hold on the King pull'd him down also and then with his Knife ript up the Kings belly that his bowels fell out and there he dyed As for the Outlaw the Servants there fell upon him but before they could dispatch him he slew and wounded divers of them John Harding who flourished above two hundred years ago saith it was done at Canterbury And thus relates the story according to the Poetry of those times This Kyng Edmond was slain by a Felon Fol. 115. Whiche of Malice and his false Treason That forfet had and dampned was to dye For his forfet and for his felony At Caunterbury as the Kyng him saw on a day For yre on him he ranne and sore him wound For whiche he stroke the Kyng for ay So they both two there in that stound Eche of them of his mortal wounde Which to a Prince accorded in no wise To put himself in drede where law may chastise After this Murther we have another more execrable Edgar sirnamed the Peaceable being dead his Eldest Son Edward sirnamed the Martyr was a An 975. Crown'd King at Kingston upon Thames by St. Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury of whom they tell so many pretty Miracles to the great content and strengthning of Children and old Women Of this Kings vertues there need not much be said because all Historians do sound forth his commendations and so passing by the grand Controversie about this time viz. whether Priests might have Wives and the Monkish story how this dispute was decided by the speaking of a Crucifix in the Rood at Winchester and the falling down of the Floor of the Chamber at Calne in Wiltshire onely St. Dunstan forsooth remain'd dapperly perking up We will come to the sad story of his Murther King Edgar had two Wives 1. Elthelfled her Son was Edward 2. Elfrida her Son Ethelred Edward as Eldest and of the first Wife though some here make a b But Harpsfield is for him pag. 188. doubt is King Elfrida his Mother-in-law at this is troubled wishing that the Crown were set on her son Ethelred's head but this she kept cunningly to her self nor had good King Edward any suspition of her designs It chanced that King Edward hunting in the Island Purbeck in Dorsetshire either by chance or design was separated from his company and perceiving himself neer Corfe-Castle where his Mother-in-law Elfrida and her son Ethelred then lived to both which persons he bare a great affection he resolved to go see them and accordingly rides up to the Gate His Stepdame comes to him with a cheerful countenance seeming very glad of his visit and kindness and desired him to alight but this he excused pleading haste and that he onely slipt from his company at that time and then to his company again just to see her and his Brother and so desired a cup of Wine to drink to them who might be troubled by a long missing of him they not knowing the occasion She perceiving that she could not bring her designs about within doors resolves to do it without so she appointed one of her servants to stab him there To be short Wine is brought given him and he no sooner had the cup at his mouth but the fellow struck him with a knife into the back The King perceiving himself sore wounded set spurs to his Horse thinking to gallop away for his preservation to his more faithful Friends but the wounds being great and he fainting through loss of blood fell from his horse one of his feet being intangled in the Stirrop by reason whereof his Horse drag'd him up and down through Woods and Lands And thus was that good King Edward a An. 979. murder'd and was sirnamed the Martyr though b Hist Eccles p. 188. in the Margin Harpsfield or somebody else for him will not stand upon it that he ought in strictness to be call'd so being not murther'd for his Religion but his Kingdom After this murther they go on and tell a great many stories of him as how his Step-mother Elfritha for so some call her had his body drag'd into a little house hard by and there cover'd over with straw for the present necessity that it might not be found L. Surius March 18. Zach. Lipell Guil. Garet but a poor woman who was born blind living there by miracle had that night her sight given her Elfrida troubled at this fearing that by this discovery the body might be found had it taken thence and thrown into the Marishes but this would not do neither for a year after God reveal'd to some men that the body was in those Waters but the certain place could not be found out till a fiery Pillar was pleas'd to point them to it whence it was carryed and buryed at Warham and having laid there some years uncorrupted 't was thence with great solemnity translated to Shaftsbury neer the borders of Wiltshire And here might I tell the strange Miracles wrought by the vertue of this holy Edward of blind receiving sight deaf hearing the lame and sick their limbs and health but that I cannot oblige the Readers belief As for the murthering Elfrida although they say that at first she was punished by Miracles as desiring to see the Tomb of her Son-in-law the Horse on which he rode would by no means carry her thither and though she tryed several yet we finde all commanded by the same stubbornness which making her more keen she resolved to go on foot yet though her will was never so strong they say she could not possibly do it However at last we need not question Elfrida's Religion and pardon since to quit and expiate her from the guilt of this horrid murther she built two Nunneries c Ambresbury Almesbury in Wiltshire and Warwell in Hampshire An easie way of recompence for rich people to ease themselves of the most crying sins And though I am not obliged either to censure one or vindicate the other yet some may justly fancie that several of those ancient buildings being thus founded upon blood and rapine might as by a judgement call a destroying hand upon them But far be it from me to oppose Monuments of Charity which without question may hugely advance the glory of God upon Earth and smooth the Founders way to Heaven And I could wish that those ancient Monuments of Piety for without doubt many of them were really so nobly spread about by our Fore-fathers liberality had either continued as good Examples or been better imploy'd at their Dissolutions But this by the way Sect. 3. The Murders of Malcolme of Duffe of Culene of Kenneth the Third Kings of Scotland ANd now let us cross the Tweed and take notice of what obedience we finde there and here we meet with Constantine the Third King of Scotland who being troubled at the great a An. 937. Victory the English had over him where most of his Nobility were slain withdrew himself from the rule
rattle on his pate that we may well suppose the teeth chatter'd in his head Yet it seems as bad as he was he once g Caesar lib. 3. cap. 26. confess'd his sins to a Priest had a great humour to repent and turn over a new leafe nay and went so far in this good course as to pay for a h Id. l. l. 5. c. 36. Bell to tole the people to Mass As for Purgatory their stories are too many and long for this place but SECT VI. if you have a minde to take a view of it Hell or Paradise I shall refer you to a Hist Angl. An. 1153. p. 86 87 88 89 90. and An. 1206. pag. 215 216 217 218 219 220 221. And see Phil. Osullevan Compend Hist Cathol Hibern and his Patritiana Decas Matthew Paris where you may see what buildings they have how many ways the wretched are tormented the description of the narrow Bridge or Bridge of Dread how St. Paul and the Devil weigh the souls in Scales to see whether their good or bad works are heavyest that accordingly one of them may dispose of them how the Devils have their Theatres or Stages to sport and pleasure themselves for diversion sake by seeing the souls act their parts there What pleasant Fields and Flowers there are in Paradise and suchlike old Wives stories very fit for Winter-nights And here may you see St. Patricks hole in Ireland too with which impudent Fable many good people have been deluded And I dare say some of our Country-men are so far from being in their wits again that as yet they will believe the miraculous stories of that Irish hole But to go a little higher you shall see what an excellent Heaven they will afford to the sons of their Church though certainly when some of them thus think to set out its glory and honour they rather make it contemptible to very Christians I am certain an Argument of Derision to the Atheist As when their Barelete can confidently tell the world what a great deal Vid. H. Estiene Apol. pour Herod l. 1. p. 302. of clutter there was in Heaven to get God to send his Son into the World For when Adam Noah Abraham David c. had desired him to send them and nothing granted them then the Women went to see what they could do And first went Eve but God told her she was not worthy of his Son because she had sinn'd Then Sarah went but God told her that she wanted Faith concerning Isaac Rebecca intreated but he told her she was Partial between Jacob and Esau Judah spake but she was told that she was a Murtherer Then went Esther but God stopt her mouth by telling her she took too much pains to pleasure Assuerus c. Like to this is another story how after Christs Resurrection several Id. pag. 304. striv'd to carry word of it to the Virgin Mary Adam said it belong'd to him because he was the cause of sin but Christ told him he would loyter by the way to eat Apples Then Abel he would go but Christ told him he might meet Cain and so be kill'd Noah offer'd himself but he was told he loved drinking too much John Baptist would have gone but his Garment of Hair was not fine enough And though the good Thief beg'd the imployment yet Christ told him he was not fit because his leggs were broak And so at last they were forced to send an Angel And as bad as the former is this that some days after Christ was crucified Id. pag. 301. the Apostles went and complain'd to the Virgin Mary that he had not sent the Holy Ghost to them as he had promised Upon this Jesus went to God telling him what he had promised and that it was now time to perform it God consents bids him inform the Holy Ghost of it Upon this the Holy Ghost desires to know how the people had used him Christ shews him how they had crucified him then the Holy Ghost cryed out b Heu mihi Alas wo is me and so turned himself into another shape that they might not seize on him And upon this Mission Baralete saith there was c Facta est dissentio inter Patrem spiritum sanctum a dissention or falling out between God the Father and the Holy Ghost But leaving these Blasphemies they will tell you how to get into this Heaven for I suppose every Order hath the same benefit with the Franciscans and how they do take this one Example A d L' Alc. des Cord. lib. 1. pag. 195 196. Fryar dying went to Heavens Gates and knocked there the Porter asked him what he was he replyed he was a Minorite The Porter bid him stay there till he had spoken with St. Francis Upon this St. Francis comes with a World of Fryars and seeing him bid the Porter let him in for he was a Franciscan Fryar And now that you are in their Heaven I make no question but you will finde it governed just as their Church is below here as if they were both under the Obedience and Government of the same Customs Canons Caesariuâ— l 7. cap. 20. Specul Exempl dist 6. Sect. 60. and Constitutions or Decrees For in Heaven they tell us that the Saints go in Procession by Couples that they carry lighted Tapers in their hands that they sing the Responses according to the day or Rubrick that Christ himself goeth clad in his Pontificalibus with a Myter on his head a Crosier in his hand with Gloves a Ring and suchlike Episcopal Ornaments That they go to Church there that Mass is sung there Christ standing at the Altar some reading the Epistle others in their Surplices the Gospel and when they have done there that they all offer up their Candles which our Saviour receives Nay they tell us that sometimes Christ and the rest comes from Heaven to do these Ceremonies and Services upon a Goâ—onus pag. 133. Earth c. Thus have we seen the thumping commendations of their Saints Devils nay of Heaven it self in which they have rack'd their Wits so much upon the Tenter-hooks to make all these their glories lovely and taking that by thinking to over-do they have come short and instead of rendring them amiable have shew'd them but as contemptible As if all their pains and labour were guided with the same misfortune of our Arcadian Demetas who after all his pumpings and endeavours to make his Madam Mopsie renowned and famous sum'd up all in this that she was his own Pigs-nye whereby she became more ridiculous I have been the longer upon these Wonders and Fopperies and might easily have enlarged their number to a great Volume because I finde them in every place so triumph over all other people by their Miracles which in every Age they make so necessary a Mark of a True Church that they think it none of the least Arguments against the Reformed But these
and Severities as some Romanists are apt to throw upon the Reformed Churches Mr. a Confut. of the Apologie Harding will allow us to be nothing else but b Fol. 114. b. wicked Chams brood that we follow the steps of Prophâ—ne Hell-hounds are c 121. b. Cursed Canaanites d 131. b. Rebellious sons dâ—spisers of God e 222. b. Apostates Renegates Epiâ—ures Turkish Hâ—guenoâ—s and Hereticks who be worse then Devils Aâ—other of his acquaintance assures the world that we f Tho. Hide 's Consolatory-Epistle G. 1111. have no Church no Bishop no Priest no Altar no Sacrifice and consequently no God Another breaks out in these words g Myles Huggard displaying of Protestants fol. 114. O wicked men worse then the Devil your father of whose progeny you are lineally descended Another of our Country-men h Calvino-Turcism pag. 806 854. William Reynolds brother to the Learned John is very favourable to us when he alloweth us to be as good as Pagans or Turks his main business being to make the world believe that a Turk is more capable of Heaven then the Protestants And the same harsh Censure is used by his friend and Publisher i In Argumento praefix Calvino-Turcismo Dr. Gifford affirming that our Gospel is in nothing better but in many things worse then the Alcoran Nay so severe are they that they will not allow us to be civil one to another all commendatory expressions being forbidden their Indices Expurgatorii using no other Complement but this Author Damnatus Nay we must not so much as keep one anothers picture though privately not excepting either our Friends Parents or the King himself onely one exception k Institut Moral part 1. lib. 8. cap. 16. § ult Quaeritur Azorius grants thanks to him for his courtesie viz. the Pictures of such Protestants may be kept and looked on if they be drawn by way of scorn and derision as for instance saith he if Luther be painted burning in Hell O then that may be lawfully preserved and gazed on For there it is they will have us all to be l Motives Mot. 36. Bristow's words are these Whosoever in this new faith and service hath ended his life is in Hell most certainly The Jesuit Gretser is of the same opinion viz. m Apolog. pro Ignat. Loyol lib. 1. pag. 183 184. that no Protestants go to Heaven and others of them are so particular that they will hold it impossible for Queen a B. D de Cleâ—imond Answer to King James his Proclamation pag. 140. Elizabeth to be in Heaven Nor is this any such wonder with them who have the sole keeping of Heaven-Gates and will let none in but themselves Whereby they uncharitably exclude many a good Christian King Charles our late holy Martyr and some of his good Subjects who suffer'd Butchery onely for their loyalty which might have some interest in merit if the grand Champions of it would assume some Charity A vertue which the Italian Proverb will not allow any man such a general disease will it have Envy to be For Se l'Invidia fosse una Febre Tut ' il mundo morirebbe Had Envy been a Feaver then Ere this had fail'd the Race of men Long since 'T is said that the Jews are obliged to rail three times a day against 〈◊〉 Seneâ—sis 〈◊〉 Sanct lib. 2. § de Traditione de Talmad all Christians whom they are to account no otherwise then Brutes or Beasts to pray for the destruction of their Princes and to do them what mischief they can But I wish better from the Romanists towards their fellow Christians though in all things they do not jump And whilst they think they are too sure of their own Salvation they might reflect upon the doubts of some of thâ—â—â— Inâ—aâ—lible Heads As b Manu mensam percutâ—ens divit Non video quomodo qâ—â— locum hunc alâ—ishmum tenet â—â—â—vaâ—i possint 〈…〉 vit◠〈…〉 pag 〈◊〉 Marcellus II who seriously protested that he could not conceive how a Pope could be saved And Pius V. could say When I was in Orders I had pretty hopes of my Salvation when I was made Cardinal I had less but since I came to be Pope I almost despair of it Not that I am such a peevish zealot or a positive Gabriel Powel but can easily think that Jesus Christ dyed also for Popes as for other people who may accordingly be partakers of his bloud and merits iâ— they lay hold on them In choice of mine Authors I have been diligent not willing to let any Historian slip me yet making use of those who have been generally received as the best and to do the Romanist a pleasure I have very seldom made use of a Protestant Where I finde a Faction I consult the Writers and Reasons on both sides and hope have been so luckie as to set the Saddle on the right Horse But if it be objected that any of my Authors are partial as favouring the Emperours more then the Popes Father c Remonstr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. p. 178. Caron hath lately answered for me by affirming that the same may be retorted upon those who inclined to the Roman Prelates And if it be again said that any of them are Schismaticks because supposed to oppose the Pope the said d â—â— pag. 177 178. Romanist replyeth that by the same Rule we must sometimes affirm all Germany all France the greatest part of Italy and so the Princes Bishops Councils Provinces Clergy people of Europe and by consequence the better part of the Church to have been also Schismaticks I am far from the cheating humour of some Modern Writers who the better to conceal their theft and Plagiary cry out that it is Pedantick and Ungentile to tell what Books they made use of as if they were of the Rosycrucian whimsie who forsooth is not e Jo. Heydon's Harmony of the World in the Pâ—stscript bound to give any man so much satisfaction For he that taketh upon him to scribble so slightly and cheap intends to impose upon and so to abuse and cheat his Reader I have therefore been exact and punctual in my Quotations and to give the Reader the more satisfaction where any thing of moment or a stress happens I have in the Margin as the most proper place given the Authors own words whereby the Reader may â—udge the more conveniently whether I have abused him and the Author And as I resolved at first not to take any thing upon trust a cheat too commonly practis'd but to view the Writers my self so can I not remember that I have broak the Rule not but that other Writers have prompted me to many Citations If any think they could put a more moderate Interpretation on some Writers and so render their opinions less wicked and treasonable then I have I might here in my defence justly demand the same priviledge and favour that Father a Image of
on the Table and feeding her with I know not what Would they not have us to think that they work and labour at their respective Trades in Heaven as we do upon Earth when they tell us that the Virgin Mary brought a a Specul Exempl dist 4. Sect 6. Garment thence and gave it to Boniface That she brought another out of Christ's b De Thesauris filii mei Alphons de Carthag Anacephal Reg. Hispan cap. 38. Jo. Mariena Hist Hisp l. 6. c. 10. Treasury which she gave to S. Ildephonsus Arch-bishop of Toledo but whether it is now kept in that c Gononus pag. 96. City or in d Jo. Eus Nieremburg de Mirac Europae l. 1. c. 18. Oviedo in the Asturias let them agree about it I shall let it alone as doubting to finde it in neither yet this Garment probably might be made on earth since e Ib. Nieremburgius tells us that some are of opinion that our Saviour ware it himself when he first celebrated the Sacrament of the Eucharist But they tell us nothing to the contrary but that the f Ib. Girdle which she gave to a Priest and as they say is yet to be seen at Tartosa in Catalonia was made in Heaven but by whom I know not What can I say against the Cistertian Monks since she was so favourable to them who used to wear black Habits as to come from Heaven and bring a white Cowl or Hood with her put it on the head of their second Abbot g Gonon p. 154. Albericus at which instant all the Cowls of the Monks singing in the Quire were also miraculously turned white which colour they have kept ever since Thus h Id. p. 177. Specul Exempl dist 9. Sect. 122. Thomas of Becket received another Garment from her Thus she gave a sweet-sented curled or crisped skie-colour Vail to i Gonon p. 351. Lyuvina Another of Cloath of Gold to Francisca put it on her and laid her head in her lap And another time brought a rich k Id. pag. 322. Crown from Heaven and placed it on the head of St. Brigit As she bestowed a l Id. pag. 202. golden Cross upon Waltherus Besides this would they not have us to think that there are brave Gardens and Flowers in Heaven when they tell us that she brought thence two baskets full of m Specul Exemp dist 9. Sect. 117. Roses and gave to two women as a proof of their pure Virginity And another time walked along by a Fryar being stuck about with white and red Roses and having a n Id. dist 9. Sect. 118. Chaplet of Roses on her head which look'd as fresh as if they had been newly pluck'd from Paradise Another time brought a o Coâ—on p. 209. Garland of Flowers and put it on the head of a German Woman call'd Mary But methinks she was most kinde to Jacobus Calipetus who p Id. pag. 459 dying and it seems none of the greatest Saints she at last procured some way or other that his soul should be restored to him again and being thus alive upon earth again he made himself a Caelestine Monk so call'd from their Founder Pope Caelestinus the Fifth where they say he lived very godly and did a great many pretty Miracles and one time whilst he was celebrating Mass the Virgin Mary went into the Chappel with a troup of Saints and Angels and placed a Garland of Flowers upon his head And this not long since for he dyed the second time but Anno 1538. Besides these we might question from what Apothecaries Shop in Heaven she procured the formerly-mentioned Electuaries or the strange q Caesar lib 7. cap. 19. Oyntments wherewith she anoynted and cured the wounded leg or knee of the German Nun. But letting these pass what honour do they do her when they make her a drudge as to come from Heaven with many Saints and Angels to assist Catherine of Siena to make r Gonon p. 323 bread Another time to descend with a company of she-Saints to some Monks working in Harvest whom she kist and embraced and with Å¿ Dauroult c. 2. â—it 41. Sect. 4. Goton p. 168. Spec. Exempl dist 3. Sect. 24. Towels which they brought down with them wiped the sweat durt and dust from their faces Another time to get all the sweat of the labouring Monks and put it into a t Specul Ex emp. dâ—st 9. Sect. 103. Vessel because it afforded a pleasant smell to her and Christ Another time to come from Heaven to u Nicol. Jâ—â— senius vita St. Dominici l. 2. c. 12 p 1â—7 Gâ—â—â—â—s p 212. besprinkle with holy Water a company of sleeping Monks nay they make her so officious and subservant that they tell us how one time she came from Heaven and mended Thomas of Beckets a Tho. Cantipratan lib. 2. cap. 29. Sect. 12. pag. 285. Specul Exempl dist 8. Sect 77. Hair-shirt for him when he himself knew not how to get it patch'd up but she stitch'd it neatly up with red Hair To these we might add many other ridiculous Fopperies as of a woman having her son taken from her by the Enemies earnestly desired the assistance of the Virgin Mary in getting her son again but finding all these prayers in vain she takes another course goeth to Church upbraids the Virgin of her negligence and tells her plainly she will take her Son from Jacob. de Voragine hist 126. her and keep it till she have her Childe restored and forthwith takes the little Image of Christ from the Virgins Arms and home she trots and locks it up safely in a Chest Upon this the Virgin Mary seeing no remedy hyeth her that night to the Prison where the womans Son was opens the door lets him out bids him haste home to his Mother and having thus restored him bids him desire his Mother that she might have her Son Christ again which accordingly was performed and so all were friends And such another Tale they tell us of a German Woman call'd Jutta whose young Childe being snatch'd away by a Wolf and carryed into the Woods of this the Mother informed runs to the Chappel and took the Caesar l. 7. c. 46. Image of Christ from the Virgin Maries Arms telling her she should never have her Son again unless she had her childe restored to her safe and sound At this the Virgin Mary was puzled fearing she should b Quasi timeret carere filio suo loose her Son Christ upon which she commands the Wolf who left the Childe which being found and carried to its Mother she went to the Church and restored the Image Nay they would make her descend to take up the tears of a certain devout Youth in a c Gonon p. 222. Cloth that she might the more conveniently shew them to our Saviour as if he understood not all things as well as her self But though the Protestants
Bernard though f Anno 1131. Sect. 4. Baronius himself cannot believe that he was the Author of it Yet good Bernard knew not all things nor in some things could he see any farther than that blinde Age in which he lived would allow him nor will I take upon me to censure him of flattery for his thus complementing with his Holiness g Beâ—nard de Considerat ad Eugenium sib 2. cap. 8. Thou art the Prime of all Bishops the Heir of the Apostles an Abel for Primacy a Noah for Government an Abraham by Patriarchship a Melchisedech by Order Aaron by Dignity Moses by Authority Samuel by Judicature Peter by Power Christ by Vnction c. And this piece of canting Courtship was taken up by the Arch-bishop h Vid Abrah Bzov. Rom. Pent. c. 6. p. 56. Stephanus Tigliatius and bestowed upon Innocent the Eighth with some Additions But we might go higher yet and see what goodly Priviledges Gregory the Seventh got an Assembly at Rome to bestow upon him as that i Bâ—oâ— Anno 1076. Sect 31 3â— 33. onely the Pope of Rome can depose Bishops That he onely according to the Times may make Laws That he onely may use the Imperial Ensigns That all the Princes are to kiss his feet That he can depose Emperours and Translate Bishops That no Synod can be held without his command nor any Book is Canonical without his Authority That he is undoubtedly made k Vid. Dist 40. â— Noa nos Holy by the Merits of St. Peter That there is but one name in the World i. e. the Pope Nor can such Extravagances as these seem strange to any who is acquainted with their writings and stories the Popes themselves not a little delighting in these Flatteries and accordingly they never want such complying Pick-thanks Thus Fernando de Velasco in behalf of his Master John the Second King of Vid. Bzov. de Rom. Pont. c. 6. p. 56 57 58 66. Portugal applyed that to Innocent the Eighth which the Apostle speaks of Christ viz. That he is a Ephes 1. 21. far above all Principality and Power and every name that is named not onely in this world but also in that which is to come and that he is the Sun and Light of the World Thus Scala the Florentine Ambassador told the same Pope That his Dignity was so great that a more Excellent could not be invented or fancyed on Earth Nay that to dispute or doubt of his Power is no less than Sacriledge as Cheurer flattered him from the Duke of Savoy Julius the Second was told by Diego Pacettus Envoy from Emanuel King of Portugal That he was the Door-keeper of Heaven and held the Keys of eternal Life And Bernardus Justinianus Agent from the Venetians assured Pope Paul the Second that b Cui claudere Coelos aperire detrudere ad Inferos eruere quoscunque velit concessum he could damn and save whom he pleased Which was also affirm'd to Julius the Second by Michael Risius from Lewis the Twelfth of France with this Addition that the Necks of all Kings and Princes must submit to him Narius Bandinaeus Ambassador from Sienna fob'd up Pope Paul the Third with the Epithites of The Father of Godliness Day-star of Justice Prince of Faith Chiestain of Religion Arbitrator of all things Saviour of Christians and Image of Divinity And as if the Princes of Italy strove in the magnifying of his Holiness the Ambassadors of Genoa Sienna Lucca Venice Florence Parma Milan and Ferrara humbly told Leo the Tenth That he excell'd all Kings as much as the Sun doth the Moon And well might these petit Potentates thus tumble themselves before their Infallible Chair when the great French Monarch Francis the Second by his Deputy Johannes Babo à Burdaesia did creenge to Pius the Fourth in the acknowledgement that all Laws depended upon his pleasure that Kings threw themselves down at his feet and Heaven opens at his will and that his pleasure did stand for a Law as his voice for an Oracle Pope Pius the Fifth was once told that the whole world lay at his Feet And Sixtus the Fifth that Princes Kings and Emperours were so much subject to him that they should not onely attend upon him but worship and adore him Which if true then Aquinas was not amiss when as they say he told the world That * Vid. Bzov. pag. 53 55. our Kings ought to be as much subject to him as to Christ himself Nor those others who with the German have declared that all must be obedient to him upon pain of Salvation according to the Decree of d Extra Com. de Major Obed. c. Uâ—am sanctam Boniface the Eighth Their Canon-Law tells us that Christ received St. Peter into the e Sext. de Electione cap. Fundamenta Fellowship of his undivided Vnity Informs us that as f Dist 12. c. Non decet Christ did the Will of his Father so we should do the will of the Church of Rome That g Dist 19. c. Sic omnes all the Orders of that Church ought to be held as if St. Peter himself had proposed them to us And therefore are h Ib. c. Enimvero perpetually and inviolably to be observed And so are the Papal decretal Letters which they say are to be i Ib. c. In Canonicis numbred amongst the Canonical Scriptures Nor is any man k Caus 17. Q. 4. Dist 81. c. Si qui sunt c. Nemini est to judge or revoke the Popes sentence For the l Paul Lancelottus Institut juris Can. l. 1. Tit. 3. c. Decreta Decrees of the Popes are of equal force and authority with the Canons of Councils And good Reason since they Decree that every one is to be m Extra Com. de Major Obed. c. Unam sanctam obedient to the Pope upon pain of damnation and so must we believe that n Extra Com. Tit. 1. c. Super Gentes all Nations and Kingdoms are under the Popes jurisdiction And that o Extra Joh. XXII Tit. 5. Dist 22. c. Omnes Gloss God hath delivered over to him the Power and Rule of Heaven and Earth And well may he thus triumph over Principalities Powers since the Glossaries have the confidence to assure us that he a Naturam rerum immutat substantialia unius rei applicando aliis de nihilo aliquid facere potâ—st sententiam quae nulla est facit aliquam In his quae vult ei est pro ratione voluntas Nec est qui ei dicat Cur ita facis Ipse enim potest supra jus dispensare de injustitia potest facerc justitiam corrigendo jura mutando Decret Greg. lib. 1. Tit. 7. c. Quanto perjonam Gloss Sect. Veri Dei vicâ—m can change the Nature of Things make or rather create something out of nothing since his will must stand for a Law nor must any man
say to him Why do you so since his power is such as to dispence beyond Law it self and so of Injustice can make Justice either by correcting or changing the Laws or Rights and b Dist 34. c. Lector Gloss dispence too against the Apostle Their Canon-Law brags that Constantine the Great call'd the Pope a c Dist 96. c. Satis evidenter God But their extravagant Gloss speaks out more plainly in these very words d Credere Dominum Deum nostrum Papam Conditorem c. Extra Joh. XXII Tit. 14. de verborum significat cap. 4. Cum inter nonnullâ—s Gloss Sect. Declaramus prope finem OUR LORD GOD THE POPE Because e Warn-word to Sir Fran. Hastings's wastward Encount 1. c. 2. Sect. 10. Father Parsons affirmeth he could never finde any such expression though he saith he sought much for it I have been the more exact and plain in the Quotation as also to confute f Apol. pro Hen. Garn. Andraeas Eudaemon-Johannes and some others who are apt to perswade their Readers that there is no such thing to be found at least in those Copies that they can meet withal for confutation of which take this Catalogue of Editions which I have met withal in which they will finde the said words expresly set down Lugduni Lutet Paris 1526 1522 1556 1561 1559 * 1585 1572 * 1601 * 1584 * 1612 Several of which viz. those you see here noted with the Asterisks were Vid. Pet Moulin vates lib. 5. cap. 6. printed after Pope Gregory the Thirteenth had corrected the Canon-Law and were as they confess printed and publish'd according to the Roman Copy by Authority of the said Pope And it may be from suchlike wicked expressions as this that abominable Varlet Francois Ravaillac drew this Blasphemous Doctrine g Parceque faisant la guerre contre le Pape c'estoit la faire contre Dieu d'â—utant que le Pape estoit Dieu Dieu â—stoit le Pape Pâ—ocez Examen Confessions c. du Fâ—ancoâ—s Ravaillac pag. 39. Is Casauban Epâ—st ad Front Ducaeum pag. 14 The Pope is God and God is the Pope And therefore supposing that Henry the Fourth of France would make War upon the Pope he thought himself obliged to murther the said King lest he should fight against God that is the Pope However though I cannot say that the wisest of them think the Pope really to be God yet this I am certain of that they commonly paint one so like the other with a Triple Crown and all other Pontifical Garments that you can scarce know whether they designed it for the Picture of God Almighty or the Pope But others would have us to think that he is not really a God no more than he is really a man but something or other between both according to our Country-man in their h Gloss g Clâ—mâ—â—t in Proem Gloss â— Papa Papa stupor Mundi Qui maxima rerumes Nec Deuses nec homo quasi neuter es inter utrumque Pope the worlds wonder greatest in all the world Nor God nor Man but between both thou' rt Purld And now can we think that they give these almost-almighty Titles and Power to his Holiness without sure grounds and good cause And that of all Reasons and Authorities the Canon-Law which hath been so carefully composed and so often revised by their wisest ones doth not afford the best No surely and therefore for a taste take some of their invincible Arguments and those too for more Authority framed by the Popes themselves and so infallibly true Can any deny that the Pope hath all a Extra Com. de Major Obed. c. Unam Sanctam Temporal as well as Spiritual jurisdiction seeing the Apostles said b Luke 22. 28. Behold here are two Swords and Christ answered That it is enough Which is also sufficiently testified by Christ's saying Peter c Job 18. 11. Mat. 26. 52. put up thy sword into the sheath What need any man question the d Extra Com. c. Unam sanctam Greg. de Major Obed c. Solitae Popes Authority to depose Kings seeing God told the Prophet Jeremiah saying e Jer. 1. 10. Behold I have this day set thee over the Nations and over the Kingdoms to root out and to pull down and to destroy and to throw down to build and to plant Is it not as plain as a Pike-staff that there is but one Supream Authority in the World and that that is the f Extra Com. c Unam sanctam Pope because God g Gen. 1. 1. created heaven in the Beginning for it is not said in the plural number in the Beginnings And therefore he that believes not that the Pope is the Chief must be an Heretical Manichee Again is it not impudence to deny the h Greg de Major Obed. c. Solitae Pope to be above any Emperour be he East or West seeing God himself decided long since the Controversie by creating i Gen. 1. 16. two great Lights viz. the Sun and the Moon whereby he did plainly demonstrate that the Pope is as far above the Emperour as the Sun is greater than the Moon And for the Kings they are no more to be compared to the Pope than k Dist 96. c. Duo sunt Lead is to Gold Upon the strength of these Authorities and mighty Reasons though not a Rush to the purpose their Writers vapour with his Holiness over all poor Hereticks l Comment in c. Oportchat pag. 48. Sect. 9. Rodericus Cupers thinks that those who deny the Popes Temporal and spiritual Supremacy deny also the Gospel and the great m Sum. Patt 3. Tit. 22. c. 5. Antoninus of Florence that he hath power not onely on earth but in Heaven and Hell Doctor n Tract de jurisdict part 4. cent 1. cas 56. Sect. 1. Marta saith that he is Judge of all men in the World And so any may appeal from their secular Judges to him He being the o Ibid. Sect. 8. Fountain and Original of all Temporal jurisdiction and having all the Power that p Id. cap. 25. Sect. 20. Christ had q Quodlibet VI. Quaest 23. fol. 369. a. Henricus à Gondavo with his Commentator Marcus Vitalis Zuccolius and r De Potestar Rom Pont. l. 2. c. 9. Sect 7. cap. 10. Alexander Carerius with a multitude of others are great sticklers for this his Authority and the later of them tells us that it is the common opinion of all their Divines and Canonists Nay Stephanus an Arch-bishop in one of their Lateran Councils applauded the Opinion That the Å¿ Concil Edict Regia Tom. 34. pag. 449. Pope was above all Power both of Heaven and Earth One tells us that he is not onely the Judge but the t Jo. Rubeus in Bonifac. VIII pag. 216. Spouse of the Vniversal Church and the Arbitrator of Heaven and Earth u Isidor
himself either cock-sure of Heaven or lived more idle or lazie or freer from trouble or danger if he got but a Monks Cowl on and lived hum-drumming in a Cell or Monastery made a Decree against as I may say run-away Souldiers against whom I onely concern my self in the former censure In which he Ordain'd that no Souldier unless he was dismiss'd should enter himself in a Monastery to turn Monk except he were lame or otherwise unfit for the Wars And this he sends to Pope Gregory ordering him to see it put in practice and divulged Gregory looks upon this as an unjust law even contrary to Christianity and desires the Emperour to consider how he can answer it at the day of Lib. 2. Ep. 62. Judgement yet declared that he had fulfill'd his duty by yeilding obedience to his commands and so had accordingly published the Order abroad But I warrant you Gregory the Eighth and our Modern Popes would not thus obey the Emperours and yet they will not say that this Gregory the Great an holy Saint in their Calendar in this his obedience and humility was erronious or committed a fault In the Emperours Army there was one Phocas a common Captain or Centurion but a most cruel and wicked man who upon a Mutiny in Sclavonia made himself very active so that they flew into open Rebellion and in this humour he plaid his Cards so well that he became the onely Ring-leader those that were loyal being forced to flee insomuch that they heaved him upon a Shield an old Ceremony not onely in Armies but also in France and Spain in proclaming their Kings and shouted him up for Emperour Having gone thus far in villany he proceeds and to loose no time in all haste marcheth to Constantinople and that with such a strength that the Emperour Mauritius who of late had led a very religious life having sent to all places to be pray'd for was forced to flee and so in a little Bark with his Wife and Children stole out of the City over the Chanel to Chalcedon now call'd Scutari or Calcitiu but being overtaken by Phocas his Souldiers was brought back to Constantinople where Phocas had the Emperours Children which then he had seis'd on murther'd before the Fathers face the poor Mauritius onely repeating that of the Psalmist Just art thou O Lord and righteous are thy judgements And which was more the Emperour having there one of his Sons a little Childe the kinde Nurse of it through a strange pitty love and loyalty stole it away and put her own Childe in its stead to be slain But the Emperour not to be out done in compassion unwilling to allow of such a cruel charity withstood the design and so had his own innocent Infant murdred before his face and at last was himself also slain then their heads were cut off and their bodies exposed to all manner of contumelies There were also murder'd Petrus Brother to the Emperour and many of the Loyal Nobility Theodosius eldest Son to Mauritius who had also been some years before Crown'd Augustus and co-Emperour to his Father being sent upon this Rebellion to Cosâ—hoes of Persia to desire his aid and assistance against Phocas was also overtaken and beheaded And to make the Tragedy compleat one Scholasticus an Eunuch having saved the Empress Constantina Daughter to the Emperor Tiberius thus a Father-in-law and Predecessor to Maurice and her three Daughters hid them secretly in a Church yet was not this so privily done but Phocas heard of it and sent to have them delivered Cyricius the Patriarch of Constantinople made some opposition nor would he yeild them up till Phocas had by Oath sworn to do to them no violence which for some time he kept thrusting them into a Monastery but at the years end had them all four most barbarously butcher'd Here we have Phocas one of the most absolute Villains in the world as for Mauritius a An. 602. § 23. Baronius himself cannot but give him many commendations yet he will quickly shoot his bolt to finde out the Reason of all these Judgements against him and all this because forsooth he would not comply with the liberty of the Church as they call it and was not a sure Friend to Gregory for this is that which he aims at And now let us see how Pope Gregory behaved himself towards this Villain he no sooner hears of this abominable Murther and how the Tyrant had made himself Emperour but he hath the Statues of Phocas and his Wife carryed through Rome in triumph with a great many pretty cantings and then with a great deal of state and glory placed up amongst the other Emperours Nor was this all for he writes to Phocas congratulating his good success as the Angels did the Nativity of our Saviour a Baron an â—â—3 § 3. Glory be to God in the highest who as it is written changeth the times and translateth Kingdoms For which we rejoyce that thou art come to the Empire Let the heavens rejoyce and let the earth leap for joy and of your gracious actions let all the people be exceeding glad In another b Id. § 5. Letter to the same Tyrant he rejoyceth and thanks God that he is Emperour and that Mauritius was taken away And in another to Leontia Wife to Phocas he thus begins c Ib. § 6. What tongue can declare what minde can conceive the thanks which we owe to God for your Empire And yet if we consult Historians they will assure us that this Phocas was not onely a cruel furious and bloudy fellow but also a drunkard wencher yea and an Heretick too But d Ib. § 9. Baronius and e Tom. 1. pag. 333. Coquaeus are very busie to quit him of the last fault and so make him a good Roman Catholick But be as bad as he will 't is confest that his Wife Leontia was guilty of the same vices Whereby I can scarce think of Pope Gregory's Letters but I must at the same time remember the flattering and wicked Addresses of late days made to Oliver and his Son Richard by their canting Armies and suchlike knavish Phanaticks who in the hight of their wickedness would impudently pretend the Spirit of God to be their Informer I do not here compare Pope Gregory to these Villains yet I can easily perswade my self that he had not as the Turks story of their great Prophet the Pigeon or Holy Ghost at the writing of these Letters directing him at his ear as they say sometime he had and so they always paint him The Patriarch of Constantinople having as aforesaid somewhat angred Phocas for not delivering the Empress Constantina and her Daughters to his cruelty without an oath of security and the Tyrant seeing himself thus bravely courted by the Infallible Roman condescended to the request of Pope Boniface the Third and so decreed That the Church of Rome should be the e Hic Rogante Papa Bâ—nifacic
statuit sedem Romanae Ecclesiae ut Caput esset omnium Ecclesiarum quia Ecclesia Constant â—â—â—politana primum se omnium Ecclesiarum scribebat Paul Diac. de gessis Romanorum lib. 18. in vit Phocae Head or Chief of all other Churches and this in opposition to the Constantinopolitan Church which had appropriated to her self the stile of the first Church And her Patriarchs had took upon them the Title of Vniversal Bishops which greatly troubled this Gregory the First who in opposition to that other f Prophane and g As Gregory himself call'd it Blasphemous Title viz. Vniversal but now made use of by all Popes termed himself the servant of servants of God upon which Title their h 1 Q. 7. c. Quoties cordâ—s Gloss per te Gloss affords us this Distich Servi erant tibi Roma prius Domini Dominorum Servorum Servi nunc tibi sunt Domini The greatest Kings once serv'd thee Rome but now To th' least of servants thou thy neck dost bow This Title hath been ever since used by his Successors and not onely by them but also other Bishops sometimes write themselves so as a Epist to Hâ—nâ—mer of France Rabanus of Mentz b Will. Somners Antiq. of Cant. Agelnoth of Canterbury c Coquaeus Tom. 2. p. 70. Anselme of Ravenna d Ib. S. Augustin himself and many others and indeed they confess that that Title is e Coeffeteau pag. 807. il est commum à tous les Evesques common to all other Bishops and so is the word f Vid. Fran. Duaren de sacris Eccles Minist lib. 1. cap. 10. Papa too But though Pope Gregory stiled himself so humbly yet we are told that he declared that he had Authority to depose the greatest Kings in proof of which thus they frame their Arguments About the time that this Gregory the Great was a Young man there flourish'd in France one Medard famous as they say for his holiness and miracles and since Sainted who was at the same time Bishop of two Places viz Noyon in Picardy and Tourney in Flanders and this by the Popes approbation though I doubt that Monsieur g Hist des Saints Tom. 1. p. 689. Gazet is out when he makes it to be Pope Hormisda who must have dyed before this according to the computation of h Hist Episc Gal. p. 310. Chenu St. Medard dying King Clotaire had his body carryed to Soissons in Picardy and there buryed where he began to build a Church for him but being murder'd his Son Sigebert finished it To this they say this i Lib. 2. Indict 11. post Epist 38. Gregory the First gave great Priviledges with an express Order that that King or Potentate should be degraded or k Fran. Bozzius de Temporal Monarch p. 225. Bellarm de Rom. Pont. l. 5. c. 8. deposed who violated them Of this l Vides lector Pontisâ—cis Romani esse sancire leges quibus si ipsi Reges non pareant Regno priventur Baron an 593. § 86. Baronius makes a great boasting how thus the Pope can depose Kings and Gregory the Eighth made use of this instance for an Argument against the Emperour Henry And what might not Gregory the Great do upon Earth over poor Mortals whose jurisdiction reached so far that they say he relieved the tormented soul of Trojan the Heathen Emperour out of Hell and sent it packing to Heaven in proof and vindication of which pretty action their famous m Vid. Ciacon vit Greg. I. Alphonsus Ciaconius wrote a particular Book Another instance they give us of Gregory's jurisdiction over Kings viz. that Queen Brunechilde or Brunehaut built a n Vit. Borth Cassanaeum Catal. glor mundi part 12. consid 60. fol. 332. Monastery to S. Martin at Authum in Burgundy where she her self was buryed To which our o Lib. 11. Indict 6. Epist 10. Gregory the First granted also many Priviledges but with the same Decree against those who violated any of them Of which p Anno 603. § 17. Baronius also taketh special notice and triumpths thus of the Papal Authority in deposing of Kings as he did formerly But some think these Deeds and Priviledges are q Vit. Caron Remonstrant Hybernorum part 5. pag. 68 69. forged And truely S. Martin Archbishop of Tours deserved both a good Church and great Priviledges if that be true which they Pet. Natal l. 10. c. 47. story of him as how he rais'd three people from the dead and cured folk by kissing who had Angels to cover his arms with plates of gold and those holy Choristers to sing his soul into Heaven who was compared to the a Baron an 583. Apostles and Elias and of whom they tell many suchlike pretty stories yet methinks his charity was very odd to turn away his man onely because he was b Vâ—lleg Flos Sanct. Novemb. 11. good-natured and vertuous CHAP. IV. 1. The deposing of Suintila King of Spain 2. The Murther of Childerick the Second King of France with his Queen great with Childe 3. The unfortunate Rule and Murther of the Emperour Justinian the Second and the troubles of Constantinople 4. The Popes censures and troublings of the Emperour Leo the Third about Images 5. The deposing of Childerick the Third King of France Sect. 1. The deposing of Suintila King of Spain ANd now let us turn to the West and in Spain we shall finde the Pens of Authors in as much opposition as the Swords of Souldiers for though all confess that c An 621. Suintila was lawful King of the Goths in Spain yet Writers will not agree of his life and exit For though d Chronicon Isidorus e Lib. 2. c. 17. Rodericus Toletanus f Cap 33. Alphonsus de Carthagena and the other ancient Spanish Historians do declare him to be one of the bravest Princes in the world not onely for his Justice Charity Humility and other excellent Vertues but also Valour joyn'd with Success whereby they say he drove the Romans out of those Territories and so was the first of the Goths that obtain'd the absolute Monarchy of Spain Yet some of our Modern Writers lay all manner of Tyranny and Vices to his charge drawn thereunto I suppose by that which they finde set down in the Fourth Council of g Cap. 75. Toledo Though methinks 't is somewhat odd that learned Isidore the great Bishop of Sevil and one Sainted in the Roman Calendar should so soon write contradictions as not onely by his subscription to this Council to commend the usurping Sisenandus but to declare Suintila Cintila Santila or Suinthila to be abominable vicious tyrannical a fugitive and what not whom a little before he had h Praeter has militares gloriae laâ—des plutimae in eo Regiae Majâ—statis virtutes fides prudentia industria in judicus examinatio stâ—enua in regendo regno cura pracâ—pua circa omnes
formerly chose and sworn King of the Romans at which Innocent greatly rejoyced though he Pet. Mexia fol. 423. could not but know that this reason was as valid when he was formerly so zealous for Otho and resolute against all others whatsoever Frederick comes into Germany is Crowned at Aix Otho makes what opposition he can but is overthrown and so forced to withdraw and neglect the Empire And thus being deposed again Frederick remain'd as Supreme and so had himself with the Popes consent the second time d Spon anno 1215. § 4. Crown'd at Aix In the mean time was held a Great Council at the Lateran whereby Transubstantiation got a good footing and Temporal Princes were to be by the Pope deposed and their Subjects absolved from their Allegiance if they neglected to extirpate out of their Dominions that which the Pope call'd Heresie Otho having been three years turned out dyed but they say so penitently that he made the a Bzov. an 128. § 19. Spondâ—n § 7 8. Skullions of his Kitchen tread upon his neck and though he remained a while in Purgatory yet at last he was help'd into Heaven Nor need we question his sanctity seeing as they tell us being sick and weak his side opened to let the Eucharist fly in and then closed again and I believe it was as true in him as it was in Bonaventure Sect. 3. The troubles and deposing of the Emperour Frederick the Second FRederick II being thus Emperour goeth to Rome where he â—220 was Crowned by Honorius III but this peace lasted not long Frederick having been abused by several in Italy pretended that the Pope took their parts On the other side Honorius would have the Emperour to go and reduce the Holy-land Frederick pretended to retreeve and regain the Territories that formerly had belonged to the Empire Honorius affirm'd they now belong'd to the Church and St. Peter And thus bandying to and fro some say that Honorius threw about his Excommucations Honorius dying Gregory IX succeeds and threatens Frederick year 1227 with Excommunication if he set not sail for the Holy-land by such a time The Emperour neglecting is Excommunicated and so seeing no remedy sails to Syria where he makes peace 122â— with the Sultan having Hierusalem and other places deliver'd to him And yet is Gregory b Pap Greg. â—â—nus moloâ—re ferens quod Rom. Imp. Excommunicatus Rebellis ad terram Sanctam transierat Mat. Paris anno 1229. angry that he went thither being Excommunicated and a Rebel against him and so intends to dethrone him sends into Asia to the c Nanâ—â—er pag. 818. Hospitallers and Templers that they should no way assist Frederick but look upon him as a publick Enemy who accordingly endeavour'd to d Matt. Pariâ— p 35â— betray him to the Saracen but the Souldan out of a Noble Spirit scorned Treachery and discovered it to the Emperour The Pope in the mean time having as he thought â—ut him out work enough to do in the Holy-land resolves to take opportunity in his absence so he sends into England e Mat. Paris p. 361. accusing of him of horrible-terrible Piccadiglio's that he being f Pag. 368. Excommunicated should enter the Church at Hierusalem and be Crowned and then go to his Palace before his Souldiers with his Crown on and then inviting several of the Noble Saracens to a Feast did for recreation-sake let some Christian women dance before them And to aggravate these how he had taken some Church-monies probably to pay his Army c. but the burden of the lamentation was that he might have some English moneys to help him in his Wars against the Emperour whom he thinks it g Justum esse fidei Christianae necessarium â—t tam valiâ—ius Ecclesiae persecutor a faâ—â—u Imporii depelleâ—etur Mat. Paris Ib. just and necessary to have deposed from the Empire And what vast sums these canting stories obtain'd is easily guess'd when in England Wales and Ireland the very Church-Ornaments and Plate were sold or pawn'd to satisfie the a Matt. Paris anno 1229. pag. 361. 362. anno 1234. p. 400 401 40â— 554 566 613. 622 623 641 645 655 658 659 660. 667 691 699 700 716 722 728 818 875 956. Nic. Harpsfield Hist Eccles pag. 477. Fox Tom. 1. pag. 369 370. avarice of Rome for if they gave not presently the Nuntio threatned Excommunications and Interdictions such a childish fear had the Papal Censures then possess'd men with and to such an height of tyranny and impudence to say no worse had the Bishops of Rome stuffed out and swell'd themselves to as if they had a Divine right over all the Moneys and Riches in the World and thus is the case alter'd Christ and St. Peter rather then not pay their dues and tribute to their Temporal Prince would be at the expence of a Miracle but now the Kings and Princes must beggar and ruine themselves and Subjects to satisfie the avarice of the Bishop of Rome who pretends to be but a Vicar to the former for if you deny this he hath an hobgobling in his Budget to boggle you to your ruine here or damnation hereafter though wise Kings should not regard such Censures upon such unjust grounds and from those who have no Authority over them Gregory having thus got Money enough falls upon those Lands which the Emperour pretended to in Italy making the people b Naucler pag 818. rebel and withdraw themselves from their b Allegiance whereby he took many places Frederick hearing of this Papal dealing having made peace with the Souldan resolves to return The Pope informed of this c Matt. Paris anno 1229. pag 364. way-lays him hoping to seize upon him when he little thought of it but Frederick having notice escaped all his snares and landed safely in Sicily and having strengthned himself regain'd some places again At last a d 1230. peace is made between him and the Pope Not not longer after the Pope and the Romans fell out insomuch that Gregory was glad to leave the City but here the Emperour e Matt. Paris anno 1â—34 pag. 408. 409. helps him at a dead lift joyning his Forces to the Pope's whereby the Romans were bang'd to the purpose But let us see how the Pope requites this good turn The Milanois a little after rebelling against the Emperour he resolves as it became him to reduce those Traitors to obedience Gregory perswades him from that design and would have him again forsooth to turn his Army into the Holy-land But Frederick wisely thought Matt. Par. an 1236. pag. 433. it was fitting to pacifie all at home first and did not a little marvail that the Pope should interest himself for such perfidious people But for all his wondering Gregory assists the Milanois sends them a great deal of money and for further incouragement promiseth them more the Milanois take courage but whilst the Emperour is engaged against them
Magistrates THe Queens Majestie hath the chief Power in this Realm of England Articles of Religion anno 1562. Art 37. and other her Dominions unto whom the Chief Government of all Estates of this Realm whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil in all Cases doth appertain and is not nor ought to be subject to any Forraign Jurisdiction Where we attribute to the Queens Majestie the Chief Government by which Titles we understand the mindes of some dangerous folke to be offended We give not our Princes the Ministring either of Gods Word or of the Sacraments the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly testifie But that onely Prerogative which we see to have been given always to all Godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself that is that they should Rule all Estates and Degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be Ecclesiastical or Temporal and restrain with the Civil Sword the stubborn and evil Doers The Bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England The Laws of the Realm may punish Christian men Taken out of King Edward VI. his Articles anno 1552. § of Civil Magistrates with death for heinous and grievous offences It is lawful for Christian men at the Commandment of the Magistrate to wear weapons and serve in the Wars And with these agree the Articles agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops in a Anno 1615. § 57 58 59 60 61 62. Convocation at Dublin for the Kingdom of Ireland And because at the present I cannot remember any Historian to have taken notice of it I shall assure the Reader of one Passage concerning a Convocation of Divines In King James his time the Romanists on the one hand were so busie and zealous to advance the Popedom over all Principalities and Powers that the Crown it self must be disposed according to the pleasure of that Myter And on the other hand the Presbyterian Hâ—t-spurs were so rigoroâ—sly malepart that they would advance their seditious and blockish Assemblies or rather Conventicles above all Law Reason Loyalty Royalty and Divinity it self as appears by their coâ—tinual countenancing of Rebellion and Schism against their Kings and Bishops The first kept a great deal of clutter with St. Peter and is Sâ—ccessors the latter despis'd both him and all Biâ—hops â—he first would prove out of the Prophet b Jer. 1. 10. Exâ—rav Com. c. unam sanctam Gâ—â—g de â—ajor obed c solita Jerâ—my that the Pope was set Over the Nations and over the Kingdoms to root out and to pull down to destroy and to throw down to build and to plant The latter affirm'd that they were c Psal 149. 8. Tâ—â—â—nde â—hâ—r Kings with chains and their Nobles with jeâ—lers of I on The first would tell us that the Pope d Extra 16. had two swords â—hat all must be obedient to him upon pain of damnation 〈◊〉 he excels a King as much as the Sun doth the Moon or e Dist 96. c. du sunt Gold doth Lead That f Exâ—â—â— Joh. XXII T it 5 dist 22 â— omnes Gloss God hath delivered to him the Power and â—ule not onely of Earth but of Heaven too Nay that g Concil Ediâ— Regâ—a Paris Tom. 34. pag. 440. he wâ—s above all Power both of Heaven and Earth The latter despâ—â—ed all these Rodomontado's as coming from the Whore of Babylon and the Horned Beast but would fright the poor People out of their little wits by bauling out a Curse ye Meroz curse ye bitterly the Inhabitant thereof because they came not to the help of the Lord to the help of the Lord against the Mâ—ghty And with this they would Judg. 5. 23. carry on their Cause and Presbytery Regal Authority being thus designed to be nois'd and push'd down it wanted not many famous and Learned Champions as well here as beyond Seas Nor would King James himself be onely a Spectator in this Pen-Combat but he also falls to work and slighting the railing Rabble and inferiour Pickeerers he assaults and vindicates his Right against their greatest Cardinal who at first durst not incounter his Royal Aversary in his own shape but under the disguise of Tortus In the mean time a Synod being held in the time of that vigilant and industrious Prelate Archbishop Bancroft to the Reverend Divines there met was presented a large Tract containing M S. XXXVI Chapters to prove the Soveraignty of Kings and Chief Civil Governours above the High-Priests from the Creation to the end of the Jewish State which being read in the Convocation was wholly approved of by joynt consent And then being sent down to York it also past the Convocation there as appears by the Subscriptions to the said Treatise of Constitutions in vindication of Regal Supremacie 'T is said that there was a second part of it to prove the same Authority and Supremacie from Christ to these times but whether there was any such second part or whether it past the said Convocation I shall leave to others inquiry And by the way the Reader if he pleaseth for variety sake may take our XXXVII Article as it with the rest was turn'd into Latine Verse neer threescore years ago by one Mr. John Glanvil of the University of Oxford Obtinet Imperium Majestas Regia summum Angliacis ejus sinibus atque aliis Cujus in omnimodis sacrata potentia causis Omnibus ut par est imperat Ordinibus Sive Sacerdotes sint seu Civilia tractent Munia nec peregri est subjicienda foro Nos ubi Principibus primas damus inde sinistris Mentibus ansa sui Schismatis esse solet Non tamen aeternum datur illis copia verbum Sive ministrandi Pignora sacra Dei. Legibus hoc patuit quas Elizabetha beati Nominis auspicio condidit ante suo Tale sed Imperium nostris concedimus olim Quale pâ—is tribuit Regibus ipse Deus Nempe gradus hominum soli dominentur in omnes Quos Dominus proprio subdidit Imperio Quos vel publica res capit aut Ecclesia cunctos Civilique queant ense donare malos Non habet Imperium Romanus Episcopus ullum Finibus O felix terra Britanne tuis Jura Potestatem Civilia gentis in omnes Impia patrantes Crimina mortis habent Ferre Magistratus si jusserit arma vel ipsis Christicolis etiam bella ciere licet To which the Poet afterwards subjoyns these following Verses Subditus in proprium miser ut ferat arma Monarcham Quem feriet bruto fulmine Papa jubet Non ita a Mat. 12. 17. Caesareas abrupit Christus b Mart. 17 27. habenas Papa tamen Christi gestit habere vices Falso nam pedibus tenebrarum c Ephes 6. 21. Principis instat d Luc. 4. 6. Omnia qui mendax se dare Regna refert India magniloquo dives sic cessit e Ex donatione Alexandâ—i VI.
he should have them although there be some Meditations on the Penitential Psalms carryed about under his name yet a wicked man may make a good Book as the greatest Rebels pretend the most Religion but that he did ever really repent I am not convinced because then they would have given him a better Epitaph besides the story of his death maketh him then as bad as ever But enough if not too much of this As concerning the foresaid William Thomas take as followeth 1544. He got into Italy 1547. He wrote the foresaid Dialogue at Bologna la Grossa 't is call'd b M S. B. 2. 7. in Bible Bâ—dl Oxon. le Pelegrine and never printed that I know of 1543. He finish'd his Italian Dictionary and Grammar at Padoa undertook at the desire and for the instruction of Mr. John Tamworth then living at Venice and was afterwards viz. 1567 printed by the appointment of Sir William Mildmay 1549. I meet with him return'd to London when and where he Printed his short but methodical History of Italy which was Reprinted 1561. He was made Clerk of the Council to King Edward VI. 1553. He designed the Murther of Queen Mary or c Jo. Bal. de Scriptoribus Appendix p. 100. Steven Gardiner Bishop of Winchester 155â— â— February 20. He was sent to the Tower of London February 26. He had almost kill'd himself by thrusting a Knife under his Paps 1554. May 9. He was arraigned and condemn'd at Guild-hall May 18. He was drawn from the Tower to Tyborn and there hang'd headed and quarter'd 'T is said that he was an intimate with d Parsons thâ—ee Câ—nversious of Engl. paâ—t 3. pag. 220 221. Christopher Goodman that enemy to the Rule of Women and a fiery Puritan and no doubt that Thomas was too much warp'd that way and one of more misguided zeal then true Religion or Wisdom He translated some Books out of Italian and besides those Printed wrote a Tract call'd The Common Place of State for the use of King Edward VI discoursing whether it be expedient to vary with the time which with several other of his Writings may be seen in Sir Robert Cotton's e Sub Effigie Vespasianâ— D. 18. Library And so much of King Henry and his Champion William Thomas To this King succeeded Edward VI a most vertuous and hopeful Pâ—ince but too young to correct the villanies of the Grandees about him who loved the Churches better then they loved God yet a Reformation of Religion was carryed on which so vext some in the North that they took up Arms to restore Popery though to no purpose But those in the West were more stubborn especially the Devonshire and Cornish men who form'd themselves into an Army besieged Exeter which bravely defended it self against all their power and spight Nor would their Holy Zeal render them victorious though as a means to be so they march'd into the Field with a Crucifix under a Canopy which instead of an Altar was set in a Cart accompanied with Crosses and Candlesticks Banners Holy-Bread and Holy-Water to drive away the Devils and dull their Enemies Swords as Speed wordeth it And though they fought fiercely against the King his Commission and good Subjects yet they could conclude their demands or rather commands with an Item We pray God save King Edward for we be his both body and goods And this way of canting is always used by all other Traytors who the higher they run into Rebellion declare themselves the better Subjects In short though these peoples cause was bad enough and were soon quell'd yet a De Schism lib. 2. pag. 260. Sanders will not let them pass without some Papal holy Water being true Romanists and Father b Three conversions of Engl. part 2. pag. 594 619. Parsons will not allow them to be faulty because forsooth they fought for the Roman Religion as if to take up Arms for any Religion against their true and lawful Soveraign were warrantable for if so every Opinion and Phanatick will be its own judge and carver so that there will be no end of Wars and Bloudshed yet every man in the right at least the strongest can do no wrong however not commit Treason according to the too-much-practis'd Rule thus wittily condemn'd by Sir John Harrington Treason doth never prosper what 's the reason Epigram § 5. For if it prosper none dare call it Treason CHAP. II. A Vindication of Queen Elizabeth ANd now we come to the prosperous Reign of the so much famed Elizabeth in whose time England was in the heighth of its Glory and Repute being as an Umpire to the whole World flourishing at home and victorious abroad but prudent Cecils and vigilant Walsinghams are not always to be had and so we must be content with our decaying Lawrels And here by the by because a De Schism Aâ—gl lib. 3. pag. 319. Sanders and other Romanists are pleas'd to render her as the worst of all women-kinde I shall take the boldness to say something in her Vindication the better to confute her former Revilers and to satisfie the more ignorant somewhat in her behalf Her Piety and Religion have been celebrated by many Pens her Learning and skill in variety of Languages was admired by her greatest Enemies Besides her English b Arghâ—â—ium Praeâ—a § Elizabetha Christopher Ocklande whose Books were once order'd to be read in all Grammar-Schools will tell you of six other Languages she was perfect in Elizabetha piis primos imbuta per annos Moribus sophiae studiis instruct a sacrata Doctrina linguae Latiae Graiaeque perita Linguas Europae celebres intelliget omnes Quid Teuto Hispanus Gallusve Italusve loquatur Mr. c His nine Worthies pag. 282. Thomas Heywood one who loved to write concerning Women concludes thus of our Elizabeth Chaste Virgin Royal Queen belov'd and fear'd Much on the Earth admir'd to Heaven indear'd Single and singular without another A Nurse to Belgia and to France a Mother Potent by Land sole Soveraign of the Main Antagonist to Rome the scourge of Spain Though she was excellently skill'd in all manner of Needle-work was admired for her neat Dancing was very skilful and knowing in Musick playing well upon divers sorts of Instruments yet these and suchlike little pleasures could never call her thoughts from her Subjects good and the care of Government d La. Epist â—â—urmiâ— Roger Ascham speaks wonders of her ingenuity and knowledge and he had as much reason to know her as any but these you may say were English-men and so bribed by their birth-right though this with some of her Enemies is no Rule But should we run to all her Commendations beyond Seas we might be endless a Poet. Ital. vol. 1. pag 79. Cornelius Amaltheus a zealous Italian Romanist cannot withhold his Muse from her Encomiums b Poet. Germ. vol 5 pag. 827. Laurentius Rhodomanus is as earnest in his Anagrammatical mode
Notinghamshire a disorderly pretended Protestant were there apprehended and committed to the Town-Hall at last were carried to Thomas Cecyl Earl of Exeter who proffer'd them the Oath of Allegiance Sutton after some excuses took it but Newton desired time to consider of it Upon which for want of Bail and at the Constables desire they were return'd to the Town-Hall Here these two discoursed about the Oath Newton assuring to his Companion its unlawfulness To bed they go together About midnight September 4. 1612. Sutton cryeth out That he was damned only for taking the Oath and declareth Newton happy for refusing it Newton bids him make the sign of the Cross Sutton doth so then creeps down into the bed saying he durst not look up to behold the Vision Newton looks up sees the Room full of light and brightness the Mystery of the Trinity represented to him then there appears the Virgin Mary in a shining white Robe with an infinite company of Angels about her holding a Crown over her head singing in honour of the Trinity Alleluia Gloria in Excelsis Deo c. Then Newton thought that the Virgin thus spake to him Behold see and believe my Assumption in Body Take not the Oath but rather endure all Torments for I will be with thee and assist thee in all and will strengthen and preserve thee from all pains and torments with such Consolations as thou now feelest This Vision continued about half an hour and a little before they vanished there appeared also a multitude of Saints and Martyrs offering up as it were Incense unto Almighty God and saying to him Double thy Devotion unto Saints for nothing is more acceptable unto Almighty God Thus was Newton confirmed in two points which before as he said he somewhat doubted of viz. the Virgins Assumption and Prayers to Saints The Vision ended Newton and Sutton roar out as loud as they could Alleluia Gloria c. and thus they continued balling for three or four hours Sutton saying that now he had learned how to pray In short Sutton turns stark mad and becomes distracted The Bishop of Peterborough administers the Oath of Allegiance to Newton who for all the contrary Commands in the Vision took it and so was set at liberty And this is the sum of the pretty Tale which Father Preston an honest Romanist thinks ought to be ascribed either * Theolog. Disput cap. 10. Sect. 5. § 23. to the vehement Imaginations of a troubled Brain or else to be accounted a meer Illusion of the Devil And so I leave it to the discretion of the Reader with liberty to approve or disprove these doughty Arguments against the Oath of Allegiance But lest these Illusions Inventions and idle Stories should not do the good or mischief intended the Pope must ever now and anon hurry over his Bulls into England to rowse up the Romanists and put them in a posture of Defence against the said Oath In King James his time there were several such Papers nor were they discontinued in King Charles 1. his days In the beginning of whose Reign Pope Vrban viii one said to have some affection to the English Nation sent over a Bull of Comfort to the Romanists part of which relating to the Oath take as followeth VRBANVS Pp VIII Dilectis Filiis Catholicis Angliae Dilecti Filii Salutem Apostolilicam Benedictionem NON semper terraena faelicitas est beneficium Coeli Patrimonium Pietatis pacem enim peccatorum videns Ecclesia non raro experta est potentiam mortalium esse stipendium sceleris Quare Catenas Martyrum anteferimus exuviis Triumphantium Rex sempiternus Principatus Coelestes pollicetur non iis qui superbo pede jura proterunt sed qui persecutionem patiuntur propter justitiam c. Quod si eousque vis progrediatur ut vos ad noxium illud illicitum Anglicanae fidelitatis jura mentum adigat mementote Orationem vestram ab universo Angelorum spectantium consessu audiri Et adhaereat lingua vestra faucibus â—estris priusquam Authoritatem B. Petri ea jurisjurandi formula imminutam detis Non enim ibi id solum agitur ut fides Regi servetur sed at sacrum Universae Ecclesiae sceptrum eripiatur Vicariis Dei Omnipotentis Quod soeliciis Recordationis Paulus V. Praedecessor noster in tam gravi deliberatione decrevit id omnino tanquam Decretum Veritatis servare debeatis Dilecti Filii Tributum hoc Principi Apostolorum debitum nullaâ— hominum minae aut blanditiae a vobis unquam extorqueant qui secus suadent ij visionem mendacem divinationem fraudulentam prophetant vobis Citius enim viro Christiano debet potentium gladius vitam eripere quam fidem Quod si Angelus etiam e Coelo descendens vos aliter quam veritas Apostolica doceat Anathema sit c. Datum Romae S. Petri sub Annulo Piscatoris die xxx May 1626. Pontificatus nostri Anno tertiâ— Pope VRBAN VIII To his beloved Sons the Catholicks of England Beloved Sons Greeting and Apostolical Benediction TErrene foelicity is not always the benefit of Heaven and the Patrimony of Piety For the Church seeing the prosperity of sinners hath often found by experience that the greatness of Mortals is the stipend of Impiety Wherefore we prefer the Chains of Martyrs before the spoils of the Triumphant and the Eternal King promiseth Heavenly Principalities not to them who proudly trample the Laws under their feet but to those who suffer Persecution for Righteousness sake c. And if Violence proceed so far as to compel you to that pernicious and unlawful Oath of Allegiance of England Remember that your Prayers are heard in the whole Assembly of the Angels beholding you And let your Tongue cleave to the roof of your mouth rather than you permit the Authority of St. Peter to be diminished with that form of Oath For that is not all that Fidelity be kept unto the King but that the Sacred Scepter of the Catholique Church be wrung from the Vicar of God Almighty That which our Predecessor Paul V. of blessed memory with so great deliberation decreed that ought ye altogether to observe as a Decree of Truth Beloved Sons this Tribute due to the Prince of the Apostles no threats or flatteries of men ought at any time to extort from you and they who perswade you otherwise prophesie unto you a lying Vision and a fraudulent divination for sooner ought the Sword of the Mighty take from a Christian his life than his Faith yea if an Angel from Heaven teach you otherwise than the Apostolique Truth let him be Accursed c. Dated at Rome at St. Peters under the Signet of the Fisher xxx of May 1626 the third year of our Popedom FINIS THE TABLE A A Drian II commands the murther of Michael the Emperour 182 Albert. Emperour murther'd 301 The Oath of Allegiance vid. Oath Cardinal Allens bad Principles 70 71 His actions against