having power to take away Kingdoms and all that men have § 41 42. The Siege of Rome Two Popes Gregory's death § 42. He threatneth to depose the King of France claims Hungary c. § 23. Binnius record of THE POPES DICTATES telling in 27 Articles WHAT POPERY IS § 44. He claimeth Spain § 46 and Dalmatia § 49. A great part of the Bishops against him § 49. Pronounceth unsincere repentance fruitless § 50. Denyeth Divine Service in the Sclavonian tongue § 51. Ill weather imputed to the ill Lives of Priests The Armenians errours what § 51. Apulia c. the Popes § 51. One man turned an hundred thousand men in Spain from the Pope He threatneth to Excommunicate and depose the King of Spain as an Enemy to the Christian Religion § 52. He newly found St. Matthews body § 54. He will expose the Prince of Sardinia unless he obey him in making all Priests shave their beards § 55. Notes hereon The French convert the Sweeds and the Pope would reap the fruit § 56. His notable Epistle to prove Popes Priests and Exorcists above Kings § 57. Answered § 58. Peter pence § 59. An Arch-bishop suspended for not visiting Rome § 60. A pious Lie for Peace is a sin § 61. The old Spanish Liturgy partly contrary to the Christian Faith till now § 62. His respect to William the Conquerour c. § 64 66. The German Bishops hereticate the Pope for forbidding Marriage § 67. Matthew is forsaken § 68. Philip King of France and many great Bishops excommunicate § 69. Divers Councils excommunicating contrarily the Antipopes § 69 to 74. Ordinations null that are made pretio precibus vel obsequio and not by the common consent of Clergy and People § 75. He excommunicateth the Greek Emperour usurping § 76. The Greek affairs summ'd up § 77. The power of Pope and Bishops to depose Kings § 79. A Council Character of Gregory § 80. A Council make Loyalty to be Haeresis Henriciana § 87. The Disciple is not above his Master answered § 87. Wecilo's heresie that men obey not unjust Excommunications but may by others be received § 88. The 23d Schism § 91. Victor's Soldiers conquer Clement's § 92. Lay Princes presentations or Investitures are Heresie every Heretick is an Infidel It 's better be without visible Communion than have it with such § 93. Consectaries overthrowing Rome ib. A new Pope marrieth Mathildis to Welpho on condition they use not carnal Copulation § 94. A Jerusalem expedition causeth peace at home Conrade rebelleth against his Father § 94. The Emperour commits Fornication § 101 103. Wrongs on Monday Wednesday or Thursday no breach of holy peace No Bishop or Priest must swear or promise Allegiance to a King nor take Preferment from any Lay-man § 104. None to communicate in one kind § 105. All the Bishops of England save Rochester renounce obedience and society with Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury because he would not renounce the Pope saying he blasphemed the King setting up any in his Kingdom without his consent § 106. Time given the King of England to repent § 109. The Anti-Pope Clement digg'd up and burnt Paschal 2. Council Decree that all Bishops of the Henrician Heresie Loyalists if alive be deposed if dead digg'd up and burnt that is most of the Western Bishops § 112. The Schism continued § 113. The Pope set up young Henry against his Father who taketh him Prisoner to the death He keeps his Fathers Corps five years unburied because Excommunicate Yet proveth Hereticus Henricianus Imprisoneth the Pope till he grant him Investitures The Pope absolveth himself § 114 115. Cases on Binnius § 116. Note that Investitures supposed the People and Clergies free choice of Bishops § 117. The Bishops usage of old Henry to the last § 118. To take the Popes Excommunications as not obligatory is a Heresie § 119. The dangerous Doctrine of Fluentius Bishop of Florence that Anti-Christ was come § 120. Only the Church made Henry rebell § 121 122. Tybur coloured with bloud The Earl of Millans Flesh given to Dogs The Popes sacramental Covenant broken § 127. God will have no involuntary service § 129. The same is a Henrician Heresie in others which is none in the Pope § 132. He may forswear for the People of God § 132. Two Popes contending and excommunicating The Emperour giveth up Investitures § 135 to 138. Four Doctrines of Guilb Porretane condemned in Council 1. That Divinitas and Deus are not the same in signification 2. That the three Persons are not unum aliquid 3. That there are eternal Relations besides the Persons 4. That it was not the Divine Nature that was incarnate Two more Popes § 138 142. A Preacher murdered at Rome § 144. Two more Popes the succession from the wrong § 145. They fight for it § 146. How Clergy and People first lost their Votes in choice of Popes § 147. Two Popes still striving § 149 c. Many Castles in England built by two Bishops § 160. Abailard condemned unheard § 161. Caelestine II. the first Pope without the Peoples election An. 1143. Rome against the Pope Bishops are his strength § 168. Porretane again accused and puzzled the Council § 170. He is again accused by Bernard whom the Cardinals accuse for writing his Faith and getting Bishops hands to it § 171. The Romane people excommunicate by Pope Adrian 4. They are for a Preacher called by him an heretick § 174. Rome fighteth with Pope and Emperour They fight again and expel the Pope § 174. The 27 pair of Popes Wars between the Emperour Frederick and Pope The Crown of England held as from the Pope Yet Rome receiveth him not The Emperour submitteth being deserted c. § 175. The setling the choice of Popes by Cardinals The Pope no Bishop by the Canons § 177. The Roman Succession is from Alex. 3. when the Clergie People Emperour Princes and a Council of innumerable Bishops were for Victor § 176. Parliaments called Councils § 179. Ireland the Popes § 180. The Albigenses Henricians § 181. No Bishop may suspend a Presbyter without the judgment of his Chapter A perjured Clergie-man perpetually deprived Doubtful words to be understood as usually § 182. The Popes Party in Rome have their Eyes put out § 183. Frederick drowned in Asia § 187. The Kingdom of France interdicted § 190. The Pope seus up an Anti-Emperour who prevaileth § 192. England interdicted six years and three months § 194. The famous twelfth General Council at the Laterane under Inoc. 3. for Transubstantiation exterminating hereticks deposing Princes absolving Subjects forbidding unlicensed Preachers c. § 195. Almaricus burnt dead § 196. Stephen Langton and King John § 197. Ten Queries upon this Council § 198. The Canons of this Council true Mr. Dodwel's 17 Arguments for it § 199. The Papists excuses answered § 180. misnumbred The bloody Execution § 181. Oxford Canons that every great Parish have two or three Presbyters c. § 183.
Against Preaching when silenced § 184. The Pope twice banished by the Romans The Emperour excommunicate and deposed fights it out The Pope dyeth § 186. A mortal sin to have two Benefices if one will maintain him § 187. The Emperour again excommunicate A merry Excommunication § 191. Rebellions § 192. Conrade and King Henry § 193. Bishop Grosthead's notable Letter to the Pope and its reception § 195 196. Obedient disobedience All Power for edification ib. The Pope calls the King of England his Slave whom he can imprison c. § 196. The Cardinals Speech to quiet the Pope A Defection foretold § 196. Grosheads death He taketh them for Hereticks that tell not great men of their sin c. The Pope Antichrist for destroying souls The Popes pardoning Letter The Pope described § 198. Miracles at Robert Grosheads death The Pope would have burnt and damned his Corps In a vision he mortally woundeth the Pope § 198 199. H. III. pawneth his Kingdom to the Pope § 200. The 13th General Council at Lyons excommnnicateth and deposeth the Emperour and absolveth his Subjects § 202. Guelphus for the Popes Gibelius for the Emperour § 203. The English Parliament demand the choice of the Lords Iustice Chancellour and Treasurer § 204. The Plot of King Henry and the Bishop of Hereford to get money by the Pope § 206. The Parliament resist it M. Paris talks too boldly of the King § 206. Buying Bishopricks Brancaleo at Rome mastereth the Pope § 208 209. Sewale Archbishop of York against the Pope doth Miracles § 212. Rome not ruled by the Pope § 214. Near three years vacancy of the Papacy § 219. Cardinal Portuensis jeast 220. The foolish Pope John sadly confuted § 224. King Peter of Arragon deposed § 226. The Popes Tenth peny denyed § 228. Two years more vacancy The Greeks enmity to Rome § 229. Pope Celestine cheated to resign and imprisoned § 233. Boniface the VIII his conflict with the King of France taken prisoner and dyeth Platina's good Counsel to all Rulers § 224. The Clergy not to be taxed by Princes § 235. The Pope setled in France by Clement V. Continueth 70 Years § 236. Above 2 years vacancy ibid. 40. Articles of the King of France against Boniface VIII Three Herisies of Petrus Joannis 1. The rational soul as such is not forma corporis humani 2. Grace habitual not infused in baptisme to Infants 3. The Spear pierced Christ before his death § 242. The Heresie of the Beguines and Beguardes for perfection § ibid. Pope Clements Decrees De fide 1. Of the form of the body the soul. 2. Infants infused Grace 3. Vsury a sin 4. To be restored The contrary to suffer as Hereticks § ibid. The falshood of some of these new Articles of Faith § 243. Magistrates excommunicated that disgrace wicked Priests § 247. Or compel them to answer to them § 248. Popes and Councils condemn each other as Hereticks § 250. The Pope claimeth the Empire by Escheate § 251. The Priest to take the name of every Parishoner that being confessed and confirmed they may communicate only by his counsel § 252. The Greek affairs § 256. A Toletane Council Decree that their Provincial Constitutions bind only ad poenam not ad culpam lest Christians Consciences be burdened § 257. After seventy years residence at Avignion forty years more there were two Popes and sometime more one at Avignion and one at Rome Discord chooseth an honest Pope but Concord an Anti-Pope Their Wars The Pope drowneth Cardinals in Sacks and makes twenty nine new ones in one day § 260. Italy still the most unpeaceable warring place of the World § 262 263. The Popes bloody way of curing Schism § 263. The Council of Pisa thinking to have but one Pope made a third § 267. Who Deposed King Ladislaus § 268. CHAP. 13. The Councils of Constance Basil c. That at Constance called by Pope John 21 alias 22 or 23 or 24 by Sigismund the Emperours means Councils above the Pope § 3. Wickliffs Articles § 6. One is that they are Traytors to Christ who give over preaching and hearing Gods word for mens Excommunications § 6 54. heynous Articles against Pope John commonly called The Devil incarnate An obstinate Heretick denying the life to come c. § 8. He ratifieth all himself and with other two Popes is deposed § 9. A decree against giving the Sacramental Cup though Christ and the Ancient Church used it § 10. Articles against John Hus as Wickliff's More as his own § 12 13. Excommunication must not make us leave off Preaching Against Hierome of Prague breaking safe Conducts § 14 15. The third Pope depos'd § 16. Decrees for frequent General Councils Popes Elections regulated A new Pope chosen § 17. The Fate of P. John and the rest § 18 19. Continued Wars at Rome against the Pope and in Italy § 23. The Council at Basil. The Bohemians case Their four Articles 1. For the full Sacâ—ament 2. For correcting publick Crimes 3. For liberty to preach Gods Word 4. Against the Clergies civil Power all eluded § 24. Bishop Augustinus de Roma's errours Phanatick Pardon of all sins confest with a contrite heart sold for money and fasting § 27. Their Catholick Verities 1. For Councils Supremacy 2. They may not be dissolved removed prorogued but consenting 3. It s Heresie to oppugn these § 28. P. Eugenins deposed as a pertinacious Heretick c. § 22. Queries hereon § 30. The immaculate Conception decreed § 31. Two Popes again § 32. Epistles of and against the Pope § 33. Four Treatises against the Bohemians four great Articles § 34 35. God only pardoneth the fault and the Pope part of Church Penances Whether silenced Preachers must cease Vnjust Sentences not regardable confessed The Council confirmed § 35 36. A Council at Briges confirmeth this § 37. The Council at Florence Two General Councils at once § 38. The Romans still fight against the Pope § 39. Constantinople lost ib. P. Pius 2. his Character and Sentences For Priests Marriage Yet for Rome's Vniversal Headship to be received as necessary to salvation § 44. P. Paul 2. a just and clement Simoniast and Tyrant Tormenteth Platina and many others Accuseth them of Heresie for praising Plato and Gentile Learning c. Against Learning § 45. P. Sixtus Wars and treachery § 46. Denying the Decrees of a General Council de fide of the immaculate conception of B. M. no Heresie § 47. P. Inoc. 8. fights to be King of Naples § 49. Pope Alexander the Sixth his ugly Character and his Son Borgia's Villanies Both drinking the poyson prepared for others The Pope dyeth of it § 50. Pius 3. § 51. P. Julius 2. Italy in blood still by him § 52. Councils against the Pope The King of France excommunicated § 53 54. The Anti-Council at Lateran against the Pisane against the French pragmat Sanction The not able Titles of the Pope § 55. Decreed that Simoniacal Election of Popes is
their Wives is expresly renounced and it is decreed that no Priest be required to separate from his Wife so be it they abstain at Fasts and necessary Seasons nor any Priest endured to put away his Wife on pretence of piety else he must be deposed § 51. Another is the 16th Canon that maketh Deacons like Overseers of the Poor § 52. The 22d is a hard Canon that Bishops and Priests ordained with money and not by examination and election be deposed and they that ordained them § 53. The 36th Canon displeaseth them also which confess the Church of Constantinople's Priviledges as equal with Rome § 54. The 38th Canon containeth one great cause of the old Confusions viz. That whatever alteration the Imperial Power makes on any City the Ecclesiastical Order also follow it Did God make this Law Are not as many Souls in a Town that 's no City as capable of being a Church as Citizens It is in the Princes power to make and unmake Cities May he accordingly make or unmake Churches What if a King will have but one City in his Kingdom must there be no more Churches or Bishops What if there be no Cities as in many American and Arabian Countries must there be no Churches What if the King will disfranchize most of the Cities and another will make every Market Town a City must Churches be altered accordingly If so O that our King would make us so many Cities as the work and the souls of Men need true Bishops that one might not have a thousand Parishes without any subordinate Bishop But if this hold the Emperor might have taken down Rome and set up Constantinople or any other at pleasure § 55. Can. 50. Forbad Clergy and Laity to play at Dice on pain of Deposition or Segregation And Can. 51. forbids going to Shews Jesters Stage-Plays Huntings The 55th Canon commands the Church of Rome to amend their Customs and not to fast on Sabbath-days Can. 62. Forbids Womens Publick Dancings and Mens and Womens together and their putting on Masquers or Players Apparel or Persons c. Can. 63. Commandeth the burning of false Histories of the Martyrs as tending to bringing Religion into reproach continual joyful Praises to God and holy Exercises and to use no Horse-Races c. The 67th Canon is against eating Blood Can. 72. Nullifieth Marriage with Hereticks Alas good Bishops did you think the Papists would have Hereticated you as Monothelites and nullified all Marriages with you by this Canon But two Hereticks Marriage is not null Can. 78. Commandeth all the illuminate baptized to learn the Belief and every Friday to say it to the Bishop and Presbyters How many Parishes or hundred Parishes had the Bishop then to hear Not so many as ours § 56. The 82 Canon offends the Papists forbidding the Picture of a Lamb to be made for Christ as the Lamb of God The 90th Canon is an old one Not to kneel on any Lord's-day and that this begin on the evening before P. 155. Binnius reproveth them for calling Cyprian Archbishop and he proveth that Africa then had no Archbishop or Primate § 57. CCXXII An. 693. was another Toletan Council called by King Egica Before it the King writeth a Sermon for them wherein he tells them That every Parish that have twelve Families must have their proper Governor But if less it must be part of anothers charge § 58. CCXXIII. An. 694. was another Toletan Council under the same King Egica One would wonder that the Legislative vertue of the Church should be continued to such fertility and multitude of Laws as must follow if in all Countries there be every year a Council How great must the Volumes of Laws be at last Binnius in his Notes on this Council tell us That though Paul would have the believing Husband or Wife stay with the Unbeliever in hope of Conversion yet many hundred years experience hath taught us the contrary that it tendeth rather to hurt than good and therefore now it must be otherwise and they must separate § 59. CCXXIV. Even to those days the number of Pagans and Infidels in most Countries was the greatest and the care of good men was to convert them And therefore we read still of so many baptized at age A Council at Utrecht decreed Willebrood or Willifrid and Suibert being Leaders that the best Preachers should be sent from the Neighbor Churches to convert the Heathens that was better work than striving who should be chief or raging about hard words § 60. CCXXV. A Synod at Aquileia An. 698. condemned the 5th General Council at Constantinople for condemning the tria Capitula of the Council of Calcedon O what Concord Councils caused § 61. Pope Sergius refusing to own the Council of Constant. at Trul. under Iustinian 2d the Emperor commanded that he should be brought Prisoner to Constantinople The Soldiers of Ravenna Sergius having paid them the 100 l. of Gold hearing of it rose up and rescued him and made the Emperor's Officer in fear beg for his life By such Obedience Rome kept up § 62. Tiberius the 2d deposed Iustinian the 2d and cut off his Nose and banished him Iustinian was restored and exposed Tiberius to scorn and killed him and banished Bishop Callinicus to Rome for unfaithfulness to his Prince Iohn the 6th was now Pope § 63. Iohn the 7th is made Pope another Council at Toletum under King Witiza I pass by he was a Greek CCXXVI He gather'd a Synod at Rome to debate Iustinian's Order for the receiving the Trull Concil And our English Willifrid accused by his King was here justified as a Son of that Church And a Synod in England received him when the King was dead § 64. Sisumius made Pope lived but 20 days and Constantine succeeded him who was sent for to Constantinople and honoured by Iustinian § 65. About this time An. 708. Spain was conquered by the Saracens Binnius saith Because King Witiza forsook the See of Rome By which we still see that Rome was forsaken even by the best Church such as Spain then was and was not the Ruler of the World § 66. Bardanes Philippicus by Rebellion deposed Iustinian and was made Emperor and within two years was so used himself by Anastasius his eyes put out and he banished § 67. CCXXVII The Emperor Philippicus and Iob. Constant. called General Council at Constantinople I may well call it General when Binnius saith There were innumerable Bishops which is not said of any other Council They all condemned the 6th General Council and their Opinion of two Wills and two Operations Where it is manifest 1. How great a part of the Church regarded not the Authority of Rome 2. Nor thought a General Council infallible when innumerable Bishops are against both 3. And how strong the Monothelite Party was 4. And alas how bad too many Bishops that can change as fast as Emperors will have them For saith Binnius after Baronius Thus at the
of the Apostolick Seat that the Kingdom was translated from Chilperic to Pepin the foresaid Historians do so expresly say that it 's a wonder with what front the innovating Hereticks dare call it in question Lastly It is here to be noted that it was by this same Pope Zachary that the nomination or postulation of Bishops for the vacant Churches in his Kingdom was granted to King Pepin Therefore if elsewhere you read that the Kings of France give Bishops to the Churches remember that it is not done by their own Right but by the Grant of the Apostolick Seat In vain therefore do the innovating Hereticks glory in this Argument who endeavor to subject the Church to Kings So far Binnius after Baronius § 12. From this Story and these words let the Reader think how to answer these Questions Quest. 1. Had not Kings need to take heed of making any one man too great if greatness and exercise of Government give him so much right to the Kingdom Qu. 2. Had not Kings need to look to their manners for their Crowns sake as well as their Souls if Lust Sensuality and Dulness forfeit their Kingdoms Qu. 3. Did not Wars and weakning of the Empire make a great change with Popes when they that were set up and banished at the Emperor's pleasure can now first depose the Emperor in the West for being against Images and Persecuting and then can translate the Crown of France Qu. 4. Was not an ambitious Pope a fit Tool for Pepin and his Confederates to work by to put a pious gloss on their Conspiracy Qu. 5. Did not the Pope rise thus by serving the turns of Conspirators and of Princes in their quarrels with one another Qu. 6. Are Subjects Judges when a King's Sins make him unworthy of the Crown Qu. 7. Yea is the Pope Judge and hath he power to depose Kings if he judge them such Sinners and unfit for Government Qu. 8. Is it a good Reason that a King is justly deposed because Good Men and Holy Bishops are the Desirers and Promoters of it Qu. 9. Would not this Reason have served Maximus against Gratian Was it not Cromwel's Plea If he had but had the Pope and People on his side you see how it would have gone Qu. 10. Is it the mark of an Innovating Heretick to say that the Church should be subject to Kings when Paul and Peter said it of all Christians so long ago Qu. 11. Is it a Note that Protestants love Rebellion because they are against Popes deposing Kings Or is there any heed to be taken of the words of impudent Revilers that dare speak before God and Man at this rate Is deposing Kings the Papists freedom from Rebellion and is our opposing it a character of Rebels Qu. 12. Is it any wonder that Bishop Burchardus desired it and that Bishop Boniface executed the Pope's command who had been translated from England by him to such dignity and had sworn Obedience and Service to him Qu. 13. Is it any wonder that the Pope made these Bishops Saints Qu. 14. I hope they were really godly Men But is it any wonder that some good Men at such a time as that did think it had been for the interest of Religion to have all Power in the Clergies hands especially being themselves Bishops that were to have so great a share How few Bishops are afraid of too much power or ever do refuse it Qu. 15. If the King of France had his Kingdom by the Pope's gift what wonder if he had the power of nominating Bishops also by his gift Qu. 16. Whether he that hath power to give hath not power to take away and be not Judge when the Cause is just Qu. 17. With what face do Papists at once make these claims and yet profess Loyalty to Kings Qu. 18. Whether it concern not Kings to understand on what terms they stand with the Pope and his Clergy that must not be subject to them but have power to depose them Qu. 19. If there be any Party among them that hath more Loyal Principles is it a sign of the concord of their Church that agreeth not in matter of so great moment Or a proof that the Pope is the infallible Judge of Controversies that will not determine so great a Point on which the Peace of Kingdoms doth depend § 13. About the same time they persuaded Rachis King of the Longobards Successor to Luitprand for the love of Religion to lay down his Crown and go into a Monastery so that Monasteries are places for the worst and the best some too bad to reign and some too good lest they should over-master the Clergy § 14. It may be you will think that this Pope Zachary and his sworn Vassal St. Boniface were some very profound Divines that could by their wisdom and piety thus master Kingdoms Doubtless they were zealous Adversaries to Heresies except their own and Successors of the Hereticating and Damning Fathers For Epist. 10. Bin. p. 206 207 208. Zachary writeth to Boniface to expel Virgilius from the Church and Priesthood for holding Antipodes viz. that Sun-shine and Moon-light and Men are under the Earth as well as here which we call over it The words are De perversa autem iniqua doctrina quae contra Dominum Animamsuam locutus est si clarificatum fuerit ita eum confiteri quod alius mundus alii homines sub terra sint seu Sol Luna hunc habito Concilio ab Ecclesia pelle Sacerdotii honore privatum That is But as to the perverse and unjust Doctrine which he hath spoken against the Lord and his own Soul if it be made clear that he so confesseth that under the Earth there is another world and other Men and Sun and Moon call a Council and depriving him of the honour of Priesthood drive him out of the Church That by another world is meant Antipodes or the other side of the Earth inhabited is doubtless § 15. Qu. 1. Did God make Popes to be the Governors of the Antipodes for so many hundred years before they knew that there was any Antipodes And when they excommunicated and silenced those that affirmed it Qu. 2. Were these Popes and Bishops Men of such wisdom as were fit to hereticate Dissenters as they did Qu. 3. Do we not see here what some Councils were and did in those times Qu. 4. Do we not see what Heresie signified at Rome and how little heed there was to be taken of their outcry against some Heresies Qu. 5. Whether was all the World or all the West bound to avoid Communion after with Virgilius Qu. 6. Do we not see here of what Infallibility the Pope is in judging of matters of Faith and how happy the World is to have such a Judge and of what credit his Heretications and Excommunications are Qu. 7. Do we not see how Religion hath been depraved and dishonoured by the Pope and his Clergy calling
were no Popes 4. And if it be but necessary for the future all that after were otherwise chosen were no Popes 5. If several wayes and parties or powers making Popes may all make them true Popes then who knoweth which and how many of those there are and which is the true Pope if ten were made at once ten several wayes 6. This confesseth that Christ hath appointed no way for choosing Popes nor given any sort of men power to choose them else what need Pope Nicholas begin it now anew And if so it seemeth that Christ never instituted the Papacy For can we suppose him so Laxe a Legislator as to say a Pope shall be made and never tell us who shall have power to do it Then England may choose one and France another and Spain another c. the Bishops one the Priests another the Prince another and the Citizens another But if Christ have setled a Pope-making power in any it is either the same as Pope Nicholas did in Cardinal Bishops or not If not the Pope changeth Christ's institution If yea then all those were no Popes that were otherwise chosen and so where is the Roman Church and its succession 7. What power hath Pope Nicholas to bind his successors Have not they as much power as he and so to undo it all again If the King should decree that his Kingdom hereafter shall not be hereditary but elective and that the Bishops should be the choosers of the King were this obligatory against the right of his heirs 8. By this decree if the Laity and Clerks consent not after he is still no Pope § 23. In this same Council saith Bin. ibid. it was decreed that no one hear the Mass of a Presbyter whom he knoweth undoubtedly to have a Concubine or Subintroduced Woman Quaer Whether they that make him a Schismatick that goeth from a scandalous wicked malignant or utterly insufficient Priest and dare not commit the care of his soul to such a one be not looser than Pope Nicholas and this Roman Council was § 24. A Council at Malphia and another at Paris for Crowning King Philip and one at Iacca in Spain of small moment § 25. An. 1061. Was the 22d Schism or two Popes of Rome for five years continuance The Cardinal Bishops for fear of the Emperor chose one that was great with him Anselm Bishop of Luca but the Italian Princes perswaded the Emperor that it was a wrong to them and him and chose Cadolus Palavicinus Bishop of Parma called Honorius the 2d The Sword was to determinate who was the true Pope Cadolus came with an Army to Rome the Romans came out against him and in the Fields called Nero's a great battle saith Platina was fought in which many of both sides fâ—ll but Cadolus was driven away He shortly returned with a great Army being called by a part of the Romans that were men of pleasure and by force seized on the Suburbs and St. Peter's Church But the Souldiers of Gotifred put his Souldiers to flight and he himself narrowly scaped the Prefect of Rome's Son with him breaking through the Romans got possession of the Tower where they besieged him till they forced him to yield and buy his liberty of the besiegers for 300 pound of Silver Then the Bishop of Colen having the education of the young Emperor came to Rome to rebuke Alexander as an Usurper but by Hildebrand was so overcome that the choice belonged not to the Emperor that he called a Council which confirmed Alexander and deposed Honorius The Emperor consented on condition that Cadolus be pardoned and Gibert his promoter Chancellor of Parma made Arch-Bishop of Ravenna which the Pope consented to and did Thus then were Popes and Bishops made Q. How shall we be sure for Cadolus's five years who was the Pope § 26. A woman called Mathildis a Countess was then the great Patroness of the Papacy who furnished military Hildebrand that did all with Souldiers to conquer several Great Men that opposed them and to set up Alexander and defend him § 27. This Pope Alexander is said by Bin. and Baron to judge King Harold of England an Usurper to dispose of the Crown to William of Normandy and declare him lawful Successor and send him a Banner that he might fight for it and possess it Thus did this Prelate give Crowns and Kingdoms as the supreme judge made by himself He after required Rent Peter-Pence from England of William § 28. He made some constitutions for his old Church at Milan Three thing are the summe of them and many other Councils 1. Against Simonie 2. Against the Clergies fornication no Canons cured them of either of these 3. That no Lay-Man judge any Clerk for his crimes only if Priests live in fornication he alloweth Lay-Men to tell the Arch-Bishops and if they will do nothing then to withhold their duties and benefits till they amend But this Binnius noteth was but a temporary extraordinary concession for the hatred that this Pope had to fornicating Clergy-Men But if they did but now and then lie with a woman by chance and did not obstinately still keep them they must not so trouble them § 29. CCCXLV. The foresaid Cadolus or Honorius 2d was setled Pope by a Council at Basil An. 1061. where say some many Simoniacal incontinent wicked Bishops decreed that no Pope should be made but out of Italy which they called Paradise that is Lombardy § 30. CCCXLVI A Council at Osborium An. 1062. contrarily condemned him and set up Alexander Though before Platina saith that Cisalpini omnes all on the Romans side of the Alpes obeyed Honorius except Mathildis a good woman § 31. Here Binnius thought a Dialogue of Pet. Damian worthy to be inserted to prove that Princes may not make Bishops of Rome In which he would prove that the Decrees that gave the Emperor such power may be changed because God doth not alwaies perform his own word for want of mans duty And he saith that some men have been sinners and perished for obeying Gods own Law and some rewarded for breaking it which he proveth by a profane quibble 1. In Iudas as if Christs words what thou dost do quickly had been a command to do the thing 2. In the Rechabites that drank not Wine when Ieremy bade them As if Gods Command to Ieremy to try them had been his Command to them to do it A Council was at Arragon in Spain for we know not what § 32. CCCXLVII An. 1063. Peter Bishop of Florence being accused of Heresie and Simony and deposed a Council at Rome renewed Pope Nicolas 2d's Canons not to hear Masse of a Priest that liveth with a Concubine or introduced woman To excommunicate Simoniacks c. § 33. CCCXLVII In a Council at Mantua to quiet some that yet took Cadolus's part and accused Pope Alexander of Simony Alexander is owned and Cadolus not appearing cast out who after tryed it
a Council where he would meet him with Victor Divo is the appointed place between France and Germany The Emperor with Victor and some Kings cometh to the Council Alexander refuseth because he call'd it not and calls another at Tours in France The Emperor angry returneth to Germany and sendeth Victor into Italy where he dyeth and Guido called Paschal the 3d is chosen after him The Romans chose Consuls that were Alexander's Friends and send for him to Rome and receive him The Italians then arm against the Emperor who cometh with an Army into Italy and taketh Ancona The Greek Emperor is drawn to promise the Pope a great Army against Frederick so he would unite the Empire and Churches again This afrighteth the Emperor The Tusculanes and the Abanes had a War with the Romans that oppressed them with Tribute and gave the Romans a grievous overthrow The Emperor besiegeth Rome William of Sicily sends help to the Pope The People of Rome intreat the Emperor for Peace which he promiseth on condition the worthier Pope may be chosen and the Schism ended The Pope Alexander hearing of this flieth secretly by Ship The Plague driveth the Emperor from Rome he goeth into Germany The Pope's Friends in Italy get strength The Greek Emperor Emanuel sendeth yet larger offers to the Pope if he would restore him the Western Empire by Re-union Pope Paschal dyeth The Tusculane Cardinal called Calistus the 3d is chosen in his stead and reigned seven years saith Onuphr But the Tusculanes refusing him he goeth to Alexander and resigneth to him all his right in Tusculum Whereupon the Tusculanes receive Alexander who there heard the Ambassador of Henry King of England purging him of the guilt of the death of Tho. Becket and sent into England two Cardinals with power to examine all the matter who imposed on the King though swearing he was innocent that for Penance he should maintain Soldiers for Ierusalem and for three years should have an Army against the Barbarians and defend the Church-liberties in his Land and not hinder Appeals to Rome All which he sware By which saith Platina he merited that the Title of the Kingdom of England should be transferred on him and his Heirs by the Pope's consent whence it is observed that all the Kings of England do recognize or acknowledge the Rights of the Kingdom from the Pope of Rome A just Reward for their serving the Titular Servant of Servants in his pestilent Ambition That he should thence take them for his Vassals and take himself for the disposer of their Crowns stooping to such Priests doth make them Kings of Kings Yet Alexander hath not got possession of Rome it self so far was he from being received by all the world and so low did he condescend as to offer the Citizens That if they would receive him he would come in peace and meddle with nothing but Divine matters leaving to them the care of secular things And when they would not grant him this much he went to Signia Was this man truly the Bishop of Rome that had no more of the Citizens consent so much as to dwell among them There he Canonizeth the Archbishop of Canterbury Tho. Becket for a Saint The Emperor entereth Italy and taketh many Cities but the Venetians owning the Pope and he being wearied with Wars at Papia treateth of a Peace But this not taking the Emperor shortly returned with another Army into Italy but was so hard put to it by the Millanois and others in one fight that he narrowly escaped death himself This one loss made the Nobles that followed him say That they suffered this because they fought unlawfully against the Church and if he made not his peace presently with the Pope they would go home So that the Emperor was forced to submit to the Pope for fear of being forsaken by his Subjects and Soldiers At Venice they met and the Emperor kissing the Pope's feet credible Historians say That the Pope trod on his Neck scornfully and profanely repeating the words of the Psalm Thou shalt tread on the Lion and Adder c. Ps. 91. 13. But Baronius and Binnius will not believe this though as Fowlis noteth p. 261. it is recorded by Ciaconius Masson and abundance more of their own Historians and preserved in the Archives of the Library at Venice and the Picture of the Story hang'd publickly in the Senate House The Emperor's severity against them of Milan was not for nothing They not only brake their Oath by Rebellion but when his wife Beatrix came to see the City set her on a Mule backward with the tail in her hand and so led her in scorn from one Gate out at the other What may not such provocation do to an Emperor The stir that there was about the Emperor's holding the Stirrup to Pope Urban is recorded by divers Historians And how the Kings of France and England did the like by Alexander And how this on debate was said to be their due The truth is the Papists Princes of Europe themselves are beholden to the Protestants for redeeming them from Servitude and their Kingdoms from the meer will and mercy of the Pope § 176. The Pope having conquered the Emperor by Cursing is past doubt now of Conquering Rome for such Men were Bishops by Conquest and not by Consent To Tusculum he goeth and now demandeth of the Romans that they abrogate the Office of the Consuls But finding this too hard a task to be done at once he maketh a bargain with them that none should by the People be chosen Consuls till they had taken an Oath of Fidelity to the Pope in his own proposed words and that they would never do any thing against his dignity And so Alexander goeth the third time to Rome and calls a Council but quickly dyeth when after twenty years contention he thought he was new setled in peace An. 1185. § 177. Onuphrius after Radavicus Frising Ioan. Cremon Abb. Ursperg c. saith that it was this Pope Alexander that first ordained that the Clergy and People being excluded from the Election of the Pope and so he was no true Bishop the choice should be in the Cardinals shut up in Conclave and go by two third parts of their Votes to avoid Schisms for the time to come Onuphrius saith that he had the writing of Pope Lucius the 3d that saith he was the first that was chosen by the Cardinals scrutiny though the Cardinals in a looser way were lately made Electors before He that is no Bishop is no Universal Bishop or Pope But he that is not chosen by the Clergy or People of that Church is no Bishop The Minor is proved by the Canons of many Councils § 178. The Epistles of Alexander are so full of Usurpation and Treason against Princes that Binnius thought it best to omit them and give you but the Titles But those that concern England are in Mat. Paris whom Binnius referreth you to
though he oft reproach him for speaking truth Many are about Tho. Becket Archbishop of Canterbury and against the Emperor and the King of England forbidding the Coronation of Henry the 3d and suspending Roger Archbishop of York for Crowning him and such like to shew how he was King of Kings § 179. CCCCXXI Of the Councils in Alexander's time recorded by Binnius the first is An. 1160. at Papia called by the Emperor which voted Victor Pope and condemned Roland called Alexander The Letters of the Emperor and the Bishops tell us that this Council consisted of immunerable Bishops and Abbots and that the Emperor after a good Speech departed and left all to their judgments And that it was there proved by the Oaths of many Witnesses that Victor was chosen by the full consent of the People and Clergy and some Cardinals and that twelve days before Roland was chosen and that Roland was present and contradicted not but bid them obey him that was chosen And that after being Chancellor he stole out of the City and the major part of the Cardinals having before the death of the last Pope entered a Confederacy to choose none but one of themselves that confederated against the Emperor they secretly chose Roland the People and Clergy a multitude subscribing all desiring Victor There or four Kings also consenting to accept him when the Council declared him the onely true Pope and Roland a perfidious Usurper Here is all the Romans Clergy and People the Emperor and many Princes and a Council of innumerable Prelates of Germany Italy c. against the major Vote of an upstart sort of Men called Cardinals that had confederated treacherously before And yet the Roman Papacy is by Succession from this Man that was no true Bishop himself CCCCXXII CCCCXXIII CCCCXXIV CCCCXXV An. 1161. Alexander got a Council at Clermont and another at Newmarket and another at Belvacum and An. 1164. another at Tours to curse the Emperour and Pope Victor The French taking his part and the English at last kept up the Schism and Contention The Reader must take this notice by the way that such Meetings as we call Parliaments the Popish Historians often call Councils that they may draw Men to think that what Parliaments did was done by Clergy Power And when Lords Commons and Bishops met in the same Assembly some called them Parliaments and some Councils And as Spelman saith pag. 529. The same Assemblies were indeed mixt and partly Civil or Royal as he calleth them because called by the King and partly Ecclesiastical But among the Romanists Councils are greatly advanced by this ascribing to them the Acts and Power of Parliaments Accordingly the Parliament at Clarendon is called a Council by Binnius CCCCXXVI by the reproachful name of Conciliabulum because they setled the Rights of the King as Ruler of the Clergy and would not let the Pope be King of England which is the Henrician or Royal Heresie to be punished by Fire or other death on Kings themselves when the Pope is big enough to do it In this Council or Parliament Thomas of Canterbury and the rest of the Bishops concurred with the rest for fear But Thomas when he came home repented and imposed so strict Penance on himself that the Pope hearing of it was sain in absolve him § 180. CCCCXXVII An. 1171. Binnius saith that Ireland being given to the Pope as soon as they became Christians the Pope gave it to King Henry the 2d as soon as he had conquered it and a Council at Cassel was called for Reformation Note here 1. That the Pope hath great reason to seek the Conversion of the Kingdoms of the world if they are his when they are converted 2. That it is no wonder if five parts of six of the world be still Infidels or at least that they are unwilling to yield to Popish Christianity when Heathen and Infidel Kings must lose their Kingdoms and become Subjects to the Pope if they turn to Popish Christianity 3. That it hath long been a cunning way of Bounty with Popes to give Princes their own Kingdoms and Conquests when they cannot take them from them CCCCXXVIII An. 1179. was the Synod at Venice for reconciliation § 181. CCCCXXIX An. 1180. Alexander being at peace called a Council at Rome which they call General or the 11th General Council approved at Lateran In which are many reforming Canons and many for the Papal power The first is as aforesaid to confine the power of Pope-making to two third parts of the Cardinals only Another to degrade those ordained by the three Anti-Popes Another that no one have many Churches c. And the last against some called Cathari Patrini or Publicani as Hereticks giving those Indulgences that will fight against them and absolving all Inferiors from all Fidelity and Duty to them c. Some think that these were the Waldenses some the Albigenses But I have elsewhere shewed against Mr. Danvers that there were several sorts then in those Countries some Manichee Hereticks and some good Christians called Waldense and Albigenses but against the Pope and his Superstitions whom the Papists would jumble together to disgrace the best who were as some of their own Writers e.g. Sanders lib. 7. de vis Monar say A portion of the Henricians that is of the Emperor Henry's Heresie that held the Pope's false usurping Excommunications were to be contemned not as from Henry their Teacher that is they were Royalists and against the Pope's ruling the abused world by the Cursing way § 182. To this Council Crab and Binnius have annexed a voluminous Appendix of Decrees of which many are notable As that no Bishop may suspend a Presbyter without the judgment of his Chapter That a Perjured Clergy-man is to be perpetually deprived and may not govern a Church That in case of ambiguity of words we must have recourse to the common understanding of them with divers others § 183. Alexander dying Lucius the 3d is the first chosen by the Cardinals according to Alexander's Lateran Council as is aforesaid And to perfect the Papacy having got the choice of the Bishop out of the hands of the Clergy and People of Rome his Flatterers next persuade him to put down the Order and Name of Senators which attempting his Party by the Cities insurrection had their eyes put out and the Pope forced to leave the City and at Luca while he provoked Princes to send Soldiers to Ierusalem and Asia he dyed § 184. CCCCXXX One Council this Pope had at Verona as they say where the Emperor Frederick met him and sollicited him to restore all the Bishops and Clergy deposed that had adhered to him and the Anti-Popes The Pope consented but said he could not do it without another Council By which it appeareth that this at Verona was no true Council § 185. Urbanus the 3d is next Pope called Turbanus as an Incendiary by Ab. Ursspergens but better
spoken of by Platina he sate above one year It 's said that he dyed of grief for the loss of Ierusalem in his time CCCCXXXI A Council he had at Paris they say for Ierusalem too late § 186. Gregory the 8th succeedeth him two months and dyeth § 187. An. 1187. Clement the 3d succeeded him who importuneth the Christian Kings to recover Ierusalem The Emperor Frederick the King of France and Richard King of England go in person The Emperor was drowned in Asia as he was waâ—â—ing himself in a River The rest do much but all to little purpose but to the great destruction of many Christians The Pope sendeth an Army into Sicily to claim it for the Church because the King dyed childless There also bloody havock is made An. 1188. An Assembly at Paris furthered the Holy War Binnius will call it a Council § 188. Though this Clemens sate but three years and five months he ended the long War between the Romans and the Pope granting them their Senators but deposing their Patricius or Head that Union might not strengthen them § 189. Caelestine the 3d cometh next who to get Sicily from Tancred gets out of a Nunnery a devoted Virgin that was the Heiress and marrieth her to the young Emperor Henry the 6th and giveth him with her the Kingdoms of Sicily and Naples when he can get them and so wholly obligeth him to the Church and to surrender Tusculum which the Romans utterly demolish Sicily the Emperor gets and puts out Tancred's eyes but Naples was too hard for him his Soldiers dying of the Plague How the King of France and the King of England disagreed in Palestine and how the King of France returned home and treacherously joined with Iohn the King's Brother to invade the King of England's Dominions and so called him from attempting the Siege of Ierusalem and how he was taken Prisoner by the way home many Histories acquaint you § 190. Binnius out of Urspergens tells us how this Pope that had sent the King of France into Palestine for his repudiating his Wife after interdicted the whole Kingdom of France the use of holy thing O horrid Villany worse than Heathenish For one Man's Family-sin to forbid so great a Kingdom to worship their God and Saviour Saladine when he had taken Ierusalem dealt better with the Christians O bewitched Princes and People that by their degenerate Prelates would be brought to suffer or submit to such a wickedness contrary to the nature of all Religion O wicked Prelates and Clergy that would obey an Usurper in sucâ— a wicked Interdict But the King of France grievously punished his Clergy for the Fact For it was done by the Pope's Legat and the Bishops at a Council at Divion the CCCCXXXII here § 191. Next cometh the great Pope Innocent the 3d a young man of 30 years old called Lotharius An. 1198. § 192. The Duke of Saxony Otho the 4th succeedeth the Emperor Henry the 6th But Philip of Suevia is his Competitor and the King of France was for Henry's Brother and the Pope for Otho hating Frederick's Line Some say Philip conquered and deposed Otho but Petavius after divers others saith that they agreed that Philip should Reign quietly during his life and Otho afterward succeed him After ten years Otho a Palatine of the Rhine killeth Philip and Otho again Reigneth quietly marrying Philip's daughter But seeking to possess Apulia and Calabria by Arms and not obeying the Pope's Prohibition the Pope Excommunicateth him first and after sentenceth him deprived or deposed which at his command the Archbishop of Mentz publisheth which Otho despising the Pope to shew that he can make and unmake Emperors and Kings sets up Frederick King of Sicily Henry the 6ths Son by Câ—nstantia the Nun formerly saith Binnius which Petavius denieth and commandeth all to take him for Emperor The King of France stands for Frederick and the King of England for Otho Otho is overcome being forsaken and dyeth for grief and Friderick a young man twenty years old prevaileth § 193. Passing by the English and Scottish Councils for the Sabbath or Lords day CCCCXXXIII The Roman Council that deposed the Emperor Otto for rebellion against the Pope was An. 1210. § 194. This Pope excommunicated our King Iohn for rejecting Stephen Laughton Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Yea he deposed him quantum inse and interdicted Gods worship to the whole Kingdom for six years three months and fourteen dayes O wicked Bishops and Priests that would give over the worship of God because an Usurper forbad it The Pope gave the King of France commission to seize on England King Iohn is constrained to please the Pope What wars were hereupon in England and how he gave up his Kingdom at last to the Pope and to hold it as of him our own Historians certifie us yea and how he offered the King of Morocco to turn Mahometan for his help § 195. CCCCXXXIX Next cometh the famous 4th Laterane Council called by the Papists the 12th General approved of 400 Bishops and 800 other Fathers for others they have an 1215. Regn. Frider. 2. In the first Cap. is the Creed and their Transubstantiation asserted as the way of Union between Christ and us we taking his flesh as he took ours and that no one can make this Sacrament but a Priest ritely ordained according to the Keyes of the Church which Christ gave to the Apostles and their successours But the Sacrament of Baptism saveth by whom soever it is ritely done The 2d Cap. condemneth Abbot Ioachim's doctrine who opposed Lombard as making a quaternity for saying that Quaedam summa res est Pater Filius et Spiritus Sanctus et illa res non est generans nec genita nec procedens which the Council owneth The 3d. Cap. is this We excommunicate and anathematize every Heresie extolling itself against this holy Orthodox Catholick faith which we before expounded condemning all Hereticks by what names soever called having indeed divers faces but tails tyed together because they agree in vanity in the same thing And being damned let them be left to the present secular power or their Bailiffs to be punished by due animadversion the Clerks being first degraded from their orders so that the goods of such damned ones if they be Lay-men be confiscated but if Clerks let them be applied to the Churches from which they had their stipends But for those that are found notable only by suspicion unless they shew their innocency by a congruous purgation according to the considerations of the suspicion and the quality of the person let them be smitten with the sword of anathema cursed from Christ and avoided by all till they have given condign satisfaction so that if they remain a year excommunicate they be then condemned as Hereticks And let the secular powers be warned and induced and if need be compelled by ecclesiastical censure what offices soever they are in that as they desire to be
them what good they had done the City For when they came thither they found three or four bawdy houses but at their departure they left but one But this one reached from the East Gate of the City to the West gate § 194. The Pope returneth into Italy and seeketh to get men to ruine Conrade the late Emperor Fridericks Son The King of Englands brother Richard is first invited but deniâ—d due help and refuseth King Henry the third himself at last is drawn in and furnisheth the Pope with a great deal of money and the Croisado Soldiours are turned against Conrade from the relief of Palestine Bitter accusations against him are published by the Pope which Conrade answereth He and Robert Grosthead the famous Learned holy Bishop of Lincoln dying near together the Pope biddeth all that belong to the Church of Rome to rejoyce with him because these two their greatest enemies are gone And if such wise and holy men as this Bishop were numbered with the enemies of the Pope we may conjecture what he was and did and whether all the Christian World were then his Subjects and whether Rome then needed reformation § 195. But though the King of England had so far served him it was not enough Nothing less than all would serve as Matth. Paris tells us when the King would yet be King and did not fully obey the Pope which he manifested in his rant against this rare and excellent Bishop of Lincoln the occasion of which I think well worthy of our recital as it is in Matth. Paris Anno 1453. pag. 87â— 872. A credible Monk though oft reviled by Baron and Bin for telling truth This Bishop was one of the famousest men in the whole world for knowledge piety and justice The Pope had sent him an order as saith Matth. Paris he often did to him and other English Bishops to do somewhat which the Bishop judged to be unjust It was not so bad as an interdict to silence Christs Ministers but whether it was the promoting of bad Ministers or hindering or excommunicating good men some such thing it was as you may see by what followeth The Bishop writeth a Letter to the Pope and Cardinals in which he tells them That he would obey the Apostolical precepts but that was not Apostolical which was contrary to the doctrine of the Apostles Christ saying he that is not with us is against us And that cannot be Apostolical that is against Christ as the Tenour of the Popes Letters were His non obstante so often repeated shewed his inconstancy and his blotting the purity of the Christian Religion and perturbing the peace and quiet of Societies a torrent of audaciousness procacity immodesty lying deceiving hardly believing or trusting any one on which innumerable vices follow And next after the sin of Lucifer which in the end of time will be that also of Antichrist the son of perdition whom the Lord will destroy with the Spirit of his mouth there neither is nor can be any other sort of sin so adverse and contrary to the doctrine of the Apostles and the Gospel and so hateful detestable and abominable as to kill and destroy souls by defrauding men of the care of the Pastoral office and Ministry which sin those men are known by the most evident testimonies of the sacred Scripture to commit who being placed in power of pastoral care do get the salary of the pastoral office and ministry out of the milk and the fleece of the sheep of Christ who are to be quickened and saved but administer not to them their dues For the very not administring of the Pastoral ministeries is by the testimony of Scripture the killing and destroying of the sheep And that these two sorts of sins though unexpectedly are the very worst and beyond all comparison exceed all other sort of sin is manifest by this that they are in the two existent foreâ—aid things though with disparity and dissimilitudes directly contrary to the best things And that is the worst which is contrary to the best And as for these sins as much as in them lieth one of them is the destruction of the Godhead it self which is superessentially and supernaturally best and the other is the destruction of that conformity and deiâ—ication of souls by the gracious participation of the Divine beams which is the best thing essentially and naturally And as in good things the cause of good is better than the effect so in evils the cause of evil is worse than the effect is manifest that the introducers in the Church of God of such most mischievous destroyers of holy formation and deification in the sheep of Christ are worse than the destroyers or murderers themselves the nearer to Lucifer and Antichrist and in the greater degree of mischief or priority by how much the more superexcelling and by the greater and diviner power given by God for edification and not for destruction they were the more bound to exclude and extirpate such most mischievous murderers or destroyers from the Church of God It cannot be therefore that a holy Apostolick Seat to which all power is given by our Lord Iesus Christ the holy of holies for Edification and not for destruction as the Apostle testified should command or require any thing that bordereth on or tendeth towards so hateful detestable aud abominable a thing to Iesus Christ and so utterly pernitious to mankind or by any way endeavour any thing that tendeth thereunto For this were either a defection or a corruption or an abuse of Christs own power which is evidently most holy and most full or it were an absolute elongation from the Throne of the Glory of our Lord Iesus Christ and the next sitting together of the two foresaid Princes of darkness and of hellish punishments in the chair of pestilence Nor can any one with unspotted and sincere obedience who is a subject and faithful to that same Seat and not by schism cut off from Christ and that holy Seat obey the said mandates and precepts or any endeavours whatever and whensoever they come yea though it were from the highest order of Angels but must necessarily contradict them and rebel with all his strength or power And therefore Reverend Lords from the duty of obedience and fidelity in which I am bound to both the parents of the holy Apostolick Seat and from the Love which I have to Vnion in the body of Christ with it I do only filially and obediently disobey contradict and rebel to the things which in the foresaid Letter are contained and specially because as is before touched they do most evidently tend to that sin which is most abominable to our Lord Iesus Christ and most pernitious to mankind and which are altogether adverse to the Sanctity of the holy Apostolick Seat and are contrary to the Catholick Faith Nor can you discretion for this hint conclude or decree any hard thing against me because all my
Church Whence did this timerity befal thee It were better that thou advanced and honoured by God should honour those which are zealous for God even when they are dead Henceforth God will give thee no more power over me I wrote to thee in the spirit of humility and love that thou shouldst correct thy many errours But with a proud eye and a bewitching heart thou hast despised wholesome warnings Wo to thee that despispest Shalt thou not be despised And the Bishop Robert departing striking as with a lance the Pope who when as is said he was pricked groaned aloud he left him half dead and with a mournful voice groaning with sighs His Chamberlains hearing him being astonished asked him what the matter was The Pope answering with sighs and groans said The terrours of the night have vehemently troubled me nor shall I ever be well again as I was Oh alas how great is the pain of my side A ghost hath pierced me with a lance An he neither eat nor drank that day feigning that he was inflamed with feavours that streightened his breath And Gods revenge and wrath did not so leave him Not long after the Pope not sensible of Gods warnings by his Servants but setting about warlike and secular matters he prospered not in them though he laid out great care and labour and cost But Wars yea the Lord of hosts being against him his army which at great charges he had sent against the Apulians under the conduct of his Nephew William being scattered conquered and confounded perished with their Captain mortally wounded They say there were there slain of Souldiours and valiant stipendiary's of the Pope four thousand men And the whole Countrey of the Romans lamented the shedding of so much Christian blood The Pope then went to Naples though weakened as with a plurisie in his side or as wounded with a lance And Cardinal Albus physick could not help him For Robert of Lincoln spared not Sinâ—bald of Genoa And he that would not hear him warning him when alive felt him peircing him when dead Nor did the Pope ever after enjoy one good day till night nor one good night till day but sleepless and molested Thus M. Paris § 200. M. Paris p. 896 anno 1254. saith that Henry the third of England obliged himself and his Kingdome unjustly to the Pope under pain of being disinherited to pay all the treasure which the Pope should lay out in his War for the King that is to have made him King of Sicily And that the Pope having no mercy on England prodigally wasted its money but those vast sums got by rapine were all lost § 201. The same Author saith p. 897. that when Pope Innocent lay dying after the stroke of the Bishop of Lincoln and the loss of his Army and his followers lay crying about him he opened his dying eyes and said what do you mourn for you wretches Do I not leave you all rich what would you have more And so he died § 202. CCCCXLIV Anno 1245. Innoncent calls a Council called General their 13th Approved at Lyons of 140 Bishops where he heaped up accusations against the Emperour whom Thaddaeus his agent defended And at last pronounced himself an excommunication and deposition absolving all his Subjects from their Oaths and Allegiance and excommunicating all that should own and help him Here you see that more than one of their approved General Councils are for Rebellion and perjury and the Popes deposing Christian Emperours In the same Council sad Complaints were made from England of the pillaging or woful impoverishing of the land by the Pope and King but the Pope heard all silently and would give no answer § 203. At this Council the Pope importuned the Electors to choose another Emperour some refused and stuck to the Emperour saying that it belonged not to the Pope to make or unmake Emperours Others obeyed him and set up Henry of Hassia But the Emperour while he lived kept up his possession so far as to make the Pope repent and saith Trithemius was a weary of his life But all Germany Italy c. were confounded by the schim or contention one half as is aforesaid called Guelphes following the Pope and Henry the other called Gibelines cleaving to the Emperour Frederick to the shedding of abundance of Christians blood and the desolation of Countreys and the shame of Papal tyranny § 204. Anno 1254. Alexander the 4th was Pope Matth. Paris tells us of a terrible dream that he had of Pope Innocents damnation or misery But the fault of his writing is that he was too credulous of dreams and visions He tells us also of twenty Miracles done at Lincoln for the sake of the late Bishop Robert And that at a Parliament in London the greatest which hath been seen all the Nobles Ecclesiastical and Civil demanded of the King that the choice of the Lord Chief Iustice the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Treasurer should be in the Parliament or their common Council as of old was usual and just and that they should not be removed without notorious faults which the Kings secret Councellours perswaded him to deny Prelates and Nobles being grieved by exactions express it c. § 205. Here the said Monk Matth. Paris exclaimeth O the steril solicitude of the Roman Court their blind ambition Though holy yet often deceived by the Council of bad men Why dost thou not learn to moderate by the bridle of discretion thy violence being taught by thing past and so often chastised by experience In thy losses we are all punished c. Thou now endeavourest to make two German Emperours which must cost inestimable treasure whence soever taken and both uncertain of the dignity c. § 206. At that time the Lords and Prelates of England crying out of the King Hen. 3d. as false and oppressive and pillaging Churches and People to maintain his profuseness the Bishop of Hereford laid a Plot which the King accepted that getting the hands and seals of a few Bishops he would go to Rome and get power from the Pope to gather the King as much money as he needed So to Rome he went and there found the Pope in great grief and care himself for money to pay vast debts that his Wars had cost him The Bishop told him that the King who had engaged his Kingdom to be forfeited if he paid not the Popes debts would help him to money if he would be ruled by him and write to the Bishops and Churches to grant the King such help as they could well do The Pope gladly gave leave to the Bishop to write what he would And home he went and Eustandus a Legate was sent from Rome to see all done saith M. Paris p. 911. anno 1255. The Legate was prepared and ready in all things to the destruction of all England to obey the will of the King which was tyrannical and to bind the oppressed contradictors in the
bonds of Anathema Rustandus cometh with the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Hereford is empowred by the Pope to gather moneys for the Pope or King A Parliament is called at Westminster They refuse and go home The Popes Letters press the Collection A Council of Bishops is called at London so much money is demanded saith M. Paris as would have enslaved or undone all the Kingdome The Bishop of London protested he would lose his head rather than consent The Bishop of Worcester said he would be hang'd first The rest follow them The King is angry and threatneth The Earl Marshal in anger when the King called him Traytor answered thou liest I never was a Traytor nor will be The King threatned to send men to thresh out his corn and fell it to humble him The Earl told him if he did so he would cut off the threshers heads and send them him some interposed for the time The Lords refused to meddle with the Kingdomes business or to impoverish themselves and were dissolved Rustandus again Congregateth the Bishops at London They did nothing again saith M. Paris too boldly p. 917. Si enim sive juste sive injuste per dictum Magistrum Rustandum suspendâ—retur quis vel excommunicaretur Rex quasi Leo in abscondito quaerens quem devoraret post 40 dies omnia direperit infiscata Papa Rex vâ—lut Pastor Lupus in ovium exterminium confoederati omnibus ruinam minabantur And then saith he like blind men groping for the wall the Council were divided and as English men are used to do every one shifteth for himself or seeketh to save himself Tithes are now paid by the Clergy to the Laity They are granted for the Magna Charta which was not kept They are granted as for the holy land and turned against Christians in Apulia Many lies and false oaths are imposed saith M. Paris p. 919. The next year the Clergy were called again 1256. Rustandus the Legate said All Churches are the Popes Leonard the Prolocut râ— answered yes to defend not to enjoy and appropriate as we say All things are the Prince's that is to defend and not to disperse And this was the intent of the founders The Legate angry at this answer commanded that henceforth without a Prolâ—cutor every man should speak for himself that they might be known which astonished and silenced all He commanded them to subscribe a Lie that they had received such sums of money of forreign Merchants and Vsurers which they said it waâ— good Martyrdome to die for the refusing of Pag. 920. Here is annexed by M. Paris A charter of King Iohn confirmed by Pope Innocent 3d. ordering that all Bishops be freely elected without the Kings hinderance by the Church vacant and cursing all that otherwise come in pag. 921. § 207. At that time the Romans imprisoned a great Citizen Beaucales for his justice The Bononians detain many Romans pledges for him The Bononians are interdicted sacred things but they yield not till Beaucalco is delivered M. Paris anno 1256. The Letters of Pope Alexander and his many exactions see farther in M. Paris this year § 208. Anno 1257. saith M. Paris some went to Rome for the Bishoprick of Ely and the Church of St. Edmunds and gave and promised so vast sums of money as astonished men with wonder Whereupon the Pope made a new Law that every Elect Bishop should come personally to Rome hoping to have the like prey from others § 209. Anno 1258. saith M. Paris p. 910. The Pope that claimed the Kingdomes of the World was mastered in Rome by the foresaid Senator Braucaleo who being delivered from Prison was beloved of the people executed the Malefactors and his enemies forced the Pope to stay his excommunication and humble himself and beg his mercy § 210. The same year the Pope pretends anger to the King of England for not temperating his excesses and threatneth to excommunicate him The King is afraid and sends him money and stops his mouth p 910. § 211. Against the Parliaments will the King again hearkeneth to the Pope that offereth now the Kingdome of Apulia to Edmund his younger Son as he did before to Edward the Elder But the Parliament denieth him money which he screweth from the Abbeys and Churches § 212. saith M. Paris Sewale Arch-bishop of York now died a Martyr though without blood as many do having constantly fought against the Tyranny of the Roman Court oppressed by the Pope wrote earnestly as Rob. of Lincoln had done to the Pope to cease his tyranny In his sickness sath M. P. he called for water which was fetcht out of the Well and it was turned into excellent Wine p. 969. § 213. How the Parliament of Barons at Oxford this year 1258. entered their Confederacy and resolution to stand against the King for their Liberties Charter and Justice M. Paris p. 972 and many others tell you And p. 974 how the Londoners joyned with them and how many of the Lords were poysoned § 214. Braucaleo the Roman Senator having humbled the Pope pull'd down the Castles of the Tyrants and Rebels put to death the kindred of many Cardinals and died The Pope forbade the Citizens choosing another without his consent They laugh at him and choose Braucaleo's unkle M. P. p. 984. § 215. This Pope Alexander of whom M. Paris speaketh so much evil saith Binnius post obitum suavem sui memoriam reliquit dying 1260. And Plâ—tina praiseth him in whom you may see more of his life and Wars against Maufred c. § 216. Next cometh Vrban 4th Patriarch of Ierusalem of whom no great matters are recorded He ordained Corpus Christi day 217. Next cometh Clem. 4th a French Lawyer a Widdower and then Bishop His first good work was to go to Perusium in the habit of a beggar His life is praised by Platina Onuphius Binnius c. How he made a Frenchman Charles King of Scicily and Apulia and how Maufred was kill'd and conquered c. I need not trouble the Reader in reciteing § 218. CCCCXLV In his daies Canisius hath found a small Council at Vienna for reforming some things in the Clergy Bin. p. 1492. § 219. Next cometh Gregory 10th But the Seat was vacant first almost three years So long the Church of Rome was extinct if the Pope be an essential part as they would have him even of the Universal § 220. CCCCXLVI In his time a Council at Lyons called the the 14th Universal approved one by them was held in which the poor Emperour of Constantinople Michael Paleologus being in danger at his wits end came in person to flatter the Pope in hope of help There also was decreed the shutting up of the Cardinals at Elections for fear of vacancies as had happened by discord and delays The Pope interdicted the Florentines because the Guelphes refused to receive the Gibelines which quarrel still cost bloody Wars Rodulph is made Emperour
Especially they are large in imposing penalties on those that publickly keep Concubines in their houses and have not the modesty to fornicate more secretly If they put not away their Concubines in two Moneths they must lose the third part of their tythes and after other two months another third part and at last the other third part and after be uncapable of preferment c. These are gentler penalties than a differing opinion is punished with under the name of a heresie § 249. CCCCLXII Anno 1324. A Council at Toletane to the like purposes § 250. CCCCLXIII The two Popes called two Councils against each other as Hereticks were neither in the right Iohn in a Council at Avignion proved Nicolas the 5th a heretick for holding that Christ possessed nothing as Proprietor Nicolas called a Council in Italy which condemned Iohn as a heretick for holding the contrary Thus the hereticators were hereticated § 251. The French now got the Power of the Papacy and another French man was chosen Pope Anno 1334. called Benedict 11. alias 12th He renewed the excommunication and deposition of the Emperor Ludov. and claimed the Empire to himself concluding that being vacant it fell to the Church see to whom Kingdomes escheat whereby he set all Italy in Wars in all the Cities giving them to the Rulers as the Popes Leiutenants and perswading the Romans also to depose the Senatorean power as of the King and to exercise it themselves under the Church He lived above seven years Pope This Pope contrary to his Predecessor defined that souls sufficiently purged enjoy the clear vision of God before the resurrection § 252. CCCCLXIV Anno 1339. A Toletane Council decreed among other things that every Rector of a Church and their Vicars under pain of excommunication do every year write the names of all their Parishioners that come to years of discretion and consign confirm all that are confessed and excite them to come to the Sacrament But if they have not received it let them abstain unless it be by the Counsel of their own Priest And those that confesse not after a year to expel from the Church and deny them ecclesiastical burial § 253. Anno 1342. Another Frenchman Bishop of Roven is made Pope at Avignion Clem. 6. All Italy and Naples was put into the flames of Wars He forced the Germanes to set up another against the Emperor Lodov. Bavarus which was Charles Son of Iohn the 11. of Bohemia Charles sends bound to the Pope a new Senator Nicolas Rentii that ruled all at Rome He made a new Jubilee he laboured in vain to reconcile King Edward of England to the French the English conquering their Navies and taking Calis c. The Colenses and Trevinuses having contributed money as to a Turkish expedition that Pope liberally rewarded them by granting them licence to eat Eggs and Milk-meats on any fasting dayes out of Lent § 254. CCCCLXV Anno 1347. A Toletane Council against Simony c. § 255. Anno 1352. Innoc. the 6th is made Pope of Avignion All Italy was still kept in blood One Barnacellus Lorded it as Ruler at Rome The Pope craftily lets Nicolas Gencii out of Prison to set up against him Nicolas gets the better and killeth him but domincering too much is next kill'd himself 1347. The new Emperor Charles is Crowned in Italy The Romans put the power into seven Citizens called Reformers of the common wealth The Pope sets Hugo King of Cyrus against the Reformers and bids him pull them down But trouble came near him Our King Edward conqerâ—d the French and took the King and his Son Philip Prisoners nobly releasing the Prisoners upon promise that they would fight against him no more which they presently brake The Pope dieth § 256. Having long said nothing of the Greek affairs I here only briefly say that the utter confusion of their imperial Successions by murders and Usurpations and the continued confusions of their Church affairs ever since the divisions of the Orthodox Nestorians Entychians Monothelites c maketh it both a hard and unpleasant task to give any exact account of their Bishops Synods and manifold contentions which furthered the ruine of the Empire Their divisions gave the Latines opportunity to take Constantinople 1204. which they kept 58 years and then lost it Baldwin was the first Latine Emperour whom the Bulgarians conquered and took Prisoner Anno 1205. and kept sixteen months and then put him to death Henry his brother succeeded him 1206 and died 1216. Peter succeedeth him that married his sister or daughter and is quickly slain by Theodorus Lascaris Robert succeedeth his Father Peter 1261. Theodore Lascaris was Emperor chosen by the Greeks and kept Court at Nice He defâ—ated the Turks and slew their Sultan and died 1222. Iohn Ducas his Son in Law succeedeth him and 1255. his Son Theodore Lascaris succeedeth him and died 1259. leaving a Son Iohn of six years old Michael Paleologus putting out Iohns eyes at ten years old usurpeth the Empire and by a stratagem of Alexius Caesar with 800 men taketh Constantinople and feigned a reconciliation with Rome and died 1282 and for his seeming reconciliation with Rome his Son Andronicus and the Clergy denied him Christian burial Andronicus succeeded His Son Michael dying his Grandson Andronicus deposeth and banisheth him and taketh the Throne he reigned 8 years and died 1341. He committed his two Sons to Ioh. Cautacuzenus The Eldest Son Iohn reigned 27 years and Manuel his brother succeeded him 1384. and his Son Iohn succeeded him 1419. Constantine the 8th began 1445 and Anno 1453 May 29th the Turks took Constantinople and set up their Empire § 257. Anno 1355. Under Innocent the 6th was another Toletane Council short and sweet worth the noting by authority of Blastus Arch-Bishop of Toletan Viz. Lest faithful Christians should be burdened with the weight of sin or faultiness by transgressing provincial Constitutions when Divine piety hath mercifully put them under an easie yoke and light burden we ordain the holy Council approving it that the Provincial constitutions of our Predecessors and that shall be made hereafter unless it be otherwise expresly ordained in such as shall be made shall oblige the trangressours only to the penalty of them but not ad culpam to faultiness or sin It s worth the Inquiry how far all other Canons and humane penal Lawes are thus to be expounded § 258. Anno 1362. Another French man is made Pope called Vrban the 5th He sent Aegidius to fight for him in Italy still broil'd in Wars and died § 259. Anno 1370. Petrus Bellfortis that was made Cardinal before he was 17 years old is made Pope of Avignion and called Greg. the 11th So far was all the world from obeying the Pope that Italy still fought against him Thither he sends an Army bloodshed and misery overspreadeth the Country The Pope at last saw that his absence gave his Enimies advantage and not daring to
constraineth credit to their reports On the other side who can believe such palpable Railers as Tympius Cochleus Genebrard and many such that lye contrary to certain evidence such as make the Vulgar believe that Luther learnt his Religion of the Devil and was killed by him that Oecolanpadius was kill'd by the Devil that Bucer had his guts pull'd out and cast about by the Devil that Calvin was a stigmatized Sodomite and Sensualist that Beza died a Papist who lived long after to write a Confutation and abundance such Melchior Adam gathereth his History of Lives from the Pens of those that most intimately knew the persons what able holy laborious and excellent servants of God were Calvin Beza Daneus Knox and many such as described by Adamus and in the judgment of those that were their most knowing observers But what vile rebellious wretches were they in the judgment of Doctor Heylin and such as he what excellent persons did God use for the beyond-sea Reformation even as in France and Holland Iewel Bilson and other Bishops defend that which Heylin describeth as the most odious Rebellions He maketh the Geneva Presbyterians to do that against their Bishop which Dr. Pet. Moulin in his Answer to Philanax Anglicus sheweth was done before while they were Papists Some things in Heylins History of the Reformation and the Presbyterians I believe which he bringeth Records for but upon his own word I can scarce believe any thing that he saith so palpably partial is he and of so malicious and bloody a strain representing excellent persons as odious intollerable Rogues and the Reformation even of the Lutherans as too bad but that in France Belgia Friesland the Palatinate Hungary Transilvania Scotland to be but a series of the most odious Rebellions Murders and horrid Sacriledge and ours in England to be much the Spawn of King Henries Lust and thinking King Edward 6. his death a seasonable mercy and odiously representing such excellent Bishops as Grindall Abbot and Vsher and such excellent Divines as we sent to Dort Davenant Hall Ward Carlton c. It pleaseth the Prelatists to say truly of me that I am no Presbyterian and thâ—â—fore speak not for the persons in partiality as one of their party but I 〈◊〉 say as in Gods sight that in my own acquaintance I have found that sort of men whom Dr. Heylin and such other reproach as Presbyterians and Puritans to be the most serious conscionable practical sober and charitable Christians that ever I knew yea verily the knowledge of them hath been a great help to the stedfastness of my Faith in Christ Had I known no Christians but carnal worldly and formal men who excel not Heathens in any thing but Opinion it would have tempted me to doubt whether Christ were the Saviour of Souls as I should think meanly of the Physitian that doth no cures But when I see holy mortified persons living in the love of God and man I see that Faith is not a dead fancy And when I have lived in intimate familiarity with such from my Childhood to the sixty fifth year of my age and known their integrity notwithstanding their infirmities and then read such Histories as represent them as the most odious flagitious persons I see it is not for nothing that some men are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Scripture and the Children of their Father the Devil who was from the beginning a lying malignant Murderer Two Crimes I have long ago heard the Rabble charge on those whom they called Puritans Lying and Covetousnes whereas near two thousand Ministers are cast out and suffer which they could mostly escape if they durst but lye and if I ask money for the Poor of what party soever I can sooner get a Pound from those called Puritans than a Shilling from others far richer than they Can I take any men to be other than malignant lyars who would make men believe that such men as Hildersham Dod Rogers Ball Paul Bagne Ames Bradshaw c. were Rogues and seditious Rebels or that revile such as Vsher Hall Davenant c. Reader believe not a word of any of the revilings or odious characters and stories which any aspiring worldly factious Clergy man writeth of such as are his Adversaries lying is their too common language yea if they do but once set themselves eagerly to seek Preferment I will never trust them or take their words It hath been so of old the same man that was a Saint to his Acquaintance hath been described as wicked or a Devil by others How bad were Origen and Chrysostome to Theophilus Alexand. and Epiphanius And how bad was Theophilus to the Historians that write his actions How excellent a person was Cyril Alex. to the Council of Colcedon and how bad a man was he to Theodoret Isidore Pleus c. Ignatius Const. was a Saint to Nicetas and many others and to Photius he was an Antichrist and wicked limb of the Devil Photius was a holy man to his Party and a wicked wretch to Nicetas and others Yea see the credit of worldly Prelates the same Bishops one year cry down Ignatius as a wicked man and call Photius a holy person and the next year or shortly after cry down Photius for a Rogue and cry up Ignatius yea and upon the next turn cry up holy Photius whom they had anathematized These doings were familiar with carnal Prelates But as Gods Spirit in his servants is so suited to the Doctrine of the same Spirit that they relish it where they find it so their piety and honesty is such a self-evidencing thing that pious and honest-men that knew them cannot believe their lying slanderers And when Satan hath done his worst the very writings of such men as Calvin Bezâ— Melancthon Hildersham Ames Dod Burges Gataker Vsher Dâ—venant Hâ—ll c. will not suffer men to believe their odious revilers Even among Papists when I read the works of Bernad Gerson Kempis Thâ—ulerus Sales and the Lives of Nerius Renti c. I cannot believe him that would tell me they were wicked men though faulty And the Lives written by Adam Clerk Fuller c. shall be believed before Calumniators Alas how little are most Histories to be believed where they prove not what they say there are about sixty that say there was a Pope Ioan and near as many that say no such thing Hildebrand to one half of the Bishops was the holy Restorer of the Church to the other half the vilest Rebel We are not agreed here â—n London who burnt the City in 1666. nor what parties began the late War nor what party brought the King to death while we are alive that saw these publick facts Not only Lads that knew it not but Heylin the great Reproacher of the Reformers would make men believe that it was Presbyterians in England that began the strife and War when yet he had himself laid so much of it on Archbishops and Bishops and on
their several places they may practice this the guilt being proved I may tell him that I have no rule over I will have no Communion with you But I cannot thereby oblige all others to do the like This Gelasius also oft Epist. ad Anastas Imperat. c. setteth up the Priest above the Prince as Gods Laws are above mans As if Kings were were not to Govern by Gods Laws and as if the Bishops Canons were not mans Laws if they be Laws § 62. CXL It 's said that 70 Bishops at Rome under Gelasius determined of the Canon of the Scripture and also of accepted and rejected Books In the Canon they put a Book called Ordo Historiarum with one Book of Tobias one of Iudith one of the Maccabees Nehemias is lest out Among the approved Books the Epistle of Leo to Flavian Const. is thus imposed The Text whereof if any man shall dispute even to one iota or tittle and doth not venerably receive it in all things let him be accursed A multitude of heretical and rejected Books are named Eighteen pretended to be by or of some Apostles and such other And among others the History of Eusebius yet before approved unless here he mean only de vita Const. The Works of Tertullian Lactantius Arnobius Clemens Alexand. Africanus Cassianus Victorinus Pictav Faustus Rhegiens c. Of the Canon of Scripture Bishop Cousins hath collected the true History from greater Antiquity § 63. CXLI Vitalis and Misenus the Popes Legates at Constantinople having been Excommunicated for Communicating with Acacius c. Vitalis dyed so but after eleven years Misenus repented and was absolved by a Council of 55 Bishops might not the Pope alone have done it § 64. CXLII You have heard before how Festus got Laurentius the Arch-presbyter chosen Pope at Rome and more chose Symmachus Theodorick an Arian being King was just and had so much wit as to please the Clergy while his Kingdom was unsettled The Pope under his protection excommunicated both Emperour and Patriarch of Constantinople for Communicating with Hereticks but he never excommunicated Theodorick at home though an Arian There was reason for it Interest is such mens Law But while the Schism between Symmachus and Laurentius divided the Senate the Clergy and the People five or six several Councils are called at Rome mostly to heal this rupture For at first the Laurentians laid some Crimes to the charge of Symmachus and when the Councils would not cast him out they fell to rapine violence and bloodshed many being killed and all in confusion So that it was work enough in three years for King and Council to end the Schism § 65. CXLIII When the Arian Persecution abated in Africa Thrasaâ—â—ndus the King contriving which way to root out the Orthodox without violence he commanded that when any Bishop dyed no other should be ordained in their places Hereupon the Nonconformists seeing the Churches like to decay ann 504. held a Synod in which they decreed and do their that though they suffered death for it they would go on and ordain Office concluding that either the mind of the King would be mollified or else they should have the Crown of Martyrdom This is called Concilium Byzacenum § 66. It is greatly to be noted that many following Councils in Spain France and other parts of Europe which were held under the Gothish Kings were more pious and peaceable than the rest fore-described The Reasons seem to me to be these 1. These Kings being conquering Arians the Bishops durst not damn them for Heresie for fear of their own necks and so were greatly restrained from the hereticating work of Councils 2. These Kings having a narrower Dominion than the Empire and being jealous of their new gotten Conquests were nearer the Bishops and kept them more in awe than the Emperour did 3. And these Councils being small of a few Bishops had no such work for arrogancy and ambition as the great General Councils had 4. And the great proud pretending Patriarchs that set the World in a continual War were not here to strive who should be the greatest The Pope himself was seldom mentioned in the Spanish and French Councils or the African § 67. CXLIV One of these honest Councils is Agathense by the permission of Alaricus by 35 Bishops Casarius Arelatensis being chief Where many Canons for the Clergy were made or repeated The 3d Canon is that if Bishops wrongfully excommunicate any one other Bishops shall receive them Did the Popes observe this with Acacius Euphemius c. Can. 63. If any Citizens on the great solemnities that it Easter the Lords Nativity or Whitsuntide shall neglect to meet where the Bishops are seeing they are set in Cities for Benediction and Communion let them be three years deprived of the Communion of the Church Doth not this prove that the City Churches then met all in one place and so were but one Assembly at those times How else could all the Citizens be with the Bishop at one time But even these Canons forbid Clergy-men to sue any before a Secular Judge or to appear or answer at anothers suit Can. 32. Otherwise both are to be excommunicate Can. 37. It punisheth those that kill men but with denying them Communion Can. 50. Only if a Bishop Presbyter or Deacon commit a Capital crime he shall be deposed and put into a Monastery and have but Lay-communion When Murderers are hang'd and Trayters also quartered this Canon is laid aside I thought a Monastery had been a desirable place and not bad enough to serve Traytors and Murderers instead of the Gallows § 68. CXLV A Council at Apanna under Sigismund King of Burgundy recited such like Canons as the former save that there is one just such as our Fanaticks in England would have made who would not worship God in any Temple which the Papists had used to their Mass so faith Can. 33. The Temples or Churches of Hereticks which we hate with so great execration we despise to apply to holy uses as judging their pollution to be such as cannot be purged away But such as by violence they took from us we may recover This is just Down with the Idolatrous Steeple-houses But if they would give the Nonconformists in England leave to Preach in such places they would be thankful and think God will not impute the sin of others to us § 69. CXLVI A Council at Sidon of 80 Bishops was called by the Emperour Anastasius where they agreed to curse the Council of Calcedon and Flavianus Antioch and Iohan. Paltens were banished for refusing This was about the time when the foresaid Fight was between the Monks and the Antiochians when the Carkasses of the Eutychian Monks were cast into the River § 70. About this time was the fall and rise of the Papacy The fall in that the Eastern Empire made little use of Popes but did their Church work without them Their rise in that the
Oath of obedience to Saint Peter and his Vicar which the King must take § 64. Ep. 4. He employeth his agents to engage the Norman Duke Robert to help him with an Army And Ep. 5. His Legate having deposed all the Bishops of Normandy that refused to come to his Synod he tells him that William King of England and Duke of Normandy though he was not so good as he should be was more useful and better to the Church than other Kings and therefore must not be offended and therefore bids him restore the Bishops and also to pardon some Soldiers excommunicated for not paying tythes because they must not lose the Soldiers Ep. 8. He writeth to the Duke of Venice by all means to avoid all excommunicate persons and their friendship and favour lest they came into the snares of the same damnation For Anaâ—hema's were the arms by which he subdued Emperors and was to do his work The like to others in other Epistles And Ep. 12. He brought one Count Bertran to swear him fidelity and to give him all his Countrey and honour as Earl of Provence and this for the pardon of his own and his Fathers sins § 65. Ep. 14. He congratulates to the Kings of the Visigoths their conversion to Christianity but tells them they must oft send to Rome for further instruction How frequently he made Arch-Bishops and Bishops travel to him out of other Kingdoms when his Legates wronged them many other Epistles shew Ep. 17. The Norman Duke Robert acquainteth the Pope with a Victory which he had got He returneth him this answer that he had but done his duty and now as it was Saint Peter that had given him this victory if he would not make him angry he must now be thankful to Saint Peter and remember what he owed him to help him against the Emperor Henry and all his other enemies § 66. Ep. 20. He writes to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury that he had shewed himself guilty of disobedience which is as Idolatry in that he had not travelled to Rome to visit the Pope when he commanded him and tells him that if he come not by All-Saints day next he shall be deposed for many weak men that could scarce rise out of their beds came from other much farther Countreys and he should lose Saint Peter ' s grace if he failed must they do so also from the Antipodes Ep. 22. He tells the Count of Angiers or Anjou that he should have obeyed the sentence of his Bishop though it was unjust And so every wicked Prelates power over Princes and all others shall be absolute He flattered our King William the Conqueror more than other Kings but ep 2. l. 11. He complaineth of his punishing a Bishop telling him that God taketh them as the apple of his eye and saith Touch not mine anointed and though they are naught and very unworthy they must be honoured and being called Gods men must not meddle with them Ep. 1. Append. Bin. p. 1278 he tells Lanfrank Arch-Bishop of Canterbury how far the Church was from purity in his days viz. that The Bishops and such as should be Pastors of Souls do with insatiable desire hunt after the Glory of the World and the pleasures of the flesh And do not only themselves confound all things that are holy and religious but by their example draw their Subjects to all wickedness And that to let them alone is unlawful and to resist them how difficult So much of the Epistles of Greg. 7th who seemeth to be much more against vice than his predecessors for many ages but more for tyrannical usurpation and rebellion than ever any that was before him And if the better sort of them be such what may be expected from them § 67. CCCLIII An. 1074. In a Council at Rome Priests were forbid marrying and all that were married commanded to put away their Wives The Arch-Bishop of Mentz trying to do the same in Germany the whole party of the Clergy saith Lambert an 1074 raged against it and called the Pope a downright Heretick that opposed Christs Law who forbad putting away Wives except for fornication saying all men cannot receive this saying and as driving men to fornication They went from the Synod and some were for casting cut the Archbishop of Mentz and putting him to death But he spake them fair But the Pope went on § 68. CCCLIV. In a Synod at Genesius the Popes Legate and Anselm Lucens excommunicated many that had been against Anselm whereupon the whole City was enraged and forsook Mathildis and joyned with the Emperor and expelled the Bishop one Peter a Canon leading them § 69. CCCLV. an 1075. a Council at Rome excommunicated five of the Emperors Family unless they travelled to Rome and made satisfaction It excommunicated Philip King of France unless he satisfied the Nuntii of the Pope It suspended the Arch-bishop of Breme the Bishop of Strasburg the Bishop of Spire the Bishop of Bamberge and in Lombardie the Bishop of Papia the Bishop of Turine the Bishop of Placentine and also Robert Duke of Apulia and Robert de Roritello c. § 70. an 1075. Was the foresaid Synod at Mentz where the Arch-Bishop seeking to bring the Clergy to obey the Pope in putting away their Wives was fain to put it off to save his life from the Clergies rage The English Councils I omit referring you to Spelman of which one deposed Wulstan they say injuriously c. § 71. CCCLVI. an 1076. A Council at Worms sentenced the Pope deposed Two Bishops awhile refused consent but at last yielded And they sent to the Pope that thenceforth all that he did as Pope was void § 72. CCCLVII Hereupon the Pope calls a Council at Rome which excommunicated all the German Bishops that deposed him and the Bishops of Lombardy as conspiring against St. Peter and many French Bishops And with them the Emperor Henry and deposed him quantum inse from all his dominions and absolved his Subjects from their oaths as aforesaid § 73. CCCLVIII The excommunicate Bishops had a Council at Papia where they retorted the Popes Anathema on himself and excommunicate him § 74 CCCLIX The Pope calls another Council at Rome where the Arch-Bishops of Millan and Ravenna the Antipope are excommunicate and the Emperor's cause and party again condemned § 75. CCCLX Another Synod at Rome an 1078. decreed divers things for defence of the Clergies priviledges And it is observable that to that day the old Canons were in force for nulling all ordinations not made by the Common Consent of the Clerks and People Ordinationes quae interveniente pretio vel precibus vel obsequio alicujus personae ea intentione impenso vel quae non Communi consensu Cleri populi secundum Canonicas sanctiones fiunt ab his ad quos consecratio pertinet non comprobantur infirmas irritas esse dijudicamus quoniam qui taliter ordinantur non per ostium id est
that before had published the Excommunication of the Emperor Excommunicateth him again and goeth from Rome into Italy and France and sets the Princes upon the recovering of Ierusalem Listing 300000 Men and so reconciled most of their Strifes at home The History of this Expedition Platina briefly and many Authors largely give us to whom I refer you Conrade the Emperor's Son rebelleth against his Father encouraged by the Pope The Papal Historians pretend that his Father would have forced him to Incest but others think otherwise It was this Pope saith Bin. p. 1293. that appointed the horary Prayers called the Office of the Blessed Virgin to be used by Clergy and Laity for success against the Saracens Having Reigned eleven years and four months he died § 95. CCCLXXIV An. 1089. Urban in a Council at Rome repeateth against the Emperor and Pope Clement what was done before by Greg. the 7th Clement is expelled Rome and driven to renounce The Holy Wars breed reconciling thoughts The Papal Party offer the Emperor his Crown if he will depose Clement His Bishops dissuade him and he refuseth being otherwise for Peace inclined to it § 96. CCCLXXV A Council at Troy in Apulia about marriage of Kinsfolk § 97. An. 1090. A Council at Tolouse deposed the Bishop as criminal c. § 98. An. 1090. A Council of Urban's at Melfia decreed again that no Bishop receive Investiture from any Lay-man and that no Lay-man have right or authority over any Clerk Also against false Penance Hildebrand before had decreed that Penance and Baptism and so Absolution profit not impenitent undisposed Receivers § 99. CCCLXXVI A Council at Benevent condemned Pope Clement again § 100. CCCLXXVII Another at Troy did consult for Urban's interest § 101. CCCLXXVIII Another at Constance An. 1094. against married Priests and Simoniacs and about the number of Easter and Whitsun Holy-days And the Empress Praxes departed from the Emperor accusing the Court of most filthy Fornication perhaps the cause of their Calamities § 102. CCCLXXIX An. 1094. A Council at Ostio in France Excommunicated their own King Philip for putting away his Wife and marrying another and again Excommunicateth the Emperor and Pope Clement § 103. CCCLXXX An. 1095. A Council at Placentia heard the Cause of the Emperor of Const. begging help against the Infidels and of the King of France and the Empress complained how filthily she had been forced by her Husband's command It repeated damnations and decreed that no money be taken for Baptizings Chrysms or Burials § 104. CCCLXXXI A Council at Clermont for the same Causes It decreeth That if one injure another on Monday Wednesday or Thursday it shall not be reputed a breach of Peace but if it be done on any of the other four days it shall be judged a breach of holy Peace and be punished as shall be judged C. 1. And that no Clergyman shall receive any Honour or Preferment from the hand of Lay-men C. 15. And C. 16. That no Kings or Princes make investiture of any Ecclesiastick Honour And C. 17. That no Bishop or Priest make any promise of Allegiance to a King or to any Lay-man Ne Regi vel alicui Laico in manibus Ligium fidelitatem faciat Ligius is Liege or Ligatus a Vassal or full Subject And C. 19. That no Lay-labourer keep the tenth of his labour from the Clergy or receive from the Clergy the tenth of his wages § 105. It sheweth you that ever the Sacrament in one kind was not introduced in that the 28th Canon of this Council decreeth that None communicate at the Altar unless he receive the Body by it self and the Blood by it self unless through necessity or with cautelousness Can. 29. Any one that fled from his Enemies to any Cross was to be there protected as in a Church But the Ierusalem War was the main business of this Council by which the Pope cunningly turned away Animosities and Jealousies from himself and got the repute of a Holy Defender of the Church § 106. But in an English Council all the Bishops in the Kingdom save one Rochester would force Archbishop Anselme to renounce the Pope which Anselme refusing and reasoning against they said that he blasphemed the King setting up any in his Kingdom without his consent and so they jointly renounce their subjection and obedience to the Archbishop and abjure the unity of brotherly society with him Bin. p. 1302. You see Luther was not the first that renounced the Pope § 107. CCCLXXXII A Council at Tours for the Holy War where the King of France Philip was reconciled promising service to the Pope § 108. CCCLXXXIII An. 1097. A Concilium Barense was held for winning the Greek Church in their necessity where Anselme of Canterbury got the honour in disputing of the Procession of the Holy Ghost The sum of which Disputation is in his Works § 109. CCCLXXXIV An. 1098. A Council at Rome gave the King of England time to repent till Michaelmas the former Council had Excommunicated him if Anselme had not desired delay § 110. An. 1099. Another Roman Council for the Holy War and Reexcommunicating Pope Clement but what Clement did all this while is past over here § 111. An. 1099. Some little Council at Ierusalem put out Arnulph the Archbishop of Ierusalem as a wicked Man and Usurper and gave it to the Pope's Legat. § 112. An. 1099. Paschal the 2d is made Pope a little after Pope Clement dieth who had Reigned with his Competitors 21 years Being buried at Ravenna after five years a Council caused his Carkass to be dig'd up and burnt Decreeing That all the Bishops of the Henrician Heresie that is who were for Emperors being above the Pope or not deposable by him and for his power of Presentations or Investitures if they were alive should be deposed if dead should be dig'd up and burnt which were most of the Bishops of the West if Hildebrand himself mistook not O Military Bishops that can overcome the dead No wonder if the Church and Nations be confounded by you that cannot let each others Carkasses rest in their Graves but will dig up the bones of the Prelates of many Kingdoms even the greatest part How many Princes and Prelates now Papists are guilty of the Henrician Heresie Should not their bones also be burnt if you durst § 113. But the Schism continued three persons successively being made Anti-Popes by the Emperor's party but all of them one after another overcome by Paschal who being a Military Pope did most of his work by his Army which he frequently had on foot In his time Ierusalem and the Cities about were won by Godfrey of Bullen his Brother Baldwin Boemund Tancred and the rest of the Christians and Godfrey made first King and Baldwin next Boemund and Tancred having Antioch and after suffering great losses c. as you may read in the Histories § 114. Never did the Papal Rebellion work more unnaturally than in
him his Dominions Here four Tenents of Guilbert Porretane a Schoolman were condemned 1. That Divinitas and Deus are not the same in signification 2. That the three Persons are not unum aliquid 3. That besides the Persons there are eternal Relations which are not the same as the Persons c. 4. That it was not the Nature of God that was incarnate These they condemned whether rightly understanding Porretane I know not But if Schoolmens Quirks must make work for Councils and Councils will be their Judges what work will there be § 139. CCCCIII Another at Colen An. 1119. the Emperor was Excommunicated § 140. CCCCIV In a Lateran Council called General the Emperor saith Otto Frising seeing the People fall from him when he was Excommunicate and fearing his Fathers case yielded to resign Investitures which he after performed An. 1122. And An. 1122. CCCCV. A. Roman Council setled the Cassine Monastery of Benedictines in their Independency save on the Pope alone against the envy and complaints of the Bishops § 141. CCCCVI A Roman Council finished the Peace with the Emperor And An. 1124. one at Tholouse call'd some Religious men Hereticks § 142. Calistus dying Theobaldus called Caelestine is chosen by the Fathers but Lambert called Honorius the 2d by the help of Leo Frangipanis a great man came after him and got the greater power and got and kept possession This was the 25th Schism which the Emperor's resignation of Investitures prevented not § 143. CCCCVII An. 1127. A French Council about the Templars Habit And one at London 1125 and another 1127. where because Mat. Paris openeth the shame of the Pope's Nuncio and others Binnius revileth him § 144. Arnulphus a famous Preacher was murdered in Rome for Preaching against their Pride Covetousness and Luxury Platin. § 145. Two Popes are next chosen the 26th Schism 1. Gregory called Innocent the 2d 2. Peter called Anacletus Onuphrius Panuinus saith that Innocent had but 17 Cardinals Votes and Anaclet had 21. And yet Innocent being the stronger is by them taken now for the true Pope and the Succession is from him § 146. Pope Innocent presently becometh a Soldier and gets an Army to fight with Roger Prince of Sicily for claiming Apulia The Pope and Cardinals at the second Battel are taken Prisoners by the coming of William Duke of Calabria to help his Father Roger gently releaseth them They come to Rome and find Pope Anaclet in possession who got Roger of Sicily and the People of Rome that were for Innocent to be for him saith Platina Innocent dares not stay but goeth into France thence into Germany where Henry being dead and Lotharius made Emperor the Pope got him to swear to help him The Emperor and Pope come against Rome with two Armies The Anti-Pope Anacletus is not to be seen till the Emperor was gone home and Innocent at Pisa and then he appeareth as Pope again Lotharius cometh with another Army and driveth away Anacletus and Roger of Apulia into Sicily § 147. The Romans now rose up against the Pope and claimed the Civil Government of Rome by a Senate The Pope hereupon deprived them of their Votes in the Election of Popes and deprived all the Clergy also of theirs except the Cardinals and confined the power to the Conclave of the Cardinals alone This was the first time that the old way was overthrown and all the Canons broken by one Pope in revenge against the Romans for rebelling against his Civil Government and helping Anaclet Till now Clergy and People chose the Bishops Hildebrand began to set up the Cardinals power but denied not the Clergy and People their Votes in Comitiis § 148. The Greek Emperor's Legat now had a dispute with the Pope's Party to prove the Roman Church erroneous for the Filioque of which see Plat. in Inoc. 2. § 149. CCCCVIII and CCCCIX. and CCCCX The Pope Innocent being above seven years in France and Germany damned Pope Anaclet and his Fautors in a Council at Clermont and in another at Rhemes and in another at Liege And 411 another at Pisa did the like And 412 one at Mentz was about a Bishops quarrels And 413 one at Estampes condemned Innocent's presence prevailing there and Anaclet's presence at Rome § 150. Lotharius dieth and Conrade is Emperor CCCCXIV Innocâ—nt An. 1139. calleth a great Council called General upon his return at Rome to condemn Anaclet again § 159. Anaclet dying another Pope called Victor is chosen against Innocent and the Schism continued and after five months being too weak giveth it up § 160. In England saith William Malmsbury and Binnius out of him p. 1325. two Bishops of Salisbury and Lincoln built the great Castles of Newark Shirburne Devises Malmesbury and held the Castle at Salisbury c. The Nobles complain'd to the King of the Bishop's greatness and building so many Castles as of ill design At an Assembly or Parliament at Oxford the Servants of some Earls and these Bishops fought for Quarters The Bishops Servants prevailed and Blood was shed and the Nephew of an Earl wounded near to death and all was on an uproar The King Stephen took the advantage and made the two Bishops deliver up the Keys of their Castles lest they prepared to be for the Empress Maud in time The Bishop the King's Brother was the Pope's Legat he calls a Council at Winchester and summoneth the King where he and other Bishops pleaded against the King that he violated the Canons wronged the Church invaded the Bishops Propriety c. But a French Bishop of Rouen pleaded for the King that no Canon allowed them those Castles and that in danger of Wars all Princes would secure such places and so far got the better as that they durst not proceed against the King who told them that if any went to Rome to complain against him they must not think easily to return into England § 161. CCCCXV. An. 1140. A Council at Soissons condemned Abailard's Books to the Fire but saith Otto Frising Bin. ex eo they would not hear him speak for himself suspecting or fearing his skill in disputation his great acuteness being famous His Heresie was That whereas saith Otto the Church holdeth the Three Persons in the Trinity to be res distinctas distinct things Peter used an ill similitude and said that As the same argument or speech is Proposition Assumption and Conclusion so the same Essence is the Father Son and Holy Ghost and this was judged Sabellianism But sure 1. Peter never meant this similitude should hold in all respects 2. Sure this asserteth unhappily such a difference as is between the Whole and the Parts if he had meant it to be fully simile And that maketh a greater difference inter personas than the Schools allow But be the Man Heretick or not what justice was in these pitiful Prelates that condemned him and durst not hear him speak Is such Hereticating much regardable §
contradiction and action in this matter is neither contradiction nor rebellion but the filial honour due to the Divine Father and of you Briefly recollecting all I say the sanctity of the Apostick Seat can do nothing but what tendeth to edification and not to destruction For this is the plenitude of power to be able to do all to edification But these things which they call provisions are not to edification but to most manifest destruction Therefore the blessed Seat of the Apostle cannot accept them because flesh and blood hath revealed them which possess not the things that are of God and not the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who is in Heaven § 196. When the Pope heard this Letter saith Mat. Paris p. 872. Not containing himself through wrath and indignation with a writhin aspect and a proud mind he saith who is this doting old man deaf and absurd who boldly and rashly judgeth my doings By St. Peter and St. Paul if our innate ingenuity did not move us I would precipitate him into so great confusion that he should be to the whole World a Fable a Stupor an example and a prodigy IS NOT THE KING OF ENGLAND OVR VASSAL AND I SAY MORE OVR SLAVE WHO CAN WITH OVR NOD IMPâ—RISON HIM AND ENSLAVE HIM TO REPROACH These things being recited among the Cardinal brethren with much ado asswaging the rage of the Pope they said to him It is not expedient O Lord that we decree any hard thing against this Bishop himself For that we may confess the truth the things are true which he speaketh We cannot condemn him He is a Catholick Yea a most holy man more religious than we are more holy and excellent than we and of a more excellent life so that it is believed that there is not among all the Prelates a greater no nor any equal to him This is known to the whole Clergy of France and England Our contradiction will not prevail The truth of this Epistle which perhaps is already known to many may stir up many against us For he is esteemed a great Philosopher fully learned in Greek and Latine a man zealous for justice a Reader of Theology in the Schools a Preacher to the people a Lover of chastity a persecutor of Simonists These words said the Lord Aegidius a Spanish Cardinal and others whom their own Consciences did touch They counselled the Pope to wink at all this and pass it by with dissimulation lest tumults should be raised about it especially for this reason that IT IS KNOWN THAT A DEPARTVRE WILL SOMETIME COME so far Mat. Paris § 197. Yet neither this Bishop nor the Historian flattered Princes but both of them sadly lament the oppression and other sins of King Henry And the Bishop commanded his Presbyters to denounce excommunication against all that should break the Magna Charta the Charters heretofore granted foreseeing saith Mat. Paris what the King would do And he sharply reprehended the Fryar Minors that would not tell Great men of their sin when they had nothing to lose Cantabit Vacuus c. having chosen poverty that they might be freer from hindering temptations § 198. When he lay on his death bed at Bugden in Huntingtonshire he told Ioh. Aegidius his learned friend that he took them for manifest Hereticks that did not boldly detect and reprove the sins of great men and thereupon reprehended and lamented the sins of Prelates but especially the Roman reciting their putting unworthy and bad men into the Pastoral office for kindred or friendship sake The third day before his death he called to him many of his Clergie and lamenting the loss of souls by Papal avarice groaning he said Christ came into the world to win souls Is not he then deservedly to be called Antichrist who feareth not to destroy souls God made all the World in six dayes but to repair man he laboured above thirty years And is not a destroyer of souls then judged an enemy of God and Antichrist c. Next he goeth on to shew how sinfully the Pope by his non obstante overthrew even the rights that his Predecessors had granted vainly pretending that they bind nothing because par in parem non habet potestatem and what evils to the Churches he had done and addeth I saw a Letter of the Popes in which I found inserted that they that make their Wills or that undertake the Crâ—isado and to help the holy land shall receive just so much indulgence as they give money c. And so goeth on naming his imposing men that cannot preach or strangers of other languages as Pastors on the people and his covetous and greedy devouring all the wealth he could get concluding Ejus avaritiae totus non sufficit orbis Ejus luxuriae Meretrix non sufficit omnis And that he drew Kings in for his own ends making them partakers of the prey Prophecying that the 〈◊〉 will not be freed from Egyptian servitude but by the mouth of 〈…〉 These things are small but worse will follow within three years sighing and weeping out these words his speech failed him and he died And ibid. Mat. Paris saith that the same night that he died wonderful Musical sounds and Ringings were heard near in the Air by several friars and by Fulk Bishop of London then not far off who said when he heard it that he was confident their reverend Father Brother and Master the Venerable Bishop of Lincoln was passing out of the World to Heaven The Bishop being dead the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln fell out in striving who in the vacancy had the power of giving Prebends wherein the Arch-Bishop by Power utterly oppressed them And M. Paris p. 880. affirmeth that Miracles were done after the death of this Bishop by his virtues at Lincoln and yet confesseth some of his faults and his sharp thundring against Monks and Nuns c. § 199. The same Author tells us p. 883. anno 1254. that the Pope was so unmeasureabley wrathful against this holy Learned Bishop that when he was dead he would have taken up his bones and cast them out of the Church and purposed to precipitate him into so great infamy that he should be proclaimed a Heathen a rebel and disobedient to the whole world and he commanded a Letter to that purpose to be written to the King of England knowing that the King would be mad enough against him and ready enough to prey upon the Church But the next night the said Bishop of Lincoln appeared to him in his episcopal attire with a severe countenance an austere look and terrible voice he came and spake to the Pope that was restless in his bed pricking him in the side with a violent thrust with the point of his pastoral staffe which he carried and said miserable Pope Senebald Dost thou purpose in disgrace of me and the Church of Lincoln to cast my bones out of the
both to summon a Council they cunningly would not agree of the place and so forced the doing it without them § 265. CCCCLXVII To put a shew on the business Greg. calleth a Council at Aquileia whether by long delays he creepeth with a few to do nothing § 266. CCCCLXVIII And the other Pope Bened. 13. Anno 1409 also calleth his Council in Arragone of his Subjects which calleth it self a General Council and pronounce him the true Pope and no Schismatick or Heretick and Greg. to be the Usurper but exhort him to endeavour Unity § 267. CCCCLXIX The two Popes giving no better hopes some of the Cardinals of both sides slipt from them and by the Countenance of the Florentines and King Ladislaus chose Pisa for a General Council where they met and summoned both the Popes who scorned them and they deposed them both as Hereticks and Schismaticks saith Binius forbidding all Christians to obey them and they chose a third Alexander 5. and the two old ones kept up still and so there were three Popes at once § 268. An. 1409. Alex. 5. is chosen much commended but died in eighteen Months some say saith Antoninus poysoned by a Clyster But to shew himself a Pope in that little time he deposed King Ladislaus and gave his Kingdome to Lewis Duke of Anjou § 269. Balthasar Cossa is next chosen called by some Ioh. 21. by others 22. by others 23. and by Platina Ioh. 24. so little are they agreed of their succession Platina saith the Cardinals of Greg. were yet poor and he hired them with Money to Create him He got Sigismund King of Bohemia chosen Emperour and would have had the Council to be at Rome Italy continued still in blood the Popes having parcelled it into so many small Principalities to secure it against the Emperours no part of the whole World lived from Age to Age in such continual War and confusion This Pope saith Onuphrius Panvinus viz. fuit bello armis quam Religioni aptior utpote qui neque fidem norat neque Religionem rebus profanis magis quam Divino cultu accommodatus How he was accused deposed imprisoned how the other two Popes Greg. 12. and Bened. 13. were all deposed with him and Martin 5. chosen the next Chapter sheweth CHAP. XIII The Council of Constance Basil and some others § 1. CCCCLXX AN. 1414. the Council of Constance was called by the means of the Emperour Sigismund and the consent of Pope Iohn who the more trusted the Emperour because he had promoted him There were then three Popes Bened. 13. in France whom the Kingdomes of France Spain Arragon England and Scotland followed and Greg. 12. and Iohn 23. at Rome that divided the rest of the Papalines It was not certainly to represent the Trinity but to profane the Name and abuse the Kingdome of the blessed Trinity Oct. 28. P. Iohn called by them Sanctissimus Dominus Noster entereth the City Nov. 5. The Pope began the Council Nov. 16. was the first Session the Pope speaking to them and his Bull being read shewing that he would have had the Council at Rome but the miserable case of Rome by contention and confusion hindering it was agreed with the Emperour to be at Constance commanding to be there for the peace of the Church and appointing a Weekly Mass to be said for obtaining Gods blessing and pardoning a years penance for every Mass to every Mass-Priest that said it exhorting all to fasting and prayer for good success charging them to look after Errours especially those that rose from one Iohn Wickliff and also to reform the Church c. March 2. 1415. The Pope took an Oath for the peace of the Church to lay down his Popedome if the other two Popes would do the same and the Emperour kist his feet The Cardinal of Florence read these Decrees 1. That the Council was lawfully called 2. That it will not be dissolved by the departure of the Pope or other Prelates 3. That it be not dissolved till the present Schisme be healed and the Church reformed in Faith and Manners in Head and Members 4. That it be not removed but on just cause 5. That the Bishops depart not § 2. In the fourth Session they decreed that the general Council representing the militant Catholick Church hath its power immediately from Christ to which every man of what State or dignity soever though it be Papal is bound to obey in the things that belong to Faith and the extirpation of the said Schism and the general reformation of the Church in head and members 2. That the Pope withdraw not himself or the Officers and if he should or should thunder out Church censures against them or any adhering to the Council they are void 3. That no Translations Promotions or Cardinals be made to the prejudice of the Council 4. That three of each Nations be chosen to judge of departures c. But the Pope fled and sent them word that it was not for fears but for his health § 3. Sess. 5. The Emperor being among them they decreed again the Power of the Council as immediately from Christ which the Pope and all must obey and that the Pope is punishable if he disobey that he is bound to surrender in any case of great and evident profit to the Church that he unlawfully departed that if he will return and perform his promise he shall be safe Next they proceeded to condemn the Books of Iohn Wickliff and to prosecute Iohn Huss Next they applied themselves to the Emperour to reduce the Pope who told them he was in the hands of the Duke of Austria but if they pleased he would write to him or try to fetch him by force c. § 4. Sess. 6. They order the Procuration for the Popes Resignation to be demanded and Process to be made against Iohn Huss and Hierome of Prague A Letter is read from the University of Paris to the Pope to submit to the Council § 5. Sess. 7. They accused Hierome of Prague for not appearing and summoned the Pope promising him safe Conduct sed salvâ Iustitiâ c. § 6. Sess. 8 They condemned Wickliff's Bones to be dig'd up upon 45 Articles instead of 260 which they had gathered Art 1. was 1. That the substance material of Bread and Wine remain in the Sacrament of the Altar 2. The Accidents of Bread remain not without the substance 3. Christ is not identically and really in his proper bodily presence in the Sacrament 4. If a Bishop or Priest live in mortal sin he Ordaineth not Baptizeth not Consecrateth not 5. The Gospel saith not that Christ instituted the Mass. 6. God ought to obey the Devil 7. If a man be contrite aright outward confession is needless and unprofitable 8. If the Pope be a Reprobate and wicked and so a Member of the Devil he hath no power over the faithful given him by any but Caesar. 9. Since Vrban the