quarrell I purpose to handle and discusse in the next Chapter in his proper place Theodoricus de Niem writing of this councell and of the end and purpose of those that held it saith that this Synod was gathered purposely to search out the auncient vses lawes and customes of the Empire and Church that each power knowing their owne limits the one might not encroach vpon the other Celebrata est saith he ab 153. viris religiosis Episcopis Abbatibus c. ab vniuersis regionibus et oramibus almae vrbis à cuncto etiâ—…m Clero huius sanctae Rom. Ecclesiae ex quirentibus vsus leges mores eiusdem Ecclesiae et imperij That is It was celebrated by one hundred and fifty three religious men Bishops Abbots c. by all the regions and degrees of the City of Rome by all the Clergy of this holy Church of Rome making search and inquisition for the vses lawes and customes both of this Church and of the Empire Then we see that Charles recouered some part of the auncient Iurisdiction of the Empire Which notwithstanding since his time the Popes by inuincible contentions wrested from the Emperours chalenging it to be a part of their owne Iurisdiction and charging the Emperours with Heresie and Schisme for practising that right which other Popes before them acknowledged to bee the auncient right of the Empire 14 And because to the Iurisdiction of Princes it belonged of olde both to call councels and to confirme them therefore Charles did not omit this part of Iurisdiction though as the euent declared it was much against the Popes pleasure He called a Synod at Frankford wherein was condemned the doctrine of worshipping of images which doctrine the Pope had late before confirmed The occasion hereof grew thus Leo Isaurus Emperour being much offended that the Saracines had that great and iust exception against Christians that they worshipped images called a Synod at Constantinople wherein the worship of images was condemned and the images burned He sent also to the Bishop of Rome as then Gregory the second commaunding him to doe the like if he would haue his fauour saith Paulus Diaconus Gregory the second tooke this in suâ—…h indignation that he rebelled against the Emperour and raised all Italy into a rebellion by which meanes the Emperour lost all that then was left in Italy Gregory the second in the middes of these stirres died and Gregory the third succeeded who prosecuting the purpose of his predecessour called a Synod at Rome in the yeare seuen hundred thirty three by Sigebert seuen hundred thirty nine by Palmerius In this Synod the doctrine of worshipping images was confirmed Leo the Emperor was excommunicated and depriued Thus began the Pope to practise a new Iurisdiction in deposing Emperours After this Constantine sirnamed or rather nick-named Copronimus in the yeare of Christ saith Sigebert seuen hundred fifty fiue called a Synod at CoÌ„stantinople wherein the worship of images was againe condemned But another Synod was held at Rome by Pope Stephen the third in the yeare of Christ seuen hundred threescore and eight wherein the worshipping of images was againe approued Which was more famously confirmed in the yeare of Christ seuen hundred foure score and eight by another Constanstine and his mother Irene who called the second Nycen Synod wherein Imagerie preuailed much by the helpe of Pope Hadrian 15. Vpon these stirres Charles the great was moued to call a Synod at Franckford Thither sent Pope Hadrian the acts of the second Nicen Synod to be approued there and to direct this Synod at Frankford if they would take any direction from the Pope But the Fathers of this Synode not regarding the Popes direction tooke a meane course betweene the Greekes who destroyed and defaced images and the Church of Rome which maintained the worship thereof For they decreed that it was not impious to set vp images but to giue any worship to them this they held to be vtterly against Christian faith and to be a thing receiued from the superstition of the Gentiles This Synod was called and confirmed by Charles the great Then belike the Pope had not gotten all Iurisdiction ouer Kings which now he claimeth For the Emperour called Synods not the Pope Neither as then had hee gotten Iurisdiction ouer all Bishops because we see many Bishops were found in Germany France Aquitany and England for all these Nations Charles nameth in his letter to Elepandus Metropolitane of Tolet as fauouring and maintaining the trueth against the worship of images which resisted the Pope in this matter so that his great and soueraigne Iurisdiction was not then established 16. About this time that most worthy most religious and learned King Alfred raigned in England Aser Meneuensis writing his life entituleth him Omnium Britanniae insulae Christianorum rectorem Which title doth not much differ from that which is now in part giuen to the King supreame Gouernour of all persons Ecclesiasticall For whereas at this day the discipline of the Court of Rome exempteth Clerkes from the Kings Courts and consequently from the Kings gouernment it appeareth that in King Alfreds time this thing was vtterly vnknowne to the world therefore this King is called and acknowledged to bee the Gouernour of all Christians within his dominions Now because Bishops and Clerks were Christians he was hereby questionlesse vnderstood the gouernour of Clerkes aswell as of others As then all forraine gouernement and Iurisdiction was excluded by that title so nowe there is no other thing sought but in like sort to exclude all forraine power and Iurisdiction whether the Popes or any other At this time whe n King Alsred liued and raigned the sense iudgement and vnderstanding of the world was no other but that Kings were supreme gouernours of all persons and caufes Ecclesiasticall and Temporall within their owne Dominions Ivnderstand gouernment here as throughout this question I haue often admonished gouernment or power coactiue for this exemption of criminous Clarkes from their Kings Courts was a thing vnknowen in the world in those dayes And therfore whereas it is commonly taken by our aduersaries who vse to begge such principles as they cannot prooue that the religion sense and iudgement of the world ranne wholly for the Iurisdiction which now is practised in the Court of Rome this wee vtterly denie For we are able to shew when the sense iudgement and religion of the Church was against them in euery part of their pretended Iurisdiction For first whereas the Pope claimeth Iurisdiction ouer Bishops this is one part of his Iurisdiction and is now the sense and iudgement of the Court of Rome but in the times of the sixt and seuenth Carthaginian Councels of the Affrican and Mileuitan Synodes at this time I say and alwayes before the religion sense and iudgement of the whole world ran contrary If any obiect that these were not generall Councels but prouinciall I
against the greater part The King of England by publicke writing protested against it when first it was appointed by the Pope to be held at Mantua the reasons which King Henry alleaged against it are these That it belonged not to the Pope to cal Councels but to the Emperor to the Kings of Christendom that the Pope himselfe was to be censured by the Councell and therefore Italy was no fit place for it that there was no caution made to him and his Embassadours and Bishops for their safe conduct that though there were publike caution giuen yet the practice of Popes in breaking their faith and violating publike cautions and sucking the blood of innocent men was too well knowen In fine the King giueth aduise to all other Princes and Magistrates to gouerne their owne people to establish true religion to reiect the Popes tyrannie as hee had done 16. The French King made like Protestation against this Councell of Trent for the Abbot of Bellosan the French Kings Embassadour obtaining admittance into the Councell though not without great difficultie in the middest of that assembly against the expectation of many deliuered the Kings protestation thus That it was neither safe nor fit for him to send his Bishops to Trent that he held not that assembly for a publike and generall Councell but rather for a priuate conuenticle gathered not for the common good but for the pleasure and profite of some few that neither he himselfe nor any of his kingdome should be bound by those decrees and if need required that he would vse such remedie to restraine the Popes as his Auncestours had vsed before Thus did these Kings then protest against that Councell especially because it was called by the Popes authoritie who had no right to call generall Councels And both these kingdomes and the Churches therâ—…in haue withstood the authoritie of this Councell yea the French Church of Papists would neuer admit the Councell of Trent so that it is not onely dissallowed of vs but by a number of them who professing to follow the auncient Church of Rome yet vtterly reiect this Councell of Trent as swaruing from the Church of Rome Of the Princes of Germanie there is no doubt made but that they would neuer yeelde consent to it Then generall it cannot be when as so many and so great a part haue withstood it yea a farre greater part then they can make who held it 17. And whereas in all ancient generall Councels the freedome and libertie of Bishops and of all that had voices in Councels was nâ—…uer impeached in this Councell of Trent it was quite otherwise for none might be admitted to haue voice therein but only such as should be bound in an oath of bondage and slauerie to the Pope And therefore when the Embassadours of Maurice Duke of Saxony came to the Councell and proposed from their Master these petitions That the forme of safe conduct might be made for his Diuines according to the forme which the councell of Basill graunted to the Bohemians that is to say that these particulars might be expressed therein that they also with other might haue deciding power that in euery controuersie the holy Scriptures the practise of the auncient Church the ancient Councels and Fathers agreeing with Scriptures and founding them vpon Scriptures might be admitted and receiued for the most true and indifferent iudge for thus much was contained in the safe conduct graunted by the Councell of Basill to the Bohemians that there might bee no proceeding till his Diuines came that when they were come all things precedent might be recalled that the Councell might be free for all nations that the Bishop of Rome might submit himselfe to the Councell and remit that oath which he had taken of the Bishops which were of the Councell that their voyces might be free and without such euident partiality and preiudice as they brought with them who were bound by oath to doe nothing against the pleasure of the Pope these petitions were reiected freedome vtterly excluded partiality and preiudice maintained with resolution 18. And that the same Councell of Trent was not a lawfull assembly it is no lesse euident because it was not called by lawfull authoritie for it was called onely by the Popes authoritie who neuer had authoritie to call generall Councels And though Charles the fift then Emperour was at the first drewen to yeeld a consent yet the Pope would neuer allow that the Emperour should haue the authoritie to call the Councell and to appoint the place as alwayes it was the Emperours Iurisdiction in auncient Councels but this Iurisdiction the Pope by vsurpation drew to himselfe in the Councell of Trent Insomuch that when the Emperour vtterly dissallowing the translation of the same Councell to Bononia wrote to them and sent his Embassadour Vargas to protest against them that he would hold all as vaine friuilous and vnlawfull whatsoeuer they did tearming them not a Councell but a Conuenticle Montanus the Popes Legat answered that it should neuer be indured that the Ciuill Magistrate should haue authority to call Councels or to appoint the place thereof To this purpose the Pope also writeth to Charles that the Emperour hath no right herein but the Pope himselfe is the man Qui solus iure diuino humano cogendi 〈◊〉 decernendi de rebuâ—… sacris potestatem obtineat This authoritie then being vtterly denied to the Emperour for calling the Councell of Trent we say that Councell was an vnlawfull assembly because it was not gathered by the authority of the Emperour and of Christian Kings And when it was thus gathered neither a generall Councell nor a free nor a lawfull Councell yet as it was with all these foule faults it could not serue the Popes turne vnlesse singular fraud and deceit had bene practised Olaus Magnus was intituled Archbishop of Vpsala and blinde Sir Robert a Scottishman was intituled Archbishop of Armach in Ireland so that for want of true Bishops some were set vp onely in name to fill vp the number and giue voices 19. And when all other shifts would not serue the Pope still reserued one for the last cast The greatest part of them that were present had a purpose to curb the Popes Iurisdiction especially the Spanish Bishops who saith Sleidan were most diligent in this Councell These combined with those few Germane Bishops which were there resolued saith he Pontificis Romani potestatemintra certos fines includere nec illius aulae tantum facultatis in omnes prouincias attribuere That is To reduce the Popes authority within some bounds and not to yeeld such power to that Court ouer all Prouinces The Pope fearing such a thing afore prouided that the greatest part of Bishops should be Italians none might be admitted of any other Nation but such as were made obnoxious to the Pope aswell by some other respects as by an oath If any were
meeting that matters might be composed if it might be and troubles preuented The meeting was appointed at Diuion Thither came Frederick and Uictor Thither came Henry the second King of England and William King of Scotland But Alexander was so much afraid of this meeting that hee perswaded Philip the French King who had promised to meete the Emperour here to practise a trick which better beseemed a shifting Pope then an honourable Prince The deuise was that the French King should come to the place before the Emperor was come wash his hands in the Riuer that ran by the place and by the voice of a Criar should call the Emperour three times and as if this were the keeping of his promise afterward hee should depart When the Emperour and the Kings of England and Scotland were come to the place and heard what the French King had done they were much offended that the King should so Popishly disappoint his promise therefore they willed Victor to returne to Rome and went their waies 112. I passe by Fredericks iourney to the holy land his warres there how Pope Alexander sent his Image to the Souldian how being taken prisoner when he would haue dissimulated his estate he was knowne by his picture how after his returne he raised an Army and led the same into Italy against Alexander how against the Venetians who tooke part with Alexander he sent his sonne Otho how his sonne was taken prisoner which estate of his sonne gaue Alexander the aduantage and made the Emperour content to yeelde The conclusion was The Emperour must come into Saint Marke his Church in Venice and there humbly seeke absolution at the Popes handes Fredericke did so The Pope commanded him to aske pardon prostrate on the ground the Emperour suspecting no contumely did so The humble milde and mortified Vicar of Christ hauing the Emperor thus prostrate before him set his foote vpon the Emperours necke vsing those wordes Super Aspidem Basiliscum ambulabis conculcabis Leonem Draconem The Emperours answere was Non tibi sed Petro The Pope replied Et mihi Petro. These be examples of the Popes power in excommunicating Emperours from which examples they draw the claim of a right which they pretend to haue The Popish writers hope that men will be perswaded by the examples of the Popes power that this power was giuen to S. Peter and in him to all Popes because there appeareth such Christian moderation humility and mildenesse therein Though there be nothing in Scripture for them but all against them though the auncient fathers expresly denied the Popes to haue Iurisdiction ouer other Bishpopes yet they doubt not but they shall finde some that will rest perswaded that Christ left this fulnesse of power to the Popes which conteineth Soueraigne Iurisdiction not onely ouer all Bishoppes but ouer all temporall Princes also Henry the sixt and Philip. 113. HEnry the sixt Emperour succeeded Frederic This Henry left a young sonne Frederic an Infant yet elect to be Emperour and committed his education and weldoing to the trust of Pope Innocens the third leauing the Empire to his brother Philip vntill the childe should growe to age Pope Innocent this trustie tutor purposing the destruction both of Philip and young Fredericke set vp another Emperour which procured great vexation and trouble to them and to all Germany And first he quarrelled Philip that he stood vnder an old excommunication of Celestinus but afterward making semblance of fauour and reconciliation with him hee sent the Bishoppe of Sutrium to demand pledges certaine men whose eyes his brother Henry had plucked out The Bishoppe came and receiued the blinde pledges and at the earnest request of Philip absolued him from the excommunication The Pope when he had gotten these blinde men made publicke shew of them to moue enuie against Philip that done he excommunicated the Bishoppe of Sutrium for absoluing Philip without his commaundement the Bishoppe was depriued and so stood depriued all the daies of his life Then laboured the Pope to stirre vp Bertholduâ—… Duke of Zaringia against Philip whom he would haue obtruded to the Electours But Berthold vtterly refusing to rebell sent his Nephewes to Philip for Hostages of his Faith and Alleageance and came himselfe and sware Alleageance to him at which the Pope taking great indignation brake out into these wordes Either shall the Pope pull the Crown from Philip or Philip shal pull the Miter from the Pope And sent therefore to Otho sonne to Henry Leo a Prince more noted for boldnesse pride and ambition then for wisedome and moderation 114. To this man the Pope Innocent sent a Crowne and set him vp against Philippe for the Empire excommunicating Philippe and pulling all helpes from him that possible hee could and so filled the world with warres As Philip and Otho were thus plunged in warres all Princes and people troubled there was not a Bishopricke or Ecclesiasticall dignity or Parish-Church which was not made litigious and in the common miseries of Christendome and confusion of the Church the Pope onely reioyced increasing his wealth by the ruines of the Church the calamity of all men was turned to his happinesse To expresse this true felicity of the Pope and the Court of Rome in the misery and vexation of all the world mine Authour breaketh out into these wordes O our mother Rome reioyce because the Cataracts of earthly treasures are opened that vnto thee Riuers may flow and Mountaines of siluer may be brought in great abundance to thee be thou ioyfull for the iniquity of the sonnes of men because in recompence of so much mischiefe as from thee proceedeth the price returneth to thee Let thine heart be merry for the discord and dissention that troubleth all other but helpeth thee for out of the infernall pit it breaketh to heape vp much money as a reward to thee Thou hast that which alwaies thou hast thirsted after and longed for Now maist thou sing this song that thou hast ouercome the world not by thy Religion but by the malitiousnesse of men That which draweth men to thee is not thy deuotion or a pure conscience but impudency and boldnesse to commit all wickednes and hope of impunity for their hope is to defend and maintaine any wickednesse where thou art the Iudge and when the price is prepared Thus farre Uspergensis making some what bold with that innocent Pope Innocentius In this contention which the Pope raised Otho had the helpes of the King of Bohemia the Lantgraue of Thuring the Bishoppe of Colon these inclined to him being drawne as well by the Popes cursing of Philip as also for that they saw that Otho was strong by meanes of his Vncle Richard King of England But at last Otho being wearied with the warres and perceiuing Philips affaires to prosper was content to heare of peace 115. The Pope himselfe after all his malice thus spent made a motion of reconciliation
of Christendome are to be intreated in the behalfe of God to remoue these greeuances from the Church which the insatiable couetousnesse of Popes brought in And seeing they haue remoued the Harpyes themselues why should they leaue the markes of their abhominable couetousnesse to the eternall oppression of the Church Why should these vncleane spoiles be found in the hands of godly Princes It would be the eternall honour of our Princes not to chaunge the oppressour but to remooue the oppression It was the honour of this land that when the Pope had oppressed all other Churches onely the Church of England was free Hanc consuetudinem omnes adâ—…isere praeter Anglos saith Naucler It was first imposed in the yeare one thousand and foure hundred it was not vsed in England when Naucler wrote as he witnesseth that is not before the yeare one thousand fiue hundred so odious an abuse so lately bred might soone be remoued if the cup of these sweete wines wherein the Pope began had not beguiled many men 152. When Boniface the ninth had begun this oppression much money was thereby gathered from the Clergie throughout the Emperours Dominions the money being thus collected was deteined by the greedy Emperour Wenceslaus from the more greedy Popes This turned the hearts of the Popes against him therefore Gregory the ninth deposed him and set vp Rupertus Count Palatine of Rhene against him George King of Bohemia 153. AFter the death of Ladislaus King of Bohemia who died without issue two great Kingdomes of Bohemia and Hungaria with the Duchy of Austria being vacant many Princes sought the Kingdome of Bohemia Charles King of Fraunce whose daughter Ladislaus married would haue placed one of his sonnes Casimire King of Polonia hauing married a sister sought it in her right so did Guilliam Duke of Saxony who married the elder sister of Ladâ—…slaus Sigismund and Albert Dukes of Austria were in good hope and Frederick the Emperour would haue had the administration of the Kingdome because the homage due to the Empire had beene neglected When the day of Election came 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was chosen King and afterward confirmed by Fredericke the Emperour but Paul the second finding that this George fauored the Hussites or as Platinâ—… saith daily withdrew himselfe from the body of Christianity meaning from the obedience of the Pope did excommunicate and depose him setting vp Mathiâ—… King of Hungary against him Mathiâ—… gaue the Bohemians a great ouerthrow in the yeare one thousand foure hundred and 〈◊〉 and with such mortall hatred was Pope 〈◊〉 set against this King that he sent many Bishoppes to negociâ—…te these warres and to raise vp the Hungarians and Germanes against him and so farre preuailed that he eâ—…tinguished all the posterity and discent of George and would saith 〈◊〉 vtterly haue rooted out all the name and memory of the Heretickes vnlesse the Polonians had stayed 〈◊〉 For the Polonians claimed the Kingdome of 〈◊〉 as due to them 〈◊〉 being already busied enough with the warres of the Turke thought good not to draw new troubleâ—… vpon himselfe by prouoking the Polonians Thus the Pope rested at that time contented with the blood of George and his children seeing the power of his malice could then proceed no further King Iohn of Nauâ—…rre 154. POpe Iulius the second the scourge of Christendome in his time vsed the like courtesie to Iohâ—… King of Nauarre for when this Vicar of Christ 〈◊〉 raised warres against the French King Iohâ—… King of Nauâ—…rre held as he had reason with the French King being a French-man by birth and hauing the greatest part of his paâ—…imony in Fraunce 〈◊〉 King of Arragon then fauoured the Pope This 〈◊〉 prepared warre against the French King and to turne the mindes and speech of all men vpon the French warres from that purpose which secretly hee intended hee intreated Henry the â—…ighth King of England to send him an Army to helpe him in the warres of Franâ—…e King Henry hauiâ—…g maried the daughter of Ferdinand sent him sixe thousand footmen these came to the Frontiers of France and there stayed long for the army of Ferdiâ—…nd who for his better passage into Fraunce required of Iâ—…hn King oâ—… Nauarre through whose Dominions hee was to passe that he would deliâ—…er vp to his hands three of the strongest Castles that he would demaund the request as vniust was denied by the King of Nauarre Ferdinaâ—…d referreth the matter to the Pope The Pope Iâ—…lius not regarding the iustice or iniustice of the cause pronounceth the King of Nauarre a Schismaticke and Hereticke for fauouring the French King and therefore depriueth him of his kingdome and giueth his right to Ferdinand Who thereupon sent his army of a suddaine against the King of Nauarre who fled into France Thus was the kingdomâ—… of Nauarre surprised and no title pretended sauing onely the Popes excommunication The state of Venice 155. IT were too long to recompt all the mischiefes and miseries that the Popes Excommunications haue brought vpon Christendome I haue collected the chiefe and most eminent and will end this discourse with the memory of that affliction and desolation which the Pope brought vpon the Venetians Iulâ—…s the second following the steppes of his predecessours brought an armie before Bononia besieged the towne and tooke it The familie of the Bentiuoli he vtterly ruinated killing some banishing other When thus hee had ouerthrowne the Bentiuoli Then he set himselfe in like sort to root out the Venetian name Ad venetâ—… 〈◊〉 excidiuâ—… saith 〈◊〉 The better to effect the malice against the Venetians he drew 〈◊〉 the Emperour the French King the King of Spaine the Duke of Ferrara and the Duke of Mantua into a league when first himselfe had excommunicated and câ—…sed them hee set all these vpon them at once The Pope made choice of a fit time to doe them the greatest hurt he could for a little before this the state of Venice was brought so low that a weake enemie might soone haue â—…dangered them hauing had their whole army brought vnto Internecion at Abdua after that ouerthrowen in a great battell by Lewes the French King their chiefe generals Liuianus taken prisoner Petilianus put to flight The Pope tooke the aduantage of this their weakenesse and seeing them falling labored to thrust them headlong that they might neuer be able to rise againe Mâ—…ximilian tooke Verona Vicetia Padway Carni the French King surprised Bergamum Brixia Cremona Crema the Spaniard wan Tranum Monopolis and Barletta in Apulia The Popes share was Rauenna Ariminum all Aemilia The Duke of Ferrara got Rodigium and the Duke of Mantua Asula Thus was that noble state brought in manner to vtter ruine 156. Iulius hauing thus satisfied his malice and obtained his purpose in some measure against the Venetians being ledde by a spirit that would giue him no rest began to turne his furious wrath in like sort against 〈◊〉 contrary to his faith often promised and
pulled from him and when Princes take their owne right in temporalties and Councels in spirituall Iurisdiction the Bird will be left naked betweene them that was so glorious with the feathers of others 34. Before the time of the Councell of Trent this hath bin alwaies acknowledged and preserued a trueth in the Church that the authority of a Councell is aboue any particular whatsoeuer whether he be the Bishop of Rome or any other This was neuer once brought in question the first thousand yeares but when the Popes had framed a Ladder of their supposed Iurisdiction to clime aboue Princes and Friars began to puffe vp the Sailes of the Popes pride by the winde of their flatterie then began some question to bee made of the authority of a Councell The Friars hoisted vp the Pope aboue the Councel but there were alwaies in the Church of Rome some remaining yea a great number and sometimes as the best part so the strongest who held and maintained the auncient true Iurisdiction of a lawfull free generall Councell to be aboue the Pope and to haue authority to depose the Pope or otherwise to censure him as in their wisedome they thought meete This question of the Iurisdiction of a Councell had often beene moued as we finde by the appeales of Emperours and Kings and others from the Pope to a generall Councell but it came not to be put in execution before the Councell of Pisa which was gathered vppon this occasion 35. After a â—…ong schisme in the Church of Rome Gregory the twelfth was chusing during the schisme Gregory tooke an Oath as soone as he was elected to take away the schisme by all possible meanes and wrote to Benedict the thirteenth inuiting him to a mutuall abdication for peace Benedict returned an answere to the same words backe again As the Popes colluded together without any sincere purpose of abdication the question began to be mooued of the authority of the Church which might order them both because the Church is aboue all euen the Popes are subiect to this power and therefore it was thought fit that a generall Councell should be called representing the Church of these Westerne parts The Councell was summoned to meete at Pisa the Bishops Prelates and Princes being orderly summoned and meeting heere in the yeare one thousand foure hundred and eight proceeded against both the Popes deposed and depriued them condemning them both for Heretickes and Schismatickes commanding all Christians not to take them for Popes or yeelde obedience to them In this Councell there was great disputation of the authority of a Councell and it was determined none contradicting sayeth mine Authour that the Councell had authority to depose the Popes persisting in a scandall and to chuse another This was the ground and occasion of calling the Councell of Constance not long after this 36. This Councell of Pisa is much commended by Iohn Gerson and by the Councell of Constance as the same Authour Gerson doth witnesse Where he saith also that the Church of England sent learned men to that Synode at Pisa who as they came through Paris were entertained with an Oration of the same Gerson then Chauncellor of the Vniuersity of Paris declaring the consent of that Vniuersity with them Then wee haue the Councell of Pisa and herein the iudgement of the Church of England concurring with many other Churches against the Popes Iurisdiction The same will likewise appeare by the Councell of Constance 37. The Councell of Constance was called by the commandement of Sigismund Emperor in the yeare one thousand foure hundred and fourteene for the same end For the Synode of Pisa had deposed the two Popes that maintained the schisme and chosen a new Pope Alexander the fift but the other two helde their places by force and there were now three Popes after Alexander 5. death Iohâ—… the three and twentieth was chosen this man came to Constance and shewed himselfe willing to be deposed so that the other two in schisme might be ordered and pulled downe from the places which they held but this Iohn finding that the Councell had a purpose after that he was deposed to chuse another and not himselfe fled away from the Councell and refused to be ordered by it but hee was apprehended and brought backe againe so his life and conuersation being examined by the Councell he was deposed but when he sent Charles Malatesta to approue the sentence of the Synode and to make for him and in his name a free abdication of the Papacy he died for griefe that Malatesta had performed that commission so roundly and so quickly 38. The other two Popes Gregory and Benedâ—…ct stood vp mainteining the schisme all this while To order them Sigismund Emperor tooke great paines with the Kings of England Fraunce and Arragon Gregory yeelded to be ruled by the Synode but Benedict stood out stiffely a long time who in the end also was depriued and pronounced an Hereticke and Schismaticke It is obserued that there was nothing concluded in this Councell without the consent of the fiue Nations The Synode hauing thus deposed all those other Popes made choyce of Martin the fift And to preuent such schismes and the troubles which grewe by them it was decreed in the same Synode that such Synodes should be often called the first should bee called fiue yeares after this the second seauen yeares after the first the third tenne yeares after the second and so from tenne yeares to tenne yeares continually This order and Iurisdiction of the Church declared in Synodes did so terrifie the Popes that they sought by all meanes to defeat it they could not indure such a Iurisdiction aboue themselues to call them censure them depose them as this Synode had throwen downe three Popes at once Therefore the Popes after this laboured by all meanes how they might oppresse the authority of a Councell which they could neuer doe before the Councell of Trent and all these partes of Christendome on the other side laboured to maintaine the authority of the Councell aboue the Pope 39. For the better confirmation hereof this Synode declareth the authority and Iurisdiction of a generall Councell thus Declarat haec sancta Synodus quod ipsa in spiritu sancto legitimè congregata Concilium generale faciens EcclesiaÌ„ Catholicam representans potestatem à Christo immediate habet cui quilibet cuiuscunque fuerit status vel dignitatis etiam si Papalis existat obedire tenetur in his quae pertinent ad fidem extirpationem dicti schismatis reformationeÌ„ dictae Ecclesiae in capite in membris That is This holy Synode declareth that they being gathered in the Holy Ghost making a generall Councell and representing the Catholicke Church haue power immediately from Christ to which euery man of what sâ—…ate and dignity soeuer though he be a Pope is bound to obey in those things which pertaine to faith and the extirpation of schisme and reformation
man of a leaden heart and a brasen forehead to rush through these difficulties after the Romane Catholike maner without blushing but let a man in humility and good conscience set himselfe to seeke the truth herein and to giue God the glory and it will bee impossible for him to wrastle out of these nets but by confessing the forgerie and reiecting the Iurisdiction forged 13. Moreouer that it may it further appeare that this Iurisdiction is esteemed all in all and more then all by these men and that all other parts of their religion are not so deare to them as this we may further obserue that as the Pope ouer-ruled the Councell of Trent so the thing that swayed the Pope and forced him to resolue vpon this course which now is established by the Court of Rome in the Councell of Trent was onely the feare of loosing and care of maintaining this Iurisdiction For before the Councell of Trent which thing we shall hereafter by Gods helpe more manifest at good opportunity the Church of Rome stood so indifferently affected in the chiefe points of religion that if the respect and practise of the Pope had not misled them it may bee well iudged they would haue beene more ready to assent to the conclusions of Master Lutâ—…r and Iohn Caluin then to those that are established in the Councell of Trent so indifferent stood the world before that Councell For after that time that they had begun to challenge this Iurisdiction before the Councell of Trent the Popes were alwayes afrighted at the name of a generall Councell as Paul Iouius winesseth otherwise a flatterer of the Popes for he saith thus Id vnum concilij nomen supra caeteros insaelices humanarum rerum casus maximo terrori Pontificibus esse consueuit That is The onely name of a Councell more then all other humane incident miseries is wont to be a great terrour to Popes He giueth the reason there why the Popes were so much afraid of Councels because saith he in them questions of faith religion are interpreted the Popes IurisdictioÌ„ censured curbed Ad castigandam sacerdotum luxuriam censorias leges condunt ipsi Pontificices Pontificio iurâ—… 〈◊〉 eiâ—…rare supremaâ—… dignitatâ—… seque demum Pontificatu abdicare coguntur hoc metu armati reges Pontifices terrent That is Councels make lawes to chastise the luxuriousnesse of Priests The Popes themselues circumuented by the Popish law are compelled to resigne the Supreaâ—…e dignitie and to relinguish the Papacie 14. So that before the Councell of Trent the Soueraigne Iurisdiction was neuer held to be in the Pope seeing the Church being gathered together in a Councell did vse to exercise Iurisdiction vpon the Popes For if the Popes were wont so much to feare and flie a generall Councell in regard of censurâ—…ng and inhibiting their Iurisdiction then must these conclusions follow That the Councell of Trent was not a generall Councell because the Pope was not afraid of it that the Popes themselues did acknowledge that the Iurisdiction of a Councell was aboue their Iurisdiction for otherwise why should the Pope be afraid of a free Councell So that if the Councell of Trent had beene like to those Councels which the Popes did so much feare it might haue giuen as good satisfaction to true Christians as now it doth to the followers and flatterers of the Court of Rome And before that Councell there was great hope that it might haue bin so For the minds of al good men were marueilously prepared to peace and to a mutuall consent And for the points of doctrine if the Friars and such as were by them infected had not troubled all the truth might haue preuailed For Cardinall Contaren made a good preparation to the doctrine of iustification which being the greatest point in controuersie is handled by him conformable to the doctrine of Luther Caluin and directly against that which was concluded in the Councell of Trent this he wrote in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred fourtie and one a little before that Councell The Cardinall therein teacheth nothing but that which was before him the knowen doctrine of the Church of Rome from which because the Councell of Trent swarued therefore they made the separation and not we This wisdome and moderation of Cardinall Contaren and others of that side gaue great hope to Master Bucer and some other of this side to labour for an agreement and mutuall consent and assuredly there was great reason to hope it For if the rest had beene of that spirit and moderation which Cardinall Contaren Georgius Cassander Iohn Ferus Master Antonius Flaminius Espencaeus and many others a mutuall consent would haue beene obtained But will yee haue the truth the points of faith and doctrine were not the things which most hindered this concord for in these things many of that side were very conformable and moe might haue beene drawen but there was another thing which crossed all peaceable purposes this was the Popes Iurisdiction If it had not bene for this Iurisdiction the doctrine of Luther might haue beene easily granted for what taught he which was not before him taught in the Church of Rome I graunt that the contrary was also taught by Friars for in the Church of Rome before the Councell of Trent some taught after the manner of the new deuised doctrines which Friars brought in others taught the truth preseruing the auncient doctrines in most points till that time as by their writings extant appeareth So that if the Councell of Trent had beene indifferently chosen of learned men then liuing and if their voyces had not bene forced and forestalled by an oath of obedience to the Pope and to satisfie his lust a desperate practise declaring a desperate cause things might haue beene aswell concluded againstâ—… the Iurisdiction of the Pope and faction of Friars as now all is for them 15. And because wee haue so often mentioned and are so often to mention the Councell of Trent seeing we wholly reiect it and our aduersaries wholly rest vpon it it may bee expected that wee should giue some reasons why we disable it so much I may answere the reasons are in the doctrines and conclusions themselues which are throughly and worthily examined by Master Chemnifius and others But ouer and besides the falshood of doctrines which are concluded there directly against the manifest truth of holy Scriptures we haue also these iust exceptions that that Councell was neither a generall nor a free nor a lawfull Councell Generall it was not because if we consider these Westerne parts of Christendome for the benefite whereof that Councell is pretended to be gathered the greatest part was excluded from that Councell For all England Scotland Ireland all France and all Germanie that are Protestants will make a farre greater part then all the rest that consented to that Councell so that it was a Councell held of a small part
declared that the Reader may vnderstand what graue matters are handled in some Popish Councels In this Councell the excommunication against the Emperour was renued Whereupon such a ruine and vastation of Italy followed that nothing could bee seene there for a time but bloud-shed burnings robberies the State and Church confounded the true heires turned o◅t of their possessions robbers and oppressours thrust in All this moued not the Popes to remit Inuestitures The Emperour perceiuing that nothing could moue the Popes to loose so beneficiall a Pray no not the common calamity of Christendome was perswaded to yeeld to the Pope in the end in respect of the miseries that followed this contention And so resigned Inuestitures to the Pope Whereupon peace followed for a time Frederick Barbarossa 108. FRederick the first sirnamed Barbarossa is highly commended by the Writers of that age and of them that followed for a Prince of great worth wisedome and valour When he came into Italy the Pope met him not with a purpose to honor him but by him to be reuenged vpon the King of Sicily with whom the Pope was at variance Frederick receiued the Pope with great reuerence and as he lighted from his horse held the left stirrope This was made a great quarrell against Frederick and though he made his reasonable excuse that this was the first time that euer hee serued in that sort and might therefore be pardoned for any thing vnskilfully done that the office proceeding from good will it made not much matter on which side he came that came to reuerence him yet the Pope would not be satisfied but shewed himselfe so much offended that the Emperour began to be somewhat moued so that the parting was with some stomacke on both sides The next day the Emperour meeting the Pope helde the right stirrope to please him and when they were set the Pope thus began The Princes of auncient times your predecessours when they came to make petition for the Imperiall crowne were wont by some worthy office to promerit the fauour of the Church of Rome that by preuenting the blessing they might declare by some egregious seruice that the Crowne was due to them Thus did Charles by ouerthrowing the Lumbards Thus did Otho by defeating the Berengarij Thus did Lotharius by repressing the Normanes So must you doe and represse the King of Sicily with the Normanes and restore Apulia to vs and the Church and then you shall see what we will doe for our part The Emperour vnderstanding well how vnreasonable the motion was that Apulia which was by right a part of the Empire should be taken from the King of Sicily at the Emperors charges and bestowed vpon the Pope yet for that time did giue a moderate answer that he would goe into Germany returne with fresh forces for that seruice because these which were with him were much decayed 109. This mention of the King of Sicily draweth vs to speake somewhat of him our purpose being to obserue the practise of Popes in deposing of Kings William King of Sicilia held also Apulia as hee receiued it from his Father Roger to whom it came from Robert Guiscard who first draue out the Moores from thence and wonne the possession thereof This William because he would not giue Apulia to the Pope for inlarging of Saint Peters Patrimonie was excommunicated by Pope Hadrian the fourth deposed from his Kingdome his subiects discharged of their Oath and Alleageance And because William stood vpon his strength in his owne iust defence against the Pope therefore the Pope would gladly haue set Frederick the Emperour against him In the end William in feare partly of Frederick but especially of Immanuel the Greeke Emperour whose Orator Palaeologus promised to driue William out of Italy and to giue the Pope fiue thousand pound weight of gold if three Hauen Townes of Apulia might be giuen to his Master by couenant after the victory was driuen to compound with the Pope and being thus forced thereto did acknowledge that he held both those Kingdomes of the Pope 110. When Frederick the Emperour vnderstoode that the Pope had made a league with William and confirmed him in both the Kingdomes after that he had moued Frederick to vndertake the warres against him was not a little greeued thereat considering also other greeuances and oppressions of Germany Whereupon he began to execute some seuere discipline against certaine dissolute persons of the Clergy at which the Pope grew highly offended hereupon some sharpe letters passed betweene them as before we declared But when the Emperour prepared a iourney into Italy with an Army the Pope fearing the worst made meanes and was reconciled to him A little after when Frederick besieged Crema some Cities of Italy conspiring against him the Pope followed the first opportunity of rebellion and excommunicated the Emperour and cursed him Naucler declareth the motiue that drew the Pope to excommunicate the Emperour Data pecunia immensa Domino Hadriano Papae vt imperatorem excommunicaret A huge summe of money was giuen to Pope Hadrian to excommunicate the Emperour These be the Apostolicall censures and these be the meanes that draw his holinesse to depose Princes Pope Hadrian shortly after at Anagnia walking abroad to take the ayre as he would haue drunke a little water in a spring a flie falling in to his mouth stucke so fast in his throate that no helpe of Ph◅sicke preuailing to remoue her he was choaked therewith and died 111. I may not omit what Iohannes Flasboriensis a Writer in this time obserueth of this Hadrian as from him Naucler reporteth This Iohn affirmeth that he heard Hadrian confesse thus much No man liueth in the world more miserable then the Pope of Rome In this Sea haue I found so many miseries that in respect of this present estate all the bitternesse of my former life seemeth pleasure happinesse This ambition to seek the Papacy euen by shedding our brothers bloud this is to succeed Romulus in Paricide not Peter in feeding By this autentick testimonie of Pope Hadrian a witnesse without exception we see what it is to be a Pope Marcellus the secōd as Onuphrius reporteth in his life gaue the like censure of the Papacy adding thus much That hee saw no meanes how any Pope could be saued These are the testimonies of the Popes themselues who deserue to be beleeued speaking of a matter whereof they had so great experience After the death of Hadrian Alexander the fift being chosen Pope renueth the excommunication against Frederick thundering out great curses vpon him and sent letters abroad to all Princes and people to raise tumults against him The Emperour to pacifie the troubles of Christendome which were growing by the Schisme which then began betweene this Alexander and Victor the fourth entreated the French King in some conuenient place to meete him and to bring Alexander as he would also bring Victor to this
thus For other learned men deuoted to the seruice of the truth entred into a further search of this Iurisdiction among whom Michael Cezena and William Occham were famous The occasion whicâ—… stirred them vp to make search of this point was this Michael Cezena Generall of the Order of the Minorites refuted three Constitutions of Pope Iohn the two and twentieth Ad conditorem Canonum Cum inter Quia quorundam These hee refuted and sent his bookes abroad against these Constitutions whereupon Iohn the two and twentieth depriued him and disabled him from taking any other dignity But Michael appealed from the Pope 15. Here arose the question whether a Christian might appeale from the Pope William Occham once a worthy fellow of Merton Colledg in Oxford vndertooke this question disputeth it throughly in that booke which he intitleth Opus nonaginta dierum He concludeth that a man may and might appeale from the Pope and that a Councell is aboue the Pope And saith that many moe learned men wrote diuers bookes at that time for confirmation of the same truth wherein they alleadge strong reasons to proue their purpose and answere all doubts De ista materia saith he plures libri prolixi sunt editi in quibus praedicti 〈◊〉 motiua adducunt quam plurima obiectiones refellunt quae possunt oriri dubia declarare nituntur That is Of this matter many long bookes set forth wherein these foresaid Disputers alledge many reasons refute obiections and seeke to cleare all doubts that can rise Of the Pope he saith thus Iohâ—…es 22. coâ—…scius 〈◊〉 suorâ—… ad iudiciâ—… generalis concilij veâ—…ire recusat That is Pope Iohn the two and twentieth his owne consciâ—…nce accusing himselfe of his errours refuseth to come to the iudgement of a Geâ—…erall Councel Thus the Pope hath euer bin affraid of a General Councell since the time that first he vsurped Iurisdiction The same Author confuteth the Constitutions of Iohâ—… the two and twentieth first by Scriptures then by Canons of Councels and testimonies of holy Fathers and last of al by the determination of the Church of Rome And for this question of Iurisdiction because the Popes then began to chalenge tempâ—…rall Iurisdiction ouer Princes his assertion is â—…eatus â—…etrus non fuit vicarius Christi quantum ad officium regâ—…i temporalis nec in â—…omporalibus qusbâ—…e That is S. Peter was not Christs Vicar in respect of a temporall Kingdome nor in respect of any tempoâ—…alities whatsoeuer Which Assertion he proueth thus If it were so that S. â—…eter were Christs Vicar in temporall Dominion then should S. Peter haue Iurisdiction ouer Emperours and Kings but this the Popes themselues denie for Pope Nicholas saith thus Quuâ—… ad verâ—… veâ—…tum est nec Imperator iura sibi Pontificatâ—…s c. That is When we come to know the truth neither hath the Emperour taken vpon him the right of the Pope nor the Pope vsurped the title of the Emperour for one Mediator of God and man Iesus Christ hath distinguished the Offices of both these powers by their proper actions and distinct dignities Ex hiâ—… saith Occhaâ—… datur 〈◊〉 quod Rom. Pontifex ex successione Petri non habet Iurisdictionem temporalem super 〈◊〉 That is Hence we may vnderstand that the Pope by succeeding Petâ—…r hath no temporall Iurisdiction ouer the Emperour 16. Against this determination he moueth some obiectious or rather taketh the â—…easons of 〈◊〉 Triumphus and maketh them his obiections though he suppresse the name of 〈◊〉 The obiectious are these First The Pope deposeth Kings 15. qu. 6. cap. aliâ—… Secondly The Pope trauslated the Empire Extra de Elect. cap. venerabilem Thirdly The Emperor taketh an Oath of Alleageance These are the reasons of Augustiâ—… Triumphus whereunto he aunswereth thus To the first he saith Rationâ—… eriminis habet spiritualâ—…m Iurisdictionem non temporalem That is In respect of some fault hee hath spirituall Iurisdiction but not temporall Then all the Iurisdiction which the Pope or any other Bishoppe hath is onely spirituall in his opinion in respect of sinne which may be censured by spirituall censures But a power to depose Kings includeth temporall Iurisdiction To the second he saith The Pope translated the Empire Non in qâ—…antum successor Petri sed authoritate Romanorum qui sibi potestatem huinsmodi concesserant That is Not as the successour of Peter but by the authority of the Romanes who graunted him that power To the third he saith the Emperour that first tooke an Oath of Alleageance did it from deuotion and humility and therefore afterward refused it Marfilius answereth to this last obiection somewhat otherwise for he vtterly reiecteth the testimony of that Canon that witnesseth that the Emperour tooke an Oath of Alleageance Intaâ—…tum vero ipsorum quidam prorupit aâ—…daciam saith Marsil vt in suis edectis expresserit Romanum Principem sibi iurameâ—…o fidelitatis ástringitanquam coactiâ—…a Iâ—…risdictione subiectum vt ex suarum narrationum quas decretales appellant derisibili contemptâ—… prorsus inuolucro septimo de Sent re iâ—…dicata palam se inspicientibus offert That is One of them to wit Clement the fift hath broken out in such impudency in his Edicts that he affirmeth the Emperor is bound to him by an Oath of Alleageance as subiect to him in coactiue Iurisdiction as is openly to bee seene in 2. de Sent. re â—…udic out of that ridiculous and most contemptible collection of their Narrations which they call Decretals 17. But to returne to William Occham and Michael Cezena in whose cause Occhaâ—… was ingaged Michael was deposed by Iohn the two and twentieth in Iune in the yeare of Christ one thousand three hundred twentie and eight in his behalfe letters were directed to the Chapter of the Minorites assembled in Parpinian and Auinion in the yeare one thousand three hundred thirty and one These letters were subscribed by Henricus de Chalchem Franâ—…iscus de Esculo and Guilielmus de Occham not onely these men fauoured his cause but those two famous Vniuersities Oxford and Paris did approue the same Whereuppon Michael being arrested by the Pope did appeale from the Pope Consider the nature of his appeale for it openeth the sense and iudgement of learned men then liuing being approued by the greatest learned men then liuing and by all the learned men of that order in England and in Paris for so it is said there Quae determinatio fuit etiam ab omnibâ—…s Magistris baccalarijs in sacra pagina de Parisijs de Aâ—…glia dicti ordinis approbata Vâ—…iuersis Christi fidelibus destinata That is Which determination was also approued of all the Masters and Bachelours in Diuinity of the said order of Paris and England and directed to all Christians I will set downe the forme of his appeale as in the same place I finde it expressed and thus it is Habito prius
the greater and more diuine power that is giuen them for edification not for destruction are bound the more to exclude and root out these wicked distroyers from the Church of God And therefore hee auerreth that the Pope cannot commaund such a sinne as this to be done So hatefull and detestable so abhominable to Christ so pernicious to man For this were an vtter defection from power and Iurisdiction a corruption and abuse thereof and a remotion from the throne of glory and a session in the chaire of pestilence and in eternall shame in hell next in place to those two great Princes of darkenesse Lucifer and Antichrist And because in such things no man ought to yeeld his obedience but is bound to disobey therefore he saith thus Out of duety and obedience and out of the loue of vnion with the bodie of Christ I vtterly reiect and resist these letters especially because they vrge me to such a sinne as is euidently abhominable to God and pernicious to man and because they are contrary to the holinesse of the sea Apostolike and against the Catholicke faith Filialiter obedienter non obedio contradico rebello And vnto that Sophisticall shift of Plenitudo potestatis whereby they vsed to cast a colour ouer these practises he aunswereth in such a sort as giueth a short rule of vnderstanding this fulnesse of power for thus he saith Breuiter autem recolligens dico Apostolicae sedis sanctitas non potest nisi quae in aediâ—…icationem sunt non in destructionem haec est enim potestat is plenitudo omnia posse in aedificationem That is Briefely recollecting what we haue said we say the holinesse of the sea Apostolicke cannot doe any thing but that which is for edification and not for destruction for this is fulnesse of power to be able to doe all things for edification In which sense who would haue denied the Pope a fulnesse 27. When this letter came to the Pope Nonse capiens prae ira saith mine Author quis ait est iste senex delirus surdus absurdus qui facta audax temerarius iudicat Per Petrum Paulum nisi me moueret innata ingenuitas ipsum in tantam confusionem praecipitarem vt toti mundo fabula foret stupor exemplum prodigium Nonne râ—…x Anglorum noster est vassallus vt plus dicam mancipium qui potest eum nutu nostro incarcerare ignominiae mancipare That is The Pope not being able to hold for anger said who is this foolish deafe absurd old man that with such rash présumption iudgeth our acts By Saint Peter and Saint Paul if mine ingenuous good nature did not stay me I should hurle him into such a confusion that he should be the fable of the world an astonishment an example a monster Is not the King of England our vassall or to say more our slaue who is able at our becke to imprison him and to appoint him to ignominie But the Cardinals appeased his holinesse especially Cardinall Egidius Hispanus who fearing that the Pope might prosecute some courses of extremitie against him as afterward hee did tolde him that it was not fit to vse that man hardly The things which he writeth quoth the Cardinall are true we cannot denie them or condemne him he is a Catholicke and holy man more religious more holy of a more excellent life then we are there is not thought to be a greater Prelate this day liuing no nor comparable to him All the Clergie of France and England know this to bee true hee is esteemed also a great Philosopher in the Latine and Greeke languages famously learned a man zealous of iustice a reader of Diuinitie in the schooles a preacher to the people a louer of chastitie a hater of Symonie c. The Cardinals therefore aduised the Pope to dissimulate the matter least some tumult might arise saith mine Author 28. And marke well why they feared that a tumult might rise in the Church about this matter this reason Mat. Paris relateth in these words Consilium dederunt Cardinales Domino Papae vt omnia haec conniuentibus oculis sub dissimulatione transire permitteret ne super hoc tumultus excitaretur maxime propter hoc quia scitur quod quandoque discessio sit ventura That is The Cardinals gaue this aduise to the Lord Pope that hee would winke at all these things and passe by them as dissimulating least a tumult might arise especially for this cause because it is well knowen that once there shal come a departure Let this be obserued It was written long before M. Luther was borne The Pope and the Cardinals knew long before that once a departure should bee made from the obedience of the Pope and therefore Robert Grosthead did put them in great feare least he might be the man that might worke this departure Then it seemeth in the iudgement of the Cardinals that he who first should worke this departure must be an excellent godly and learned man such one as Grosthead was then knowen to be But if Grosthead had done that thing then which vpon the like occasion Luther did afterward wee should haue heard him reuiled for the rankest hereticke the most wicked and vngratious man that euer liued as now Luther is by them who vsâ—… to curse where God blesseth and to blesse where God curseth Then they were in feare of Grosthead thought that this departure could not bee done but by some such excellent man And what hath M. Luther done but that which Grosthead was prouoked to do or who could doe otherwise that keepeth Grostheads principles 29. The godly zeale of this man is further declared by Mat. Paris who recordeth certaine Discourses and actions of his against the Popish practises Improbos Romanistas saith he praceptum habentes Papale vt eis prouideretur quasi venenum odit serpentium Dicebat enim quod si animarum custodiam ipsis traderet Satanâ—…zaret vnde saepius proiectis literis Papalibus bullatis talibus mandat is praecisâ—… contradixit The wicked Romanists that brought the Popes letters for prouisions he hated as the poyson of serpents for he said if he should commit the custody of soules to them that then he should play the diuels part Wherfore often he threw away the Popes bulled Letters precisely contradicting such commaundements The same Authour noteth a memorable saying that Grosthead was wont to vse Noâ—… liberabitur Ecclesia ab Aegyptiaca seruitute nisi in ore gladij cruentandi That is The Church shall not be deliuered from this Egytian bondage but by the edge of the bloody sword By all which we see the excellent spirit of this man against the spirit that ruled in the Popes and against their Iurisdiction neither are we to thinke that Grosthead followed any other religion then that which his fathers followed before him this is the religion sense and iudgement of the world then that is of all godly and iudicious that then