bodily pains in this world which after their own sayings are far less and the Pope may go down to hell as another man and whereas he taketh upon him to absolve any man without inward repentance he extolleth himself above God This complaint is at length in the Act. Monim written by Io. Fox and these are the chief heads of it 11. In the twenty fifth year of King Edward the III. which was 1364. Laws against the power of the Pope Statutes were made If any procured from Rome a provision to any Abbey Priory or Benefice in England which is said to be in destruction of the Realm and holy Religion or if any man sued out of the Court of Rome any process or procured any personal citation upon causes whose cognifance and final discussion pertaineth to the King's Court these shall be out of the King's protection and their lands goods and cattels shall be forfeited unto the King The narrative of the Act sheweth the cause of it and the King and Commons of the Realm had oft complained that his Realms were impoverished by the Pope giving Benefices to strangers which never dwelt in England the King and Nobility were robbed of their right of patronage the cure was not served and the will of the first founders was not followed The King had oft complained but in vain therefore he resolved to make his Kingdom free from this bondage Morn in Myster pag. 480. sheweth that when Pope Gregory the XI heard of it he cried This enterprise is a renting of the Church a destroying of Religion and usurpation of his right and priviledge Wherefore he sent immediately unto Edward requiring him to annul these Acts. But when the Schism arose no Pope did insist in it until Pope Martin the V. sent more sharp Letters unto King Henry the VI. And he answered An Act of Parliament cannot be annulled but by another Parliament and he would assemble a Parliament within a short space for the same cause but he did it not saith Pol. Virg. Hist lib. 19. In the thirteeth year of Richard the II. this Act was revived in these words If any person within or without the Realm shall seek from the Court of Rome preferment to any Benefice of Cure or without Cure the preferment shall be null and the person shall be banished and his goods shall appertain unto the King and the same punishment shall strike against them which receive or entertain any such person As also it was ordained If any person shall bring or send any summons sentence or excommunication or if any shall make execution of any such summons sentence or excommunication against any person whatsoever shall forfeit all his lands and goods for ever and himself shall be imprisoned and incur the pain of death yea although such a person had obtained the King's licence for petitioning at the Court of Rome he shall sorfeit a years rent It is also observed that before the year 1367. the high offices in England Offices of State as the Lord Chancellor the Lord Treasurer the Lord Privy Seal c. were wont to be for the most part in the hands of the Clergy as also in Scotland until the Reformation but about that time the English Nobility procured that all these offices should be given unto temporal Lords 12. At that time God raised up John Wickliff a couragious witness of Iohn Wickliff truth he was Fellow of Merton Colledge and Master of Baliol Colledge in Oxford and Reader of Divinity there about the year 1370. He began first to oppose in questions of Logick and Metaphysick but such as strawed the way to other things which he intended When he set upon controversies of Divinity he protested publickly in the Schools that his aim was to bring the Church from Idolatry to some amendment In his book entituled The path-way to perfect knowledge near the end he sheweth what travel he had in translating the Bible into English he gathered many old Latine Bibles for saith he the late books are very corrupt and he conferred the translations with the ancient Doctors and common Glosses and especially he was helped by the late translation of Lyra in the old Testament and the fourth time he employed many cunning men at the correcting of his fourth translation Then he wrote that book which I have now named wherein he giveth the sum of every book of the old Testament with some general and useful observations He reckoneth the books according to the Hebrew and sheweth also some use of the Apocrypha for examples of piety patience constancy c. and denieth that they are for proof of faith In chap. 2. he saith The truth of the Gospel sufficeth to salvation without keeping the ceremonies made of God in the old Law and much more without keeping the ceremonies of sinful and unknowing men that have been made in time of Antichrist and unbinding of Satan as it is Apocal. 20. and he calleth it heresie to say otherwise In chap. 1. he saith Christian men and women old and yong should study fast in the new Testament for it is of full authority and open to the understanding of simple men as to the points that be most needful to salvation and the same sentence in the darkest places of holy writ is both open and dark which sentence is in the open places and each place of holy writ both open and dark teacheth humility and charity and therefore he that keepeth humility and charity hath the true understanding and perfection of all holy writ as Augustine proveth in his Sermon of praising charity therefore no simple man of wit should be feared unmeasurably to study the text of holy writ for they are the words of everlasting life as Peter said to Christ Iohn 6. and the holy Ghost stirred holy men to speak and write the words of holy writ for the comfort and salvation of meek Christian men as Peter in his Epistles and Paul Rom. 15. witness And no Clark should be proud of the very understanding of holy writ for that very understanding without charity which keepeth God's hests maketh a man deeper damned as Christ Jesus and James witness and the pride and covetousness of Clarks is the cause of their blindeness and heresie In chap. 10. Though Kings and Lords knew no more of holy writ then three stories of 2 Chron. that is of Jehoshaphat Hezekiah and Josiah they might learn sufficiently to live well and govern their people well by God's Law and eschew all pride and idolatry and other sins But alas alas alas whereas King Jehoshaphat sent his Princes Deacons and Priests to each City of his Realm with the Book of God's Law to teach openly God's Law unto the people ..... some Christian Lords send general Letters unto all their Ministers and Liege-men that the pardons of the Bishop of Rome which are open lies for they grant many hundred years of pardons after doomsday be preached generally in their Realms
prosperously be a note of the Antichrist the Pope cannot be called Antichrist seeing he wanteth so many Provinces I answer in the first part Bellarmine saith that the Pope hath lost what he never had and in the latter part he hath lost more for he might have added Scotland Ireland a great part of Poland Prussia c. But all these had given their power and Kingdom unto the Beast until the word of God was fullfilled and they do now hate the Whore and have made her naked as it is said Rev. 17. But it is no where written in Scripture nor do Protestants say that the Beast or Antichrist had or shall have dominion over all the earth although he make such a claim falsely yea the fourth part of the earth was never subject to the See of Rome at once or at one and the same time 4. As the Papishes do glory in vain of the Pope's Supremacy over the The Pope had no power to give Kingdomes Church so they pretend his power over all the Kingdomes of the earth this they do hold but with some difference amongst themselves for the â—anonists as they are called hold that all the Kingdomes of the earth do directly belong unto the Pope and the Jesuits say not directly but indirectly and these two sects write against one another in this matter as for life and death But whether directly or indirectly both do agree that the Pope may give any Kingdom of the earth to whom he pleaseth Satan did once say so And in the 9. Century Pope Nicolaus did not say so as followeth Let them shew any such practice before this eighth Century Did all the Bishops of Rome before this time give Kingdomes to whom they would Or were they ignorant of their power But say they at that time Pope Zachary gave the Kingdom of France unto Pipin and his line So unto this place belongeth neither gave he the Kâ—ngdome of France unto King Pipin that controversie which Bellarmine hath de Ro. Pont. lib. 2. cap. 17. lib. 5. cap. 8. By what means and by what persons Pipin obtained the Kingdom of France Gratian. caus 15. quest 6. cap. Alius saith Zachary deposed Childeric King of France and placed Pipin in his room And the gloss saith Deposuit idest deponentibus consensit he consented unto them who deposed him Platina in Zachary saith By his authority the Kingdom of France was adjudged unto Pipin The Jesuit Dion Petavius in Rationar temp par 1. lib. 8. saith Pipin by the authority of Pope Zachary and by consent of the French Peers did add a new Title of King unto his Royal Power which he had not before If we look to the more ancient Writers the story is thus About the year 663. Clotharius King of France gave himself to the lusts of the flesh and committed the government unto Ebroin Master of the Palace or as others call him Constable This example turneth into a custom and An. 694. Pipin Duke of Austrasia attained this charge under Clodoveus or Clovis the III. as Io. Serres calleth him and he keepeth it in the daies of King Childebert the II. and his son Dagobert so that then there was the Title of a King and all the power was in the hand of the Constable Abb. Vrsperg in Chron. pag. 170. Edit An. 1538. The King was seen once in the year publickly to wit the first day of May then he received and gave gifts without any other discharge of Royal power and all affairs of State were managed by the Constable After Pipin was great contention for so honourable a place his son Charls Martel prevaileth who in the daies of Theodoric or Therric the II. enlargeth the Kingdom of France and as the fore-named Petavius ex Gest Franc. Epit. lib. 1. sheweth he overthroweth Raginfred his Competitour or as he saith who was chosen Mayor and Eudo Duke of Aquitania An. 718. then he subdued the Saxons Alamanes Bavarians and Aquitans Eudo hath his refuge unto the Sarazens in Spain and perswadeth their King Abdirama to invade France Charls did slay in one Battel 375000. Sarazens with the loss of 1500. French at Towrs Fascic temp fol. 45. Edit Venet. An. 1484. and Io. Serres and others Thereafter he did take-in Burgundy and Lions An. 727. and the next year Eudo being dead he possessed Aquitania peaceably In the year 731. the Sarazens did come again into France Charls overthrew them and did gain Avenion and Narbon from them Therefore by a more honourable Title he was called Duke and Prince of France and under that name he governed the Kingdom 19. years and died An. 741. Platin. in Gregor II. He had four sons Carloman Pipin Egidius and Grypho some say Grypho was the son of his first wife a daughter of Bojaria Pipin made Egidius Bishop of Rotomayum and left his government unto Carloman and Pipin and they two divide the Kingdom and govern either his own part under the Title of their father as is apparent by the first words of the Councel under Carloman In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I Carloman Duke and Prince of the French in the year 742. from the Incarnation of Christ on the 11. of the Calends of March by the advice of the servants of God and of my Nobles I have assembled the Bishops in my Kingdom c. Note these words and see what power he had Within 7. years after this Synod he laid aside his Princely authority saith Bellarm. loc cit and entred into a Cloister at Sotacte and then all the authority was in Pipin alone Grypho rebelled against Carloman but at last Pipin took him in Italy and caused him to be beheaded An. 753. Pipin having the government alone and wanting no occasion did aim at a higher Title The Sarazens in Spain were preparing to make new Wars against France but Pipin did prevent the storm he seized on the passages of the Pyrene hills and forced those redoubted enemies to receive Laws from him Then he did help the Cities that had been spoiled he disburthened others of publick charges and established justice and dealt so valiantly and discreetly both in Wars and Peace that he gained the hearts of all the countries also it did not a little add unto his esteem what he had done against the Lombards and in other parts of â—taly Blondus dec 1. lib. 10. saith I find in Alcuinus Paulus and several others who have written the Acts of the French that the Nobility and Commonalty of that Nation duly considering the worthiness of Pipin and sottishness of Childeric consulted with Zachary Bishop of Rome whether they should tolerate so foolish a King any longer and defraud Pipin of his deserved Princely honour And when the Bishop made answer That he was best worthy to be King who could best discharge the Office of a King the French with the publick consent of the whole Nation did pronounce Pipin for their King and Childeric was
the Romans Pope John would not consent and therefore was imprisoned he escaping goeth into France and confirmed Lewes the Stutterer son to Charls the Bald. Nevertheless because Charls did oppose the Moors in Italy Pope John returned and confirmed the first coronation and declared the other to be of none effect Pet. Mexia Shortly thereafter Lewes dieth leaving behind him two bastard sons and his wife with child whereupon followed great troubles in France The two brethren of Charls died also The Normans and Danes overrun France with great hostility The Peers were constrained to seek aid from the Emperour who came and received the Crown of France So all that had appertained unto Charls the Great was united in his person again except the Kingdom of Bavaria His grandure continued not long for the Hungars came out of Scythia and sate down in Pannonia the Normans passe the river Sequana take Rouan and by excursions trouble both France and Germany Charls did once again send his Armies against them but with loss of his Souldiers Then the Normans became more confident they besiege Paris they burn Towns and Churches slay Bishops and Priests spare neither age nor sex Charls bought their peace and gave them Neustria which keeperh their name till this day Charls became more unable both in body and courage he assembled a Diete at Triburia and began to talk of the Empire The Princes took occasion to accuse him as lunatick and unfit for government they deprive him and set up Arnulph King of Bavaria Charls dieth in sorrow in Jan. An. 888. All this time Leo son of Basilius was Emp. of the East 8. ARNULPH was received Emperor by the States on this side of the A worser contest Alps but Pope Adrian the III. had caused a Constitution to be enacted that if Charls died without succession the Kingdom of Italy and Title of Emperour should return unto the Italians And now Italy was divided for Albert Marquess of Tuscia Berengarius a Roman by birth and Duke of Friali and Wido Governour of Spoleto strove for it Berengarius was crowned King of Italy by Anselm bishop of Millan Wido raiseth a great Army and with little difficulty possesseth all Lombardy Berengarius runneth to Arnulph holding a Diete at Worms and with earnest prayers besought his aid against Wido as a common enemy He was once restored and expelled again by Lambert son of Wido and was brought in again by the power of Arnulph Arnulph then goeth to Rome and besiegeth it The Romans shew themselves such Lions that when a Hare hearing the noise of the Host ran towards the City for very fear they desperately threw themselves over the Walls and Arnulph scaling the Walls with little danger took the City He restoreth Pope Formosus from his adversaries and beheadeth them The Pope to gratifie his redeemer blesseth and crowneth him Nevertheless the Italians will not continue under his obedience for Lambert kept still the name of King untill he was slain in hunting and left the Kingdom peaceable to Berengarius Then a jar hapned betwixt him and his son-in-law Albert Marquess of Eporredia who sent for Lewes son of Charls King of Provence of whom before and offered him the Kingdom The estate of Italy was then miserable for the Sarazens lay in the Dutchy of Benevento and suffered none to go to Rome unspoiled at last they were expelled by Adelgisus Duke of Benevento Lewes now entred into Italy and was crowned but new troubles arose in Lombardy untill Lewes was taken his eys were pulled out and he renounced the Kingdom In the mean time Arnulph was busied with the Hungarians and expelled them out of France Bavier Suevia and Saxony Odo ruled France under the name of Tutor and was the Authour of the three Lillies in France at last Charls the simple son of Lewes the Stutterer received that Crown Arnulph died of vermin An. 900. The fore-named Leo had continual Wars with the Infidels in Asia and in the end obtained a notable Victory Alexander his brother reigned 13. months and then Constantine son of Leo partly under Tutory and partly alone did reign 54 years CHAP. II. Of POPES 1. STEPHEN the IV. was set in the Papal Chair without the knowledge The Pope's first golden Cross and Vsurpation of the Emperour wherefore he hastned into France to excuse the fact and to crave confirmation and at Rhemes he crowned the Emperour with a Crown brought from Rome he returned bearing a Cross not like Christ but of gold which the Emperour gave to Saint Peter When he saw that the Emperour had so lightly forgiven the election he said at Rome The sence of the Decree of Pope Leo was not that the election should chiefly belong unto the Emperour but that they might well make their own election and then only seek confirmation from the Emperour or his Legate He sought pardon for them who were banished under Charls Platin. he died in the 7 month An. 817. 2. PASCHALIS the I. was chosen without the knowledge of the Emperour Achange in the election of the Pope wherefore incontinently he sent a Nuntio with gifts unto Lewes laying the fault on the people who had forced him to accept Consecration The Emperour admitteth the excuse and sent word unto the People and Clergy of Rome that the custom and ordinance of their Predecessours should be kept and therefore they should not trespass against him any more Platin. Gratian. dist 63. cap. ego Ludovicus alledgeth that Lewes gave free liberty unto the Clergy and People to chuse the Pope But the following practice of Gregory the IV. confirmeth the testimony of Platin. and others Paschalis was one of the most superstitious worshippers of dead bodies if Platina speaketh truly of him who also sheweth that he was accused for murthering Theodorus Primicerius and Leo Nomenclator because they had maintained The Pope is Arraigned a priviledge of the Emperour nor could he be pardoned untill he had cleansed himself by Oath in an assembly of Bishops and then the Emperour forgave him The next year Lotharius son of Lewes and designed Emperour came to Rome and found the estate thereof depraved and the wickedness of some Bishops Therefore it was enacted that one should be sent from the Emperour to administer Justice Morn in Myster ex Autore vit Ludo. Paschalis sate 7 years 3. EUGENIUS the II. was chosen when Lotharius was in the City Bishops have Prison houses Of his idolatry and pride is spoken before Didoclamus in Altar Damasc pag. 421. ex Choppin de sacr polit lib. 2. reporteth that he did first appoint Bishops to have Prisons for restraint of the vices of the Clergy He did sit 4 years 4. VALENTINE the I. of a Deacon was made Pope for his singular Pride of the Pope diligence and gravity in his youth but he wanted not pride for at his election he gave his foot to be kissed by the Senatours which was never done before Helmold
leave Then concerning his curses against the King after he hath bitterly expostulated for his menacing and declared that he had sent his Letters unto the Peers and Prelates of the Kingdom and had read them openly in an assembly of the Bishops of France and Lorain at Atiniac and had shewed his Bull unto Lewis King of Germany whereby he was commanded by authority of the Pope to accurse them all who intermeddle with the Kingdom of Lorain he saith I have heard that the like letters as have been directed to our Lord Charls and to the Peers and Bishops of his Kingdom have been also sent unto my Lord Lewis the glorious King and to the Bishops and Nobility of his Kingdom ..... Then he gives him to understand that he had heard it reported by many that the two Kings had agreed to divide the Kingdom which if it be not done sedition shall kindle among the people wherefore since he saw that either the authority of the Pope must be contemned or the agreement of the Kings be violated whence might arise fear of wars he thinks it more expedient to omit so Imperious commands and surcease altogether from attempting any thing therein neither is it my duty saith he to debar any man from the Communion except one who hath willingly confessed his fault or who is convict in judgement unless I would contemn the Canon of the Apostles the practice of the Church and the authority of Augustin Gelasius Boniface c. Whereas the Pope had accused him that by silence and cessation he may seem not partner but authour of the usurpation he biddeth him remember what is written The cause which I knew not I fearched diligently and that God as is marked by Gregory to whose eys all things are open said in the cause of the Sodomite I will go down and see whereby we should learn to try and see the evil before we beleeve it and not punish till it be notoriously known Whereas he would have him abstain from the company of the King and not bid him God speed it seems very hard said he since very many good men both of Ecclesiastical and Secular sort who occasionally have come to Rhemes have openly professed that they had never heard the like practice from any of his Predecessours although in their own times they had seen seditions and wars not among Kings who were united by oath and league but also among brethren yea between father and children And therefore he acknowledgeth this his contempt to be for his other sins since in this he had dealt lovingly with his fellow-brethren of whom some had invited King Charls into the Kingdom of Lorain Moreover that the States of the Kingdom affirm plainly that Kingdoms are not conquered by curses of Priests or Bishops and that they have learned from the Holy Scripture Kingdoms appertain unto God by whom Kings do reign and he gives them to whom he willeth wherefore since the High-Priest cannot be both a King and a Bishop he should leave the care of distributing Kingdoms which as his Predecessours did not attempt against the schismatical nor heretical nor tyranous Emperours in their times so neither can they now bear it who know it to be written in the Holy Scripture We should strive even to death for liberty and inheritance neither are they ignorant if a Bishop excommunicate a Christian without reason that the power of binding may be taken from him but eternal life can be taken from no man unless his own sins do demerit neither can any man be spoiled of the name of a Christian for taking or conquering an earthly Kingdom or can he be ranked with the Divel whom Christ came to redeem with his blood from the Divel's power and therefore if the Pope would have peace let him so seek it that he move no strife for the people think not that they cannot come to the Kingdom of Heaven except they imbrace such an earthly King as the Pope recommendeth as for the Oath said he and falshood and tyranny whereof you write the Peers of the Nation say unto us that ye command not such things as concern your authority yea they have not spared from menacings against you which for the present I will not repeat and I know as they threatned with deliberation so if God suffer them without retreating they will shew it indeed and I know by experience that without regard of admonition or sword of man's tongue unless some other stay arise our King and Nobility of this Realm will not fail to do accordingly to their power and follow forth what they have begun He concludes that Bishops and himself especially should take heed of their behaviour towards the King since it is the Apostles doctrine that all souls be subject unto Superiour powers And with these Letters in the name of Hincmar were other Letters written by common advice of the Bishops of France being assembled at Rhemes and sent unto Pope Adrian who died in the fifth year of his pride and so that strife ceased Ph. Morn in Myster ex Aimoin lib. 5. and out of others Baronius in Annal. ad An. 870. § 38. saith Hincmar did forge many excuses and by shifting did escape the sentence of the Apostolick See till Pope Adrian died 11. JOHN the IX succeeds An. 872 as Onuphrius saith who reckoneth The Pope climbeth above the Emperour not the eight years between Nicolaus and Adrian but others account his succession in the year 876. He hapned on the fittest occasion of ambition among them all for after his inauguration began the contention between Charls of France and Charls of Germany for the Empire The King of France was alwaies aiming at the Kingdom of Italy and promised unto Pope John rich rewards if he attained unto the Empire he would defend the Church from all injury and wholly quit the Territory of Rome John did fear that the other would take his manure in Italy and therefore desirous the Emperour were at a distance rather than to sit in his eye he invited the King of France to come unto Rome and incontinently saluteth him Augustus and by this means saith Sigonius and after him Ph. Morn in Myster the Title Imperator Augustus became the gift of the High-Priest wholly and the years of their Empire were reckoned from their consecration by the Pope Continuator Eutropii saith more plainly Charls the Bald coming to Rome made covenant with the Romans and granted unto them the rights of the Kingdom and revenues out of three Monasteries that is out of Saint Salvator's Saint Mary in Sabinis and Saint Andrew's on Mount Soracte and the Imperial Patrimony out of many other Monasteries he gave them also the Provinces of Samnio and Calabria with all the Cities of Benevento and the Dukedom of Spoleto and two Cities of Tuscia Arisium and Clusium which did belong unto the Duke so that he who before was above the Romans in royality seems now inferiour unto them he
designation of the other Malcolm and his good fame did cross his desire wherefore the King caused him to be poisoned nor could the Authour of the deed be known all men had so good an opinion of the King Then Kenneth propounded unto his Nobility a new designation of his Successour and also propounded the example of other Nations where the eldest son of the King or the nearest in blood doth succeed and if the heir be not of ripe age the worthiest of the Nobility governs the Realm under the name of Tutours and not Kings and by this custom said he seditions bloody wars and murthers are prevented which have been frequent in this Country through the ambition of the Nobility There first he asks the opinion of two which were of highest estimation and who might seem most to oppose this novation They partly for fear and partly to decline ambition did allow the King's purpose and so it passed current that the King's son was declared Governour of Cumberland Now as Kenneth goeth about in this way to establish his posterity he troubleth his conscience and partly with inward gripings for the aforesaid murther and partly with dreams he was so vexed that in a morning he goeth unto the Bishops and Monks and confessed his sin Since King Gregory about the year 855. made some Laws for immunity of the Clergy the Priests had straied from the learning and devotion of the ancients So they brought comfort unto the King not from the mercies of God through Christ but iâ—â—oin him for their own advantage to visit holy places and graves of Saints to kiss reliques to redeem his sin by hearing of Masses and alms-deeds and to account more of Monks and Priests then he had done before Buchan hist li. 6. But Bishop Spotsewood in his History lib. 2. saith They were not yet become so grossly ignorant as to beleeve that by such external works the justice of God is satisfied although some idle toies such as the visiting the graves of the Saints kissing of relicks hearing of Masses and others of that kind which avarice and superstition had invented were then crept into the Church yet people were still taught that Christ is the only propitiation for sin and by his blood the guilt thereof is only washed away Herein his judgment is charitable but how true it is I see not his warrant The King resolves to obey the direction and as he was going to visit the grave of Palladius he lodged with Fenestella Lady of Fettercairne and was treacherously murthered by her in the year 994. Then Constantine son of King Culen at all occasions begun to regret the iniquity of the former novation that thereby the Country would be indamaged and all they of the Royal Blood defrauded For said he what is more foolish then to permit unto Fortune the chief matter of the State What if the King's children through infirmity of body or mind be unapt for government What if babes had been Kings when the Romans Peichts and Danes did oppress the land What is more against reason then to establish that by Law which God in his word hath threatned as a curse Neither is the pretended danger of sedition and murther prevented thereby since there is no less fear of Tutors then of Competitours because those also must be the nearest in blood Wherefore the present occasion is not to be omitted but presently to abolish that Law if it deserve the name of a Law which was enacted by tyranny and fear and the former customs whereby the Kingdom hath flourished from small beginnings is in time to be restored lest it cannot be remedied when a preparative is once past A Parliament was held at Scone within 12. daies after the death of Kenneth and Constantine was proclaimed King The Governour of Cumbria being as yet but young had little assistance but his base brother Kenneth levied an Army for himself and Camped at the water Almound near unto the King and perceiving his number to be lesser then the Kings he sought the advantage of Sun and wind the King relied upon his number and both Captains were slain Then Grim the son or brother-son of King Duffus was proclaimed King by that party The fore-named Malcolm raised an army against him by mediation of Bishop Forthad they agree that Grim shall remain King of the Land by the North-wall of Severus and Malcolm during his life time shall possess the South-part and succeed to the Crown Nevertheless King Grim considering that his seed would certainly be debarred of the Crown began to oppress both parts so that the North-part sought aid from Malcolm and Grim was forsaken by his Army and slain in the year 1016. This tumult for succession is not yet ended as followeth 3. There is extant a Book called Altercatio Ecclesiae Synagogae without the name of the Authour by authority of Chronic. Hirsang it is given to Gisilbert an English Monk who is said to have lived in the beginning of this Century It saith in Ca. 4. The Holy Spirit first makes the will good and then worketh by it truly whatsoever good can be done whether to think or to will or to perfect is to be ascribed unto God and not to man's free-will therefore if God worketh these three things in us to wit to think to will and to perfect surely He worketh the first without us the second with us and the third by us seeing by giving the good will he preveneth us by changing the evil will with consent he joineth us to himself and by furnishing unto our consent ability and facility the inward worker is made manifest externally by our outward work Ca. 8. The righteousness of God is manifested here righteousness is meant not wherewith he is just but wherewith he cloatheth man when he justifieth the ungodly freely Unto this righteousness the Law and the Prophets give witness the Law because by commanding threatning and justifying no man it sheweth clearly that man is justified by the quickning Spirit thorow the gift of God the Prophets because what they fore-told Christ hath fulfilled at his coming ..... We cry unto the most secret ears of God by desires more then by words for unto him who knows all things our wishes are voices if thou desirest good thou hast cried Moses was silent in voice and cried by faith as the woman touching the hem of Christ but others do cry in fear and fail in faith Catal. test verit lib. 11. 4. Fredward a Knight about the year 940. writ a book concerning the Presence of Christ's body in the Sacrament following the doctrine of John Scot and of Augustine Paschasius an Abbot writ against him Ibid. About the year 950. it was reported as a strange thing that Odo a Dane then Bishop of Canterbury turned the bread on the Altar into the flesh of Christ and from flesh into bread again He confirmed the strange doctrine with strange arguments to wit by lying miracles Ibid. 5. At
describe a wicked Pope or Benno is not the Authour of that book but some Lutheran and he alledgeth ten Authours of that time commending Hildebrand The whole History confuteth the first excuse and the other is convinced by the copies of Benno more ancient then Luther and by many Authours before Luther who do cite Benno Namely Orthwin Gratius who was not a Lutheran in Epist ad Lector prefixed to the same book saith More credit is to be given unto Benno then unto Platina or others who favour the Popes too much And though his own faction commend him it is no wonder and they testifie of more then ten times ten others writing against his impieties It is enough for the Truth that she wanted not witnesses and Tyranny had contradiction at the rising yea and of the same ten although one excuse of one crime yet he accuseth him of another Were they all Lutherans whom Onuphrius in Annotat. in Platin. ad Grego VII reports to have called this Gregory a Necromancer a simoniack blood-thirsty c. He was the first kindler of those toilsom wars Bellum Pontificium between the Emperours and Popes as followeth Before that time there was some order in the Church and Bishops were subject unto Emperours as Miltiades and Sylvester unto Popes are subject unto Emperours Constantine Gregory unto Maurice Leo unto Charls the Great Chrysostom on Rom. 13. saith The Apostle she wing that these things subjection c. are commanded unto all both Priests and Monks and not to Seculars only saith in the beginning Let every soul be subject unto superiour powers although he be an Apostle or Evangelist or Prophet or whoever he be for this subjection overthrows not piety and he saith not simply be obedient but be subject Cumin Ventura a late Popish Writer in Thesaur Politic. printed at Frankford An. 1610. pag. 386. saith The ancient Emperours received not their beginnings from the Popes And in the next page The Popes in time of the old Empire were subject unto the Emperours untill Lewis the Godly renounced his right which renounciation was revoked by the Emperour and renounced by a Synod in the daies of Pope Leo the VIII And Onuphrius in vita Gregor VII saith Although the Bishops of old Rome were reverenced as the Vicars of Christ and Successours of Peter yet their authority reached not further then the teaching and maintaining of the faith they were subject unto the Emperours and were created by them and in all things were at the beck of the Emperours and a Pope durst not judge nor discern any thing belonging unto them Bellarm. de Laicis lib. 3. cap. 8. propounds and proves that Kingdoms are given immediately by God unto wicked men as Dan. 2. and that these Infidel Kings should be obeyed unless one will set himself against the Ordinance of God in 1 Pet. 2. To this purpose he cites the testimony of Augustin de Civ Dei lib. 5. cap. 21. 15. he saith expressly All Kings and the State of Venice and such others have none above them in temporalibus otherwise they could not be called Heads of their Common-Wealths but members only But then Gregory the VII the first of all Romish Bishops swelling with pride and trusting in the strength of the Normans and The first Pope excommunicating an Emperour to the riches of Mathildis and seeing dissension amongst the Germans durst not only excommunicate Caesar but deprived him of his Kingdom also A thing not heard in former ages saith Otho Frising de gest Frideri lib. 1. cap. 1. So speaks Onuphrius loc cit and addeth For I account not the fables concerning Arcadius Anastasius and Leo Iconomachus And Gotfrid Viterb in Chron. par 17. saith We read not that any Emperour before this was excommunicated by a Pope of Rome or deprived of his Empire unless that be called excommunication when Philip the first Christian Emperour was for a short space set amongst the Penitents or that Theodosius c. Aventin in Annal. lib. 7. writeth that Everhard Bishop of Salsburg said Hildebrand under pretext of religion 170. years since had laied the first foundation of Antichrist and he first began those wicked wars which untill this time have been continued by his Successours So Gregory the VII did glory of himself that he could bind and loose in Heaven and he could give and take away Kingdoms Empires and whatsoever men possess on earth He could abide no equal far less any Superiour derogating from others their due right and honour and arrogating all unto himself After him the Emperours could have no interest in the election of the Pope saith Ventura loc cit Likewise he kept Bishops and all Prelates in aw suspending some and chopping off the hands of others at his pleasure he released Oaths of Allegiance yea whatsoever he did the Pope must be feared as one who could do no wrong In a Synod at Rome he decreed it to be simony to accept any Bishoprick Abbocy or Church-living from a Lay-man were he King or Caesar who gave it and the receiver as well as the giver should be excommunicated Platin. By this means he severed Church-men from Princes and tied them unto the Popes for ever and the former custom of the Church in all ages was then condemned and the Decree of Pope Leo the VIII was condemned yea himself might by this Decree be deposed Henceforth whatsoever ambition any Pope once practiseth his Successour will make it a rule But one thing is above all wonders saith Corn. Agrippa de vanit scient cap. 56. They think that they may go up to Heaven by this means for which Lucifer was cast down He did forbid the Benedictine Monks to eat any flesh at all and permitted unto others as weaker or more imperfect to eat flesh on some daies In the year 1076. he published some Aphorisms with the Title Dictatus Papae Dictatus Pope Greg. the VII these are extracted by Spalaten de Rep. Eccles lib. 4. cap. 9. and are the Picture of his mind The Roman Church was founded by the Lord alone the Roman Bishop is the only Universal Bishop Gregory the I. behold thy Antichrist he only can set up and depose other Bishops he may depose and excommunicate absents This was a warrant for his practise against the Emperour If any be excommunicated by the Pope none may abide in one house with that person He alone can make new Laws erect new Congregations unite or divide Benefices All the Princes of the earth ought to kiss his feet His only name should be heard in Churches No Synod should be without his commandment No book is Canonical without his authority All weighty causes in whatsoever Church should be brought unto him He may absolve Subjects from their Allegiance He may judge all men but can be judged by no man And all these because the Roman Church cannot erre and the Pope being Canonically elected is by the merits of Saint Peter undoubtedly sanctified and
embrace this shew of honor that for reverence of the Roman Church they might be the more respected in their own jurisdiction and sometimes the more easily advance themselves above their Competitors Sometimes the Popes sent Legates into other Diocies with such modesty that they had Authority to attempt nothing without concurrence of the Bishops or Synod of that Countrey Albeit these Legations were partly godly and at the worst were tolerable yet they were not potestativae or imperious but charitativae or exhortatory Nevertheless the Popes brought the Churches and Bishops into subjection by such means for afterwards they were sent onely for ambitious usurpation covetousness and worldly affairs The ordinary Legates at Picen Romandiola Bononia Ferraria Avenion and if there be any such others are Provincial Deputies Praetores or Vice-Roys The Nuntio's at the Court of the Emperor or of any King or Prince or State are Ambassadors or Spies for secular affairs The affairs of any Church that are gainful if they be of less account are reserved unto the judgement of the Nuntio yet not definitively but to be determined at Rome and things of more weight are reserved for the Court of Rome wholly In the mean time the power of Metropolitans and Bishops is neglected The ancient Bishops of Rome did severely enjoyn their Legates to acknowledge duly the inferior Bishops within their own jurisdiction but now they pass by the Metropolitans and draw all actions unto themselves and the Court of Rome Also their ambiton and avarice have so provoked some Nations that they will admit no Legate as Sicilie and France hath entrenched their office These particulars are more fully written by Spalatens de Rep. Eccles lib. 4. cap. 12. Of BRITANNY 1. AS I touched in the former Century England was oppressed by the Danes in England Danes so that Swan a Danish King did bear the Scepter of England and when he was a dying he left England to Harald Denmark to Canut and Nor way to Swan his three Sons Harald lived not long After him and the death of the unfortunate English King Agelred great contention was in England for the Crown some were for Edmond â—ronside the Son of Agelred and some for Canut After many bloody fights both parties agree to try the quarrel twixt them two onely in sight of both Armies they make the essay with swords and sharp stroakes in the end upon the motion of Canut they agree and kiss one another to the joy of both Armies ann 10. 6. and they covenant for parting the Land during their lives and they lived as brâ—thren Within a few years a Son of Edrik Duke of Mercia killed Edmond traitorously and brought his two Sons unto Canut and said God save our onely King Thereafter Canut reigned in England twenty years and all the Counsellors swear unto him By their advice he sent the two Sons of Edmond unto his Brother Swan King of Denmark willing him to put them out of the way He abhorring such a fact sent them to Solomon King of Hungarie where Edwin was married with the King's Daughter and left her soon a Widow and the other Brother Edward married Agatha the Daughter of the Emperor Henry III. It is written that Canut established Laws Ecclesiastical as well as Civil among which are these First All men should holily worship God onely throughout all ages they should most religiously hold fast the one rule of Christian Religion they should with due loyalty and obedience honor King Canut We further command that every one of each Order shall diligently and holily keep the Religion of his own Office and Function namely the Servants of God Bishops Abbots Monks Regulars and Nuns and square their life according to their prescribed rule Let them pray oft and much unto Christ both night and day for all Christian People And all the Ministers of God especially the Priests we entreat and command to obey God and keep dear chastity that they may escape God's wrath and hells fire seeing they know certainly it is not lawful for them to have fellowship with women for lust and who shall abstain from them let him have God's mercy and on earth the honor due unto a Thane Let every The beginning of Knâ—ght â—â—oa among Priests one pay his Tithes yearly Each one should prepare thrice a year at least to receive the Eucharist so that he may eat the same to wholesom remedies and not to damnation If any woman commit adultery to the open shame of the world let her nose and ears be cut off c. Spelman in Concil Canut died ann 1039. and his Son Hardiknut reigned four years and his Brother two years Then the Danes failed after they had been Kings of England twenty eight years and vexed it 255. years 2. After the death of Grim King of Scots Malcolm would not accept Troubles in Scotland the Crown until the Law which was made in his Father's time concerning Succession were confirmed with consent of the Parliament He was molested by the Danes and in token of his two victories two stones were set up in Anguise in two several places as yet bearing the name of their Captain Came. At that time Malcolm divided a great part of the patrimony of the Crown among his chief Captains so that from that time the Kings Revenues were small and therefore the Nobility gave unto the King the Wards and Marriages of their Sons if yong He which was so careful of Succession had no Sons Duncan King the Son of his eldest Daughter was killed by Macbeth his Cousen-German and Successor In a word while some strove for the ancient Liberty and others for the priviledge of Succession ten Kings were killed by their Successors until the year 1103. 3. When England was freed from the Danes they sent to Normandy Alteration in England inviting Edward the Confessor and Brother to King Edmund to come He fearing their inconstancy did refuse until they sent pledges to abide in Normandy and then was Crowned ann 1045. In his time was that Law made which concerneth the King's Oath at Coronation A King because he is the Lieutenant of the most High King was appointed to this end that he should regard and govern the earthly Kingdom and People of God and above all things his holy Church and defend her from wrongs and root out Malefactors from her yea scatter and destroy them which unless he do he cannot be justly called a King A King should fear God and above all things love him and establish his command throughout his Kingdom He should also keep nourish maintain and govern the holy Church of his Kingdom with all integrity and liberty according to the Constitutions of his Fathers and Predecessors and defend it against enemies so as God may be honored above all and ever had in minde He should establish good Laws and approved Customs and abolish evil and remove them all out of his Realm He should do right Judgement in
of Italy and gave his Lands of Pulia and Calabria unto his Cousin Reynold with the Title of Duke The Pope was not content and pretended that these Dominions appertain unto St. Peter so variance was like to arise betwixt Lotharius and the Pope but the difference was composed so Reynold took his badge and Title from them both This Lotharius caused the Civil Laws to be reduced into a method which were almost forgotten he commanded them to be read in Schools and pleas to be determined by them Since the days of Charles the Great no Emperor had done greater exploits in Italy he suppressed the rebellious in Cremona Papia Bononia c. he had curbed the Popes and had recovered the priviledge of Investing Prelates if he had not been perswaded by Bernard He died not far from Trent ann 1138. Then Conrade was sole Emperor against the minde of the Pope and was confirmed by his Legate He was vexed by Henry Duke of Bavier who had married the onely Daughter of Lotharius and aimed at the Empire At that time the fourth King of Jerusalem Fulco was in great danger of the Persians who had taken the famous City Edessa and the Saracens were besiedging Antiochia wherefore Pope Eugenius by his Letters and Bernard by words perswade the Emperor to go into Palestina as Lewes King of France was ready they both went but did no good unto Baldwin the Successor of Fulco Manuel the Eastern Emperor was blamed for their unlucky success he promised them victuals but disappointed them and sent traitorous guides with them At this time began the long continued and troublesome factions of Gwelphs or Welphs and Gibelines that is Papalines and Imperialists the one faction had their name from Welpho a Duke of Bavier and Brother of Henry with whom the Pope conspired and the other from Henry Son and General to the Emperor and so named from a Village where he was born By the procurements of the Popes these factions waxed so that all the Towns and people of Italy bragged in one of these two names Ann. 1152. Conrade was poysoned by his Physician hired thereunto as was suspected by Roger King of Sicilie he gave the Imperial Ensigns unto his Brothers Son Frederick and recommended his yong Son unto him the elder Brother Henry being defunct 3. FREDERICK I. surnamed Barbarossa or Red-beard attained Difference betwixt the Emperor and Civil State of Rome the Crown without any contradiction he was endowed with all excellencies of body and minde The Romans were taking of their ancient liberty and of a free Government under Consules and they sent unto the new Emperor promising to consent unto his Coronation if he would consent unto their former liberty seeing they should not be subject unto Germans who had received their honor from the Romans The Emperor partly in anger and partly in dirision writeth saying They had been Romans as they boast but now no footsteps of their ancient State appeareth it being altogether wasted behold the wound of the first Beast first by Charles and then by Otho the Great and that old Common-wealth was translated into Germany and there are Consules Senatores Equites They were deceived in thinking the Germans had received the Empire from them for it was not given by the Romans but conquered by the arms of Charles whom certainly they in their necessity had implored for their defense from the Tyrants Desiderius and Berengarius it was not therefore a gift of the Pope and therefore it was not convenient that they prescribe unto their Emperor This Letter exasperateth them so that the Emperor must march toward Rome Pe. Maxia Pope Hadrian was ill intreated by them and vexed by the Castellanes and now hearing of his coming went to Sutrio to meet him When the Emperor saw the Pope he lighted from his horse to receive him The pride of the Pope and held his stirrop and bridle on the left side the Pope sheweth himself a little angry because he should have done it on the right side when the trench-men reported his words unto the Emperor he laughingly excused himself that he was not accustomed to hold stirrops and seeing he had done so much of curtesie and not of duty less matter it was what side he held The next day to make amends unto the Bishop he inviteth him and received him holding the stirrop on the right side When they came to Rome the Pope sheweth how his Ancestors had left some special token unto the See of St. Peter and he intreateth him to take in from William King of Sicilie the Dutchy of Pulia especially Beneventi Ceperano and Banco unto the See which if he would promise to do he was ready on the other side to perform all duty unto him The Emperor being advised by the Princes promiseth to do all that was required and the next day was Crowned In time of the Coronation the Citizens shut the gates and slew a great number of the Germans within the City the Emperor was called out of the Church he brake open the gates brought in his army slew many Romans and took others captive by intercession of the Pope a reconciliation was made and the Captives were set free Platin. Then the Emperor returned into Germany and having prepared an army against Sicilie he promised to make speed again In the mean time the Greek Emperor Manuel His falshood punished had covenanted with the Pope to expel William out of Sicilies and Manuel should have the three Sea-ports of Pulia He sent an army and William overthrew them and the Pope's forces both together and took the Pope captive and caused him to confirm his Title of both Sicilies upon condition that he should not trouble the Church-Lands in time coming Platin. Then the Emperor began to consider how the Popes had abused his Ancestors had extorted from them the priviledge of Investing Prelates and now this Bishop had deluded himself in confirming King William in that Land which appertaineth unto the Empire therefore he began to require homage and oath of fidelity of all the Bishops and he commanded that none of the Pope's Legates be received without his licence and that none of Germany make appealation to Rome What more stir was then may be gathered from the Pope's Letter accusing and threatning and Frederick's Answer The Pope wrote thus Hadrian Bishop the servant of God's servants unto Friderick The Popes Letter unto the Emperor the Roman Emperor greeting and Apostolical blessing As Divine Law promiseth length of days unto them which honor their parents so it denounceth death unto them who curse father or mother and we are taught by the voice of truth that each who exalteth himself shall be made low wherefore beloved Son in the Lord we admire not a little at your prudence that thou seemest not to give that reverence unto blessed Peter and the holy Roman Church as it becometh thee For in thy Letters sent unto us thou puttest thy name
unto Philip King of France requiring him to go into the holy Land when the Bishop saw no appearance of obedience he threatened the King that the Pope would deprive him of his Kingdom Wherefore the Bishop was charged of arrogancy and treason and cast into prison The Pope sent another and commanded the King to set the Bishop at liberty and to take voyage into the East against the Infidels and not to meddle with the tenths of the Clergy Philip answered His difficulties at home did both hinder him from going into the East and brought a necessity of Subsidy from the Clergy and he was willing to dismiss the Bishop The Legate said You know not the Pope's authority which is not onely the Father of all Christian souls but Lord and Prince in temporal things and therefore by that authority I do excommunicate thee and I declare thee unworthy to reign and thy Realm forefeited unto the Church of Rome And he did acquit all French from their oath of obedience unto Philip and he disannulled all indulgences grants and priviledges that had been granted by any of his Predecessors unto any King of France I. de Secres Then Philip by advice of his Councel did cause it to be proclaimed That none of his subjects go unto Rome nor send money thither and he bestowed vacant Benefices without leave of the Pope Wherefore the Pope wrote unto him thus Boniface the Servant of God's servants fear God and keep his commandments We will thee to understand that thou art subject unto us in spiritual and temporal things and that no gift of Prebends or Benefices belongeth unto thee if thou hast the custody of any Prebend keep it unto the use of the Intrant if thou hast presented any we discern that gift null and do revoke all that hath been done by thee and whosoever thinketh otherwise we judge him to be blockish Philip conveeneth the Peers and Bishops at Paris and by their advice replieth in this maner Philip by the grace of God King of France unto him who is called Boniface and is not such indeed little friendship or none Let thy blockishness know that in temporal things we are subject unto no man and that the gift of Prebends and Benefices being void belongeth unto us by our royal prerogative the which we will defend with the sword and we think them fools and mad who judge otherwise Io. Secres Thereafter the King had another meeting of his Nobles and Clergy at Paris where sundry persons of both states gave in their grievances accusing the Pope of many crimes as heresie simony and others saith Io. Naucler And others write they undertook to prove that the Pope was an usurer incestuous having known two of his Neeces a Simoniack an Heretick that he had a familiar spirit he denied the resurrection c. And that these things may be the better qualified they propound that a general Councel may be called There a National Assembly against the Pope and calleth for a general Councel as his superior When Boniface heard these things he gave the Kingdom of France unto the Emperor Albert. Philip levieth an Army in Naples which was then under the French under the conduct of Siarra Columna an Hetrurian whom with all his kinred the Pope had excommunicated and razed their Castles and houses for writing against him and sent William Nogaret a French Gentleman and one of the Albigenses to publish the foresaid appellation at Rome They came to the gates of Aruagio Platina calleth it Anagnia with the assistance of some Gibelines The Pope hid himself with his Nephew a Marquess and two Cardinals these two escape by a privy door the Marquess rendered himself in hope of favor they rush in and gave the Pope in option whether he will presently quit his life or Papacy He said he would never renounce his Papacy Wherefore Siarra would have killed him but Nogaret said they had not that commission They carried him to Rome where grief turned him into madness and he died on the thirty fifth day thereafter in the eighth year of his Papacy and An. 1304. Platina addeth this exhortation it seemeth from Fasc tempo By his example let all Princes both of Church and Commonwealths learn to rule their people and Clergy not arrogantly and contumeliously as he of whom we are speaking did but holily and modestly as Christ our King and his disciples and true followers and let them endeavor to be loved rather then feared which is the cause of the fall of many Tyrants In his days were many and fearful earthquakes that many houses fell and the Pope with all his Court was once afraid and dwelt in a spacious meadow under pavilions about Andersmes CHAP. II. Of EMPERORS 1. FREDERICK the II. was very yong and the Empire could not be vacant so long time for many evils that might ensue therefore the Princes moved PHILIP of Suevia to accept the Crown until his Nephew came to age He sought not confirmation of the Pope and therefore Innocentius said Either the Pope shall take the Crown and Kingdom from Philip or Philip shall take the Apostolical ornaments from the Pope Then Innocentius went about by all means to keep the Empire from Frederick and to this end among other his tricks he absolveth all the Electors from their oath and raiseth slanders against Philip and enticeth Barthold Duke of Zaringia to usurp the Empire He would not Then he perswadeth Otho Duke of Brunswike and Brother of the Duke of Saxony So wars were betwixt Philip and Otho Nocentius excommunicateth the Emperor Nevertheless Otho at last was put to flight and glad to seek peace Philip was not unwilling and gave him his Daughter in marriage Not long thereafter Philip had a meeting with the Pope's Legate and Otho and was murthered by them in his chamber in the tenth year of his Empire P. Mexia 2. OTHO the V. was elected and quickly confirmed by the Pope but their concord continued not for on the day of Coronation a tumult arose between the Romans and Germans for the gifts which the Emperor had bestowed 1100. were slain and no fewer were wounded The Emperor took it ill and required satisfaction from the Romans they refused and the Pope was suspected to be the cause of the first tumult Likewise the Pope had caused him to swear at his Coronation that he should with all his might maintain and preserve the Imperial liberties and recover that which was given away and lost Matth. Paris in Iohan. Innocentius did require this in despite of Frederick Then Otho seeing that he was slighted went hastily from the City and wasted Tuscia Marchia Anconitana all Romandiola Capua and he intended to enter into the bounds of Naples The Pope then requireth him to restore the patrimony of the Church and the fued Land under pain of his curse Otho did not regard his menaces and said He was doing according to the oath of his Coronation The Pope excommunicateth him at
and thieves none so wicked or vile who though he be charged with a manifest crime should we think to condemn before we hear him and do ye think it equal to pass sentence on a King anointed and crowned giving no leave to defend himself how unjust is this let us consider the matter it self I say ye openly affirm that Henry Duke of Lancaster whom ye are pleased to call your King hath most unjustly spoiled Richard as well his Soveraign as ours of his Kingdom While he was speaking the Lord Marshal enjoyned him silence and the other Bishops said He discovereth more Covent-devotion he had been a Monk then Court-discretion in dissenting from his Brethren Yet at that time his integrity was so respected that no punishment was imposed upon him but the next year 1400. when some discontented Lords arose against King Henry this Thomas was taken prisoner and judicially arraigned for High Treason for which he was condemned and sent to St. Albans But what shall the King do with him he could not with credit keep him nor dismiss him and to take his life was dangerous when Prelates were thought sacred The Pope did help the King by giving unto Thomas another Bishoprick in Samos a Greek Island But before his translation was compleated he died THE FIFTH AGE Of the CHURCH OR The History of the Church reverting and of Antichrist raging containing the space of 300. years from the year 1300. until the year 1600. CENTURY XV. CHAP. I. Of POPES 1. INNOCENTIUS the VII was crowned An. 1404. Before that time none spoke more against the ambition of the Antipopes and he had sworn to renounce his place if the union of the Church did so require but now he could not hear any speaking of taking away the Schism yea because some Romans bewailed the dammages of it he sent them to his Nephew Lewis whom he had made Marquess of Piceno and Prince of Firma as to a Burreo saith Platin. and he caused in his own sight eleven Romans to be thrown out of an high window and said This Schism cannot be otherwise taken away therefore he was called the bloody Tyrant Tho. Cooper For this cause the Romans called for the aid of Ladislaus King of Naples and the Pope fled unto his Nephew in Viterbio thereafter the Romans fearing that Ladislaus would usurp over the City brought back the Pope and he did accurse Ladislaus Pope Benedict sent unto Pope Innocentius for a safe conduct unto his Cardinals that they may treat of an union Innocentius slightly refused Wherefore Benedict made his vaunts in sundry missives that he was desirous of union and Innocentius had denied a treaty Then Innocentius became paralytick and his own Clergy said unto him It happened unto him justly according to his demerits He sate two years Then the French Nation did represent unto Pope Benedict the inconvenients of the Schism and they craved that he would willingly lay down his Dignity for the welfare of the Church if the Pope that shall be chosen at Rome shall do the like He promised to do so The Cardinals at Rome in consideration of the enormities waxing every where by this Schism took this order they promise each one with solemn vow to God to Mary to Peter and Paul and the blessed company of Saints that if any of them were called to that high place whensoever the other Pope will quit his place and his Cardinals will condescend unto the Cardinals at Rome upon a new election that one may be chosen by them together in that case he who shall be now chosen shall renounce his Papacy And they provided that none shall ever take absolution from this oath All did subscribe 2. GREGORY the XII being eighty years old was chosen and the same day in presence of all the Cardinals confirmed the same oath by a new subscription The union was attempted again by Letters from the one Pope unto the other they consent to meet on Michaelmass day at Savona in Liguria but Gregory objected sundry impediments and when these were removed by Bishops and Princes he coined more as may be read at large in Morna Myster pag. 497. ss Benedict still made shew of readiness when he heard that Gregory made new delays he went unto Catalonia in Spain where he was born professing his desire of union but there was no appearance of it In truth he was necessitated to go thither for the French King and University of Paris would bear no longer with him and called him a Schismatick c. Gregory thought then that the field was won He called a Councel to assemble at Aquileia and to the end he may attain his designs he created more Cardinals Benedict practised the like in Arragon both of them still pretending unity The Church of Rome had of late broached Experience sheweth that Popes are not infallible this conceit That the judgement of the Pope is infallible but now it pleased God to check that fond opinion and by lamentably sensible examples teach them their error that if reason cannot perswade them experience should convince them or if they will believe none who had written that the Pope may er yet they shall see it with their eys and then let them hold him the rule of faith at their peril So the Cardinals of both these factions began to distaste the ambition of their Popes and first some of the Spanish Cardinals withdrew themselves and came to Pisa and others of the other side assembled with them to the number of 124 Divines and 300 Jurists They with one consent call a Councel to be held there An. 1409. and by their Letters they require the Emperor the Kings of France Hungary England Poland Sicily Arragon and other States to give their concurrence Only the nearer part of Spain Scotland and the Count Armeniacus followed Benedict The Councel was assembled to the number of 1000 Divines and Lawyers as some write They summon both Popes to appear either personally or by their Proctors They both contested against the lawfulness of the Assembly as not having authority from the head The Councel replied A Councel cannot be called by one of the Competitors for a party cannot make a general but a particular Councel but neither of the two would yield to the other so the Councel goeth on and because none of the two Popes would appear after many Sessions and after long disputation of their power and after canonical process they all without exception condemn Pope Benedict and Pope Gregory and absolve all men from obedience unto them they annul all their Acts promotions ..... In the tenor of deprivation they call these two notorious Schismaticks obstinate maintainers of Schism Hereticks departed from the faith scandalizing the whole Church unworthy the Papacy and cut off from the Church And they elected unto the Papal Chair a Greek by birth Peter Philargus the Bishop of Millain who was called 3. ALEXANDER the V. Of him it is said He was a
they humbly supplicate liberty to live according to that Rule as they be ready to give account of their Religion and to confess their errour if they shall be convinced from the Word of God they craved that it be enquired how their fathers through so many ages had behaved themselves toward their Governours and they protest that their mind is to render all obedience unto their chief Lord and if they do it not they submit themselves unto punishment Nevertheless the Duke goeth-on with Edicts against them and commandeth the Magistrats to execute them Upon a new promise of liberty he takes all weapons from them and then commandeth them to put away all their Ministers and to receive priests They said They would obey their Prince excepting Religion only wherein they should follow God Then the Duke sent an Army against them in the midst of winter An. 1560 burning houses spoiling all their goods with great cruelty The people fled into mountains and devised a sort of cross-bow throwing stones with great force at severall times and conflicts they killed a thousand souldiers and had slain more if they had not been persuaded by some Ministers so many of their own number were not slain Charles Truchet a Captain and most cruell enemy had had his thigh-bone broken by a stone the souldiers carried him away but when they were persued with stones they left him then a cow-herd slew him with his own sword The Baron Triniteus went against a village Prat del Torno to have killed all the people unawares but they who were in the fields put him to flight Thus Trinitaeus Captain general despairing to prevail by force certifieth the Duke of the difficulty and they sent unto the Dutchess Margarit a supplication entreating to interceed for them They were called to a parlee and besids other conditions it was agreed They should use their accustomed Religion they should not be accused for any thing done at this time they should have liberty to buy and sell throughout the Dukes dominions they shall render all obedience and live without offence French Commentar Ibid. 45. In the dayes of Charles IX brother of King Francis the condition The beginning of King Charles IX reigne of the French Church was diverse in the beginning the government of the realm was divided between the King of Navar as nearest in blood and the Queenmother The Prince of Condee was set at liberty and peace was granted unto the Reformed Church God gave this happiness after the frequent fasts and prayers of the Reformed in time of their appearing danger But the Queen was not content that the King of Navar had such power some seeking their own advancement by a change did augment her jealousy So the Nobles were divided into factions and present sedition was feared but the King of Navar puts away all their feare by giving up his power unto the Queen Peace continued for a time but the Queen with the Guises and others of that cruel faction sought to remove the granted liberty In the end of the above named December a Parliament of the Estates was at Orleance where the Chancellor declared that there was no less willingness in the King than was in his brother to have this Assembly for appeasing the seditions which seem to threaten the ruin of the realm this sedition said he is nothing but a separation of the subjects from the Commonwealth and it springs from diverse causes especially at this time it comes from Religion which is most wonderfull for on the one side as God is the only Anthor and preserver of Religion so he is an enemy of dissension and preserver of peace Christian Religion hath not need of Arms nor doth the beginning nor conservation thereof stand upon such defence nor is their answer sufficient who say They take arms not to offend any man but to defend themselves Seing it is not lawfull in any way to rise against the Prince as children should not resist their parents by patience did the godly Christians set forth the Religion and by ardent prayers even for heathenish Emperours On the other side if men were such as they should be strife should never arise for Religion But it is manifest that there is no greater force then the first conceived opinion whether it be good or evill no peace can be expected amongst those of contrary Religions nothing doth more violently distract the hearts of men nor is any affection more efficacious either to beget friendship or hatred than is Religion Therefore to salve this variety of Religion let us consider the matter diligently every man may not embrace what Religion he fancieth Thou sayst Thy Religion is better then mine and I defend mine Whether is more reasonable that I follow thy opinion or thou should follow mine Who shall end this controversy but a holy Councel as it was concluded at Fountain-bleaw and we have hope to attain one at the hands of the Pope In the mean while let us not alter any thing rashly thereby to bring confusion and warr into the kingdom and let the Prelates look better unto their office ..... If remedy can not be had by a general Councel the King and Queen will seek other remedies c. Then three men were chosen to speak for the States and had three orations the sum of which was Angelus a Counselor in the Senate of Burdeaux spake in the name of the Commons saying For removing trouble it seemes necessary unto the people first to take away the causes which are partly the corruptions of Church-men and amongst these corruptions three are most pernicious tow it covetousnes ignorance and luxury Their ignorance is so manifest that none doubteth of it and ignorance is the mother and nurse of all errours as both experience and testimonies of antient fathers declare evidently for remedy of this Canons or decrees shall be provided in vain for so great is the contempt of preaching that Bishops think it a discredite to feed the flock of Christ and Curates following their example despise that office and commit it unto hired and unlearned Vicars Likewise their luxury pride and pompe is scandalous to all men for they are painted so as if by outward shew they would represent the Majesty of God which they should rather express by godliness and sincerity How far have our Bishops of late degenerated from the moderate estate purity and piety of the antient and true Bishops ..... All those corruptions must be removed by a lawfull and godly Councel to be called by the Kings authority James Silly speaker for the Nobility spake in commendation of their Estate shewing how necessary it is for maintaining the honour of Royalty And concerning Religion it is necessary among many other miss-orders to restrain the usurpation of Church-men for they have usurped too much authority and have large revenues and have encroached upon the houses of Noble men all which they abuse wickedly in the end he petitioneth that
Caspar Contaren Reynold Poole Peter Bembus and Frederik Fregosius who all were sensible that the Church needed some Reformation Then Martyr was restored to his liberty of preaching but could not enjoy it long time for he became dangerously sick and by the advice of Physicians the Superiors of his order seeing that the air of that City did not agree with him made him General Visitor of the Order In that Office he so demeaned himself that good men much commended his integrity constancy and gravity and others feared him yet durst not discover their malice Not long after in a publick Convention of that Order he was made Prior of a Monastery in Luca some consented unto this promotion out of love others thinking it would be his ruine because of an enmity between Florence and Luca. But he engaged the hearts of the people there that he was no less beloved then if he had been born among them In that Colledge were many learned men and hopefull youths and he took care that the younger sort were instructed in the three languages for which end he had Paul Lacisius of Verona to read Latine Celsus Martinengus to read Greek and Immanuel Tremellius the Hebrew and for Divinity he himself daily expounded the Epistles of Paul and every night before supper he expounded a part of the Psalms Very many of the City of the Senators and Nobility resorted unto his Lecturs and he preached publickly every Lords day The enemies of the trueth could not endure him and laid snares for him nor could conceil their malice When he was admonished by his friends he chused to leave them and went to Strawsburgh What fruit his teaching brought forth may be known by this that in one years space after his departure eighteen Fellowes of that Colledge left it and went into the Reformed places among whom was Celsus Martinengus afterwards Minister of the Italian Church in Geneva Hieron Zanchius Im. Tremellius c. Many Citizens also went into exile voluntarily that they might enjoy the trueth in safety Ex Vita â—e Martyris Another instance was in Bonnonia in the year 1554. the Popes Governours attempted to make innovations there which the people would not receive contrary to their former Lawes The Innovators said They were not tied to former Lawes but had authority from the Pope who is King of the Countrey and may change statutes and ordinances without consent of the people Against this tyranny both the learned men and the people opposed themselves and in the Monastry of the black Friers was a generall Convention where Thomas de Finola Rector of the University set forth this Position All Rulers whether Supreme or Inferiour may and should be reformed or bridled to speak moderatly by them by whom they are chosen confirmed or admitted to their Office so oft as they break that promise made by oath unto their subjects Because the Prince is no less bound by oath unto their subjects then are the subjects unto their Prince and it should be kept and reformed equally according to Law and condition of the oath that is made by either party Vicenâ—ius de Placentia sustained this Position And when all reasons that the Popes Governors could alledge were heard the Pope was fain to take up the matter and did promise not only to keep the liberty of the people but that he should neither abrogate any antient Statute nor make any new one without their consent The Histor of the Reformation of Scotland Pag 399 edit Edinburgh 1644. which was writen by Jo. Knox albeit somesentences have been added by another after him At that time John Craig a Scotish man who afterwards was Minister of Edinburgh of whom mention is made hereafter was a Monk and considering the common doctrin of justification by works did not approve it and shewed unto an old Monk his arguments in the contrary The old man said It is true as you say but be silent lest you fall into danger for the dayes are evill But such was the mans zeal unto trueth that he could not contain himself and for this and other things that he taught he was carried to Rome and cast into prison with many hundreds more in the time of Paul 3 but they all escaped that night of the Popes death when the Citizens broke up the prisons XLIX John a Lasco a Noble man of Poland intending to see other Nations went to Zurik there he was easily perswaded by Zuinglius to betake himself Reformation in Poland to the studie of Divinity and where as he might have been advanced unto honour in his native Countrey yet such was his love to Christ and hatred to Popery that he choosed to embrace that Religion which hath it's soundation upon the Word of God In the year 1542. he was called to be Pastor at Embden the next year Anna the widow Countess of Oldenburgh invites him to reforme the Churches there which he endeavoured with great diligence Afterwards Edward King of England sent by information of Cranmer for him to be Preacher unto a Dutch Church at London In the first year of Queen Mary he obtained leave to return beyond sea a great part of his Congregation went with him and Martin Micron another Preacher to Copenhagen but the King would not suffer them to stay within his kingdoms unless they would embrace the doctrine of Luther concerning the local presence of Christs body and use the ceremonies ordained by him For the same cause they were refused by the Hans-towns and Churches of Saxony At last that vexed congregation was received at Embden Then he would visite his own Countrey after twenty years absence there he found many affecting a Reformation but few Preachers The Popish clergy sought by all means to destroy him or to have him bannished and they accused him unto the King for an heretick The King said Though they called him an heretick yet the States had not decerned so and he was ready to cleare himself from such imputations In the year 1557. a Parliament was assembled at Warsaw there was great contention for Religion The Princes whom they call Vaivodes crave that the Augustan Confession should be established The Bishops strove against it so that the Princes could not obtain any liberty Nevertheless after the Parliament they caused the Gospel to be preached in their own Provinces without the Kings permission John á Lasâ—o impugned the doctrine of the local presence and caused the trueth which the adversaries called Calvinisme to be received by many and unto this day that Church is miserably rent the King and most part are Popish many are Anabaptists few are Ubiquitaries yet a great many hold constantly the sounder Trueth L. When the Kings of Spain had subdued the Sarracens who had continued The Reformation in the Netherlands there some hundred years and expelled them out of the realm many of them not willing to leave the countrey fained themselves to be Christians and afterwards they were convinced to despise
Somerset that he had changed the lawes of the realme and had secret intelligence with forrein Ambassadours without their knowledge c. And for these causes he was beheaded in the Tower An. 1552. So variance entereth among them and coldness of Religion repossesseth many and some have written that the King was poisoned Certainly for a clearer manifestation of mens hearts the King was visited with long sicknes and died July 6. An. 1553. In time of his sicknes he aduised with his Privie Counsell who should have the government after him for albeit his Father had appointed Mary to succeed yet seing she is of a contrary religion and it is doubted of the lawfulnes of her birth and himself is of lawfull years he accounts it proper unto him to name his heire and the rather that it is to be feared that she will not only subâ—ert religion but the realm shall be thralled to a stranger as Scotland is unto France After deliberation it was decreed to chuse Lady Jane daughter of the Earle of Suffolk and of Mary daughter of King Henry 7. So foure dayes after Edwards death Lady Jane was proclamed Queen by authority of the Counsel Many of the Nobility and people were much displeased not so much for love of Mary as for hatred to the Duke of Northumberland because Lady Jane was married unto his fourth son At this time Mary goeth into Norfolk and Suffolk and promiseth unto them of the Reformation that she shall change nothing in Religion as it was established by her brother They take her part She writes abroad for aid and carryeth her self as Queen The Counsell câ—â—vâ—eâ—ing at London sendeth somâ— forces under the conduct of Northumberland to apprehend her But then the Counsell perceiving the Mary the Popâ—sh Queen overthrows all for a time inclination of the people and hearing that the Reformed of Norfolk and Sâ—â—folk were for her change their Sentence they cause proclaime Mary Queen and keep La. Jane in the Tower When these newes were brought into the Campe all men forsook the Duke but when they receive Letters from the Counsell in name of Queen Mary they take him and bring him to London Then he made open profession of Popery under hope to gaine the Queen's favour and liberty but was beheaded Ja. Thuan lib. 13. ad An. 1553. Cardinal Reginald Pool hearing at Rome that King Edward was dead hasteneth towards England hoping to have the Crown by râ—gâ—t for he had pretensions or by marriage with Mary The Emperour inuites him to come into Germany by his way and entertaines him with great shew of honour untill by his Ambassadour he had finished a Contract of marriage betwixt his son Philip Mary and by the Queens patent he became archbishop of Canterbury Then another world was to be seen processions of joy were in Italy for regaining England uâ—to the Romane Seâ— Pe Soave in Coâ—â— Trud. Gardener Tonstall and other Popish Bishops were aâ—vanceâ— Cranmer Latimer Ridley and other Reformed Bishops were committed to prison and burnt reading and printing of English Bibles and of late bookâ— were discharged the Supremacy of the Pope was ploclaimed the Latine â—asâ—â— was uâ—ed the clause of prayer that God would deliver the kingdom from sedition and tyranny of the â—ishop of Rome was blotted out of the Lâ—taâ—â— the Queen would not suffer her fathers name in publick prayers because he â—ad made apostaâ—y from the Church Ja. Thua lo. cit All temporaries turâ— their clockâ— wicked men reioice good men are oppressed some fiâ—d maâ—y were imprisoned some sterve in prison many hundreds were bâ—rnâ— in a word in no Kings time beeing free from waâ—â—e were so many killed as in the five years reigne of Q. Mary by beheading hanging burning racking and sâ—erving That cruel Bishop Bonner beholding how joyfully the Martyrs suffered said to one of them They call mee bloody Bonner a vengeance on you all I would fain be rid of you but yee have a delight in burning if I might have my will I would sew your moâ—ths put you in sacks and drown you all Gods revenging hand was â—pon these pâ—rsecuters Gardener the archpersecuter being at dinner with the Duke of Norfolk and hearing that Bishop Ridley and Mr. Latimer were burnt at Oxford shewes no litle joy and by and by was so smitten none knowing how that he was carryed from table to a bed where he lay 15. dayes in such intolerable torments that in all that space he could voide neither by urine nor otherwise his tongue hangeth out and so died Do. Morgon who condemâ—ed Ferrare Bishop of S. Davies and vsurped his place was sâ—itten that when he would eat nothing went down but it bursted out again somtime at his moâ—th and somtime at â—is nose Do Dunning the bloody Chanceller at Norwich was taken away suddenly the like befell Bâ—rrie Commissarie of Norfolk c. Mary had her kingdom diminished by losse of Cales which eleven English kings had kept and the countrie was plagued with famine that the subiects were glad to eat ackorns she was never able to put the Crown on her husbands head of all things both he and shee was most desirous to have children but she had none once she was thought to be bigg with child but of what she was delivered it was known to few then Philip left her and she had neither the love of hâ—r subiects nor his company nor could marry another at last she was diseased some called it a tympany others call it melancholy because of her deep and continuall groanes she died November 17. An. 1558. and her cousine the Card. died within sixteen hours after her Jo. Foxe in Acts. Enduring her reigne La. Elisabeth was kept in the Tower Gardener and others sought her death often they accuse her of treason and would have stirred up King Phillip against her but he preserveth her not for any love to her person or religion but for reason of State lest she being taken out of the way and the Queen dying without children the kingdoms of Scotland England and Irland might be annexed unto the Crown of France by means of Mary Qu of Scotland next heire of â—ngland and at that time affianced to the Daulphin of France than which the Spaniard thought no thing could happen more adverse to his affectation of greatnes At first when She was locked up she was much daunted but being comforted afterwards she said The skill of a Pilot is not known but in a tempest and a true Christian appeares best in time of tentation In the year 1558. they condemne her to be beheaded and went to bring her to execution by miraculous providence she was preserved The lieutenant of the Tower will not give them credite and goeth to ask the Queen whether it was her will Mary saith Not and commandeth to set her at liberty And is proclamed Queen On the very day of Marie's death Elisabeth was proclamed Queen and so of a prisoner was acknowledged by
the rock of the Church it may be understood to be spoken figuratively that the name which is proper unto the faith and confession of Peter is spoken of Peter for his faith and confession truly the same Ambrose Lib. de incarnation sacramento calleth Peter the foundation but instantly he addeth The faith and confession of Peter is the foundation of the Church Among the Ecclesiast Hymni he hath one de circumcisione Christi which saith Hoc nomen est potentiae Novaeque signum gloriae Et per quodunum caelitus Datur salus mortalibus Tu Cbriste non effabilis Imago caelestis Patris Danil colatur quà m tuum In omne nomen seculum Those and many other passages are ordained to be blotted out by the Belgick Index expurgatorius as also it prohibites to print his books de baptismo infantium his Liturgica and preces Ecclesiasticae It is observable that in a hymne de beata virgine which is now usually song in the Romish Officia where it is sadi Maria mater gratiae Mater misericordiae Tu nos ab hoste protege Et hora mortissuscipe Ge. Cassander page 255 edit in Fol addeth on the magine This clause is not in the old books By those passages and many more which might be added it appeares that some continue in the Romane Church who know the errors thereof as I could bring such passages from Johannes Ferus about that time preacher in the cathedral of Mentz and others and else where I have hinted at others The Netherlands are oppressed and endeavore their liberâ—y II. When the Nether-landers saw that their Supplication unto the King had no place and so the Reformation going to ruin their goods layd open as a prey unto the Inquisitors and their persons in danger they consulted to defend themselves against the Inquisitors so far as the dignity and authority of the King and antient lawes could permit them They entred into a league and confirmed it by oath and sought what way to resist that calamity three hundred Noble men consented unto this league of defence at Brussels Aprile 3. An. 1566. and by a Noble man Brederod they tendred a Supplication unto the Dutchess wherein they protest their reverence obedience and love unto the King and Her his Vicegerent then they made their petition to take off the Inquisition and that the Kings edicts concerning Religion might besuspended untill the king and States of the Provinces had determined of them or else great inconvenients may follow French Comment Lib. 7. Briefly so long as that Dutchess was Governor the Reformed were somtimes persecuted when She was pressed by autority of Edicts somtimes they had intermissions for five or sixe months by the ardent supplications of the Nobles at such times they had their open meetings and preachings they threw down images and ornaments of the Masse out of the churches and they were multiplied exceedingly Wherefore the Bishops raged and raised persecution again especially in the end of the same year many of the Reformed were burnt and slain Norcam Marques of Berga in name of the Dutchess raised an Army took the town Santman and committed most cruel tyrany rapine murther defiling of women and most horrible kinds of torment He beseeged Valencia three months though the Reformed were many in number and the Noble men favoured the good cause yet they stood as beholders neither defending nor resisting yea few of them went to the preachings sundry companies lyke scattered men went to Valencia but without Commanders and returned to their houses In the end of March An. 1567 upon assurance of the Dutchess's Letters promising all favor and clemency the town was rendred but it can not be shewd what cruelty was done against those people By those cruelties the people were warned to provid for themselves Ibid. At the report of Ferdinand Alvares Duke d'Alva's coming into the Netherlands many fled some into England some to Wesel Frankford Heidelberg and Frankendal Whethersoever they went they followed as they could one and the same order in the Churches which is named before In those sad times they were confident that God would pity his afflicted people to the glory of His name and because they could not have a Synode in their native land they assembled in Wesel An. 1568. where the Ministers and some others agreed that wheresoever they were scattered for a time they should hold fast the confession of faith that was published An. 1563. and the Church-order of Catechism administration of Sacraments and disciplin by Ministers Elders and Deacons This agreement was subscribed by fifty Ministers and others Triglandius contra Vyttenbog Part. 3. hath their names out of an authentick Copy In the year 1571. they having more esperance of liberty did assemble at Embden from the Provinces and other parts in a greater number There they did resume the Confession of faith and ordain that in all time coming every Minister at his admission should subscribe it and the French Confession for observing Unity of Doctrine and trusting that the Ministers of France would mutualy subscribe their Confession There also it was ordained that no Church shall have dominion over another Church nor any preacher of the Word should have power over another preacher nor any Elder over another nor any Deacon over another They did ordain thus because experience had taught how out of this humane invention of the Superiority of Bishops over Bishops and Preachers had sprong the pride and power of the Romane Pope and the cruelty of other Bishops for maintaining their own interests and to declare how solicitous they were to eschue all thing that might tend thereunto afterwards It 's worthy the marking that they ordered and entreated the Lord of S. Altegonde to writ the History of what had been done in those by past years in the forsaking of idolatry the beginning of Reformation the persecutions and constancy of the Martyres the visible judgements of God upon the persecutors the alteration of the Civill Government c. And they appointed certain persons in severall towns to gather all Notes and memorials of those things and send them unto him This assembly was called and afterwards reputed the first Nationall Synod of the Netherlands Duke d'Alba dissembled his cruelty at his first coming into Belgio and made the people believe that whatever was done for religion should be pardoned and to this effect an edict was proclaimed but shorthly after without respect of former government he appoints a new Counsel consisting of twelve Persons commonly called The bloody Senate to sit on all causes of life and death Unto them who had fled he appointed a certain day to return and before that day he decerned all their goods to be confiscated He called a Parliament of all the Provinces and promised safety unto all who had interest The Count of Nassaw or Prince of Orange suspecting deceitfulness fled into high Germany so did many others Lamoral Count of Egmont who was a Papist
but serious for their antient liberties and therefore was hated by the Duke and Philip Montmerency Count of Horn a zealous Reformer compeared in the Parliament trusting to the proclamed safeconduct and both were beheaded at Brussels without any regard of their former services to the King French Common Lib. 7. It were longsom to repeat what cruelties d'Alva shewd in spoiling burning hanging heading hacking racking and most horribly torturing without respect of age sexe or condition In the space of sixe years he is said to have put to death 18600. persons by the hands of hangmen besides all other his Barbarity He despised all ordinary Judges and jurisdictions even howbeit many and earnest sollicitations were put up in that behalf He and his Spanish Shouldiers abused women young and old some to death He pulled the skins off some being alive and headed the drums with them He caused some bodies be taken out of their graves and caused bury them under gibets because as he said they had died without shriving to the end he might pretend rigâ—t unto their goods he compelled the wife 's of them who were fled to marry his Souldiers In a word what is there under heaven so holy or honest which he defiled not what barbarous cruelty practized he not as afterwards was published in a Supplication unto the King and is extant being printed at London An. 157â— with the French Commentaries For those causes the States of the Netherlands began to take Arms against that Duke in the year 1568. and they choosed William Prince of Orange to be their General he levied an Army of Germanes and Netherlanders Mons Genly brought unto him some Companies of Frenches out of Picardy then passing the River at Mentz he lingred some months only skirmishing now and then with the Duk 's souldiers yet taking some sâ—al towns In November he passed by the way of Liege to join with the Prince of Condee in Picardy with litle success Ibid. Lib. 8. Then d'Alva raised a great Army boasting to extinguish all the Reformed Lewes Count of Nassaw and Brother of William gaue battell unto the Spanjards near Groning in Friseland dispersed them and slew their Commander John Count oâ— Arnebergh Adolph a third Brother died in another fight Then d'Alva raged the more against the Reformers and most cruelly put to deatâ— Gisebert and Theodor Battemburges two Brothers of an antient family and other sixtien Gentle men with them he layd new tributes on the people he devised new torments and every where horrible murders were seen especially at Torna and Valentia Wherefore the people did flock unto the Prince of Orange Albeit at the first he had hard luck yet when d'Alva required of every Master of a family within the Provinces the tenth penny from each merchant the twenty penny and of all the landes and houses when they were sold the hundred penny to wit in the year 1570. the warrs seemed but to begin and more people joyned with the Prince especially all Holland and Zeeland and the Fâ—ssiners took the Spainish Navy coming from the West-Indies in the year 1572. d'Alva accuseth them of rebellion against the King and of blasphemy against God and did write so unto the King VVhen the Reformed knew of that Letter they wrote the Supplication whereof I spake before An. 1573. wherein they protest that whatsoever was done they had not attempted it for any disloyalty unto the King their lawfull Superior but to defend themselves against the cruell oppression of the bloody Tyrant d'Alva and they humbly beseech the King to call to minde how those Countries were formerly divided among so many Lords and Rulers and afterwards by marriages mutuall treaties and lawfull successions they came under one house of Burgundy and now they are come under Spain yet always with express condition that each of those Provinces and Republicks should still enjoy their former liberties and none of them should be burdened with the dominion of another but live joyntly together under one Prince as so many children in their fathers house under one father for verification of this they put him in mind of his own entrance among others how his Father Charles V. caused him according to the accustomed solemnization repeat and confirm by oath the same priviledges which he had also renewed in a common Assembly when he received the government but now say they they are robbed of their rights and liberties yea horribly oppressed by a stranger a Tyrant an Herod a Nero c. and they name many of his oppressions in the end they humbly beseech him for Gods sake to bowe his ears unto their just complaint and they profess that they desire not to be dissolved from the obedience of his Majesty but only that they may have consciences free unto God to hear his worde as they must give accounpt at the day of judgement and to suffer the Countries enjoy their former liberties customs as he had promised by oath and if he will be so gracious unto them they promise to lay down their weapons and to hazard their lifes and goods in his service by sea or lande c. This their Supplication they caused to be printed in Latine Dutch and English The same year Philip called home Duke d'Alva either because he did not allow his cruelty or because he did not prosper in the warres but he despised their supplication and made no accounpt of their power nor confederat help saying VVhat can those mice do So the States obtaining neither civil liberty nor of Religion did refuse all obedience unto the King of Spain they put down all the power of the Bishops and resolve to defend themselves At the first they stamped their coin with a leash about a lions neck and a mouse between his feet with this circumscription Rosis leonem loris mus liberat meaning that their poor power would set religion of the Tribe of Judah at liberty and alluding unto that contemptuous word of King Philip. The first Union of the Provinces for government was between Holland and Zeeland in the year 1576. Aprile 15. and concerning Religion the Article was thus His Excellence shall admit and maintain the exercise of the Reformed Euangelical Religion and shal cause the exercise of all other Religions that are contrary unto the Gospell to surcease and leave off excep that his Excellency should not permit any inquisition upon any mans belieff or conscience or that therefore any trouble injury or impediment should be done unto any Afterwards five other Provinces joyned with them and in the year 1579. at Utrecht was the Generall Union of the seven in which the Article concerning Religion is thus As for the permitting or not permitting the exercise of Religion unto them who are different from the Reformed let every Jurisdiction decern according to their own pleasure and custom but all should grant liberty of Religion and of conscience unto every man and for that cause persecute and trouble
Lions at Roan Diep Meausia Orleans and other parts within one month 30000 Thuan Li. ciâ— and in that year above 100000 Protestants were massacred Th. Rogers in the preface of The Catholick doctrine Not only were the Protestants murdered that way but many others for privat malice or avarice of the executioners Some of the Governors refused to obey that command as Claudius Count de Tende when he had read it said He would obey the former edict but he doubted that this other was only coloured with the Kings name Therefore at the Kings command he was poisoned at Avenion within few dayes Mons Sautheram Governor of Auvergne refused saying He was the Kings Lieutenant for execution of justice and not to be a hang-man Additions to the 10 book of French Commen Great mirth and processions were at Rome when the Pope heard of those massacres By the Kings commande horsemen were dispatched into all parts that no Governor be absent from his charge and to watche and warde diligently and to search narrowly all the assemblies of the Reformed and to punish them without exception In all parts of the realm they were apprehended who keept their houses upon trust of the Kings protection many were murdered and all almost were robbed as if they had been vanquish'd enemies so that nothing seemed to remain unto them but utter confusion On the 10 day of September Charles sent for the Prince of Condee and willed him to choose one of three either Masse or death or perpetual prison He answered He would never choose the first and he left the other two unto the Kings pleasure Thuan. lib. 53. Before he obtained liberty he was induced to subscribe that abjuration whereof a copy is in the 10 Book of the French Comment So did Henry King of Navarsway with the times These two easily without petitioning received pardon from Pope Gregory XIII by intercession of King Charles In the dayes of the late Queen of Navar had been an assembly in Bearn and by free consent of the States the Masse was discharged throughout all that realm but then in the year 1572 October 15 king Henry published a contrary edict forbidding the Reformed Religion and he sent Mons Grammount granting leave unto the Reformed to sell their lands within a year and then remove or to conform themselves The people were not moved by these Letters and said These letters were extorted from the king in his captivity Thuan-ibi Nevertheless those examples moved many who were thought to love the Religion to profess the contrary The cities Rochell Montauban Sanser Anduz and other towns in Vivaretz and Sevenatz continued constant but it seemed unto many of themselves great folly joyned with madness after so great overthrow of all the Nobility and so many others to think upon any defence when scarce any Noble man durst owne the Religion and not a few said It is not lawfull that subjects should bear arms against their king albeit he be wicked as it had appeared by the success â—n a word all of them were uncertain what to do and inevitable destruction seemed to be brought on the Church in France the chief men were gone they had no help from Germany nor England as before yet the helping hand of God appeared in due time French Comment lib. 11. The king sent Noble men unto those Cities commanding them to receive garrisons and a Lieutenant They were all perplexed on both sides death seemed to be at hand they were resolved to yeeld but fear made theâ— to delay The citizens of Castre received a garrison upon trust of the kings promise they were all put to the edge of the sword with no less cruelty then others before Rochell was ready to have given obedience but when they were informed of that false cruelty or cruell deceit they refused to render and so began the fourth warrs in France with the seege of Rochell and other parts were invaded with hudge violence It was the Divine providence that the Nobility failing he alone might be known the author of the work The particulars are described in the book last mentioned and would go beyond my purpose to repeat them I will only touch the seege of Rochell and the end of those warres The seege continued seven months in it two things are very remarkable first notwithstanding all the Ordinance and battering picces that were discharged against them to the number of 6000. shot only 25. Rochellers were slain and how many of the beseegers were slain it is uncertain but it may be coniectured that 132. Commanders were killed of whom the chief was Claude Duke d' Aumale uncle of the Duke of Guise March 3. 1573. The greatest assaults were seven The other remarkable thing is the poorest sort of the town began to want bread and a new sort of supply was furnished unto them to wit every day in the river they had plenty of fishes Surdones which they had never seen before and the same day that the seege was raised those wereseen no more So both rich and poor had plenty within and the Kings Army without was grieved with famine Wherefore Charles sent word unto his Brother Henry commanding him either to take-in the town instantly if it be possible or to leave it in Aprile He continued two months longer untill word was brought that he was chosen king of Poland In the mean while Sanserre suffered a hard seege that parents did eat their own little ones A general peace was proclamed and liberty of Religion was granted in July An. 1573. Thuan. Lib. 54. The edict of pacification was conceived in generall terms without naming any city those of Nismes and Languedoc took exception at that thereupon all the Protestant towns wrote unto the Duke of Aniow giving him thanks for the peace and beseeching him to procure unto them leave to assemble in a fit place to the end they may know the particulares of the pacification in convenient time and that he would grant them his Letters patent for their assurance Then many conveened from all parts of the realm as the time would suffer and so they provided for themselves Fre. Commen Lib. 12. The next year Charles died in that book it is written of his death thus Certain it is that he died of a bloody flixe and it is reported for truth by the greater part that the blood is hued out of sundry parts of his body and in his bed he could have litle rest but horribly blasphemed the name of God which he was wont to do even from his childhood Thuan Lib. 57. witnesseth of his unrest and affrighments in the night and that heendeavoured to setle it by musick And because it was suspected that he had been poisoned to the end he might vomit the blood with the more ease he was bolstered up with pillowes that his feet lay higher then his head Another hath comprised the cause and manner of his death in those verses Naribus ore oculis atque auribus
from above from the Father of lights 15. The priest distributing the Sacrament of the Supper speaketh unto every one of the communicants in these words Receive thou grace from the Lord and mercy from God our Saviour 16. Unto these words he who receives the mysteries of the holy Supper answereth Son of God make me partaker to day of thy mystical Supper I shall never deny thee I shall not kiss thee as Judas did but as the thief I will confess thee remember mee Lord in thy Kingdom 17. They sing not in time of communicating but al the spectators do meditate on these holy mysteries with singular devotion 18. When the communion is finished is a thanksgiving and a prayer then the priest turning toward the people blesseth them in this manner The blessing of the Lord be upon you And all the people say Amen Demetrius told mee those things concerning the Masse which is celebrated four times a year as I have said But in their dayly meetings the same Demetrius told mee the Christians have this custom 1. The priest beginneth with a blessing as in the Masse 2. Publick prayers are made a lesson is rehearsed out of the holy Scriptures and there is a short Sermon 3. When the prayer is finished bread is distributed without wine they call not this bread the body of the Lord but it is given in token of mutuall brotherly-love that their mindes being admonished by this sign may be united who eat of the same bread 4. When they have eaten that bread they are dismissed with this blessing The blessing of the Lord be upon you So Heming XIV It may be required here why is not mention made of the tares which the ill man did sowe among the wheat in this Century I intended indeed to have marked those heresies but partly because these are collected already and partly that this Compend hath swelled bigger then I intended I leave them and only will writ a little of a late kind of Monks in the Roman Church these are the Jesuits They had their first hatching Of the Iesuites from Johannes Petrus Carafa a Venetian who became Pope Paul IIII. But because he brought not that Order to an establishment his name is forgot in their genealogy and Ignatius Loyola is called their first father This was a Spanjard and a Captain When the Frenches beseeged Pompejopolis his one leg was broken and the other was wounded with a bâ—llet when his wounds were cured so as might be he saw that he could not follow the warrs as he intended thereupon he took himself unto a reteered life and reades the Legend's of Saints as they are called and went to Jerusalem for devotion after his returning he began to studie in Compluto Salamantica and then at Paris where he became Master of Arts An. 1536. Then he intends to begin a new order and hearing what Carapha had intended he will prosecute that project for upon occasion he lived at Venice He takes with him ten fellowes of his minde and go togeher for confirmation of their Order The Cardinals opposed him because the world was complaining of the multitude of Orders and Monks and indeed there was more need to restrain the number then add new But Loyola said The Franciscans and Dominicans who were wont to be stout Champions for the Apostolical See had failed of their duty but if his Order were confirmed he and all his fellowes will oblige themseves to do what they can for confirming the Papal power Upon this motive Pope Paul III. confirms the Order with this limitation that their number should not exceed sixty but in the year 1543. the Pope understanding of their diligence takes off that restraint of the number What sort of men those are may be wel known by two litle books one under the name Aphorismi Doctrinae Jesuitarum printed An. 1608. another called Anatomia Societatis Jesu printed An. 1643. The first saith They maintain all thearticles determined by the councel at Trent and namely these 1. The Pope hath spiritual and temporal power to command forbid to excommunicat and escheat to set up and cast down Emperours Kings and Princes and who believe not this is an heretick 2. All clergy-men Monks and Nonns and all their priviledges are al together free from obedience censures and taxations of Magistrats all Princes should commit their chief castls and fortresses unto church-men rather then to laicks 3. Unto the pleasure of the Pope belongeth the authority of the Scripture the interpretation and power of changing it and the Pop's Decrees are absolutly necessary unto salvation and they are firm and obligatory 4. Albeit the Pope be a man yet seing he is the Vicar of God on earth and therefore Divin honor should be given unto him he cannot err in matter of faith albeit all other men yea and councels may erre and for this cause appeals may be from Councels unto the Pope but not contra 5. All capitulations constitutions leagues fraternities priviledges of Emperours Kings Princes and States whereby any other religion is permitted excep the Romish religion are of no validity although they had been ratified by solem oaths 6. All Papists every where should endeavour to oppress by fire sword poison powder warre and whatsoever engines all hereticks especially Lutherans and their abbetors even these Politick Catholicks who would rather observe peace then contribute to oppress hereticks 7. But if Papists do fear that enterprices shall be in vain and dammage may befall the Romish religion in this case may be a toleration and they may wait for better occasion 8. When Popish subiects have in an assembly judged an Emperour King or Prince to bea tyrant then they may cast him off and deliver themselfs from all obligation but if they can not assemble then any subject taking the advice of a Jesuit or any such Divine may yea he doth meritoriously to kill that King or Prince 9. If subjects have a Lutheran or Calvinian Prince who would compell them into heresy those subjects are free from all homage and fealty and they may expell or kill him 10. Yea Emperours Kings and Princes may be killed if Jesuites or other grave Divines judge them tyrants 11. The Pope may give unto Catholiks the Kingdoms dominions and territories of all hereticks and infidels and such donations are validâ— 12. Jesuites and other Catholick priests when examined by heretical Magistrats may use equivocations fained names and cloaths and they may deny the truth for insinuating themselves abroad or for bringing their designements to pass 13. Jesuites and other Papists may use equivocations when he who is demanded thinks that that Judge hath not lawfull power to question him or his adversary hath not just cause to plead 14. Neither is every catholick tied to answer according to his mind unto privat catholicks but he may equivocat and deceive his demanders 15. This equivocation is a profitable Art and a new prudence These Aphorisms are proved particularly by
before as followes But mark the different spirits and Genius of these two Archbishops Grindal and Whitgift appearing in their Letters that were directed unto one and the same person This is that Do. Whitgift who bandied and rebandied with Thomas Carthwright The Supplication or Admonition unto the Parliament in the year 1571. whereof hereafter and in defence of Episcopacy and al the other enormities made use of that invincible cannon The Royall power and pleasure And for his arguing thus it was the Royall power and pleasure to make him Archbishop of Canterburry even when Grindal was alive but such was his modesty that he would not accept it untill the old man under restraint was dead Observe then Some Ministers will be ambitious and superstitious and impute all the disorders of the Church unto Royall power and pleasure Pause a little and we will heare another song When men are obstupefied with this Medusa's head the Prelats will chant Episcopacy is De Jure Divino and No Bishop no King and authority may be enchanted to believe it And then the old common tune may be heard again Ego Rex meus as Wolsey Archbishop of York sang in former times or the tune of Canterburry You may not meddle with churchmen how ever they live or whatsoever they do as Thomas Becket said to King Henry II. or the tune of Whinchester I summon you to appear and answer in our Synode as Bishop Henry of Bloys said unto his Brother King Steven Who desireth to know those more particularly may find them and more in the Antipathy of English Lordly prelacie both to Regal Monarchy and Civill unity written by William Prynne Part. 1. 2. Ann. 1641. Neither will they rest here but they will averr If no Bishop then no Presbyter and no Sacrament and consequently no Church And so both King and Church are established upon Episcopacy What loyal heart or who fearing God will not oppose such birds in the shell What remaines but to say plainly Episcopacy is the Rock on which State Church are built Certainly a ground-stone that beares so vast a burden as the security or rather the Beeing of both State and Church must have a fast and sure foundation But where shall we find that foundation Not in the Scripture unless we admit Popish miss-interpretations And if these be admitted we may not stay there but foreward another step and that is known to wit The Pope is the Rock Pope Gregory I. did not suspect what mischief was to follow upon his Masse nor did Hazael know what he was himself to do but let every man look to the tendency of such Tenets 11. The Nationall assembly of Scotland conveens at Edinburgh Juny 25 The assembly VII An. 1564. By voices John Willock is continued Moderator Many Noble men were in the town but very few came the first day wherefore many said they wondered why it was so Lundy of that ilk said I wonder not at their absence but rather that at the last assembly they drew themselves apart and drew away some Ministers and would had them to conclude things that was never propounded to the publick assembly which is prejudiciall to the liberty of the Church therefore my judgement is that they be informed of this offense which many have conceived of their former acting and that they be humbly required that if they be Brethren they would assist their brethren with their presence and Counsell for wee had never greater need Or if they be minded to fall back from us it were better wee knew it now than afterwards All the assembly agreed and gave commission to certain brethren to signify the mind of the assembly unto the Lords which was done the same day The next day came the Duke Earles Argyle Murray Morton Gleincairn Marshall the Officers of State But they drew themselves apart as before and sent M. Geo. Hay Minister of the Court to require the Superintendents and some other Ministers to come and confer with them The Assembly answereth They are now conveened to deliberate on the common affaires of the Church and they could not spare such men whose judgement is necessary nor was is it expedientâ— that others should sit without them as it were idle and therefore as they have told them before if they acknowledge themselves members of the Church they should joyn with others and propound in publick what they thought good and shall have the assistance of all but to send a part more hurte and scandall might arise than profit or confort unto the Church seing it is to be feared that all will not be content with the reasonings and conclusions of a few They gave this answer because the Courtiers had endeavoured to draw some Ministers into their faction and to have sustained their opinions arguments When the Lords perceived that they could not prevail by that means they return and purge themselves that they never meant to divide themselves from the Church but only because they had certain Heads or articles wherein they crave some conference yet so that no conclusion shall be taken nor vote required till the propositions and reasonings were heard and considered by the whole Body Upon that condition three Superintendents and four Ministers were directed unto them and because their questions did especially concern John Knox they called for him and they had long debates upon these points 1. That subjects have delivered an innocent from the hands of their King and therein had not offended God 2. Subjects have refused to smite innocents when the King had commanded and in so doing denied not just obedience 3. Subjects stricking an innocent at the command of their King are murtherers before God 4. God hath not only of a subject made a King but had armed subjects against their King and commanded them to take vengeance upon him according to His Law 5. Gods people have execute Gods law against their King having no more regarde unto him in that behalfe than if the had been a subject They could not agree in these points nor was any of them propounded in publike In Sess 3. Commissioners were appointed to present unto the Lords of the Secret Counsell the articles following and report answer unto the present Assembly and if need shall bee to reason with the Lords upon these articles 1. That according to the Acts of Parliament before her Majesties return as also conform to her Majesties promise after her arrivall Christs true Religion be de novo approved ratified and established throughout all the realm and that all idolatry especially the Masse be abolished over all so that no other face of religion be permitted And for the same effect that the Ministers be provided by a sure appointment where they shall receive their livings alswell for the time by past as for the time to come and not to live as beggars as presently they live 2. To desire and with all humility to require that transgressors of the ordinances
where matters left and that wee endeavour the reducing of them to the estate wherein they stood One thing wee may call to remembrance that when we traveled in the Parliament that the States would agree that the thirds should be decerned to appertain unto the Ministry they plainly opponed unto us in respect of the first Act alledging that with the sustentation of the Ministry regaird should be had to the support of the Prince in sustaining the publick charges wich if they had not some relief by that meane the revenue of the Crown being so diminished and the ordinary charges come to such greatness they must be burdened with exactions and so this dangerous argument compelled us to promise unto the States that wee would take upon us the Act being granted unto the Church they would satisfy and agree to any thing should be thought reasonable for support of the King and us bearing the authority which order had been sufficient for the wholl if intestine trouble had not occurred But the disobedience growing so vniuersaly wee are content to sustain our part of the enlake and loss for the time bypast but because there hath been murmur and grudge for that thing assigned to the Kings house and ours and some other nâ—edfull things in the State as that thereby the Ministry were frustrat of their appointed stipends Some communication was hade at Santandrews and nothing concluded untill the generall Assembly of the Church This now moveth us to write unto you in this form praying you to consider rightly the necessity of the cause and how the same hath proceeded from the beginming having respect that the Church will be very ill obeyd without the Kings authority and power and that now the property of the Crown is not able to sustain the ordinary charges how in the beginning the thirds had not been granted if the necessity of the Prince had not been one of the chief causes And at the Parliament as we have written the States stack to consent that the wholl thirds should be declared to appertain unto the Ministry untill wee took in hand that they being made without condition in favor of the Church the same would again condescend to so much as might be sufficient to the support of the publick affaires in setting forth the Kings authority And that therefore yee will now agree and condescend to a certain speciall assignation of what shall be employd to this use the quantity where of diverse of yourselves and the bearer hereof Master John wood our servant can inform you that thereafter yee may distribute to euery man having charge in the Church of God his stipend according to the condition of the place he serves in at your W. discretion Heerby all confusion that along time hath troubled the estate of the Church about the stipends shall be avoided and some speciall prouision being made for sustaining these publick charges wee may the better hold hand to see the Church obeyd in that whereon Ministers should live as we shall report that during our travels in the North they have found our effectuous good will and travell in their furtherance Further wee shew you briefly one thing that occurred at our late being in Elgin one Nicol sutherland in Forress was put to the knowledge of an Assise for incest and with him the woman the Assise hath convicted him of the fault but the question is whither the same be incest or not So that we delayd the execution untill we might have your resolution The case is the woman before was harlot unto this Nicol's mother-brother Heerin Master Ro. Pont can inform you more amply And at our coming to Aberdeen come one Porterfield Minister provided before to the vicarage of Ardrossam and required of us that he might also have the vicarage of Stevinstoun seing both were litle enough to sustain him and the churches were near that he might discharge the cure of both wee having him commended by sundry gentle men unto the same but we thought good to advertise you that this preparative induce not an ill exemple and corruption and if such things occurre heerafter let us understand what yee would have us to do As also concerning the Chaplanries that shall happen to vaik where in because as yet is no certain order prescribed some confusion continues some desiring them for life time some for infants that are not fit for schools and some for seven years Wee are somtimes pressed to receive or confirm assignations or dimission of Benefices the preparative where of seemeth to bring with it corruption And wee would be resolued how to proceed Before our coming from â—ife and since we have been very willing to do justice on all persons suspect of witchcraft as also on adulterers incestuous persons and abusers of the sacraments where in we could not have such expedition as we wished because we had no other probability but a generall delation of names the persons suspected being for the most part not tryed nor convicted by order of the Church This hindered many things that otherwise might have been done Therefore wee pray you appoint and prescribe how the iudgement of the Church may proceed and be executed against all such transgressors before coâ—plaint be made to us that when we come to the countries wee may execute the law and be relieved of the tryall inquisition of them Wee thought good to give you this advertisment and so remitting these all to your care diligence Committs you to the protection of the eternall God At Aberdien Juny 30. 1569. In answer unto these two particular questions the Assembly resolues that the case of Nicol is incest and that Chaplanries should be disponed to the Colledges or to the poor conform to the Act of Parliament and no otherwise The next assembly is appointed to hold at Sterlin Februaty 25. next coming but in the book of the Assemblies it is said expressly Because of the troubles falling out by the slaughter of my L. Regent it was delayd untill March 1. and to begin at Edinburgh It is to be marked in this former assembly that whereas of all the bishops three only did embrace or professe the Reformed religion to wit of Galloway Orknay Caitnes none of them had any power in the Church but by vertue of Commission that was given them by the Assembly upon account that they had the Church-revenues in the places and they might have supplied the place of Superintendents but when the charge was committed unto them they were alwayes found deficient in exercise thereof yea and guilty in ioyning with these which did oppose present authority as Adam bishop of Orknay joyned in mariage the Earle of Bothvell the murderer of the King with the Queen and the Authour of Vindiciae Philadephi pag. 28. testifies that it was clearly known to every one that the bishop of Galloway did ioyn with them who opposed the Governement of the King and did not only preach unto that
or heritable tennents of such Friers Nunnes places and their heires .... shall hold their fues and tenendries of our Soverain Lord and his successors ..... and the fue maills services duties .... shall appertain unto our Soverain Lord c. Hence it appeares that at that time they were thinking upon security of the possessions which before did appertain unto these that were called the Spirituality and here the fues services and such petty things are declared to belong unto the King but at that time weightier matters were in hand for others had gote the Lands and rents stock and tiths which they would not quite unto King nor Church and thereupon the doubt arose by what title and right they may possesse them Hither belongeth what is written in The Historicall Narration of the Governement of the Church which is common now in writ and said to have been penned by William Scot that eminent Minister at Couper title The second course for Bishops Superintendents and Commissioners 1. Mathew Earle of Lennox Regent holding a Parliament at Sterlin in August year 1571. the Superintendent of Fife inhibited Master John Douglas Rector of the University of Santandrews who a litle before was presented unto the bishoprick of Santandrews by meanes of the Earle Morton to vote in Parliament in name of the Church untill he be admitted and allowed by the Church Under pain of excommunication The Earle of Morton commanded him to vote as Bishop of Santandrews Under the pain of treason The Regent was killed and John Earle of Marre was chosen Regent About the beginning of November the Collectors of the Church were discharged by Letters proclamed at Santandrews to gather the thirds because as was alledged Ministers stipend were not payd nor the Superplus which was allotted to the Kings house out of the thirds But it was judged that that Proclamation was procured at the instance of the Earle Mortoun whom Master John douglas had informed by Letter that the Collector would not suffer him to uplift certain duties belonging to the Bishoprick The Superintendent of Anguise in a prolixe Letter unto the Regent complained of that inhibition and that Benefices are conferred and Bishops set-up without advice consent of the Church In another he complaines of the great misorder at the last Parliament in creating Bishops planting them and giving them vote in Parliament as Bishops in despite of the Church and high contempt of God the Church opponing against that miss-order Seing the Church hath the power of examination admission to Ecclesiasticall offices Benefices of spirituall cure whither Bishopricks or inferior Benefices Lest it should seem that Ministers out of avarice or ambition sought the possession of great Benefices he letteth his Gr. understand that the Church hath continually suted in their Articles consented-unto subscribed by the most part of the Nobility that when any Benefices shall vake having many Churches joyned there unto all the Churches should be divided and conferred severally to severall men and every man to serve at his own Church in which mind all that beare office do continue If the dismembring of great Benefices can not be granted at this time he doubteth not but the Church will consent that if the Benefices and offices belonging their unto be conferred according to the order before mentioned to assigne such portion as may be spared above the reasonable sustentation of the Ministry of such Benefices to the mantenance of the Kings house and common affaires till further order be taken in these matters The Regent answereth Their meaning was mis-taken their meaning was and still is to procure the reforming of things dis-ordered any way al 's far as may bee and the fault is this the Policy of the Church is not perfected nor is there any sort of conference among godly men well minded according to Gods judgement how the matter may be amended He sent also a discharge of that inhibition lately made The Superintendent of Anguise at the Regent's desire wrote unto other Superintendents Commissioners that they would conveen to consult what order shall be taken for provision to the Kings house out of the thirds and upon some particulars concerning the Policy of the Church and disposition of 1572. The Conference at Lieth some Benefices Upon the twelth of January 1572. or 1571. according to the olde reckoning the beginning of the year the Superint and Comm. of visitation and Commissioners from some towns and Churches conveen at Lieth This meeting in the Register is called A convention but in the second Session they concluded It should have the force and power of a G. Assemb Nevertheless they ordain that the Moderator of the last assembly shall continue till the next ordinary assembly and that all who are present now shall repair to it also They declare in the third Session that they had not tâ—me to stay and therefore upon the 15 day gave power and commission to the Superintendents of Fife Anguise Willam Lundy of that ilk Andrew hay Commis of Cliddsdale Da. Lindsay Commis of Kile Ro. Pont Commis of Murray John Craig one of the Ministers at Edinburgh or any four of them to compear before my Lord Regent and so many of the Secret Counsell as he shall appoint in this month of January to conferre and reason upon such heads articles as shall be propoâ—nded unto them by him and the Counsell to conclude conform to the Instructions given unto them by this assembly and to report their conclusions to the next Assembly Morton Chancellor William L. Ruthuen Treasurer Robert Commendator of Dumfernlin Secretary James Macgill Clerk-register Sir John Balantine Justice-Clerck Colin Campbell of Glenurquhy and Adam Bishop of Orknay were sent Commissioners from the Counsell on the 16. day of January To conveen all or any four of them with the Commissioners named by the Church to treat and conclude on all matters tending to the ordering establishing the Policy of the Church the sustentation of Ministers support of the Kings house and common affaires of the realm to continue in such order as shall bee agreed upon untill his Highness perfect age or till the same be altered by the three States of Parliament The same day the Commissioners conveen and conclude that the names and tittles of Bishops and Archbishops be not altered nor the bounds of the old Diocies confounded That there be a Chapter of Ministers annexed to every Metropolitane and Cathedrall See thath during the vacancy the Dean or failing the Dean the next in dignity of the Chapter use the Jurisdiction in Spiritualibus which the Bishop might have used That the Archbishops and Bishops exerce no farther Jurisdiction by their spirituall function than the Superintendents had and presently exerce till the same be agreed-upon The Archbishops and Bishops be subject to to the Church and G. Assemblies in Spiritualibus as they are unto the King in Temporalibus That they have the advice of sixe
unto every one of these four parties but particular heads was committed to every person and their conceptions were to be examined in their particular convention c. as will appear by the next Assembly which conveened at Edinburgh The 31. Assembly October 24. where were two Bb. Superintendents c. John Craig is chosen Moderator 1. Three Ministers were sent to petition the Lord Regents presence or some authorized by his commission they report his answer that this advertisement was come so suddenly that he could not be present nor address Commissioners but if the Assembly think it meet he shall appoint some of the Counsell to conveen with their commissioners To conferre upon such things as may tend to the furtherance of Gods glory 2. It is thought good that the things already penned concerning the Policy of the Church as was ordained in the late assembly should be revised and other particulars which now may be given-in should be heard and put in good form The Assembly requesteth the Lord Chancellor the Laird of Lundy Ministers Andrew Hay Andrew Melvin James Lowson John Dury Robert Pont James Wilky George Hay and Clement Litle To conveen after noon dayly during this assembly and conferre what is already penned with other things that may be given-in advise thereupon collect and put in good form and report the same unto the Assembly before dissolution hereof 3. Because the multitude of particulares in the books of Commissioners spend much time and they who are deputed to revise them know them not so weell as the provinciall Synods It is appointed that the books of the Visiters or Commissioners be tryed in the provinciall Synods and subscribed by their Clerks and reported again to each Generall assembly by the Commissioners that the Church may know their diligence 4. It is ordained that all Ministers within eicht Myls or otherwise at the discretion of the Visiter shall resort unto the place of Exercise each day of Exercise and especially the Ministers who are appointed to prophecy and ad where in if either of these two shall faile he shall be censured by the Exercise for the first fault and by the Synod for the second fault and if he incurre the third time he shall be summoned before the Generall assembly 5. Whereas Patrick adamson is presented to the bishoprik of Santandrews some do propound that according to the ordinance of the Assembly concerning Bishops he should be examined by the Assembly before he be admitted by the Chapter The said Patrick answereth The Lord Regent had discharged to proceed in that manner because the Act is not consented unto And the Assembly consents that answer shall be given to the Lord Regent by the Chapter 6. Three are sent unto the Lord Regent for provision to be made unto the Visitors according to the order Answer was returned the next day that the Lord Regent will advise with the rols and the generall Collector 7. The Clerk of the Secret Counsell presenteth some questious for the better expedition of Ministers stipends and craves in the Regents name the decision of these questions at least of so many of them as may bee for the time The assembly appoints sixteen Ministers and the Superintendent of Anguise to conveen this day after the dissolution of the assembly To visite and consider the Heads of the Policy advise and consult diligently thereupon and upon these questions and report their judgements in write unto the next Assembly 8. Androw hay Commssioner of Cliâ—sdale was summoned to compear before the Regent and the Counsell and to bring with him the ordinance made by the Synodall assembly concerning the excommunication of the Captain of Crawford with the Act whereupon it hath proceeded that the verity may be known The Assembly ordaines him and others that were summoned to give obedience They went and when they returned they declare that because they had not produced the ordinance and act foresaid which they could not do because the Clerk was taken up for the time the Consell had suspended the Sentence of excommunication untill these were produced and they had protested for the liberty of the Church 9. Thomas hepburn was accused for teaching Never a soul goeth to heaven before the later day After reading of this article the assembly without any exception condemneth it as hereticall and contrary unto the reueeled word of God and inhibites all persons to maintain it privatly or publickly and appoint certain Brethren to confer with this Thomas for his resolution and in the the mean time discharges him from entring into the Ministry untill the Church see further concerning him 10. The Chapter of Santandrews gave up the examination of Patrick adamson unto the assembly and he refuses again to submitt unto the the Assembly 11. Saltpans and other work which drawes away people from hearing the word of God should not be permitted on the Lords day and the violaters to be debarred from the benefits of the Church untill they shew their repentance 12. No burialls should be withim the walls of a church and the contraveeners should be suspended from the benefits of the Church till c. 13. James Bishop of Glasgow being required to declare of what particular flock he would take the charge gave this answer in write Forsomuch as it is not unknown unto your W. that yee gave commission unto certain godly and discreet Brethren to treat and conclude with certain Noblemen appointed Commssioners by John Earle of Marre the Kings Regent in which Conference it was agreed by the Commissioners of both sorts that the names style and jurisdiction of Bb. with the form and manner of institution was ordained to remain and stand enduring the Kings years of minority or untill a Parliament shall decide otherwise and conform to that order I was received into the Bishoprick of Glasgow and gave my oath unto the Kings Majesty in things appertaining to his Highness and if I would change any thing appertaining to the order or power or priviledges thereof I should be afrajed to incurre perjury and may be called by his Majesty for changing a member of his State But to the end your W. may know that I desire not to be exeemed from bestowing such gifts as God hath communicat unto mee I am content at your command to haunt a particular Church and teach there when I shall be in the Shirefdom of Aire at the sight and discretion of the Brethren of that Country and when I am in Glasgow to exercize likewayes at some part where the Brethren there shall think most necessary ...... without the prejudice of the power and jurisdiction which I received with the Bishoprick untill the time prescribed in the said Conference ...... at which time I shall be content with all reformation as shall be found expedient The assembly is content with this answer untill the next Assembly Observe 1. That the articles of the discipline were debated at this Assembly and further consulation was appointed
answer unto the Articles that were sent unto the Counsell and also to demand of the Counsell Whither they were directed unto the Assembly to give their advice in all things tending to the glory of God and well of his Church or only to hear and if the Brethren find it expedient themselves to propound unto the Counsell both the one and the other When they returned they reported Some difficulties were in the Articles and the Counsell hath appointed two to conveen the next day at eight of the clock in the morning with such as the Assembly will appoint to argue but they give them not power as Commissioners from the King to vote in the Assembly because the King is not present and they had not spoken with him of this point yet as brethren and members of the Church they shall give their advice vote The assembly appoints sixe Brethren to conveen too morrow to counsell and reason with the Commissioners of the Counsell 3. A day was appointed when every man who had any doubt or argument against the book of disciplin should propound his argument And at that time none offered any argument in the contrary 4. The brethren that were appointed to conferre with the Deputies of the Counsell report that the Deputies willed the Assembly to name the persons whom they do suspect of Papistry and by some of their number to admonish these persons to subscribe the articles of Religion or Confession and if they be disobedient to intimate that unto the counsell and also to proceed against the disobedients with the censures of the church The assembly nameth the Chancelor the Earls of â—aitnes Mongumery and the L. Ogilvy and sent J. Row Ja. Lowson to deal with the Chancelor and J. Craig J. Duncanson â—nto the others In the the fourth Session thereafter these brethren report that Earle of Caitâ—nes desireth to see and read the Confession Ogiluy declares that he had subscribed it before he went out of the country and is willing to subscribe it again and they had not occasion to meet with the others The Ministers of these parts where they shall make their repair are ordained to admonish them and if they find disobedience to proceed with the censure of the Church against them 5. Because there is great corruption in the estate of Bishops as they are now made in this realm whereunto the Church would provide remedy in time coming therefore it is concluded that no Bishops shall be elected before the next Gen. Assembly and discharges all Ministers Chapters to proceed in the election of a Bishop in the mean time Under the pain of perpetuall deprivation from their Office And that this matter be proponed first in the next Gener. Assembly to be consulted what further Order shall be followed herein And if any Benefice waikes where is a qualified Minister serving the Church it is ordained that no Visitors give Collation of these Benefices to any other person but unto the Minister of that church before the next G. assembly 6. It is appointed that Robert Pont James Lowson and David Lindsay shall review the book of disciplin and being written according to the Originall one copy to be presented by them unto the King with a Supplication penned to that effect and another Copy unto the Counsell The time to be at their opportunity so that it be before the publick fast And if conference shall be craved these brethren shall advertise John Craig Alex. arbuthnot John Erskin of Dun W. Cristeson John Row David Ferguson Ro. pont James lowson David Lindsay John Duncanson An. melvin An. hay To conveen at the time appointed by the King Counsell c 7. The Assembly considering the universall corruption of the body of the realm the great coldness and slackness of religion in the greatest part with the dayly increase of fearfull sins as incest adultery murders and namely recently committed in Edinburgh Sterlin cursed sacriledge ungodly divisions within the bowels of the realm with all manner of disorderly ungodly living which hath provoked our God although long-suffering to streatch out his arm in anger to correct and visite the iniquity of the Land especially by the present dearth and famine Joyned with the civill and domesticall seditions where upon doubtless greater judgements must succeed if these corrections work not reformation or amendement in mens hearts Seing also the bloody conclusions of that Romane Beast tending to raze from the face of Europe the true light of the blest word of saluation For these causes and that God of his mercy would blesse the Kings Ma. and his regiment and make his Government happy prosperous As also to put in His heart and the hearts of the States of Parliament not only to make establish good Politick lawes for the we of the realm but also to set establish such discipline in the Church as is craved by the word of God and is alrealy penned to be presented unto his Ma. and Counsell That in the one and other God may have his due praise and the age to come may have an example of upright godly dealing Therefore it is ordained that a fast be keept in all the churches to begin the first sunday of Juny and to continue untill the next sunday inclusive with accustomed exercise of doctrin prayer c. 7. The next Assembly is appointed to be July 7. if the Parliament hold which is already proclamed Or if it hold at any othet time before October 24. that the brethren shall conveen in the place four days before and otherwise to conveen Octob. 24. The 35. Assembly at Edinburgh Because the Parliament held at Sterlin in Iâ—ny therefore the Assembly conveenes at Sterlin Iuny 11. Iohn Row was chosen Moderator 1. Some were sent unto the King craving that Commissioners might be sent in his name unto the assembly 2. The Act of the former assembly concerning the election of Bishops this assembly in one voice concludes to be extended into all time coming and that all Bishops already elected shall be required particularly to submit themselves unto the Generall assembly for reformation of that estate of Bishops in their persons and if they refuse after admonitions the censure of excommunication shall proceed against them The Bishop of Dumblain offered his submission presently 3. The act of the former assembly concerning Collation of Benefices is confirmed untill the next Assembly 4. These which were appointed to present unto the King and Counsell the copies of the book of disciplin shew that they had done according to the Commission and his answer was that not only would he concurre with the Church in all things that may advance true religion presently professed but would also be a Proctor for the Church and then he had presented their Supplication unto the Counsell and they had appointed some unto a Conference and what was done there is ready to be shewd The next day these things were
not expedient to trouble your Majesty untill wee see what order shall be taken with these grievous complaints Beseeching your Majesty most humbly for the love of God who hath placed your Gr. in this Royall throne and hitherto hath wondrously maintained and defended your authority carefully to look upon these matters as becomes the Lieutenant of God and a Christian King And with advice of them that fear God and do tender your Gr. estate quietnes of this Common well so to redress the premisses that Christ be acknowledged above all and his messingers without fear or stop be suffered to execute their office the course of the gospell advanced and by the exemple of the worthy punishment on them who so licentiously and contemptuously have wronged and injured Ministers and Professors of Gods word that others hereafter be afrayd to enterprice the like The next Assembly is appointed to be at Edinburgh October 24. next It is objected against this Assembly that they did allow the Sentence of excommunication against Ro. Mongomery whereas it was pronounced summarily by one man in a private congregation to wit by John Davidson in the church of Libbertoun and upon this ground it was declared null by the Counsell It is ansuered 1. That he who hath often objected this testifieth that before the Assembly it was allowed and intimated in all the Churches of the country 2. In the Assembly of October year 1581. was a Generall Act ordaining summary excommunication against these who through ambition or covetousness did by such violent means intrude themselves into any function of the Church or who did obtend or use any Letters of charge to impede the disciplin See before at the VIII particulare 3. When this was objected many years since the author of Vindici Philadelph Pag. 29. answered for this instance that the Assembly in October knowing the mans inconstancy did advertise the Presbytery of Glasgow that they should diligently take heed that he usurp not the power of a Bishop and if he shall do so they were ordered to â—ondem him of contemptuousness and perfidiousness and to advertise the Presbytery of Edinburgh unto whom the Assembly at that time gave power to excommunicate Robert Mongomery in this case and so the presbytery of Glasgow notwithstanding the opposition made by Minto went on and decerned against him and the presbytery of Edinb pronounced the Sentence of excommunication and it was intimated in all the pulpits So for there In the same place wee find what was the successe at Perth When the Supplication was presented James Stuart a brother of Ochiltry who had been Tutor of the Earle of Arran and thereafter was made Earle of Arran and at rhat time was Chancelor and â—omenter of all these mischiefes did menacingly ask Who dar subscribe that Supplication Andrew Melvin answered Wee all will subscribe it and so he did subscribe it and after him John Erskin of Dun Th. Smeton Ro. Pont Da. Lindsay An. Hay Pe. Blackburn Tho. Buchanan and Pa. Galloway English men which were there did admire their boldness and thought that they had some privy attendents for their guard but they were dismissed without answers Bishop Spotswood omitting this passage saith To their grievances they received Generall answers and for the brethren of Glasgow their tryall was continued to the tenth of September next before which time the surprise of the Kings person at Ruthven fell out which altered the state of all affaires some of the nobility combining A Change of the Kings Court at Ruthven An 1582. themselves for defence of Religion and the liberty of the Kingdom as they pretended sayth he upon notice of the Duke of Arrans I conceive an error in the print for the Duke and Arran's absence from the Court placed themselves about the King and detained him some dajes at the house of Ruthven The principalls were John Earle of Marre William Earle of Goury Patrick Lord Lindsay Robert Lord Boid the Mast s of Glams Oliphant the Abbots of Dumfernlin Paisley Driburgh Camsbuskenneth the Lairds of Lochlevin easter Weemes Cliesh and the Constable of Dundy At this time the Earle of Arran was taken and keep prisoner and the Duke of Lennox being advised by the Kings letters went to France and died at Paris in the beginning of the year following These particulars are at length loc cit After the departure of the Duke the town of Edinburgh brought back their Minister John Dury with great joy singing as they went up the striet the 124. Psalme Now Israel may say c and as I heard some credible persons which were there as that time say they added after the Psalme Now hath God delivered us from the Devill the Duke and all his men The King went to Edinburgh in the beginning of October and there The 43. Assembly conveenes the Assembly in afrequent number of Noble men many Barons and Ministers Commissioners David Lindsay is chosen Moderator In Sess 2. The Ministers of Edinburgh were sent unto the K. to petition that he would send his Commissioners unto the Assembly The Commissioners that were sent by the former Assembly unto the King with the grievances report the answers in write these were read and judged not to answer the Articles therefore it is appointed that they shall be further insisted on with other things that are to be craved and four are appointed to form them in write In Sess 3 James haliburton Provest of Dundy and Colonell Will. Stuart come and deliver their Commission from the King in this tenor Wee by tenor hereof with the advice of the Lords of our Secret Counsell give and grant authority full power and commission to our right trusty and welbeloved friends James haliburton ...... And Col. Wi. Stuart coniunctly and severally for us in our name To pass unto the Generall assembly of the Church of our realm and there to hear and consider the matters propounded tending to the advancement of Gods glory and his true religion the correction of manners and retaining the ecclesiasticall matters in decent comely order as the word of God allowes and to report the matters propounded and treated unto us for our allowance and ratification of the same as appertaines and generally all and sundry other things to do that to the furtherance and assistance of all godly good matters is necessarily required firm stable ........ Subscribed with our hand at Halirudhouse October 10. 1582. and of our reigne the 16. year IV. The places where the Provinciall synods shall conveen should be changed as the brethren thereof shall judge that no ambition growe by continuing in one place V. Seing great scandall ariseth by the impunity of Bishops being altogether out of rule the Church thinks expedient that the Kings Commissioners the Lord Boyd the Laird Caprinton with the Moderator and his assessors conveen and solidly advise upon some substantious order VI. The Lord of Paisley in name of some Noblemen gives the Church
his kingdom you are a subject unto Christ and a member of his Church and neither Head nor King the spirituall office-bearers to whom He hath committed the Goverment of his church have power and warrant to conveen which you ought not to controll nor discharge but rath to assist Sir when you were in your swadling cloaths Christ reigned freely in this Land in despite of the enemies the office-bearers had their meetings and their meetings have been steadeable unto your Maj. when the enemies were seeking your destruction and now when such necessity urgeth them you will find fault with their conveening The wisdom of your Counsell which is pernicious is this Because Ministers and Protestants in Scotland are too strong and controle the King they must be weakned and brought low by stirring a party against them and when the King is indifferent to both both shall fly to him and so he shall be served grow in grandure and attain his purpose But this wisdom may prove foly and in serving both you shall lose the hearts of both The King setleth a litle and dimits them pleasantly promising that albeit the Convention had licenced them to make their offers they shall not be licensed untill they be out of the Countrey again and whatsoever they offer they shall find no favor at his hand till they have satisfied the Church Nevertheless they were permitted to remain and travell by their friends for reconciliation The Commissioners of the Generall Assembly and Commissioners from sundry Synodes meet at Edinb Octob. 23. as was appointed at Couper It was thought expedient that some commissioners be appointed for every quarter of the country and one of every quarter shall abide at Edinburgh monethly by turns to communicate the advertisements that shall be directed from diverse parts and to consult upon the most expedients in every case Robert Bruce Robert Pont David Lindsay Jac. Balfour Pat. Galloway and Wal. Balcanquell Ministers within the Presbytery of Edinbugh were appointed to conveen always with them From this conveention were sent unto the Presbyteries informations of the dangers arising from the forfeited Earles and for remedy the Ministers were desired to make professors sensible of the danger to keep a publick humiliation the first sunday of December to urge an universall amendement in all estates beginning at themselves to intimate solemly in all the churches the excommunication of the Apostate Earles to proceed with the censure of the Church against them who entertain any society with them or take any dealing for them quia periditatur salus Ecclesiae Reipublicae November 9. these who conveen sent Da. Lindsay Pa. Gallowav Ja. Nicolson and Ia. Melvin The third debate unto the King to crave in all humility that he would shew what moved him take so hardly with the Ministry to offer all satisfaction and to propound their grievances November 11. they report to the brethren the Kings answers There can be no agriement betwixt him and the Ministry till the marches of their Iurisdiction wer rid they should not speak in pulpit of the affaires of State and Counsell the Generall assembly should not conveen but by his authority and speciall command Synods presbyries and particular Sessions should not medle with causes whereupon his lawes strick but fornication and the like scandalls and he will be satisfied in these and such other heads As for their grievances his answer was he had granted nothing to the excommunicate Earls but what his Counsell and Estates thought needfull for the peace of the realm and upon condition that they satisfy the Church The Lady Huntly who was come to the baptisme of his Daughter is a good discreet Lady as Papists may be honest folks and his Mother was a Papist and yet an honest Woman The Lady Livinston shall satisfy the Church or els she shall not come neer his Daughter but he could not refuse to concredite her unto the Lord Livinston And they reported that they had replied The free rebuke of sin without respect of persons was warranted by Gods Word Ministers speak alway with reverence of his Majesty but can not spare the enemies of truth nor comport with any favorable dealing shewd towards them The discipline of the Church was established after many conferences upon evident grounds of Gods Word by his Majesties lawes and Acts of Parliament and use and practise following His Majesty had not done well in granting any favor to the forfeited Earls till they had been out of the Countrey and all that the favor shewd unto Papists moveth good men to suspect his Majesty especially if the Lady Huntly come to the baptism pulpits would sound against it and the committing of his Daughter unto the Lady Livinston's custody will be thought a speciall pledge of his favor unto Papists When the brethren heard this report they perceived clearly that the ruine of the liberty of Christs Kingdom was intended and seing the King had uttered his mind so plainly they thought meet to advertise the Presbyteries and exhort the brethren to study diligently the grounds of disciplin and that they argue not upon articles which are to be sent unto them from the King till their Commissioners be advised For they feared to call into question the determined and undoubted disciplin of Christs Church Here yee may see the alteration of discipline was intended before December and I have heard saith David Black he there that the King had a role of Ministers whom he purposed to preferre unto Bishopricks before December 17. The same elleventh day of November they were enformed certanly that David Black Minister at Santand was to be charged to compear before the King and his Counsell for some words spoken in a Sermon in October The next day the foresaid Ministers were sent again unto the King to understand what were his doutbs A fourth debate questions he had to propound concerning the marches and calling of the Ministry and to advertise his Majesty how it is taken hardly that Ministers of Gods word be vexed and charged for calumnies and triffling delations when the enemies of Gods truth are favored and over seen They reported on November 15. that they had received no good answer because his own Minister Pa. Galloway had said unto him in a private conference The Church gote fair words and promises without effect but the enemies gote the good deeds Nevertheless the same brethren excepting Patrick were directed again to insist earnestly upon this point that order be taken with the common enemy ere any controversie be intended against the Church or any Minister otherwise to let him understand that all the world will say Nothing was intended but benefite to the enemies and trouble unto the Church The King answered He had thought much of that matter only let David Black compear and if he be innocent purge himself in judgement but take heed that he decline not my judicatury For if he do so it will be worse The brethren