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
and blasphemous verse in the beginning of the same booke Francisce Iesu typice dux normáque minorum Sedes nobis perpetuè da regni coelorum Francis whom Typicall Iesus we call The captaine and rule of Minorites all Grant vs in heauen places perpetuall And now that euery one may vnderstand what maner marking that was which the church of Rome setteth downe to be beléeued of all the faithfull it is woorth the pains to marke the very words of the writer or rather of our Frier pope Sixtus which hath decréed that that writer be beléeued and reuerenced commonly For he saith * Not onelie his hands and feet were bored Fol. 228. but also nailed so that the nailes might be seene in them Againe the heads of the nailes were blacke whereas notwithstanding they should haue beene like to the flesh or sinewes whereof they were made thirdly the heads of the nailes were very long and turned backe againe wheras notwithstanding there was neither hammer nor stroke fourthly the marks were imprinted in a bonie place and not in any soft place fiftly though the nailes were fleshie or sinowie yet were they hard as iron strong solid sixtlie the nailes themselues were not short hauing onely tops or heads but they were long and went through seauentlie the nailes did not sticke out on the other side but they turned backe so that you might thrust your finger in vnder the crooke and bent thereof eightlie though the nailes were made of flesh or nerues and were bent on both sides of his feet and hands and were longer than they were thicke truely neither his handes nor his feete were disfigured or drawen togither ninthlie the nailes were on euery side seperate from the other flesh so that there were tents put in on euerie side to stay the blood tenthlie the nailes did wag and yet they could not be remooued from his handes or feete though S. Clare and others had assaied to do this eleuently the markes of the nailes and of his side during this long time were not putrified namely for the space of two yeeres and vpward tweltfthlie the wound of his side was like the wound of Christs side Moreouer it was a woonder how S. Francis seeing his paine was so great by reason of the opening of his bodie in fiue places namelie in his hands feet and side and the blood issued thence continually could liue so long to wit aboue two yeeres all which time he liued after he had gotten his markes Our cowled frier hearest thou this who séeing thou hast so manie yéeres béene a generall chiefetane of the Franciscane order and a great maister hast taught these fables in thy schooles being now the chiefe stay and top of the same order and being become the pastour of the vniuersall church as thou saiest thou goest about to deliuer vnto vs these same monsters in stéed of diuine oracles What If there were in thée and thy Franciscanes any shame or shamefastnes should there remaine continue at Blese a noble citie in France that wicked superscription written openlie vppon the church doores touching Francis Bernardo His sinne shall be sought And it shall not be founde But it delighteth vs a little to declare whence these oracles haue their authoritie For a few lines after he writeth thus The deuill saide that when Christ sawe that Francis was giuen him to be the standerd-bearer of so great an order he imprinted in him the markes of his wounds and the nailes in his hands and feet and the wound in his right side Thus saith the deuill And why it was done the deuill being coniured by a certaine priest to tell the troth after more things by the mouth of a woman abiding at Rauenna called Santese saith thus There be two in heauen that are marked namelie Christ stout Francis Therfore when Christ knew that he would giue stout Francis the bull of his markes he did not suffer him to receiue a bull from the pope made with mans hands Thus said the deuill These Fol. 230. col 4. fol. 231. col 1. words are written in as many letters out of the same book of Conformities Wherby we may vnderstand what authoritie is due to these oracles and to this woorthy testimonie of theirs vttered by sathan although neither Christ neither yet his apostles could abide that he should beare anie witnes of them Now let the noble and famous Counsellors of France consider according to their singular wisedome séeing that Sixtus the fourth and Sixtus the fift being both Franciscanes and presidentes of the Franciscanes many other popes haue brought in these forged and blasphemous fables into the church and haue confirmed them so long by their authoritie and do so greatly confirm them at this day whether they be iustly or vniustlie condemned by the most part of Christendome of impietie and wickednesse Whereof that they may the more commodiouslie consider we wil also adde another place out of the same booke where it is thus written Francis was bodilie lifted Fol. 231. up in the holie mountaine of Aluerne as frier Leo his fellow saw him For somtimes he found him in the aire lifted vp so high that he could scarse touch his feete and then he did imbrace them with teares sometimes he found him lifted vp from the earth halfe as high as beeches sometimes he founde him lifted vp so high that he could scarce see him And frier Leo did oftentimes finde him speaking with Christ. O good Iesu Who is he that doth not shake euerie iointe when he heareth these monsters of words For what other thing is it to deliuer these things to the people in sermons than to make Francis a bodied God and to set him foorth to be worshipped of the people of Christ And yet there followe more cruell and filthy things For Francis himselfe is brought in speaking thus After these things Christ Iesus crucified laid his hands to my bodie and Fol. 232. first to mine hands and secondlie to my feete thirdlie I felt the marke of his side with great paine and he did imprint them euery time when I cried out sore and he told me certaine secret words which I neuer told any as yet Doth our cowled Sixtus thinke that there is any so void of vnderstanding in this our age that he doth beléeue these blasphemous and wicked fables Doth he thinke that the Counsellers of the king of France and the Senators of the Parleament are so dull and sottish that they do not detest these wicked inuentions togither with their author the sonne of Peter Bernardo Vnlesse peraduenture some man will say these things are shut vp in the selfe-same cloisters and prisons of Munks and are kept in as mysteries of Ceres there where they first tooke their beginning and that no man is at this day so void of wit that he doth not know that these are old wiues fables and dreams of doterels But on the other side behold we haue in
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
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
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
cōmitted to him It followeth Casting down from their throne those that are mightier he throweth them downe euen to the ground as ministers of proud Lucifer How madlie the drunken frier inuadeth the place of Isaias * which doth properlie Ch. 14. concerne the popes of Rome and the vniuersall priests of the church For Gregorie the great doth plainly testifie that vnder the person of Nabuchadnosor the vniuersal pope is described For in hel there are brought in the damned kings princes comming out as it were to méete the pope and to welcome him comming vnto them after his death and mocking him thus Hell was afraide bicause of thee against the meeting of thy comming al the princes of the earth that are dead arise to thee All the kings of the nations rise out of their throns and they speak vnto thee on this wise Art thou also become weake as one of vs and art thou become like to vs Thy pride is drawne vnto the hell O Lucifer when didst thou fall from heauen thou sonne of the morning and art cut downe to the earth that didst terrifie the nations But thou saidst in thine hart I will clime vp into heauen I will exalt my throne aboue the stars of heauen I will clime vp aboue the height of the cloud and will become like to the most highest Those that see thee shall saie Is this he that troubled the earth and did shake kingdoms Now let vs heare Gregorie out of his fourth booke of Epistles ch 82. where he applieth that place of Isaias vnto him that did professe himselfe to be pope and vniuersall bishop I will clime vp saith he aboue the height of the clowdes I will be like to the most highest For what are all thy brethren the bishops of the vniuersall church but stars of heauen Before whom whiles thou couetest to set thy selfe by a worde of pride and to tread their name vnder foote in comparison of thee what else dost thou say but I will clime vp into heauen I will exalt my seat aboue the stars of heauen Whom whiles your brotherhood despising them doth go about to tread vnder foote what other thing saith it but this which the old enimie saith I will clime vp aboue the height of the clowds Al which things when I behold weeping c. By which words it is vnderstood that the place of Isaias concerning Lucifer cast downe into the neather most part of the earth and of his crueltie thrust downe into hell doth not belong to the most noble king of Nauarre than whom the sunne beholdeth nothing more méeke more gentle but vnto our Polyphemus Sixtus the fift and vnto his pride in treading vnder-foote the maiestie of kings But if we must cut the throat of this gyant with his owne sword lo we haue a plaine text in his owne decrée * where it is thus written Lucifer de poeniten dist 2. §. qui vero reprobi whiles that he presumed of himselfe in pride he was cast downe from paradyse into hell Also * Whiles Nabuchadnosor waxing proud in 23. q. 5. §. hinc notandum his hart said Is not this Babylon which I haue built c. God did foorthwith change his reasonable mind and he changed him into the forme of beastlines so that flieng from men he liued with beasts Which words he reciteth referring them vnto the pope which we wil haue especially noted and he commendeth Ludouike of Rome * But now let vs procéed in cons vlt. num 2. to the rest after we haue added that one thing out of the 38. leafe of the booke of the Conformities bicause mention is made of the seat of Lucifer The peace making Frier being caught vp into heauen whether in the bodie or without the bodie God knoweth let the readers consider how wickedly the vile munk doth mock the words of Paul and he saw in heauen manie seates amongst which he saw one higher than his fellowes bedeckt with pretious stone And he heard a voice saieng to him This was Lucifers seate and in his place shall humble Francis sit And this surely is that which we said before that Francis Bernardo togither with the rest of his stage plaiers and comicall mates shall haue a place in Lucifers kingdome so that we néed not greatly dispute whether Francis or pope Sixtus the fift a bishop of the order of Francis is worthie the seate It followeth in the bull According to the care for all chruches people and nations that lieth vpon vs. Good Lord What a burden hath our great cowled Frier taken vpon him séeing he hath taken vp vpon his shoulders the care both for all churches and people nations We will héerafter cease to woonder what is the cause that painters haue in his image painted the form of one that stoupeth Scarce Atlas who they say held vp heauen did beare a heauier burden What shall then become of vs if the pope begin to faint and faile vnder that so great a burden which he complaineth to lie vpon his shoulders alone They say that the cause of a certain melancholy persons gréefe was bicause he was afraid least Atlas who had so long borne so great a burden should at length sinke vnder it But we thinke it good to set downe in this place a certaine pleasant narration of William Budeus a man as I said before that loued his countrie and was very learned touching these Atlasses out of his fift booke De Asse A certain pleasant and merie preacher saith he was woont not long ago to cauill at them and to say that they seemed to him to be such as are those corbat images in churches which are set vpon posts or pillers For as we see some of these images as it were yeelding vnder their burden which are either in stead of corbats or else they reach without the mortesses of the corbats and they seeme to one that beholdeth them as if they tooke great paines and swet with bearing the worke whereas indeed they are without feeling and they help the strength of the stones nothing howsoeuer they seeme to take great paines so we see these Atlasses set and placed vpon the very tops of the pillers in the temple of the Lord hauing indeed that false honor and maiestie of titles like reuerend old men and their custome is to pretend holines and to beare a faire shew of reuerend old men that vnderprop the Lords sanctuarie but when we behold their blockish ignorance or dissolute carelesnes it is euident that they do no more good than images of stone But it séemeth that we ought not to omit that which Antoninus archbishop of Florence whom we haue sundry times before mentioned hath taught vs that when as long ago the pope began to faint vnder so great a burden there were some found that did vnderprop him with their shoulders namely Dominican Friers For he writeth thus * Dominic Histor. part 3. tit 23. §. 3. fol. 191. went
pope that may be better Which historie the same Boerius recorded in the same 20. councell Therefore let thus much be answered to that exprobration of the dispensation For as concerning the last part of the popes declaration wherein the foresaid princes are iointly crushed with the popes potguns are excommunicate proscribed and their kingdoms dominions dukedoms principalities and iurisdictions adiudged to him that can first get them we haue sufficiently declared before that the most part of Christendome maketh like account long ago of this kinde of trifles as the most professors of the popes religion make of the miracles of Bernardo and Dominic at this day which religion notwithstanding is so staied vp with the orders of the Franciscans and Dominicans as with most strong pillers that if they should suffer those pillers to be vndermined they might thinke that their religion were quite vndone But it séemeth that we must speake somwhat more largely of those vain thunderbolts of the popes long ago contemned and counted as nothing Of the vaine and contemptible thunderbolst of the popes FOr to cite a few of many testimonies when pope Boniface the eight had proscribed with this same ancient boldnes Philip the faire king of France the king hauing assembled a parlement did decrée according to the sentences of the orders that the filthie legates of the pope being reproched and ill intreated should be banished out of the borders of his kingdome Boniface the pope saith Laurentius Valla who deceiued Celestine with trumpets that he had put into a wall depriued the king of France of his kingdome of France and iudged that the kingdome it selfe as if hee would execute the donation of Constantine was and is subiect to the church of Rome What with what minde did king Philip suffer this his madnes It séemeth more fit to hear the whole matter out of the words of Platina himselfe Boniface saith Platina sent the archdeacon of Narbon to tell the king that he should set at libertie the bishop of Apame If he would not do that he should say in the hearing of all men that the kingdome of France was turned ouer to the church and that he should adde a curse and should absolue all the French men from their oth taken to the king Is not this the very same forme of proscription which our mad headed Sixtus hath vsed in proscribing the king of Nauarre and prince of Condie Platina procéedeth But in the meane season saith he Philip king of France taking the arrogancie of pope Boniface impatiently holding a great assemblie of ecclesiasticall persons and noble men at Paris and setting downe the iniuries that he had receiued at Bonifacius his hands and his ambition and wicked subtilties to get the popedome which he held vniustly he appealed vnto the sea apostolike which was at that time as he said vacant and vnto the next councel that should be held Wherwith Boniface being smitten holding a generall councell he maketh Philip and his kingdome subiect to Albertus the emperor whom he had reiected and put backe in the beginning of his popedome But then Philip willing to tame his pride sent Sarra Columniensis knowen in part of Massilia and redeemed from pyrates with Nogaretius a most faithfull French knight to Rome for this cause as he did openly declare that they might publish his appeale For he had another purpose in his head For Sarra entring into Italie apparelled like a seruing man hauing gathered togither his friend out of all parts sendeth Nogaretus before to Terentine with two hundred horsemen being French men and hired out of the campe of Charles Valesius that they might aide him from thence if need should be But entring by night secretly into Agnania hauing the Gibellines to aide him whom Boniface had long and greatlie vexed he caught the pope in his fathers house fearing no such thing after he had brok vp the gates he bringeth him captiue to Rome where 35. daies after he died for sorow Thus writeth Platina where he addeth also that of Iohn Andreas Baldus that he is as a dead dog who entred like a fox and ruled like a lion * In which place Bald. in c. 1. de nat feud it séemeth we ought not to omit that which our cowled frier hath left in writing in his booke of conformities * in these words Fol. 103. Pope Vrbane the fift swore to destroy our order but he died shortly after pope Bonifacius the eight caused manie buls to be made all of one tenor that the friers minors should be dispatched as the tēplars that our whole order might be destroied in one day Before he could send them he was taken prisoner the buls were burned and the pope himselfe died miserably But omitting trifles let vs sée to other things Surely by these things we vnderstand that euen at that time that is in the yéere M. cccvj these mad and furious proscriptions of the popes were contemned of the French kings counted as nothing Neither was the vertue and courage of king Charles the sixt inferior about the yéere M. ccccxviij For as we vnderstand by the records of the senate of Paris both French and Germane chronicles so soone as Martinus the fift was made pope in the councell of Constance being not content with so many and so great tributes vpon which two former Antipopes and also thrée former Antipopes and a little before fower Antipopes relieng had nourished deadly wars amongst them almost for the space of fortie yéers he began to command moreouer new tributes in the churches and especially of France Which message after the king had receiued he determined foorthwith to haue a parlement according to the custome In that assemblie after the matter had béen long time hard and debated a decrée was made that that new kind of the popes exactions should be inhibited Which so soone as pope Martin knew he sent foorthwith legates from his traine into France to inhibite principally all the citie of Lions from all holie things This was woont to be the force of those inhibitions of the popes in that time of darknes if happilie any man knew it not that they shut vp all the church doores there was no masse saide there was no vse or exercise of any religion there was also no ringing of bels Onely so Yea surely those that were dead might not be buried in churchyardes Wherewith it cannot in words be vttred how greatly mens minds infected with superstition were terrified What did they then Foorthwith according to the authoritie of the publike assemblie the decrée of the senate of Paris it was pronounced that that curse should be counted as nothing Let them remember let thē think vpon let them meditate vpon these things if there be any in our country of France either so ignorant and vnskilful of things or so euil affected towards mightie princes that they thinke that this foolish and ridiculous proscription of our cowled frier is of any
much that The pope being chosen otherwise than canonically is a diuell and hath not the keies of heauen but of hell For these be the words of Felinus * Let them furthermore In c. Ego N. de iureiur consider that all the popes cardinals and bishops which haue borne rule in the church of Rome more than an hundred yéeres came assuredly out of the seminarie of schismatiks and apostataes For it is now almost an hundred and fiftie yéers ago sithence the councel of Basill was kept and held with the great desire will of all Christian estates It is well knowen that neuer any councell was called had and kept in the church of Rome with greater solemnitie than this For it was both called by the decrée of two popes namely of Martin the fift and Eugenius the fourth and also it was held their legates being presidents Eugenius being cited and called out of the same councell after that they had solemnly heard the cause he was at length conuict of fraud iuglings craftie conueiances and factions against the libertie of that councell and so put from the popedome and disgraded as a schismatike and reuolt togither with all the cardinals and bishops which tooke his part And Amedaeus duke of Sauoy was put in his place Let vs heare what maner end this tragedie had Soone after the same Eugenius being condemned depriued disgraded was through the fauor of certain princes restored to his sea and he likewise restored with him all the cardinals and bishops that tooke his part And Amedaeus hauing though against his will a cardinals hat giuen him did resigne his popedome Let graue men and such as are of courage now consider whether according to that most holie function of the popes decrée wherof we spake euen now they be to be counted apostolicall or rather apostaticall whether they haue the keies of heauen or of hell who arising out of that seminarie of the Eugenians beare rule in the church of Rome in these times Which that it may more commodiously be iudged it is woorth the labor to heare and knowe the opinions of the doctors and lawiers who haue written somewhat touching this matter and first of all of Ludouike of Rome who was present at the councell of Basill where he wrote the last councell whose words are these * If the num 15. shepheard of shepheards offensiuely gouerning and inordinately handling the church being admonished by the church do not foorthwith repent yea continue in his insolencie of gouernment he may and ought to be put from his office For seeing he honoreth not the church admonishing him wholesomly neither shall he then deserue to be honored of the church so that it should tollerate him gouerning offensiuely and being incorrigible being an argument of that which the orator Domitius saith and Hierom reporteth in his epistle to the Neopolitanes saieng thus Why then should I count thee as my prince seeing thou dost not take me for a senator * Therefore the truth is that the pope dist 95. c. esto subiectus offending the church notoriouslye with his crimes and remaining incorrigible may be accused to the church and by the same be vncased of his popedome Which conclusion is shewed farther thus The pope standing in a notorious crime that offendeth the whole church and being vnwilling to cease of falleth into suspition of heresie * He that liueth rebelliously and refuseth c. nullus dist 38. sic dicente to learne and do good things is shewed to be a member rather of the diuel than of Christ and he is shewed to be rather an infidell than a beleeuer Thus saith Ludouike of Rome who as we said was present at the councell of Basil with great authoritie Where be those that dispute that they are and ought to be counted heretiks which set themselues against the popes tyrannie Which thinke that his outragious boldnes in proscribing kings ought not any longer to be borne with Which detest the impietie of Sixtus the fift in maintaining the feined religions of Bernardo and Dominick But now let vs cite another authoritie of the same notable man out of the same councell for shortly after * he num 17. saith thus If naturall reason tell vs that an incurable member that infecteth the whole bodie ought to be cut off for the safetie of the whole bodie in like sort ciuill reason ought to tell vs that an incurable member that infecteth the whole mistical church must be cut off that the rest of the bodie be not infected or offended and consequently the pope let vprightnes of minds be vsed in reading these things and let these words of Ludouike of Rome be compared with that our curse and detestation who though he be a principall part of the church yet is he also a member of the bodie of the church according to the glosse * Also the reason of the scripture of God in c. ecce 93. dist persuadeth this approouing the asseueration of Caiphas the chiefe priest who said It is expedient that one man die for the people and that all the people do not perish seeing that though he were pope placed to gouerne the people yet ought he not to be their ruine saith text 11. q. 3. ita corporis Yea he is worthie of as manie deaths as he sendeth ouer examples of destruction to his subiects saith text eadem caus q. in c. praecipuè For as it is a laudable and discreet thing to giue reuerence and honor to superiors so it is a point of vprightnes and the feare of God not to cast behind vs by any dissimulation the things that are in them and need any correction least the disease go through the whole bodie if the sicknes be not cured in the head saith text 2. q. 7. c. sicut inquit This conclusion is also prooued by the text in c. in canonibus 16. q. 1. and in d. c. sed illud So likewise he ought to be banished out of the church who is not amended by the admonition of the church as the Lord saith Take away euill from among you For those wounds must be launced which feele not the softening of the medicine * argum de iudic c. cum non ab hom Thus writeth 82. dist c. quia aliquanti 1. q. 1. c. reperiuntur Ludouike of Rome word for word Wherby being compared with that our detestation vpright readers may iudge whether iustly or vniustly we haue so boldly accursed the tyrannous boldnes of that pope Moreouer to that complaint of Ludouike of Rome agrée those things which cardinall Zabarella wrote about the yéere M. ccccvj in his treatise of schisme num 20. For euery notorious crime of the pope saith he if he cannot be reformed and do offend the church he may be accused bicause he is accounted as an heretike * in c. olim col pen. extra de rescrip for this incorrigiblenes not in gloss 40 dist c. si papa concerneth
Stella a Venetian written vnto the patriarch of Aquileia being cardinall priest of the church of Rome of the title of Saint Marke Last of all saith he he was made pope of Rome through the deuill his assistance Yet vpon this condition that after his death he should be wholie his both in bodie and soule by whose crafts he had attained vnto so great dignitie After this Syluester asked him how long he should liue pope He answered thou shalt liue vntill thou shalt say masse in Hierusalem Last of all in the fourth yeere of his popedome when as in the Lent-time in the solemne feast of the holie crosse he song masse in Hierusalem at Rome he knew foorthwith that he should die by destiny Wherefore repenting himselfe he confessed his fault before all the people and he praied them all that they would cut in quarters and peeces his body that was seduced by the deuils pollicie and being cut and torne a sunder they would lay it in a cart and that they woulde burie it there whither the horses should carie it of their owne accord Therefore they say that the horses came by Gods prouidence that wicked men may learne that there is place left for pardon with God so they repent in this life of their owne accorde to the church called Lateranensis and that he was buried there Thus writeth Stella the Venetian There is extant also a certaine sermon made in the Easter time by Iohn Gerson gouernour of the Vniuersitie of Paris wherin he left it written that pope Iohn the xxij did holde that the soules of the wicked are not in paine before the day of iudgement Which heresie of his the schoole of Sorbona in the same Vniuersitie did stoutlie condemne and caused that pope to recant his errour Of the same sort of impietie is that which we will set downe in the wordes of Raphaell Volaterane out of his fift booke of Geographie where speaking of pope Sixtus the fourth whose name this our Quintus tooke and whose godlines also he doth follow he writeth thus The pope being priuie and helping thereto the conspiratours come to Florence and they meete all togither in the church of S. Reparata at the masse and sacrifice in the morning In the meane while Saluiatus departing the church priuilie with his confederates being armed he goeth into the court that he might speake vnto the banner-bearer feigning that he had some other busines Yet to this end and purpose that when the murder should begin in the church he might be present and readie to set vpon the court and magistrate Therefore when the watch word was giuen in the Eleuation time marke the notable testimonie of the popes holines The watch word saith he being appointed in time of the Eleuation Bandinus did stick Iulian de Medicis brother to Laurence Antonie which was desirous to be chiefe setteth vpon Laurence on the other side behinde his backe and smote him a little below the throte When as he forthwith turning himselfe vnto crieng did auoide the stroke he fled with speed from him as he was about to strike again into the vestrie of the church that was neere to him Then the popes ambassador who gaue that watch word to commit the murder in the time of the Eleuation being caught by the citizens and led by them out of the church into the court was committed to ward and was handled as he had deserued In the meane season Saluiatus bishop of Pisa who of set purpose did protract his speech with the banner-bearer that he might see the ende was foorthwith caught and was the same day hanged vp at the court windowes which message when it came to the popes eares he did excommunicate Laurence de Medicis who as we haue said was faine to saue himselfe by flieng bicause he had laid hands on Gods priests and legate and he proclaimed open war against the Florentines Thus writeth Volateranus Whereby euerie man may sée what great account the popes vse to make of their Eucharist And yet notwithstanding they will haue all Christian religion placed in worshipping carieng about reuerencing and honoring with all maner honor the same But we must bring foorth another argument For what more certaine thing can be brought to shewe the impietie of the popes than that which is common in euery mans mouth that the order at Rome is so often as the popes go on progresse that that Eucharist being laid vpon some leane carrian iade about whose necke a bel is hanged is committed to some horse-kéeper and is sent before amongst the scullions and drudges and other cariage as a messenger to shew the pope was cōming For in the booke of the popes ceremonies 1. sect cap. 3. it is thus written After them is led by a friend of the Sextins clothed in red and carrieng a staffe in his left hand a white horse being gentle carrieng the sacrament of the Lords bodie hauing about his necke a shrill little bell Next after the sacrament rideth the Sextin who as the other prelates hath an horse all couered with buckerom c. Also sect 12. ca. 1. After them is led a white horse trapped gentle and faire hauing a shrill little bell about his necke which carrieth the coffer with the most holie bodie of the Lord. Also cap. 4. Before the pope is alwaies carried the crosse by the Subdeacon and after the crosse is carried the bodie of Christ vpon a white horse with a little bell c. And these are the ordinances of the popes pompe but they are but ordinances For those which frequent Rome do with great consent witnes both concerning the iade that is sent before and also touching the sending of him amongst other carriage There is a booke extant written by Iohn Monlucius bishop of Valentia who was often sent ambassador to Rome for the king of France which booke was written touching religion to Quéene mother whose words are these * being Pag. 101. turned out of French into Latin Quoties Papa c. So often as the pope goeth on progresse least he seeme to giue too much honor to his Eucharist he doth not carrie it in his hands but he sendeth it away before him three or fower daies before he himselfe goeth out of the citie being laid vpon an horses back wherwith he sendeth to beare it companie singers mulitors horse-keepers and other such of his garde of his court that is cookes kitchingboies and curtisans these are his words Then the pope who saith that he is his vicar followeth afterward garded and trouped with cardinals bishops and other such peeres When he commeth to the towne then that which he calleth the bodie of Christ which hath rested it selfe a while there is brought out of the towne to meet him and straightway they salute one another by becking saieng not one word And then he sendeth it before him againe but with how great honor The pope is carried into the citie vnder a rich canapie the bodie
our hands the fearfull decrées of the popes wherein they most sharply forbid that no man presume to doubt of the credit of these histories and they decrée that they be receiued in the catholike Church of Rome that if any man thinke otherwise he be counted an heretike and a schismatike For in the same booke * Dist. 22. c. omnes it is thus written Pope Gregorie the 9. hath made sundry buls of the holines Fol. 234. col 3. of S. Francis and his marks wherein he affirmeth that S. Francis had truly in his bodie imprinted by Christ the marks of the L. Iesus And he commandeth all the faithfull to hold this and to beleeue it and that the wise man opposing himselfe against it be punished for an heretike The Lord Alexander the fourth who saw the marks of S. Francis with his owne eies whiles S. Francis was yet aliue speaketh thus in his bull The eies that sawe faithfully saw and the most sure fingers of those that handled felt the marks in the bodie of the same S. whiles he was yet liuing Thirdly the L. pope Nicolas the 3. gaue the like bul Fourthly the L. pope Benedict the 12. And forasmuch Dist. 11. in fi dist 12. c. 1. seq dist 22. c. reputatur dist 22. ca. omnes in fine as the determination of the holie Church of Rome is most true and certain for the Church of Rome must be followed as a mistresse in all things and he that speaketh against hir is counted an heretike * 24. q. 1. bicause she hath neuer erred frō the path of the apostolike tradition * dist 11. c. palam dist 12. c. praecep 24. q. 1. c. quoties 11. q. 3. episcop § Sola 17. q. 4. nemini vnto which we must haue recourse in doubtful and hard matters * and she is of force to iudge all and none is permitted to iudge hir * and the same church of Rome hath declared that S. Francis was marked by Christ as it appeereth by the foresaid buls Wherefore this must be holden most firmly as true and he that holdeth the contrarie must be despised of all as an heretike and especially seeing the foresaid two popes Gregorie and Alexander did not onelie see it with their owne eies but do also expressely say that it hath beene witnessed by witnesses woorthie of credit And streightway Sixtly Col. 3. the marking of S. Francis is made authenticall euen by the testimonie of the wicked spirits of whom we haue spoken before Thus far out of Fol. 234. the booke of the Conformities so that all men may now plainly sée that it is not for nothing that we do so greatly vrge these things For our frier the excommunicator of kings and princes will not suffer these things to be counted but trifles especially séeing he hath tumbled so long in the filth of the Franciscans and doth now professe himselfe to be a patrone and defender of that order and commandeth that they be counted heretikes which will not beléeue and highly estéeme of the church of Rome in all points Whereof that no man may doubt these things are taught not in one place of that booke that is fol. 234. but euen in the verie entrie of the booke also * Fol. 3. in these words In what saint was the monstrous marking made Surely in none other but in our holie father Francis as the church of Rome doth auouch and commandeth the faithfull to beleeue Secondly pope Benedict also granted the order a feast to be celebrated and kept for the marks Moreouer Antoninus bishop of Florence saith thus Pope Alexander the 4. anno 1254. taking into his speciall Lib. hist. 3. tit 24. § 10. protection immediately the mount of Aluerne bicause of the impression of the holie marks made there in the bodie of S. Francis and making the same subiect to the church of Rome and giuing S. Francis great commendation he gaue an effectuall commandement that the friers should neuer forsake that holie mountaine The same yeere being at Anagnia he sent a seruant to carrie letters to the faithfull seruants of Christ according to the tenor of Gregorie the 9. touching the holie marks of Saint Francis wherein he affirmeth that he saw them with his owne eies Also he sent other letters to the Archbishop of Genua commanding that he should personally cite and call before him those that had maliciously put out the marks of the image of S. Francis in the church of S. Marie and ministerie of S. Xistus to be punished as they had deserued inhibiting vnder danger of cursing that no man heereafter should attempt to do the like Nicolas the third being pope about the yeer 1280. sent letters to al the faithfull seruants of Christ containing a certaine testimonie of the holie marks of Francis Thus writeth Antoninus So that no man ought now to doubt but that all Christians especially so long as this Franciscane frier beareth rule in the Church must prepare themselues either to abide the punishment appointed for schismatikes and heretikes or else to imbrace these inuentions of the Franciscanes for diuine oracles giuen by the church of Rome And that we may haue other and more commodious store of choice it séemeth not vnappertinent to cite out of the same booke of Conformities certaine other notable things such as is that A certaine citizen Fol. 66. saith he slept and was rapt vp into heauen where he saw Christ and S. Marie and other Saints all which went as they go on procession giuing reuerence to Christ and his mother But when he saw not S. Francis he said to the Angell that led him where is S. Francis with his crue in this place The Angell answered Tarie and thou shalt see S. Francis and in what state he is and he saw and behold Christ lifted vp his right arme and out of the wound in his side came Saint Francis with the banner of the crosse displaied in his hands and after him a great multitude of friers and others Then that citizen gaue his goods to the friers and he became a frier minor Also S. Francis Fol. 2. making a representation of the natiuitie had Christ in his armes and whiles he praied the virgin that she would grant him comfort of hir sonne Iesus the most beautifull virgin hir selfe stood by him and gaue him to S. Francis to hold in his armes and kisse from the euening till it was day Some will say these are toies and very bables but these trifles as it was somtimes said are counted among them matters of weight Also by these we vnderstand how wickedly these former popes haue mocked the Church of Christ in feining religions vsing the helpe of one Bartholomew Pisanus in patching these fables togither and in forcing them vpon the vnskilfull multitude in stéed of holie scripture What Whether may we call these trifles or rather detestable and execrable things which are written in these words Francis
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
signification by which signification is vnderstood Christ the rocke Peter the Church Thus saith Augustine which thing he repeateth in his book against Iud. paga And also in the tenth tract vpon Iohn and of the word of the Lord ser 20. Concerning which opinion Cyrillus saith He called the rocke nothing In dial de trinitate lib. 4. else but by agnomination the vnshaken and most firme faith of the disciple wherein the Church of Christ is grounded And this verie In epist. ad Eph. ca. 2. same thing doth Ambrose * In hom in Mat. 55. Chrysostom * in c. quodcunque 24. q. 1 and also the Canonists * confirm They alledge this same saieng of Augustine Bicause in the person of Peter the Church hirselfe receiued the keies Which thing is inculcate out of Hierom * in c. omnibus ead q. But Bernard inueighing bitterly against that arrogancie of the popes breaketh out at length into these words And in times past truly In epist. 230. you did rule as Lords ouer the Clergie contrarie to the Apostle Peter yea and ye ruled as lords ouer the faith of the whole world contrarie to his fellow Apostle Paule But now you haue added some new thing vsurping also ouer religion it selfe what remaineth but that you proceed to rule as lords euen ouer the holie Angels themselues And Gregorie surnamed the Great writeth thus to Mauritius Epist 30. li. 16. the emperour I say boldlie that whosoeuer he be that calleth himself the vniuersal priest or desireth to be so called doth in his pride go before Antichrist bicause in waxing proud he setteth himselfe before the rest The like wherof we may sée in many places in the Lib. 6. epi. 188. epi. 194. also lib. 7. epist 3. 74. 79. 80. same writer and vnto the said Mauritius And thus much concerning the former part of the Dilemma Now let vs sée touching the other that is the donation of Constantine Though séeing it may séem that we shall haue a fitter place to handle the same when we come to intreat of the crime of forgerie it be fitter for vs at this time in this one word to passe ouer al that disputation namely that all that instrument of the donation which the pope bringeth forth is false feigned and forged and that it came out of the same shop out of which we shewed before the volume of the Conformities of Francis came wherof bicause we shall in their place bring to light 25. most sure arguments we will now make an ende to this second crime Onelie in stéede of a conclusion we will propounde a question of this Franciscane frier of ours which will not easily be answered as I thinke Our Sixtus is pope and also a Franciscane inasmuch as he is pope he hath as we haue shewed before not onely chiefe dignitie vpon earth but also great in heauen purgatorie and hell inasmuch as he is a Franciscane no doubt according to his dutie towarde his patron he granteth that S. Francis deserueth dignitie aboue the Cherubins We say not amongst the Cherubins saith Antoninus of Florence but aboue the Cherubins and it is certaine according to the doctors that the Seraphins are aboue the Cherubins Thus writeth Antoninus Therfore the question is when this pope departing Lib. hist. 3. tit 23. ca. 1. this life shall be receiued by S. Francis whether he shall be placed aboue the Cherubins or the Seraphins For we haue shewed that the Dominicane friers onlie are placed vnder the mantle of the blessed virgin It causeth great doubtfulnes bicause as Augustine Steuchus writeth the pope is God as the Canonists dispute halfe a God But Francis as we saide before out of the testimonie of the deuill is nothing but a stout frier On the other side this our frier calleth Francis the Typical Iesus as if one should saie Another Iesus or one that is made like to the former Iesus If we should place Francis aboue the pope we should place him aboue his God or demie God which were most absurd If we should giue him a place below the pope neuerthelesse we should absurdlie make another Iesus subiect to the pope and peraduenture the Iesuites could not abide that for the high dignitie of their name What shall we saie then Bartolus was woont in hard questions to admonish his hearers to bethinke themselues We in the meane season without any preiudice of the truth will leaue to this pope that same place which Gregorie the Great giueth him which what maner one it is we shall set downe shortly after where we shall make mention of Lucifers comming to hell Of the crime of corrupt Religion HItherto haue we spoken briefely of the second crime of the papacie according to our method and order set downe It followeth that we intreat of the crime of corrupt religion For when as the pope tooke vpon him that chiefe lordship ouer Christian religion he then determined as it were by his own right to innouate new trim and transforme it at his pleasure Whereof this is the first testimonie The holie Scripture teacheth vs that there is one onely forme of religion and worshipping of God the same which is set downe in writing in the writings of the Prophets Apostles so that it is not lawfull to adde any thing thereto or to take any thing there fro no not for an Angell in heauen Therefore Christ saith In vaine do they worship me teaching doctrines which Iohn 14. 2. Tim. 3. Matth. 15. are the commandements of men And Ier. 7. Which I neuer commanded neither ascended they into mine hart Therefore Irenaeus bishop of Lyons an authour most ancient for he wrot about the yéere of Christ 198. After that saith he our Lord rose from the dead and the Apostles had the holie Ghost giuen them after that power came vpon them from aboue they were filled with all things and they had perfect knowledge of saluation Also Cha. 4. We must not seeke the truth at others seeing the Apostles haue most fully bestowed all things in the church which belong to the truth that euery one that will may take of the same drinke of life Also Athanasius in the beginning of his second booke against the Gentils The holie scripture saith he and inspired by God is alone abundantly sufficient to all instruction of the truth Thus saith he But the pope setteth downe on the contrarie that The discipline of the Church besides holie scripture so saith he in the Councell of Trent is contained in the traditions of the elders Triden concil session 4. cap. 1. which being deliuered as it were by hands came vnto vs also as being deliuered either by word of mouth by Christ or else by the holie Ghost Now let vs sée what maner traditions being deliuered to vs by our ancetors as it were from hand to hand are to be obserued And first of all let vs cite that The pope vseth vpon
Another being not so gainefull but notwithstanding filthy detestable is that which is called the tax of the Apostolike penance when as impunitie of all sin and wickednes is so manifestly sold euery sin hauing a certaine sum of money set vppon it that euen some canonists do detest that vnsatiable couetousnes and robbery As in the glosse * where Iohn the munke c. fundamenta de elect in 6. saith that Rome being builteby Pirates doth as yet retaine of his first beginning And surely so it is that yéerely an incredible weight of gold is caried to Rome out of the most wealthy treasuries in the world which the popes and cardinals and other epicures of the same order doe spend vpon the most insatiable and bottomlesse gulfe of their lustes with great infamie of the name of Christians The names and titles of the former are infinite but of so great store these are chiefely reckoned The tribute of first fruites or vacances which is the name of the reuenues of the first yéere which the popes gather into their treasurie but these are for the most part doubled and tripled Also the tribute of preuentions resignations for fauour commendations dispensations for age order irregularitie corporall faultes Also of expectatiue graces deuolutions benefices that are like to be void priuileges exemptions for not visiting or to visit by a deputie of confessions of those that are agréed of transactions made vnder the popes good pleasure of changinges of benefices with dispensation of mandates of bishops of expeditions in form by reason of congruitie for making notories and protonotories apostolike with their coadiutors for letters of greater or lesser iustice for secular dignities for dignities ecclesiasticall for new foundations or changing the old or for reduction of regular monasteries into secular state or for restoring them againe for receiuing fruites during absence for legitimations portable altars for non obstances for indulgences of secular clerks for reuocations and reductions for Toleramus or tollerances of concubines and for rescriptions to suites Time should faile vs if we should go about to reckon vp all sorts of their vnlawfull scrapings and robberies Neither is it greatlie néedfull For there is a booke of the popes extant concerning these matters markets hauing this title The taxes of the Apostolike chancery with the Notables as they write them at this day of the church of Rome in which booke there is a woorthy saieng expressed in these words in a certaine place And note diligently that such graces and dispensations are not granted to poore men bicause they are not therefore they cannot be comforted Who is he that is so secure a contemner of God who is he altogither so voide of conscience amongst the kings counsailers whom these monsters of robberies sacrileges simonies do not mooue Who is so hard harted and such an enimie to his countrie which is not throughly touched with so great spoile of the wealth of France and with the ruin of the poore people out of whose marrowes and bowels this money is fet which the déepe lustes of the popes cardinals haue deuoured That which we are now about to say will séem a thing incredible but yet it is certaine and tried to be true When as in times past the Romane empire stoode there was such abundance of wealth and riches so great store of gold and siluer caried thither out of all partes and places of the world of the tributes and taxes of all people and nations in a maner that that citie was commonly called by the Gréeke word The little Epitomie Athenaeus li. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the whole world What if we now shew that the pope of Rome doth draw to Rome yéerely by his shifts cosenage and wicked policies out of Europe onelie which is counted but the third part of the world no lesse store of gold and siluer than the emperors of Rome did exact of all coastes of the earth for so many legions that lay euerie-where in garison Let vs heare Flauius Blondus his testimonie being a man that was an Italian a great flatterer of the popes out of his booke of Rome restored 3. Now saith he the princes of the world do adore and worship the perpetuall dictator not of Caesar but the successor of Peter the fisherman and the vicar of the foresaid emperour the chiefe and high bishop Now the whole world doth worship the senate of cardinals in Rome next to the pope What That almost all Europe sendeth to Rome tributes being greater then at least equall with the tributes of ancient times when euery citie receiueth from the pope of Rome benefices for priestes Thus writeth Blondus But we must a little more diligently frame the reason of this cruel sacrilege For Suetonius in the life of Iulius Caesar writeth thus He brought all France into the forme of a prouince and he laid vpon the same yeerely foure hundred sesterties by the name of a stipende Eutropius left this same written in a maner in as many words in the sixt booke of his breuiarie If we folow William Budeus his account we shal find that this number of sesterties is in our coin ten hundred thousand crownes or as they commonly cal it a million as the Germanes vse it ten tuns of gold This was a great tribute for France which it did yéerely pay to the emperours in such sort that yet notwithstanding there was paide out of the same to some legions that lay in garison a stipende What if we now prooue that the pope of Rome doth with his iuglings and shifts gather to Rome yéerly no lesse sum without paieng any thing out of the same Peraduenture it wil séeme to som a thing incredible and altogither monsterous as I saide before but yet notwithstanding we shall prooue by a most sure testimonie that it is most true Who is then a witnes of that so great robberie or rather sacrilege The senate of Paris that beareth chiefe rule in France which about an hundred yéeres ago presented to Ludouicus the eleuenth certaine requests for the churches of France which Francis Duarene a lawyer translated into Latine and published with the kings priuilege twise at Paris and also twise at Lyons toward the end of the booke concerning benefices For in the 72. article of the same requests it is thus written That we may speciallie and particularly shew how greatly the money of the realme is wasted within those three yeeres we must marke that in the holie bishops time there haue bin void in this realme more than twentie archbishoprikes and bishoprikes and it is not to be doubted but that as well for the yeerely tribute which we call the first fruits as for other extraordinarie costes vpon euerie bull there haue bin paide downe sixe thousand crownes which sum amounteth to an hundred and twentie thousand crownes The 68. article followeth There haue bin voide in this realme threescore abbots places whereof euerie one cost two thousand crownes
at the least therefore the sum is an hundred and twentie thousand crownes 74. At the same time there were voide priorships deaneries prouostships masterships and other dignities which haue not the pastorall staffe for their insigne more than two hundred and for euerie one of these benefices there were paide downe fiue hundred crownes the summe therefore is an hundred thousand crownes 75. It is manifest that in this realme there be at least an hundred thousand parishes which are inhabited and replenished Neither is there any one wherein at that time some one did not obtaine an expectatiue grace and for euerie one of these they paied fiue and twentie crowns as well for the charges of the iournie as for the making of the buls non obstances prerogatiues annullations and other especiall clauses which were woont to be adioined to the graces expectatiues Also for the executorie processe vpon the same graces This summe is twentie times fiue hundred thousand crownes Thus saith the Senate of Paris Now let vs collect the totall summe of the summes We shall find that it amounteth to the summe of nine hundred six and fortie thousand six hundred thréescore and six crownes and moreouer to the eight part of one crowne which is the third part of that sum which the Senate of Paris sheweth to haue béen caried to Rome in that thrée yéeres space namely eight and twentie hundred and fortie thousand crowns or to speak plainly in our countrie spéech thrée millions of gold lacking an hundred thréescore thousand or as the Germans say almost eight and twentie tunnes of gold Moreouer we haue found out that the taxe of the vacations written in the bookes of the treasure-house of the cathedrall churches and abbaies of France being taxed onely doth euery sixt yéere amount to the summe of six hundred ninetie seuen thousand seuen hundred and fiftie French pounds besides the prelacies and other benefices that are not taxed the exactions whereof do almost arise to that summe And shal there be any in the kings Parleament of France that will confesse that he can with a quiet mind suffer this whirlepit or rather Scylla Charibdis or gulfe And will not rather so soone as he heareth this losse of so great summes detest and accurse that huge and cruell beast with all praiers And yet we will not cite this testimonie onely Lo we haue another out of the booke whose title is The Forest of common places which was published about the end of the Councell holden at Basill wherein is gathered into a grosse summe the summe of monie that during the time of pope Martin the fifts popedome was caried to Rome out of France alone which is saide to haue amounted to ninetie hundred thousande crownes And do we woonder that that same Senate of Paris did in the same requests artic 71. sore and bitterly complaine that so great a summe of gold and siluer was yéerely caried to Rome so that they were compelled somtimes for the vse of the common people of France to coine brasse monie for siluer monie But let vs heare the 62. article of the same requests Heertofore saith the Senate of Paris the people of this kingdome ran to Rome by heapes whereof some serued the cardinals and courtiers some being seruants to no man but being intised by some vaine hope did spend their owne and their parents substance other some and that a great manie went to Rome for this purpose that they might procure trouble to the rest that staied heere and that they might wring out of their hands by hooke or by crooke their churches and benefices For we find by experience that the greatest part of those which went hence to Rome was woont to die straightway either through wearisomnes and danger of the iournie or through the plague which is oftentimes very rife at Rome and those which escaped out of these dangers they procured trouble to old men sicke persons and to such like which were continually resident in their churches and benefices But it did oftentimes fall out that silly men being cited to the court of Rome when as they could not defend themselues against these false accusers were inforced to end their life through wearisomnes and sorrow 62. Most of those that did hunt after benefices did quite emptie their parents and friends bagges and at length they were brought to great pouertie and beggerie Neither did they indure so great iniuries vpon any other hope saue onely that they might somtimes bring home lead for gold and it fell out sometimes that the gaping crow was deceiued and that the lead that was bought with gold was nothing else but lead For whiles they trusted to their leaden buls there came in one between which brought at a sudden an annullation and sometimes there were ten or twelue that did gape and catch for one benefice And when the strife was once begun they must backe againe to Rome to follow the sute so that whiles all men ran to Rome from all quarters the realme was miserably destitute of hir people and subiects And this surely was the complaint of the Senate of Paris of the vnsatiable couetousnes and gréedie robberie of the popes aboue an hundred yéeres ago which was presented to king Ludouike and yet not sproong from the new and fresh robberies of the popes For there is extant a decrée of that Ludouike that was called Blessed anno 1228. which doth plainly shew how great the couetousnes of the popes was in France euen at that time The exactions Sub. tit de Talijs saith he and heauie burdens laid vpon the churches of our realme by the court of Rome whereby the realme is woonderfully impouerished or which shall heerafter be laid vpon vs will we haue to be leuied and gathered no farther foorth saue onely for reasonable godly and most vrgent necessitie and such as cannot be auoided and according to our expresse and free consent and of the church of our realme It séemeth good to me likewise to cite in this place that excellent conclusion of the Abbat of Vsperge out of the life of Philip the emperor wherby it may be vnderstood Pag. 321. how ancient this complaint was concerning the robberies of the papacie of Rome which Sixtus the fift hath determined to maintaine stoutly with all his tyrannie There scarce remained saith he any bishoprike or ecclesiasticall dignitie or parish church which was not in suite and the cause it selfe was brought to Rome but not with an empty hand Our mother Rome be glad bicause the sluces of the treasuries of the earth are set open that the streames and heapes of monie may flow vnto thee in great abundance Reioice ouer the iniquities of the sonnes of men bicause thou hast a reward giuen thee in recompence of so great euils Be glad ouer thine helper discord bicause she is broken out of the pit of hell that thou maist haue many rewards of monie heaped vpon thee Thou hast that after which
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
at length it may be said the apostolike mule and sir reuerence the apostolike pissepot and so foorth But to returne to our purpose that the difference betwéene an heretike and an apostolike man might more plainly be vnderstood Tertullian adioineth a most manifest example and very appertinent to that we haue in hand Paul saith he instructing Timothie doth amongst heretiks nip forbidders of marriage Why so Tertullian Surely bicause that inhibition is contrarie to the doctrine of the apostles who taught in plaine words that marriage is not onely comly and honorable for al sorts and orders of men but also for the most part necessarie Whereby it appéereth that the forbidding of matrimonie is not apostolike but hereticall bicause according to Tertullians opinion those are defined to be heretiks which bring in doctrine contrarie to the writings of the apostles And those are defined to be apostolike and sound and catholike which contenting themselues with the writings of the apostles do detest accurse togither with the apostle those that detract from or adde to the same Furthermore to this definition of heretiks agréeth that which S. Augustine deliuereth * He is an heretike saith he who In lib. de vtil creden for loue of gaine or principalitie doth either beget or follow new opinions Where he meaneth principalitie of faction and departing from the Church the captaine and prince wherof he professeth himselfe to be hauing as it were set vp his banner And with this selfe same mind Paul calleth Philetus and Hymeneus heretiks bicause they had not only erred from the faith but also subuerted the faith of others whom likewise in another place he calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is wanderers or straiers 1. Tim. 2. 2. Tim. 3. and such as lead others into errore also But moreouer Peter describing heretiks saith that they intrap the minds of inconstant and weake men Also in another place Amongst them saith he there shall be false teachers which shall secretly bring in heresies or deadly sects 2. Pet. 2. And as touching the forme of declaring heretiks Paul sheweth the same in these words An heretike after the first and second admonition 1. Tim. 3. auoid Vnto which forme that order doth also appertaine which Christ prescribed * that he be accused before the Church Mat. 18. and if he shew himselfe stubborne let him be counted as an heathen man and profane person And we sée that euen the schoole doctors are of this mind amongst these the maister of sentences * where he In 4. dist 18. c. 7. writeth thus that Excommunication ought to be put in practise when a man being according to canonicall discipline called the third time to amend a manifest fault and making no account to make satisfaction is cut off by the sentence of the church from the place of praier and from the partaking of the sacraments and from the fellowship of the faithfull that he may be ashamed and that he may repent being conuerted through shame of his wickednes that his soule may be saued Who if professing repentance he do repent he is admitted to the communion that was denied him and is reconciled to the Church By all which doth plainly appéere that there be thrée marks of an heretike whereby they are knowen and discerued from those that hold the truth if they bring in any thing into the Church that agréeth not with the rule of faith if they make a departure and if being solemnly admonished they do stubbornely persist But bicause this disputation doth for the most part appertain vnto the kings Senators which are lawiers it séemeth to be nothing vnappertinent to set downe another definition of heretiks out of the bookes of Iustinian For in the Nouel 115. § si quis where amongst the lawfull causes of disheriting children he reckoneth vp heresies he addeth these words interpreted by Iulian Antecessor But we call those men sound which communicate in the holie catholike church into which all the patriarks are gathered with one consent and concord and the fower holie Councels are preached the Nicene that of Constantinople the first of Ephesus and that of Chalcedon And we call those heretiks which do not communicate with the catholikes These things being thus set downe let vs now sée by what right our foresaid Princes are condemned by pope Sixtus the fift for heretiks for whether we follow the former or the latter definition the foresaid Princes do professe and declare so earnestly as they can and they call to witnes God and Angels and all men of all sorts and kinds finally heauen and earth that they do neither bring in into the Church any thing that is repugnant to the rule of faith and vsuall créede of Christians ne yet to those fower most ancient Councels but that they do with all their hart imbrace their doctrine and confession such as was cōceiued in the Nicene synod the synod of Constantinople of Ephesus and Chalcedon neither doe they depart euen an heares bredth as they say from the forme set downe by Athanasius Futhermore they professe that they neither haue made neither will make any departure frō those churches which haue continued in that rule of faith and forme of confessions such as be those churches of the most noble and mightie electors and princes of the confession of Augusta Last of all that they were neuer till this daie admonished reprehended by any church of this sort which hath perseuered in the doctrine of the apostles But and if being yoong men and terrified with the blood and infinite murders of the massacre of Paris and mooued with the sight and presence of a most mightie king and finally being hedged in with the swordes of manie armed soldiers they did and pronounced those things vnwillingly which they were commanded either to do or pronounce this must not be counted a solemne and lawful forme of ecclesiasticall admonition and such as Christ appointed and the Apostles and apostolike men haue kept especially séeing that shortly after when they had recouered their libertie they protested that they did all that they did vnwillingly and compelled with threatnings and did openlie craue pardon for that their infirmitie at the hands of God Christians in a reformed church before a great assemblie And on the contrarie they shew that the pope of Rome is condemned by the iudgement of the most part of Europe not only amongst heretiks but also as a chiefe heretike as the chiefe author and captaine of sedition First bicause he hath brought in into the church wicked fables and blasphemous touching the false miracles of munks and traditions most contrarie to those fower ancient councels such as we haue before set downe touching the feigned purgatorie the inuocation of the dead the worshipping of images the daily renuing of the sacrifice of Christ in the masse the idolatrous worshipping of the bread and chalice touching the forbidding of mariage touching the Dominicane munkes hid
vnder the garment of the virgin Marie touching more and greater miracles done by Dominic and Francis than either by Christ or his Apostles which are such wicked hainous and vngodlie blasphemies that the minds of al the godly do abhor the rehearsal therof Secondly bicause hauing taken to himselfe lordship and princely power ouer the whol church and vsing ministers and officers dukes and purpled cardinals to defend him and furnish him he professed himselfe to be the captaine and prince of a new faction and synagog Last of all bicause being about fower hundred whole yéers ago requested by the praiers of al Christian princes and admonished to admit some amendement and reformation he did prowdlie reiect their request and precepts Of which not to fet testimonies far surely the memorie of our fathers and grandfathers may be a witnes out of the councell of Constance Basil Florence and Trent in which last false and erronious doctrines were not only not taken away but also more and more confirmed so that no man can now doubt but that these thrée markes whereby we said a little before an heritike is discerned from one whose iudgement is sound do most euidently appéere in the pope of Rome Which things séeing they are so we thinke that it is now euident enough of what importance this accusation of pope Sixtus ought to be with the counsellers of the French king whereto the most part of Europe hath subscribed it selfe also we vnderstand of what authoritie this accusation by him made against the king of Nauarre and prince of Condie ought to be with them For to cut his throat as they saie with his owne sword lo in his owne decrées 24. distinct 1. it is euerie where in manie testimonies set downe that he that is fallen into heresie cannot depriue any man of his office or insnarle him in any sentence as in c. acasius If therefore a bishop saith he be fallen into an heresie alreadie condemned being condemned by an ancient excommunication he cannot condemn others For he that is excōmunicate cannot excommunicate others Which self-same thing is confirmed in that which followeth by this reason being added thereto For the power to binde or loose was giuen by the Lord to true not to false priests And in the chapter following Peters priuilege remaineth wheresoeuer sentence is giuen according to his equitie Hereto belongeth that which Iason writeth in his 145. councell requisitus num 3. vol. 2. That the pope cannot depose any man placed in dignitie without cause bicause the power granted to Peter to feed the sheepe of Christ is not extended to kill them c. in nouo 21. dist for Peters power continueth so long as he iudgeth truely and doth not erre with the keies * The self-same writeth d. c. manet c. Abba * Also Iason writeth more plain in in c. vlt. col pe vlt. de confi vtil vel inut in c. constitutus col 3. de relig dom in c. vlt. de postul praelat in c. de multa de praebend his 95. councell requisitus vol. 4. When as saith he the pope is guiltie of heresie seeing he may for this crime be deposed c. si papa 40. dist by this he ceaseth to be pope seeing he is without the catholike church according to the notes by Innocentius in c. ex parte de verb. sig in like sort when the pope shal be a notorious criminal person intangled in greeuous crimes so that he doth offend the church c. Also col 3. But the old glosse held more strōgly than the whole world alleageth in d. c. si papa that the pope may be accused for another fault as symonie or adulterie which is notorius and the pope being admonished cannot be reformed so that he offendeth the church of God seeing he is counted as an heretike and so the pope may be accused and punished not onely for the cause of heresie but also for anie other crime wherein the pope committeth excesse offending the church if it be notorious and the pope cannot be reformed bicause notable disobedience is counted heresie wherefore as the pope may be accused for heresie and condemned so likewise for any notorious crime wherein he is incorrigible Moreouer Felinus saith * The pope which is not canonicallie in c. Ego N. de iureiur elect is a deuill not hauing the keies of the kingdome of heauen but of hell The third Nullitie by reason of the want of iudiciall order LEt vs now come to the third cause of nullitie which we said to be the want of forme iudiciall order For as in times past the great orator saide what is more vnséemely than that iudgement should be giuen of his life and of all his goods who was neither commanded to be present nor yet cited nor accused We shewed before that this forme and order of ecclesiasticall iudgement was appointed by Christ and his Apostles in iudging heretikes first that they should be sometimes conuict of their error then if they would not obey not one but many and often admonitions of the church but would as saith Augustine stubburnely resist and perseuere in their error then they should be counted as enimies and profane persons Therefore admonitions are necessarie and a solemne and lawful hearing of the cause God was not ignorant what Adam and Eua had committed against his commandement or inhibition Yet he called both of them foorth and made as it were a question and hearing of the cause and then at length he gaue sentence against them after they were conuict The same God being a most seuere punisher of wickednes was not ignorant with how great and how vile wickednes the Sodomites and Gomorrheans had defiled themselues But yet notwithstanding that he might shew an example of equitie to mortall men that are iudges he tooke vpon him to heare the cause and he said that he would descend and know Which thing likewise the canonists haue in many words euery where deliuered in 1. q. 2. but specially in c. Deus omnipotens But moreouer the same scripture doth in another place testifie that the elders of the people of the Iewes who iudged matters at the foote of the mount Sinay gaue not sentence before they had heard both parties and vntill both parties had laied downe their matter Moreouer the Iewes though they did malitiously séeke to put Christ to death and to destroie him yet they kept the vsual order of iudgements so that they accused him before Caiphas the highest priest and a competent iudge and then they did bring him before the iudgement seat of the same high priest after they had caught him and also they did bring foorth witnesses for their accusation Therefore both sides laid downe their cause and the opinions of those that sat with the highest priest were asked and then at length iudiciall order being kept the condemnation was pronounced But what néed more testimonies When the woman was taken in adulterie as
to pope Innocentius and praied him to confirme his order of predicants The pope shewed himselfe at the first hard to be intreated but vpon a certaine night in a reuelation shewed him by God he saw in his sleepe that the ioints and couplings of the Laterane church were as it were loosed and did threaten that it would shortly fall Which when he beheld trembling and also sorrowing the man of God Dominic came to preuent it who setting to his shoulders he did vphold all that frame that was like to fall at the strangenes of which vision whiles he did woonder and wisely vnderstanding also the signification thereof he did ioifully accept the petition of Dominic anno Domini 1210. Thus saith he But what if the Dominicans also who haue now more than thrée hundred yéers with their shoulders vnderpropped the papacie that is like to fal do also begin to faint and to be weakened There is another helping piller found For the Iesuits are risen of late that they being sound fresh may aide the wearie Dominicans So that the matter is now brought to the third rank as it is in the prouerbe Who being now weakened the pope is descended to the vaine thunderbolt of excommunications mistrusting the principall matter It followeth in the bull That not onely the times of our seruice but also all times to come may bring peace to all parts of Christendome We spake before of this kind of seruice Which we prooued to consist therein that kings and emperors do hold the popes stirrop when he alighteth from his horse that they wait vpon him when he entreth into cities like pages that they giue him diuine reuerence worship as he sitteth in his princely throne and that lieng prostrate vpon the ground and lieng at his féet for testifieng their bondage they kisse his shooes But what words are these At this time we condemne heretiks that the times to come may bring peace to Christendome Would our Sixtus vnles he had béen full gorged well whitled and starke drunke not rather haue writen That in time to come we may bring peace to Christendome But let vs procéed to the rest of the oracles of this bull For he addeth afterward In the realm of France Christian religion hath at all times beene in force and so great hath been the godlines faith and deuotion of those kings so manie haue been their good deserts toward the church of Rome that they had from it the sirname of most Christian. If alwaies Christian religion hath béen so greatly imbraced by the French kings why haue so many popes so and so often molested so manie kings of France with these most mad curses and proscriptions of theirs Surely this was the reward and thanks which the popes haue repaied for so great merits of the French kings toward them and their sea For what power soeuer the popes haue it is euident they had all that by the benefits and great liberalitie of the French kings and especially of king Pipinus Charles the great and Ludouike sirnamed Pius as we shewed before It followeth We are compelled to exercise our weapons that are not carnall against two Sonnes of wrath Henrie somtime king of Nauarre and Henrie somtime prince of Condie Surely if any man do not remember by the sword of Iulius the second whereof we spake before that the weapons of the popes are not carnall or fleshly but of iron and as Boniface the eight saith materiall yet shall he knowe this by these words of the same Boniface * Surely saith he he that denieth that Peters in c. vnam sanctam Extra de maiorit obedient sword is temporall he doth ill marke the word of the Lord who saith Turne backe thy sword into thy sheath Therfore both swords are in the power of the Church namely the spirituall and the materiall sword Was there euer any Sannio more ridiculous in any comedie than Bonifacius who saith that Peters sword which inasmuch as he was a fisherman he then peraduenture had at his girdle was such a sword as Paul writeth was giuen by God to magistrates that they might punish wicked and condemned persons Furthermore what great doltishnes is this bicause Christ forbiddeth Peter to vse his sword and commandeth him to put vp his sword into his sheath which he had drawen to reason thus That therefore it is lawfull for the popes to vse the materiall sword Therefore let our Sixtus looke about him how he can winde out himselfe out of this repugnance that the popes weapons are not carnall and that the pope hath power of the temporall sword the material sword the iron sword That the popes weapons are not of iron but that the king of France is commanded by the pope to pursue the king of Nauarre his néerest kinsman with sword armes and camp and to execute this his sentence in such sort that all France may be filled with burnings and murders For this is the very same which Boniface writeth in the same place that The spirituall sword is exercised by the church the temporall for the church the former by the hand of the priest the latter by the hand of kings and soldiers but at the beck and sufferance of the priest These be the words of pope Bonifacius written out in as many letters * least any man ex d. c. 1. de maior obed should doubt but that kings must be ready in arms at the popes becke as fencers at the becke of the maister of fence and that they must lay down their weapons when he beckeneth to them againe that no man I say may doubt but that the most cruell and fierce tyrant pope Sixtus the fift who in this place calleth the king of Nauarre and the prince of Condie by a new and strange kind of reproch Sonnes of wrath denounceth to al French men sword fire torture torment plague destruction and finally an vtter ouerthrow We are all indéed by nature sonnes of wrath as saith Paul Rom. 3. and Ephes 2. But the pope is a sonne of wrath by iudgement malice and will But what is that which he doth often repeate in this bull Sometime king We shall afterward sée more touching his kingdome But by what right hath our Henrie lost his name of king by the same whereby a Sharuebug a scholler of Francis Bernardo doth in this bul cal himselfe the monarch of the church Wo to thy head detestable vile-thiefe and most holie Antichrist Thou doest boast reioice that thou art called God as we haue shewed before Thou hast kings and emperors in stead of bondslaues thou desirest to haue diuine honor giuen thée by them If anie man denie to thée that seruile idolatrie shall he loose the name of a king or prince Let vs heare how greatly Saint Bernard detesteth this Antichrist in his sixt sermon vpon the CXCI. psalme The very offices saith he of the dignitie of the holie Church are gone into filthie gaine and the busines
of darknes Neither is the saluation of soules but riot of riches sought for in these For this they will be bounsed for this they frequent churches they say masses they sing psalms They striue impudently for bishoprikes archdeaconries abbats places and other dignities so that the reuenues of the Churches are wasted vpon the vses of superfluitie and vanitie It remaineth that the man of sin be reuealed the sonne of perdition a diuell not onely of the day but also of noone day which is not onelie transfigured into an angell of light but is extolled aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped By which words our Sixtus is shewed to be Antichrist not yesterday or to day or somtimes but to day to morrow the next day and so long as he shall retaine his tyrannie which he exerciseth in the Church of God wickedly and vngodlily It followeth in the bull He followed errors and heresies from his youth vntill such time as being by the exhortations of manie conuerted to the church of Rome as it was thought he abiured publikely all his heresies in the church at Paris What words be these From his youth Séeing that he receiued that religion in a maner from his cradle and almost with his milke which this our hangman dare call heresie But that is much more absurd He which was falsely thought to be turned from heresies condemned those heresies For how can he be said to haue changed his former opinion who is falsely thought to be conuerted And wheras our cowled Frier bableth of abiuring we must make that a little more plaine The yoong man being scarce one and twentie yéers old being lodged by the king his cosin was called out of his bed naked long before day he was brought amongst fearfull swords and such as were wet with blood he did and pronounced quiuering and shaking those things which he was commanded to do and pronounce he told pope Gregorie those things by his legats which he was commanded to tel him Was that law receiued euer in any part of Barbarie that those things that were thus done should either be counted firme and sure or that they should be thought to be done from the hart That is an old and a true saieng of doctor Baldus The holie Ghost put this into the mouth of the praetor That which is done through feare will I not count firm Also that The presence and much more the threatening of a prince and mightier man causeth true feare Thus writeth Angel * And also Abb. Sicul. in his 3. cons in cons 223. cons 378. vol. 2. Therefore the holie scripture doth witnes that Peter the apostle being terrified by the voice of a sillie woman did denie God euen with all cursing but forsomuch as it was euident that that was done through feare and terror he did easily obtaine pardon at the hands of God The Canonists report that pope Marcellinus being terrified with the feare of the painims did burn incense in the idol sacrifices but yet that it repented him afterward of his fact heinous offence * Why C. nunc autem dist 21. shall that which is done for feare be excused in the pope who professeth himselfe to be the piller of Christian religion and shal it be counted firme in a yoong man compassed about with fearefull swords dropping as it were with blood It followeth in the Bull The same Gregorie giuing credence to the letters of the king of Nauarre as of a king absolued him from the censures giuen vpon him taking from him all inhabilitie The pope would haue these words to be of importance As of a king as if the authority of kings letters letters patents and edicts ought to be most firme In which place we would gladly know of him whether he were alwaies an author and perswader that the letters and edicts of kings should alwaies continue firme Of which thing there shall alwaies continue in all nations and amongst all people of the world shall I say a remembrance or a most shamefull infamie But séeing pope Gregorie the thirtéenth is said to haue béen so great a doctor and professor of law ought he not to haue remembred that no authoritie ought to be giuen to letters and instruments wroung out by violence and feare * It followeth He dispensed that notwithstanding l. si donationis 7. c. de his quae vi metu causs l. interpositas 13. C. trans the lets of the third and peraduenture of other degrees of consanguinitie between them they might contract matrimonie togither as they did contract it in the face of the church It can scarce be vttered how many tokens of follie and popish fondnes appéere in these few words The first is in that that he saith that the king of Nauarre his matrimonie was contracted through his grant and dispensation after that the same king had abiured religion Let vs returne vnto the computation of the time The cardinall of Bourbon vncle to the same king in the yéere 1572. the seauentéenth day of the moneth of August after a masse celebrated in the chief church of Paris with great pompe and solemnitie yet at fower of the clocke after noone did celebrate that matrimonie in the presence of the king of France Charles the ninth and of his two brethren and in a great assemblie of princes Then followed the massacre of Paris vpon the feast day of S. Bartholomew that is vpon the fower an twentith day of the same month of August But the king of Nauarre did abiure many daies after But some peraduenture wil say the dispensation of pope Gregorie was brought after that abiuring at the intreatie of the cardinall of Bourbon Whether was it then brought that it might be lawful to contract the matrimonie which was contracted and ended so long before or rather that being not lawfully contracted before it might nowe be confirmed by the popes authoritie and dispensation If to the end it might be Libro aduersus Faustum 25. lawfull to contract it the popes power is greater than that which the diuines philosophers lawyers do grant to almighty God that things that be past can be changed that that which is done can be made vndon as witnesseth Augustine * Lib. de legi 2. Plato * Arist moral ad Nicomachum 6. c. 2. Nouel de aequalit dot §. 1. l. in bello 12. §. facta D. de captu l. verba C. de testam l. verum D. de reg iur Aristotle * I wil speak boldly saith Hierom that though God can do all things yet he cannot raise a virgin after her fall * c. si Paulus 32. quaest 5. Therefore as I said there is greater power granted to the pope than to God who causeth that matrimonie alreadie contract finished celebrated and ended was yet notwithstanding neither contract nor celebrated But if the pope dispensed that wicked matrimonie and such as was contract contrarie to the lawes of the church
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
vouchsafe to accept the confession of his repentance conuersion and obedience and to grant him pardon for those things that were past and also the grace of remission firmly promising that he would continually keepe soundly and inuiolably the catholike faith To the which letters as being a kings letters our predecessor giuing credence and being mooued with the bowels of fatherlie loue and also being perswaded with the most graue testimonie of the king of the Queene his mother of the cardinall and duke aforesaid touching such his conuersion absolued him confessing his former errors and humbly crauing pardon from the crime of heresie and from the ecclesiastical censures which he had therefore incurred and he admitted him into the bosom of the holy mother the church and into the fellowship of the faithfull taking from him all incongruitie Nay furthermore that he might be bound with a more strait and firm bond he dispensed with him and Margaret sister to the said king Charles who being borne of that most Christian stocke and being well brought vp was thought to be able easily to keepe hir husband in his dutie and in obseruing the catholike religion that notwithstanding the lets of the third and peraduenture of other degrees of consanguinitie betweene them and also of spirituall kindred they might contract matrimonie betweene them as they did contract it in the face of the church and that done after a few moneths he sent Iohn Lord of Duratium his orator to our said predecessor that in his behalfe he might promise concerning his repentance conuersion faith and constancie in presence of the sea apostolike after that a publike and solemne consistorie was made for him in the kings hall according to the custome in the assemblie of the cardinals and prelates of the holie church of Rome and in a great concourse of others hauing professed all the foresaid things the same Henrie was admitted as a king lately conuerted to the faith and as catholike the whole citie reioicing and triumphing and giuing great thanks for the sheep that was found recouered But he as he was of a diuers and inconstant mind falling awaie shortly after from the catholike faith and from due obedience toward the apostolike sea and from other things professed by him expressely and with an oth and turning backe to that filth wherin he tumbled before withdrawing himself secretly from the most christian king hauing gathered togither in a place a good way distant from the kings court so great a multitude of wicked heretiks and of wicked men of that stampe as he could he openly reuoked there all those things which he before had done concerning the detestation of Caluinisme the abiuring of all heresies and the profession of the catholike and apostolike faith of Rome testifieng that he did professe Caluinisme as he professed it and hath alwaies sticked to that heresie with an obstinate and hardened mind and liuing therein vntill this day he hath raised vp sundrie times heretical rebels and seditious persons whose head captain and defender he hath alwaies been in France and also a most earnest fauorer of outlandish heretiks to beare armes against the foresaid Charles and also against our most deerly beloued sonne in Christ Henrie the most Christian king though he ought to haue reuerenced him as his king and maister to haue loued and followed him as his wiues brother I saie forgetting all dutie and godlines he hath raised them vp against him and all catholikes he hath gathered most deadly armies hauing gotten vnto him heretiks of other nations by whom all places euerie where are defiled with the bloodie murders of godly men holie temples are polluted and pulled downe priests and religious men are slain with torments furthermore he hath taken the cities fortresses of the catholiks partly by policie and partly by force and armes and in them hath he forbidden and taken away the rites of the catholike church he hath appointed heretical ministers preachers he hath inforced the citizens inhabitants to tread in the steps of the same impietie euen with threatnings stripes But thinking with himself that he had not yet don ynough amongst others he sent a certaine deere friend of his furnished with his wicked subtilties without the borders of France to diuers places by whom he imparted his wicked counsels with certaine chiefe heretiks and he prouoked their strength and forces against the catholike religion and the power of the bishop of Rome also he caused certain secret conuenticles of heretiks to be kept in diuers prouinces at some whereof whiles those most vniust leagues against the catholike faith and principally against the churches clergie and all the catholikes of the realme of France were handled he himselfe was not onely present but also a principall actor therein And as for Henrie Borbon prince of Condie hauing two heretiks for his parents forasmuch as they during their whole life had obstinately cherished the deadlie opinions of Caluin and the ministers therof he following the heresies of the same his father and mother did commit like offences being but a yongling afterward with like indeuor as the other Henrie vsed taking the way of truth through repentance and humblenes of hart so much as could be gessed and detesting likewise and abiuring publikely all errors and dotings of heretiks he professed the catholike faith as is said before Which things being brought to the same popes eares and like intercession being made for him the same our predecessor absolued from heresie and such censures him and Marie somtimes of Clieue his pretensed wifc being at that time infected with the same crime of heresie being in like sort penitent detesting and professing and he receiued them into the bosome of the catholike church and companie of the faithfull yea moreouer he dispensed with them according to the abundance of his fatherlie loue that they might contract matrimonie betweene themselues notwithstanding the let of the second degree of consanguinitie wherewith they were holden both of them But he shortly after returning vnto his old impietie and entring that most wicked waie wherin the footsteps of Ludouike of Condie his most wicked father a persecutor of the catholike church had troden and walking in the same footesteps he likewise shewed himselfe a captaine and defender of the same heretiks and wicked persons of the said realme of France and also an author of ciuill wars and seditions he conueied into France bands of hereticall soldiers being strangers he assaied to besiege townes and cities he ouerthrew churches he did profane and destroie holie things he did most cruelly murder priests appointing in their places ministers of wickednes he commanded their peruerse doctrine to be published retained and finally he vsed all kind of crueltie and sauagenes as well against Gods ministers as also against other professors of the catholike faith All which things forasmuch as they be manifest publike and notorious and forasmuch as we do fully perfectly know especially