Heresiarke and that the Pope had need take heed least he were reputed a fauourer of Heretikes they suddenly resolued that Lodouikes submission was to be reiected and so they withdrew the Pope from his absolution though he constantly maintained that Lewis was not in fault and they obiecting how Lewis had done many things against the Church He replied nay rather wee did against him for hee would haue come with a staffe in his hand falling downe at our predecessors feet but he would neuer receiue him and whatsoeuer he did he did it by prouocation In which words he manifestly condemned both his predecessor and his proceedings The embassadours therefore returning into Germanie made relation what was there to be hoped for In brief that the court of Rome was wonderfully afrayd of peace and concord how it was an vsuall prouerbe amongst them That it made well for them the Germans were so foolish And so in the yeare 1328 an Imperial Diet was summoned at the Bourg of Reynsey Auent l. 7. An. 1328. on the bank of the Rhine where all the Electors of the Empire were present and many Princes both lay and Ecclesiastical where giuing vp an oath and all solemne rites performed they published a Decree That the Empire depended onely on God to whom the Emperour is bound to yeeld an account That being once chosen by the Electors he is absolute Emperour That with a good conscience he could not against the Imperiall Maiestie solicite the Pope by Legats yeeld him an oath or demaund leaue of him to gouerne the Empire who had nothing to doe with the Empire but was a keeper of sheepe bound in this respect to looke well to his flocke That so hee was taught out of the holie Scriptures and they that thought otherwise that the Emperour was the Popes vassall and except he were by him approued hee could not be acknowledged Emperour did but euidently abuse the Scriptures contaminating and wresting them with their corrupt interpretations which they apply to their owne behoofes and interests contrarie to the meaning of those Scriptures no question euen by the verie instinct of Sathan the Prince of this world as may plainely be discerned by the mischiefes that deriue therefrom ciuile wars intestine seditions deuastation of nations taking of cities deflagrations slaughters and violations Wherefore said they we perpetually enact That all power and the Empire it selfe proceeds onely from the benefit of election and that by no meanes we need herein the Bishop of Romes sanctimonie consecration authoritie or consent and whosoeuer speakes thinkes or practiseth to the contrarie let him be condemned of high treason let him be reputed an enemie to the Commonwealth and proscribed let him bee punished with the losse of his head and his goods confiscated to the Emperor And so the whole assemblie concluded in these words Not long time after Edward king of England crossed ouer the seas into Germanie to see Lodouike for the Empresses sister was his wife and they met both at Franckfort whither many Nobles Bishops both of Italie Germanie France and England repaired There by the aduise and consent of both Princes as also of the whole assemblie this Decree was divulged That whosoeuer brought in any of Pope Iohn the two and twentieth his Buls for to spare the liuing they laid vpon the dead he should be condemned of high treason The principall heads and points of this Act may more fitly be reserued to the section following Albertus Argent in Chronic. Auent l. 7. Nine dayes after the Princes of the Empire assembled againe together at Lenstaine within the Diocesse of Magunce binding themselues mutually by oath to defend this Decree and denouncing him that did otherwise a pernitious schellem or knaue This Decree is extant in Albericus de Rosata in Legem 3. Cod. de quadrienni praescriptione apud Hieronimum Balbum Episcopum Gurcensem in his booke de Coronatione ad Carolum quintum Imperatorem William Ockam a most famous Diuine and his whole societie assisting in all these promulgations And the Dominicans themselues vnderstanding that Pope Benedict out of his owne enclination was not opposit to Lewis made choyce rather to joyne with him than to depart out of the cities In some places also to auoyd the blame of weakenesse and leuitie being resolued to obey they caused themselues to bee enforst to celebrate sacred functions And to this time Pope Benedict held the chaire that is to say vntill the yeare 1342 An. 1342. described for his time in these two short verses Iste fuit verò Laicis mors vipera Clero Devius à vero turba repleta mero This man the Laities death the Clergies viper prou'd Himselfe did swarue from truth the people strong wine lou'd Peter Roger a Lymosine of the Order of S. Benedict succeeded him called by the name of Clement the sixt Albertus declares That after his election Albertus Argent in Chronic. making a speech he said That first he was promoted to be a rich Abbot then to bee a better Bishop and lastly to the best Archbishopricke of all France which was of Roan that he left all these dignities deepely indebted Then said he I afterwards rose to be Cardinall and now Pope by diuine instinct because the former places could not support him Obserue how this man feared the weightie burden of his Pontificall office and function It is specially noted in him That contrarie to the custome of his predecessors he was the first that fastened the armes of his familie to his Bulls which was the fiue Roses And at Paris in a publike sermon while he was Archbishop of Roan the kings of France and of Bohemia being present he grossely and foolishly preached against Lewis Afterwards being Pope he ouerthrew all the Churches of Christendome by his exactions He was addicted to women was couetous of honour and dominion obseruing no mediocritie in his promotions so as he made himselfe and the Court of Rome infamous for simonie And being demaunded whether simple Clerks were not to be well examined interogated or no he made answer That the hills and mountaines which they were to passe had examined them sufficiently Idem ibidem that was to say had drawne their purses drie ynough And amongst other things the English Historiographer obserues Thom. Walsing in Hypodeigm Neustriae that when his Cardinals told him that he had made the king of Englands Secretarie Bishop of Excester An. 1345. a lay and ignorant man hee replied That at his entreatie the king of England he meant he had made an Asse Bishop Lewis though he had sufficient testimonie of his ill affection towards him yet defatigated as he was with ciuile warres he sent vnto him an honourable Embassie which was Henrie Dolphine of Viennois Lewis Count of Ottinghen and Vlric Hagenhor his Secretarie of State hauing commission to attend while any hope of peace remained as also Philip king of France affected the same matter
changed except the Senat at any time thought good to vse some prorogation Lewis proceeded yet further by the Romans instigation who had many times in vaine summoned and solicited the Pope as their naturall Bishop to reside at Rome causing election to be made of Peter Corbario of Rietto An. 1327. a Frier Minorite by the Clergie and people of Rome he beeing a verie learned man and fit for the managing of any gouernement who was called Nicholas the fift and there were many that he made both Cardinals and Bishops Nay and moreouer Iohn being conuinced in a solemne Councell of heresie he condemned him to be burnt which sentence was presently and publiquely executed in effigie or picture After the performance whereof setting all things in as good order as was possible in Italie he thought good to returne into Germanie which was wonderfully molested by Iohns arts and stratagemes From such a forme of contention kindled in Christendome what could bee expected but a generall confusion and so much the rather because some yeares before Iohn called Philip de Valois and other Princes into Italie with preualent forces against Lewis and the more to endeere vnto him Philip who afterwards came to the kingdome hee permitted him to leuy a tenth of his whole Clergie Antonin part 3. tit 21. c. 6. part 6. 9. Auent l. 7. Guiielmus de Naugiaco vnder pretext of an entring into a warre against the Infidels which custome his predecessors had formerly taken vp Thus all things hung in doubtfull balance by the variable successe of affaires till Lewis in Germanie came to an accord with Frederick who was glad to redeeme his owne libertie by yeelding vp the Empire Now Nicholas the fift Iohns corriuall in Italie An. 1334. Supplem Martini being deliuered into Iohns hands by the Pisanes who reuolted from Lewis Antonin part 3. tit 21. c. 6. part 15. Summa Constit à Greg. 9. ad Sixt. 5. vsque constit paternuÌ„ morem Annales Franciae Christianus Massaeus in Chronico Guilielmus Ockam in opere 90 dicrum Adâ—ianus 6. in quaest de confirmat he was cast into prison Wherefore Iohn king of Bohemia interposed himselfe to procure some peace betwixt them vpon conditions but during the negotiations in the yeare 1334 Iohn dyed at Auignion Christendome being all ouer in turmoyles but especially all the Prouinces and cities of Italie All Historiographers concurre in this That Iohn left behind him a huge treasure in readie coyne some say fifteene and others fiue and twentie Milliones auri millions of gold which for those times was verie wonderfull For vnder colour of recouering Palestina he gramd and gript all the world And yet hee was not ashamed to admonish Edward king of England That hee should not impose such grieuous burdens vpon the Irish The gouernement of whom saith he my predecessor Adrian granted vnto you vnder certaine conditions But by what right or succession suppose you should these people any wayes belong to the Pope For other matters he publikely preached in Auignion That the souls yea of the most holie and faithfull did not behold the face of God before the last day of judgement which he pretended to vnderstand from certaine visions of one Tundall an Irish man And two Monkes he sent to Paris one a Minorite and the other a Dominican to preach this opinion out of his suggestion and to exhort the Sorbon to imbrace the same labouring also the like in other Vniuersities But king Philip of Valois assembled all the learnedest Diuines of his kingdom at Bois de Vincennes who expresly censured this opinion to be plaine heresie In these things Thomas Wallis Durandus de Sancto Portiano William Caleth and other Authors are plentifull Auentine addes That he read a certaine Epistle of the Diuines liuing amidst these dissentions especially of those of Paris by which they taxed him of heresie persuading him to renounce this opinion which they say he did by their persuasion not many dayes before his death But he might rather peraduenture be condemned of heresie by the moderne Diuines of the Roman Church because as the same Author relates he sent for certaine men that dwelt in the confines of Bohemia and Austria who had painted the Trinitie Auent l. 7. vnder the formes of an old man a young man and a doue as yet at this day they vse to doe whom he charged with irreligion denouncing them to be Anthropomorphites whom he condemned to be burnt although in so cleere a Sun-shine of the Gospell both Bellarmine and other of his followers are not ashamed to allow and defend the same Jn extrauag Johan 22. tit de verb. signific c. 1. 2. 3. 4. cap. ad Candidorem Cum inter non nullos quia quorundam Nicholas the fift wonderfully promoted the Minorites and Iohn laboured hard according to the vsuall inconstancie of the spirit of lyes to suppresse beat them downe and this by such arguments as plainely ouerthrew the Mendicants foundation For concerning the question Whether Christ or his Apostles held any thing in proper he saith we must herein beleeue the holie Scripture by which the articles of our faith must be confirmed which teacheth vs That they possessed something in proper and therefore to beleeue otherwise was heresie and he that otherwise affirmed was to be reputed an heretike And because their most glorious pretext was in a wilfull pouertie he turned them to beggerie indeed enioyning them to be content with meere almes shewing how the custome de facto permitted to them by Nicholas the fift with an exception of propertie reserued to the Church of Rome was but a plaine delusion and cousenage that so they might cunningly be exempted from that pouertie which they professed and therefore the Mendicants being driuen to beg their liuing from doore to doore grew mightily incenst against him He further argued That Christ neuer commaunded nor aduised Christians to relinquish their goods That hee neuer set downe any other rules of pietie to the Apostles than to other Christians to whose perfection the possession of mouables or immouables were no wayes repugnant That the Apostles neuer vowed pouertie nor neuer out of vow renounced their temporall goods who questionlesse euen as other godlie men doe both might and may with a good conscience contend for temporall goods and the naked vow was no furtherance at all to Christian perfection But to this point he grew saith Auentine That such Franciscans as now liued from hand to mouth and begged from doore to doore that spake against his opinion in preaching That Christ and his Apostles possessed nothing he condemned of impietie and pernitious errour banisht them out of the Christian Commonwealth called them Fraterculos Sillie brethren and many also he burned The same Auentine obserues in these times That what was formerly distributed for the sustentation of the poore was now conuerted to ornaments setting forth of walls and glorious pompe which was out of
euer read of From words therefore they came to blowes for when Charles heard of Lewis death he came to Ratisbone the Consuls themselues giuing him entrie into the citie and when the people heard of the Popes pretences they ran violently to armes himselfe was scarcely exempted from their furie so as of necessitie he must needs depart the citie From thence going to Nuremberg and being honourably entertained by the Senat the people againe expelled him and sent for Lodouikes sonne All this proceeding from a detestation of those articles imposed by Clement vpon Charles as also from the forme of a Commission granted to the Bishop of Bamberg for the vrging of such to a reconciliation to the Church who had followed Lewis partie which ran in this manner They shall sweare hereafter to hold the Catholike Faith but marke wherein it must consist to be faithfull to the See Apostolike to beleeue nor fauour no heretike That it is a condemned heresie to thinke that the Emperor may depose the Pope and create another That the Emperor is to be esteemed no Emperor except he be first approued by the See Apostolike neither were they to cleaue or adhere to the progenie or children of the same Lewis except they were reconciled to the Church And lastly That they should obey Charles king of Romans approued and confirmed in the throne otherwise they were not to be absolued from these censures and penalties Charles was aduised not to publish this forme if he meant to be louingly entertained of the people But the Bishop fearing the Popes displeasure durst not absolue any of the Interdict vnlesse hee would performe this manner of abiuration which many resisted and namely at Basil Conradus Burneueld Burgomaster who when Charls entred the citie he protested before a publike Notarie in behalfe of the whole citie My Lord of Bamberg vnderstand that we will neither beleeue nor confesse that our Soueraigne Lewis Roman Emperor was euer an heretike and whosoeuer the Princes Electors commend vnto vs or the greater part of them for king of Romans or Emperor for the same we will take him though he neuer seeke to the Pope neither will we performe any thing which may be in any sort repugnant to the royalties and iurisdictions of the Empire Yet the Bishop was counselled to remoue the Interdict and Charles by stealth left Basil comming by water to Strasbourg where he met with the like and yet more bitter distasts as also presently after at Spire and other cities where much sedition strife grew about this forme which he was driuen to moderat and qualifie At Wormes the Bishop was constrained to absolue the Interdict without any oath taken or conditions at all Charls was receiued into Magunce with this prouiso That he should not establish Gerlac constituted their Archbishop by the Pope nor suffer any patent to be publikely read in his behalfe In many places this Gerlac minding to depart all his people garding before his lodging in armes the hosts not being payed for the charges of his traine and kitchin hee was detained and namely at Wormes vpon the complaint of a publike executioner And hauing no other mâ—â—nes hee was enforst to pawne his Patent or collection Warrants to pay his hosts And all this out of doubt not properly out of any hatred to Charls but to the Pope Pontificiall exactions But the Princes yet attempt further for assembling in the greatest part at Reinsey vpon the Rhine vnder the castle of Longstein they conâ—â—â—ed about the deposing of Charles and chusing Emperour Edward king of England Lewis his neere allie to whom by embassadours they solemnely offered the Empire but after many thankes giuen he excused himselfe by reason of the warre hee had in hand with the French men Then they betooke themselues to Henrie Marquesse of Misnia Lodouikes sonne in law but for a summe of money hee yeelded his right to Charles At last they resolued on Gunther Count of Swartzburg as renowmed a gentleman for martiall prowesse as was in that age who accepted of it on this condition That in a solemne assembly of the Princes to be coâ—â—ocated at Franckfort the vacancie of the seat were confirmed by the greater part which was effected in the yeare 1349 An. 1349. So much they grudged to receiue an Emperour from the Popes hands But being sicke as our Author Albertus sayes one master Fridanck a famous Physitian ministred to him a pâ—tron which Gunther commanded him though greatly against his owne will to assay and tast of in his owne preence and presently after his assay Gunther himselfe tooke some but the Physitian who incontinently began to discolour in his countenance within the space of three dayes died and Gunther mightily swelling grew to be weake and vnable of bodie so as it was thought this Physitians seruant had put in some poyson By reason of this bodily indisposition Gunther was the readier to come to accord being also excited thereunto by diuers of the Princes his friends who looking into this discommoditie meant to aduance their owne interests both by benefits and affinities with Charles It was therefore couenanted betwixt them That for the right of his election accepting of 22000 markes of siluer and two Imperiall townes in Turingia he should renounce his title for terme of life But within a moneth after Gunther died Charles remained peaceably installed but this was by sinister meanes and to the irrecouerable dammage of the Empire For in him and by his basenesse the processe was ended to the Popes benefit commenced anciently by Gregorie the 7 called Hildebrand for conâ—â—rmation of the authority of their Sees against the liberties of the Empire being wholly exhausted of treasure and therefore to appease the townes States who were prouoked by his molestations and to be acknowledged in them Charls was constrained to acquit them of the greatest part of his taxes subsidies in such sort as the Maiesty of the Empire was scarce able euer after to recouer it self again By the same meanes the German Emperours lost all their authoritie in Italie while Lewis the fourth was at variance and strife with the Popes partly because Popes ordained Magistrats in the cities Imperiall and out of the Vicariate which they arrogated to themselues in the Empires vacancie they appointed the principall of the Guelphish faction to be their substitutes and partly also in that the Emperour being employed in Germanie to retaine still some authoritie and power he constituted the more illustrious personages of his partie who were tearmed Gibellines his deputies vicegerents in those cities that remained vnder his subiection And thus it came to passe that many of these Vicars and Substitutes grew at last to be Lords and proprietaries of the places Many cities likewise shaking off the yoke of subiection redeemed their libertie And so amidst these great agitations and disturbances the more mightie and potent deuoured and swallowed vp their weaker neighbours For thus we see that
the glorie of Paradise But the Parisian faculties of Diuinitie condemne the Pope of intollerable errour and temeritie There are that referre such an other as you haue heard to Clement the fift Questionlesse all Authors exclaime of wonderfull Symonie in his time and vnusuall reseruations of Benefices throughout the whole Church some of which he reuoaked onely to auoyd publique scandall But gentle Reader while thou seest him here thus commaunding ouer Angels why doest thou not listen to the Apostles prediction in the second to the Thessalonians 2 where he speaks of the man of sinne bearing himselfe as God equall to God and extolling himselfe aboue all that is called God in so manie ages after succeeding to whom may it fitlyer be applied than to him OPPOSITION The oppositions declared throughout this whole Progresse against the Papall Tyrannie may seeme sufficient without adding any other because we see him to haue beene euer mightily oppugned by all the famous men of those ages as also by most commendable and vertuous Princes yet for the Readers better satisfaction we will not thinke it amisse to annexe some thing else The imperiall Decree publisht in the yeare 1338 against the acts of Iohn the two and twentieth as you heard was approued by Edward king of England who also was present at the digesting it For the flanckering and seconding of which the Emperour Lewis dimulged another Edict whose principall heads it will not be altogether impertinent here to insert Lewis the fourth Emperour and by Gods grace Caesar Augustus to all Christians health S. Peter and S. Paule the first Embassadours from the eternall Maiestie declared and foretold long time before seriously informing vs That after their times there should arise false Prophets audatious and subtile and that Priests should become lying messengers plainely deciphering their workes vnto vs In the Temple of God said they that is the Church they shall sit as gods and be exalted aboue all that is reuerenced or worshipped by any Nation as God That those things are most true which the true Prophets of God and the interpreters of his secrets did denuntiat by manifest experience it is confirmed and except we be dull and sencelesse wee cannot but perceiue and euen feele the same We cannot denie but that men now are too superstitious to oppose the abuses of the times though in hipocriticall fraudes delusions wherewith the ignorant vulgar are many times taken and ensnared they are most wittie and craftie brasen-faced to vphold customes and rights receiued and herein abusing the simple credulitie of sillie fooles whereof the number is infinit But it is my part to detect and refell such impostures and digressions to the end they may not affront Christian integritie and plainly mock deride diuine veritie Men gather not grapes from thorns and the Prophet of God receiues no bribes or rewards Christ commanded his messengers that whosoeuer amongst them sought to be highest should be lowest And the Kings of the earth beare domination and rule ouer people but you are the seruants of my flocke that is to say Shepheards you are not Lords Notwithstanding all these things are most true and euident yet Pharisies and pernitious Antichrists sustaine That an Emperour chosen by voyce and custome imperiall and by the suffrages of Princes cannot be Emperour except the high Priest who is Lord ouer all and possessor of both powers allow and confirme him And here he refuted this proposition as being flatly opposit both to the sacred Scriptures to the auntient Laws and Canons and to the customes of all ages further adding For these reasons well rightly and wisely I appeale from the enemie of the Christian Common-wealth to a future generall Councell of all Christendome to be held whereof he is but a member and no head for as S. Ierome sayes The church of the whole world is greater than that of the Citie c. Clement perseuering in this his rage and furie William Ockham incessantly defended Lewis right especially because through his plot and deuise Charles came to be nominated Emperour and in a booke which he publisht vpon this subject He taxed Clement with the note of an heretike calling him verie Antichrist an hater of Christian pouertie an enemie of the Common-wealth a mortall foe to the Germans a most Christian Nation and a follower of Clement the fift and Iohn the two and twentieth false Popes and most deuouring Wolues Charles also he accuseth of periurie treason parricide and of impietie towards his grandfather and nere kinseman in breaking the oath Auent l. 7. wherein he stood bound to Lodouick and perfidiously infringing the Lawes of Constans Franckfort and Longsteine promulged by the Dyets Edict and terming him a vile seruant to the Priests of Auignion of whom he bought the Diadem imperiall Leopald also Bishop of Bamberg and Ockhams Collegues doe no lesse in a Tractate entituled Vindex pacis Christianae wherein they affirme That the Pope except he had rather take vpon him Antichrists pride than emulate Christs and his Apostles pouertie was but a seruant to the meanest Christian much more to soueraigne and supreame power so farre from reason it was that to the singular preiudice of the Christian Commonwealth he should domineere and rule doe whatsoeuer he thinkes good and requiring not onely to be called but to be beleeued a god Indeed Conrade of Magdeberg laboured hard in the answer of these men but seuen yeares after Ockams death who dying anno 1347 and was honourably buried at Franckfort in the Franciscans Colledge together with other two of his companions Bona gratia de Bergamo and Michael de Cesena Some few yeares also before Vlric Hengherohr Lodouikes Chancellor and Secretarie to the Empire deceased who fearing the Auignion Antichristians reuenge so he tearmed them he gaue order in his last Wil and Testament to be buried without the Church least they should haue persecuted him in his verie bones But no man shewes vs more plainly than Florentine Petrarch what opinion all the renowmed men of those troublesome seasons held of the Pope and of the Court of Rome who was Archdeacon of Parma the verie light of that age and greater had beene if he could haue soothed and flattered the Popes of whom he might haue obtained any thing And so much the rather because he writ for the most part as one exempted from the heat and spleene of those present contentions and partialities I omit to set downe how liuely in his Poems he deciphers the Roman Court many times calling her the Babylonian Harlot the Schole of all errour the verie Forge of deceit and the Temple of heresie But here it may be sayd That Poets haue euer beene permitted to speake broadly Let mee request the Reader therefore but onely to read his Latine Epistles full of grauitie zeale and learning wherein he sincerely explaines his opinion In the eighth of those Epistles which are called Sine titulo where he describes the Court of Rome vnder
of Iuda is written with an yron penne with the point of a Diamant as if he should say it is indelible But all these things pretend not impossibilitie but onely difficultie because the peruerse are hardly corrected or reformed For in the third of Ionas it is sayd Who knowes whether he may be conuerted and acknowledge God It is therefore said in the 26 of Ieremie Doe not withdraw the word for it may be they will heare and euerie one may be conuerted from his euill way At last he concludes with a serious exhortation to repentance conuersion and amendment of life This is that Nicholaus Oremus who by Charles the fift his persuasion our king and surnamed the Wise turned the whole Bible into the French Tongue Many copies of the same are to be found at this day in the libraries of the noble families of this land but especially there is one in the kings librarie wherein Charles testifies by his owne hand writing That this Bible was translated by his commaundement And here we may fitly set downe That Charles the Sage was the Author of a booke written by Alanus Charterius his Secretarie whose title was Somnium Viridarij The Gardens Dreame printed at Paris aboue an hundred yeares since against the Papall tyrannie both spirituall and temporall That booke stifly maintaines and so consequently our king Charles That the Roman Church from Constantines dayes had obtained prioritie through a silent and voluntarie consent of the Churches not that it had any authoritie properly ouer them as also because there did reside in that place many famous men who out of their charitie were verie carefull to admonish brotherly the other faithfull and these men againe embraced their admonitions as the rules and precepts of learned men which seemed wonderfull beneficiall and profitable They also were subiect to their censures to preserue the vnitie of the faithfull and this their voluntarie obedience was in stead of a formall election though no wayes by any diuine or humane lawes they were no more tyed to the commaunds and institutions of the Roman Church or the Pope than the Pope himselfe was to him or his Churches And the reason hereof certainely was because they had not yet ouer them any supreme Christian Prince to comprehend and keepe them within order and vnitie the which is most plaine and perspicuous because we cannot gather out of any place of the holie Scriptures That by the commaundement of Christ of any one of the Apostles or of any primitiue Councell that the Churches or Bishops in generall were subiect to the Church or Bishop of Rome no not in those things that appertaine to rites Ecclesiasticall Which in no apparance Christ and his Apostles would haue omitted if it had concerned the saluation of the faithfull much lesse in that which concernes iura coactiua lawes of constraint not onely ouer Clerkes but ouer secular Princes themselues the which the Popes take vpon them against the expresse precepts and iniunctions of Christ and his Apostles And therefore the Church and Bishops of Rome obtained prioritie out of the commendable ends aboue mentioned from Constantine the first Christian Emperour which afterwards they persuaded the world but most falsly that they held ex iure diuino by law diuine further extending the same ouer all Kings and Princes as also that they are to gouerne during a vacancie in the seat Imperial Which the later Popes haue presumed to ratifie by many Decretalls by which out of a plenarie power they pretend to create or depose kings and they not obeying their Decree in this poynt are subiect to interdict and excommunication All which propositions are sharpely refuted in that booke the Pope being reduced to these tearmes That both he and the Church of Rome had no further authoritie ouer other Churches than what by the same Churches was voluntarily conferred vpon them Hereunto let vs annex That Edward the third king of England after he had oftentimes complained in vaine to the Popes of the exactions wherewith the Churches of England were continually pressed hee at length determined to free England from that jurisdiction which the Pope vsurped in England Wherefore in the yeare 1374 he ordained An. 1374. That the Bishops afterwards should be created by himselfe and so other inferiour Ministers by the Bishops and thereupon not long after it came to passe that the Pope lost the tenthes which before time he vsed without checke or controll to impose vpon the Clergie As also it was prohibited vnder grieuous paines That for the obtaining of any benefice in England no man should repaire to the Pope wheresoeuer he were and the Peter pence which were yearely payed to Rome were quite put downe The which when Gregorie the eleuenth vnderstood he was mightily vexed and exclaimed That this was nothing else but to diuide the Christian Church to annihilat Religion and to cut off all lawes both diuine and humane Wherefore he first dealt with Edward to reuoke this law but after this Popes death Polidorus l. 19. schisme arising in the Church saith Polidore there was no other of his successors that minded this matter till Martine the fift wrot letters of great vehemencie and persuasion to king Henrie the sixt but both the one and the other receiued a like answer which was That the Decree of a Councell or Parliament that is of England could not be abrogated without the authoritie of another Councell or Parliament which he would presently cause to be summoned the which notwithstanding was neuer performed At this verie time S. Bridget and Katherine of Sienna were celebrated for Saints both supposed to haue receiued diuine reuelations from aboue and therfore they were canonized both of them notwithstanding conceiuing verie well what manner of monster the Pope was And Bridget being borne in Scotland and maried in Suethen came to see Vrban the fift who was then at Montefiascone neere Rome supposing by her journey to haue gained great Indulgences And yet in her reuelations she calls the Pope a murderer of soules the disperser and deuourer of Christs sheepe more abhominable than the Iewes more despightfull than Iudas more vniust than Pylat worse than Lucifer and that his seat should sinke like a weightie stone the Apocalyps sayes like a mill-stone and that his assistants should burne in a sulphurous and inextinguishable fire Afterwards she reprehends the Bishops and other Priests that through their default the doctrine of Christ is cleane neglected and almost abolished the diuine wisedome and knowledge was by the Clergie conuerted into wicked and vaine sciences That they were leapers and dumbe men turning all Gods commaundements into one onely saying Da pecuniam giue money To conclude she affirmes that she saw the blessed Virgine speaking thus to her sonne Rome is a fertile and plentifull field when Christ made answer So indeed it is but of Cockle and Darnell But yet she said she was admonished in a vision to go to Rome rather to
of all the great men in the Land which then flourished eitheir in letters or armes obtaining so far by his diuine labour and zeale that truth from his mouth was harkened vnto by many embraced and receiued and happily preached for many yeares so as that light of the Gospell reuiued by his operations and endeauours no puff or whirle-wind could extinguish but rather it kindled vnto vs another fire all Europe ouer I forbeare to speake of the learning incomparable soliditie of his writings all which being duely wayed especially in so tenebrous an age amiddest so fearefull flashings and lightnings whereat the greatest Princes of the world stooped and trembled I thinke no man can justly make any doubt but that his spirit receiued illumination courage and confidence from aboue that God wrought in and by him and in the weakenesse of a wretched and abject man in respect of the world he intended the ruine of Sathans Empire of that same plenarie power so much boasted of and so long time affected by the Popes In so much as Luther seemes to haue spoken most worthily The bodies of the Saints rise againe when there is a resurrection of the Gospell of Iesus our Sauiour so as these pettie desperat Bishops are able to preuaile nothing at all against them with their Herods and Pylats All the Clergie out of doubt he wonderfully amazed and astonisht For Thomas Waldensis in his Epistle to Martine the fift spares not to tell how he wondered and admired at his irrefragible assertions at the perspicuous authorities and inconuincible reasons which he produced Thom. Waldens in Epist ad Martin 5. Thom. Walsingham in Rich. 2. Gulielm Caxtonius in Chron. Anno 1171 1372. alias fructus temporum And the Chronologers of those times seeme greatly to complaine that both king Edward and all his chiefe Counsellors gaue attentiue eare to him as also that the king was woon by him to enact by Parliament That the Bishops from thenceforth should be confirmed by their Metropolitans as in times past and not be tied vpon this occasion to goe personally to Rome But Waldensis mentions some particular men that in England entertayned his doctrine certaine Diuines and Masters of the Vniuersitie of Oxford Robert Rigg Chauncellour of the same Vniuersitie together with the two Proctors and many others whom he seuerally nominates In the Court the king himselfe and the Prince of Wales his son were his auditors Iohn Duke of Lancaster Lewis Clifford William Neuill Iohn Klenbow Richard Struny Thomas Latimer Iohn Montacute who defaced Images throughout all his jurisdiction Iohn of Salisburie who being at poynt of death rejected the Papisticall Sacrament with diuers others of the chiefest Nobilitie Besides Iohn of Northampton the Major of London and sundrie other notable Citizens and Burgesses who many times disturbed the Bishops assemblies and conuenticles which were called for the suppressing of Wickliff But so on the other side he wanted not many potent and mightie aduersaries among the Bishops Prelats Monkes but especially the Mendicants who after Edwards death obtained of Richard the second that Wickliff should be expelled England he therefore repairing into Bohemia brought a great light to the doctrine of the Waldenses when Iohn Hus being yet but a young man had diuers conferences with him about diuine matters But at length beeing recalled home againe from exile about the yeare 1387 the last of December An. 1387. he meekely in his Countrie yeelded vp his soule to God and was buried in the Church of Lutterworth within the Countie of Leicester not without a singular miracle shewed herein notwithstanding the implacable rage and furie of his aduersaries although in the yeare 1428 by Pope Martine the fifths order An. 1428. he was by the Prelats in England disinterred and burnt But God in his good time will re-demaund the bodies of his Saints of all the elements to whom he will then most gratiously communicat his hapinesse and glorie Amen Here we may also adjoyne the principall heads of Wicklifs doctrine as they are set downe by William Wydford his aduersarie who inuents many of them out of his owne braine the more to stir vp enuie against him but in a ward wee may boldly affirme that they are no other in substance then such as are receiued into the confessions of our Churches as may euidently bee seene in many treatises which are extant both in Latine and English Touching the Pope besides the points by vs premised he taught That in the Apostles time there were two only orders of Clerks those were Priests and Deacons for other degrees they proceeded from the pride of the Papacie That the Pope who counterfeitly professed himselfe to be the seruant of Gods seruants in the worke Euangelicall was of no place or degree but Sathans speciall Atturney and procurator that he might perpetually proiect and practise treason against Christ also that he was pointed at throughout all the Scriptures for Antichrist not his person simplie but the chaire and Papall dignitie from whence by meanes of the creeping in of all excesse and sensualitie confusion hath inuaded the Church how it was a most palpable heresie to beleeue that euerie militant Church in Europe depended on his See and authoritie That no man could ground out of the Scriptures how such a Vicar entred into the Church and therefore must needs haue come in otherwise by worldly courses and Sathans subtilties That Christ had neuer any meaning to constitute a Caesarian Pope one that should be both Pope and Emperour at an instant And therefore it belonged to Princes seriously to ioyne both their hearts and hands for the prohibiting of such a Sathan to beare rule in the church His principall Disciples in England grew verie famous both by edition of books and for Martyredome as Walter Bret Iohn Aston Iohn Ashwaly Nicholas Herford Iohn Puruer Richards Wits Iohn Oldcastle Peter Clarke William Taylor William With whose workes and labours Bale cites out of the auntient monuments the seed whereof brought forth afterwards the fruits into England which we both haue and daily see Thomas Walsingham specially notes Thomas Walsingham in Richarde 2. that when the Archbishop of Canterburie had sent Wicklifs condemnation to Robert Rigg Chauncellour of the Vniuersitie of Oxford to be diuulged he appointed them to preach that day whom he knew to be the most zealous followers of Wickliff in contempt saith he of the Archiepiscopall precept and among others he ordayned one Philip Rippinton a Chanon of Leycester to preach on Corpus Christi day who concluded his Sermon with these words For speculatiue doctrine saith he such as is the point of the Sacrament of the Altar I will set a barre on my lips while God hath otherwise instructed or illuminated the hearts of the Clergie The same Author sayth That in the yeare 1378 Pope Gregorie the eleuenth his Bull being presented and read at Oxford An. 1378. and seconded with expresse letters both to the
the execrable blasphemie For the Lord should not else haue beene discreet that so I may speake with his reuerence except he had left such an onely Vicar behind him Bald. in cap. Cum super de causis propr possess Jn ExtrauagaÌ„t Comm. l. 1. de maiorit Et obedientia C. vnam sanctaÌ„ ibi Glossa Et additio Petri Bertrandi in iure Canonic Editionis Gregorianae Lugdunens C. Fundamenta de Electione in 6. that could doe all these things now Peter was his Vicar and so the same may bee affirmed of Peters successors But because many Canonists of those times were ashamed of such words in certaine editions they were quite rased out and Gregorie the thirteenth vnder colour of reformation restored them againe The Glosse vpon the chapter Fundamenta electionibus sexto pronounces flatly That the Pope is not a man and in a little verse it is said Thou greatest of all ehings thou art neither God nor man but some intermediant power whereupon he surnames the Pope Admibilis Admirable by which name Christ is called in the 9 of Esay it was a wonder omitted the attribute following Emanuel God be with vs. That Glosse vpon the Extrauagants of Iohn the two and twentieth titulo 14 sayes Non est purus homo Glossa in proemium Clementinar but yet that of the chapter Cum inter nonnullos titulo 14 speakes as it were infuriated To beleeue that our Lord the Pope could not so or so decree is merely heretical Now judge by all precedent inferences Ius Canonicum impressum Lutetiae an 1â—20 apud Claudium Cheualonium in sole aureo Ius Canonicum Gregorij 1â— impressum Lugduni postrâ—me Editionis apud Rouillium in Extrauag Iohan 22. C. cum inter nonnullos Tit. 14. ni verbo declaramus circa finem what reformation is to be expected from these men when Gregorie the thirteenth perusing the whole Canon law left this Glosse absolute and entire and being formerly rased out by others precisely renewed the same such an heart-griefe it is vnto them howsoeuer they may faine and dissemble to abridge the least title of Antichristian priuiledges But as Antichrist augments and multiplies his blasphemous names and titles so does God daily excite and stir vp men in the world to detect and point him out with their finger which we shall better obserue in the sequel of these relations OPPOSITION Lewis the fourth Emperour suppressed his competitor Frederick and fortified himselfe by the king of Englands affinitie whose wifes sister hee maried being daughter to the Count of Holland and therefore Pope Iohn thought to rayse a verie dangerous conspiracie against him either to detaine him still in Germanie or to make all enterprises more difficult to him in Italie He therefore entred into a league with Charles the Faire king of France and Robert king of Sicilie enjoyning further Leopald Duke of Austria and brother to Frederick to take vp armes he made the Duke of Poland a king vpon condition that hee should war against him and further he commaunded the Teutonian Knights to make peace with the Lituanians who were yet Pagans to inuade the Marquisat of Brandenberg which belonged to Lewis his sonne When he saw that in all likelihood he would not leaue Germanie he sent Philip de Valois into Italie with Cardinall Bertrand a Dominican in his companie to open a way for him and he excommunicated all those whosoeuer that were of Lodouikes partialitie Lodouikes partakers cried out vnto him in these distresses requesting his aid He notwithstanding to claime his right fairely sent an embassadour to Iohn yea to his Legat to treat of a peace who being entertained with threats and contumelies returned backe againe Iohn still reiterates his thundering excommunications so as all other affaires layd apart Lewis must needs enter Italie with an armie Auent l. 7. In Auentine Iohns Bull against Lewis is to be read taken out of the ancient Libraries of Bauaria the which it will be verie requisit here to insert absolute and entire After saith he that the Roman Empire transferred by our predecessors from the Greeks to the Germans was committed to the custodie and protection of Charles the Great this soueraigne honor was woont to be the benefit and prerogatiue of the highest Priest For it was then decreed That if the Almans at any time made choyce of a king this election should be of no vigor nor force except the Pope of Rome Father and Prince of Christendome did ratifie the same and he so assigned by the Princes and States of the Empire could neither gouerne nor take vpon him royall Title before the Pope Gods Legat authorized and approued him suo numine with his diuinitie And further the Empire being destitute of an head the absolute power and prerogatiue lay in the Pope whose see it manifestly is And wee haue seene throughout all precedent discourse what strife hath beene about this word Benefice or Fee as also how much bloud was shed in all parts of Italie In like manner when the seuen Electors are diuided neither the one nor the other of the elected can be king And so the Roman Bishop as the common parent to all men is to manage at his owne will the Roman Empire being by such a dissention destitute of an head And as the mind commaunds the bodie to serue by whose benefit it onely liues so no man can denie but that then the Christian affaires goe best forward when things fraile yeeld to those eternall prophane to sacred and those corporall to the other spirituall Which then comes to passe when the Pope at his discretion gouernes both dignities for both the the Church is gouerned and all other power is reduced vnder his lawes and obedience And the Emperour by oath is bound vnto him who by a Vicegerencie vnder the celestiall Emperour swayes and rules the earth For this cause it is that two after Henrie the seuenths death hauing beene nominated Emperours Frederick and Lewis both the one and the other were incapable of this soueraigne dignitie and so consequently the Christian Commonwealth came to be dissipated and abandoned and therefore in all right was to be directed and gouerned by vs. As also Lodouike to his owne great hurt and preiudice and no lesse detriment to the Roman Church before he was thought worthie by vs to rule out of his owne head tooke vpon him the royall Titles rashly vsurping the authoritie and power of Emperour which still he holds both in Italie and Germanie For hee hath giuen into his sonnes hands the Principalitie of Brandenburg contrarie to all lawes And notwithstanding our opposition he succoured Galeazzo and his hrethren who were condemned of heresie And this is continually for such an heresie as neither the Apostles nor the Fathers euer made mention of We therefore according to the authoritie deriued to vs from heauen peremptorily commaund Lewis within the space of three moneths to abiure all royal Title and absolutly to
remoue than confirme the opinion she formerly conceiued of it Katherine also gaue the like censure of the state of the Roman Church nay and if we may beleeue Antoninus she presaged That euen then the Churches confusion was at hand and that presently a reformation would ensue When she heard of the Perugians rebellion against the Pope Begin not your lamentation saith she so soone for you shall haue weeping too much for this you now see is but milke and honie in respect of those miseries to ensue Thus doe the Laitie and presently you shall see the Clergie will doe worse for they shall giue a generall scandall to the whole Church of God which like an hereticall pestilence shall disturbe and dissipate the same It shall not properly be an heresie but as it were an heresie and a certaine diuision of the Church and all Christendome This saith Raimond who writ her Legend we see accomplished in the schisme that followed vpon Gregories death For when the schisme began Raymond told her That what she had prophesied was now come to passe and she replied Euen as then I told you that the present molestations were but milke and honie so I say vnto you That this you now see and behold is but childrens sport in comparison of future miseries especially in adiacent and bordering Prouinces Which we haue seene come to passe saith he ouer all Italie and Sicilia whereunto wee may worthily annex France which neuer felt a more sharpe and terrible warre than at this instant Then Raymond againe prosecutes Being curious saith hee to demaund of her what would follow after this wonderfull agitation and reuolt because it manifestly appeared that shee entertained celestiall reuelations she replied God shall purge his Church from all these tribulations and miseries by a meanes altogether inperceptible and vnknowne vnto men and after this shall occurre such a wonderfull reformation of Gods Church and a renouation of sacred and holie Pastors that through the cogitation thereof onely my spirit euen reioyceth in the Lord. And as otherwhiles I haue many times told you the spouse that now is deformed and rent shall then hee adorned with goodlie and precious iewels and all the faithfull shall exult for being honoured with such holie Pastors Antoninus addes further What this sacred virgine foretold of schismes and tribulations we haue seene them cleerely and euidently come to passe but for that shee denounced touching good Pastors and the Churches reformation that hath not yet beene effected And yet he wrot in the yeare 1450 after the schisme extinguished and the dissolution of the Councels of Constance and Basil the which as it seemes he thought had not sufficiently prouided for the reformation of the Church conformable to this virgines predictions neither can it any wayes be perceiued in the Church of Rome or in the Popes whether you consider doctrine or manners so as this prophesie may verie well be applied to that reformation that began not long after which purged both the errors of doctrine and the abuses of discipline through the diligence and zeale of those godlie ministers which God stirred vp in the age following by a meanes as she said inperceptible of men the which was then a preparing before his death In Bohemia mention is made of one Militzius a famous Preacher of Prage whom Iacobus Misnensis tearmes renowmed and venerable This man declared how against his will he was enioyned by the holie Ghost to search out of the holie Scriptures the comming of Antichrist whom he found to be now alreadie come the same spirit conducting him he was constrained to go to Rome where he preached publikely and afterwards before the Inquisitor he confirmed That the great Antichrist of whom the Scriptures doe prophesie was already come The same man said That in the Church Idols should be erected which would destroy Ierusalem and make desolat the Temple but that they were couered with hypocrisie That many know the truth and yet through iniustice suppressed it and therefore in this silence they renounced Christ and durst not auouch his truth before men He also inueyed particularly against many abuses as we may see in Iacobus Misnensis his treatise de Aduentis Antichristi which he wrot about the yeare 1410. An. 1410. We find also a Bull of Gregorie the eleuenth directed to Iohn Archbishop of Prage wherein he is commanded to excommunicat and persecute Militzius and his auditors who were taught and instructed by him That the Pope and his companions were Antichrists That there was no truth amongst them vndepraued So as it is manifest that the Church in Bohemia came to haue some reformation and so much the rather because the Waldenses as we formerly saw fixed here their habitations long time before In these verie dayes about the yeare 1460 one Iohn Wickliffe An. 1460. a man of singular vnderstanding began to lift vp his head who was trayned vp at Oxford in all learning and science being both a famous Diuine and Philosophâ—â— who was for these parts highly honoured and esteemed of all the Faculties and Degrees in that Vniuersitie This man questionlesse charged the Roman Church on euerie side verie stoutly for not satisfying himselfe in shewing the Pope to bee an Heresâ—arch the Antichrist deciphered in the Scriptures the abhomination of desolation in abstracto in abstract brought in by Sathans guile and their Churches impostume and that he conuinced him to be the same both by the Scriptures the course of all histories diuers preualent reasons and his owne proper actions but further he assaileth the inward poynts of his doctrine taxing it with vanitie superstition and idolatrie reprehending the seruice of the creator conuerted to the creature to mortall men to Saints to reliques to images That the Sacrifice of the Redeemers Passion was turned into the foolish spectacle and mummerie of a Masse the benefit of the death and passion of Christ the sonne of God into dispensations absolutions pilgrimages and indulgences the benefits or rather inchauntments not of a pure but most impure man The people were fallen away from the incomparable merits of Christ our Sauiour to their owne workes from the firme tuition and defence of Christs crosse to the shaken reed of their owne demerits To conclude from God the generall creator to a ridiculous host which must bee worshipped as God though it were knead and made with mens hands And for the furtherance of this so high a worke of Gods he translated the whole Bible into the vulgar Tongue all those heads of doctrine he deliuered to the learned in Latine and to the ignorant in the vulgar Tongue In publique lectures at Oxford he was a Doctor in ordinarie Sermons of the Church a Pastour putting on a brasen forehead against the shamelesse strumpet and a breast of Diamant against the power and violence of the whole Clergie thundring the like euen into the eares of Edward the third then raigning in England and he drew vnto himselfe the attention