betwixt the Bishops of Constantinople and of Rome whether should be greatest that diuers Emperours fauoured the Church of Constantinople but at the last Pope Boniface obtained of the Emperour Phocas that the Sea of Rome should be the chiefe of all other Churches This you account an errour in gouernment to settle a power of so high qualitie in a place farre distant from the principall strength of the Empire For hereby the Bishops of Rome did grow to such greatnesse that they drew the west part of the Empâ—â—e to reuolt and left the residue for a pray to the baâ—barous Infidels Lastly you haue shewed that the Bishops of Rome aduancing their authoritie by degrees haue been of power to reduce the west Empire to a feeble state and to hold not the Emperour alone but all the chiefe Kings in Europe either as vassals or as tributaries to their Sea Generally that they haue challenged Soueraigne iurisdiction ouer all Kingdomes and Common-wealthes in the world whereby they haue cast diuers countries and among others this Realme of England into desperate distresses Now before answere should be offred to all these seuerall points I would think it fit vnder the leaue of better Iudgements to take some reasonable respite to aduise vpon them because questions of this high nature are not alwaies the same which sodainly they seeme and he bewrayeth too great opinion of his owne sufficiencie who presently will vndertake a controuersie of this weight But if Christ hath committed supreame power in religion to the Sea of Rome then is no place left to these rules and reasons of state Nay answered N. I haue protested before that we haue neither leasure nor lust to engulphe our selues in such an Ocean If Christ hath committed to the sea of Rome This is a large supposall indeed and that which will neuer settle in the opinion of many who are otherwise firmely affected to the doctrine of the Church of Rome Yea I am assuredly perswaded that the violence of ambition hath pulled many Bishops of Rome from their owne iudgement in making claâ—me to that authoritie which they neuer had either title to hold or abilitie to rule For diuers of them being sodainely borne out of a low retired state namely from some Cloister or heremitage into an vnknowne Sea of absolute authoritie they were ouerswayed therewith like a small boate with too large a saile And being men for the most part spent in age vntrained in experience and neither by nature nor by education of abilitie to conceiue the bounds and degrees of great affaires they tooke to themselues a licentious libertie supposing it reasonable yea altogether necessarie that all the Kings and Princes of the earth who hold their estate immediately from heauen who receiue their power from the hand of God should be subiect to the pleasure the passions the fierie furie the ignorance the errors the malice of one haughtie and humerous man whose weaknes is subiect as it hath bin plainelie declared by their liues to all immoderate motions of humanitie And al this vpon no other ground but because Christ said to S. Peter Thou art Peter and vpon this rock will I build my Church c. But what is this to Supremacie what is this to the Bishop of Rome diuers questions must be cleered before this will serue the one or the other For first it is but weakely assured that S. Peter euer was at Rome Many reasons are alleaged against it and many authorities are brought for it But it often happeneth that the common consent of writers is like vnto a flocke of fowles as one flieth all doe follow Secondly it is lesse assured that euer he was Bishop of Rome For being an Apostle his charge was generall goe teach all nations and therefore not to be as a Bishop either limited or settled in any one particular place Or if we wil say that either by appointment or by choise some part of this generall charge was apportioned to S. Peter then this seemeth or rather is most assured to haue been Iudea by that which S. Paul hath written that the Gospell of Circumcision was committed vnto Peter as the Gospell of the vncircumcision was vnto him And therefore we find in Scripture that S. Paul was expressely sent to Rome but that S. Peter was euer at Rome we hold it by tradition This is further confirmed by the long aboade which S. Peter made in Iudea and by the short stay which is possible he could haue made at Rome euen by computation of them who best fauoured the dignitie of that Sea With that he called for Onuphrius and out of him read vnto vs that S. Peter liued after the death of Christ 34. yeeres 3. monethes and odde daies that the first nine yeeres he remained in Iudea that in the tenth yeere after Christs Passion in the end of the second yeere of the Empire of Claudius he departed from Iudea for feare of Agrippa from whose imprisonment hee had been deliuered by an angell that after he had trauailed preaching through many couÌ„tries he came to Rome and there contended with Simon Magus That after foure yeeres Agrippa being dead for feare of whom he â—orsooke Iudaea he returned to Ierusalem and was there present at the Councell of the Apostles wherein circumcision was abrogated That after this he remained seuen yeeres at Antioch that in the beginning of the Empire of Nero he returned to Rome and from thence trauailed almost thorough all the parts of Europe that comming againe to Rome in the last yeere of Nero S. Paul and he were there martyred To this agreeth that which Ireneus saith The blessed Apostles Peter and Paul laying the foundation of the Church of Rome committed to Linus the Bishopricke or charge of administration of that Church Now said he the third question is whether by these words Thou art Peter c. Christ gaue vnto S. Peter any speciall power or Iurisdiction either spirituall or secular more then vnto the residue of the Apostles where he did exercise when make claime to any such power by which of the Apostles it was acknowledged by what ancient father of the Church aduowed For diuers testimonies of S. Paul do beare against it S. Augustine S. Cyprian and others of principall authoritie in the Church doe expressely denie it Whereas the Scripture giueth so large and plaine testimonie both for the title and authoritie of Kings as it seemeth no greater can be added thereunto The fourth question may bee whether any power was giuen vnto S. Peter as Bishop of Rome which before the ascension of Christ hee could not bee otherwise how falleth it that the same should bee rather fixed in the Church of Rome then in any of those Churches where it is manifest by the scriptures that he remained many yeeres imploying himselfe in the exercise of his charge Fiftly what assurance can we haue that the power which is said to be committed to S.
iudgements to correct his lawes to restraine or constraine him at pleasure and with case Religion is seated within the soule and conscience of man and is a most potent ruler of the same The life saith Plinie consisteth in religion If then the consciences of a people be commanded by a stranger if their soules be subiect to a forraine power if their liues be at the seruice of an external Prince it is but a weake but a dead dominion which the naturall Prince shall hold ouer their bodies That Prince whose subiects soules are in subiection to a stranger for matters of religion shall neither preuaile more against his enemies nor beare greater authoritie amongst his owne people then that stranger shall limit him leaue All men of themselues are moued with religion but when they are also thrust on by those who make it their purchase as Liuie speaketh to possesse soules with superstition then doe they not inconsideratly only but in a wild furie runne and rush vpon most desperate aduentures The multitude saith Curtius being weake fierce and mutable when it is once possessed with vaine religion is more obedient to their Priests then to their Commander or Prince Diodorus Siculus hath a memorable Historie concerning this point of the Priests of Iupiter in the Iland Meroe enuironed with the riuer Niliu who held the people of Aethiopia in so superstitious dependancie vpon them that they would send to them at pleasure and giue in charge the slaughter of their Kings no man making offer either to deny or to delay their cruell command vntill Ergamenes a King of Aethiopia suddenly surprised and slew them all whereby both their office and authority did surcease Florus writeth that Eunus a slaue counterfeiting a fanaticall furie and pretending some diuine inspiration was able to see 60. thousand armed men in the face of the Romans euen in the principal time of their policie and strength being then hardlie able to deliuer Sicilia froÌ„ his subiection Iosephus reporteth of an Aegyptian in the time of the Emperour Claudius who bearing himselfe to be a Prophet vnder that pretext adioined 30. thousand men vnto him in the country of Iudea with whom he maintained head against the forces of the Romans Tacitus writeth the like of Maricus who giuing forth that he was the God and deliuerer of Gallia drew 8. thousand men vnto him with whom he attempted against the Romane garrisons One of our late writers reporteth that because in one chapter of the Alcoron all the Musulman Princes are forbidden to call themselues Lords except their Caliph or great Vicar of their Prophet Muhamed by colour thereof the Mahometan Bishops vsurped absolute soueraignety aboue all their Princes disposing of principalities at their pleasure vnder the name and title of gouernments At last the Muselman Princes supposing that Chapter not to haue been inserted by Mahamed their Law-giuer but by their Caliphes for aduancing their owne authoritie at such time when of diuers corrupt Alcorons they composed one long time after the death of Muhamed they tooke aduantage of a diuision among their great Bishops when three of them did take vpon them the title of great Caliph together and thereupon the Princes of Persia the Curdes the Turkes the Tartars the Sultans of Aegypt the Kings of Marrocco of Fez of Telensin of Tanes of Bugia the people of Zenetes and of Luntune quitted themselues of their obeysance to the Caliphes and maintained Soueraigntie within their states Elmahel in Africa hauing gained a great opinion of sanctitie among the people of Marocco raised them against Abraham their King and dispoyled him both of his Empire and life With like industrie and art an other impostor called Chemin Mennal stirred the people against the King of Fesse and constrained him by armes to yeeld vnto him the kingdome of Temesna Schacoculis being of the sect of the Persians by pretence of piety gathered such strength that he tooke many Cities in Asia ouerthrew the Turkes forces in three great battailes and brought his whole Empire to a dangerous distresse How Iohn of Leiden a Taylor by his trade set all Germany in vproare and in armes by bearing himselfe to be a principall man in religion it scarce exceedeth the memory of this present age And what practises in this kind haue been either atchieued or attempted in other Christian countries I shall haue occasioÌ„ hereafter to touch But for auoiding of these and the like dangers I find that two policies were aunciently obserued One consisted in excluding all externall ceremonies and rites the other was in commâ—ting the gouernment for matters of Religion to the soueraigne power and authoritie in the State In regard of the first the Iewes would not conuerse or accompanie a man who was not of their owne religion Among the Grecians Socrates and Protagoras were condemned Anaxagoras and Aristotle were accused for holding opinions contrarie to their receiued religion Iosephus writeth that the Athenians had a seuere law against any man who should speake a word in religion against that which was established by law The Scythians put Anacharsis to death for performing the tites of Bacchus after the manner of the Grecians Liuie writeth that among the Romanes the Aediles receiued in part of their charge that no externall religion or ceremony should be brought in And to the same purpose M. Aemilius recited a decree that no man should sacrifice in a publike or sacred place after a new or externall rite How often saith the same Liuie haue our fathers and ancestors giuen charge to the Magistrates that externall ceremonies should bee forbidden Maecenas in Dio gaue this exhortation and aduice to Augustus Obserue religion after the fashion of your country and compell others to do the like but those who bring in strange and foraine rites hate and correct because they perswade many to worke alterations from whence conspiracies and seditions are oftentimes occasioned Concerning the second point Iustine reporteth that it was a custome among the Iewes to haue the same men both Princes and Priests This was at sometimes true in the gouernment of the Iewes At other times the Kings gaue order in matters of religion and appointed not only inferiour Priests and officers as did Iosias but also high Priests as did King Salomon to execute the same For this cause Moses left in charge that the King should reade in the booke of the law all the daies of his life that he might learne to feare the Lord his God and to keepe all the words of that law and those ordinances for to dee them For this cause also they were sacred with oyle to declare saith Eusebius both their dutie and authoritie in matters of religion From hence it proceeded that as the Kings prooued good or euill so the true religion was either obserued or neglected From hence also Tacitus hath
Prophet Dauid Augustus annexed the greatest pontificate to the imperiall dignitie to whom the people by the law of Royalty transferred all their power as well in religious as in ciuill affaires Suetonius writeth that C. Caesar was at one time greatest Pontifex and also Augur Seruius testifieth that C. Caesar being Pontifex M. Terrentius Varro did write vnto him a booke concerning their sacred and religious rites Againe Suetonius affirmeth that Galba did beare three Priest-hoods The same Suetonius saith that Claudius Caesar had the Priest-hood in such honorable estimation that he neuer made choise or nomination of 〈◊〉 vntill he had been sworne In regard of this connexion of the Empire and pontificate Tacitus did write nunc deum munere summum pontificem suâ—â—â—um hominum esse The greatest pontificate was also borne by Vespasian Traiane and diuers other Romane Emperors the Maiestie of which Emperors was esteemed most sacred in so much as diuine both titles adorations were giuen vnto them Their Statues and Images were sacred and adored as Tacitus and Vegetius do report it was treason for any man either to pul away or to violate those who did flie vnto them to melt them also and also to fell them Tacitus writeth that L. Ennius was accused of treason for melting the Image of the Prince which accusation although Tiberius did forbid to proceed yet Suetonius affirmeth that he commanded one to be arraigned for taking the head from the statue of Augustus and setting another vpon the same This kind of accusation grew to that degree that it was capitall for a man to beare the Image of the Prince stamped in money or engrauen in a Ring to any vncleane or vnseemely place Yea Seneca saith that vnder the Empire of Tiberius a certaine noble man was accused of treason for mouing his hand to his pâ—iuie parts in making vrin when he did weare a ring vpon 〈◊〉 finger whereon was ingrauen the Image of the Prince So great was the reuerence borne vnto them Vpon this generall both authoritie and vse for Princes to manage diuine affaires St. Hierom hath said The priuiledge to offer sacrifice was due to the first borne but most of all vnto Kings And yet in these times the Emperours reserred many matters pertaining to their religion to be determined by the Senate partly for expedition and ease partly for that they would not draw all authoritie from the senate at once So Tacitus writeth of a decree of the Senate for expelling of the ceremonies of the Aegyptians of the Iewes Likewise vnder Claudius a decree of the Senate was made that the Pontifex should consider what ceremony of the Aruspices should be reteined So Tiberius referred to the Senate whether Christ should be receiued among the Romane Gods which in no case they would consent to decree because he had been worshipped for God without the publike authority of the Empire The like is reported to haue bin both purposed and propounded by Hadrian who commanded also that Temples should be built in euerie Citie without any Idols The like purpose in Alexander Seuerus is affirmed by Lampridius to haue been crossed vpon assurance made vnto him from those who gaue answere by inspection of Entrailes that if Christ should be receiued for God all men would become Christians and the other Temples should be forsaken But when he that would not be worshipped with other Gods was both admitted and adored for God alone when the Christian faith was publikely embraced in the Romane state religion was both aduanced and ordered by Imperiall authoritie For so Socrates testifieth in these words From that time when the Emperours began to be Christians the affaires of the Church depended vpon them in so much as the greatest Councels were alwaies assembled by their appointment So Chrysostome calleth the Emperour the height and head of all men in the world and one that hath no equall vpon earth And so did Leo the first write to the Emperour Leo that royall power was giuen him not only for gouernment of the world but especially for the safegard of the Church And so likewise Gregorie Bishop of Rome affirmed that power is giuen to Princes from heauen not only ouer Souldiers but ouer Priests Optatus saith there is no man aboue the Emperour but only God who made the Emperour But this is most euidently declared in the answere of Demetrius Chomatenus in these words The Emperour being both in common estimation and in very truth a skilfull gouernour is president and giueth strength to synod all sentences he setteth Ecclesiasticall orders in forme he giueth law for the life and ciuil cariage of those who serue at the Altar And againe to speake in one word the office of sacrificing only excepted the Emperour representeth the other priuiledges of a Bishop And therefore St. Augustine enuâ—ighed against the heresie of the Donatists in that they affirmed that the Church ought not to vse either lawes or any assistance from Princes And that speech of Donatus was iustly condemned Quid est imperatoricum ecclesia What hath the Emperour to do with the Church Two parts in the Church may separatly be considered the externall forme which consisteth in the politicall gouernment thereof and the essentiall forme consisting in the true substance and foundation of faith Concerning the first we may find many things aunciently ordered in the Church by Christian Emperours For so Constantine the great Anastatius and Iustinian the first established order for expence and forme of funerals The Emperours Gratian Valentinian the second and Theodosius the great prohibited that any corpes should be interred within the seates of the Apostles or Martyrs Honorius and Theodosius ordeined how many Deacons should be in the Church of Constantinople and what immunities euery Church should enioy Leo and Anthemius forbad alienation of lands pertaining to the Church Valentinian Theodosius and Arcadius did prohibite that any should be receiued for a Diaconisse who was not aged aboue fiftie yeeres which was afterwards confirmed by Iustinian Honorius and Arcadius forbad that Clerkes should haue any thing to do with publike actions or pleas Iustinian added that they should absteine from play and from all open spectacles and shewes Leo and Anthemius enioyned Monkes and religious persons not to depart out of their Monasteries and to liue in that modesty and sincerity wherto the imperiall lawes did bind them and that no Clergio man should be ordained by way of corruption or conuented in Iudgment in a place farre distant from his abode Iustinian ordained that vpon a certaine day in the weeke Bishops should go and visite the prisons to enquire for what cause euery prisoner is detained and to admonish the Magistrates to execute iustice In another
it giue beginning to the two factions of the Guelphes who tooke their name from this Duke of Bauier and of the Gibelins so called of Wiâ—bling which was the place where the Emperour Conrade had bin brought vp Against Fredericke Barâ—arossa who succeeded Conrade Hadrian the fourth raised them of Milan and the other Lumbards Alexander the third stirred the Dukes of Saxon and of Austrich aiding them with all his power to intertaine disquiet in Almaine Pope Celestine the third excoÌ„municated Henrie the sixth Emperour the successour and sonne of Fredericke Barbarossa and depriued him of all his dignities making this the meanes to auoide him out of Italie into Almaine Against Philip brother vnto Henerie the sixth Pope Innocent the third caused Otho Duke of Saxonie to be elected Emperour whereby the Empire was embroiled with a bloodie warre Against Fredericke the second Pope Honorins the third raised the Lumbards in rebellion adioyning the Sicâ—ians to the side and the greatest part of the other Italians All these troubles were so tempestuous that the Emperour Radulph of Haspurge could neuer be perswaded to passe the Alpes for his coronation affirming that Italie was the denne of the Lion whereof the entrance was faire but the issue fearefull Clement the fifth armed and opposed Rebert King of Sicilie against the Emperour Henrie the seuenth because hee would not doe homage and sweare faith to the Sea of Rome and in the end caused him to bee empoisoned by a Iacobâ—e in giuing him the sacred host What troubles had Lewes of Bauier against Frederick of Austrich who was elected Emperour at the same time with him by the faction of Pope Iohn the 22 The same troubles were continued by Pope Clement the sixth who caused Charles the fourth King of Boheme to be elected Emperour and yet he could not enioy the Empire vntill after the decease of Lewes This Charles was a weake Prine both in counsaile and courage who in fauour of the Popes did extreamely both enfeeble and abase the Empire of Rome Nauclerus writeth that he entred the citie of Rome on foote in derision whereof a certaine Senatour began a speech which he made to the people with these words Ecce Rex tuus venit tibi mansuetus Petrarch who liued at that time did also write betweene scorne and disdaine of this deiection of the imperiall Maâ—estie I omit the tragedies which Eugenius the fourth raised against the Emperour Sigismond principally to impeach the Councell of Basil. I omit that which Paul the second did to chase Frederick the third out of Italie Generally they alwaies endeauoured to endomage the Emperors not onely as hating them for so Guâ—ccâ—ardine saith yâ— it grew into a proueâ—b It is proper to the Church to hate the Caesars but as fearing to be endomaged by them In the end partly by opposing enemies and partly by raysing rebellions against the Emperours the Popes haue bin able to expell their gouernment out of Italy Whereof our countrie man Sanderi in this sort hath written It is a thing more admirable then can be vtteâ—ed and able to make a man astonished that when the most puissant Emperours did for many ages display all their forces to no purpose for driuing the Roman Bishops from the citie of Rome now to the contrarie the Roman Bishops without any power haue remoued the Roman Emperours from the tower of the Empire and made themselues Lords of the Palaces of Caesars and turned the whole citie into their proper power This is true Master Sanders which you haue said but neither is it worthie of any wonder neither iâ— it all that which the Popes haue done What maruaile is it that most puissant Emperours could never preuaile against the Bishops of Rome when their owne subiects were persuaded that they drew their swordes against heauen and made offer like those Giants of whom the Poets write to scale the skies and to pull God out of his throne Where subiects haue bin of other opinioÌ„ there Princes haue preuailed against many Popes Againe what necessity had the Popes to vse force of armes when the consciences of men were vnder their commaund whilest this rule held good cloisters and Colledges were in stead of Castles vnto them and religious persons were in steed of many armies These were their garrisons these their soldiers these quelled the courage of all their enemies by thundring forth threats against those who disobeyed them not of death which might be peraduenture either contemned or else auoyded but of damnation which as it is most terrible so was it held for this cause vnauoydable For so Boniface the eight decreed that vpon necessitie of saluation all men must be subiect to the Bishop of Rome These forces were plaÌ„ted within euery state and by these might any state be supplanted By these meanes the Bishops of Rome were easily able not onelie to driue the Romane Emperours from the chiefe tower and seate of the Empire but also making one wrong the cause of another to reduce them to a very low degree both of power and of authoritie within Almaine and to hold them as no better then vassalls to their Sea For after that eight Emperours had been excoÌ„municate by Popes Namely Frederick the first Frederick the second Philip Conrade Othe the fourth Lawes of Bauaria Henriâ— the fourth and Henriâ— the fifth which was occasion enough for their subiects to reuolt and for other Princes to inuade the succeding Emperours partly vnwilling but principally vnable to sustaine so sad and heauie blowes submitted themselues to the papall power renounced the right which by long custome they claimed in election of the Pope and of other Bishops And to the contrarie the Emperour Charles the fourth acknowledged by his letters Patents that although he was elected Emperour by the Princes yet hee was to bee confirmed by the Pope and to receiue the Imperial crowne from him Whereupon Pope Pius the fifth did sharpely rebuke the Emperour Ferdinand by his Legat for neglecting to receiue of him the Imperial Crowne neither would he admit the Emperours excuse but had proceeded by excommunication to compel him had he not by entreaty of the French King and of King Philip of Spaine the Emperours kinseman been otherwise appeased In the forme of the coronation of the Emperours which was approued by the Emperour Charles the fourth and is kept in the Vaticane at Rome many seruile ceremonies are contained As that the Emperour supplieth the office of a subdeacon in ministring to the Pope when he saith Masse and that after diume seruice he holdeth the stirtop whilest the Pope mounteth to horse and for a certaine space leadeth his horse by the bridle Adde heereto the kissing of the Popes feete as Charles the fifth did at Bononia at Rome and last of all at Marsielles in Prouence in the presence of diuers other great Princes adde their humbâ—e subscriptions to the Pope I kisse the hands and feete of your holinesse adde
that they must seeke the Pope for receiuing the Imperiall crowne whereforuer he shall be and follow him if he chance to remoue with diuers like tokens and testimonies of deâ—ection of the Maiesty of that State and subiection thereof to the Sea of Rome For further declaration whereof during the life of the Emperour the Popes challenge to be his Iudge and the Emperiall feate being void they claime the exercise of Imperiall power and haue giuen inuestitures and receiued fealtie of those who held of the Empire as of Iohn and Luchiâ— Vicounts of Milane For which cause the Canonists also who set vp these strings to the highest strame doe maintaine opinion that the Emperour cannot resigne his Imperiall dignitie to any other then the Pope and that it is a streine of heresie not to beleeue that the Emperor is subiect to the Pope and that the Emperour is but the Popes Minister to vse his sword only at his becke Lastlie Pope Clement the fifth expressely declared by decree that the oath which the Emperour maketh to the Pope is no other then an oath of fealtie Neither hath it been against the Empire only that the Popes haue had this power to preuaile but against diuers other Christian countries in so much as they haue claimed to hold either as feudataries or as trubutaties to their Sea the kingdomes of Naples Sicilie Hierusalem Sardinia Corsica Arragon Portugale Nauarre Ireland England Scotland Poland Hungarie to which Cuiacius adioyneth the kingdome of France which Pope Boniface the eight declared to be deuolued to the Church for the contempt and disobedience of King Philip the faire And Pope Alexander the sixt in diuiding the late discouered parts of the world betweene the Kings of Castile and Portugale expressely reserued to his Sea the Iurisdiction and soueraignety of them by consent of both Kings who from that time became his vassals of all the purchases and conquests which before they had atchieued or intended to enterprise in times to ensue Generally they do challenge temporall soueraigntie in all countries habitually at the least which at pleasure they may produce into act whereby the subiects of any State may haue recourse vnto them to some complaint or suite against their Prince to be relieued or protected by them and to receiue priuiledges and immunities at their hands Whereby also they may iudge the actions of Princes and vpon such cause as they shal thinke meet punish excommunicate de priue them denounce publike warre against them free their subiects from subiection vnto them As Pope Pius the first not only absolued the subiects of England from their alleagance to the late Queene Elizabeth but commanded them also to turnâ— traytours and take armes against her After which Bull few yeeres passed without some notable attempt either against her person or against the State It would be very redious to giue but a light touch to all the desperate distresses that hereupon haue bin occasioned in diuers foraine countries which out of their Annal may be furnished with ease And the sequell now sheweth that the chiefe encrease and establishment of the Turkish Empire hath proceeded from the outragious warres which by this meanes haue been occasioned among the Christians which made Europe on all sides to bath her limmes in the blood of her children Against our owne State we cannot be ignorant what heretofore hath bin acted especially vnder the raigne of King Iohn What hath been lately what freshly what is daily attempted it cannot possiblie escape the memorie of those that liue in this present age and for helpe of those who are to succeed report there of shall be made at large in a historie Intended for the times lately passed and now presently running The accumulating of these examples in this place would be a matter of some labour for cleering that which hath litle doubt Thus much in substance but somwhat more briefly deliuered it seemed that there was not any man in that presence who either in replie or in supplie had not somewhat to say That only was a hinderaÌ„ce to the discharging of their minds which is pleasantly said to haue dissolued the Parliament of women because they could not agree to speake one at once Many shewed themselues so impatient of silence and they who vpon aduisement could haue said least were vpon the suddaine most franke and forward in words At the last that which was the cause that no man could haue free libertie of speech did driue them all into a dumbe dumpe which opportunity was forthwith apprehended by a thick Theologian whose formall attire countenance and cariage was a good supplie to other defects And so hauing composed himselfe to al complements of grauitie and grace he began his speech after the set and solemne manner of those disputers who contenting themselues with commendation of memorie doe more diligently endeuour to repeate then to reply You haue declared vnto vs said he that the proper qualities of the rights of Maiestie are to be both perpetuall and also absolute as neither depending vpon any other nor yet held either vpon charge or with exception and restraint That these rights coÌ„sist in managing affaires of highest nature which cannot be separated from the soueraigne power because vpon the guiding of them all the fortunes of a State do follow That nothing is of so high nature in a State as is religion and that therefore the ordering thereof is annexed as a right of Maiestie to the soueraigne power whether it be setled in a King or in the Nobilitie or in the peopleâ— For seeing religion commandeth the conscience and holdeth the soule in subiection if supremacâ—â— therin be acknowledged to be in a forren Prince the sinewes of domesticall soueraigntie are cut in sâ—nder You haue brought certaine examples of dangerous consequence when either strangers or subiects haue bin followed for religion You shewed yâ— for auoiding the like dangers two policies were anciently obserued one consisted in excluding external ceremonies rites the other in setling the gouernment for matters in religion in the supreame power and authority in the State That this last was practised among the Iewes Aegyptians in diuers other countries In the foure great Monarchies also of Assyria of Persia of Graecia and of Rome Of Rome you say first vnder the gouernment of Kings secondly in the popular state thirdly vnder Heathen Emperours and lastly for a good space vnder Christian Emperors who in matters of circumstance and of external forme in religion both vsed and were acknowledged to haue supreame authoritie of whose lawes diuers were afterwards either assumed by Popes or attributed vnto them Concerning matters of substance and of internall forme they assembled generall Councels wherein they held the Primacie and confirmed the acts of them by Imperiall decree You declared also that when Constantinople was aduanced to be the head of the Empire a stiffe strife did arise
written The honor of Priesthood is a great assurance of power to the Iewes The Scriptures doe further testifie that Melchisedeen was both King and Priest and that Balak King of Moab offered sacrifice together with Balaam The Aegyptians from amongst whom the Iewes were extracted and with whom they communicated in many ceremonies are reported likewise by some to haue annexed the royall and priestly dignitie together Marcilius Ficinus affirmeth out of Plato and Seuerus in Stobâ—â—us that their custome was to elect Priests out of their Philosophers and out of their Priests whom Diodorus placeth next in dignitie to the King as Strabo writeth of the Priests of the Albanes to make choice of the best approued for their King Wherupon Mercurius the grand-child of that Mercurie who was sonne to Iupiter and Maia being called by the Aegyptians Tenot by the Grecians was named Trismegistus which signifieth thrice greatest because he was the greatest Philosopher for so is he also termed by Tertullian the greatest Priest and the greatest King although Suidas coniectureth that name to be giuen him because he did expressely write of the Trinitie Strabo saith that in Aritia hee was a King who was Priest of Diana the same is confirmed by Suetonius and mentioned by diuers Poets namely Ouid Ecce suburbanae templum nemorale Dianae Partaque per gladios regna nocente mann And Lucane Qua sublime nemus Scythicae qua templa Diana And Valer. Flaccus Etsolâ— non mitis Aritia regt And laâ—tly by Martial Qua triâ—ne nemerosa petit dum regna viator Octauum demina marmor ab vrbe legit The like doth Hartius report to be obserued in the Temple of Beâ—ona in Cappadocia The like also doth Virgil write of Anins â—â— Rex idem hominum phoebique facerdos Diodorus Siculus affirmeth that the Priests of Pantheon were both Leaders in the field and also Iudges and arbitratours in controuersies of right Strabo testifieth that in Zela the Priest had supreme both dignitie and authoritie in all things Iustine writeth that Mida sonne of Gordius King of Phrygia being by Orpheus entred into the orders of the sacred and solemne mysteries of those times filled all Phrygia with religion wherewith he more assured himselfe then hee did by armes Tacitus reporteth that among the Germanes it was permitted to no man to beate or bind or otherwise to punish but only to the Priests Strabo saith that in Cuma of Pontus the Priest did weare a Diadem twise in the yeere which is the ensigne of a King Vitruâ—iâ—s declareth that among the Trallians the principall Priest had a princely Palace appointed for his aboad Diodorous Siculus Orosius and Pausanias doe write that the priest of Hercules in Tyre was apparrelled in purpure and did weare a Diadem vpon his head Herodiane writeth that the Priest of the Sunne among the Phoenicians was attired in a long garment consisting onely of purpure and gold and did weare a Crowne of gold set with precious stones and that Heliogabalus being Emperour of Rome did exercise that priesthood Ferd. Lopex affirmeth that the Kings of Malabar in East India are Priests or Bramenes and must die in their sacred place as men consecrated vnto God And in China there is an auncient law that no religion bee brought in without allowance of the King and of his Councell he that violateth this law is punished by death In the first great Empire Berosus hath left written that Ninus first dedicated Temples to Iupiter Belus and Iuno his parents and caused them to bee honoured as Gods Zamies Ninias his sonne exceedingly both amplified and adorned these Temples Belochus with the rule of his Empire exercised also the office of the high Priest of the same Iupiter Belus and for that cause the name Belochus was giuen vnto him The Kings of Persia vnder whose gouernment the second great Empire was founded are acknowledged by all writers to haue been inaugurated to be the Princes of their sacred ceremonies In Athens and Lacedaemonia the two eyes of Greece as Leptines and Iustine doe rightly tearme them the ceremonies of their religion were ordered by their Kings The Athenians had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or King as Demosthenes testifieth who was president and chiefe directer in all their sacred ceremonies Xenophon saith that the Kings of the Spartanes or Laced â—monians so soone as they were assumed to that state of dignitie did discharge also the office of chiefe Priest to the celestiall and Lacaedemonian Iupiter Alexander the great Monarch of Greece did oftentimes offer sacrifice giue order for their kinde of religious obseruations and at the last commaunded diuine honours to bee done vnto himselfe Among the Romanes this was one of their ancient royall lawes Sacrorum omnium potestas sub regibus estâ— Let all sacred matters bee vnder the power of Kings Which law was stablished by their first King Romulus but seemeth also to haue been more anciently in vse insomuch as Seruius noteth that Virgil alwaies bringeth in Aeineas as president both in action and drection in all offices of their religion Whereof Ouid also seemeth to make mention in these words Vtque ea nunc certaest ita rex placare Numina lanigerae coniuge debet ouis After Romulus Numa PoÌ„pilius performed al those sacrifices and rites which afterward were committed to yâ— Diall Flamen Dyonisius Halicarnassaeus and Plutarch doe affirme that he did beare the office of Pontifex Liuie writeth that hee committed the same to one of the chiefe Senators named Marcius Of these two Kings Cicero saith Romulus auspicijs Numa sacris constitutis fundamenta ieccrunt Romanae ciuitatis The Kings succeeding performed the most high and sacred rites of their religion with whom as Liuie writeth the Priests tooke often aduice concerning sacrifices and al sorts of ceremonies Whereupon Dionysius Halicarnassaeus affirmeth that they had the principalitie or chiefest rule of sacred matters and of sacrifices and that all things pertaining to diuine worship were ordered by them After that the Kings were cast out of state that the chiefest in power had authoritie to giue order in religion it may appeare by the two decrees of Senate before cited out of Liuie for excluding the vse of foraine ceremonies and rites but more plainely it appeareth in that it was decreed that no Bacchanalls should be kept either at Rome or within Italie if any man should esteeme such sacred solomnitie to be necessarie and that hee could not omit it without offence and violation of Religion he should declare the same to the citie Praetor the Praetor should consult with the Senate If it should be permitted him when a hundred and no fewer should be assembled in Senate that solemnitie might be performed so that no more than fiue should be present at the Sacrifice And although the
constitution he ordeined what manner of Clerkes should be ordained in the Church that Clerkes should not remoue themselues from a lesse Church to a greater and that the rents of the Church should be expended to godly vses and acts Hee appointed also the time for monasticall profession and the rules which Monkes should leade He established his ordinance for the election life and behauiour of Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall persons that they reside vpon their charge that they resort not to the Court except they be expressely called that they celebrate not diuine offices in any place which is not consecrated to the seruice of God He declared what causes should be lawfull for diuorce and separation of mariage as Theodosius the yonger and Valent. the third had done before him He ordained also that the holy Scriptures should be read in the vulgar tongue and appointed what translations should be in vse It would bee both tedious and vnnecessarie to make long stay vpon rehersall of those imperiall lawes which haue bin both receiued and reuerenced for gouernment of the Church For Iustinian professed that by authoritie of the lawes both diuine and humane affaires were well ordered and againe there is nothing but may be examined by authoritie of the Emperour for hee receiueth from God a generall principallitie and gouernment ouer all men The same is acknowledge by Pope Gregorie in his epistle to Mauritius To this end is power ouer all persons giuen from heauen vnto my Lord for assistance of good men and enlargement of the way to heauen Whereupon Espencaeus saith that Gregorie the great did ingeniouslie acknowledge a soueraignetie in Emperours ouer priests So Balsamon hath said that the Emperours had power to appoint patriarchall seas according to the power giuen them from aboue Whereto doth that of Isodore agree Princes of the world haue their authoritie and power in the Church that the ecclesiasticall discipline should bee held in strength that they who will not obserue it by admonition of the priest should be constrained by force of the Magistrate Yea diuers of the papall decrees for ordering of Ecclesiasticall affaires were lawes made by Christian Emperours of which lawes many are yet extant in the Codex of Theodosius The Canon Iudicantem expressing the office of a Iudge in cognisance of causes attributed by Gratian to Pope Eleutherius was made by the Emperor Constantine The Canon si quis Iratus attributed to Pope Fabian against accusers is a law of the same Emperour Constantine in the Codex of Theodosius The Canons which goe vnder the names of the same Fabian of Sixtus and of Hadrian concerning the same subiect are found to bee made by Gratian the sonne of Valentinian the first The decrees of Pope Caius and of Pope Iohn for restitution of Church goods taken from Bishops when they were forced from their sea are the Edictes of the same Emperour Gratian. The Canon qui ratione attributed to Pope Damasus for order in accusations is comprised in Theodosius Code vnder the name of the same Emperour The Canon nullus vnder the name of Pelagius was made by the Emperours Honorius and Arcadius The Canon quisquis vnder the name of Eutychian was promulged by the Emperours Honorius and Theodosius The Canon consanguineos for separation of marriage contracted within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity is a constitution of the Emperour Constantine the great The Canon Priuiligia for confirmation of the priuiledges of the Church vnder the name of Anacletus is a constitution of the Emperours Theodosius and Valentinian In a word the volume of decrees is filled with diuers constitutions of Christian Emperours either assumed by Popes or attributed vnto them without expressing either the name or authoritie of the Emperours And touching the rest Pope Honorius acknowledged that it was by decree of the Emperour Iustinian that the Canons of thâ— Fathers should haue the force of lawes Now when any difference did arise in matters of faith when any great schisme or disturbance was maintained in the church the Emperours did vse to assemble their Bishops in common Councell and those things that were by them decreed were afterwards confirmed by Imperiall constitution So Nicephorus and Eusebius doe write that Constantine the great hauing imployed Hosius Bishop of Corduba for composing the difference betwixt Alexander Bishop of Alexandria and Arrius wherewith the Church was exceedingly disturbed and perceiuing his good purpose thereby nothing aduanced assembled by his authority the Councel of Nice in Bithynia which he honored with his presence and defrayed the charge of 308. Bishops that were called to that Councell Of whom Eustachius Bishop of Antioch or rather as the Canon law affirmeth Constantine himselfe was president The forme of faith agreed vpon in this Councell was presently confirmed by Constantine and both imparted and imposed vpon others who had not bin present and charge giuen vnder paine of death that none should secretly preserue any of the bookes of Arrius from the fire Afterwards the same faith was both declared and confirmed by constitution of the Emperours Gratian Valentinian and Theodosius The generall Councel of Constantinople was assembled against the heresie of Macedonius by Theodosius the great The Bishops assembled in this Councel wrote thus in humble maner vnto the Emperour Theodosius We beseech your Maiestie that as you haue honored the Church by your letters wherewith you haue called vs together so it may please you to confirme the finall conclusion of our decrees with your sentence and with your seale The generall Councell of Ephesus was assembled by authoritie of Theodosius the yonger against the heresie of Nestorius The decrees of this Councell together with the decrees of the Councell of Nice containing the profession of Christian Faith was confirmed by a constitution of Theodosius and Valentinian whereby also the writings of Nestorius are condemned to the fire The fourth generall Councell was appointed by authoritie of the Emperour Martian first to be held at Nice afterwards vpon certaine occasions it was assembled at Chalcedon In this Councel Euagrius writeth that both the Bishops and temporall Iudges did oftentimes suspend their decrees in this sort Vnto vs it seemeth right if it shall also like our most vertuous and godly Lord the Emperour And in the end it is thus concluded all our doings being referred to the Emperours Maiestie Lastly the decrees of this Councell touching Christian Faith were confirmed by a publike constitution of the same Emperour Martian The fifth oecumenicall Councell was assembled by Iustinian the first and the sixth by Constantine the third both of them in the Citie of Constantinople The last of these Councels Constantine subscribed after that he had commaunded that ten Bishops of the East and ten of the West
Peter was to be transmitted entirely to any of his successors in place who are so farre from being mentioned as it is nothing probable that euer they were ment For as Matthias was not the worse for succeeding vnto Iudas in place so is not any man the better onely for his locall succession to S. Peter Lastly seeing the promises of God are with exception if we continue in obedience to his wil and therefore although all the land of Canaan was expresly promised to Abraham and to his seede for an euerlasting possession yet was the posteritie of Abraham for their disobedience first cast out of the greatest part thereof and afterwards dispossessed of all And although the kingdome of Israel was expresly promised to Dauid and to his seede for euer yet the succession was broken off by reason of their sinnes Againe seeing the Church of Ephesus although furnished with many excellent vertues was threatned notwithstanding that the candlesticke should bee remoued out of his place onely for that their first loue was abated If wee should suppose supposall is free that expresse promise was made to S. Peter and to his successours the Bishops of Rome that they should represent the authoritie of Christ vpon earth it will be a hard piece to perswade men who haue not abandoned their owne iudgement that this power was not long since either expired or reuoked by reasoÌ„ of the dissolute disorders the irregular outrages and impieties which haue bin ordinarie in that Sea Marcâ—lline sacrificed vnto Idols Liberius was an Aâ—ian another a Nestorian Anastasius the second embraced the errour of Acatius Sabinian was a man of base behauiour and altogether opposite to the vertues of S. Gregorie Constantine the second procured himselfe to be elected by corruption and force Ioan the eighth was a woman and a harlot Romanus Theodorus Iohn the tenth and Christopher were infamous for seditions symonie lust and other base abuses in life Iohn 11. the bastard of Pope Sergius was elected by fauour of Theodora his mistrisse Iohn the 13. was accused of many vile villanies before the Emperour Otho the great Boniface the 7. attained his place by corruption and maintained it by sacrilege Siluester the second was a Magician and came to his dignitie by couenanting with the diuell Benedict the 10. was compelled to quit his place because of his Symony Boniface the 8. was aduanced like a Foxe reigned like a Lion and died like a dogge What shall we say that all these were the oracles of heauen the heads of the Church the guides and grounds of religion the successors of S. Peter the Vicaâ—s generall of Iesus Christ wil worldly Princes endure such who are not only vnseruiceable vnto them but dishonorable but rebellious for their liefetenants And seeing good life is a sruite of faith seeing faith is expressed by actions of life shall we say that these men who liued in this sort could neither erre nor faile in faith Alas how then would they haue liued if they could haue erred or failed in faith I will not digge deep into this dunghill I will not speak of the heresies of Iohn the 23. of the scandalous deportments of Eugenius the 4. of the Incests Sorceries poysonings cutthroat cruelties of Alexander the 6. of the couetousnes the cruelties the periuries the blasphemies the adulteries the Sodometries the disdainfull pride the cunning dissimulatioÌ„ and other infamous behauior of diuers other Bishops of Rome I will not speake of the two monsters lately hatched within that Sea to the broad blemish of religion to the vtter ouerthrow of ciuill societie the one aequiuocation the other parâ—icide of Princes raising rebellions for the cause of religion In one word to the point of our purpose as Christ denied the Iewes to be the children of Abraham because they did not the workes of Abraham and as S. Paul said that the children not of the flesh but of the faith of Abraham were to bee accounted his seede in regard whereof S. Iohn also said that many affirmed themselues to be Iewes who were not so we may safely defend that the true succession of S. Peter and of the other Apostles consisteth not in comming after theÌ„ in place but in holding their doctrine and imitating their godlines in life This saith Gregorie Nazianzene and not succession in place is in proper sense to bee taken for succession For to expresse the same iudgement and mind is to possesse the very same Chaire the difference of Sea is the difference in opinion for doctrine and for life This is a succession in truth and indeed that is only a succession in name Stratoâ—les published in the citie of Athens that whatsoeuer the tyrant Demetrius should ordaine the same was to be esteemed holy before God and iust before men When Cambyses was desirous to espouse his Sister the fact was iustified by this law of the Persians The King may do what soeuer he please Doubtlesse said he many Bishops of Rome in claiming Hyperbolicall power to beare through Diabolicall dristes haue bin rather successors to these men then vnto any of the Apostles To conclude with answere vnto those who can find a difference betweene the Pope and the Pope betweene the Pope as being a man and the Pope as being Bishop of Rome betweene the Pope in his Consistory and the Pope in his Palace or among his Souldiers in the field betweene the Imperiall and Pontificall Pope I will tell you what Fulgosius he that was throwen out of state in Liguria reported of a certaine Archbishâ—p of Colen As this Archbishop being also Duke of Colen passed through a small Village in Germanie with so great a trame of armed men according to the fashion of that people that it neerly approched the greatnes of an armie a certain countrie fellow brake forth into a loude laughter against him And being therefore presented before the Archbishop hee boldly said that hee could not refraine both to laugh and to admire considering the great pouertie the great humilitie wherein the Apostles passed the trauailes of this life that they who carrie themselues for the Apostles successours should thus plunge themselues both in plentie and in pride Simple fellow said the Archbishop I doe now beare the state and presence of a Duke I represent an Archbishop when I am within the church At this speech the fellow did â—ise into a more broad and bolde laughter And being demaunded the cause thereof I pray you said hee whilest this Duke ruineth the Church both by action and example how is the Bishop in the meane time busied and when this Duke for this cause shall goe to the diuell what shall then become of the Bishop There was not any amongs vs who did not countenance this conceit with a smile And this had put a period to our discourse had not one maintained it with further speech that he would gladly heare these questions so fullie followed as then hee saw