeing the same to be holden celebrate yearely And afterward by meanes of their frends they obteined certaine Churches of the King wherin they might freely preach and minister the Sacraments vnto the congregation This
of mony delayed the time in making of their truce Camillus cōming vpon them did most shamefully driue them out againe But what need I to rehearse old histories when as our own examples are sufficient for vs Ye know your selues how often these delayes haue bene hurtfull vnto you how oftē the delay of a few dayes hath growne to a long tracte of tyme. For now this is the 8. yeare that you haue spent in delayes you haue seene that alwayes of one delay an other hath sprong and risen Wherfore I do require that Panormitan shuld consider that the conclusion being this day disturbed we know not whether it will be brought to passe hereafter againe or no. Many impedimentes or lets may rise Neither doth Panormitan say that this delay being obtayned he wold afterward consent with his fellowes vnto the conclusiōs for he denyeth that he hath any commaundement therunto which is more to be considered he sayth that the Ambassadours at their returne from Mentz may bring such newes wherby these conclusions may be omitted as though any thyng were more excellent then the truth The which thing doth manifestly declare that they do not seeke delayes for the better examination of the matter but for to impugne the conclusions the more strongly Neither do I agree with Panormitan as touching the effects which he sayd should ryse eyther of the denyall or graunting of the requests For I see no cause why the Princes should so greatly require any delay There are no letters of anye Prince come vnto vs as touching such request neyther is there any man lately come from them neyther is it greatly materiall vnto them but that the matters of faith shoulde be determined But this is a most pernicious conclusion which Panormitane hath made and not to be looked for at the handes of those most godly princes wheras he saith if we do please them they will take our part If contrariwise they will decline vnto Eugenius and wholy resist rebell agaynst vs. This is a meruailous word a wonderfull conclusion altogether vnworthye to be spoken of such a man The decrees of the Councell of Constance are that all maner of men of what state or condition soeuer they be are bound to the ordinaunces and decrees of the generall Councels But Panormitanes wordes do not tend to that effect for he would not haue the Princes obedient vnto the Councel but that councell to be obedient vnto that princes Alas most reuerend Fathers alas what times daies what maners and conditiōs are these Into what misery are we now brought How shall we at anye time bring to passe that the Pope being Christes Uicare and as they say an other Christ in earth should be subiect vnto the coūcell of Christians if the Councell it selfe ought to obey wordly Princes But I pray you look for no such things at the Princes handes Do not beleeue that they will forsake theyr mother the Church Do not thinke them so farr alienate frō the truth that they would haue iustice suppressed The conclusions whereupon the controuersie is are most true most holy most allowable If the princes do refuse them they do not resist agaynst vs but against the holy Scriptures yea and agaynst Christ himselfe which you ought neither to beleue neither was it comely for Panormitane so to say Panormitan by your licēce be it spoken you haue vttered most cruell words neyther do you seeme to go about any other matter then to inculcate terrour and feare into the mindes of the Fathers for you haue rehearsed great perils and daungers except we submitt our selues vnto the princes But you most reuerend fathers shall not be afearde of them which kill the body the soule they cannot kill neyshal ye forsake the truth although you should shedde your bloud for the same Neither ought we to be any whit more slacke in the quarrell of our mother the church and the Catholicke fayth then those most holy Martyrs whiche haue established the Church with theyr bloud For why should it be anye greeuous matter vnto vs to suffer for Christ which for our sakes hath suffered so cruel greuous death Who when he was an immortall God voyd of all passiōs toke vpō him the shape of a mortal man feared not for our redemption to suffer tormentes vpon the crosse Set before your eyes the Prince of the Apostles Peter Paule Andrew Iames and Barthelmew and not to speake onely of Bishops Marke what Stephen Laurence Sebastian Fabian did Some were hanged some headed some stoned to death other some burned and others tormented with most cruell and grieuous tormentes suffered for Christes sake I pray you for Gods sake let vs follow the example of these men If we will be byshops and succeed in honour let vs not feare Martyrdome Alas what effeminate harts haue we Alas what faynt harted people are we They in tymes past by the contempt of death conuerted the whole world which was full of gentilitie and idolatrye and we through our sluggishnes desire of life do bring the Christian Religion out of the whole world into one corner I feare greatly least that little also which is left we shall lose through our cowardlines if that by following Panormitanes minde we do commit the whole gouernaunce defence of the Church vnto the princes But nowe play the stout and valiaunt men in this time of tribulation feare not to suffer death for the Churche whiche Curtius feared not to doe for the cittie of Rome which Menchotheus for Thebes Codrus for Athens willingly took vpon them Not onely the martyrs but also the Gentiles might moue and stirre vs to cast of all the feare of death What is to be sayd of Theremens the Athemen With how ioyfull hart and minde and pleasaunt countenaunce did he drink the poyson What say you vnto the Socrates that most excellent Philosopher did he eyther weepe or sigh when he supped vp the poyson They hoped for that whiche we are most certayne of Not by dying to dye but to chaunge this present life for a better Truly we ought to be ashamed being admonished by so many examples instructed with so great learning yea and redeemed with the precious bloud of Christ so greatly to feare death Cato writeth not of one or two men but of whole legions which haue chearfully couragiously gone vnto those places frō whence they knew they shuld not return Wyth like courage did the Lacedemoniās geue thēselues to death at Thermopilis of whom Simonides writeth thus Dic hospes Spartanos te hic vidisse iacentes Dum sanctis patriae legibus obsequimur Report thou straunger the Spartaines here to lye Whiles that their coūtry lawes they obeyed willingly Neither iudge the contrary but that the Lacedemonians went euen of purpose vnto death vnto whome theyr Captayne Leonidas sayd O ye Lacedemonians goe forward couragiously for this day we shal sup together
Martin gaue me autority by the aduice of the councel to rote out heresies to pacifie kingdoms to reforme the maners of euery state of christendome yet they wil say that I can not cite them Power is geuen me to iudge to condemne and haue I not also power to cite The law doth say vnto whom any power or iurisdiction is committed all things seme to be committed vnto him without the which he cānot exercise his iurisdiction for howe coulde all the premisses be done if the Prelates or others shuld not come hither Also why is it said in the chapter Ego enim de iure iurando I will come vnto the Sinode if I be called if he can not be called By whome then is it presupposed that he shuld be called but only by the councel or by him which ruleth the councell Also the whole 18. distinction intreateth of no other matter but that the bishops being called vnto the councel if they come not that they may be excommunicate and suspended Let these men read the boke of councels of S. Isidore and they shall finde howe that in many councelles the Prelates haue bene called by the Sinode Nowe it remaineth that we shuld declare whether the dissolutiō be of force or no. Wherin I do againe feare to moue your holines vnto anger But charity forceth me therunto for peraduenture your holines doth thinke the dissolution to be effectual therfore do perseuer in it wherby for somuche as many offences may rise my conscience doeth moue me not to hold my peace First of all the chapter Frequens declareth that it is not of force for if prorogation be forbidden prohibited which is a smal mater much more is dissolutiō which is a greater matter for it is a greater matter to take away then to defer for by proroging a thing is but deferred by dissoluing it is vtterly taken away Also these men say that the said cōstitution in the chapter Frequens may be made void for somuch assone as the councel is begon it may be dissolued without any thing don as it is said that it was done at Senes and nowe they say also that your holines hath ben peruersly informed touching the dissolution They say also that the sayd dissolution doth manifestly tend to the subuersion of faith the ruine of the church and the trouble of the christian people Therfore it can not be done neither obeid They say moreouer that the said dissolutiō could not be made by meanes of a certen decree of the councel of Constance in that behalfe prouided That in such matters as pertaine vnto faith the extirpation of sinne and reformation of the church in the head in the members that all men of what estate or condition so euer they be yea the Pope himself shuld be bound to obey the statutes precepts and ordināces of euery general councell except they did obey to punish them Marke how that these things to haue power to determine vpon any man to commaund him and punish him if he be not obedient are signes of superioritye in those matters which he doth decree command or punish and to be bound to obedience to be subiect and obey the same are signes of inferiority in the said cases Ergo in the foresaid cases seeing that the Pope as they say is vnder the coūcel which also hath ben In that for one of the said 3. cases the councel did depriue Iohn for the other Benedict neither coulde the Pope dissolue the councell in that he is inferior vnto the councel cannot bind or cōpel the superior As in the chapiter Cum inferior otherwise it shoulde containe in it a contradiction that hee is bounde to obey and is not bound to obey because he may dissolue for howe should he be obedient vnto the ordinance and decree of the councell if he may anihilate and take away the same ordinaunce and decree Thys councell is cōgregate for the rooting out of heresies for the making of peace and reformation of maners and in the first Session it did ordeine that their whole intent and respect should be thereunto and that he which should procure to let the coūcell to proroge or alter it should be punished and haue processe against him as against a common disturber of the peace c. If it may be dissolued it is euident that they doe not obey the saide ordinaunce whereby this also must of necessity be graunted that if it may be dissolued the decree of the councell of Constance is of no force This is also proued by an other reason No man doubteth but if any controuersie of heresie shoulde be mooued against any Bishop of Rome that he coulde not dissolue the Councell For if he might dissolue the councell he could not be iudged whych were cōtrary to the cha Si Pa. dist 40. Ergo like as it is inheresy so is it in the two other cases For these three were pacified by the coūcel of Cōstance for thus speaketh the councel As it is in the Chapter Si Papa in illo vno And as I haue before saide the Councell of Constance allowed this decree thorow the which they depriued Peter de Luna for making of a Schisme and Pope Iohn for the deformitie of his life And all be it there be certaine lawes that say the principall seat can not be iudged of any man and againe no man iudgeth the chiefe seate And no man sayth vnto him selfe why doest thou so There are to be vnderstande in these three cases first that there was prouiso made for the faith in the chapter Si Papa and in the other two poynts by the decree of Constance Otherwise it shuld be vnderstande without any exception that the first seate c. and then the chapter Si Papa 40. Distinct. and the sayd decree of Constance shoulde be false If the chapter Si Papa had added causes of heresies no man would haue doubted vpon these two cases touching the sayd sentence so likewise no man ought to doubt of the decree of the councell that it was made by the authoritie of the Pope and representeth the vniuersal church and if any man wold say that in all councels the authoritye of the Pope is excepted I aunswere that it is true when as the persone of the Pope is not specially included But if hee be specially included he can not be excepted because it should sauour of contradiction Most blessed father God is my witnesse that I haue spoken these thinges wyth great anguish and sorowe of minde but I am forced so to speake that your holinesse may cease from the saide dissolution lest there might happen infinite euels in the church of God If your holines did see my pure mind my vpright conscience and entier affection towardes you whereby I am mooued to wryte those thinges euen for very loue you would embrace and kisse me and wythout doubt loue me as your owne sonne I haue often sayde and nowe doe say