he is neither dead but liueth an euerlasting and blessed life and séeing he is perpetually present in his church hée doth alwaies execute the office of the chiefest pastor and priest Moreouer we may 1. Pet. 2. Mark 16. 20. Psal 110. Heb. 2. 4. 7. 9. adde that also without any doubting that no bishop can be called the successor no not of Peter or of any other Apostle as the canonists vse to call the pope Peters successor Apud Decium in l. qui per successionem D. regul iur in Decius where when the lawiers vse to say that The heire of an heire that is the Testator is the heire of the testator though he be heire by the longest succession the Canonists reason that euery pope is the successor of Peter though there came manie betwéene For no bishop hath his cause from Peter or any other Apostle but from the choice made by the authoritie of Christ neither doth the place sea or chaire make the succession but the continuance of the doctrine of Christ when as the religion receiued of Christ is continually deliuered by all the successors as by hands to the Christian people Wherefore those new shifts of certaine of the popes clawebacks make nothing against vs who being mooued by hope of some benefice dispute thus that the pope of Rome is not the spirituall head of the catholike church but the ministeriall bicause like as Christ doth gouerne particular churches that is particular dioces by particular bishops his vicars in like sort the same Christ doth gouerne his vniuersall Church by some one vniuersall vicar of his namely the pope of Rome who kéepeth in doing their duty those inferior and particular bishops that are subiect to his iurisdiction For we answere this obiection thrée manner of waies First that this principalitie is not onely not ordained of Christ but also that it is brought in by the pope of Rome by ambition and desire to lord it For when Christ sent his twelue Apostles about to preach his Gospell he gaue not to som one some singular and principall commandement but the like one to them all thus Go ye into all coasts of the earth and preach the Gospell among all people and nations And therefore in the Reuelation the heauenlie Ierusalem is not said to be founded vpon one and a particular piller or especially vpon one of all the rest but simplie vpon twelue and when as vpon the day of Pentecost the holie Ghost was powred out vppon the twelue Apostles he was not powred out vpon some one of them especially and chiefly but he was simply powred out vpon all Last of all when Paul describeth the functions and offices of the pastors of the Church he doth not giue to any one the principalitie or lordship ouer the rest but he expoundeth to them the same in plaine words Christ is gone vp on high he hath led captiuitie captiue and hath giuen gifts to men For he hath made some Apostles some Prophets some Euangelists some pastors and teachers for the restoring of the Saints for the worke of the ministerie to the edifieng of the bodie of Christ. The other answere is that if Christ or Peter had ordained any principalitie and one ministeriall head in his Church no doubt the primitiue Church would haue retained that ordinance being so fresh in memorie But on the contrarie we sée that the most ancient generall Synods of all namely the Nicene that of Constantinople of Ephesus and Chalcedon did ordaine that ouer euery citie should be appointed a bishop that done that euery prouince should haue an Archbishop or patriarke hauing all like dignitie authoritie iurisdiction power degrée besides that it was granted to the Archbishop of Rome that for the antiquitie and honor of the city he should sit in the first place but yet not in an higher place and next him should sit the Archbishop of Constantinople for the selfe-same cause bicause he was bishop of new Rome being the emperors citie wheras if they had had regard of the more ancient Church that first or else the second place shuld haue béen due to the bishop of Antiochia then the bishop of Alexandria of Hierusalem afterward the thrée archbishops of Iustinian made by the emperor Iustinian for most light causes shuld take place in like seats which causes we will shew afterward vnder the crime of forgerie where we will reckon vp the forgeries cossenages and corruptions deuised by the pope of Rome to fill vp this his ambition The third answer is that séeing Christ did appoint his Apostles to be messengers and preachers of his commandements to go throughout diuers coasts of the earth we read not that any one of them was appointed to be an Archmessenger especially to be mute and to be at ease that he might lie busking and loitering at Rome and harken after those things that were done in other places of the world wheresoeuer and might in the meane season serue his ambition For bishops are nothing else but messengers of Christ and proclaimers of his commandements ordained in euery citie like as in times past the emperors of Rome were woont to giue things in charge to the Proconsuls and Presidents as all those that are students of the law and antiquities of the Romans do affirme Therefore he that is dumbe either by nature or will that is he that kéepeth silence and doth not execute the office of a messenger herald and doth not preach the Gospell he is not only not woorthy of the authoritie but not so much as of the name of bishop or archbishop But bicause the popes in their decretals do in euery third line inculcate that song Bicause it was said to Peter Feede my sheepe and Vpon this rocke it is woorth the paines to set downe the true and naturall interpretation of those places For Augustine in his 124. tract vpon Iohn When saith he it was said to Peter I will giue thee the keies of the kingdome of heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt bind vpon earth he ment the vniuersal church that is founded vpon the rocke From whence euen Peter tooke his name For the rocke was not called Petra of Peter but Peter of Petra or the rocke as Christ tooke not his name of Christians but Christians of Christ. For therefore the Lord saith Vpon this rocke will I build my Church bicause Peter had said Thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God Therefore vpon this rocke saith he which thou hast confessed will I build my Church For Christ was the rocke vpon which foundation euen Peter himselfe was builded For no man can lay any other foundation than that which is alreadie laid which is Iesus Therefore the Church that is founded in Christ receiueth from him the keies of the kingdome of heauen in Peter that is power to bind and loose sinnes For the same which Christ is in the Church by propertie the same is Peter in the rocke by
of the life of Constantinus hath recorded that he spake in Latine in the Nicene synode And in the second booke he witnesseth that he turned into Gréek his epistles and decrées which were written in Latine so that som man may suspect that either he neuer wrote that instrument in Gréeke or if he wrote it both in Gréeke and Latine that surelie he did not vse that Beotian and foolish kind of phrase But now it séemeth that we haue spoken sufficiently of the falsehoode and wicked inuention of the popes touching the donation of Constantine so that al men may plainly sée that the whole papacie which rested onely vpon this foundation cannot stand any longer forasmuch as the foundation is taken away Another most ancient crime of Forgerie NOtwithstanding it séemeth to be a thing most fit to set downe som other examples of the popes forgeries and periuries and specially those wherby it may be vnderstood that the pope of Rome hath affected that tirannicall lordship not onely against the authoritie of the holie Scripture but also of the old primatiue church For after that ambition and desire to lord it had at that time possessed some bishops the Nicene synode was gathered in the yéere of Christ 325. wherin it was decréed that in euery prouince or diecese for these old fathers vsed both words some pastor excelling as we may thinke in age and doctrin should be chosen who should haue authoritie when néed was to call togither his fellowes in office and to make report to them of the affaires of the common churches This man was in those times somtimes called the Patriarch somtimes Metropolitane somtimes Archbishop indifferently yet so that neither the lesser bishops without this mans consent nor this man without their consent and authoritie did any great and weightie matter The words of the senate were these Let the ancient custome be of force which was Chap. 6. in Egypt Lybia and Pentapolis that the bishop of Alexandria haue authoritie ouer all these bicause euen the bishop of Rome obserueth this custome And likewise let the priuileges be kept both at Antioch and also in the rest of the prouinces And that is plaine that if any be made bishop without consent of the Metropolitane the great senate hath appointed that this man ought not to be bishop And Rufinus doth Lib. 10. eccle hist. thus interpret that decrée Let this custome be kept in Alexandria and in the city of Rome that both the bishop of Alexandria take care for Egypt and that the other be carefull for the churches lyeng about the citie Whereby we vnderstand that the Nicene synod did hedge in the bishoprike of Rome within the bounds of the churches of the suburbs so far off is it that either principalitie or authority was giuen him by Constantine the emperor ouer al churches of the whole world Let vs now heare what was decréed sixe and fiftie yéeres after in the first Synode of Constantinople touching the selfe same matter that is in the yéere of Christ 321. For in the second chapter it is thus written Let not the bishops which haue their seuerall diocese incroch vpon the churches that are without their bounds neither let them confound their churches but according to the canons let the bishop of Alexandria gouerne those things only that are in Egypt And let the bishops of the east gouern onely the east And let the church of Antioch retain her dignitie declared in the Nicene synod And let the bishops of the diocese or prouince of Asia gouern those things onely that are in Asia let those that are in Pontus gouerne those things onelie that are in Pontus And those of Thracia those things onely that are in Thracia And let not the bishops vnlesse they be called intrude themselues into another mans diocese or prouince either to giue voices or to any other ecclesiasticall functions And if the foresaid canon be obserued in diocese and prouinces it is plaine that euery prouinciall Synod shall gouerne all businesses of euerie prouince as is decreed by the Nicene Synod Moreouer Socrates * confirmeth Lib. hist. eccl 3 the same thing in these words Againe they confirmed the faith deliuered by the Nicene Synod and they appointed patriarks in the described prouinces that bishops being placed and set ouer a certaine diocese might not thrust themselues into other mens churches And anon after Notwithstanding reseruing the chiefe degree of honor and dignitie to the church of Antiochia which they gaue to Miletius who was then present And they decreed that so often as need should require the Synod of euerie prouince should determine the busines of euerie prouince Thus saith Socrates And we may sée the selfesame description of churches deliuered and set downe by the emperors Gratian Valentinian and Theodosian Let the bishop of Rome now In. l. 3. C. Theo. de fide cath go and boast that Constantine the emperor gaue him principality ouer al churches of the whole world and by name ouer the sea of Antiochia Hierusalem Alexandria and Constantinople For we haue prooued that this state and condition of the primitiue Church continued vntill the yéere of Christ CCCXXCI Moreouer in the fift chapter of the same Synod it is thus written Let the bishop of Constantinople haue the primacie of honor after the bishop of Rome bicause it is new Rome Which is also reported dist 22. cap. Constantinopolitanae Wher the canonist Gregorie the 13. hath of late noted that that canon was not receiued by the sea of Rome And no maruell séeing by that canon the papacie is manifestly conuict of forgerie Let vs also heare Iohn Chrysostom his iudgement touching this matter who florished about the yéere of Christ 300. and doth in plaine words attribute that primacy to the church of Antiochia in these words * Our citie Hom. 3. ad pop Antiochenum of Antiochia is of all other most deer to Christ and like as Peter did first preach Christ among al the apostles so among cities as I said before this hath first of all the name of Christians as a certaine woonderfull crown Also Hom. 16. And what is the dignitie of our citie It fell out that the disciples of Antiochia were first called Christians and no citie in the world hath this besides no not the citie of Romulus wherefore Antiochia may lift vp hir eies against all the whole world And this truly was as I haue said the condition of those times when the pope of Rome was most far from that tyraunie which afterward he had and vsed in the Church Now let vs consider what was obserued afterward For in the Synod of Ephesus which was kept fiftie yéeres after that is in the yéere of Christ 431. in the last chapter it is thus written It seemed good to the holie and vniuersall Synod keeping to euerie prouince the priuileges pure and sound which do long ago and from the beginning belong to the same according to the ancient custome
vsed long ago c. Where is that principalitie that was long ago giuen to the pope of Rome ouer the churches of the whole world by the emperor Constantine Let vs heare the next generall Synod gathered twentie yéeres after at Chalcedon that is in the yéer of Christ cccclj For when the bishop of Constantinople by reason of the sea of the east empire placed in his citie was sicke of the like and very same disease of ambition whereof our bishop of Rome is now sicke he did effect by his policie and subtil shifts that that mother citie which had so great dignitie should haue a certain priuilege aboue the rest and that he alone should appoint the Metropolitans of Asia Pontus and Thracia Whereby it came to passe that the authoritie of the church of Antiochia so greatly cōmended by Chrysostom and established first in the Nicene Synod and then afterward in the Synod of Constantinople was quite ouerthrowen Also by these deceits it was brought to passe that fower men should be appointed to gouerne the whole world who had metropolitans vnder their dominion or prouince For Africa was granted to the bishop of Alexandria the west to the bishop of Rome and to the bishop of Constantinople almost all that part of Europa and Asia except a few churches which were left to the bishop of Hierusalem for the antiquitie and authorities sake of the citie Therefore when as in times past archbishops patriarks and metropolitans were all one and were called by so many names confusedly somtimes by one somtimes by another afterward there were onely fower archbishops made who were also called patriarks which did beare rule ouer the metropolitans as we haue alreadie said For in the 28. chapter of the same Synod it is thus written And where the lawes of our most holie fathers that follow the same things do we also determine and decree touching the dignitie and excellencie of this most holie Church of Constantinople being newe Rome For our fathers did woorthily giue the first degree of honor to the sea of old Rome bicause that citie did then reigne And vpon like consideration the Cl. bishops louing God most deerly haue giuen like degree of honor to new Rome note these words the most holie sea decreeing for good causes that that citie which hath got so great honor that it should be both the sea of the empire and that it should haue a senate and should haue like degree of dignitie as the old sea of the empire of Rome hath haue euen in ecclesiasticall affaires like honor and dignitie as it hath seeing it is next to it Where did then that principalitie and lordship of the pope of Rome hide it selfe which Constantine gaue him as it is said ouer al Churches Let vs heare the words of the second Synod of Constantinople out of the 36. chapter Renewing those things which were ordained by the 150. fathers which were assembled in this citie preserued by God and in this princely citie and by the sixe hundred and thirtie that were gathered togither in Chalcedon we decree that the sea of Constantinople haue like dignitie with the sea of old Rome and that it be magnified as well as the other in ecclesiastical businesses note these words seeing it is next to that and next to it let be the bishop of the great citie of Alexandria and next to this the bishop of Ierusalem But afterward the number of the archbishops was increased by little and little as pleased the emperors For the emperor Iustinian gaue that honor to the citie of his countrie Nouel 11. where hée writeth thus Being desirous to increase our countrie manie and diuers waies wherein we were borne by the appointment of God we command that the most holie bishop thereof be made not onely a metropolitan but also an archbishop and that certain prouinces be vnder the authority therof that is Dacia that lieth in the continent Dacia that lieth neere the sea coast Mysia the second and Dardania and Preualitana c. Also in the conclusion We decree that the archbishop thereof be ordained by the reuerend councell of metropolitans There were also other cities called by the same name Iustinians cities in Africa Instinians Carthaginensis which the same emperor adioined to the Romane empire in the yland Cyprus Iustiniana the country of his wife Theodora whereto Iustinian gaue like prerogatiue of right honor and dignitie Therefore by these appéereth the manifold impudencie of the popes of Rome first therein bicause in those times they reckon onelie fower patriarchies or archbishops seas also in that that they make their sea to surmount those fower seas do challenge to themselues superiority and iurisdiction ouer them secondly bicause they take to themselues the authoritie and power of those patriarks séeing it appéereth most euidently that that authoritie and power did belong to the emperors all which that they may appéere more plainly and euidently we will content our selues with one onely testimonie of the same Iustinian whose words are these in the 230 Nouel turned into Latin by Iulian Antecessor Therfore we command the most blessed patriarks that is the pope of Rome and of Constantinople and of Alexandria and of Theopolis that is of Antiochia and of Ierusalem seeing that it is a custome c. And by and by And the metropolitans which are consecrated by their counsell or by the most blessed patriarks or by the metropolitanes c. Also Nouel 131. Let the pope of Rome saith he sit aboue all bishops and patriarks and after him the bishop of the citie of Constantinople let the archbishop of the first Iustiniana haue vnder him the bishops of Dacia in the continent and Dacia toward the coast also those of Praeualena and of Dardania and of the vpper Mysia and of Pannonia and also let him bee consecrated by them and let him haue the same priuileges ouer them which the pope of Rome hath ouer the bishops that are placed vnder him Therfore it is euident that in the first times of Christian libertie there were only fower patriarks being all of equall honor dignitie iurisdiction authoritie degrée saue onely that the patriark of Rome sat vppermost in generall Synods bicause of the old dignitie of old Rome and that then the number of the patriarks was increased not by the pope of Rome but by the emperor of Rome so that there were first fiue then six then seuen and last of all eight for we reckoned so manie vnder Iustinian Wherby we will also haue men marke the notorious fraud and impudencie of the pope of Rome in corrupting that 36. chapter of the Synod of Constantinople For in Gratian dist 22. c. renouantes they haue thus translated the Gréeke words of the Synod Renewing the decrees of the holie Councell of Constantinople we craue yea we decrée 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the sea of Constantinople haue like priuileges which the former Rome hath Yet let it not be magnified in
the true religion of Christ deliuered to the Church by Christs Apostles or a feigned fable of satan brought purposely into the Church by the popes that they might either vtterly extinguish the desire to read the sacred scriptures or at least that they might both be of like authoritie Surely we hope that no man doubteth but that the pope is already conuict most manifestly of false and forged religions and therefore if he excommunicate the king of Nauarre and Prince of Condie out of the communion of his Church which maintaineth these monsters he doth not exclude them out of the Church of Christ but out of the iakes of Dominicans or rather out of the synagog of satan Which thing that it may more plainly and firmely be confirmed we will cite out of the same Antoninus a like inuention of the popish church For in the chapter following he writeth thus Dominic saith he being one night earnest Pag. 190. in praier saw at the fathers right hand the sonne rise vp in his anger that he might slea all the sinners on the earth and destroy all that wrought wickednes And he stood in the aire being terrible to behold and he shaked three lances or iauelings against the world that was set vpon wickednes the first whereof shoulde pearce through the out stretched necks of the prowd another should let out the bowels of the couetous the third should bore through those that were giuen to the lusts of the flesh Whose wrath when no man could resist the mild virgin his mother met him and imbracing his feet besought him that he would spare those whom he had redeemed and that he would temper his iustice with mercie To whom hir sonne made answer Seest thou not saith he what iniuries are done to me Then said his mother Thou knowest saith she which knowest all things that this is the way by the which thou shalt bring them backe vnto thee I haue a faithfull seruant whom thou shalt send into the world that he may preach thy words to them and they will turne to thee the sauiour of all men Also I haue another seruant whom I will adioine to him to be his helper that he may worke likewise The sonne said Lo I am pacified and haue accepted thy face but shew mee whom thou wilt assigne vnto so great an office Then our Ladie his mother offered to Iesus Christ S. Dominic and the Lord said to his mother He will do that which thou hast said well and carefully Also she offered him S. Francis whom in like sort the Lord praised Then S. Dominic marking his fellow well in the vision whom before he knew not on the morow he reknowledged him by those things which he saw in the night and kissing him with holie kisses and imbracing him sincerely he said Thou art my fellow thou shalt run with me And a little after Dominic praied by night in the church and lo the hand of the Lord was suddenly vpon him and was rapt in spirit before God and he saw God sitting and his mother who sate at his right hand clothed in a cope of a saphire color And looking about him he saw reioicing in the sight of the most highest infinite multitudes of spiritual fathers out of euery nation that had begotten both sons and daughters to Christ of holie religions And when he saw none of his sonnes there blushing and being pricked at the hart he wept most bitterly Therfore being abashed with the glorie of Gods maiestie he stood a far off and durst not draw neare to the countenance of glorie and to the excellencie of the virgin But our Ladie beckened to him with hir hand that he should come to hir But he trembling and fearing presumed not to draw neare vntill in like sort the Lord of maiestie called him Then came the man being pricked and of an humble spirit and contrite with his teares and did most lowly and humbly throw downe himselfe at the feet of the son and his mother But the Lord of glorie the comforter of those that mourne said to him Arise Who when he was risen and stood before the Lord he asked him saieng Why weepest thou so bitterly Who said Bicause I see in the presence of thy glory men of al religions but of the sons of mine order alas for wo I see here none To whom the Lord said Wilt thou see thine order But he said That is my desire Lord. Then the sonne putting his hand vnder his mother the virgins cloke he said to him I haue committed thine order to my mother And when he continued in this godlie affection desiring to see his order the Lord said to him againe Wouldest thou so gadly see them He answered This do I earnestly desire And lo the mother of the Lord pleased hir sonne and opening wide hir golden cope wherwith she seemed to be couered and holding it open before hir mourning seruant Dominic and this was so large and huge a garment that it did sweetly contain the whole countrie of heauen by imbracing it Vnder this couering of securitie in this bosom of godlines that beholder of high things viewer of the secrets of the Lord Dominic saw an innumerable multitude of the friers of his order Then his mourning was turned into ioy and his sorrow into solace Thus writeth Antoninus Ridiculously blockishly and absurdly peraduenture some man will say Who denieth it But as we said before of Bernardo his trifles of what sort soeuer these be yet are they both approoued by the authoritie of the pope and also receiued by the church of Rome and therefore séeing religion is vndiuisible for as M. Tullius saith either take away religion quite or else preserue it wholie they must be counted in the place and number of oracles of al those which wil giue their name to the church of Rome a heauie decrée being added that he that shall thinke otherwise be counted an heretike schismatike forasmuch as by these inuentions allowed by the pope as well Dominic as Francis is registred in the number of the Saints of the church of Rome as the same author Antoninus doth witnes By which we Tit. 23. §. 17. fol. 197. vnderstand first for how manie for how iust causes most Christian kings princes and magistrates haue condemned the papacie for impietie and forged religion Secondlie what authoritie this execrable declaration ought to haue in the Parlement of France which was published by Sixtus the fift a frier lately vncowled in which the most excellent princes aforesaide were pronounced heretiks for none other cause saue onely bicause they thought that they ought not to make like account of such inuentions as of the holie Scripture For as they did oftentimes professe before and at this day they do professe so much as in them lieth before all sortes and orders of men yea they do openly denounce séeing the church of Rome hath religion mixed and confused with such inuentions and fables those things
which are drawne out of the pure fountaines of Scripture those do they most carefullie embrace those things which are brought in into religion out of these munkish pits filthy sinks doe they reiect and detest And yet this is the onely cause why pope Sixtus the fift hath so proudly cruelly cursed thē both Of which pope Sixtus it séemeth good to me to speake somewhat in this place that all men may perceiue both what manner of man he is and also from what roots he sprang to such pride and became so hawtie Therfore his first name was Felix Peretus He was borne in a base village nigh to Formana called Montalto in the yéere 1521. the thirtéenth day of December Being a boy he was brought vp among munkes that is not to say any more among goate buckes at length being a yoong man hée was chosen into the order of the Franciscanes vnto whose holie rites after hée was admitted now growne vp he was at last chosen by the inquisitours of the Romish faith into their colledge Which office when he did so execute a fewe yéeres ago that few could abide his cruel nature it fell out so by hap at that time that he called a certaine noble man of Venece before him When he did more cruelly handle the man vnacquainted with hearing reproches not many daies after he met the same noble man by chance whom so soone as the same noble man perceiued he commanded one of his waiters to beate downe with a cudgell he had in his hand the pride of vnfortunate Peretus The vnfortunate man who of Felix was become Infelix went straightway to Rome and tolde pope Pius the fourth who was then high gouernour at Rome The pope being highly displeased sendeth him back againe to Venece with greater authoritie and power So soone as he shewed the senate his bull the wise men which knew ful wel the troublesome nature of the man and how that he was inflamed with desire of reuenge commanded foorth-with a torche to be lighted and did straightly command him that before the torch was burnt he shoulde get him with spéede out of their coastes if he were wise Infelix going to Rome againe made his complaint to the pope When the pope perceiued that he was a man most fit for his purpose he did first aduance him to this honor that he made him master of his pallace that done when Toledanus the archbishop one of the spanish inquisition which is fearefull to all nations was suspected of heresie the pope sent him into Spaine that he might be present at that question iudgement It happened by chance at that time that he that was then generall that is chiefe prelate of the Franciscanes which is the highest office and dignitie of that sorte of men died Which inheritance the pope gaue to Felix Peretus who by this means was made the archcowled chiefe cowled and cloaked cowled frier of that order of Franciscanes and a few yéeres after he was also chosen cardinall by the same pope At length when pope Gregorie the 13. was dead our archcowling Felix was chosen into his roome in troubling France by his commendation and fauour who is chiefe at Rome in furthering these matters and whom he doth plainely aide in holding the residue of the kingdome of Nauarre By these degrées procéedings he which a fewe yéeres ago was a cowled a roped a most vile frier créeping in his slitted shooes is now become a thunderer a thunderbolt caster an excommunicator of kings and princes Most mightie now with double sword And high aduanced to kisse whose toe Both Caesar comes and also kings In broydred purple which do go As Mantuan wrote of Iulius the second The crime of vsing tyrannie in the Church IT followeth that we come to the second crime of the papacie which consisteth in vsing lordship ouer the church of Christ For the holie Scripture teacheth vs that Christ alone is the head of the Church 1. Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 5. 7. 9. Eph 4. 15. 16. Ibid. 5. in another place that Christ is the head of the bodie of the Church * The same scripture giueth this name to Christ alone that he is the chiefe pastour high priest * 1. Col. 18. 1. Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 6. 7. But the pope of Rome saith All the church saith he through out the world knoweth that the holy church of Rome hath right to iudge all men and no man may giue iudgement of his iudgement c. And as followeth All the whole church throughout the worlde knoweth that the seat of S. Peter hath power to loose those things that are bounde by the iudgements of any bishops whatsoeuer which hath power to iudge the whole church Also The pastorall charge of carefulnes is inioined Clement pasto de sent re iudicat Cap. 1. extrauag de emp. vend vs by God ouer all nations of the Christian people Also Bearing rule ouer the gouernment of the church vniuersall by the lords prouidence Also * Cap. ad Regimen extrauag de praebend c. 1. de treug pac Being called by the disposition from aboue to gouerne the vniuersall church Also * Being called to the gouernement of the vniuersall Church by the disposition of Gods clemency Also * The bishop of c. 1. de consuet Rome is appointed by the Lord ouer nations and kingdoms Also * The holie church of c. 3. de elect Rome which by the Lords disposition hath from God the principalitie ouer all other churches as being the mother and mistresse of all the faithfull Also That therefore all churches 24. q. 1. c. rogamus c. sacrosancta are subiect to the sea of Rome bicause Peters sea was translated from Antioch to Rome Also That the sea of Rome is the head and hinge d. ca. sacro-sancta of all churches and as the doore is gouerned by the hinge so all churches are gouerned by that authoritie of that sea But to what end do we séeke out those olde things Séeing our Franciscan Sixtus the fift began this his bull on this wise That The authoritie giuen him by Christ and S. Peter doth surmount the power of all kings and princes and that the care for all churches people and nations lieth vpon him Thus therefore writeth the pope of Rome Now we must also consider by what right or authoritie he taketh vpon him so great power and lordship For we sée he bringeth and alleageth a double cause of this lordship and principalitie the former from the decrée of Christ Feed my sheepe and Thou art Peter and vpon this rock For in that the Lord said saith the pope Feede my sheepe and that generallie Mine not particularly Those or These by this it is vnderstood that he committed the whole flocke to him The pope alledgeth c. vnam sanctam Extrauag de maior obed another cause out of the Donation of the emperor
ecclesiasticall affaires as the other but this being next after that before the sea of Alexandria be reckoned then that of Antiochia and after it that of Ierusalem Of which forgerie that no man may doubt we will cite the Gréeke words themselues 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We decree that the sea of Constantinople haue like priuileges as the sea of old Rome and that it be magnified in ecclesiasticall matters as the other But peraduenture some man wil say that that fault is amended in the edition of Gregorie the 13. and that in stead of Non tamen or notwithstanding is put Necnon and also Very well For first of all by this reason the pope is compelled to grant that he is conuict of most manifest forgerie and that he vsed that forgerie and corruption for more than thrée hundred yéers wickedly deceitfully to cosen deceiue the church of Christ And furthermore that that forgerie would neuer haue béene amended vnlesse he had béen long ago accused and conuict of falsifieng by our men But what will either Gregorie the 13. or our Sixtus say to this selfe same forgerie repeated and renewed in c. antiqua extra de priuileg where there is also a more filthie forgerie committed Renewing the ancient priuileges of the seas of the patriarks we decree that after the church of Rome which by the Lords disposition hath the principalitie of ordinarie power ouer all other churches as being the mother and mistresse of all the faithfull the sea of Constantinople haue the first place the sea of Alexandria the second the sea of Antiochia the third the sea of Ierusalem the fourth reseruing to euerie one hir owne dignitie so that after the bishops of those places haue receiued the cloke from the bishop of Rome which is a token of the fulnes of the popes office hauing taken the oth of faithfulnes and obedience freely c. Is there any either so hard harted or so dull spirited whom this so great impudencie of the popes in corrupting the moniments of the Church of Christ cannot mooue And yet we must not passe ouer in silence another like impudencie For whereas it was decréed against the Ex c. placuit 2. q. 6. pope of Rome in the sixt Synod of Carthage at which S. Augustine was present that no man should appeale to his sea from the churches beyond the seas if any durst be so bold as to appeale he should be excommunicate yet the same pope in that chapt placuit after these words But as for him that shall thinke that he may appeale to places beyond the sea let none within Africa receiue him to the communion he added this exception impudently Vnlesse peraduenture he appeale to the sea of Rome where Gregorie the 13. being of late manifestly conuict of trecherous falsehood and forgerie added this excuse These things are written in the old copies as the words of Gratian. Very well againe For by this means we sée the intollerable impudencie of the popes of Rome who haue not onely purposely corrupted with that exception the decrée that was written against their ambition but also they deceiued the Church of Christ with that lie for the space of more than thrée hundred yéeres vntill our men found out that forgerie and iugling And bicause we take this paines principally for our countrie men the French men it shall not be vnappertinent to shew out of Doctor Bernard in his owne words what befell Paris in times past by this ambition of appealing to Rome This happened saith Lib. 3. de consid he at Paris the noble citie of France the kings sea A certaine man was openly betrothed the solemne day of the marriage came all things were prepared many were bidden and behold a man coueting his neighbors wife brake forth into a sudden appeale affirming that she was first deliuered to him she ought rather to bee his the bridegroome was daunted they were all husht the priest durst not proceede all that preparation was dasht euery one went home to his owne house to eate his owne supper The bride was suspended from the table and bed of the bridegroome vntill returne was made from Rome Againe in the same citie of Paris a certaine man hauing betrothed a wife to himselfe appointed the marriage day in the meane while began a cauill for some said that they ought not to be ioined togither The matter was brought before the church But an appeale was made before sentence was giuen Yet neuerthelesse he did accomplish that he purposed contemning or making as if he knew not of the appeale Go to let vs consider the state of the later time For in the yéere CCCCXXCV there was a synod at Carthage and that a generall one whereunto the bishop of Rome sent thrée legats Faustinus Philip and Asellus with these commandements that his authoritie right that was granted him by the Nicene synod should be reserued for him namely that appeal should be made from all Metropolitanes to him Then at a sudden the scribe called Daniel was commanded to reade those commandements and also that chapter of the Nicene synod which the pope of Rome had adioined for an instrument of his matter The whole fift chapter of the synod of Sardis was read which the bishop of Rome had fraudulently wickedly cogd in in stéed of the Nicene synod All the bishops and archbishops that were present at that time denied that euer they read that in the Nicene synod Therefore they agréed that the copie of the Nicene synod should be read which they then had in their hands There was no word of appealing It was decréed that certaine men should be sent to Constantinople to Alexandria and finally to Rome that they might fetch their copies of the Nicene synod but especially to Constantinople where the authoritie it selfe or the originall of the Nicene synod was kept The yéere following they were brought They were read There was no suspition of that priuilege and chiefe authoritie of the bishop of Rome That could not be found in any place of the Nicene synod yea on the contrarie it was decréed in the selfe same synod that he should kéepe himselfe within his bounds as other popes and metropolitanes Wherefore if he were wise he would hencefoorth content himselfe with his diocese and dominion and would not incroch vpon another mans possession To this sentence subscribed two hundred and thirtie fathers and among those those same whom we named before Faustinus bishop of the church of Potentia legate of the pope of Rome Philip a priest and legate of the same bishop of Rome Asellus a priest and the same bishops legate And moreouer the synod alleaged these foure causes of that decrée of the Nicene fathers Which it is not vnappertinent to repeat The Nicen fathers did most prudently iustly prouide that all maner businesses should be ended in their places where they began that the grace of the holie Ghost would not be wanting in euerie
against it must be punished as an heretike for the popes vse these selfe same words in their buls * Wherefore this saith Lib. conformit fol. 234. col 3. he must be holden most firmely as true and he that holdeth the contrarie must be despised of all men as an heretike In like sort Anthonie of Florence writeth thus The church hath Hist. part 3. c. 1. §. 3. vndoubtedly approoued and declared that there be a solemne feast kept for this that the Lord Iesus who was crucified appeered to Francis as he praied and was transformed like to a Zeraphin that is hauing six wings and that he imprinted in his hands and side the signes of his passion wherein he felt great paine Let the most excellent and most wise Counsellers of the French king iudge now whether that be a true definition of an heretike that he that shall not beléeue those most filthie inuentions touching Dominic and Bernardo allowed by the authority of the church of Rome shal be counted and taken for an heretike and thrust from the felowship of the church If they do not thinke that that is an equall decrée of the papacie of Rome then let them remember that rule wherein it is taught that rash and light accusers are not onely condemned of false accusing and so noted with infamie but also they are condemned to abide like punishment which the other should haue suffered whom they accused * and therefore l. vlt. C. de accus that pope Sixtus the fift who hath falsly accused the king of Nauarre and prince of Condie of heresie ought flatly to be taken for a schismatike and heretike But let vs now a little more attentiuely consider to whom that wicked crime and name of heretiks doth properly belong Forsomuch as we can gather by the authoritie of holy scripture and of the ancient doctors of the Church he onely is to be counted an heretike which stubbornly holdeth and seditiously soweth doctrine that is contrarie to the rule of faith that is the Christian Créed notwithstanding he hath béen lawfully admonished and conuict For thus doth Augustine define him * Those saith De ciuita Dei 18. c. 51. he that in the Church of Christ do tast of any sicke or corrupt thing if being rebuked that they may sauour of that which is sound and right they resist stubbornly and they will not amend their pestiferous and deadly opinions but persist to defend them are made heretiks and going out adoores they are counted in the number of exercising enimies And now as touching the créede of Christians which Tertullian calleth the rule of faith there is this notable testimony of the same Tertullian extant in his booke of Prescriptions of heretiks It is the rule of faith saith he wherein it is beleeued that there is one only God note this periphrasis of the Christian créed and none other besides the creator of the world who hath brought foorth all things out of nothing by his word P. That that word was called his son that he appeered diuersly to the patriarks that he was alwaies heard of the prophets last of al that he was brought into the virgin Marie by the spirit and power of God his father that he was made flesh in hir womb and that Iesus Christ came out of hir being borne that thencefoorth he preached the new law and the new promise of the kingdome of heauen that he wrought miracles that being fastened to the crosse he rose againe the third day that being taken vp into the heauens he sitteth at the right hand of the father that he sent the power of the holy Ghost to be his vicegerent to gouerne the beleeuers that he shall come with glorie to take the saints into the fruit of eternal life and of the heauenly promises and to adiudge the profane to euerlasting fire both parts being raised againe with restoring of the flesh This rule instituted by Christ hath amongst vs no questions saue onely such as heresies cause and such as make heretiks Thus writeth Tertullian Whereby we vnderstand that those are by him defined to be heretiks which bring in into the Church a doctrine contrarie to the Christian créed which is consonant and agréeable to that commandement of the apostle Hee that bringeth you another Gospell than that which we haue brought let him be accursed Therefore Tertullian in another place of the same booke saith Whence came strangers and heretiks enimies to the apostles saue onely from diuersitie of doctrine which euerie one hath either broched or receiued of his owne head against the apostles Therefore we must make account that the corruption both of the scriptures and expositions is there where there is found diuersitie of doctrine Also in another place Let heretiks bring to light the beginnings of their churches let them turne ouer the order of their bishops so descending from the beginning by successions that first of all the same bishop had some one of the apostles or apostolike men Who notwithstanding continued with the apostles for his author and predecessor Tertullian doth in plaine words call those apostolike men neither doth he suffer any other to be called by this name saue onely those that haue agréed with the doctrine of the apostles and haue continued therein so that it may easily be vnderstood that apostolike men must not be estéemed by the sea and place but by succession and perpetuitie of doctrine Therefore he saith in another place The doctrine of heretiks being compared with the apostolik doctrin shall by the diuersitie and contrarietie thereof pronounce that it neither hath any apostle for the author thereof nor apostolike man for as the apostles had not taught things that were diuers among themselues so the apostolike men had not published things that were contrarie to the apostles saue onely those that fell away from the apostles and preached otherwise Lo how manifestly Tertullian sheweth that those ought properly to be called heretiks which bring in a doctrine contrarie to the Christians créed though they call themselues apostolike men forasmuch saith he as they be fallen away from the apostles and as he said a little before haue inuented of their owne head that is their owne wit and inuention somwhat besides holie scripture Furthermore we must marke that Tertullian doth not properly chiefly call those apostolike men which succéeded Peter but generally which succéeded any of al his fellow apostles and that not precisely that it ought to be referred to some certaine place and citie but iointly which succéeded the apostles in deliuering the doctrine of Christ by hand Whereby appéereth the impudencie of the popes who did not onely properly restraine the name of apostolike vnto the bishop of Rome but also they gaue the same to foolish things as the apostolike sea the apostolike legate the apostolike messenger the apostolike chancerie apostolike penance the apostolike notarie the apostolike treasurie the apostolike priuilege apostolike prouision the apostolike bul so that
the cause of faith as in the same gloss And if it so fall out that these men defend themselues by their temporall power they may be bridled for the fact euen by secular power * Thus saith Zabarella But Baldus * writeth more bréefly thus Against the pope abvsing his authoritie we must first vse words that is admonitions then herbs that is threatenings thirdly stones and that where the nature of vertue is not sufficient the aid of armes must be of force there And to the like effect writeth Iason in his 95. councell requisitus col 4. It is lawfull saith he to resist the pope when he offendeth the church and he is not to be borne with * c. etsi illa 1. q. 7. c. sunt quidam 25. q. 1. Also Innocentius * in c. inquisitionis de sent excom in c. quanto de consuetud And the Abbat * in c. cum teneamur de appellat Also Hierom speaking of the pope * in c. non omnes episcopi 2. q. saith that Vnsauerie salt is good for nothing but to be cast out at doors to be troden vnder foot of hogs Thus writeth Iason with as good corage it séemeth as either Ludouike of Rome or Zabarella though notwithstanding they wrote these things in Italie and in so great darknes of the church of Christ And to the same effect speaketh Philip Decius in his councell 151. maximi ponderis num 4. vol. 1. When saith he the pope is incorrigible in any notorious crime by reason whereof the church is offended glo in terminis in c. si papa 40. dist he holdeth that the pope may be accused and out of that glosse there was a great foundation laid against Eugenius the fourth in the councell of Basil and that glosse is commonly holden by all as the abbot saith in c. significasti * de elect in disput episcopus quidam rector where he saith that the whole world approueth that glosse and Ludouicus of Rome approoueth that glosse by many reasons * in concil 523 First bicause the pope that persisteth in a notorious crime and will not be reformed falleth into suspicion of heresie * 38. dist c. fin 86. dist c. si qui sunt c. fin de poenit But the pope may be accused for heresie * d. c. si papa Therfore for such a crime Secondlie bicause a bishop is remooued from a particular church that the offence may be taken away as Innocentius noteth * in c. cum pridem de renun it seemeth we may saie the same of the stronger in the highest bishop in whom the vniuersal church is in danger Thirdlie by the authoritie of the Gospell If thine eie or thy foote offende thee Whereupon the text saith finelie in c. illud sanè 24. q. 3. For it is expedient that one man die for the people and that all the people do not perish Therefore let that pope that cannot be reformed die ciuilly that all the church do not perish bicause the pope being set to gouerne the people ought not to be their fal as the text saith * 11. q. 3. in c. ta corporis For he is woorthy as manie deaths as he sendeth examples of perdition to those that are his * 11. q. 3. Which things séeing they are so we conclude againe without delay that not onely the excommunication of the foresaid pope Sixtus the fift is to be counted as nothing by reason of the insufficiencie of the rash iudge the allegation of a false cause the want of iudiciall order and the follie of the sencence conceiued but also to the end the curses of the same pope Sixtus may turn vpon his own pate he is conuict of seauen most heinous faults and that by most assured testimonies and therefore ought to be héerafter accounted of all Christians an execrable and detestable Anathema Maranata Amen THE DECLARATION OF OVR MOST HOLIE LORD POPE SIXTVS Against HENRIE BORBON the supposed King of NAVARRE and also HENRIE BORBON the pretensed Prince of Condie being heretiks and also against their successors And the deliuerance of their subiects from all dutie of fidelitie and alleageance For the perpetuall memorie of the thing THe authoritie granted to Saint Peter and his successors by the infinite power of the eternall king surpasseth all the powers of earthlie kings and princes and standing vpon a firme rock and being not turned aside from the right course with anie contrarie or prosperous blasts it vttereth such iudgement against al men as cannot be shaken doth diligently prouide especially that Gods lawes may not be broken and if it finde any resisting Gods ordinance it doth sharply punish them casting downe from the kinglie seat euen those that are more mighty it throweth them downe euen to the lowest part of the earth as ministers of proud Lucifer Wherfore according to that care for all churches and people and nations that lieth vpon our shoulders that the saluation of their soules may especially be prouided for and that not onelie the times of our seruice but also all times to come being purged from wicked and detestable monsters may bring peace and rest to all parts of Christendome and especially to the most ample realme of France wherein Christian religion hath so florished alwaies and so great hath beene the godlines faith and deuotion of the kings thereof so many haue bin their deserts toward the church of Rome that they by full good right had from the same the most glorious sirname of Most Christian and also that we may neuer be accused before God for neglecting the care of our office we are at this time compelled to exercise the weapons of our warfare which are not carnal but mightie through God to throw downe strong holds against two sons of wrath especially Henrie Borbon somtimes king of Nauarre and Henrie Borbon somtimes prince of Condie For that king quondam hath followed from his verie youth the errors and heresies of Caluin and hath so long shewed himselfe a stubborne patrone thereof vntill being conuerted as it was thought vnto the catholike and apostolike faith of Rome by the godlie and often exhortations of Charles the ninth of famous memorie king of France of our most deerely beloued daughter in Christ Queene Katherine his most godlie mother and also of our welbeloued sonne Charles of the title of S. Chrysogonus cardinall priest of Borbon his vnkle and of Ludouike duke of Mompenser and by most manifest exhortations of diuines of excellent learning and vertue he did openly in the church at Paris condemne all hereticall opinions contrarie to the catholike faith he accursed them and abiured them did openly professe the catholike faith and hauing sent sundrie times his letters to pope Gregorie the thirteenth our predecessor of blessed memorie wherin he now acknowleging the same our predecessor to be supreme hed of the church humbly besought him that he would
by the processe made in the time of the same pope Gregorie our predecessor of blessed memorie by manie other documents most graue testimonies that Henrie sometimes king and Henrie of Condie aforesaid are guiltie of the notorious and inexcusable crime of heresie and that they are relapsed into heresie and also that they are guiltie of fauoring heretiks We being inforced to drawe the sword of vengeance against them according to the dutie of our office are verie loth to do it bicause we must for these offences turne it against this detestable and degenerate issue of the noble house of Borbon wherin there hath alwaies appeered sinceritie of sincere religion worship of vertue and obedience toward the apostolik sea Therfore being placed in this high seat and fulnes of power which the King of kings and Lord of lords himselfe hath giuen vs though vnwoorthie by the authoritie of almightie God and of Peter Paul his Apostles and by our owne authoritie and by the councell of our reuerend brethren the cardinals of the holie church of Rome we pronounce and declare that Henrie somtimes king and Henry of Condie aforesaid haue been and are heretiks relapsed into heresies and impenitent also captaines and fauorers and manifest publike and notorious defenders of heretiks and so to be guiltie of treason against the maiestie of God and to be such enimies of the true and sound Christian faith that they can defend themselues by no cunning shift or excuse and that therfore they haue damnably incurred the sentences censures and punishments contained in the holie canons and constitutions apostolike and in the lawes generall and particular and such as are due to relapsed and impenitent heretiks and specially that the same haue been and are depriued in law Henrie somtimes king namely of the pretensed kingdome of Nauarre and of the part thereof which hee hath as yet enioied and also of Bearne and the other Henrie of that of Condie and either of them and their posteritie of all and whatsoeuer other principalities dukedoms lordships cities places and fees and also of such goods as they haue taken to keepe promising to make them better than when they had them and moreouer of dignities honors functions and offices and princely pallaces and iurisdictions and rights which they hold de facto and wherto they haue had right by anie maner of means or do pretend right that they haue therfore made thēselues vnwoorthie therof and that they haue been are incompetent and vncapable to retaine them and heerafter to obtain any such And also that they are in law depriued vncapable disabled from succeeding in whatsoeuer dukedoms principalities lordships and kingdoms and specially in the kingdom of France wherein they haue committed so manie cruell and wicked crimes and in lordships annexed to the kingdome it selfe in iurisdictions and places and in the rest of the goods and things aforesaid and to get them by anie other meanes whatsoeuer like as also of our abundant power so much as is needfull we depriue them and their posteritie for euer to wit Henrie sometimes king of the kingdome of Nauarre and of that part therof and of Bearne and the other Henrie of that of Condie and either of them their posterity of al other principalities dukedoms lordships fees and of all other goodes and substance and also of the right of succeeding and getting and of all and singular the other premisses and also we make them and their posteritie vnable for euer for them and to succeed in anie principalities dukedomes lordships fees and kingdoms and by name in the kingdome of France and in all the foresaid things annexed therto supplieng all defects of right or fact if any have happened in the same And also that the nobles feudataries vassals subiects and people of the realmes dukedoms principalities other lordships aforesaid euen such as acknowledge none other superior and all the rest which haue by any maner of meanes sworne to them are absolued from all such oth and altogither from al perpetual dutie of lordship fidelitie and allegeance as we by the authoritie of these presents do absolue and deliuer them all as well generally as particularly and we command and forbid that all and euery of them that they presume not to obey them and their admonitions lawes and commandements those that shal do otherwise we insnarle in the sentence of excommunication by the verie same But as for our most welbeloued sonne in Christ Henrie the most christian king of France we exhort beseech and also admonish him by the bowels of the mercie of Iesus Christ that being mindfull of the most excellent faith and religion of the kings his auncetors which he hath receiued from them as an inheritance far better than the kingdom it selfe that being likewise mindfull of that oth which he solemnlie tooke at his coronation touching the extirpation of heretikes he imploie himselfe by his authoritie power vertue and courage altogither princely to execute this our so iust a sentence that in this likewise he may shew himselfe thankfull to almightie God and may performe due obedience to his mother the church Furthermore we command charge all our reuerend brethren the primates archbishops and bishops throughout the realme of France Nauarre Bearne and other places aforenamed in the vertue of holie obedience that so soone as the copies of these letters shall come to their hands they cause thē to be published to be brought to effect so much as in them lieth And we will that the same our present letters be set vp and published vpon the doore of the cathedrall church of the chiefe of the apostles and in the side of the fielde of Flora of the citie as the custome is And that there be like credite giuen both in place of iudgement elsewhere in all places to the copies thereof being printed and signed with the publike notories hand and sealed with the seale of the ecclesiasticall prelate or with the seale of that court which shuld be giuen to these presents if they were exhibited or shewed Therefore let it not be lawfull for any mā at al to infringe this writing of our pronountiation declaration priuation inhabilitation suppletion absolution liberation commandement inhibition innodation exhortation request admonition mandate and will or to contrarie the same with rash boldnes And if anie man presume to attempt this let him know that he shall incur the indignation of almightie God and of his blessed apostles Peter and Paul Giuen at Rome at S. Marks in the yeere of the incarnation of the Lord one thousand fiue hundred fowerscore and fiue the fift day before the Ides of September in the first yeere of our popedome A. de Alexijs Ego Sixtus cath Ecclesiae Episcopus Ego Io. Anto. Episc Tusc Card. Sancti Georgij Ego M. S. Car. ab Altaemps Ego Iu. Aua. Car. de Arag Ego P. Car. Sanctacruscius Ego Gulielm Car. Sirletus Ego Mic. Bo. Car. Alex. Ego Lud. Car. Madrutius Ego N. Card. Senonensis P. Card. Deza Ego Ant. Card. Carafa Io. Ant. Card. SS Quatuor Io. Ba. Card. S. Marcelli Aug. Car. de Verona Ego Vin. Car. Montis Regalis Ego M. Car. S. Stephani Scipio Car. Lancelotus Ego Fer. Car. de Medicis Phil. Vast. Card. Cam. Iul. Ant. Sanctorius Car. Seuerin P. Card. Caesius Ego Hier. Card. Rust. Ego Io. Hie. Car. Albanus Ego Vincē Car. Gonzaga Ego Fr. Car. Sfortia S. Nic Alex. Card. de Montealto In the yeer since the natiuitie of the Lord one thousand fiue hundred fowerscore and fiue the thirteenth indiction and in the 21. day of the moneth of September in the first yeere of the popedome of the most holy father in Christ and our lord L. Sixtus the fift by the prouidence of God pope these letters were written out set vp and published in the Cathedrall church of the chiefe of the apostles of the citie and in the side of the field of Flora by vs Hierom Lucius and Nicolas Talliet Cursitors to our most holie lord the pope Io. Andreas Panizza Mag. Curs Ioannes Caijanus Cur. Card. Camerariae Apostolicae Ibotus Ful. Faults escaped The first number signifieth the page the second the line Pag. 2. Lin. 2. clients 7. 2. the Clementines 9. 19. Pope Symmachus 17. 10. Church and 23. Lateran 38. 13. bring serious effects 39. 19. At Perouse 41. 27. Antonine 62. 14. the archbishop of Toledo was suspected of heresie by the Spanish inquisition 74. 17. when 92. 19. markets 98. 9. Pope Pius 100. 17. curses 112. 11. prouiso 127. 16. Cuspinianus 133. 4. feudall inuestitures ibid. 12. read Alexander the seruant of the seruants of God 137. 18. Trier and Mentz 138. 2. At Aquae in Arduenna ibid. 13. Aquisgranum 145. 22. but how woorthie a king 147. 1. counsell ibid. 8. Millaine 159. 3. in the territorte 164. 9. Furies 183. 14. by Theodore legate of the holie church of Rome 184. 23. Melchiades 186. 17. in Paris 191. 24. giue 193. 6. Not as Lords ouer
Vrbane the 6. he said that if they would choose him that they did choose him bicause he did intend to be pope Notwithstanding those cardinals departed from him after a while and flieng to the citie of Funda they chose another who was called Clement the 6. he translated his court to Auenion and France Spaine Catalonia reuerenced him for pope And to the other did Italie Almaine and Hungarie cleaue obediently and this wicked schisme continued aboue xxx yeeres During this schisme after Vrbanus succeeded on that side Boniface the 9. After Boniface came Innocentius the sixt After Innocentius succeeded Gregory the 12. On the other side after Clement came Benedict the 13. who was called Peter de Luna or of the Moone vnder whom was kept a counsell at Pise anno 1410. wherein after they were deposed Alexander was chosen who was called Peter of Candie in whose roome came Iohn the 23. by reason whereof arose another schisme At length when there was a Councell gathered at Constance by the emperor Sigismunde the saide Iohn the 23. and Gregory the 12. agreeing togither and the cardinals of the Lord Benedict being there also Gregorie the 12. gaue place there and the other two were deposed for their stubburnnes and to appease the schisme Thus writeth Guimerius Now let vs heare another testimonie of this out of the same booke Martin saith Fol 5. col 2. he was chosen pope by the Councell of Constance the other that did contend being deposed who did long time cause a schisme And he commanded that there should a Councell be held at Basill where he was not by reason he was preuented by death Yet he sent Iulian thither then his legate of the title of Saint-angel in the eleuenth yeere of his popedome the first of Februarie to keepe the Councell and after him succeeded Eugenius the fourth who thogh he had approoued the Councell of Basill and had sent the foresaid legate to Basill the day before the Calends of May the first yeere of his popedome and had also reuoked the dissolution of the said Councell being attempted by him ann 1433. and in the third yeere of his popedome in his publike session kept at Rome in S. Peters the 17. day before the Calends of Ianuarie in the same yeere and had by his buls patents promised from that time forward to obey the said Councell confessing that the same Councel was alwaies truly continued Yet would he not afterward keep the decrees of the Councell of Constance neither obey the Councell of Basill affirming that he ought rather to do the contrarie and he dissolued the same againe and translated it to Ferrarie for the bringing backe of the Grecians and thence to Florence bicause of the plague that began there Wherupon arose great strife among those that wrote touching this matter For one side said that the pope is aboue the Councell the other that the Councell is aboue the pope Therefore he was cited by the Councell of Basill the last of Iulie in the yeere 1437. he was suspended from the administration of the papacie the eleuenth day of the Calends of Februarie 1438. and was also deposed the seuenth before the Calends of Iulie in the yeere 1439. into whose place the Councell of Basill chose Amedaeus the duke of Sauoy being afterward called Felix the fift But Eugenius regarded it not for which arose a schisme which continued nine yeers and euen vntill the death of Eugenius Into whose roome was chosen in the citie Nicolas the fift to whom Felix gaue place bicause he fauoured the vnitie of the Church Pope Pius the second who was before called Aeneas Syluius who was present at the Councell of Basill made a treatise for the authoritie of the Councell of Basill but when he was made pope he reuersed the same Thus far goeth Guimerius sometimes a Senator of Paris as we said that the Senators of this age may more attentiuely perceiue with how great ambition contention and madnes the champions of Rome haue vsed rebellion in the Church and how furiously they went by the eares togither among themselues how manie fires they haue kindled in all parts of Europe that they might satisfie their owne ambition Moreouer how ancient and old this madnes of theirs is we may know by the historie of Ammian Marcel a man expert Lib. 29. in Christian religion Whose words are these Damasus and Vrsicinus being inflamed aboue mans measure or capacitie to catch the bishops sea being diuided in studies they made manie sharpe conflicts with danger of death and wounds the aide of both going forward which when Viuentius the gouernor of the citie could not redresse nor mollifie being inforced with great violence he departed into the suburbs and in the conflict Damasus gat the vpper hand that side which did fauour him being instant And it is manifest in the church of Seruinus where there is an assemblie of the Christian rite that in one day were found one hundred and seuen and thirtie carcases of dead men and that the outragious multitude was hardly afterward appeased Neither do I deny considering the ostentation of citie affaires that those that are desirous heereof ought to chide with all their might and maine for obtaining that after which they long seeing that after they haue obtained that they will become so secure that they are inriched with the oblations of matrones and come abroad in their coches brauely apparelled giuing themselues to prodigall banqueting so that their banquets surpasse the banquets of kings who might indeed be blessed if despising the gorgiousnes of the citie which they set against vices they would liue like certaine prouinciall bishops whom slender diet and moderate drinking also basenes of apparell and countenances looking downe to the ground do continually commend to God and his true worshippers as pure and chaste Thus writeth Ammianus whereby it plainly appéereth how ancient this ambition and desire to beare rule which was and is in the bishops of Rome was which was also coupled with fiercenes and crueltie But to omit old things and to come to touch those things which touch vs and our countrie of France more néere is there any of so great a number of the kings Senators that is ignorant how manie wars the popes of Rome haue raised in Europe among christian princes within these fiftie yéers either to defend or else to amplifie their power The first was that of Heluetia wherein they set at variance most peaceable cities which were linked togither not so much by most néere league as by mutuall loue and desire to preserue their common countrie Then followed the war of Germanie and after it that of England and of Scotland which also euen at this day the same fiends and champions go about to renew by their messengers the squibbish Iesuits being most assured firers of Christendom What shal we say of our ciuil and deadly wars of France For first of al the popes of Rome did earnestly desire
could do no good there arose a Franciscan frier our Sixtus the fift who trusting to his whoorish and munkish impudencie did proscribe our most excellent Princes and commanded the most mightie king of France to pursue them with force arms and camps and that he should afresh fill his realme with murders spoils and burnings But me thinks we haue already spoken sufficiently of the furious rebellion of the hellish Champions of Rome The crime of Forgerie IT resteth that we speake of that crime which we ranged in the last place so briefly as we can namely of forgerie or of false and corrupt writings And wée haue very many testimonies euerie where of this wickednes and especially out of the pontificall decrée of Gratian which is full of such corruptions and forgeries Wherof we will onely set downe a few as for examples sake and first of al that instrument of the donation of Constantine wherein the pope affirmeth that that emperor gaue him the citie of Rome and also Italie Sicilia Sardinia Spaine Germanie and Britaine * and more fully and at large in Dist. 96. c. Constantinus Bartholomew Picerne and Augustine Steuche which affirmed that that instrument was found at Rome in the popes librarie written in Gréeke and they published it being translated into Latine For this is the summe thereof The emperor Constantine being an enimie to Christians and infected with the disease of leprosie being in a dreame admonished by Peter and Paul the Apostles that he should commit himselfe to pope Syluester pope of Rome to be clensed being foorthwith baptised healed by him for recompence of so great a benefit he gaue the same Syluester and his successors the citie of Rome and al the empire of the west also his crowne of gold and scepter and the other insignes of the empire that the pope of Rome might haue greater dignitie than the emperor himselfe Also he wisheth to his successors till the end of the world that they might burne in the lower hell with the diuel and the wicked vnlesse they confirme and kéep that donation Giuen at Rome the third before the Calends of Aprill Constantino A. quater Gallicano Coss Therefore we will prooue by very many arguments that this instrument whereby alone the lordship of the popes is vpholden is false feigned forged and cogd in by som od pope euen as the book of the Conformities The first argument is this That séeing there be so many historiographers that wrote the facts of Constantine yet there is no plentifull author that maketh mention of so great so bountifull and of so inofficious prodigalitie amongst these Eusebius who wrote fiue bookes of his life Also Socrates Theodorit Euagrius Rufinus Eutropius Paulus Diaconus Orosius Beda Zonaras Nicephorus who it is not likely would haue passed ouer so great a matter with so great silence if that donation had béene true Moreouer the popes of Rome themselues who haue oftentimes greatly contended with other bishops about their power and honor yet in prosecuting their title and in publishing their instruments they are neuer read to haue spoken any word of that instrument The second bicause many patrones and defenders of the popes lordship do witnes that all that chapter is wanting in the ancient copies of the decrée of Gratian and amongst these Antoninus of Florence a bishop in the 8. title and first chapter of the first historicall part and Volateranus where he speaketh of Constantine That chapter saith Antoninus is not in the ancient decrees Therefore we are not very sure what and how much Constantine gaue But Nicolas Cusanus in his third booke of the concord of Catholikes saith Without doubt if that instrument had not been apocryphal Gratianus would haue found it in the old copies and collections of canons and bicause he found it not he set it not downe Moreouer Eneas Syluius he that after he was made pope was called pope Pius doth in a certaine dialog which he wrote being as yet cardinall manifestlie conuince that instrument of forgerie and he calleth them blockish pelting lawyers which tooke so great paines in disputing whether that donation be of force which was neuer made The third bicause Eusebius in his 4. booke of the life of Constantine hath recorded that a little before his death he made this diuision of his empire amongst his sonnes he assigned to the eldest the west to the second the east to the third the countrie lieng betwéene Also Socrates Forasmuch saith he as he had three sonnes he Hist. eccle 3. cap. vlt. appointed that euerie one of them should be parteners in his empire The eldest sonne being called Constantine after his owne name of the west parts The second being called Constantius after his grandfather did he appoint in the east And the yoongest named Constans did he ordaine in the middle region Also Sextus Aurelius victor saith The gouernment of the Romane empire was brought vnto three Constantinus Constantius and Constans sonnes of Constantine All these had these parts to gouerne Also Zosimus His children saith he hauing gotten the succession in the empire did Lib. hist. pr. 2. diuide the nations among them And Constantinus indeed being the eldest togither with the yoongest named Constans got al that is beyond the Alpes and Italie and Illyricum Now let vs consider the historie of later times For as al Chronicle writers do witnesse the empire not onely of Italie but also of Rome continued in the gouernment of Constantine his successours an hundred and fortie yéeres vntill the yéere of Christ 401. at what time that empire of the west began to be troubled with the Gothi Franci Alani Burgundi Vandales yet it did alwaies continue vnder the dominion of the Romane emperors vntill the time of the emeperor Augustulus whom Odo king of the Goths droue out of Italie hauing gotten the citie of Rome anno 476. at which time the Romane empire failed in the west the Barbarians raigning both at Rome and also in Italy For the princelie name of the Romanes continued in the power of the posteritie successors of Odiacrus 325. yéeres Therfore we may sée in Cassiodorus verie many letters of Theodoricus the king written partlie to the senate of Rome and partly to the people of Rome in the kings name and by his authoritie so that none can doubt but that both Italie and the citie of Rome it selfe did continue vnder the dominion of the Gothes and not vnder the lordship of anie pope vntill such time as the Gothes being driuen out of Italie by the emperor of Constantinople they began to sende presidents into that prouince which were called Exarchi who though they had their abode at Rauenna yet they bare rule in Italie many yéeres Againe the Longobardi whose reigne began in the yéere 568. kept all Italie besides the citie of Rome two hundred and sixe yéeres that is vntill the yéere 744. all which things are gathered out of the writings of Procopius Iornand
by the inspiration of God and intercession of S. Peter shall with one Councell and consent without any promise choose to the order of the popedome and when he shall be consecrated let ambassadours bee sent to vs or our successours the kings of the Frenchmen that they may conclude friendship loue and peace betweene vs and him By this comparison it is euident by what deceit and how wicked policies the papacie did vse to obtaine that highest lordship of Italie For as the true emperor Constantine l. scripturae 14. c. de fide instru saith in Iustinian Diuers writings and such as discredit one another can haue no l. si is qui 13. § vtrum D. de rebus dubijs l. vbi pugnam 188. D. de reg iur strength séeing that two spéeches containing contrarie things cannot bée true Therefore so often as there be manie instruments of one and the same act they must agrée togither in as many words though an error in some little mark be tollerable as if L be written for C. * But an l. Sempronius 47. D. de leg 2. error in the note of the nūber is one thing the diuersitie in the things themselues is another thing as in this place where in one instrument there be only certaine places néere to Rome named in the other besides the greatest part of Italie there is mention made of Sicilia Sardinia and Corcyra in which case bicause they be diuers donations there were diuers instruments required * Finally if Constantine l. sancimus 34. §. si quis autem C. de dona l. quingenta 12. D. de probat had giuen to the papacie the empire of the west so long before what new right could the pope get by this new donation of Ludouike Séeing that as it is commonly said There is no getting of that which is l. 4. C. de contrah emp. a mans owne Fiftly bicause the popes in another place also spake things contrarie one to another touching this same matter For in the same decrée of Gratian * there 12 q. 1. c. futuram is extant the testimonie of pope Melchias who held the popes sea before Syluester where euen then I say before the papacie of Syluester he maketh mention of this donation of Constantine made euen before his papacie in these words He gaue very great gifts and he built the frame of the temple of the first sea of S. Peter so that he forsooke his imperiall seat and he gaue it to S. Peter and his successors that it might profit them For if Constantine made that gift before the times of Melchias what argument or substance can this fable of Syluester haue who affirmeth that Constantine was both baptized by him and also that he gaue him so great an empire But now we must come néerer to the very instrument of the donation and to the words of the historiographer For who will thinke it to be a thing like to be true that a dreame was offered by God to a man that was not onely a painim and a worshipper of idols but also to a most cruell persecutor of Christian religion Or if it had béene offered who can beléeue that God would not rather haue done that by some angell according to the old and perpetuall custome as the scripture doth witnes than by the apostles that were dead Finally it is follie to beléeue any thing of dreames without the authoritie of the scripture Wherefore no man ought to doubt but that this instrument came out of the same shop whence innumerable other such inuentions fictions and lies of the papacie came such as is that in Antoninus As Dominick was at Rome and made Par. 3. tit 14. §. 3. his praier in the cathedrall church of S. Peter for the preseruation and dilating of his order the hand of the Lord was vpon him and he saw the glorious princes Peter and Paul comming to him of whom Peter seemed to deliuer him a staffe and Paul a booke saieng Go preach bicause thou art chosen of God for this ministerie Or that other of pope Stephen the second in Reginon in his chronicle anno 753. where pope Stephen to whom Pipinus gaue the Exarchate of Italie as I said a little before writeth that As he slept in the monasterie of S. Dionysius in the streete of Paris these be his words vnder the bels he saw before the altar S. Peter and the teacher of the Gentils Paul whom he knew by their scars for S. Dionysius was slenderer and taller and that The Lord Peter said This our brother desireth to be healed and that S. Paul answered He shall be healed euen now And that hee drew neere and laid his hand on the brest of the Lord Dionysius friendly and that S. Peter said merily to the Lord Dionysius Thy grace is his health And that by and by the Lord Dionysius holding in his hand a censar and palme said to the priest and deacon Begin to pope Stephen Peace be with thee brother Feare not arise vp whole And by and by saith he I was healed and I would haue fulfilled that which was commanded me and those that were there said that I was mad and so foorth Which things are so foolish and blockish that it séemeth that pope Stephen sought by that inuention to be laughed at But we are to praise God that he hath suffered so great wickednes to befall blocke-heads onely But moreouer that is not to be omitted touching the séeing of the apostles Peter and Paul in a dreame which we read in the booke of the Conformities Fol. 51. As S. Francis went to Rome he was swéetly imbraced of the holie apostles Peter and Paul and there Peter and Paul being requested by Francis did obtaine of Christ the confirmation of the rule of the Minorits The seuenth bicause it is not likely that Constantine the great was sicke of the leprosie forasmuch as neither Eusebius who wrote his life in fiue bookes carefully as I haue already said neither Zosimus who for hatred of religion doth raile vpon Constantine so much as euer he can neither Paulus Diaconus neither any other maketh any mention of that disease to omit the argument of Baptist Mantuan * who de patient 1. cap. 30. Plin. lib. 21. cap. 1. after he had taught out of Plinie * that that kind of disease was long ago extinguished in Italie he inferreth thus If therefore in the time of Plinie who florished vnder Vespasian this disease was now extinguished in Italie it is not likely that Constantine had it who reigned long time after The eight bicause there is a wicked inuention and lie added afterward in that place and such as the eares and minds of Christians doe loath that Constantine whiles he was in the font baptized by the pope saw the hand of God sent down from heauen vpon his bodie which clensed him from his leprosie Being put into the font saith he I saw an hand with
prouince whereby the priests of Christ may both wisely discerne and constantly hold equitie especially bicause it is granted to euerie one if he shall be offended at the iudgement of those that are appointed to heare causes to appeale to the councels of his prouince or also the generall councell vnlesse peraduenture there be any man which doth beleeue that God doth giue by inspiration to some one man the iustice of hearing and examining matters and doth denie it to infinit priests assembled in a synod Or how shall the iudgement giuen beyond the seas be firme whereunto the necessarie persons of witnesses cannot be brought either for infirmitie of sexe or of old age or for many other hinderances that come betweene And as concerning those thrée legats there are grieuous complaints made of them in those verie same letters and especiallie of Faustinus that they had greatly troubled the assemblie when as they feigned that they mainteined the priuileges of the church of Rome Then we sée that euen at that time the wickednes trecherie and impudencie of the pope of Rome was reuealed and that it was conuict and condemned by a generall councell Do we thinke that he did any thing hauing taken away al his enimies or familiars of out Africa and Asia that he might establish in his west parts the power that he did euen then affect And thus much hitherto touching the first cause of the nullitie and incompetencie or insufficiencie of the iudge which notwithstanding that they may be more apparent to the most excellent senators of the kings parlement and to other lawyers we will confirme them with the authoritie of the doctors And first of all with that cōmon saieng of the canonists that The pope is no méete iudge euen in the onely crime of heresie but that it ought to be iudged by others * And Philip Decius C. si papa dist 40. doth constantly auouch that in that case a councell ought not to be gathered by the popes authoritie * The same doth Panormitanus in c. cum venis num 37. extra de iudic and Decius affirme in c. significasti num 4. num 9. de elect But of al other Ludouike of Rome doth most copiouslie and constantly auouch * out of the authoritie of the decrée it selfe that he that in Concil vlt. nu 15. seqq liueth rebelliouslie and refuseth to learne and do good things is rather a member of C. nullus dist 38. in concil 95. vol. 4. Decius cons 115. the deuil than of Christ that he is shewed to be rather an infidel than a beléeuer * The same saith Iason * and Decius * The second Nullitie by reason of the falsenes of the Allegation THerefore we say that the second cause of the nullitie doth consist in the falsenes of the allegation that is in a false cause alleaged which the pope followed in cōceiuing his sentence For the rule of the law is knowen that a sentence pronounced according to false causes false allegations false instruments is voide in law and without any appeale especially where the l. 1. pass C. si ex fals instru l. si praetor 7. D de iudic l. cum vero 2. §. Subuentum De fideic libert l. Seiae 26. D. de tutor cur dat l. 1. §. haec verba D. ne vis siat ei l. 1. C. si ex fals alleg sentence had for the principall cause and foundation the falsenes of the allegation * But pope Sixtus saith that he hath therfore proscribed the king of Nauarre and the prince of Condee bicause they be as he saith notorious heretikes Finely For by this reason if those princes be notorious heretiks then they must be procéeded against with arms and war if they be not notorious heretiks then the proscription and execration is of none importance Let vs sée then for what cause and allegation the foresaid Princes are condemned for heretiks For so great a crime must not be laid to the charge euen of a man of base estate without a great and weighty cause much lesse of so great princes and the kinsmen of so great a king The emperors Gratian Valentinian and Honorius decréed that they be counted heretiks which shall be detected euen by a light argument to erre and go astraie from the iudgement and path of catholike religion * Who can l. 2. c. de haeret Manich. like of and allow that definition For Augustine doth not account those heretiks which defend their opinion though false and pernitious with no stubborne wilfulnes especially which they haue not brought foorth through boldnes of their presumption but haue receiued it from their parents being seduced and fallen into errors and do seeke the truth with warie carefulnes being readie to be reformed when they haue found it as he saith text 24. dist 3. c. dixit Againe Iohn Auentine in the third book of his chronicles left in writing that a certaine bishop of Germanie called Virgil being skilful in mathematical arts was therefore accused of heresie and was called to Rome by pope Zacharie bicause he affirmed that there were Antipodes * That is such as go with their feete toward ours The canonists decréed that he should bée counted an heretike that should not obey all and singular the popes decrées * The gloss dist 10. c. nulli dist 21. pope himselfe hath decréed that he that denieth emperors kings princes and finally euery humane creature to be subiect to the temporall and materiall sword of the bishop of Rome be counted an heretike bicause it is vpon necessitie of saluation to beléeue this that is it is one of the articles C. 1. in fin extr de maior obedient of faith * In the yéere of Christ cxc 8. Victor pope of Rome did therefore pronounce that the East churches were heretiks bicause they thought not the same concerning Easter which his church thought For which cause Ireneus bishop of Lyons did sharpely reprooue that pope as Eusebius doth witnes in his fift booke 26. and Epist 24. What néede many words He is defined to be an heretike in popery which doth not beléeue al those things which are taught for truth in the church of Rome * But we haue before C. nulli dist 19 shewed that this doctrine was deliuered to the Church of Christ of it to be beléeued by the authority and commandement of the popes that Dominic wrought more miracles than Christ and all his apostles that the same Dominic was much more excellent than Christ and all his apostles That Iohn Baptist to whom the holy scripture gaue this title that there was neuer any mortall man vpon earth greater than he was by many degrées inferior to Dominic that cosener We haue shewed furthermore that the popes haue approoued that fable touching the marks of Francis Bernardo and that it is deliuered to the church of Rome to be beléeued and that that wise man that opposeth himselfe