speaches of Pope Leo against him B. C. The Fathers of the Councell of Chalcedon made suite to the Pope to confirme their Decrees T. B. I answere first that this Epistle is like to the other of the Nicene Fathers that is to say a bastard and counterfeite This is soundly prooued in the fift Aphorisme in the first sixt and seauenth Obiections Let them be well remembred Secondly that the suite which the Fathers of the Councell made to Pope Leo did argue onely a prerogatiue of Honour not any soueraigntie of Power Which I prooue by a triple meane For first these are the wordes of the request Rogamus igitur et tuis Decretis nostrum honera iudicium We therefore desire you to honour our iudgement with your Decrees Hee was the chiefe Patriarch and Byshop of that Citie which at that time raigned and was reputed Caput mundj and so his consent was of great authoritie in that behalfe Secondly his Messengers would not agree to that prerogatiue of honour which the Councell had confirmed to the Byshoppe of Constantinople and therefore they requested him to consent thereto because the Emperour Theodosius had so commaunded them Thirdly the Fathers say plainely that the Emperour confirmed the Councell these are the wordes Opportunum credidimus esse honoris eâ—us confirmationem ab vniuersalj Concilio celebrarj Wee thought it meete and conuenient that the whole Councell should celebrate his Honours confirmation To which I adde that seeing the Fathers of this Chalcedon Councell did approue and confirme the Canons both of the Nicene and of the Constantinopolitane Synode in which Synodes this pretended Prerogatiue is condemned it must follow of necessitie that the sayd Epistle or relation is a counterfeit B. C. It can not truly be called a Decree of the Councell which was not confirmed by the Head no more then that an Act of Parliament which is not confirmed by the King T. B. I answeere first with the famous popish Byshoppe Melchior Canus that it is not in these affaires as in humane assemblies Which the holy Prophet doth plainely insinuate while in the person of God he vttereth these wordes For my cogitations are not your cogitations neither are your wayes my wayes sayth the Lord. Secondly that there is great disparitie betweene the Pope and the King concerning the subiect now in hand For first the King hath a sacred soueraigntie ouer all the people within his dominions as ouer his naturall Subiectes and loyall Seruantes But the Pope hath no soueraigntie ouer transmarine and forraigne Christians as I haue already prooued Secondly the King though negatiuely he forbid Lawes to be enacted yet doth he not make any new Lawes affirmatiuely to tie all his Subiectes without the consent of his Lordes spirituall Lordes temporall and the Commons of his Kingdomes But the Pope challengeth Power though most impudently and against sacred Canons to make Lawes to tie all Christians in the whole world no way subiect to him Thirdly the King taketh not vpon him solely of himselfe to abrogate cassiere or disanull any act of Parliament to which he formerly gaue his consent But the Pope taketh roundly though fondly vpon him solely of himselfe to abrogate cassiere disanull any Decree of Councell though formerly approoued by himselfe Fourthly no text of holy Writ no Canon of any auncient Councell no Father of approoued antiquitie denyeth to Kinges sacred soueraigntie within their Kingdomes Territories and Dominions ouer any persons whatsoeuer borne within the precincts thereof But all the foure first most famous generall Councelles of Nice Constantinople Ephesus and Chalcedon all which S. Gregorie reuerenced as the foure Gospels denie the Popes falsely pretended Primacie in all forraigne and transmarine Kingdomes and confine his iurisdiction to the Citie of Rome and to the suburbican territories of the same All which is soundly and plentifully prooued in the Conclusions and Aphorismes next aforegoing B. C. But it may bee Bell will say that the confirmation of the Councell belonged not to the Pope It is not possible that he dare offer it T. B. I answere first that seeing the Pope as is alreadie prooued taketh vpon him to change the nature of thinges by applying the substantiall partes of one thing to an other to make some thing of nothing the proper action of God in creation to depose Kinges to translate Empires and to bestow the same at his good pleasure to make it Sacriledge to dispute of his power to terrifie men so with Fire and Faggot and with thunderboltes of cursing Excomunications that though hee carry thousandes to Hell yet may no man say Why doest thou so It may seeme no maruell if Bell poore soule be afrayde to anger his Holinesse Neuerthelesse because the trueth is neuer ashamed but will in time preuayle Bell post deosculationem pedum and to prooue our Jesuite in this as in many other thinges a most impudent and notorious lyer dare boldly tell the Pope that the Confirmation of Councels belongeth not vnto him Yea Bell will not barely say it but he will produce such strong arguments such waightie authorities and such inuincible reasons as will make the Popes eares to tingle when hee shall read or heare the same Marke well this my Discourse vnto the end I purpose in God to proceed by way of Sections for the better illustration of the businesse now in hand The first Section of reasons in generall concerning the subiect now in hand I haue alreadie prooued in my Booke of Motiues that euery Monarch hath supreame soueraigntie ouer all Persons and causes within his Dominions and consequently that no Lawes can be of force in his Kingdomes without his royall assent approbation and confirmation of the same King Josaphat appoynted in Hierusalem Leuites Priestes and Princes of the families of Israel that they should iudge the iudgement cause of the Lord to the inhabitants thereof And he commanded them saying Thus shall ye doe in the feare of the Lord faythfully and with a perfect heart Yea he distinguished limitted the offices and functions both of Zabadias the ciuill Magistrate and of Amarias the Hie Priest thereby insinuating euidently that the chiefest power iurisdiction rested in the King not in Amarias the Hie Priest The same King to gather the Church which was decayed sent Preachers into sundry partes of his Kingdome appoynting Noble-men to accompany assist theÌ„ to couÌ„tenance their ministerie to compel the people to heare theÌ„ K. Asa vsed his authority in coÌ„manding Iudah to seek the Lord threatning them with death that should refuse so to do King Josias after he had abolished Idolatry compelled all his Subiectes to serue the true God to liue in his feare Ezechias commanded all Israel Judah to come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem there to keepe the Passeouer which had been a long neglected and not obserued in such sort perfect maner as God had
the former Obiection this is my answere response 1 First that Kinges of late yeares are in deed so brought into thraldome by the Pope where Poperie beareth the sway as they may truely be sayd to doe the office not of Kinges as Kinges but rather of Seruantes and Slaues to the disholy Father the Pope of Rome response 2 Secondly that the Pope will not this day permit Kinges to make Lawes in Ecclesiasticall causes but onely to execute those vnchristian execrable tyrannicall Lawes which by Popes of late yeares are with Fire and Faggot framed to their handes To the latter I answere in this maner First that how and in what sort the Pope is King it is plenteously prooued in the tenth Conclusion of this present Chapter To which place I referre the Reader for his full satisfaction in this behalfe Secondly that by the Popes owne Law whosoeuer is Possessor malae fidei in the beginning can haue no iust title by prescription in the ending Thirdly that if we suppose and graunt him to be the true and lawfull King of Jtaly yet can no more be rightly inferred therevpon saue onely that hee can call and confirme Councels within Jtaly and make Lawes to his subiectes of the same Kingdome In which case I for my part will not contend with him as who onely denie his vsurped authoritie in other transmarine and forraigne Kingdomes Now let vs heare the Frier once againe to recreate our spirits with his merrie conceites B. C. Surely it were meâ—re madnesse to thinke that Anatolius would euery way haue had equall authoritie in all Ecclesiasticall causes as the Minister affirmeth seeing then we must graunt that he desired Jurisdiction in Italy and Rome it selfe Nay what were it else but to condemne Anatolius of grosse foolerie in suing for that superextrauagant grace of the Pope to the iniurie of his owne Sea and Dignitie T. B. I answere first that our Jesuite heere vnawares condemneth rather their famous Pope Gregorie of meere foolerie then Anatolius to whom he imputeth it For if Gregories report be true the Councell of Chalcedon offered him the name of Vniuersall Byshoppe and yet did the same Gregorie obiect the desire thereof against the Patriarch of Constantinople as a proud name derogating from the right of all other Byshoppes Yea your owne sweete selfe sir Iesuite doe in this very Chapter ascribe no lesse vnto your Pope and withall admit other Byshoppes beside his Holynesse Secondly that Anatolius might truly haue had equall authoritie with the Byshoppe of Rome in all Ecclesiasticall causes and for all that not haue desired iurisdiction in Jtaly and Rome it selfe For our Iesuite must know that these three are intrinsecally distinguished one from an other viz. Identitie Equalitie and Similitude There is often Similitude where Equalitie wanteth and many times equalitie where no Identitie can be found Thirdly that the Councell of Chalcedon approoueth whatsoeuer the Nicene Synode hath decreed and consequently it taketh not away from any Byshoppe his proper dignitie Lastly that this which our Fryer heere obiecteth and whatsoeuer else where to the like effect is soundly confuted in the Aphorismes aforegoing especially in the third and fift of the same And for further proofe marke well my next Answere folowing B. C. Nothing is determined in the Councell of Nice touching the Church of Rome but that is made the rule of other Churches as Pope Nicholas the first noteth who also affirmeth that the Authoritie of the Romane Church was not from Men but from God T. B. I answere first that neither Pope Nicholas nor any other Pope is a sufficient witnesse in his owne cause as is already prooued Secondly that if God had giuen such authoritie to the Church of Rome sixe hundred and thirtie holy and learned Byshoppes in one Synode 217. in an other 200. in an other 150. in an other 318. in an other all which is already prooued in the Aphorismes aforegoing would neuer haue limitted or once offered to alter the same These expresse words of the Fathers of the Chalcedon Councell may for the present be sufficient Etenim sedi senioris Romae propter Imperium Ciuitatis illius Patres consequenter priuilegia reddiderunt For the Fathers consequently gaue Priuiledges to the Sea of old Rome for the Empire of that Citie Loe Men not God gaue Priuiledges to the Sea of Old Rome And they yeeld this reason for the same because forsooth the Citie of Rome was the Seate of the Empire and reputed Caput Mundi the Head of the World Thirdly that when Pope Nicholas sayth that they tooke example of the forme of the Church of Rome for that which they would giue to the Church of Alexandria he graunteth in very deed that as the Bishope of Alexandria had but the preheminence of all there about no more had the Byshope of Rome And so it followeth that the Councell thereby did decree that the Byshop of Rome should keepe himselfe within those limittes Cardinall Cusanus and Ruffinus doe so vnderstand the Canon of the Nicene Councell Yea other Canons of the same Councell doe plainely insinuate the same sense as at large it is alreadie prooued Fourthly that if the Byshoppe of Rome had vniuersall soueraigntie from God as Pope Nicholas vntruely auouched then could no Byshop of Rome nor yet the holy Councell of Nice haue giuen or permitted such custome to the Byshoppe of Alexandria The reason is euident because whatsoeuer is De Jure Diuino no Mortall Man can dispense with the same This is so cleere and certaine as no learned Papist either doth or can denie the same Fiftly that no Custome may be admitted against the knowne Trueth The Popes owne Decrees out of S. Austen doe so teach vs these are the very wordes Qui contempta veritate praesumit consuetudinem sequi aut circa fratres inuidus est et malignus quibus veritas revelatur aut circa Deum ingratus est inspiratione cuius Ecclesia eius instruitur nam Dominus in Euangelio ego sum inquit Veritas non dixit ego sum Consuetudo itaque Veritate manifestata cedat Consuetudo Veritati Hee that contemneth Veritie and presumeth to follow Custome is either enuious and iniurious toward his Brethren to whom the trueth is reuealed or else vngratefull to God-ward with whose inspiration his Church is instructed for our Lord saith in his Ghospell I am the Trueth he said not I am Custome therefore when Trueth is manifest let Custome giue place to the same Againe in an other place thus Hoc planè verum est quia ratio et veritas consuetudini praeponenda sunt This is true in deed that Reason and Trueth must be preferred before Custome The same Decrees out of S. Cyprian teach vs the same these are the wordes Non debemus attendere quid aliquis ante nos faciendum putauerit sed quid prius qui ante omnes est Christus prior fecerit
ipse iudicaturus a nemine est iudicandus For the Pope is to iudge all others but none may iudge him God saue our holy Father the Pope The Eight Conclusion The Pope hath Vniuersall Iurisdiction ouer all Kingdomes Empires and fulnesse of Power in as ample and large maner as Christ himselfe had The popish famous Frier Augustinus de Ancoua hath these expresse words Papa tanquam vicarius Dej filij caelestis Imperatoris iurisdictionem habet vniuersalem super omnia Regna et Imperia The Pope as he that is the Vicar of the Sonne of God the heauenly Emperour hath vniuersall iurisdiction ouer all Kingdomes and Empires Pope Nicholas after hee hath told vs many fables of the Church of Rome doth at length tell vs that S. Peter and the Byshops of Rome his successours haue all Power both earthly and heauenly these are his wordes in the Booke of Popish decrees Christus Beato Petro aeternae vitae clauâ—gero terreni simul et caeâ—estis imperij iura commisit Christ committed to S. Peter the Porter of heauen gates the rightes both of earthly and heauenly regalitie And the popish glosse annexed to this Decree of Pope Nicholas deliuereth the matter in more gallant tearmes these are the wordes ArgumentuÌ„ quod Papa habet vtrumque gladium viz. spiritualem et temporalem This is an argument that the Pope hath both Swordes to weet the Spirituall and the temporall And in the Margent it confirmeth the same in these plaine tearmes Papa habens vtrumque gladium transtulit Imperiâ—m The Pope hauing both the Swordes translated the Empire Yea the Pope Boniface the eight made a flat Decree for the confirmation of his pretended right to both Swords as is to be seene in his extrauagant Vnam sanctam de maioritate et obedientia set downe in the sixt Booke annexed to the Decretals Appendix Fuldensis vnfouldeth this arrogant and brutish Decree in these plaine tearmes Hic Papa Bonifacius 8. constitutionem fecerat in qua se dominum spiritualem et temporalem in vniuerso mundo asserebat Vnde requisiuit Philippum regem Franciae vt a se regnum suum cognosceret quod rex facere contempsit The Pope he speaketh of Boniface the eight made a constitution in which he affirmed himselfe to be both spirituall and temporall Lord in the whole world Whereupon hee would haue had Phillip king of France to haue acknowledged his Kingdome from him but the King laughed him to scorne for his paines Johannes Gersonus a very learned Papist sometime Chancellor of the famous Vniuersitie of Paris affirmeth wonderfull power to be ascribed to the Pope thus doth hee write Sicut non est potestas nisi a Deo sic nec aliqua Temporalis vel Ecclesiastica Imperialis vel Regalis nisi a Papa in cuius faemore scripsit Christus Rex reguÌ„ Dominus Dominantium Like as there is no Power but of God so is there neither any Temporall nor Eccesiasticall neither Imperiall nor Regall but of the Pope in whose thigh Christ hath written the King of Kings the Lord of Lords Loe heere gentle Reader two thinges are proper to God alone the one to be King of Kinges and Lord of Lordes the other to be the author of all Power both which the Papistes ascribe vnto their Pope Thus writeth M. Gerson of the Popes Superroyall power which his flattering Parasites haue with his good liking giuen him although the same Gerson being otherwise a very zelous Papist did vtterly dislike and deride the same The Pope himselfe from his owne penne Gregorie the ninth deliuereth vs this doctrine Ad firmamentum caeli hoc est vniuersalis Ecclesiae fecit Deus duo magna Luminaria id est duas instituit dignitates quae sunt pontificalis authoritas et regalis potestas Sequitur vt quanta est inter Solem et LunaÌ„ tanta inter Pontifices et Reges differentia cognoscatur To the firmament of Heauen that is of the vniuersall Church God made two Lightes that is Pontificall authoritie and power Royall that we may know there is as much difference betweene Popes and Kinges as there is betweene the Sunne and the Moone The Popes glose vpon this goodly Text setteth downe precisely how farre a King is inferiour to a Pope that is to any Byshop of Rome in these wordes Restat vt Pontificalis dignitas quadragesies septies sit maior regali dignitate It remayneth that the dignitie of the Pope is fourtie times seauen times greater then is the power of the King Thus writeth the glose disputing out of Ptolomaeus that the Pope must be infinitely greater then any King in the whole world Well let vs heare the Clerkely sentence of Pope Gelasius in his owne behalfe these are his wordes Honor et sublimitas episcopalis nullis poterit comparationibus adaequari si regum fulgori compares et principum diademati longe erit inferius quam si plumbi metallum ad auri fulgorem compares The honour dignitie of a Byshop can not be equalized by any comparison If it be compared to the excellencie of Kinges and to the Diademes of Princes it shall be found farre more inferiour then if thou compare a peece of Lead with bright shyning Gold So then the Popes owne Decrees make it cleere and euident that the Lordly and more then Royall titles ascribed to them doe sound well in their eares The Ninth Conclusion The Pope can by his supereminent excellencie and fulnesse of Power change the nature of things apply the substantiall partes of one thing to another and of nothing make some thing The Popes deare glose vpon his Decretals doth plainely deliuer the truth of this Conclusion in these most golden wordes Papa naturam rerum immutat substantialia vnius rei applicando alij et de nihilo potest aliquid facere quia in his quae vult ei est pro ratione voluntas et plenitudinem obtinet potestatis The Pope changeth the nature of thinges by applying the substantiall partes of one thing to another and he can make of nothing some thing for in those thinges which he hath a minde to doe his bare Will is to him a sufficient warrant and he hath the fulnesse of Power Antonius that famous popish Arch-byshop and canonized Saint comming as Ambassadour from the Pope telleth vs if we may beleeue him that the Pope is Christes Vicar vpon earth and of equall power with God omnipotent these are his expresse wordes Cum autem vicarius Christi sit Papa nullus potest seipsum subtrahere ab obedientia eius de iure sicut nullus de iure potest se subtrahere ab obedientia Dei. et sicut recepit Christus a patre ducatum et sceptrum ecclesiae gentiuÌ„ ex Israel egrediens super omnem principatuÌ„ et potestatem et super omne quodcuÌ„que est vt ei genua cuncta curuentur sic ipse Petro
Reges Domino seruiunt in timore nisi ea quae contra iussa Domini fiunt religiosa seueritate prohibendo atque plectendo Aliter N. seruit quia homo est aliter quia etiam et rex est Quia homo est ei seruit viuendo fideliter quia vero etiam Rex est seruit leges iusta praecipientes et contraria prohibentes conuenienti vigore sanctiendo sicut seruiuit Ezechias Lucos et Templa Idolorū et illa excelsa quae contra praecepta Dei fuerant constructa destruendo sicut seruiuit Iosias talia et ipse faciendo sicut seruiuit rex Niniuitarum vniuersam Ciuitatem ad placandum Dominum compellendo sicut seruiuit Darius Idolum frangendum in potestatem Danieli dando et inimicos eius Leonibus ingerendo sicut seruiuit Nabuchodonosor omnes in regno suo positos a blasphemando Deo lege terribili prohibendo In hoc ergo seruiunt Domino Reges in quantum sunt Keges cum ea faciunt ad seruiendum illi quae non possunt facere nisi Reges How doe Kinges serue God in feare but by punishing with religious seueritie such thinges as are against Gods lawes For the King serueth God one way as he is man an other way as he is King As he is man he serues God in lyuing as becommeth an honest Christian as he is King he serues God in making sharpe Lawes to the furtheraunce of Vertue and to the suppressing of Vice As Ezechias serued God while he destroyed the Groues and Temples of Idols and those Hie places which were erected against Gods lawes As Josias serued God while he performed the same or like dueties As the King of the Niniuites serued God in compelling the whole Citie to serue God As Nabuchodonosor serued God while he with very sharpe Lawes terrified all his subiectes from blaspheming the euerliuing God In this therefore Kings serue God as they are Kinges when they doe that for the seruice of God which none but Kinges can doe Thus writeth S. Austin that auncient Father that holy Writer that learned Doctor that strong Piller that worthy Champion of Christes Church Out of whose Discourse I obserue many thinges well worthy to be engrauen in Marble with Golden letters in perpetuam rei memoriam First that Kinges serue God when they religiously punish sinne Secondly that Kinges serue God as they be men when they liue as it becommeth faythfull and honest Christians Thirdly that Kinges serue God as they be Kinges when they make Godly lawes to aduance Vertue and to suppresse Vice Fourthly that it belongeth to the office dutie and charge of Kings to purge the Church and House of God from Heresies Errours Superstition and Idolatrie Fiftly that it appertaineth to the charge and office of Kinges to punish Blasphemie and to cause their Subiectes to liue religiously and in the feare of God Sixtly that this holy Father and great learned Doctor vtterly condemneth the Popes Fayth and Doctrine while he denyeth all authoritie to Kinges in Church causes and Ecclesiasticall affaires and maketh them onely executors of his Lawes Will and good Pleasure For which respect the same holy Father soone after addeth these expresse wordes Quis mente sobrius Regibus dicat Nolite curare in regno vestro a quo teneatur vel oppugnetur Ecclesia Domini vestri non ad vos pertineat in regno vestro quis velit esse siue religiosus siue sacrilegus Who well in his Wittes will say thus to Kinges Haue no regard neither take any care who within your Kingdome either protect or oppugne the Church of God you haue no charge neither doth it pertaine to your office who in your Kingdome be Religious or who be Sacrilegious Seuenthly that Kinges haue charge not onely of the bodyes of their Subiectes but much more of their soules Which not onely S. Austen fayth but the whole course of Scripture teacheth the same For the godly Kinges as well in time of the Law of Moyses as in the time of the New Testament and law of Grace did manage all matters both of Church and Common-weale For which cause the Ciuill Magistrate was commaunded to read the whole Booke of the Law as well of the first as of the second Table and to studie the same night and day For which cause the Ciuill Magistrate was commaunded to goe out and in before the people and to lead them out and in that the congregation of the Lord should not be as Sheepe without a Shepheard For which cause the Booke of the Law was deliuered into the Kings handes at such time as he receiued the Crowne and was annoynted King Lastly and this striketh dead that Kings as Kings serue God when they doe those things which none but Kinges can doe If this golden Periode were soundly vnderstood and perfectly kept in memorie it alone would be enough to trample Pope and Poperie vnder foote For I pray you sir Frier did not Constantinus surnamed the great Theodesius the elder Theodosius the younger and Martianus gather the foure first generall Councels of Nice Constantinople Ephesus and Chalcedon which Pope Gregorie did reuerence as the foure Ghospels did they not call the same Synodes as they were Emperours Kinges and Monarches I wote they did it is already prooued it can not be denyed What Did not Reccaredus as King commaunde all the Byshops of Spaine and Gallicia to assemble themselues before him at Toledo there to decide and determine causes ecclesiasticall did he not tell them the cause why he sent for them did he not sit downe among them did he not define with them did he not subscribe before all the Byshops did he not confirme the Decrees and Canons of the Councell with his royall edict we haue already seene it wee haue viewed the very wordes it is prooued most manifestly Now let vs duely ponder and throughly vnderstand what of necessitie must be inferred heereupon S. Austin affirmeth constantly that when Kinges serue God as Kings then doe they that which none but Kings can doe But so it is that Reccaredus and the other Kings both called confirmed Councels as they were Kings for it is already prooued ergo Kinges and none but Kings can call and confirme holy Councels and sacred Synodes The reason is S. Austens when he resolutely auoucheth that while Kinges serue God as Kinges they doe that which none but Kinges can doe for if Kinges as Kinges call and confirme Councels none doubtlesse which are no Kinges can doe the same And consequently no Byshop no not the Pope of Rome hath authoritie to gather Councels or to confirme the same Two thinges onely the Pope may in shew of wordes seeme to obiect for himselfe obiection 1 Th' one that Kinges doe not call or confirme Councels as they be Kinges but rather as the Seruantes or Deputies of the Pope obiection 2 Th' other that the Pope is not onely a Byshoppe but a King also To
causing the M. of the Musicke to sound the Organges and all the Studentes to singe Te Deum as also the Arch-priest the Prouinciall the Jesuites and Jesuited Papistes euerie where doe after their best manner canonize Sherewin Nelson Ballard and the Gun-powder Iesuited Popelinges by praying vnto them and by reseruing their Blood Bones Haire and whatsoeuer once touched them as the Reliques of Gods holy Martirs Other like impertinent Vanities he vseth in this Chapter but he euer fleeth from my Reasons and slylie passeth ouer the chiefest matters I haue soundly refuted the Fryers Answere not omitting any thing of moment See and note well the Triall The Eight Chapter Of the Popes Fayth I Haue discoursed of this Subiect so largely both in my Golden Ballance in the Anatomie of Popish tyrannie in the Iesuites Antepast and lastly in my Christian Dialogue as more can not be wished for the full decision of the trueth in that behalfe Howbeit for the better contentation of the Christian Reader I am willing to answere euerie poynt of any moment through out the whole Chapter B. C. Bell collecteth out of Watsons Bookes in this formall manner First therefore if we meane to wring any trueth out of the Popes Nose we must haue recourse to his Holynesse at such time as hee is sober and not when hee is furious least he become starke madde and forget the knowledge of the trueth As though Watson had sayd that the Pope is sometime sober and sometime furious He doth much wronge him for his wordes reported by Bell himselfe in this very Chapter containe no such thing Onely he sayth That as the prudent Greeke appealed from Alexander furious to Alexander sober so may the Seculars notwithstanding any Decree set downe by his Holynesse by wrong information appeale euen from the Pope as Clemens vnto his Holynesse as Peter He speaketh of Alexander Furious and Sober and not of the Pope T. B. Bels Collection is truely deducted of Watsons wordes For Watson compareth the appealing of the prudent Greeke from Alexander furious to the appealing of the Seculars from Pope Clemens Neither can it be thought strange if Warson deemed the Popes to be sometimes furious For first Pope Iohn was rather furious then sober when he kept Women openly to the notorious scandall of the Church insomuch as some of the Cardinals writte to Otto then King of the Saxons to come and besiedge Rome so to afflict him for his sinnes The same Pope was rather furious then sober when he caused the Cardinals Nose to be cut off that gaue the counsell and his hand that wrote the Letter Pope Siluester the second was furious rather then sober I weene when by couenant he did homage to the Deuill to be preferred to the Popedome Pope Formosus was not sober when wittingly and willingly he committed flat Periurie Pope Martin was not sober when he absolued Formosus of his Oath Pope Stephanus the 6. was not very sober when he caused the dead body of Pope Formosus to be brought foorth into his Consistorie the ornaments Papall to be taken away two fingers of his right hand to be cut off a Laicall habit to be put on the dead corps and all this being solemnely done the body to be put into the Graue againe Pope Sergius the 3. was not very sober trow I when he commaunded Pope Formosus who now had bin dead almost tenne yeares to be taken out of his Tombe and to be set in a Chaire with pontificall Attyre vpon his backe and then his head to be cut off and cast into Tyber Pope Vrbanus the second was not sober doubtlesse when he absolued Subiectes from alleageance due vnto their Soueraignes condemning those that obeyed the King and absoluing such as tooke part against the King from the crime of Periurie and iniustice Pope Boniface the eight was nothing sober when he challenged the right of both Swordes when he depriued Philippe the French King and gaue his Kingdome to him that could get it But what need many wordes this poynt is most plentifully handled in my Christian Dialogue lately published to which I referre the reader for his full satisfaction concerning the Popes double person Read more of Watson in the end of the Second Chapter and ponder the same seriously B. C. His rusticall immodestie and childish scoffing at the Popes Nose litle becommeth the grauitie of his Ministershippe but he that is ledde vp and downe by the Nose like a Buffalo by the Prince of this world must to gratifie his Maister imploy his rayling talent according to his blacke inspiration T. B. I answere first that our Fryers blacke inspiration may better beseeme Pope Benedict the eight who as Petrus Damascenus affirmeth was seene riding corporally after his death vpon a blacke Horse the Deuil and who freely confessed that afore-time hee was much addicted to robberie and extortion It may also better be bestowed on Pope Siluester the second who as we haue seene did homage to the blacke Deuill and so aspired to the Popedome Secondly that the declamation our Fryer maketh against the leading vp and downe by the nose like a Buffal will litle content either our Jesuites or their Pope after the due recitall of the same This is a true Narration of the cruell furious and raging Buffaloes My selfe being student in the English Colledge at Rome not long afore my arriuall in this Kingdome and on a time walking abroad to take the ayre with many others of the same Colledge when we came without one of the Posterne gates of the Citie we espied certaine Buffaloes with their keeper at the Riuer side Which spectacle as vnpleasant to the eyes so also most terrible to the heart my fellowes and deare Countrey-men no sooner beheld but they betooke them selues to their best speed My selfe more bold therein then wise for the trust I reposed in the Keeper would not at that time amende my pace and so remained behind alone Sodainely the furious raging and cruell Buffaloes brake from their Keeper and with great violence came vpon me My Countrey-men standing a farre off vpon the toppe of an high Mountaine durst not for their liues aproach to offer me any comfort helpe or succour they neither did nor could expect any other thing saue onely present and most cruell death Howbeit the wilde cruell raging and most furious Buffaloes a thing very strange rare and wonderfull if a miracle let the prudent and Christian Reader iudge did no hurt to me at all but as it were sported with mee euen as one childe playeth with another after awhile the furious and raging Buffaloes left me and in peaceable maner departed from me at the length my fellowes beholding the departure of the Buffaloes and perswading themselues that I was most pitifully and cruelly slaine came with conuenient speed to visite my dead corps but finding mee aliue yea as liue-like as I was afore
excessiue eating Vse dayly abstinence refection without gluttonie or excesse for it profiteth thee nothing to haue an emptie Belly two or three dayes and after to fill the Panch while it may hold Thus the Popes owne Decrees teach vs and it is to be well obserued For doubtlesse Popish Fastes haue this effect most vsually the richer sort stuffe their bellies and fill their panches at Dinner with great varietie of Wines and delicate Meates Yea at all times they drinke Wines and eate Peares Apples Rasinges Figges and Simnels especially in their Collations at night they eate conserues of Quinces Cheries Wardens and like dainties which farre exceed the best Dinners of the poorer sort And this I protest for edification-sake I heere disclose the same that my selfe heard one Recusant once say at dinner that he did eate the more at dinner on the Fasting day that so he might put away Hunger vntill the next day What I haue heard touching this Subiect if I should here relate the same would seeme strange to many a one I speake of thinges heard by report the other I speake of my owne hearing this by the report of others An other Decree of Pope Pius doth yeeld vs this instructioÌ„ These are the words Nihil enim prodest homini ieiunare et orare et alia religionis bona agere nisi mens ab iniquitate et ab obtrectationibus lingua cohibeatur To Fast and Pray doth not profit a man any thing neither yet to do other dueties of Religion vnlesse he keepe his Minde from iniquitie his Tongue froÌ„ euill speaking An other Decree borrowed from S. Austen hath these wordes Ieiunium autem magnum et generale est abstinere ab iniquitatibus et ab illicitis voluptatibus seculi quod est perfectum ieiunium in hoc seculo Quasi QuadragesimaÌ„ S. abstinentiae celebramus cum bene viuimus cum ab iniquitatibus et ab illicitis voluptatibus abstinemus The great and generall Fast is to absteine from iniquitie and vnlawfull pleasures of this world and this is the perfect Fast in this world We keepe as it were a Quadragesima or Lent of abstinence while we liue well and Christianly while we absteine from sinne and from vnlawfull pleasures But an other Decree borrowed of S. Hierome shall be the vpshot of this game These are the very wordes Audiant itaque qui ea quae necessaria sunt corpori subtrahunt illud quod per Prophetam Dominus loquitur Ego Dominus odio habens rapinam holocanstorum De rapina vero holocanstum offert qui temporalium bonorum siue ciborum nimia egestate vel manducandi vel somni penuria corpus suum immoderatè affligit Let them therefore who withhold or take from the body thinges necessarie for it heare what our Lord sayth by his Prophet I the Lord hate the robbery of burnt Offeringes Now he offereth burnt Offeringes of Rapine or Roberie who afflicteth his body immoderately either with too much want of temporall good thinges or of Meates or with the penurie of eating or of sleepe This Discourse if my Tryall be annexed to it is enough concerning this Subiect To S. Hierome this in briefe is my answere viz. That the Epistle fathered on him is a counterfeit as which agreeth not with the true Hieroms Doctrine else where as is alreadie prooued To which I adde which I haue also prooued that if wee suppose and admit it to be a Tradition of the Apostles yet doth mine assertion stand firme and vntouched viz. That notwithstanding that Tradition yet was Lent-fast free voluntarie and not commaunded by any Law To S. Austen I answere first that the Sermon which our Jesuite citeth is not his but a counterfeit My reason is at hand because S. Austen as is already prooued affirmeth constantly that the Apostles made no Law for Fasting This is already prooued Secondly that in things indifferent such as I haue prooued Lent to be euery one is bound to obey the Law of that Church in which he lyueth And so he that keepeth not Lent-fast may truely be said to sinne Thirdly that S. Epiphanius and S. Austen did not reprooue Aerius for denying popish Lent-fast which was at that time vnhatched but for denying the Churches Authoritie in appoynting Fasting-dayes vpon what cause soeuer Which my selfe doe constantly auouch to be an Heresie indeede For when the Church vpon speciall causes appoynteth Fasting dayes then all that for infirmitie may ought to absteine and not to contemne those Fastes as Aerius taught Howbeit I say withall that the auncient Church condemned it for an Heresie in Montanus to appoynt ordinary times of necessarie and Religious Fasting when there was no speciall cause so to doe B. C. That which he bringeth concerning S. Spiridion his eating of Flesh in Lent all circumstaunces considered hurteth not vs but maketh against himselfe For we deny not but that in some cases Flesh may be eaten without violation of that Fast. T. B. I answere First that S. Spiridions eating of Flesh all circumstances duely considered maketh so much against Popish Lent fast as will make both the Jesuites and the Popes heart to pant when they shall seriously ponder my answere in that behalfe Secondly that our Jesuite truly graunteth that Papists may in some cases eate Flesh in theâ—â— holy Lent For first seeing the Pope can bring all Soules out of Popish Purgatory Secondly seeing he can dissolue that Matrimony which Christ himselfe instituted Thirdly seeing he can make a vowed Popish Monke to become a truly marryed man Fourthly seeing he can authorize the Brother to marrie his owne full and naturall Sister Fiftly seeing his owne will is a reason sufficient to doe whatsoeuer pleaseth him Sixly seeing he may iudge all but none iudge him Seuenthly seeing he can doe as much as Christ him selfe could doe Eightly Seeing none may say vnto him Why doest thou so Although he carry many thousandes of Soules to Hell Nynthly seeing he hath the right of both Swords the Spirituall and the Temporall and by vertue thereof deposeth Kings and translateth their Kingdomes Tenthly seeing he can by the fulnes of his power change the nature of things and of nothing make somthing all which is already prooued it followeth by an ineuitable illation that by the Popes Dispensation all Papistes may eate Flesh aswell in the time of Lent as at other times of the yeare This is confirmed by the vsuall practise aswell of Seminarie Priestes as of Iesuites Iesuited Papistes within this Land For a famous Jesuite made offer to a Gentleman that if he would become a Papist he should haue Licence to eate Flesh in Lent among Lollards that by so doing he might liue without suspition and escape daunger of the Lawes Now let vs duely examine the circumstaunces of S. Spiridions eating of Flesh in Lent Cassiodorus in the Tripartite Historie hath these expresse wordes Instante iam Quadragesima quidam
potestatem excellentiae quam Christus alligatam sacramentis minimè habebat panem in suum corpus conuertisse deinde verò dedisse illud Apostolis dicendo hoc est c. Secunda opinio affirmat consecrasse quibusdam verbis nobis ignotis quando benedixit panem et non quando dixit hoc est c. Tertia opinio tuetur illa forma Christum consecrasse verum occultè scilicet quando benedixit panem deinde publicè illa vsum fuisse vt alios formam consecrandi doceret Quarta opinio tenet quando verba haec hoc est c. protulit simulque factam fuisse benedictionem Pope Innocentius holdeth the first opinion that Christ by the power of excellencie which in him was not tied to the Sacraments conuerted the Bread into his body and then gaue it to his Apostles saying This is my Body c. The second OpinioÌ„ holdeth that Christ Consecrated the Bread with certaine words to vs vnknowen when he blessed the Bread not when he sayd This is my Body The third Opinion affirmeth that Christ did Consecrate with that forme of Wordes but secretly when he blessed the Bread and after vsed the same forme of wordes to instruct others The fourth OpinioÌ„ holdeth that Christ did Consecrate when he spake these wordes This is my Body and that the blessing was done at the same time Behold here the mistery of profound Popish diuinitie I would not pittie his case who being in the middest of a great Fire would not come out to heare it But I pittie the case of silly ignoraunt Papistes who hazard aduenture their saluation in beleeuing such a fond and vncertaine Religion Secondly because by popish Religion when the Priest holdeth the Host ouer his head then the silly Papistes must adore the same as the euerliuing God And for all that euen by popish Fayth and Doctrine the popish so tearmed Host may onely be a peece of meere Bakers bread I prooue it sundry wayes First because Sotus that great learned popish Schoole-man surnamed for his deepe Learning Doctor Subtilis holdeth and constantly defendeth that it is vncertaine whether the Bread be transubstantiated into Christes body or no by these wordes of popish Consecration This is my Body Secondly because by popish Fayth the Bread is not made Christes body vnlesse the Priest haue intention so to make it But doubtlesse sundry cases and causes may fall out to take away the Priestes intention and so the silly people shall commit Idolatrie while they adore a peece of Bread for the lyuing GOD. Thirdly because Caietanus that famous Cardinall and learned popish Schoole-doctor affirmeth resolutely and boldly that no Text in the whole Ghospell prooueth effectually that these wordes This is my Body must be vnderstoode properly But doubtlesse if this be true which the learned Cardinall of Rome auoucheth to be most true the silly Papists must perforce be Idolaters while they adore the popish Host in the popish Masse And therfore doth the popish Byshop Angles giue his Reader this graue aduise Cautâ— legendum esse Caietanum Caietane must be read warily For indeed by Caietanes opinion the adoring of the popish Bread-god is flat Idolatrie Fourthly because in the consecration of the Wine the Priest as Josephus Angles telleth vs may haue Perueâ—sam intentionem a peruerse intention and so not consecrate at all For the Papistes agree about their Reall presence in their popish Masse like Dogges girning and fighting for a Bone albeit it be the most essentiall part of their Masse and consequently of all popish Religion Fiftly because they haue added one word of their owne forge and inuention to the words of Christes sacred Institution to weet the word enim which signifieth for S. Mathew S. Marke S. Luke and S. Paul haue all foure deliuered the expresse wordes of Christes sacred Institution and for all that not one of them doth so much as once name the word enim Fourthly that albeit there be some apparant colour of trueth in that which our Iesuite saith of the Pater noster yet will the same after due examination thereof tende wholly to the confusion of the Pope and all his popish Vassals I therefore answere that though the Pater noster in it selfe and according to Christes Institution be most holy pure and religious yet is the same by superstitious abuse in popish Masse become morally prophane impure and irreligious I prooue it by three seuerall and irrefragable reasons First because in the popish Masse it is mangled maimed and bereaued of a chiefe part of the integritie thereof For as hee that clippeth the Kinges Coyne is thereby a Traytor to an earthly King euen so hee that clippeth or curtalleth Gods sacred Word is thereby a Traytor to God the King of Heauen And consequently seeing the Pope in his idolatrous Masse hath curtalled the Pater noster taking from God his Kingdome his Power and his Glorie which three are plainely comprised in that originall Pater noster which Christ did institute it followeth by an ineuitable illation and necessarie consequence that the Pater noster as it is prophaned in the popish Masse is become a Ragge of the New religion Secondly because in the popish Masse it is vsed in a Tongue to the people vnknowne contrary to Apostolicall doctrine Thirdly because the Pater noster in the popish Masse marke well my wordes is made as it were a slaue to Satan and to serue Idolatrie euen against the euerliuing God to waite and attend vpon the popish Bread-God And so the Pater noster which afore was pure and Euangelicall is now by popish Superstition become impure and Diabolicall But some will here demaund how the Pater noster doth serue Idolatrie To whom I answere that euery thing in popish Masse is meere accidentall as the Jesuite hath freely graunted the popish Reall presence onely excepted to weet the popish so supposed Dagon or Bread-god And consequently al the rest in popish Masse must perforce be designed for the furtheraunce honour and seruice of the said popish Dagon or Bread-god Which seruice I haue elsewhere soundly prooued and plainely conuinced to be very flatte Idolatrie Neither ought this to seeme strange to the Reader for as holy Wordes in Coniurations Theftes Robberies Treasons and the like are by the abuse prophaned and morally become vnholy euen so the holy wordes of the Pater noster are in the popish Masse prophaned and become vnholy They are referred to a wicked and idolatrous end from whence all morall actes receiue their specification as all learned Papistes graunt But the euerliuing God is and ought to be the end of all and consequently whatsoeuer is referred to any other end the same is thereby prophaned ipso facto B. C. The Protestantes obiect how we make the Masse the Sacrifice of the New testament to haue been ordayned by Christ himselfe when as Durandus and others note at what
I deny the graunt If of the Latine I willingly agree therevnto For who knoweth not that the Latine Emperour came freely though falsely to the Empire by Pope Stephans gyft who depriued the Greeke Emperour for that he did not succour Italy and placed a Latine in his stead so as the Emperour receiued more of the Pope then the Pope of the Emperour His second place is comprized in these wordes Ego Ludouicus Imperator Romanus Augustus statuo et concedo per hoc pactum confirmationis nostrae tibi beato Petro principi Apostolorum et per te Vicario tuo domino paschali summo pontifici et successoribus eius in perpetuuÌ„ sicut a praedecessoribus nostris vsque nunc in vestra potestate et ditione tenuistis RomanaÌ„ ciuitateÌ„ cum ducatu suo et suburbanis atque viculis omnibus et territorijs eius montanis et maritimis littoribus et portubus seu cunctis Ciuitatibus Castellis Oppidis ac Villis in Tusciae partibus tu ne Ludouice cum paschale pacisceris si tua id est Imperij Romani sunt ista cur alteri concedis si ipsius et ab ipso possidentur quid attinet te illa confirmare Sequitur merito pactum appellas quasi quandam collusioneÌ„ sed quid faciam inquies repetam armis quae Papa occupat at ipse iam factus est me potentioâ— repetamiure at ius meum tantum est quantum ille voluerit Non enim haereditario nomine ad Imperium veni sed pacto vt si Imperator esse volo haec et haec inuicem Papae promittam Sequitur Sigismundus cum Romam verisset vt pro Imperatore Romanorum coronaretur non aliter a Papa coronari potuit quam vt Constantini donationem ratam haberet eademque omnia de integro donaret quid magis centrarium quam pro Imperatore coronari qui Romae ipsi renunciasset et coronari ab illo quem et coÌ„fitcatur et quantum in se est dominum Romani Imperij faciat Acratam habere donationem quae vera si sit nihil Imperatori de imperio reliqui fiat Quod vt arbitror nec pucri fecissent Quo minus mirum si Papa sibi arrogat Caesaris coronationeÌ„ quae populi Romani esse deberet si tu Papa et potes Graecum Imperatorem priuare Italia prouincijsque occidentis et Latinum Imper facis cur pactionibus vteris Cur bonae Caesaris partiris Cur in te imperium transfers Quare sciat quisquis est Imperator Ro. me iudice se non esse nec Augustum nec Caesarem nec Imperatorem nisi Romae imperium teneat et nisi operam det vt vrbeÌ„ Romam recuperet plane esse periuruÌ„ nam Caesares illi priores quorum primus fuit Constantinus non adigebantur iusiuranduÌ„ interponere quo nunc Caesares obstringuntur sed quantum humana ope praestari potest nihil imminuturos esse de amplitudine imperij Romani eamque sedulo adaucturos I Lodowicke Emperour of Rome Augustus do decree graunt by this couenant of our Confirmation to thee S. Peter Prince of the Apostles and by thee to thy Vicar Lord Paschall the high Priest and to his successours for euer as you haue holden them of our predecessours vntill this day in your power and dominion the Citie of Rome with her Dukedome Suburbes Streetes Territories Mountaines Marishes Shores Portes and all Cities Castles Townes and Villages in the coastes of Thusâ—a Doest thou Lodowicke couenant with Paschall If these thinges be thine that is pertaine to the Empire why doest thou giue them to an other If they be his and he haue them in possession to what end must thou confirme the same Thou truly calles it a Couenant as it were a Collusion But thou wilt say What shall I doe Shall I by force require the thinges which the Pope hath in possession But hee is now become stronger then my selfe Shall I demaund them as my right But my right is onely that which hee will affoord mee for I came not to the Empire by right of inheritaunce but by pact and couenant so as I can not be Emperour vnlesse I will giue the Pope what hee desireth Sigismundus comming to Rome there to be crowned Emperour of the Romans could not be crowned of the Pope but vpon this condition that he would confirme Constantines Donation and giue all the same things anew What is more contrary then that hee should be crowned Emperour who had renounced Rome nay be crowned of him whom he both confesseth and as much as in him lyeth maketh the Lord of the Romane Empire And should in like manner confirme that Donation which if it be true no part of the Empire shall remaine in the Emperours hand Which thing I thinke children would not haue done Wherefore it is lesse to be admired if the Pope challenge to himselfe the Crowning of Caesar which of right pertaineth to the people of Rome If thou be Pope and canst depriue the Greeke Emperour of Jtaly and of the Westerne Prouinces and makest a Latine Emperour why doest thou vse Couenantes Why doest thou deuide Caesars right Why doest thou translate and giue away the Empire from thy selfe Wherefore let him know whosoeuer is the Romane Emperour that if I be iudge he neither is Augustus nor Caesar nor Emperour vnlesse he hold keepe the Empire of Rome as also that he is periured vnlesse he employ his best endeauour to recouer the Citie of Rome againe For the former Caesars of whom Constantine was the chiefe were not vrged to take that Oath which this day is imposed vpon the Caesars but no way to diminish the amplitude of the Romane Empire and as much as mans power can effect to enlarge the same His third place is conteyned in these words Vt quisque pessimus est summorum Pontificum ita maximè defendendae huic Donationi incuÌ„bit qualis Bonifacius octauus qui Celestinum tubis parieti insertis decepit hic et de donatione Constantini scribit et regem Franciae priuauit regnuÌ„que ipsum quasi donationem Constantini exequi vellet Ecclesiae Rom. fuisse et esse subiectum indigauit Quod statim successores eius Benedictus et Clemens vt improbum et iniustum reuocarunt Verum quid sibi vult ista vestra Pontifices Rom. sollicitudo quod a singulis Imperatoribus donationem Constantinj exigitis confirmari nisi quod iurj diffiditis vestro Sed laterem lauatis vt dicitur nam neque illa vnquam fuit et quodnon est confirmarj non potest et quicquid denant Caesares deceptj exemplo Constantinj faciunt et donare Jmperium nequeunt The more wicked euery Pope is the more he employeth himselfe to defend this Donation Such was Bonifacius the eight who deceiued Celestine with Trumpets placed in the wall This man writeth of the Donation of Constantine and hee depriued the King of France and iudged his
Kingdome as one that would execute Constantinet gyft both to haue been and this day to be subiect to the Church of Rome which his successours Benedict and Clement foorthwith reuoked as a thing wicked and vniust But what meaneth this your sollicitude O yee Byshoppes of Rome that ye doe exact of euery Emperour to confirme Constantines gyft if ye doe not distrust your owne right But all in vaine as the prouerbe sayth for it neuer was at any time and what is not can not be confirmed Yea whatsoeuer the Caesars doe they doe the same being deceyued by Constantines example or supposed gyft and they cannot giue away the Empire His fourth place is comprised in these wordes Praescipsit Romana ecclesia O Imperiti O diuini iuris ignari nullus quantuÌ„uis annorum numerus verum abolere titulum potest Sequitur parum ante me natum testor eorum memoriam qui interfuerunt per inaudituÌ„ genus fraudis Roma papale accepit Imperium seu tyrannidem potius cum diu libera fuisset Is fuit Bonifacius nonus octauo in fraude et nomine par si modo Bonifacij dicendi sunt qui pessime faciunt Sequitur sed quid plura opus est in re apertissima dicere Ego non modo Constantinum non donasse tanta non modo non potuisse Romanum Pontificem in eisdem praescribere sed etiamsi vtrumque esset tamen vtrumque ius sceleribus possessorum extinctum esse contendo cum videamus totius Italiae multarumque prouinciarum cladem ac vastitatem ex hoc vno fonte fluxisse Sequitur Papa non modo remp quod non Verres non Catilina non quispiam peculator auderet sed etiam rem Ecclesiasticam et spiritum sanctum quaestui habet quod Simon ille Magus detestatur et cum horum admonetur et a quibusdam bonis viris reprehenditur non negat sed palam fatetur atque gloriatur licere ei quauis ratione patrimonium Ecclesiae a Constantino donatum ab occupantibus extorquere Sequitur Nulla itaque vnquam religio nulla sanctitas nullus Dei timor et quod referens quoque horresco omnium scelerum impij homines a Papa sumunt excusationem in illo enim comitibusque eius est omnis facinoris exempluÌ„ vt cuÌ„ Esaia et Paulo in Papam et Papae proximos dicere possumus Nomen Dei per vos blasphematur inter Gentes qui alios docetis vosipsos non docetis qui praedicatis non surandum latrocinamini qui abhominamini idola sacrilegiuÌ„ facitis qui in Lege et in Pontificatu gloriamini per praeuaricationem legis Deum veruÌ„ PontificeÌ„ inhonoratis The Church of Rome pleadeth Prescription O foolish men O men that know not the law of God! None though neuer so great number of yeares can abolish the title of trueth Not long before my birth I call to witnesse the memorie of them that were present by such fraud as was neuer heard of Rome receiued the Papall Empire or tyranny rather when it had a long time remayned free Boniface the ninth was the man equall to the eight in fraude and name if wee may call them Bonifaces who liue most abhominably But what need more be sayd in a matter most euident to all the world I contend not onely that Constantine gaue not such great giftes not only that the Byshop of Rome could not prescribe in such thinges but although they both had been so yet that the tytles of both were extinct with the wickednesse of the possessours when we may see that the dectruction and desolation of all Jtaly and many Prouinces sprange onely out of this Fountaine The Pope selleth for gaine not onely the Common-weale which neither Verres nor Catiline nor any notorious robber durst doe but also the Treasure of the Church and the holy Ghost which Simon the Magician doth detest And when he is admonished of these thinges and good men reprooue him for the same he denieth not but openly confesseth and glorieth therein that he may extort and by what meanes soeuer take from the possessours that Patrimonie which Constantine gaue to the Church Therefore he had neuer any Religion sanctimonie or feare of God And I tremble while I speake it men polluted with sinnes of all sortes alledge the Pope for their excuse For hee and his retinue are the example of all kind of mischiefe so as wee may iustly exclaime with â—say and with Paul against the Pope and his deuoted Pope-lings You are the cause that Gods name is blaspheamed among the Gentiles You that teach others doe not teach your selues you that preach against Stealing commit Robberie by the hie-way side you that abhorre Idolatrie practise Sacriledge yee that glorie in the Law boast of the Popedome by transgression of the Law dishonour the true Byshop which is GOD. Out of these plaine and euident testimonies of these famous zealous and great learned Papistes Gratianus Victoria Syluester Viguerius Fumus Nauarrus Couarruuias Gregorius Aquinas Augustinus de Anchona Glossator decretalium Gersonus Cardinalis Cusanus Antoninus Volateranus Paulus Cathalanus and Laurentius Valla I obserue these manifold Christian golden and worthy Lessons First that though the Pope be a most wicked man and carry thousands vpon thousandes to Hell yet may no man reprooue him for such his detestable cursed dealing Secondly that it is sacriledge to dispute of the Popes power and authoritie Thirdly that the Pope can not only pardon all punishment due to sinnes in this world but also bring all soules out of popish Purgatorie at his good will and pleasure Fourthly that the Pope hath often taken vpon him by his most wicked and execrable Dispensations to dissolue Matrimonie against Christes sacred Institution Fiftly that the Pope can dispense with a popish Monke already professed that he may marry vse coniugall actes with his lawfull Wife Sixtly that the Pope hath de facto dispensed with the full Brother to marry his naturall and full Sister of the same Father and the same Mother Seuenthly that the Pope may doe whatsoeuer pleaseth his maiesticall Holynesse his bare and onely Will being a sufficient warrant so to doe Eightly that the Pope hath vniuersall iurisdiction ouer all Kingdomes and Empires and not that onely but also the Fulnesse of Power in as large and ample manner as Christ him selfe had it Ninthly that the Pope can by his supereminent excellencie and fulnesse of Power change the nature of thinges apply the substantiall partes of one thing to another and of nothing make something in so much as all knees must bow and bende vnto him and consequently that he is not pure Man but God also Tenthly that the first occasion and originall of Popish Superroyall falsely pretended Primacie was a counterfeit and falsely pretended Donation of the Emperour Constantinus surnamed the great Eleuenthly that the Late Byshop of Rome solliciting the Emperour Phocas with great