of Nauarre his kinsman and subiect For in the yéere M. DXI. at which time that war whereof we spake before waxed hot betwéen pope Iulius the second and Ludouike the 12. king of France who was called father of his countrie and that same furious tyrant went about to terrifie him with his vaine thunderbolts and had made his kingdome a praie and spoile to him that could get it Iohn great grandfateer to this our Henrie reigned in Nauarre He forasmuch as he both was in the realme of France and was neighbor to the French king and also by reason of the great fées he had in his realme was his client and vassall was requested by king Ludouike that he would aide him against his enimie according to the right of senioritie and ordinances of seruiceable clientships The king of Nauarre being not vnmindfull of his dutie toward the king hauing with all spéed mustered and gathered bands of footemen and horsemen in his kingdom he brought so great an armie into the borders of France that he left his realme in a maner naked and destitute of men Which thing being knowen pope Iulius determined foorthwith to deale by messengers with Ferdinando king of Spaine to whom he then first of all gaue the sirname of Catholike anno 1492. that with all spéede he should make readie an armie and should inuade the dominion of the king of Nauarre who was absent and he promiseth that for his part he would both proscribe Nauarre for an heretike and schismatike and would also giue him his kingdome for a reward Ferdinandus hauing gotten so fit an opportunitie to do an exploit determined not to be wanting to himselfe After the curse was pronounced and published against the king of Nauarre he assembled his forces and entering the borders of the king his neighbor being absent he tooke first the principall citie of the kingdome named Pompiopolis and then afterward the most part of the whole realm hauing as we said pope Iulius for his author a good one and without all doubt a fit one if in the rule of the law wherin it is written that He possesseth vniustly which possesseth hauing the pretor for his author it were written the pope for his author in stead of the pretor for his author Soone after the king of France being not ignorant that the senior ought to deliuer his vassall from the danger of that euent which thing euen Bellaius Langaeus somtimes a most excellent light of France doth plainely testifie in his first booke of commentaries sent his armie to recouer Pompiopolis ouer which he set as captaine Dunosius chiefe gouernor of Aquitania and duke of Longouilla But it séemeth more conuenient to defer vntil some other time what happened both at that time and many yéeres after and to set it downe in a booke written of those things For it is sufficient for vs to vnderstand at this time that the king of Nauarre great grandfather to him that now is was spoiled of his kingdome for none other cause saue onely bicause he aided as he ought the king of France his neighbor his senior being excommunicate by pope Iulius proscribed and pronounced to be an heretike and schismatike Whereof not onely the French historiographers are witnesses and amongst these Arnoldus Ferronus and Bertrandus Helias but also the Italians and Spaniards and chiefly Stephen Garibaius in his 29. book Francis Tarapha and Anthonie Nebrissensis in his booke concerning the war of Nauarre * In which places me thinks we 1. c. 1. 2. 3. should not omit the arrogancie of a Spanish peasant as we say commonly who railed vpon and slandered the most wise and moderate king of France that euer was and that in these words Ludouike saith he the French king a man most inconstant Ch. 2. after the maner of his nation being not content to kéepe himselfe within his owne little skin that is within the borders of his own kingdom set his mind toward Italie And shortly after Therefore pope Iulius the second being angrie tooke the sword out of Peters hands and drew it against the rebellious and stubborne he declareth them to be schismatiks and therefore heretiks he maketh their goodes common for the execution of which sentence he calleth vpon Christian princes chiefly vpon our prince Also chap. 3. Therefore the gouernor of the countrie of Spaine fearing the rage of the French men doth exhort Henrie king of the Britans to whom Aquitania did belong to require it againe by war and that he might haue iuster cause to aske it againe the apostolike authoritie commeth betweene whereby he depriueth the French king of Aquitania let the senators and kings counsellers in France marke and giueth it to the king of Britane to possesse and enioie And by and by in that place where he bringeth in the pope conferring with his cardinals The king of Spain saith he must be holpen We must draw out both our swords against the common enimies of all good men the kings of France and Nauarre and whiles that we whet the one that is the secular in the meane season let vs bend the other namely the spirituall against the necks of schismatiks Therfore by the common decree of the cardinals the king of Nauarre was declared to be a schismatike and therefore an heretike bicause being often admonished he was waxen stubborne and he did openly professe that he was French He was fined in his kingdome and all his goods not onely he but also his wife and his sonnes with all their posteritie and all his right of being king was translated vnto Spain The Spanish Nebrissensis saith thus in as manie words wherby we vnderstand by what right by what author and for what cause the king of Nauarre was robbed of his kingdome Indéed Guicciardin in his 11. booke of his Italian historie setteth downe his iudgement touching this matter in these words When the king of Spaine saith he could not affirme that he did lawfully possesse the kingdome of Nauarre for any other cause or by any other title he reasoned that he had possession by the right of the popes commandement and authoritie of the holie sea For the pope being not well content with things that fell out happily in Italie had a little before published a decree against the king of France wherin calling him no more most Christian but most noble he made him and all that tooke his part subiect to the penalties of heretiks and schismatiks and hauing granted power by right to take and enioy their goods kingdoms and all that they had he declared them to be condemned To the same effect also writeth Arnoldus Ferronus a most learned historiographer in matters of France and sometimes senator of the Parleament holden at Burdeaux in these words Ferdinandus saith he king of Spaine so soone as he vnderstood of the league made betweene the kings of France and Nauarre turned his forces prepared against the French king against the king of Nauarre and
which are drawne out of the pure fountaines of Scripture those do they most carefullie embrace those things which are brought in into religion out of these munkish pits filthy sinks doe they reiect and detest And yet this is the onely cause why pope Sixtus the fift hath so proudly cruelly cursed thē both Of which pope Sixtus it séemeth good to me to speake somewhat in this place that all men may perceiue both what manner of man he is and also from what roots he sprang to such pride and became so hawtie Therfore his first name was Felix Peretus He was borne in a base village nigh to Formana called Montalto in the yéere 1521. the thirtéenth day of December Being a boy he was brought vp among munkes that is not to say any more among goate buckes at length being a yoong man hée was chosen into the order of the Franciscanes vnto whose holie rites after hée was admitted now growne vp he was at last chosen by the inquisitours of the Romish faith into their colledge Which office when he did so execute a fewe yéeres ago that few could abide his cruel nature it fell out so by hap at that time that he called a certaine noble man of Venece before him When he did more cruelly handle the man vnacquainted with hearing reproches not many daies after he met the same noble man by chance whom so soone as the same noble man perceiued he commanded one of his waiters to beate downe with a cudgell he had in his hand the pride of vnfortunate Peretus The vnfortunate man who of Felix was become Infelix went straightway to Rome and tolde pope Pius the fourth who was then high gouernour at Rome The pope being highly displeased sendeth him back againe to Venece with greater authoritie and power So soone as he shewed the senate his bull the wise men which knew ful wel the troublesome nature of the man and how that he was inflamed with desire of reuenge commanded foorth-with a torche to be lighted and did straightly command him that before the torch was burnt he shoulde get him with spéede out of their coastes if he were wise Infelix going to Rome againe made his complaint to the pope When the pope perceiued that he was a man most fit for his purpose he did first aduance him to this honor that he made him master of his pallace that done when Toledanus the archbishop one of the spanish inquisition which is fearefull to all nations was suspected of heresie the pope sent him into Spaine that he might be present at that question iudgement It happened by chance at that time that he that was then generall that is chiefe prelate of the Franciscanes which is the highest office and dignitie of that sorte of men died Which inheritance the pope gaue to Felix Peretus who by this means was made the archcowled chiefe cowled and cloaked cowled frier of that order of Franciscanes and a few yéeres after he was also chosen cardinall by the same pope At length when pope Gregorie the 13. was dead our archcowling Felix was chosen into his roome in troubling France by his commendation and fauour who is chiefe at Rome in furthering these matters and whom he doth plainely aide in holding the residue of the kingdome of Nauarre By these degrées procéedings he which a fewe yéeres ago was a cowled a roped a most vile frier créeping in his slitted shooes is now become a thunderer a thunderbolt caster an excommunicator of kings and princes Most mightie now with double sword And high aduanced to kisse whose toe Both Caesar comes and also kings In broydred purple which do go As Mantuan wrote of Iulius the second The crime of vsing tyrannie in the Church IT followeth that we come to the second crime of the papacie which consisteth in vsing lordship ouer the church of Christ For the holie Scripture teacheth vs that Christ alone is the head of the Church 1. Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 5. 7. 9. Eph 4. 15. 16. Ibid. 5. in another place that Christ is the head of the bodie of the Church * The same scripture giueth this name to Christ alone that he is the chiefe pastour high priest * 1. Col. 18. 1. Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 6. 7. But the pope of Rome saith All the church saith he through out the world knoweth that the holy church of Rome hath right to iudge all men and no man may giue iudgement of his iudgement c. And as followeth All the whole church throughout the worlde knoweth that the seat of S. Peter hath power to loose those things that are bounde by the iudgements of any bishops whatsoeuer which hath power to iudge the whole church Also The pastorall charge of carefulnes is inioined Clement pasto de sent re iudicat Cap. 1. extrauag de emp. vend vs by God ouer all nations of the Christian people Also Bearing rule ouer the gouernment of the church vniuersall by the lords prouidence Also * Cap. ad Regimen extrauag de praebend c. 1. de treug pac Being called by the disposition from aboue to gouerne the vniuersall church Also * Being called to the gouernement of the vniuersall Church by the disposition of Gods clemency Also * The bishop of c. 1. de consuet Rome is appointed by the Lord ouer nations and kingdoms Also * The holie church of c. 3. de elect Rome which by the Lords disposition hath from God the principalitie ouer all other churches as being the mother and mistresse of all the faithfull Also That therefore all churches 24. q. 1. c. rogamus c. sacrosancta are subiect to the sea of Rome bicause Peters sea was translated from Antioch to Rome Also That the sea of Rome is the head and hinge d. ca. sacro-sancta of all churches and as the doore is gouerned by the hinge so all churches are gouerned by that authoritie of that sea But to what end do we séeke out those olde things Séeing our Franciscan Sixtus the fift began this his bull on this wise That The authoritie giuen him by Christ and S. Peter doth surmount the power of all kings and princes and that the care for all churches people and nations lieth vpon him Thus therefore writeth the pope of Rome Now we must also consider by what right or authoritie he taketh vpon him so great power and lordship For we sée he bringeth and alleageth a double cause of this lordship and principalitie the former from the decrée of Christ Feed my sheepe and Thou art Peter and vpon this rock For in that the Lord said saith the pope Feede my sheepe and that generallie Mine not particularly Those or These by this it is vnderstood that he committed the whole flocke to him The pope alledgeth c. vnam sanctam Extrauag de maior obed another cause out of the Donation of the emperor
a band-dog or Cerberus than this But as I haue alreadie said this boldnes of the pope against the king of Nauarr is not greatly to be woondered at séeing such was his vnbridled furie against the most mightie king of France Wherefore let vs heare rather other testimonies of like and the same pride for it is not for man to contend with satan in railing spéeches and it shall be sufficient to vse that curse of Michael the archangell The Lord Jude 1. 9. rebuke thee Therefore to returne to our purpose we must not passe ouer that testimonie of the same popish seruice which is reported touching the same Boniface who in the yéere 1300. when there was great concourse of people at Rome by reason of the Iubilie in the first solemne day the pope shewed himselfe to the people in his Pontificalibus the day following hauing on the attire of the emperor he commanded a naked sword to be borne before him crieng with a lowd voice I am the pope and emperor and I beare rule in earth and heauen And a few daies after hée proudly reiected Albertus created emperor by the electors of Germanie when he came to craue his confirmation denieng that the election had without his authoritie ought to be counted firme séeing he alone had the authoritie of both swords After some good space he confirmed him vpon condition that with al expedition he shuld make war against the French king whose kingdome he gaue him for a pray and reward of his victorie Which things are witnessed by Cuspianus in the life of Albertus in the chronicle of Vsperge and by the writers of the French chronicles But to what end do we prosecute these light and trifling things We haue before declared that the pope of Rome doth claime by the donation of Constantine the empire of al the west parts These be but bare words Wherefore let vs looke into the thing it selfe For we denie that there is any king in the west I meane of France Spaine Aragon Portugal Hungarie Bohemia England Scotland Denmarke Sueueland Ruscia Croatia Dalmatia whom the papacie of Rome will not haue to be vassall and feudatarie to it as if he had receiued his kingdome from him as a fée and benefit and ought for that cause to ow allegeance and to do homage to him It is much that we say and almost incredible to be spoken but the truth shall appéere by instruments that we wil bring to light and by testimonies that we will vse For we wil touch euery realme according to the order of the letters Of that of England AVgustine Steuchus the maister of the popes librarie doth witnes in his book of the donation of Constantine that in 2. pag. 138. that librarie of the popes there is extant a register of pope Alexander the 3. wherein is found an epistle to William king of England For as we vnderstand by that booke of Steuchus the maister of the librarie all the actes of euerie pope are written in seuerall registers to the which what credit we ought to giue the verie rule of the law doth show wherein it is said that a priuate writing must be beléeued but onely against the writer himselfe Therfore this was Alexander his epistle Your wisedome knoweth that the kingdome of Englande sithence the time that the name of Christ was there glorified hath bin vnder the hand and tuition of the chiefe of the Apostles For as you know full well the Englishmen were faithfull and in respect of godly deuotion and knowledge of religion they gaue a yeerely pension to the apostolike sea wherof some part was giuen to the bishop of Rome some part to the church of S. Marie which is called the schoole of the Englishmen to the vse of the brethren These things are cited out of Steuchus But I finde these testimonies in other places besides Steuchus Flauius Blondus in his 6. booke Decad. 2. Then saith he Iohn king of England fearing that he was not of sufficient force to deale with the French king fled to the mercy of Innocentius the third pope of Rome for making England and Ireland feudataries to the church of Rome by league he promised to pay for either Iland an hundred markes in gold yeerely Antonie of Florence saith * Iohn king of England of his own accord Hist. part 3. tit 19. §. quinto anno 1223. by the counsell of his princes offered and did freely grant to God and his most holie Apostles Peter Paul and to the holie church of Rome and to the lord Innocentius the third being pope all the kingdome of England and also of Ireland with all their rights and appurtenances and he hath done and sworne homage for the same kingdomes to the saide Innocentius the pope that he should hold them hereafter as a feudatarie of the said pope and his successours Whereof also Polidore Virgill maketh mention in his 15. booke By this instrument of the pope if as I said we may giue credence to a priuate writing the realme of England is feudatarie to the pope Go to let vs sée the rest Of the kingdome of Arragonia STeuchus in the selfe same booke * saith Pag. 193. Peter king of Arragonia in the third yeer of the L. Innocentius the third being pope came to Rome to the same Innocentius and he receiued from him solemnely an honorable knighthood and he offered willinglie to S. Peter and to the holie church of Rome his whole kingdome and there he had for his fee the same kingdome Also he appointed to pay a certaine summe of money for the kingdome of Sardinia Of the kingdome of Croatia and Dalmatia STeuchus in the same booke * in the register of Gregorie the seauenth we reade thus In the name of the lord of the holie Pag. 191. and indiuisible Trinitie in the yeere of the Lords incarnation one thousand seuenty sixe in the 14. indiction of the moneth of October I Demetrius which am also called Suinumir by the grace of God duke of Croatia and Dalmatia being made and constituted by thee L. Gebizus hauing the power of Pope Gregorie by the ambassage of the apostolike sea by the synodall and generall election of the whole cleargie and people in the Solantine church of S. Peter and being inuested and appointed king in the gouernment of the kingdome of the Croatians and Dalmatians by the banner sword scepter and crowne to thee I vowe and promise that I will vnchangeably fulfill all things which thy reuerend holines shall inioine me that I may keepe mine oth to the Apostolike sea in all things and that I may keepe irreuocably whatsoeuer as well the sea apostlike as the legates thereof haue or shall establish in this realme that I may execute iustice and defend the church also I appoint to pay to S. Peter yeerely in the resurrection of the Lord the tribute of two hundred Bizanties of al my consulships and primacies for the kingdome granted to me Furthermore seeing to
THE BRVTISH THVNDERBOLT or rather FEEBLE FIER-FLASH of Pope SIXTVS the fift against HENRIE the most excellent King of Nauarre and the most noble HENRIE BORBON Prince of CONDIE Togither with a declaration of the manifold insufficiencie of the same Translated out of Latin into English by CHRISTOPHER FETHERSTONE Minister of Gods word Nahum 3. I wil reueale thy filthines vpon thy face and wil shew thy nakednes amongst the nations and thy shame in the kingdoms Imprinted at London by Arnold Hatfield for G. B. and R. Newbery 1586 TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORD ROBERT DVDLEY Earle of Leicester Baron of Denbigh Knight of the most noble orders of the Garter and of S. Michael Maister of the Queenes horse one of hir Highnesse most honourable priuie Councel and Lord Lieutenant and Captaine general of hir Maiesties forces in the Low countries THE EXPERIence of your honorable acceptation of my last simple trauell in translating Maister Caluins Commentaries vpon Saint Iohns Gospell hath imboldened me further to present your Honor with another slender fruit of the same Which though it be not of like qualitie with the former yet I doubt not but it shal prooue profitable to as manie as with diligence and indifferencie shall vouchsafe it the pervsing The Author albeit not specified heerin by name seemeth to be a man of great reading singular iudgement and excellent dexteritie in handling the matter which he vndertooke The worke a notable discouery of that Abaddon or destroieng enimie the sonne of perdition that sitteth in the temple of God as God wherein both his defacing of the glorie of the sonne of God in heauen whose vicegerent he would be counted and his trampling vnder feete whatsoeuer is called God amongst men besides his manifold violences committed against the Church and Saints of God are most liuelie depainted and set before our eies Many woorthie wits of rare gifts haue trauelled in laieng open his vsurpations villanies and outrages with the originall and processe causes and effects precedents and consequents of the same acording as they were occasioned But this man hath drawen into one entire bodie a great manie memorable points which are dispersedly found in others so that he that listeth may at once take a view as it were of such an vglie monster as would trouble the strongest fantasie in the world to imagine and the most curious hand to pourtray the like Howbeit it is not much to be hoped for that the Italianate atheists and discontented Papists of which there are such swarmes amongst vs will any thing at all be mooued with the cleere light of these most euident demonstrations to reforme their iudgements and preiudicate opinions alreadie conceiued and rooted within them touching his pretended supremacie ouer Gods Church For it is greatly to be feared least by a iust iudgement of the almightie they are become past feeling so that they grope as the blind at noone day giuen ouer to all deceiueablenes of vnrighteousnes through a strong spirit of delusion bicause they would not receiue the loue of the truth that they might be saued But howsoeuer their harts be as hard as the adamant and their eies couered with the mist of palpable darknes euen to this day yet wisedom shal be iustified of hir children Whom God hath foreappointed to be beholders of his glorie they shall in their due time be inlightened with the knowledge of his sauing truth and come out of Babylon with as great speede as euer the Israelites posted out of Egypt Yea they shall clap their hands at the ruine of that Antichristian synagog which being now tottering and readie to fall to the ground laboreth with might and maine by force and fraud by treacherous attempts by cruell practises and open inuasions as it were by mingling heauen and earth togither to vphold it selfe as may be seene in most places of Europe at this day But he that sitteth in heauen laugheth them to scorne the Lord shall haue them in derision Whose words touching the ouerthrow of Babylon cannot fall to the ground but must be fulfilled in their time For doubtles Babylon must fal be rewarded according to hir works the kings of the earth shall loath and persecute this vniuersall strumpet to make hir desolate naked to eate hir flesh consume hir with fire Thrise blessed are they that band themselues togither bend their whole forces to execute these iudgements of the Lord which he hath decreed vpon hir In which respect your H. hath great cause to magnifie the Lord for his gratious mercies toward you in that he hath vouchsafed you this honor to stand in armes against one of hir principall louers in so iust and holie a quarell as is the maintenance of his sacred religion and the deliuering of the helplesse out of the hands of the oppressor so aduisedly and necessarily vndertaken by hir excellent maiestie A thing iustifiable by the lawes of God and man of nature and nations yea warranted by the like practise of most Christian Emperors in former ages and sundrie other good presidents of antiquitie Now seeing God hath dealt so mercifully with you it is your H. part to behaue your selfe valiantly and to fight the Lords battels with courage He is on your side therefore you are on the mountaines and your enimies in the vallies he shall be a brasen wall to defend you on euerie side if you set his feare before you and repose your trust in him The garde of his holie Angels shall be a surer protection vnto you than any trench bulwarke or fortresse you can deuise The praiers of all the godlie in the land being deeply touched with an inward sympathie and fellow-feeling of their neighbors calamities are powred out continually for your safetie and happie successe in this noble enterpise and your H. may be well assured that they shall procure more fauour to you at the hands of the Lord than any either aduersarie forces or associations of the holy Tridentine league shal be able to preuaile to the contrarie Wherfore my Lord arme your selfe with Christian courage policie and warines against these vncircumcised Philistins remember that they with whom you fight are deuowed vassals to that beast which is described in this booke whose power God be thanked hath been found too weake to shake the throne of our gratious Souereigne notwithstanding his often assaults His thunderbolts of excommunications and bannings haue beene esteemed as paper-shot by those noble Princes of the house of Borbon and Vendosme in France He sitteth in his Vaticane as one at his wits end destitute of counsel knowing that the assurance of his kingdom standeth but vpon one or two such Egyptian reedes as are mentioned by the prophet of no great safetie or suretie to be leaned vpon Should not the consideration of these things increase your fortitude and magnanimitie that you neuer faint nor giue ouer before you see a blessed end of your labors Which the Lord of heauen in a
tender regard of his poore Church in this corner of the world grant vnto you that in the end returning home you may be receiued with such ioifull acclamations and songs of triumph as Dauid was by the daughters of Israel after his victorious subduing of the Lords enimies and in the life to come may be crowned with those pretious blessings which are reserued for them that to the vttermost of their power helpe the Lord against the mightie Your Honors most bounden and at commandement in the Lord CHR. FETHERSTONE London The third of October 1586. To the Reader CHristian Reader my onely drift and purpose in translating this Treatise was to acquaint my countriemen who are not skilfull in the Latine toong with such papall practises as are heerin described The title wherof being in the Latin copie BRVTVM FVLMEN I was first of opinion that I might well english it THE BRVTISH THVNDERBOLT But when I remembred with my selfe that words are no otherwise currant than as they are allowed by vse and the philosopher giueth good aduise when he saith Loquendum Arist. Top. 2. cum vulgo sentiendum cum sapientibus Our speech must be such as is commonly vsed howsoeuer our thoughts be the thoughts of the wiser sort and it hath not bin lawfull for the emperors themselues to giue as it were freedome of citie to words in Rome when they might enfranchise what persons they listed without controlement I would not aduenture to be the first coiner of so strange a terme strange indeed in respect of that sense to which it was to be applied without better warrant than I haue anie and therefore I haue expressed the authors meaning in some other maner thus THE FEEBLE FIER-FLASH that is * Bruta fulmina vana vt quae nulla veniant ratione naturae Plin. lib. 2. cap. 43. dull of force vaine and whereof no sufficient cause can be giuen in reason For such now a daies who knoweth not are those ordinarie anathematicall lightenings that breake foorth from the see of Rome as the Poet in his Aeneis attributeth to king Salmoneus Virgil. Aeneid 6. which may happely amaze and seduce the harts of them that haue bin all their liues long noosled vp in superstition error but as manie as God hath enabled by his grace to trie spirits they make no more reckoning of such foolish flames than they that walke in the night do account of that fire which is commonly called Ignis fatuus by which no wise man would suffer himselfe to be misled For the rest I submit all my trauell to thy gentle and curteous inteâ—preâ—â—â—â—on I haue done what I might seeing what I would I could not by reason of sicknes 〈◊〉 vpon me In which respect I shall the 〈◊〉 pardon for those sundrie ouersights which haue escaped me for want of sufficient conference with my friends Onely I praie thee let not the tedious narrations of Dominick and Francis setdowne almost in the first entrance keepe thee backe from wading through the whole worke No doubt but the author himselfe was halfe ashamed to make recitall of such grosse stuffe and absurd follies sauing that he had good reason to do that he did partly in respect of the present Pope and partly bicause such beastly vanities are highly esteemed in the church of Rome I confesse that the Iesuits are not altogither so palpablie grosse in outward shew howbeit he that listeth to take a taste of their extreem impudencie in lying may read * To which Melch. Canus applieth their common countrie prouerbe De luengas vias luengas mentiras their letters written from Iapan and the Indies with many other reports set downe in the life of their father Ignatius Layâ—â—â— full of like vanity They haue learned to lay fairer colors on their filthie corruptions to dazell the eies of the simple and ignorant But remooue those colours and they will quickly appeere to be birds of the same nest Their first Founder was neuer yet of greater name and fame than Dominic holie S. Francis Their doctrine vowes rules profession either the same in substance or not very much differing The other had their time of florishing in the world and so must these haue likewise till they returne backe againe to the bottomles pit out of the smoke wherof they ascended Reuel 9. 2. 3. to giue place peraduenture to some other new vpstart progenie of Locusts by whom the light of their credit also shal be obscured quite extinguished The Lord make vs thankfull for all his mercies towards vs and either conuert or confound the enimies of his euerlasting truth Thy brother in Christ Christoph. Fetherstone The blessings of our most holie Lord Pope Sixtus the fift against the King of Nauarre and the Prince of Condie Pag. 2. We exercise the weapons of our warfare against two sonnes of wrath Henrie Borbon sometimes King of Nauarre and also against Henrie Borbon sometimes Prince of Condie The former hauing from his youth followed heresies hath stood stubbornely in defence therof Pag. 4. The same lieng wallowing in filth being the head captaine and patrone of heretiks and rebels hath borne weapon against his most Christian king against him and the rest of the catholiks he hath with violence inforced his subiects to become partners in his impietie he hath caused conuenticles of heretiks to be kept Pag. 6. The Prince of Condie hauing two heretiks for his parents hauing followed the heresies of his father and mother entring the way of his father being a most wicked persecutor of the catholike church shewed himselfe an author of ciuil war and sedition he vsed alkind of fiercenes and crueltie being the detestable and degenerate issue of the house of Borbon Pag. 8. We pronounce them to be heretiks relapsed into heresies to be impenitent captains and fauorers of heretiks guiltie of treason against God and also to be enimies to the Christian faith that they are depriued and put from the former of and from the kingdome of Nauarre that the other and the posteritie of either of them are depriued of all principalities dukedoms lordships and fees honors and princelie offices that they were and are vnfit and vncapable to retaine the same In the same Page And in like sort that they are depriued vncapable vnfit to succeed in dukedoms principalities and kingdoms and specially in the kingdome of France and moreouer and besides of that high authoritie we haue we do depriue them and their posteritie for euer and we make them vnable to succeede in dukedoms principalities lordships and kingdoms namely in the kingdome of France Pag. 9. We absolue set free the Nobles feodaries vassals and al other which by any maner means are sworne to them from all such oth and dutie of faith and alleageance we forbid them that they presume not to obeie them In the same Page We admonish and exhort the most Christian king of France that he be diligent in executing our
at the least therefore the sum is an hundred and twentie thousand crownes 74. At the same time there were voide priorships deaneries prouostships masterships and other dignities which haue not the pastorall staffe for their insigne more than two hundred and for euerie one of these benefices there were paide downe fiue hundred crownes the summe therefore is an hundred thousand crownes 75. It is manifest that in this realme there be at least an hundred thousand parishes which are inhabited and replenished Neither is there any one wherein at that time some one did not obtaine an expectatiue grace and for euerie one of these they paied fiue and twentie crowns as well for the charges of the iournie as for the making of the buls non obstances prerogatiues annullations and other especiall clauses which were woont to be adioined to the graces expectatiues Also for the executorie processe vpon the same graces This summe is twentie times fiue hundred thousand crownes Thus saith the Senate of Paris Now let vs collect the totall summe of the summes We shall find that it amounteth to the summe of nine hundred six and fortie thousand six hundred thréescore and six crownes and moreouer to the eight part of one crowne which is the third part of that sum which the Senate of Paris sheweth to haue béen caried to Rome in that thrée yéeres space namely eight and twentie hundred and fortie thousand crowns or to speak plainly in our countrie spéech thrée millions of gold lacking an hundred thréescore thousand or as the Germans say almost eight and twentie tunnes of gold Moreouer we haue found out that the taxe of the vacations written in the bookes of the treasure-house of the cathedrall churches and abbaies of France being taxed onely doth euery sixt yéere amount to the summe of six hundred ninetie seuen thousand seuen hundred and fiftie French pounds besides the prelacies and other benefices that are not taxed the exactions whereof do almost arise to that summe And shal there be any in the kings Parleament of France that will confesse that he can with a quiet mind suffer this whirlepit or rather Scylla Charibdis or gulfe And will not rather so soone as he heareth this losse of so great summes detest and accurse that huge and cruell beast with all praiers And yet we will not cite this testimonie onely Lo we haue another out of the booke whose title is The Forest of common places which was published about the end of the Councell holden at Basill wherein is gathered into a grosse summe the summe of monie that during the time of pope Martin the fifts popedome was caried to Rome out of France alone which is saide to haue amounted to ninetie hundred thousande crownes And do we woonder that that same Senate of Paris did in the same requests artic 71. sore and bitterly complaine that so great a summe of gold and siluer was yéerely caried to Rome so that they were compelled somtimes for the vse of the common people of France to coine brasse monie for siluer monie But let vs heare the 62. article of the same requests Heertofore saith the Senate of Paris the people of this kingdome ran to Rome by heapes whereof some serued the cardinals and courtiers some being seruants to no man but being intised by some vaine hope did spend their owne and their parents substance other some and that a great manie went to Rome for this purpose that they might procure trouble to the rest that staied heere and that they might wring out of their hands by hooke or by crooke their churches and benefices For we find by experience that the greatest part of those which went hence to Rome was woont to die straightway either through wearisomnes and danger of the iournie or through the plague which is oftentimes very rife at Rome and those which escaped out of these dangers they procured trouble to old men sicke persons and to such like which were continually resident in their churches and benefices But it did oftentimes fall out that silly men being cited to the court of Rome when as they could not defend themselues against these false accusers were inforced to end their life through wearisomnes and sorrow 62. Most of those that did hunt after benefices did quite emptie their parents and friends bagges and at length they were brought to great pouertie and beggerie Neither did they indure so great iniuries vpon any other hope saue onely that they might somtimes bring home lead for gold and it fell out sometimes that the gaping crow was deceiued and that the lead that was bought with gold was nothing else but lead For whiles they trusted to their leaden buls there came in one between which brought at a sudden an annullation and sometimes there were ten or twelue that did gape and catch for one benefice And when the strife was once begun they must backe againe to Rome to follow the sute so that whiles all men ran to Rome from all quarters the realme was miserably destitute of hir people and subiects And this surely was the complaint of the Senate of Paris of the vnsatiable couetousnes and gréedie robberie of the popes aboue an hundred yéeres ago which was presented to king Ludouike and yet not sproong from the new and fresh robberies of the popes For there is extant a decrée of that Ludouike that was called Blessed anno 1228. which doth plainly shew how great the couetousnes of the popes was in France euen at that time The exactions Sub. tit de Talijs saith he and heauie burdens laid vpon the churches of our realme by the court of Rome whereby the realme is woonderfully impouerished or which shall heerafter be laid vpon vs will we haue to be leuied and gathered no farther foorth saue onely for reasonable godly and most vrgent necessitie and such as cannot be auoided and according to our expresse and free consent and of the church of our realme It séemeth good to me likewise to cite in this place that excellent conclusion of the Abbat of Vsperge out of the life of Philip the emperor wherby it may be vnderstood Pag. 321. how ancient this complaint was concerning the robberies of the papacie of Rome which Sixtus the fift hath determined to maintaine stoutly with all his tyrannie There scarce remained saith he any bishoprike or ecclesiasticall dignitie or parish church which was not in suite and the cause it selfe was brought to Rome but not with an empty hand Our mother Rome be glad bicause the sluces of the treasuries of the earth are set open that the streames and heapes of monie may flow vnto thee in great abundance Reioice ouer the iniquities of the sonnes of men bicause thou hast a reward giuen thee in recompence of so great euils Be glad ouer thine helper discord bicause she is broken out of the pit of hell that thou maist haue many rewards of monie heaped vpon thee Thou hast that after which
serue God is to raigne in steed of S. Peter and of our lord pope Gregorie and after him insteed of his successors in the apostolike sea I commit my selfe to thine hands and in committing my self I establish this fidelitie with an oth I say I Demetrius which am also called Suinumir by the grace of God and the gift of the apostolike sea being from this day and heretofore king shall be faithfull to S. Peter and my L. pope Gregorie and his successors that enter canonically As for the kingdome L. Gebizo that is giuen me by thy hand I shall faithfully keepe it and I shall not take away the same and the right thereof from the apostolike sea by anie meanes or policie at any time I shall honorablie receiue and honestly handle send back my L. Gregorie the pope and his successours and ambassadours if they come into my dominion and I shall humble serue them what seruice soeuer they shall appoint vnto me These things writeth Steuchus Whereby we may know what eloquent and learned scribes the popes vse to haue which cannot onely set downe in writing the déedes and famous factes of Francis and Dominic but also write the instruments and witnessed briefes of inuested feudataries Of the kingdome of Denmarke STeuchus in the same 2. booke * The Pag. 189. kingdome of Denmarke saith he doth properlie belong vnto and is the tribute of the holie church of Rome which thing the true monuments of the popes do witnes Alexander the holie bishop the holie L. to his beloued sonne Sueuis king of Denmarke sendeth greeting and the apostolike blessing We admonish your wisedome that you prouide to send to vs and our successours the tribute of your kingdome which your predecessours were woont to paie to the church of the apostle yet so that it be not laide as an oblation vpon the altar but that it be offered aswell to vs as to our successours presentiallie that it may be more certainlie approoued Of the kingdome of France THere is extant in Nicolas Gillius a french man and a Chronicle writer an excellent epistle of pope Boniface the 8 which we will set downe Boniface the seruant of the seruants of God to Philip the french king Feare God and keepe his commandements We will haue you know that in spirituall things and temporall things you are subiect to vs there appertaineth to you no bestowing of benefices and prebends and if you haue the keeping of anie that are void reserue the profit therof for the successors and if you haue bestowed anie we decree that the gift thereof is voide we count those fooles that beleeue otherwise Geuen at Laterane 4. of the Nones of December in the 6. yeere of our popedome This instrument of pope Boniface is without doubt set downe in his register according to the custome by the kéepers of the librarie but let vs heare what the other partie answereth For we shall know by the kings answer what credence and authoritie we ought to giue to these registers of the popes Philip by the grace of God king of France to Boniface that carrieth himself for the chief bishop sendeth smal greeting or none at all Let your great follie know that in temporal things we are subiect to none that the bestowing of any churches or prebends that are vacant doth belong vnto vs by our princely right and to reape the fruits thereof against all possessours to maintaine our selfe profitablie and as for those that thinke otherwise wee count them doltes and mad men These things are cited out of the Britaine Chronicles of Armorica the 4. booke ch 14. and out of Nicolas Gillius in the french Chronicles whereby we may easilie coniect that howsoeuer we grant that these furious letters aforesaid were sent vnto kings by the popes yet did they sharpelie and vehemently represse their boldnes and rashnes And yet the same Steuchus the master of the popes librarie as we haue saide trusting to his register durst in the same book of his * write thus Pag. 198. and cause it to be printed at Lyons Boniface the 7. against Philip the king of France bicause hee did exalt himselfe against the Church when the pope had vnfolded to him the old monuments whereby he taught that France was subiect to the church of Rome both in holie and prophane things for which it was necessarie that he should reuerence and worship the pope as Lord of his kingdom when he despised him he did excommunicate him Of the empire of Germanie THe same Steuchus writeth nothing touching this empire by reason of the great power of Charles the fift whom Steuchus was afraide to offend But we haue else where verie manie testimonies First in the canonists * wherin is contained c. tibi Domino dist 63. the oth of the emperor Otho which he gaue to the pope Which pope Clement affirmeth to be the oth of alleageance in c. de iureiur in Clem. which vassals do giue to their patrones when they receiue a fée Whence the Canonists do stoutly dispute and reason that the emperor is the popes vassall and that he holdeth of him his empire by the name of a fée but also pope Innocentius the 3. writeth * that the right to choose the emperor in c. venerabilem extra de elect c. 2. de re iud in 6. in c. 1. ext Ne sed vacan came vnto the princes of Germanie from the apostolike sea And * that the emperor may be deposed by the pope And * that the pope when the empire is void is emperor And héerupon rose that boldnes of pope Innocentius the second that hée painted in the Laterane church at Rome the emperor Lotharius as a vassall lieng prostrate at his féete and receiuing the imperiall crown at his hands and did write these verses vnder the same picture Rex venit ante fores iurans prius vrbis honores Pòst homo fit papae sumit quo dante coronam The king before the doores did come The cities honors first he sweares That done the popes man he is made Of whom he takes the crowne he weares The memoriall whereof is extant in the chronicles of Hirsaug in the life of the abbat Hartuing in Radeuic * And when as lib. 1. num 9. 10. the same day the emperor Friderike had reasoned with the legates of pope Adrian Radeuic writeth that they answered thus Of whom thē hath he the empire if not from our Lord the pope Moreouer there is extant in Iohn Auentine * an epistle of pope Adrian vnto Lib. 6. pa. 636. the archbishops of Treuirs Moguntine and Colen written thus The Romane empire was translated from the Grecians vnto the Almaines so that the king of the Almaines was not called emperor before he was crowned by the Apostle Before the consecration he was king after the consecration emperor From whence then hath he his empire but from vs By the election of his princes he hath the name
of king by our consecration he hath the name of emperor and of Augustus and of Caesar Therefore by vs he reigneth our sea is at Rome the emperors at Aquis nigh Arduenna which is a wood of France The emperor hath all that he hath from vs. As Zacharie translated the empire from the Grecians to the Almains so we may translate it from the Almaines to the Grecians Lo it is in our power to giue it to whomsoeuer we will being therefore set ouer nations and kingdoms to destroy and pluck vp to build plant Thus writeth the pope of the Germane empire boldly ynough as it séemeth séeing he sendeth him to Aquisgranus and into the wood Arduenna as if he were some shéepherd or neatheard Shall there be any of the Counsellers of the most victorious emperor that can abide that fierce importunate voice of that tyrant But let vs heare more Of the kingdome of Spaine STeuchus in the same second booke Gregorie Pag. 133. the seuenth saith he writing to the kings and princes of Spaine saith thus You know that of old the kingdome of Spaine belongeth to the church of Rome And shortly after out of the register of Epistles of the same pope which he affirmeth to be kept religiously in his librarie he setteth down this epistle Gregorie the bishop the seruant of the seruants of God to the kings earles and other princes of Spaine greeting We will haue it knowne to you that the kingdome of Spaine was giuen by the ancient decrees to S. Peter and the holie church of Rome for their right and propertie and so foorth Of the kingdome of Hungarie COncerning the same there is a testimonie of like sort extant in the same maister of the librarie Gregorie the holie bishop Pa. 186. the holy lord to his beloued sonne Salomon king of Hungarie greeting As thou maist learne of the ancients of thy countrie the kingdome of Hungarie is proper to the holie church of Rome being in times past offered and deuoutly deliuered by king Stephen to S. Peter with all the right and power thereof And againe The same Gregorie writing to Geusus king of Hungarie we beleeue thou knowest that the kingdome of Hungarie as also other most noble kingdoms ought to be in the state of their owne libertie and to be in subiection to none other king of any other realme saue onely to the holie and vniuersall mother the church of Rome Of the kingdome of Polonia ALbertus Krantz in Wandal lib. 8. ca. 2. Lakoldus was duke of Cracouia at this time and he that bare rule throughout all Polonia He had from Iohn bishop of Rome the crowne bicause he did 〈…〉 Lodwik lawfull emperor bicause the pope did curse and excommunicate him For the popes were now come to that maiestie which secular princes cal presumption that they made kings citing the words of him that was first pope after Christ Behold saith Peter heer be two swords Against which the princes interpret the words of the eternall bishop Put vp thy sword into the sheath of the carnall humane and secular sword as if it were not lawfull for the pope to fight with it But Lakoldus being named and consecrated king by the pope made al the kingdome tributary to S. Peter that there should be paid yeerly for euerie one a penie which pence are called Peter-pence Of the kingdome of Ruscia STeuchus in the same booke * Also the Pag. 1â—â— kingdom of Ruscia is of right and destraint of the church of Rome as appeereth by the same ancient moniments Gregorie the seuenth writing to the king and queene of Ruscia To our beloued children saith he Demetrius king of Ruscia and to the queene his wife greeting and the apostolike blessing Your sonne visiting the shrines of the Apostles came to vs and bicause he would obtaine that kingdome by the gift of S. Peter by our hands he craued it with deuout petitions hauing giuen due alleageance to the same S. Peter the Apostle affirming vndoubtedly that that petition of his should be confirmed and established by our consent if he might be rewarded with the grace and defence of the Apostolike authoritie to whose petitions we gaue consent and we gaue him the gouernment of our kingdome in the behalfe of S. Peter namely with that intention of loue that S. Peter should defend you and your kingdome by his intercession to God Of the kingdome of Sicilia CLement the fift * Againe we must not In clem pastoralis de sent reiud passe ouer with silence that the king of Sicilia himselfe being our knowne subiect and the subiect of the church of Rome by reason of the foresaid kingdome and being a liege man and vassall hath his continuall abode in the same kingdome Of the kingdome of Scotland POlydore Virgil writeth thus in his seuentéenth booke In the meane season Boniface the pope being wearied by the Scots with their petitions forbad king Edward that hee should not heereafter trouble the Scots with war bicause that realme was before committed by the Scots to the tuition and made subiect to the power of the pope of Rome And therfore he auouched that it was in his power alone to giue it to whomsoeuer he would or to take it from whomsoeuer he would Hitherto haue we reckoned vp all the kingdoms of Christian kings which the pope auoucheth they hold and possesse as a fée or benefit receiued from him By euerie one whereof and by them all in generall we leaue it to men of courage to iudge whether this séemeth to be the humilitie of a modest pastor of the church so greatly commended of Christ or rather boldnes and hawtines of a fierce and intollerable giant Also we would haue them thinke with themselues whether this so great proud speaking of the popes came not from the same spirit from whence that oration of the tyrant Nero came which is left by Seneca to the posteritie in his first booke of Clemencie Of al mortal men I was liked and chosen to serue in the place of the Gods vpon earth I am to the nations the iudge of life and death It is in my hand what condition and state euery man hath What thing soeuer fortune would haue giuen to any mortall man she pronounceth it by my mouth People and cities conceiue causes of ioy by our answer No part doth any where florish saue onely when I am willing and fauourable These so manie thousands of fencers which my power doth suppresse shall be girded at my becke It is my iurisdiction what nations ought to be quite cut off which ought to be transported to whom libertie ought to be granted from whom it ought to be taken what kings ought to be bond-slaues and vpon whose head the princely crowne ought to be set what cities shal come to ruine and which shall florish The crime of Rebellion THe fourth crime followeth whereof we said the pope of Rome was long ago not onely accused by the
do homage to them and also pay a yéerelie tribute to the sea of Rome for the kingdome newly gotten When this couenant and conspiracie was concluded foorthwith the prince that held on the other side was proclaimed an heretike and schismatike and his kingdome was adiudged to him that did first get possession thereof By which shifts it cannot be told how manie fires the popes haue kindled in all parts of Christendom within these fower hundred yéeres how many kings and princes they haue made vassals tributaries and stipendaries to them and their filthie stinking sea Concerning which matter bicause we haue spoken at large a little before it shall be sufficient to speake of those two kings of France and England Therefore when there arose contention betwéen them pope Innocentius the third sent first from his consistorie into France two legates that they might both terrifie the king with threatening curses and that they might raise his subiects to rebell against him and that they might secretly consult and talke with the bishops and priests of France That done he did so quickly and sharply raise the emperor Otho the fourth and also Ferdinandus earle of Flanders and many other princes of other countries to beare armes against the French king that vnlesse he had happily with a valiant and stout hart contemned those threatenings and beastly buls of that pope he had lost not onely that part of his kingdome but also in a short time all the rest The remembrance whereof is extant not onely in our French chronicles but also in the Canonists * For that decretall shall be a in c. nouit 13. extra de iudic perpetual moniment of the popes hatred and rebellious mind against our kings and countrie Therfore we suppose that it is apparent to all men by these things and other that we haue shewed before what authoritie the orders and Counsellers of the realme of France ought to giue to this declaration of pope Sixtus whom we haue prooued by most manifest testimonies to haue béene not onely accused by the most part of Christendome of most notorious crimes but also to haue béene conuict and condemned But if happily there be anie that dispute that like as bicause two parts of thrée parts of Europe haue put downe the pope the third part must giue him none authority so séeing two parts of thrée parts of France would haue his authority reserued to him it is méete that his authoritie be preserued in France we haue a double answer in readinesse The first bicause out of that number of French men which taketh part with the pope all cardinals archbishops bishops priests innumerable crues of munks and clerks and other sharuebugs of the same sort the popes vassals finally all dogs which licke the popes tribunal seat must be culled out bicause of the rule of the law wherein we saie In what busines soeuer any mans matter is handled bicause in some respect §. sed neque Inst de testam ordi l. nullus 10. D. de test l. omnibus 9. C. eodem l. 1. §. in propria D. quand appell sit it concerneth him he is not a méet witnes in that busines The second is that when as these are culled out of the number no small part of the rest which follow the old custome of religion in France do that not with iudgement and willingly but being compelled with threatenings and terror that they are no more to be numbred amongst the clients of the papacie than as the lawiers say witnesses or Gardans retained in any busines by violence and feare are numbred among fit witnesses and authors of whom Vlpian writeth finely those that are present at any act or l. 1. §. vltim D de tutel l. qui testament 20. §. vlti D. qui testamen fac l. nouiss 7. §. 1. quod fals tutor auctor l. 2. D. de iud busines against their will they séeme to be no more present than if they had béene in that place being asléepe or oppressed with the falling sicknes Finally all men perceiue that if the French men had like libertie to vse and exercise both religions scarce the fourth part of the people of the realme would continue in the religion of the sea of Rome In which place it liketh vs wel to recite that old saieng of Bartholus who in the preface of the Digests * num 14. where disputing about Constantines donation and rekoning vp the opinions of other doctors when he commeth to his owne he saith thus Lo we are vpon earth of the church for he taught at Bononia and therefore I say that that donation was of force Where notwithstanding he writeth many things afterward flatly against that donation And in like sort when the canonistes did dispute that it was not lawfull for the emperor to condemne any man of rebellion that did follow the popes faction Bartholus making mention of the sentence of Henrie the emperor wherein he had condemned Robert king of Sicilia of rebellion and of the contrarie sentence of pope Clement the fift whereby he had absolued the same Robert he sheweth surely that he dare not oppose himselfe against the pope But he dissembleth not to allow the emperors sentence with which Bartholus the canonists were therefore greatly displeased which vse that verse of the pope and Caesar calling the pope their Iupiter Caesar with Iupiter doth diuide The empyre reaching far and wide Moreouer Bartholus disputeth in the same place that it was so far off that Robert was the popes vassall as the pope auouched against the emperour that he testifieth that when Robert was dead Aloysius his heire did sweare alleagance to the emperor in the name of Sicilia in the city of Pise he being there present Concerning which matter we must repaire to the constitution of Henrie Ad reprimendam Qui dicant rebel and the contrary In Clem. Pastoralis de iud constitution of the pope abrogating and reprochfully reuersing that But if we thinke it méete to speake any thing of the ecclesiasticall rebellion of popes it shal not be amisse to bring to light the testimony of one that was somtime a most famous Senator of Paris called Cosma Guymerius who vpō the preface of the pragmatical decrée writtē at Bituriga the author wherof was king Charles the seuenth reckoneth vp some things which are greatly appertinent to know the madnes of these Romish Alastors About the yeere of our Lord saith he M. cccxxc after the death of Gregorie the eleuenth when the cardinals were to proceed to choose another to succeed they were threatned by the Romanes that they should die if they would not choose some Italian Therfore they chose the archbishop of Bare who was then at Rome making knowne to him that they chose him to auoide danger or rather they did feigne that they did choose him but afterward when opportunitie was offered they did freelie intend to choose another Therefore when they had chosen him that was called
Marcellinus Paulus Diaconus and others so that euery man may plainely sée that that is false which the popes do hold that their ancetors had their lordship either in Italie or in the citie of Rome by the gift of Constantine séeing that lordship began only in the eight hundred yéere of our saluation by Christ by the liberalitie of Pipinus and Charles the great who gaue the Exarchate which they tooke from the Longobards togither with the citie of Rome to pope Stephen the second as Platina Volateranus and all other do witnesse but especiallie Sabellicus who besides the rest writeth Ennead 8. li. 8. that Constantine the fourth the emperour of the east sent ambassadours vnto Pipinus into Italie to intreat him to restore to their emperor Rauenna and the rest of the places of the Exarchate which were belonging to the empire so saith Sabellicus and not to the pope And that Pipinus made answere that he went to war neither for Constantine neither yet for any man saue onely for the church of Rome and that for that end and purpose he had put on armes that he might saue the Apostolike sea from the iniurie of all mortall men and that he might bring in subiection to the church of Rome Rauenna and whatsoeuer the Longobards had subdued by force and weapon So that the Grecian Orators returned home hauing vnended their matter Thus writeth Sabellicus But Platina saith that the Exarchate was taken from Astulphus a Longobard and was giuen to pope Stephen anno 756. and also that he gaue the name of emperor to Charles the great sonne of Pipinus which the emperors of the East did hardly maintaine in those times that is anno 801. touching which matter Albertus Krantzius writeth thus Some do attribute to In Saxon. lib. 2 c. 1. Constantine the great that donation of Italie that was made to the church of Rome of Italie and Germany and I wot not of what prouinces to which let them looke It was Charles who with the victorie of the Longobards enriched the church of Rome wheras long before both the Goths had giuen somwhat in their time and the kings of the Longobards somwhat also The fourth bicause the popes themselues speake contraries touching this donation and also such things as do greatly disagrée among themselues For séeing that in this place that is in d. c. Constantinus dist 96. they confesse that they receiued the Roman kingdome and that of Italie and of all the West from Constantine and in the yéere of Christ 338. they do notwithstanding in another place commend Ludouicus Pius sonne of Charles the great as the author of this benefit of theirs out of the yéere of Christ 835. The impudencie of which falsehood and forgerie that it may the better appéere we will compare two instruments of that donation togither the which the popes and canonists haue published for vs. For Volateranus saith thus The maister of the librarie Lib. Georg. 3. saith much of the godlines of Ludouicus Pius toward the popes of Rome reckoning vp the cities which he gaue them I likewise haue written out a copie out of the copie of the old booke which is at this day kept in the vatican library where his donation is recorded The edition of the instrument by Volaterane I Ludouike Emperor do grant to S. Peter the chiefe of the Apostles and by thee to thy vicar the Lord Paschalis the chiefe bishop and to his successors for euer the citie of Rome with the iurisdiction thereof and with all the lands about it cities hauens and places lieng neere to the sea of Hetruria Finally in it the old middle earth city Balneoregium Viterbium Saona Populonia Rosells Perusium Mathuranum Sutrium Campania toward Nepe Auania Signia Ferrentine Alanum Patricum Frusinonum with all the townes and villages there about and also the whole exarchate of Rauenna like as our father of godlie memorie Charles and also Pipinus our grādfather let the reader note that heere is not a word of Constantine did of late grant it to S. Peter Namely Rauenna Bonicum Aemilia the common place of the people the common place of Iulius Fauentia Imola Romania Ferraria Comadum Adria Seruia In March Pisaurus Fanus Senogallia Ancona Oximum Numana Esium Forum Sempronij Feretrum Vrbinum the territorie of Valne Callium Luceoli Eugubium In Campania Sorum Aquinum Arpinum Thranum Capua also the patrimonies appertaining to our dominion that of Beneuenta Salernita that of the lower and higher Calabria and the dukedom of Naples Moreouer Spoletinum Tuderotreculum Haruia and the rest of that dominion Also the ilands of the lower sea Corsica Sardinia Cicilia all which our grandfather of godlie memorie named Pipinus and also Charles the emperor our father haue by their writing granted to S. Peter and his successors by Athenius and Mainardus the abbats being sent willingly for this purpose and we also do allow and grant the same Furthermore we will that the Councell of Rome haue power to choose the pope so it be done without discord afterward after the consecratiō there be ambassadors sent to vs our successors the kings of France to make procure loue amity as the custom was in the time of the L. Charles our gret grandfather of Pipinus our grandfather last of al of Charles our father Therfor we confirme this our wil by writing and oth and we haue sent it by our ambassador S. R. E. Theodor to the L. Paschalis I haue subscribed it with mine own hand I LVDOVIKE Also his three sons subscribed ten bishops eight abbats fifteen earls the keper of the library the Mansionarie one porter the yeere frō the incarnation was 835. The decretall edition of the instrument I Ludouike Emperor of Rome Augustus do appoint and grant by this couenant of our confirmation to S Peter the chief of the Apostles and by thee to thy vicar the Lord Paschalis the chiefe bishop and to his successors for euer like as from our predecessors vntill now yee haue kept them in your power dominion and haue disposed them the citie of Rome with the dukedome therof and the suburbs and with al little villages and hillish territories thereof and the sea shores and hauens or with all cities castels towns and villages in the parts of Tuscane Also when by the calling of the Lord the bishop of this most holie sea shall depart this life let no man of our kingdome either French man or Longobard out of any part that is vnder our dominion haue leaue to meet against the Romās either priuatly or publikely or to make an election and moreouer let no man presume to do any euil in the cities or territories belonging to the power of S. Peter the Apostle but let the Romans with al reuerence and without all molestatiō bury their pope honorably let it be lawfull without any doubt or contradiction to consecrate him after the canonicall order whom all the Romanes
pope that may be better Which historie the same Boerius recorded in the same 20. councell Therefore let thus much be answered to that exprobration of the dispensation For as concerning the last part of the popes declaration wherein the foresaid princes are iointly crushed with the popes potguns are excommunicate proscribed and their kingdoms dominions dukedoms principalities and iurisdictions adiudged to him that can first get them we haue sufficiently declared before that the most part of Christendome maketh like account long ago of this kinde of trifles as the most professors of the popes religion make of the miracles of Bernardo and Dominic at this day which religion notwithstanding is so staied vp with the orders of the Franciscans and Dominicans as with most strong pillers that if they should suffer those pillers to be vndermined they might thinke that their religion were quite vndone But it séemeth that we must speake somwhat more largely of those vain thunderbolts of the popes long ago contemned and counted as nothing Of the vaine and contemptible thunderbolst of the popes FOr to cite a few of many testimonies when pope Boniface the eight had proscribed with this same ancient boldnes Philip the faire king of France the king hauing assembled a parlement did decrée according to the sentences of the orders that the filthie legates of the pope being reproched and ill intreated should be banished out of the borders of his kingdome Boniface the pope saith Laurentius Valla who deceiued Celestine with trumpets that he had put into a wall depriued the king of France of his kingdome of France and iudged that the kingdome it selfe as if hee would execute the donation of Constantine was and is subiect to the church of Rome What with what minde did king Philip suffer this his madnes It séemeth more fit to hear the whole matter out of the words of Platina himselfe Boniface saith Platina sent the archdeacon of Narbon to tell the king that he should set at libertie the bishop of Apame If he would not do that he should say in the hearing of all men that the kingdome of France was turned ouer to the church and that he should adde a curse and should absolue all the French men from their oth taken to the king Is not this the very same forme of proscription which our mad headed Sixtus hath vsed in proscribing the king of Nauarre and prince of Condie Platina procéedeth But in the meane season saith he Philip king of France taking the arrogancie of pope Boniface impatiently holding a great assemblie of ecclesiasticall persons and noble men at Paris and setting downe the iniuries that he had receiued at Bonifacius his hands and his ambition and wicked subtilties to get the popedome which he held vniustly he appealed vnto the sea apostolike which was at that time as he said vacant and vnto the next councel that should be held Wherwith Boniface being smitten holding a generall councell he maketh Philip and his kingdome subiect to Albertus the emperor whom he had reiected and put backe in the beginning of his popedome But then Philip willing to tame his pride sent Sarra Columniensis knowen in part of Massilia and redeemed from pyrates with Nogaretius a most faithfull French knight to Rome for this cause as he did openly declare that they might publish his appeale For he had another purpose in his head For Sarra entring into Italie apparelled like a seruing man hauing gathered togither his friend out of all parts sendeth Nogaretus before to Terentine with two hundred horsemen being French men and hired out of the campe of Charles Valesius that they might aide him from thence if need should be But entring by night secretly into Agnania hauing the Gibellines to aide him whom Boniface had long and greatlie vexed he caught the pope in his fathers house fearing no such thing after he had brok vp the gates he bringeth him captiue to Rome where 35. daies after he died for sorow Thus writeth Platina where he addeth also that of Iohn Andreas Baldus that he is as a dead dog who entred like a fox and ruled like a lion * In which place Bald. in c. 1. de nat feud it séemeth we ought not to omit that which our cowled frier hath left in writing in his booke of conformities * in these words Fol. 103. Pope Vrbane the fift swore to destroy our order but he died shortly after pope Bonifacius the eight caused manie buls to be made all of one tenor that the friers minors should be dispatched as the tēplars that our whole order might be destroied in one day Before he could send them he was taken prisoner the buls were burned and the pope himselfe died miserably But omitting trifles let vs sée to other things Surely by these things we vnderstand that euen at that time that is in the yéere M. cccvj these mad and furious proscriptions of the popes were contemned of the French kings counted as nothing Neither was the vertue and courage of king Charles the sixt inferior about the yéere M. ccccxviij For as we vnderstand by the records of the senate of Paris both French and Germane chronicles so soone as Martinus the fift was made pope in the councell of Constance being not content with so many and so great tributes vpon which two former Antipopes and also thrée former Antipopes and a little before fower Antipopes relieng had nourished deadly wars amongst them almost for the space of fortie yéers he began to command moreouer new tributes in the churches and especially of France Which message after the king had receiued he determined foorthwith to haue a parlement according to the custome In that assemblie after the matter had béen long time hard and debated a decrée was made that that new kind of the popes exactions should be inhibited Which so soone as pope Martin knew he sent foorthwith legates from his traine into France to inhibite principally all the citie of Lions from all holie things This was woont to be the force of those inhibitions of the popes in that time of darknes if happilie any man knew it not that they shut vp all the church doores there was no masse saide there was no vse or exercise of any religion there was also no ringing of bels Onely so Yea surely those that were dead might not be buried in churchyardes Wherewith it cannot in words be vttred how greatly mens minds infected with superstition were terrified What did they then Foorthwith according to the authoritie of the publike assemblie the decrée of the senate of Paris it was pronounced that that curse should be counted as nothing Let them remember let thē think vpon let them meditate vpon these things if there be any in our country of France either so ignorant and vnskilful of things or so euil affected towards mightie princes that they thinke that this foolish and ridiculous proscription of our cowled frier is of any
importance especially at this time wherein the hypocrisie of the popes is laid open almost to all Europe For our Peretus doth as snailes vse to do when winter is ouer when they féele the heat of the sunne then they thrust out their swelling necks and two hornes out of their shels wherwith somtimes little children are terrified So he hath long time couched in his munkish den enduring hunger miserably begging from doore to doore Now when he séeth that he is aduanced to so great honor he casteth his cowle from about his ears and doth proudly shew foorth his hornes and he hopeth that he shal therewith terrifie princes and kings But as we haue alreadie said most Christian princes knowe the blindnes of those beasts they haue learned long ago what difference there is betwéene a lion and an asse of Cuma neither are they mooued either with the gaping mouthes of Antiks and with the téeth making an hidious noise or with other childish bugs of the same sort It is recorded that that our French king of whom we spake euen now Charles the sixt did with like courage despise the vaine thunderbolt of the pope about the yéere of Christ M CCCXXX For when he was proscribed by pope Benedict the 13. bicause he had forbidden certaine new and vnaccustomed exactions of pope Benedict he decréed according to the sentence of the publike councel and orders that the popes legates which had brought into France that bull which was fearefull to women and children should suffer this ignominie at Paris first that about ten of the clocke in the forenoone about which time the Senate of Paris vseth to be dissolued being brought to the gréeses of the pallace hauing some bishops standing by them and a great manie of priests being naked and holding in their right hand a burning torch they should openly confesse the wickednes they had committed and should humbly craue pardon for the same Then that being clothed by the hangman with garments painted to their reproch and hauing that popes armes turned in in reproch and being carried in a dirtie cart through the chiefe stréetes of the citie they should be set to be laughed at of the common people Which thing to haue béene done and also to haue béene quickly put in execution the moniments of the Senate of Paris do declare and it is also reported by Paponius Also In lib. Arrest 1. tit 5. Artic. 27. the authoritie of Baldus is extant against that rashnes of Benedict the 13. * in c. olim col penult Extra de rescript who sharpely and couragiously inueigheth against the Antipopes of that time wherof this Benedict had his sea at Auenion the other namely Boniface had his at Rome and the former of these he called a bellowing oxe the latter a warring beast he inueigheth against both most sharply and most fréely Moreouer there is extant in Theodor Nehemius * an epistle of the Vniuersitie and studie of Paris where Tract 6. c. 17. this first request is made that The popes letter made like to a bull be rent and broken as iniurious seditious fraudulent and offensiue to the kings maiestie with protestation to proceed vnto greater things and let all suggesters fauters receiuers be taken and kept to be punished and corrected according to the canons Like courage appéered in the Florentines against pope Sixtus the fourth whose name this Sixtus the fift thought he might take and also imitate his example who came out of the selfe-same seminarie of Bernardo For when he had proscribed the Florentines for that traiterous bishop of whom we spake before whom they hanged out at the court window and had giuen them to Ferdinando king of Sicilia for a praie the Florentines contemning the popes vaine thunderbolt and taking to them the duke of Ferrarie to be their partner in war they beate downe the madnes of the furious and fierce vncowled frier and inforced him with war and armes to reuerse his curse Which historie Raphael Volateranus recordeth in his fift booke of Geographie Furthermore there is extant the councel of Francis Aretinus a lawier being at that time very famous and noble wherein defending the cause of the Florentines he vseth these words The crime wherwith the woorthie man Laurentius de Medicis is charged touching rebellion is so manifestly refuted that I am ashamed of the voice of the pope in this point For in his letters written to the same woorthie man in the moneth of September last past it is declared that as touching that crime he counteth him as innocent and giltlesse and that he had no sinister suspition of him Then most holie father see you to it why you after a few moneths do heape vp so manie and grieuous crimes against him It is not for me to set my face against heauen onely I will say thus much It is not honestly done of him that sitteth in the throne of God to vse so great varietie Thus writeth Aretinus in his 163. councell as Iohn num 3. Time should faile vs if we would séeke to prosecute the princes and nobles who haue contemned these proscriptions and vain thunderings thunderbolts lightenings of the popes euen in former times in so great mistines and darknes The emperor Otho the fourth was proscribed by Innocentius Henrie the fourth by Gregorie the 7. Henrie the fift by Pascalis the second Friderike the first of Sueueland by Adrian the fourth and Alexander the third Philip sonne of Friderike the first by Innocentius the third Friderike the second by Gregorie the ninth was excommunicate not once nor twise but thrise Conradus the fourth by Innocentius the fourth But as touching the first beginning of this madnes boldnes from whom it first came the Germane historiographers do not sufficiently agrée Indéed Otho Frisingensis referreth it vnto the yéere CIC. lxvj wherein William king of England was proscribed by pope Alexander the second * Lib. Chron. 6. c. 35. I read saith he and read againe the famous facts of the kings and emperors of Rome and I can find none any where that was excommunicate before him But Iohn Tritemius writing concerning the emperor Henrie the fourth saith He was excommunicate by Gregorie In Chron. Hirsaug cap. 4. the seuenth and was deposed from the empire by the synodal decree of the bishops though he cared not for it But he is the first amongst all the emperors that was deposed by the pope But howsoeuer it be for it is not greatly appertinent to that we haue in hand what time this insolencie of the popes began it is euident that in all ages there were very many couragious men which despised these thunderings of the popes as squibbish thunderbolts and old bussings and as fray-bugs to feare children Of the kingdome of Nauarre betraied by the pope ANd it séemeth that we ought not to passe ouer in silence in this place that curse wherein the king of France Ludouike the 12. was proscribed togither with Iohn king
this was the cause that Ferdinando did cast out the king his neighbor though he did also pretend another bicause both the king of France and those that did aid him were pronounced accursed by the popes edict and their kingdoms were made common Thus writeth Ferronus whereby we may coniecture what great danger hangeth ouer the most noble princes of Germanie and so consequently ouer all the kings of Europe by reason of that so néere a conspiracie of the popes and the Spanish inquisition For by this short cut any munke so he be of a craftie and subtill nature hauing taried some time in Spain as this our Sixtus and hauing béene conuersant with the inquisitors of Spaine may make such a bargain and league with them that if through their fauor and commendation he may obtaine the popedome then he may pronounce what king or prince soeuer he will a schismatike or heretike taking to him any occasion he may adiudge to them his kingdom opened and committed as a fée to the sea of Rome Therefore we are to wish that we may once haue some king giuen vs that may be of a valiant courage that he may thrust this whoore of Babylon out of hir seat and may at length rid the Church of Christ from so long and miserable seruitude and restore hir to hir former libertie and dignitie which courage that king of ours Ludouike the twelfth who was called the parent of the countrie being wearie of that bondage tooke vpon him when after that furious curse of pope Iulius he commanded French crownes to be coined in France with this inscription Ludouike 12. by the grace of God king of France duke of Mediolanum And then on the other side the armes of France and Mediolanum ioined togither with this inscription I will destroy Babylon Of which name if happily any man be ignorant let him read the Reuelation of Iohn ch 17. and Hierom in his catalog where he maketh mention of Mark and writeth plainly that Peter did figuratiuely vnderstand Rome by Babylon in his former epistle * Ch. 5. Also in the prolog of his booke touching the holie Ghost where he doth plainly call Rome Babylon and that purple whoore which is described in the Reuelation Which thing he doth likewise confirme vpon Esay c. 14. and againe c. 47. and vnto Aglasia in the 11. question For which cause Paula also and Eustochium in that epistle which they wrote vnto Marcellus do in like sort call Rome Babylon and no whit more obscurely Hierom in his epistle When I was at Babylon saith he a citizen of the purple whoore c. The conclusion of the former protestation THese things therefore being thus set down it remaineth that we conclude this reason Séeing pope Sixtus the fift hath béen condemned by the most part of Christendome of seauen most gréeuous crimes namely of impietie of vsing tyrannie in the Church of corrupt religion sacrilege treason rebellion and forgerie and séeing that hauing followed the insolencie boldnes and crueltie of those that went before him he hath published this most mad decrée contrarie to all lawes diuine and humane vsing false allegations and that without any iudiciall order yea foolishly blockishly impudently against the most excellent king of Nauarre and most noble prince of Condie and hath burdened them with filthie and geason reproches of words forasmuch as he called them sonnes of wrath obstinate heretiks notorious relapsed such as lie tumbling in filth rebels against the most Christian king persecutors of the Church a detestable issue traitors against God and man and did for these causes depriue them of their principalities dukedoms lordships fées and all honors and of the right of lawfull succession in the realme of France and forasmuch as this his old and outragious boldnes of abiudging and adiudging of kingdoms doth plainly appertaine vnto all kings princes and potentates of Europe and it is to be feared least those that shall be desirous of other mens kingdoms will lay wait for peaceable and quiet princes héerafter by this policie of excommunications or proscriptions for these causes the foresaid princes protest that the same pope Sixtus the fift is to be counted a wicked periured sacrilegious person a tyrant an author of feigned religions a cruell and bloodie murderer of the Church of Christ an importunate and wicked enimie of religion and to be most assuredly Antichrist and that al monarchs of Christendome kings princes potentates and those that haue any gouernment or lawful power are to be requested and earnestly intreated that they will helpe these most roiall princes to suppresse the furie of this fierce tyrant and to breake in péeces his cruell and furious assaults and that they will lay their heads togither and ioine togither their forces to extinguish that plague of mankind and to deliuer the Christian commonwealth from that monstrous and deadly monster In the meane season that the foresaid pope Sixtus the fift ought for his intollerable reprochfull words which he hath powred out against our foresaid princes with a beastly mind to be accounted and called of al Christians a most hidious monster a most filthy monster and a monster not woorthie to be bestowed euen in the farthest parts of the world but such a one as ought to be banished out of the coasts and borders of mans nature as a most certaine notorious and manifest Antichrist to whose accursed head all Christians ought to wish an euill plague ruine and destruction that so long as any breth shall remaine in his accursed bodie so long he may be to all the godlie Anathema Maranata as saith the holie Ghost And least happily any of vs do thinke this to be a new and vnwoonted kind of curse we will desire the readers that they will first of all remember those places which we cited before specially out of the books of Saint Bernard where the papacie of Rome is flatly plainly by name called Antichrist the sonne of perdition the man of sinne a diuell not onely of the day but also of the noone day who is not onely transfigured into an angell of light but is extolled aboue al that is called God or that is worshipped Now Hierom calleth Rome Babylon and the purpled whoore Secondly that they read and attentiuely consider the most holie sanction of the popes decrée * where it is ordained In c. 2. dist 23. c. si quis pecunia dist 79. that He which by monie or fauor of men such as it is manifest this frier had in the west parts or by tumult of the people or by anie pollicie that is by ambition and euill arts shall attaine to the papacie let him be accounted not apostolicall but apostaticall and let him togither with his fautors and followers be cast out of the bounds of the holie Church of God being thence separated as Antichrist and as an inuader and destroier of all Christendome Whereto the canonists durst with great consent subscribe and openly professe thus
by the processe made in the time of the same pope Gregorie our predecessor of blessed memorie by manie other documents most graue testimonies that Henrie sometimes king and Henrie of Condie aforesaid are guiltie of the notorious and inexcusable crime of heresie and that they are relapsed into heresie and also that they are guiltie of fauoring heretiks We being inforced to drawe the sword of vengeance against them according to the dutie of our office are verie loth to do it bicause we must for these offences turne it against this detestable and degenerate issue of the noble house of Borbon wherin there hath alwaies appeered sinceritie of sincere religion worship of vertue and obedience toward the apostolik sea Therfore being placed in this high seat and fulnes of power which the King of kings and Lord of lords himselfe hath giuen vs though vnwoorthie by the authoritie of almightie God and of Peter Paul his Apostles and by our owne authoritie and by the councell of our reuerend brethren the cardinals of the holie church of Rome we pronounce and declare that Henrie somtimes king and Henry of Condie aforesaid haue been and are heretiks relapsed into heresies and impenitent also captaines and fauorers and manifest publike and notorious defenders of heretiks and so to be guiltie of treason against the maiestie of God and to be such enimies of the true and sound Christian faith that they can defend themselues by no cunning shift or excuse and that therfore they haue damnably incurred the sentences censures and punishments contained in the holie canons and constitutions apostolike and in the lawes generall and particular and such as are due to relapsed and impenitent heretiks and specially that the same haue been and are depriued in law Henrie somtimes king namely of the pretensed kingdome of Nauarre and of the part thereof which hee hath as yet enioied and also of Bearne and the other Henrie of that of Condie and either of them and their posteritie of all and whatsoeuer other principalities dukedoms lordships cities places and fees and also of such goods as they haue taken to keepe promising to make them better than when they had them and moreouer of dignities honors functions and offices and princely pallaces and iurisdictions and rights which they hold de facto and wherto they haue had right by anie maner of means or do pretend right that they haue therfore made thēselues vnwoorthie therof and that they haue been are incompetent and vncapable to retaine them and heerafter to obtain any such And also that they are in law depriued vncapable disabled from succeeding in whatsoeuer dukedoms principalities lordships and kingdoms and specially in the kingdom of France wherein they haue committed so manie cruell and wicked crimes and in lordships annexed to the kingdome it selfe in iurisdictions and places and in the rest of the goods and things aforesaid and to get them by anie other meanes whatsoeuer like as also of our abundant power so much as is needfull we depriue them and their posteritie for euer to wit Henrie sometimes king of the kingdome of Nauarre and of that part therof and of Bearne and the other Henrie of that of Condie and either of them their posterity of al other principalities dukedoms lordships fees and of all other goodes and substance and also of the right of succeeding and getting and of all and singular the other premisses and also we make them and their posteritie vnable for euer for them and to succeed in anie principalities dukedomes lordships fees and kingdoms and by name in the kingdome of France and in all the foresaid things annexed therto supplieng all defects of right or fact if any have happened in the same And also that the nobles feudataries vassals subiects and people of the realmes dukedoms principalities other lordships aforesaid euen such as acknowledge none other superior and all the rest which haue by any maner of meanes sworne to them are absolued from all such oth and altogither from al perpetual dutie of lordship fidelitie and allegeance as we by the authoritie of these presents do absolue and deliuer them all as well generally as particularly and we command and forbid that all and euery of them that they presume not to obey them and their admonitions lawes and commandements those that shal do otherwise we insnarle in the sentence of excommunication by the verie same But as for our most welbeloued sonne in Christ Henrie the most christian king of France we exhort beseech and also admonish him by the bowels of the mercie of Iesus Christ that being mindfull of the most excellent faith and religion of the kings his auncetors which he hath receiued from them as an inheritance far better than the kingdom it selfe that being likewise mindfull of that oth which he solemnlie tooke at his coronation touching the extirpation of heretikes he imploie himselfe by his authoritie power vertue and courage altogither princely to execute this our so iust a sentence that in this likewise he may shew himselfe thankfull to almightie God and may performe due obedience to his mother the church Furthermore we command charge all our reuerend brethren the primates archbishops and bishops throughout the realme of France Nauarre Bearne and other places aforenamed in the vertue of holie obedience that so soone as the copies of these letters shall come to their hands they cause thē to be published to be brought to effect so much as in them lieth And we will that the same our present letters be set vp and published vpon the doore of the cathedrall church of the chiefe of the apostles and in the side of the fielde of Flora of the citie as the custome is And that there be like credite giuen both in place of iudgement elsewhere in all places to the copies thereof being printed and signed with the publike notories hand and sealed with the seale of the ecclesiasticall prelate or with the seale of that court which shuld be giuen to these presents if they were exhibited or shewed Therefore let it not be lawfull for any mā at al to infringe this writing of our pronountiation declaration priuation inhabilitation suppletion absolution liberation commandement inhibition innodation exhortation request admonition mandate and will or to contrarie the same with rash boldnes And if anie man presume to attempt this let him know that he shall incur the indignation of almightie God and of his blessed apostles Peter and Paul Giuen at Rome at S. Marks in the yeere of the incarnation of the Lord one thousand fiue hundred fowerscore and fiue the fift day before the Ides of September in the first yeere of our popedome A. de Alexijs Ego Sixtus cath Ecclesiae Episcopus Ego Io. Anto. Episc Tusc Card. Sancti Georgij Ego M. S. Car. ab Altaemps Ego Iu. Aua. Car. de Arag Ego P. Car. Sanctacruscius Ego Gulielm Car. Sirletus Ego Mic. Bo. Car. Alex. Ego Lud. Car. Madrutius Ego N. Card. Senonensis P. Card. Deza Ego Ant. Card. Carafa Io. Ant. Card. SS Quatuor Io. Ba. Card. S. Marcelli Aug. Car. de Verona Ego Vin. Car. Montis Regalis Ego M. Car. S. Stephani Scipio Car. Lancelotus Ego Fer. Car. de Medicis Phil. Vast. Card. Cam. Iul. Ant. Sanctorius Car. Seuerin P. Card. Caesius Ego Hier. Card. Rust. Ego Io. Hie. Car. Albanus Ego Vincē Car. Gonzaga Ego Fr. Car. Sfortia S. Nic Alex. Card. de Montealto In the yeer since the natiuitie of the Lord one thousand fiue hundred fowerscore and fiue the thirteenth indiction and in the 21. day of the moneth of September in the first yeere of the popedome of the most holy father in Christ and our lord L. Sixtus the fift by the prouidence of God pope these letters were written out set vp and published in the Cathedrall church of the chiefe of the apostles of the citie and in the side of the field of Flora by vs Hierom Lucius and Nicolas Talliet Cursitors to our most holie lord the pope Io. Andreas Panizza Mag. Curs Ioannes Caijanus Cur. Card. Camerariae Apostolicae Ibotus Ful. Faults escaped The first number signifieth the page the second the line Pag. 2. Lin. 2. clients 7. 2. the Clementines 9. 19. Pope Symmachus 17. 10. Church and 23. Lateran 38. 13. bring serious effects 39. 19. At Perouse 41. 27. Antonine 62. 14. the archbishop of Toledo was suspected of heresie by the Spanish inquisition 74. 17. when 92. 19. markets 98. 9. Pope Pius 100. 17. curses 112. 11. prouiso 127. 16. Cuspinianus 133. 4. feudall inuestitures ibid. 12. read Alexander the seruant of the seruants of God 137. 18. Trier and Mentz 138. 2. At Aquae in Arduenna ibid. 13. Aquisgranum 145. 22. but how woorthie a king 147. 1. counsell ibid. 8. Millaine 159. 3. in the territorte 164. 9. Furies 183. 14. by Theodore legate of the holie church of Rome 184. 23. Melchiades 186. 17. in Paris 191. 24. giue 193. 6. Not as Lords ouer