Wherewith Martin Azpileneta vnto whose doctrine Gregory the thirteenth gaue the attestation of vnanswerable and Holy And of whom the Iesuit Horat. Tursellimus in the life of Lauerius affirmeth That hee was a man excellent for his honestie and learning congratulateth himselfe and boasteth that he commanded vnto a certaine great Prince the Apothegme Qui nescit dissimulare nescit viuere Whereof the sayde Prince made afterwards great vse and profite These were the passions that troubled our forraigne Nouellists In lieu of many to auoid prolixity now let vs proceed to examine at what marke the Romanists on this side the sea doe also leuell And Saunders for that hee will satisfie vs by Scripture is traced by Bellarmine and magnified by our aduersaries to be a man of most eminent learning shall bee speaker for the whole factorie But by the way you must note that these had their priuate respects in their hearts while they held their pens in their hands So this our Country-man was not destitute of his priuate passion also which was either an ouer-hard conceit against his deerest Soueraigne Queen Elizabeth out of whose Kingdome hee was banished or an ouer-weeing respect deuoted vnto the seruice and gracious aspect of Pope Pius the fift vnto whom hee stood many wayes beholden Otherwise your consciences would assure you that he would neuer haue broached so manifest a lye The worke whereat hee aymed and the greeuances which disquieted his penne your discretions may iudge of by reuoking to minde the daies wherein hee liued and the personage that then reigned Mutato nomine the positions you know as yet are as peremptorily maintained and therefore aboue the rest fittest to be spoken vnto With a liuely suke to corroborat a bad matter hee groundeth his first authority his reasons arguments as flowing from the bitternesse of his priuate braine I will ouer-passe vpon the second booke of Cronicles the 26. Chapter where we read Oziam regem cùm sacerdotum officium vsurpauit á Pontifice fuisse de templo eiectum Et cum propter idem peccatū lepra a Deo percussus fuisset coactùm etiam fuisse ex vrbe discedere regnum filio renunciare Quod non sponte sua sed ex sententia sacerdotis vrbe regni administratione priuatus fuerit patet Nā legimus Leuit. 13. Quicunque inquit Lex maculatus fuerit lepra seperatus est ad arbitrium sacerdotis solus habitabit extra castra Cum ergo haec fuerit Lex in Israel simul legimus 2. Paralip 26. Regem habitasse extra vrbem in domo solitaria filium eius in vrbe iudicasse populum terrae cogimur dicere fuisse cū ad arbitrium sacerdotis separatum consequentèr regnandi authoritate priuatum Si ergo propter lepram corporalem poterat sacerdos olim regem iudicare regno priuare quare id non potest modo propter lepram spiritualem id est propter haeresim quae per lepram figurabatur vt August decet in questionibus Euangelicis lib. 2. quaest 40. praesertim cum 1. Cor. 10. Paulus dicat Contigisse Iudeis omnia in figuris Haec ille That Ozias the King when he vsurped vpon the office of the Priest-hood was by the Priest cast out of the temple And when for the same sinne he was strucken by God with leaprosie he was constrained to depart out of the City to resigne the kingdom to his sonne That not of his own accord but by the sentence of the high Priest hee was banished the City and depriued of the gouernment of the kingdome It appeareth Leuit. 13. whosoeuer saith the Law shall bee touched with the leaprosie and is seperated by the iudgement of the Priest he shall dwell by himselfe without the tents Sithence then this was the Law in Israel as also that we read 2. Paralip 26. That the King dwelled without the City in a solitary Mansion and that his sonne iudged the people of the land within the City wee must of necessity confesse that hee was sequestred by the iudgment of the Priest and consequently depriued of all authority of gouernment If then in respect of corporall leprosie the Priest of old might dispose of the King and dispossesse him of his kingdome Wherefore now may not the Pope doe the like in case of spirituall leprosie viz. for heresie figured by Leprosie as saith S. Augustin in his Euangelicall questions lib. 2. quaest 40. Especially when in the first to the Cor. ca. 10. Paul saith That all things were manifested vnto the Iewes in figures Hitherto Saunders Take him at his word and heere were learning enough to deceiue millions of soules but examine him by his owne authority and you shall find him in a miserable taking vnlesse God be mercifull For to prooue it most false That Ozias was depriued of his regall Authority by the sole iudgement of the high Priest Nothing through the whole History of the Kings is more liuely expressed then that Ozias from the sixteenth yeere of his age when he began to raign to the 60. yeere wherein he died was perpetuall King Neither was he at any time during his naturall life depriued of his kingdome Without question he dwelled in an House apart And in that respect for the nature of his Disease hee could not dispatch the office of a King which is of fact But that bereaued him not of the right of his kingdome neither of his Kingly capacity for so wee should deny that Children being crowned as in times past Ioas and Iosias were and men of full age if they had fallen into irrecouerable sicknesses either of mind or body to be Kings sithence the one by nonage the other by sicknesse are necessarilie sequestred from managing the State which consisteth in action 2. But Ozias continued king as long as he liued For the scripture saith In the seuen and twentith yeere of Ieroboam king of Israel raigned Azarias called also Ozias and Zacharias the sonne of Amazias king of Iuda Sixteen yeere old was he when he began to raigne and he raigned fifty two yeeres in Ierusalem Behold our Romanist here plainely detected of an vntrueth as I promised gone before and that by the truest testimony that humane satisfaction can vnder the concaue of the heauens demand But to bewray the true genius of impudency I will yet go farther to his and his partakers finall confusion Witnesse the 2. of Kings v. 27. In the two and fiftieth yeere of Azarias King of Iuda Pekan the sonne of Romeliah raigned ouer Israel in Samaria Heere is plaine dealing and matter vpon record How shall we here beleeue this Romanist when the spirit of trueth and Antiquity giueth vs assurance that he continued King thirty six yeers after his Coronation To the further verifying wherof if it were possible Iosephus recordeth in his 9. book of Antiquities cap. 11. That Azarias or Ozias dyed in the sixty eight yeere of his age and in the
their factions and dissensions vtterly giueth ouer his further hopes of inioying the Empire and by the mediation of S. Bernard of Clareual falleth to make his peace with his corriuall Lotharius Lotharius being now sole and absolute Lord of the Empire according to his Saxonish simplicity honouring the Papall Sea with more then common obseruancie ceaseth not to deserue well thereof by all the offices of loue and duty which an obedient sonne to the Church could possibly imagine to performe Innocentius the second the successor of Honorius expulsed by Anacletus Antipope and Roger Duke of Apulia flying vnto him for succour to his infinit charge he restored to his Sea at Barionea But beleeue me neither these kind offices nor any worldly respects were of ability either to frustrate or to mollifie the Popish auarice for when the Pope had declared Lotharius Emperor he made shew as if he would againe seeke restitution of the auncient rites which the Empire claimed in the election of Bishops and Abbots But the rauenous Pope not only refused to vnloosen his talents vpon what he had already seised but also re-attaching whatsoeuer Lotharius himself either by the perswasion of Bernard or in feare of further sedition had voluntarily offered to the Romish sea he laboured by all other meanes to adde more to the former through his immesurable avarice For when Lotharius hauing expulsed Roger the Apulean would haue bestowed the Dutchy vpon Earle Reignold the generall of his armie the Bishop impleded him as concerning the right of donation with so vehement a contention that neither being minded to yeeld to other the controuersie at last was faine to be thus determined viz. That both parties should lay their hands vpon the Staffe of the Feodarie ensigne then to be deliuered to the new Duke of Apulia Thereby signifying that both of them had equall interest in the transportation of that Dukedome So that the more humility accompanied with sweet behauiour and moderation that this all-praise-worthy Emperor shewed towards the Papacie The more the waywardnesse and malice of the Romanists began to shew it selfe and that without feare or modesty For whereas this Emperor in receiuing the Diademe had cast himselfe at the Popes feete the Clergie to vse the precedent to the debasement of succeeding Emperors and to deliuer it as a trophee to posterity as soon as his backe was turned set vp in the Lateran pallace his protraiture with this inscription Rex venit ante fores iurans prius vrbis honores Post homo fit Papae sumit quo dante Coronam The King attends before the gates and sweares the City-rites to keepe From Romes great Pastor takes his Crowne and vowes to hold in vassalage What was this but a bewraying first of their frowardnesse manifested in despising the Maiesty of so high a calling and secondly of their pride in that forsooth they would seem either to ouertop or obscure the victorious gests of him who to his immortall commendation had subiected vnder tribute the Duke of Polonia the Pomeranes and the Russies who I say to the no small honor of the Maiesty Imperiall had inforced the King of Denmarke to beare the sword at his Coronation had subiugated the states of Cremona and Papia and brought the vanquished Bononians and Piemontois into the forme of a prouince and finally with the conquest of Apulia had brought vnder obedience many most noble Cities in that Dutchy Now is he vanquished and acknowledged the Popes bondslaue For what other signification doth the Popes Creature import but to be his vassall or seruant Such are these admirable seruants of seruants whom euen Emperors themselues are glad to acknowledge and respect as Lords and Masters ⧠Conradus tertius He raigned in the yeere of Christ 1138. about the third yeere of King Steuen LOtharius in his second retrait out of Italie being departed this world not farre from Trent Conrade the same Prince whom as before we told you the malice of Honorius had frustrated of the Empire and banished Italie now succeedeth his dead predecessor But albeit after the decease of Lotharius the Princes of the Empire and that in the presence of Theodoret the Popes legate and with his very good liking did elect him King of Romans yet by no meanes could the Popes assent be gotten to perfect the Election For whereas hee had conferred to Roger Duke of Apulia that Dukedome with the titulary dignity of a Kingdome in liew of ransome for himselfe and his Cardinalls taken in battell and Conrade in preiudice of the Empire would neither ratifie nor hearken vnto so vnreasonable a motion Nocentius complotting with Roger incited Guelfo Duke of Bauaria to rebell against Conrade for that hee could not obtaine at his hands the graunte of his brothers Dutchie Herewith the Emperour had so much to doe to defend his owne that hee quite forgot to thinke vpon the recouery of Sicil and Apulia Behold here a president of Papall fidelity if his auarice bee not supplied by losse to the State About this time these fatall factions of the Guelfes and Gibellines whereof others haue discoursed began in Germanie For as Nauclerus reporteth out of Hermanus whilst the battell was fighting betweene Conrade and Guelfo those of the Kings party tooke for their word or Motto Hie Wiebling which is as much to say The King as being nobly discended from a village of that appellation Those which followed Guelfo reclaimed Hie welf Where after it came to passe that those two denomidations of Guelfes and Gibellines became the originall of all the factions in Italy Which falling out happely for Gregorie the ninth to make vse of from thenceforth he gaue them such large entertainment that no City towne nor people were cleere from the infection of so spreading a contagion For vpon no other ground saue the vse of these names euen vntill our daies with more then admirable fury City bandied against City Prouince against Prouince yea in a City one part of the people confronted another Not only the factious people continued this dissension amongst themselues but the Bishops also in this quarrell prosecuted one another to the vtmost of their furie Amongst others that Boniface the eight then whom the Romane Sea neuer indured a more fell monster persecuted from place to place all those whome hee knew to bee of the Gibelline faction ransacking and spoiling all places whereunto they made any repaire of abiding Whereupon some finding no safety in Cities setled their abodes in woods and forrests manie of the Gentrie like wilde beastes inhabited the Sea coastes and at last left Italie to bee companions with pirates For they assured themselues that the Pirates could not haue vsed them worse then this Malefacius Nero would haue done if he had once caught them in his clutches As for example When hee heard that certaine of the contrarye faction were fledde to GENOA hee posted after them with full determination by
fit here to be pretermitted Innocent the second he whom a little before Lotharius had restored vnto the Papacie had caused to be painted in a Table the Pope as it were sitting in his chaire and the Emperor with his hands held vp together receiuing the Imperiall Diadem where vnder were written the foresaid two verses Rex venit ante fores c. When this picture with the inscription was shewed vnto his Maiesty it did greatly displease him and casting foorth some obiurgatorie word he instanced the Pope to take it away which hee promised to doe least so friuolous a spectacle might giue matter of discontent to many worthy personages then residing in the City Frederick is departed and Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople vnderstanding with what desire of reuenge the Popes stomack burned against William King of Apulia by Palcologus his Orator and Embassador he offereth vnto the Pope his voluntary seruice and withall to expulse William out of Italie vpon condition If the businesse tooke expected issue that then according to the treaty the Grecian should inioy three maritime cities in Apulia Doubt not I beseech you but that he who had already depriued William of Apulia for contemning such religious wares as are Popish Bulls and Curses did not straine much curtesie to accept of the Articles Whereof William taking notice and withall somewhat fearefull by his Embassadours moueth his holinesse to hearken vnto peace promising not only to restore vnto the Church whatsoeuer he had taken away but also that he would adde somewhat of his owne thereto Moreouer that hee would thencefoorth containe the Romans rebells to the Church in their due obedience These were honourable conditions but that the Pope should not accept therof the Cardinalls disswaded him like true men of armes hoping to reape more crownes by war then by peace Whereupon warre is proclaimed against William Hee leuieth an army throughout Sicily landeth in Apulia wasteth the country by sword and fire and finally routeth Emanuel who had pitched his Tents not far from Brundusium vnto Beneuent where at that time the Pope with his Cardinalls resided he gaue such sharpe assaults that in despaire of their liues he inforced them to sue for peace William accordeth and is receiued into fauour and proclaimed king of both kingdoms on this side and beyond Pharum but vpon oath that from thenceforth hee would neuer againe infest the territories of the Church Thus as you heare matters being ignominiously compounded the Pope riding in visitation through the territories of the Cassinates Marsi Reatini Narnienses and Tudertini at last ariueth at Ouieta and there is giuen to vnderstand that Rome is in combustion the Consuls doing their vtmost to restore the City to it former liberty Hereupon groundeth He his deadly hatred against Frederick most greeuously complaining that being in distresse between the swords of the Romans and William that contrary vnto his superabundant promises against all right he had forsaken him yea that he was now so incircled with perils that he could not liue in security at Rome As if the Emperor were a vessell especially chosen rather to patronize the Popes wilfull errors and ouersights then to defend the innocency of the Christian flock committed vnto his tutelage But Fredericke taking in euill part many the Popes actions but especially the alienation of Apulia being an appendancy of the imperiall dignity without his consent or knowledge As also calling to remembrance That the Pope had wrested from the late Emperors the right of Inuestiture of Prelates That by his ministers hee had impouerished the subiects of the Empire and by their subtill dispersions of treasonable practises had done what in them lay to raise sedition throughout the Empire Vpon these grounds I say the Emperours Maiesty now thought it high time to put remedy vnto these violent intrusions vpon the regalties of the Empire Hereupon hee exacteth an oth of fidelity of all the Bishops of Germany The Popes Legats such as were not called in by his good pleasure he commandeth to depart the Teutonick kingdom prohihiteth his people either to appeale or trauaile to the Romish Court and in his mandats causeth his name to be inserted before the Popes Vpon the proclaiming of this Inhibition it happened that a certaine Bishop in his way from Rome whether as a contemner of the Emperors edict or vpon any other cause I know not was taken prisoner and committed to ward Now hath the Pope found an occasion by the taking of this Bishop to fulminate his long-conceiued displeasure against the Emperor and by a proud Embassie seemeth only to be agreeued that the Bishop is not deliuered from Captiuity but withall interlaceth both in his letters as also in the speeches of his legat many blundering Items which did abundantly insinuate in what manner he deemed the Emperor to be obliged vnto him For by his letters he wisht him to re-consider how from him he had receiued the confirmation of the Imperiall crowne and yet did his Holinesse nothing repent it had the fauours which he had bestowed vpon him been far more beneficiall Vpon the reading of which letters the nobility falling into discontent one of the Legats rose vp and resolutely tooke vpon him to broach That the Romane Empire was transferred from the Grecians to the Almans not to be called Emperor but King of the Teutonicks vntil he were confirmed by the Apostolique sea Before consecration he was a King after an Emperor Whence then hath hee his Empire if not of the Pope By the election of the nobility he hath the name of a king by consecration of the Pope the stile of an Emperor and Caesar Augustus Ergo per Papam imperat Search Antiquity Zachary inobled Charles and gaue him the sirname of Great that he mought be Emperor and ordained that euer after the Teutonic King should bee Emperor and Champion of the Apostolique Sea That Apulia by him should be pacified and restored to the Church being in truth holden of S. Peter and not of the Empire Rome is the seat of the Pope Aquis in Arden is the Emperors Whatsoeuer the Emperor possesseth he holdeth it whollie of the Pope As Zachary transferred the Empire from the Greeks to the Teutonics So may the Pope retransfer it from the Almans to the Grecians Behold it is in his power to giue it to whom he pleaseth beeing onlie constituted of God ouer Kingdoms and people to destroie to pull downe to build and to plant In conclusion he termeth the Germans cowards for that they could neither expulse Roger out of Italy nor would at anie time bring the Danes and Frislanders to subiection Vpon the hearing of these scandalous exorbitations both the Emperor conceiued a iust displeasure and the whole nobility so stormed thereat that Otto of Wittelspach drawing the sword which he accustomed to beare before the Emperor had shethed it in the body of the Legat had not the Emperor thrust betweene them Of these abuses the
the Pope saying Non tibi sed Petro meaning that he became so deuout a suppliant not to this Tyrant but his Apostolique Calling But the tyrannicall Pope once againe bowing downe his reuerend necke with his beare-like pawes reclaimeth Et Mihi Petro. The good Emperor that had neuer offended any man no nor the Pope himselfe but his pride albeit he could not but agrieue at this iniurious and base vsage yet in regard of the common quiet much preferred before his own dignity held his peace And after his absolution thus renued his grace with the Bishop ⧠Henricus VI. He raigned in the yeere 1191. about the second yeere of Richard the first THe Romanists thinking it no safe policy too much at one instant to irritate the reuengefull spirits of secular Princes smothered a while their domineering humours vntill the dayes of Celestine the third Who although he had bestowed vpon Henrie for wife Constance the Nun the daughter of Roger the fourth King of Sicil taken forth from the Monastery of Panormo vpon condition that Tancred the base Son of Roger now deposed whome Clement the third had before to no purpose labored also to displant should hold both kingdoms in fee of the Church Notwithstanding some there are who write that because this Henry punished somewhat seuerely not only the Apulian and Sicilian Laickes for entring into actuall rebellion against him but also proceeded with like rigor against the Clerks and Bishops being guilty of the same conspiracy from some pulling their skins ouer their eares from other their eies impaling some vpon stakes and incircling some of their heads with a flaming Garland hee escaped not Celestines curse who by this time being weary of peace intended nothing else but the dispossession of Henry from the Crowne of both Sicils ⧠Philip the Sweuian He raigned in the yeere of Christ 1199. about the last yeere of Richard the first HOweuer the world fared in this age certaine it is that presently after the death of Henrie the rage of the Bishop grew fiery hot against his successor For Henrie now lying vpon his death bed had instituted Innocent the 3 the successor of Celestine guardian to his yong infant fower yeeres of age yet chosen to the succession of the Empire by the Suffrage of the Princes To him he also recommended his wife Constance and ordained his own brother Philip Duke of Hetruria and Sweuia during the minority of the child to bee his Lieutenant through the whole Empire and the Kingdome of Sicil But the Bishop falsifying his faith of Guardianship turneth traitor and by setting al Germany in combustion sideth with the House of Sweuia For as Philip posting towards his sick brother by the way about Mount Flasco not far from Viterbium vnderstood that his brother was departed tranported with a desire of Soueraignty hee hastneth as fast to Haganoa the place of the Assembly of the Princes and there worketh as many as he can to fauour his proceedings Nocentius who in shew deadly hated the Sweuians as persecutors of the Church but in truth sorely thirsting after the reall possession of Sicil at first to giue Philip to vnderstand that without his Holinesse acted a part in all Princely policies it were folly to vndertake great matters he excepteth against him by an Excommunication which stood on Record filed against him in the daies of Celestine Secondly to shew himselfe a displeased Father he sendeth the Bishop of Sutrium vnto him to demand at his hand certaine Hostages whose eyes not long agoe his brother Henry had caused to be put out Thirdly failing against imagination of his will for that Philip by confessing and repenting of his fault had procured absolution from the Legat and remitted the Hostages In odium Philippi he sheweth the blind pledges to the people and depriuing the Bishop of Sutrium for that without commission hee had absolued Philip he confineth him into one of the Ilands And finally now to perfect his proiects he recommendeth vnto the fauours of the Electors Berthold Duke of Zazingia a Prince strong and valiant and whom he knew full well to be a deadly enemy to the Sweuians because he had before times beene molested by the wars of Conrade the brother of Philip. The letters of his election written at large are yet to bee seen C. venerabilem de Electi potestate But Berthold being a wise and an Honorable Prince knowing himself far inferior to Philip and that he had been already nominated for Emperor by the generall good-liking of the Sweuians Saxons the Bauarians the Bohemians and the Princes of the Rhene so affected the fauor of his lawfull king that in assurance of obedience he gaue him for pledges his own Nephewes Crinen and Berthold Earles of Vrach together with his personall oath of Allegeance Whereat Innocent tooke so great an indignation that he could not refraine but belched out That either the Bishop should dispossesse Philip of his Crown or Philip dispossesse the Bishop of his Miter And forthwith he calleth from England Otho the sonne of Henry Leo a proud and harebraind Prince and by sending him the Imperiall Diadem he setteth him vp against Philip And to withdraw his subiects he interdicteth him of all honor and authority Hereby arose a most pestiferous dis-vnion in the state of Germany but a masse of aduantages to the Pope and his Clergy For as long as Philip and Otho by their intestine wars distracted the Empire there scant fell void any Ecclesiasticall dignity yea almost scant no poore vicarage but being made litigious by the cunning of Rome the dicesion of the incumbency was remooued into the Popes Court and there peraduenture compounded but not without the fleecing of both parties purses This the Abbat of Vrsperg in the end of one of his Orations doth set downe for one of the trickes wherby the Popedom is accustomed to trouble Christendome meane-while enriching their priuate coffers These be his words Reioyce sayeth he our mother Rome for cataracts of treasure are opened vpon earth that riuers and masses of money in great abundance may flowe into thy bosome Reioyce for the iniquitie of the sonnes of men for that rewards are accumulated vpon thee to reconcile mischiefes Reioyce for thy Adiutresse Discord for shee is let loose from the bottomlesse pit euen to breake thy backe with bagges of siluer Now thou enioyest that which thou hast long thirsted for Sing a merrie Song for by the reciprocall malice of men and not by thy religous workes thou hast got victorie ouer the world All men flock vnto thee not for deuotions sake or in puritie of conscience but by rewards to compound their contentions and to redeeme their trespasses And albeit that Odoacer King of Bohemia Herman Lantgraue of Thuringe the Bishop of Argentine and Adulph Archprelate of Colein being terrified by the papal curse had sided with Otho assisted with the forces of his Vncle Richard King of England yet being strong with
presumptions fore-shewing that hee was already acquainted with some plot of treason against Conrade For after he vnderstood that Conrade with a puissant armie of Germanes was passed Viterbium where then his Holinesse resided he was heard to prophesie That he was led as a Lamb to the slaughter Thus the posteritie of Frederick being for manie ages turmoiled by this succession of Bishops after infinit practises at last was vtterly ruinated by these bloudie monsters yea the Princes of Germanie were so involued in these fatal oppositiōs that none of thē either daring or willing to weare a Crowne at so deare a reckoning Alphons of Spaine and Richard of England by mony and the Popes fauour as the world saith began to aspire vnto that Dignity which for so many ages past the Germaines alone had enioyed and honourably maintained But neither of them either in iealousie one of another or in feare of their predecessors harmes euer came to the reall possession thereof so that for the space almost of 22. yeares the Empire became an Anarchy and so continued vntill by the generall suffrage of all the Princes Rodulph of Hauespurg was chosen Emperour ⧠Rodulphus Habspurgicus He raigned Anno 1273. About the second yeare of Edward the first AFter these lamentable Tragedies acted vpon the person of Frederick his issue is Rodulph of Hauespurg elected King of Romanes Who albeit he had pleighted his faith to Gregorie the tenth that hee would come to Rome and there be crowned as also had studied to deserue the friendship of him and other his successours with extraordinarie indeuours For that time had taught him that euen against all humane reason this viperous generation had clearely extinguished the two most worthy and glorious families of France and Sveuia As also for that they had transferred the Kingdome of Naples from the race of Frederick to the house of Aniow and therfore thought with himselfe that such Potentates as they were not rashly to be prouoked especially being now shielded with the fauours of the French and the peeuishnesse of the Germane Bishops As also that it was worke enough beseeming the Maiestie of a good and gracious Emperour to tender the welfare of his natiue Country now almost ruinated and rent by ciuill dissentions Notwithstanding his godlinesse his clemencie his deuotion his humanity his modestie and his obseruancie yet could hee deserue no other retribution from these vngratefull Politicians but intrusions vpon his Crowne and taunts against his person For Honorius the fourth being Bishop at that season arrogating vnto himselfe all Regall authority directly against the good will of Rodulph constituted Priziualna Earle of Ianua vicar Generall of the Empire throughout Italy And after his Maiestie for mony had quite claimed vnto many Cities their liberties this Honorius most wickedly sealed this scandalous transaction After the decease of Honorius Nicholas the fourth had vtterly dispossest this Emperour of Romandiola and Rauenna vnder the false pretext of an expedition against the Turke had not Death taken truce with his traiterous intents By a new creation of two Kings in Italie the one to gouerne Lumbardy the other Tuscanie he had plotted that by the commodiousnesse of their scituations all alongst the Teutonick Alps from hence by armes he might alwaies haue meanes to curb the French who now hold Sicil and the goodly Kingdome of Naples in full possession Wherof Rodulph taking notice resoluing with himselfe neuer to be made a stale to an other mans despight which by affectation of a titularie Crowne in Italie publiquely at all times giueth forth that at some time or other he would find sufficient occasions of diuersion and redresse but in plain termes he intimateth to his friends that he was wholly deterd from iournying into Italy for that he had formerly obserued That the entrance of the Caesars thereinto was applauded honoured and full of hopes but their returnes aukward heauie mournfull and miserable Not impertinently alluding vnto Esops fable of the Wolfe who told the Lyon lying sick in his den That in truth he had no reason to enter considering that he could well obserue the footing of euery beast in entrance going forward but not of one returning backward ⧠Albertus Primus He raigned 1298. About the six and twentieth yeare of Edward the first ALbeit Albert succeeding his father Rodulph in the Empire continued the same obseruancy towards the Roman Monarchy as his father formerly had done yet could he by no meanes escape the bitter quips taunts of these cloistered asses For at what time by his Ambassadours according to custome hee praied of Boneface the eight the Confirmation of his Election Boneface hauing a sword by his side and the Imperiall Crowne vppon his head sheweth himselfe in publique to the assemblie and with a high voice exclaymeth Ego sum Caesar Pontifex Behold here is Caesar and the Pope And in furie whereas it mought haue been done without his priuity or authority hee reiecteth the Election as friuolous and of no force denieth confirmation and with a full-foule mouth calleth him Homicide Afterwards vpon a bitter quarrell arising between this Maleface and Philip King of France for that his Maiesty would not acknowledge him for his supreme Lord he chāged his first opinion aprooued Albert Emperor by his Breues inuested him with the Kingdom of France and in a full Consistorie Excommunicated Philip. Yet againe when Albert re-answered that he would not stir one foote against the King of France vnlesse his Holynesse would confirme him and his heires in the Kingdome and Empire The Pope not able to conceale his imprisoned displeasure most arrogantly replied Non futurum id Iezabele viuente That that should neuer come to passe so long as Iezabel liued By which abusiue name he pointed at that most noble Dame Elizabeth the wife of Albert the daughter of Menihard Earle of Tirol and sister by the mothers side to Conrade late Duke of Sweuia In shew cauelling at this noble Lady as an implacable persecutrix of Clergy men against Gods commandements but in truth most barbarously enuying her in memory of her brother and her deceased Auncestors for their claming and retaining of their hereditary royalties against the vsurpations of the former Bishops Let the world be Iudge if they continue not the like yea the very same stratagems against all Princes at this day if they but crosse their ambitions The man that feareth God would think that a good and a vertuous life especially in a Prince should warrant his daies from vexation and his graue from infamy But here you see the contrary Albert followeth the steps of his father he is humble in offensiue glad to please yet not well requited His Lady neither medleth nor maketh with these contentious persons and yet in regard that her Auncesters displeased the Roman prelacie shee sauoreth and must be disgraced in most opprobrious manner yea the depth of the graue can not secure her
Prouinces of Germany During these verball and scribeling contentions it came to passe that the Romans being throughly tormented with their ciuill dissentions sent their submissiue Orators to Iohn with humble supplications to intreat his Holinesse that leauing Auignion he would re-uisite Rome and confer the Imperial Inuestiture vpon the King of Romans this if he refused they certified him in plaine termes that they would renue the ancient Lawes and gouernment of the Romane people Iohn not only denieth their requests but with threats and minaces in most ignominious maner dismisseth the Orators At which his pride the Romans being not a little offended by letters and Ambassies call Lewes to Rome as their lawfull Emperor Lewes granteth the motion and with his army taketh his way towards Italy and at Millan according to the accustomed manner is crowned by the Archbishop After this making choice rather by humility then armes to asswage the Bishops wrath he sendeth messengers vnto him humbly to desire his fatherhood to confer the vsuall and Imperiall honours vpon his Maiesty Which when the Bishop not only gainsayd but despighteously dismissing his Ambassadors peremptorily cited his Maiesty to Auignion As report goeth Caesar as hauing full experience of the Papall tyranny yet willing to preserue the Imperiall dignity collated from aboue holy and inuiolable vtterly refuseth slaue-like to prostrate himselfe before the Pope or to appeare at Auignion But to auoid the effusion of blood he is content in peaceable maner by proxy to become a sutor for his collation But herein finding the Pope as stiffe as himselfe and his friendes the Visconti to his disgrace alreadie accursed he maketh no more adoe but setting Millane in order he iournyeth to Rome where with great applause by the commaundement of the people and the Clergie together with his wife hee is Crowned by Cardinall Steuen Colonna the whole Nobility assisting and crying GOD saue Lodowicke Augustus Emperour of Romanes And foorthwith by all their good liking he createth Peter of Corbar a Minorit a man learned and in-ured to Gouernement High Priest Hee causeth the counterfet of Iohn to be made in wood and in the presence of Caesar most ignominiously consumeth it to ashes pronouncing him an Heretique a destroier of the Church and a publique enemy to the peace of Christendome Iohn again thundreth out cruell processe against Lewes depriueth him of all imperiall preheminence and excommunicateth him as a Rebell and Arch-heritique against the Roman Church Wherupon the Emperor to whom Italy became displeasāt partly for that he had already determined to make no long abode therein partly in feare of poison wherwith he knew the Romanists were better acquainted then with arms made his retrait into Germany Whether no sooner ariued but newes was spred abroad of Iohns departure to the vniuersall ioy of all wel-minded Christians in hope that by the election of a new Bishop all old quarrels should lie buried with their framer But not so For Benedict the twelfth succeeding in the Popedom succeeded also in all Popish qualities against this Emperor confirming all the censures and depriuations which his predecessor Iohn had sued out against him Whereupon Caesar perceiuing that these fiery spirits would neuer be at peace vntill by the vtter ouerthrow and disgrace of all temporall Authority they had fully and forceably strengthned their owne greatnesse at Franckford he assembleth the Princes with the wise-men of his Kingdom persons of immatcheable dexterity in diuine and humane sciences and there by the aduise of the most zealous and best learned hee publisheth a Decree vnder his seale against the iniurious processe of the dead Bishop therein rendring a most Christianlike account of his faith plainly ingenuously confessing that as it became a true Catholike he beleeued all the Articles of the Christian veritie To these by solemne proclamation hee annexeth many notable edicts to the ancient Constitutions he addeth some new and corroborateth the old viz. That the Electors of the Empire and no man besides should intermeddle in the election of the King of Romans Whereunto the Princes and nobility gaue their full consent Ordaining moreouer that who euer was nominated King or Emperor should be acknowledged for the true supreme and indubitate Soueraign of the Empire being indeed though different in name yet the same in effect That without any confirmation or approbation from the Apostolique sea he might absolutely gouerne and administer iustice throughout the Empire And that after publication from the Princes in case of lawfull proceeding in the election the Pope is bound to anoint him And in defalt of refusall or denial that any other catholique Bishop is as capable as the Pope to proclaime him Emperor Caesar Augustus Considering that these formal and solemne ceremonies are but things indifferent deuised by the Popes conferring only titles and names but no matter of substance For what Roman Bishop consecrated the Constantinopolitan Emperors what Pope before Charles his time the ancient Augusti or who before Constantine the Ethnike Caesars And then the Emperor acknowledged no oth of fidelity but of obseruancy and of defending the faith From this point he proceedeth to prooue that in case of vacancy the Imperial election diuolueth not to the Papacy and that the prescription is derogatory to the liberty dignity the rites and maiesty of the sacred Empire but in truth by long and aprooued custome from Antiquity and stl in vse that all Iudicature fealties and priuiledges of conferring and disposing of all rights interests demands belonged do belong to the House of the Count Palatine of the Rhene during the vacancy notwithstanding the constitutions of the Clementines What pen can be so partiall as not to giue due commendation to the prudency of this good Emperor being seasoned with so plentifull a measure of discretion who so modestly carried himselfe between the Princes the Pope that the former admired his wisedom and the later celebrated his goodnesse For in Benedicts prime-entrance into the pontificacy vpon occasion of discontents between his holinesse and the French king his Maiestie vnderstanding therof by meanes made for reconciliation and absolution vnto which the Bishop after hee had entered into a large field of discourse in praise of Germany and this Emperour condiscended promising to be mindfull of the motion concluding That that Noble branch of the Church meaning Lewes which now began to be seperated should again be re-ingrafted into the body of the tree Vpō another occasion when the Embassadors of the kings of France and Apulia had scandalized his Maiestie for plotting of diuers indignities against the Court of Rome his Holines excused him with great earnestnes openly anouching that the Clergie had wronged him and not he the Clergie But howeuer at this time he acknowledged the innocencie of Lewes yet afterwards when the king of France in despight of the Emperor the Pope had slily preuented the returne of certaine Cardinals into his kingdom and
Schwatzburge deceased he gaue ten thousand marks to resigne his nomination and then prepared for his iourney towards Rome From whence escaping by an excuse of going on hunting in as dishonorable a manner as neuer any of his predecessors before hee returned to Millan and there created the Visconti a Potent family in that Citie in receit of a wonderfull masse of mony perpetuall Vicars of the Empire throughout Lombardy to the euerlasting dishonor and preiudice of Germanie For a sumptuous banquet in Ville-noue neere Auignion hee re-deliuered to the King of France the Kingdome of Arles acquired to the Empire by Otho the first From Gerlace Archbishop of Mogunce though by his partiality hee gained his election hee wrested the priuiledge of inaugurating the King of Bohemia in right belonging to the Church of Mogunce and by cōfirmation of Clement the sixt inuested it in the Archbishop of Prage He ordained by law that none but Bohemians should be admitted into the Colledge of the Canons regular of Inglehame being of the Dioces of Mogunce And presently after to make quick and profitable returnes of the profits of the Empire hee retailed vnto the adioyning Princes sixteene free Cities of Sweuia all held of the Crowne To Cunon Archbishop of Treuers he pawned Bopardia and Wesel Imperiall Cities by statute Lusatia which time out of minde had beene held in fee of the Imperiall diademe by the Archbishops of Magdeburg by the corruption of the then Incumbent he perpetuated vnto the kingdome of Bohemia Against the fundamentall Lawes of the Country and the custome of Antiquity by nouell and subordinate practise he offered euery Elector a part one hundred thousand Duckets to nominate for his successor his sonne Winceslaus a man giuen ouer to idlenesse cowardize luxurie all wantonnesse and belly-cheere For which when this Phocas had not wherewith to keepe his dayes of payment he morgaged for one hundred thousand duckets to some their Imposts and to the Palatine as memory recordeth Caesarea Luthrea Oppenham Odenham and Ingelham Whereupon I may be bold to say that by these diminutions alienations and mortgages the Honourable entrados of the Crowne were so immeasurably wasted that from that day to this it hath not beene of power to recouer or restore this terrible downefall For by the sale of these Imposts the true and essentiall Patrimonie of the Crowne the glorious Eagle hath beene so deplumed that euer since shee hath beene but a scorne and contemptible to euery other liuing creatures Which being true as true it is what Patriot can but accurse the Romane Bishops as the sole and prime-authors of all these mischiefes the children of desolation and the perpetuall disturbers of all Christian welfare ⧠Wenceslaus the Coward He raigned Anno Christ. 1379. about the second yeare of Richard the second AFter the demise of Charles Wenceslaus his sonne during the schisme betwixt Vrban the sixt and Clement the seuenth then the which a more fatall bestial durable dissention neuer befell the Church gouerned the Empire and tooke part with Vrban To Clement vpon occasion he sendeth his Embassadours and amongst them are remembred certaine honest and indifferent Prelates to haue passed whom by exquisite tortures he slew most barbarously And as for Vrban for that the couetous King had deceiued the more couetous Romanes gaping after the treasure raised vpon ecclesiasticall benefices in not keeping promise with his personall presence after hee had granted his commission for leuying the saide ecclesiasticall tribute through the whole Empire towards the defrayment of his charges for his Romane-iourney he became vtterly alienated from his auncient friendship But what Death preuented by the death of Vrban his successour Boneface the ninth being sure to haue had it if God had giuen life made good in highest measure For he approouing the censure of deiection against Wenceslaus not so much for his euil and degenerate life as for that he had beguiled the Romans of their pence ratified and aduanced the Election of Rupert Earle Palatine preferred vnto the Empire by the Bishops of Mogunce Golen and Treuers ⧠Rupertus Caesar He raigned 1400. AS Boneface the ninth in despight of Wenceslaus with great facility and readinesse approued his deposition so Rupert but now aloft in highest fauour of the Pope at this present is so counterchecked by this wether-cocke Alexander the fift the third from Boneface a most malicious Cretusian that he is very likely to feele the smart of as violent a diuision in the state as doth the Church in a present and terrible schisme For vpon his very installment at Pisa in the Fishers chaire without any regard either of Ruperts right or his present possessiō vpon a iust title he nominateth by his missiues for King of Romanes Wenceslaus the man whom in a frequent assembly with one consent the Electors had heretofore remooued from imperiall gouernement Which Indignity Rupert not being able to disgest hee made his grieuous complaints thereof vnto the Lords of the state and exceedingly interrupted the obedience of the Church throughout the Empire And without doubt he had attempted far greater reformations had not the sparkles of these smoking substances together with the Prelate to the general good of Christendom been at one extincted by the Physick of Marsilius a physitian of Parma And Rupert applying his labours to redresse what had been amisse by the auarice of Charles and the cowardize of Winceslaus in the tenth yeere of his raigne departed this world In whose place succeeded Sigismund a Prince for his wisedom learning and integrity most renowned ⧠Sigismund He raigned 1411. About the twelfth yeere of Henry the fourth SIGISMVND at his entrance vpon the Imperiall Diadem finding the Romane Sea miserably distracted by the wicked schisme of three Antipopes Iohn the foure and twentieth at Bononia Gregory the twelfth at Ariminum and Benedict the 12. in Spaine tooke such infinit paines to restore it vnto its pristinate beauty as few or none of the auncient kings or Emperors euer vndertook the like for the welfare of the Church For albeit of his owne authoritie diuested vpon himselfe and diuolued from his Ancestors he might ought to haue cast out these boute-feaus of diuision yet made he choice in modesty and truenesse of Christian piety rather to redresse these euils by a Generall Councel then by the violent meanes of war and blood-shed Which to effect to his extreame trauaile danger and expences he visited almost all the realmes of Christendome France Spaine and England and there by his godlinesse and good counsell so wrought with the Princes of those kingdomes that they commended his zeale allowed his course and promised their best assistance This done he tooke his iourny towards Italy and dealt with Iohn at Mantua to come vnto the Councel at Constance The Assembly being set such were his feeling perswasiues such his important motiues as the three Antipopes being condemned to deposition hee caused
Otho of Colonna a Roman patrician by the name of Martin the fift to be preferred to the place by the generall suffrage of all the nations there assembled Yea and to remoue all impediments from retardation of the peace he suffered Iohn Husse and Ierome of Prage men of exquisit learning and singular piety to be condemned and burned against an oath of safe-conducte publiquely allowed them But now let vs go by examination to learne what thankes this godly zealous honourable and Christian Emperour receiued at the hands of this Holy-seeming Sea for these their so infinite benefits Vpon which I will not stand to exemplifie for that euery weake braine can conceiue what are the blessings of peace what the fruites of a quieted conscience what the rewardes of vnity in religion But surely their retributions were such as would absolutely dishearten any wise man to inable such ingratefull Canonists by benefits Yet will wee take so much paine as to decipher them to our Reader No long time after Eugenius the fourth then Poping it in Venice the Emperour tooke occasion to go into Italie to receiue his Inauguration where by the way it happened that he countenanced somewhat aboue ordinary Philip Duke of Millan at that instant warring against the Venetians and Florentines They partly fearing and partly imagining that their wills were halfe obtayned if they might worke the Pope to their fashion aduentured and without opposall gained his Fatherhoods good will to deny the Emperor his lawfull request and more adioyned his forces to make good the passage of Aruo about Syenna against his Maiesties people This you must at any hand remember was the Popes requitall this their vsuall remunerations not vnfitly beseeming their double dealing consciences Yet departed his Maiesty not vncrowned but obserue I beseech you by what practises by what cunning sleights they proceeded in their state-House Extraordinary Intercession must be made Six months he must stay at Siena to his infinit expence who gained by that And at last must he leaue Rome doubt you not but to Eugenius his high content And againe this Neronian bloud-thirsting Bishop som short time after being deposed for going about to frustrate the decree of the Councel of Constance wherby it was inacted that euery seuenth yeare the Bishops should celebrate a Generall Councell and to ratifie That of Basil which Martin had summoned and himselfe authorized in the daies of Frederick the third he set all Austria on a miserable woful lamētable cōbustion by prouoking Lewes the sonne of Charles king of France then called the Daulphin to infest Germany with warre fire famine For this Prince at the pleasure of Eugenius endeuoring to make void the Councel of Basil with his Armeniachs and souldiers by cunning treason protestations possessed himselfe of all the plaine Country yea and of some Cities of Alsatia miserably wasting that goodly Prouince the most fertil mother of grain wine That done he fell to burning the villages the Mannors Mansions of citizens of orphanes and widowes and therein spared neither Gods Churches nor Monasteries Hauing put period to wast but not to cruelty he returned to Basil with 30. thousand Cumbatants where by the valiancy of three thousand Heluetians charging for their Country hee was finally slaine the third part of his lame maymed Army scant returning with life into France Such be the successe of all papal entertainment ⧠Frederick the third Hee raigned Anno 1440. about the eighteenth yeare of Henry the sixth ALbert succeeded Sigismund but hee departing this world within two yeares after his election the Imperiall diaceme diuolued vpon Frederick of Austria who being by nature a Prince of a clement milde peaceable disposition set diligent watch and warde ouer his thoughts his words and his actions not at all to offend these hereditarie disturbers of peace and perpetuall manaclers of Princes Yet could hee not fully auoid their crossings abate their pride nor escape their plots For as in a publique Parliament held at Mogunce he did what he could to corroborat the councell of Basil held in the yeare of our Lord 1441. which the Pope laboured tooth and naile to disanul as also to diminish the exactions which by Popish iniunctions were leuied vpon the German Churches which to effect by his letters hee desired the king of France either to assist in person or by some eminent persons of his Kingdome So the Pope to countermine against this lawfull battery of publique triall for these can no more abide it then Owles can light tampereth with the French neither to goe himselfe nor to suffer any other without his priuity to appeare as his Deputie Here behold one Popish tricke more for the present to frustrate the intended reformation of a noble vertuous Emperour And heereupon followed that wofull Alsatian de-population whereof wee tolde you but now There is an other tricke complotted to busie his head with-all viz. Diuersion His owne house is on fire how can hee then attend the quenching of his neighbours And albeit that hee outliued three successiue Bishops during their liues caried himself so modestly and benignly towards them that nothing was attempted by them against his Dignity yet hoped for greater contentments by the rising of Pius the second to the Papacie his auncient seruant and Minister Notwithstanding this his trusty friend being once seated without acquainting the Emperour made no scruple to accurse his kinsman Sigismund Archduke of Austria and to entangle Germanie with intestine diuisions As thus Sigismund after long controuersying and nothing preuailing being vnwilling that the people vnder his tuition should still stand exposed to the depraedations of the Romanists in a bickering of Horse-men chanced to take prisoner and imprisoned Nicholas Cusanus by the Pope sent into Tirol to ransack the Bishoprick of Brixia The Bishop censuring him at no lesse a crime then high treason committed against one of his creatures enioyneth him greeuous punishments from which his trustinesse could not be wooed to absolue him no not at the intercession of Caesar vntill Pluto himselfe came a messenger to release him from his papall obstinacie His owne Creatures report that neither the threats nor the intreaties of Princes or communalties could any whit terrifie him but in extreame and insatiable prowling for mony he was ready to accurse and prosecute with warre as many as any way offered to gainsay his intendments Theodorick Erbach Archbishop of Mogunce being dead Diether Erusburg was preferred to his place This man for that Annats and first fruites had beene abolished and condemned in the Councel of Basil refused to pay to Saint Peter for bestowing the Pall vpon him those twenty thousand sixe hundred and fifty duckets of the Rhene which his Holinesse by prescription adiudged to be due vnto him Pius was not a little moued at the refusall denieth him confirmation and bestowed the Incumbencie vpon Adolph of Nassau not for loue towards the
no obscure reputation amongst the Spanish Marke Anthonie Colonna beeing absent he citeth to appeare before him within three daies space and in default of appearaunce hee maketh prize of his goods To Iohn Count of Montorian he giueth the goods of Ascanius Colonna together with the titular Earledome of Pallianum In despight of Caesar he recalleth the Out-lawed gentlemen of Naples and endoweth them with offices and publique preheminences At the instance of Peter Stroza he fortifieth Pallianum and prepareth it for the receit of the French to the infesting of Naples Finally by sending his kinsman Cardinall Caraffa into France most impiously he disturbeth the peace concluded in Belgia betweene his most excellent Maiesty and the French Monarch And to bee especially carefull that no one shot of Popish malice should misse his Maiesty he absolutely denieth his sonne Philip vnto whom the father had resigned the administration of all his kingdoms the inuestiture of the kingdomes of Naples and Sicil being held of the Church Wherupon followed such furious and lamentable wars managed between these mighty potentates of Christendome that Italy and France being chiefly ingaged therein reeked againe in the bloody tragedies of their deerest Citizens For not Rome only was almost brought vnto those extremities by the presence of the Duke of Alua which once it suffered in the daies of Clement and for the present auoided by accepting of these conditions which the now-somwhat-lenified Lord Generall propounded but the French also in fauour of the Papacy being sent into Italy vnder the conduct of the Guise to infest the peacefull estate of the Latian prouinces vnderwent the miserable destiny of vnfortunate warfare in their indeauours to thrust in new forces into the chiefe City of Vermandois against the squadrons of King Philip marching out of Belgia to the reliefe of the said place In which conflict their whole army was routed by the Germane Horse the Constable the Rhene-graue and many noble men taken prisoners and the City forced And not long after being masters of Calaies they suffered a no lesse disasterous defeature in their returne by Graueling at Count Egmonds hands Termes and Villebon their two most famous leaders beeing taken prisoners their armie routed and their people slaine Now what vpright conscience can sauour a Religion so insatiate of blood or what Christian can thinke that Man who to perfect his owne respects careth not what mischiefe he worketh to be the Vicar of Christ Surely Let them impudently affirme what they list their workes so perspicuously layde open to meanest capacities may with sufficiencie assure vs that through the whole course of their successions they haue euer rather merited the Sir-names of Saule then the least title of Paul And so to the worlds end will they doe rather then by the redeeming of one Christian soule from spoile and blood shed they will suffer one Acre of Saint Peters imaginary patrimony to be wrested from them if possibility or trecherous pollicy can any way withstand it ⧠Ferdinand Caesar Hee raigned 1558. About the fift yeere of Queene Mary AS soone as Charles had betaken himselfe to a solitarie life in Saint Iustus in Spaine his brother Ferdinand long before elected King of the Romanes now by the generall suffrage of the Electors assembled at Frankford is preferred vnto the Empire After the ceremonies whereof accomplished to make manifest his obseruancie towards the Romish Sea he dispatcheth to his Holinesse Guzman his chiefe chamberlaine to signifie that his Maiesties pleasure was vpon oportunity of first-offered-occasion to request and receiue the imperiall Diadem at his Holinesse Hands But such was his father-hoods arrogant and froward answer that it may well argue the Relator not onely not to be the successor of Peter who with the residue of the Apostles reuerenced the authoritie of the higher powers as the ordinance of God with due honour and obedience no nor a man willing to doe one good turne for another according to the mutuall lawes of courtesie and humanity but in truth that very Antichrist whom the warrant of Holy writ doth point out to be the person who should arrogate to himselfe to prescribe aboue and against any thing that God himselfe hath commanded to be holy and inuiolable For this irregular Beast would vppon no reason acknowledge Ferdinand for Emperour cauilling that his predecessour Charles had no ability or capacity to surrender the Empire to no liuing creature but to the Romish Sea Neither that it was lawfull for Ferdinand to take vppon him the administration of the State without the approbation thereof His Maiesties Embassadour hee would at no hand suffer to approach his presence but hauing learnt out the tenour of his Embassie hee propounded vnto the Cardinals and Lawyers certaine questions neither arising from the rudiments of Gods word nor enforced from the grounds of Nationall Lawes but harried from the deepest Abysse and there discussed by Lucifer the Prince of malice pride and falsities Which as afterward they were libelled out and dispersed by the Romanists themselues you shall here receiue 1 If Guzman who auerreth that Hee is sent from his Lord Ferdinand vnto the most Holy Lord the Pope ought by Law to speake what Charles the fifth hath done about the resignation of the Empire to his brother Ferdinand 2 Which being sufficiently vnderstoode whether they wholy or in part haue done rightfully and lawfully sithence the Approbation of the most Holy Lord the Pope and the Apostolique sea was not interposed therein 3 Whether these difficulties being cleared nothing for the present may bee obiected against the person of the most excellent Lord Ferdinand Whereby hee may be adiudged incapable of the Imperiall dignity As the euill education of his sonne the king of Bohem inclinable to manifest heresie It beeing promised that within the Kingdomes subiect to his authority heresies are tollerated without punishment Catholiques are oppressed Monasteries dissolued Churches auoided and the Professours of the Augustane reformation suffered to conuerse and inhabite promiscuouslie with Romish Catholiques As also that Ferdinand himselfe did graunt a conference at Wormes as touching controuersies in Religion without the consent and good leaue of the Holy Apostolique Sea That Hee bound himselfe by oath in the Dyet of Frankford to obserue all the Articles confirmed in the fore passed Sessions wherein manie damnable and Hereticall opinions were maintained and allowed That Hee vsurped the Name of Emperour by his owne Authority That he suspended the Decree published against Communicants vnder both kindes especially at such a time wherein seuerest execution was most requisite That he had falsified his oath taken vpon his first election of King of Romanes wherein he had bound himselfe to be a defender of the Church and the Catholique faith schismes heresies and the Protestant Religion That he had faulted in many more points of like kind against his oath and the Holy Canons 4 What in like manner were to be determined concerning the persons of many the Princes
two and fiftith yeere of his raigne which being most true that he began his raigne at sixteen yeeres and dyed at sixty eight what testimony is obiected in the course of his life whereby we may gather that he was either deposed or depriued from his legall inheritance That during the time of his visitation his sonne was but his deputy we will prooue anon directly as it is accustomed to be done vnto them who in like cases are not able to attend their affaires themselues For no lesse doth the same Text auerre Ioatham the Kings Sonne was Ouer-seer of the Kings Pallace and gouerned the Kings House and iudged the people of the Land Here obserue that Ioatham is stiled but the Kings sonne in the life time and sicknesse of his father Gouernour of the Court and as I may properly speake Lord steward of his Fathers house And why did hee sit in iudgement amongst the people because their complaints could not with conueniency be brought vnto the kings iudicature by reason of his infirmity and his separation thereupon by the prescript commaundement of Gods Law Leuit. 13. 3. For confirmation of which last point heare what the Text sayth And Ozias slept with his Fathers and they buried him in the field of the Regall Sepulchres because he was a leaper And Ioatham his sonne raigned in his stead Here again obserue how plainly the scripture leadeth vs in the way of truth Euen now It termes Ioatham the Kings sonne the kings steward or seruant But now after the decease of his father and not before It saith Regnare caepit He began to raigne Yet Ozias was separated by the commaund of the high Priest True but that was also commanded by the liuely voice of the Diuine Law But that he was deposed or depriued from his legall inheritance his kingly authority or inforced to resigne his estate to his sonne before his death No man will auouch it vnlesse a bloody and passionate Romanist The simple know that Soueraignety and Gouernement are of no lesse difference then proprietas and possession or as I may speake an estate determinable and an estate in Fee Soueraignety is alwaies incorporated vnto the person of the King is as it were the soule of a kingdome and inseparable from the right thereto But Gouernment Lieutenancy or procuration may bee diuested vppon deputies As in the nonage of kings or in times of daungerous sicknesses those who are assigned to take care of the waighty affaires of the kingdome are stiled Deputies Protectors Tutors Lieutenants Viceroyes or Gouernors neither propounding dispatching nor negotiating any publique businesse in their owne names but vnder the stile and seale of the yong or diseased Soueraigne His second authority is taken from the second of Chronicles the 23. Chapter which because in truth it is but impertinent though most maliciously framed I will recite in our vulgar tongue only At what time Athalia gouerned the kingdome by tyranny and maintained the worship of Baal Ioada the High Priest called vnto him the Centurions and souldiers and commaunded them to slay Athalia And in her stead they crowned Ioas king That the Priest perswaded not but commanded it is apparant by those words in the fourth of Kings and eleuenth Chapter And the men of warre did according vnto all that Ioada the High priest commanded them Againe by those in the second of Chronicles the three and twentith Chapter But Ioada the high Priest going out vnto the Centurions leaders of the Army said vnto them Bring her forth Athalia the Queene from the precinct of the Temple and let her be slaine without by the sword That the cause of the deposition and killing of Athalia was not onely her tyrannie but also her maintenance of the worship of Baal It is proued by the words immediatly placed after her slaughter Whereupon saith the Scripture All the people entred into the house of Baal and destroyed it and broke downe the Altars and the images thereof They also slew Mathan the Priest of Baal before the Altar That this example of Ioada and Athalia do nothing concerne the marke whereat they so preposterously and maliciously leuel or the moderne controuersie of Papal intrusion ouer Kings and Princes we wil resolue you forthwith For the Example of Athalia is of a party who vsurped vpon a Kingdome without any lawfull pretension saue meere and barbarous tyrannie by force by wickednesse and the cruell murder of the royall Progenie In which case the President was so abominable that euen without the commandement of Ioada it might haue beene lawfull for euery priuate Magistrate to haue iustified her death but for that such a designment seemed dangerous and difficult to be executed vpon her who was mother to the deceased King Ahaziah therefore was it needfull to haue vsed the counsell and assistance of Ioada the high Priest Or at least of some such eminent person who for the Honour of his place or the reputation of vprightnesse was of power to assemble and stirre vp the souldiers and people to so iustifiable an action But that the Act was executed as well by perswasion as commaund It appeareth by that which was spoken Ioada the high Priest sent and tooke the Centurions and men of warre vnto him and caused them to come into the Temple Pepigitque cum eis faedus And he couenanted with them Now I hope that so absolute a Commander as our Romanists will make this high Priest to be would haue scorned to haue capitulated if hee could haue commanded Besides the words we will or command are accustomably vsed by those who in faction or in any other publique businesse obtaine the prime-place of imployment What then may be found in this example to inforce Ioadas or the Popes omnipotency for innouation of States or Kingdoms What is brought to proue so dangerous an assertion This is a true president to be inforced against a Tirannesse or an vsurper But there is a great dissimilitude betweene legal Lords or true proprietaries and theeues or the inuaders of another mans possession If there were any cause besides tyrannie materiall to depose or sley Athalia what is that to vs. Let it be inforced against people guilty of like offences viz. those that worship and defend the worship of Baal and the hoast of Heauen It is sufficient that shee was a Tyrannesse and an iniurious Vsurper vppon an other mans Kingdome without that that vpon her part there remained any obstacle or impediment of Lawe but that shee might bee deposed from her throane and slaine The like whereof I hope no good Christian will affirme concerning any lawfull King whose sacred person although blemished by many humane infirmities the Right of Inheritance the Maiestie of his Place and the capacity of his calling ought alwaies and that for conscience sake to protect defend from iniurie infamie and humane controlement To which let all true Christians say Amen Now to their practique NOw that I haue
beene In high proportion meated from That side The Tables to this Booke The first declaring how many Emperors haue beene either Excommunicated or constrained to kisse his Holinesse Feete Emperrours Excommunicated by Otho the fourth Innocent the third Henry the fourth Gregorie the 7. Henry the fift Paschal the second Frederick the first Adrian the fift Philip the sonne of Frederick Alexander the 3. Frederick the secōd Innocent the third thrice by Gre. the 9. Conradus the fourth Innocent the fourth Lodowick the Bauarian Iohn the 22. Benedict the 12. and Clement the VI. Emperours Constrained to kisse the feet of Charles the great Iustian Emperor of Constantinople Luit Prandus king of Lomb. Crescentius Consul c. Otho the first Frederick the first Henry the fift Sigismund Charles the fift Adrian the Pope Stephen the second Iohn the xvij Iohn the xvij Alexander the third agroofe c. Paschal the second Of Martin the fift and Eugenius the fourth Of Clement the seuenth The second deuided into Sections seuerally epitomizing the liues of the Popes with the vices whereunto euery one hath in particular beene addicted viz. who haue beene 1 Atheists 2 Arrians 3 Magitians or Coniurers 4 Blasphemers 5 Forswearers and equiuocators 6 Turkish Pentioners 7 Mad-men and tyrants 8 Warriours and bloud-succours 9 Traytours and mouers of seditions 10 Parricids and impoysoners 11 Whoremasters 12 Adulterers 13 Incestuous persons 14 Sodomites 15 Pandars 16 Bawdes 17 Bastards 18 Drunkards 19 Couetous persons 20 Church-robbers 21 Simonianists 22 Ambitious persons 23 Monsters 24 Vnlearned persons ⧠Liues of the Popes 1. Atheists LEo the tenth who hearing Cardinall Bembo speaking to a point concerning The ioyfull message of our Lord answered most dissolutely It is well knowen to the world through all ages in how great stead that fable of Christ hath profited vs and our associates This man neither beleeued heauen nor hell after our departure out of this life And such were Alexander the tenth Siluester the second Paul the third Benedict the nineteenth Iohn the thirteenth Clement the seuenth Gregory the seuenth 2. Arrians Anastasius the eleuenth Liberius and Felix 3. Magitians and Coniurers ALexander the sixth this man made a league with the diuell vpon promise to procure him the Papacie Paul the 3. obtained the garland in Astrology and in that kind of speculatiō which is assisted by the ministery of diuels He altogether kept familiar acquaintance with Negromancers such like notable impostures and starre-gazers to learne the faults of himselfe and his children Siluester the second as well seene in these diabolical Arts as his Predecessors gaue himselfe wholly to the diuell vpon condition to aduance him to the Papacie Benedict the ninth obtained the same sea by charms spels inchantments Before his instalment in company of his associates in woods and remote places he was accustomed to inuoke euill spirits and by Negromantike toyes to worke women to his filthy lust Iohn the thirteenth at dice would call vpon the diuell and in merriment carouse a cup of wine to his diuelship Of Clement the seuenth we read that he was a Geomantique and Simonianist Gregory the seuenth laboured the Papacie by the same Arts. He was the first that euer presumed to excommunicate an Emperour And that was Henry the fourth vnto the end of whose legend if you please you may with pleasure and to good purpose add these true and vncontrolable records With the forme of his Outlary vpon earth we will not trouble you but with his impudent presumption in banishing his soule from heauen a place wherein I feare such persons haue smallest interest ad perpetuam rei memoriam I will not faile to informe you Then thus Agite igitur Apostolorum sanctissimi Principes quod dixi vestra authoritate interposita confirmate vt omnes nunc demū intelligāt si potestis in caelo ligare soluere in terra quoque imperia regna principatus quicquid habere mortales possunt auferre dare vos posse Ediscant nunc Reges huius exemplo omnes seculi principes quid in coelo possitis quantique apud Deum sitis ac deinceps timeant sanctae Ecclesiae mandata contemnere Hoc autem iudicium cito in Henricum exercete vt intelligant omnes iniquitatis silium non fortuito sed vestra opera è regno cadere Hoc tamen à vobis optauerim vt paenitentia ductus in die iudicij vestro rogatu gratiam à Domino consequatur Actum Romae Nonis Martij indictione tertia Courage then ye most chosen Princes of the Apostles And what I haue thundered by the deputation of your authorities ratifie I beseech you that now at last all people may vnderstand that as ye are of power in heauen to binde and to loose so likewise that you are of no lesse potencie on earth to giue and to take Empires Kingdomes and Honors with whatsoeuer the inhabitants of this world may peculiarly challenge By the example of this man let Kings and Princes of the earth now learn what are your prerogatiues in heauen what your credits with God that henceforth they may feare to contempe the awards of Holy Church Execute I beseech you this sentence with speede vpon Henry that all the world may perceiue that this sonne of iniquity was disinthronized by your operation and not by destinie Yet thus much I request of your clemencies that after repentance in the day of iudgement he may obtaine pardon of our Lord at your intercession Giuen at Rome the Nones of March the third indiction to the rarenesse and nouelty of which president to auoid exception and to confound such quarrelsome spirits let them heare what the wisedome of that vpright Bishop Frisingensis a man for discent zeale and learning most eminent reporteth and the rather for that he was almost an eie-witnesse vnto those times Lego relego saith he Romanorum regum Imperatorum gesta nusquam inuenio quemquam eorum ante hunc a Romano Pontifice Excommunicatum vel regno priuatum I read and read againe the Chronicles of the Roman kings and Emperors and in no age can find that euer a Romane Bishop excommunicated or depriued any one of them from his kingdome before this man meaning Hildebrand And again in his first book of the gests of Frederick Gregorius septimus saith hee qui tunc vrbis Romae Pontificatum tenebat eundem Imperatorem tanquam a suis destitutum anathematis gladio feriendum decernit Cuius rei nouitate eò vehementius indignatione motum suscepit Imperium quò nunquam ante haec tempora huiusmodi sententiam in Principem Romanorum promulgatam cognouerat Gregory the seauenth saith he at that time Pope of Rome resolued to smite with the sword of Excommunication the foresaid Emperor as forsaken of his people At the nouelty whereof the Empire was so much the rather mooued with indignation for that before those times it neuer had known such a sentence to haue been
Pope and sate in Peters Chayre two yeeres and sixe moneths During her Popedome she was gotten with child by a familiar friend her Chapleine and in a solemne Procession betweene the Colosse and Saint Clements Church shee fell in trauaile and in the middest of the City in the streetes and before all the people she brought foorth a Sonne and through paine died in the place Certainlie it can not bee doubted but that God suffered this whore to bee Pope to represent in plaine termes that Babylonian creature spoken of in the 17. of the Apocalips to the end that of her selfe and her inchantments the Elect might beware 16. Bawdes PAul the third surrendred his sister Iulia Fernese vnto Alexander the sixth to be defloured Sixtus the fourth by the testimony of Agrippa amongst the moderne Pandors was the most eminent As the man who excelled all other builders in the edifying of that most stately brothel-house which he dedicated to both sexes 17. Bastards MArtin the eleuenth by a common woman was the sonne of a Negromantique Priest So was Iohn the eleuenth begotten by Pope Lando Item Iohn the twelfth begotten by Sergius the third vpon Marozia Item Iohn the fourteenth then sonne of Iohn the twelfth Item Iohn the sixteenth the sonne of Leo a Priest Item Benedict the eighth the sonne of Bishop Gregorie Item Iohn the seuenteenth another sonne of the same Gregory Item Siluester the third the sonne of the Arch-priest Lawrance Item Adrian the fourth the sonne of Monk Robert Item Eugenius the fourth the sonne of Gregory the twelfth Pope Item Clement the seuenth the son of Leo the tenth Item Gregory the ninth the sonne of Innocent the third Item Adrian the fifth the son of Innocent the fourth Item Gregory the eleuenth the sonne of Clement the sixth 18. Drunkards LEo the tenth and Nicholas the fifth were famous for the loue of their liquor 19. Couetous persons THeodore of Niem did long agoe delineat the Auarice of the Romane Bishops For hee compared the Popes Exchequer to the Ocean whereunto all Riuers paid tribute and yet was it neuer satisfied Histories do affirme that at one gleaning the Popes had out of France ninety hundred thousand crownes Whereupon Lewes the ninth complained that his Kingdome was miserably exhausted by these Harpies The wealthy Kingdome of England to be miserably impouerished partly by tithes partly by procurations of the Apostolique Legats partly by donatiues and partly by the sale of Benefices Mathew Paris in his time did much complaine In those daies sayeth hee Pope Gregory either so permitting or procuring the insatiable auarice of the Romane Clergy grew to be so feruent that without any sparke of modesty confounding all law and equity as a common and brasen-faced-Harlot set all to sale to all sorts of persons and reputed Vsury as a trifle and Simony as a matter of no inconuenience Germany was pillaged after the same fashion By warre and cunning the Pope wrested from the Emperour his lawfull Patrimonies some after some throughout Italy By harlots they make also rich purchases they put out their mony to Interest and account no gaine base or vnlawfull 20. Church-robbers BOniface the seuenth when he saw that it was no longer safe for him to reside at Rome priuily and feloniously he purloyned certaine rich tresurers out of the Church of Saint Peter and fled to Constantinople Clement the seuenth was accused for periurie sacriledge and impoysoning c. 21. Simonianists FRom Gregory the ninth Caesar obtained his absolution for the price of one hundred thousand ounces of gold Benedict the ninth being strucken with feare for one thousand and fiue hundred pounds solde the Papacie to his Chapman Iohn Gratian afterward called Gregory the sixth Hereupon Iohn the Monk complained that Rome was founded by theeues and so continued vntill this day to liue by spoiles And Alan Chartierius saith you haue made the diuine sanctuary a banke of Exchange Alike in conscience were Leo the tenth Innocent the eighth Siluester the third Gregory the sixth Gregorie the twelfth Iohn the eighteenth c. So that Bernhard also complained That the Holy offices of the Church were become meerely questuarie 22. Ambitious persons IOhn the foure and twentieth by ambition onely affected the Papacie For by the testimony of Stella when he liued at Bononia he carried himselfe more like a Lord then a Legat He was gouernour of a great Armie and vnto him the fathers were glad to resort to elect a new Pope he gaue out many vnder hand-threats that vnlesse they would present one to the Papacie whō without exception himselfe should very well like of he should not preuaile Whereupon many were nominated of whom he meant neuer to approue one Whereupon the Fathers beseeched him to name the man whom he best fancied Then giue me Peters cloake quoth he and I will bestow it on him that shall be Pope Which being done he cast the cloake vpon his owne shoulders saying Behold your Pope Which stratagem though it displeased the Fathers yet they thought it fitter to be silent then to aggrauate displeasure Iohn the three twentith was a man most ambitious writing vnto the Greekes That hee onely was head of the Church and Christ his Vicar Vnto whom the Grecians re-answered in as many words We constantly acknowledge thy high authority ouer thy subiects thy high pride we can not indure thy auarice wee are not able to satisfie The diuell be with thee the Lord is with vs. So Iohn the two and twenteth after a long vacation being made Cardinall by the Councel of Naples being intrusted with the election elected himselfe which by the Canons he could not doe So Boniface the third that ambitious beast in the midst of a tumultuous number yet many gainesaying it was heaued into the Papacy confirmed worshipped and saluted Lord and Prince of all Bishops by that adulterous Emperor parricide and tyrant Phocas Afterward by ardent importunity or rather by his immoderate bribery he obtained that Rome should be called the Head of all the christian Churches vppon these idle reasons forsooth That the Empire first took his origen from Rome and so Peter gaue vnto his successors of Rome the Keies c. Read the history of Phocas and this Boniface to be further satisfied of their mutuall knaueries Let Paschal the eleuenth ranke with these fellowes For when William procurator and Clarke to king Henry speaking in his masters right amongst other reasons constantly affirmed That the King had rather loose his kingdome then the Inuestiture of Prelats the Pope made this proud reply If as thou saiest thy master will not suffer the Ecclesiasticall presentations to bee alienated from him for the losse of his kingdome then take thou notice precisely I speake it before God that neither I without the price of his head will suffer him to inioy them quietly Clement the sixt answered the Embassadors of Lewes the Emperor as arrogantly That he would neuer pardon his Maiesty before he had
resigned his Imperiall right sequestred himselfe his children and all his goods into his custody and promised neuer to retake them but by the Bishops grace and good liking So great was the spirit of Boniface the eight that almost he disdained all men For such was his ambition that he suborned certaine companions in lieu of Angels with a soft voice by night to sound in the chamber of Pope Celestine that he should voluntarily resigne the Popedome if hee meant to saue his life Which the simple man performed accordingly But Boniface contrary to Law and equitie stepping into the Popedome layd violent hands vpon Celestine trauelling out of Rome to lead his life in some solitary mansion and cast him into perpetuall prison The same Boniface instituted the Iubile and celebrated it in the yeere of our Lord 1300. promising to all people that would visit rhe City full remission of their sinnes He reiected an Embassie sent from the Emperor Albert. Vpon the first day of the solemnity he appeared in his Pontificalibus and bestowed his benedictions vpon the people The next day he came foorth accoutred like an Emperor and commanded a naked sword to be borne before him with this acclamation Behold here two swords This is the right I haue to kingdomes and Empire they are all in my disposition The kings of the earth vnlesse they will receiue their kingdome from this holy Sea are to be accursed and deposed Finally hee gloried in his pride that he was the porter of Heauen and ought to be adiudged by no man Adrian the fourth did grieuously chide Fredericke the Emperor for holding his left stirrope as he came from horse vt supra fo Alexander the third in more base manner vsed an other Emperor as before fo Stephen the second deposed Childerick and preferred Pipin to his place He shaued Childericks crowne and thrust him into a monastery Pipin lay agroofe vpon the earth kissed the Popes toe held his horse by the bridle performed the office of a footman and gaue him his oath of perpetuall fidelity Damasus the second This man was Chancellour to his predecessor but his ambition not able to stay the death of his master it is reported that he gaue him a dram to dispatch him Constantine the first This man was the first that put his foot to be kissed by an Emperor Benedict the third followed the president and suffered himselfe to be worshipped as a most holy Father or rather like a terrene Idoll Iohn the seuen and twentith did the like to Crescentius the Roman Consul Martin the fift to Sigismund Caesar Leo the fourth gaue his foot to all commers and against the Canons of the Aquisgran Councel first aduanced a Papall crosse and adorned it with pretious stones commanding it to be caried before him Of the like stampe were Boniface the first Symmachus Boniface the second Siluerius Martin the second Formosus the first Theodorus the second Benedict the fourth Sergius the third Iohn the tenth Gregory the sixt c. 23. Monsters BEnedict the ninth Historiographers doe write that this Benedict was seene neere a certaine Mill by an Hermit in a most horrible shape His body was like a Beare adioyned thereto the head and taile of an Asse And being asked by him how he came to be thus metamorphosed It is reported that he answered In this shape doe I wander for that in my Popedome I liued without reason without God and without limitation Nicholas the third begat a sonne on his Concubin who had hayre and clawes like vnto a Beare Vide Iohannem Nouiomagum 24. Illiterate persons BEnedict the eleuenth was a meere Laique And so were Benedict the ninth Sergius the third Eugenius the fourth Iohn the ninth Iohn the one and twentith c. OF THE FALL AND DEATH OF certaine Romane Bishops ADrian the third flying from Rome came vnto Venice in the Habit of his Cooke where he lurked in a certaine monastery and was made the Gardiner of the garden thereof Iohn the fiue and twentith trauelling towards Constance fell headlong from his litter a presage of his future deposition For many faults beeing obiected against him in the Councell he began to flie but being taken and preuented he was cast into prison and there remained for three yeeres Siluerius Campanus was banished into Pontus by Theodora the wife of the Emperor Iustinian The same Theodora her selfe impleaded Vigilius for not perfourming his word arrested him to Constantinople there contumeliously disgraced him whipped him cast an halter about his neck caused him to be haled through all the streets of the City and finally banished him Constantinus the second was eiected by a Councel and beeing depriued aswell of his eies as of his Popedome he was cast into a monastery and after into a perpetuall prison Benedict the fift was depriued of his papall dignity and sent into banishment Stephen the eight was so sorely wounded in a popular tumult that for the deformity of his wound hee was neuer after willing to shew himselfe in publique Innocent the fourth died miserably Robert of Lincoln reproued his vile behauiour his auarice his pride and his tyranny and that as well by word of mouth as by writing For which the Pope citeth him to Rome and iniuriously condemneth him From him Robert appealeth vnto Christ as his Iudge Vpon the death of Lincolne as writeth Cestriensis lib. 7. a voice is heard in the Court of Rome crying Miserable man make ready to come to the tribunall of God Vpon the day following the Pope is found dead in his bed and vpon his body appeared a blewish blow as if he had been strucken with a cudgell Siluester the second beeing at Masse was attached with a suddain feuer and by the noise of spirits witnesse Peter Praemonstratensis he perceiued that his end drew nigh to pay the diuell his due vpon composition He confessed his errors and as saith Benno preuented a miserable and fearefull destruction Yet in the anguish of death he desired that his hands his tongue and his priuities wherewith euen in his single life he had blasphemed God by sacrificing to diuels might be cut off Nicholas the third in midst of his greatest imaginations was taken with an apoplexy and without one word speaking breathed his last Paul the second hauing merrily supped was also taken with the apoplexy and departed without sight of any man Paschal the second was taken by the Emperour and thrust into prison Gelasius the eleuenth One Cinthius a powerfull patrician of the City made an assault vpon him tooke him by the throat cast him to the earth spurnd him with his feet and cast him into prison Boniface the eight Grown desperate with the ouerwaight of fury gaue vp his vnhappy ghost loden with an infinit heape of mischieuous actions This is that Pope of whom it is recorded That he entred as a wolfe liued as a Lyon and dyed as a Dog Gregory the sixt was taken prisoner and sent into
banishment Gregory the seuenth for his innumerable wickednesses was deposed by the Emperor Henry and in banishment ended his daies Eugenius the fourth priuily flying in a monasticall coole together with his friend Arsenius entred a fisher-boat Vpon report whereof his enemies followed to seeke him with stones and shot Clement the seuenth for his conspiring with the French King against the Emperour was made prisoner by Charles his Captaines and wonderfully derided by the Germane souldiers Iohn the eleuenth was taken by the souldiers of Guido committed to prison stifled with a sirplice thrust into his mouth Boniface the eleuenth died suddenly Iohn the eighth not that teeming woman but a man died together with his Crescentius hauing his eies first put out and his whole body mangled Benedict the eleuenth was poisoned at an Abbesses banquet with a dish of figges Benedict the sixth no doubt for such like malapert practises as in these dayes Popes play with mightie Princes was taken by one Cinthius a powerfull Roman Citizen thrust into the Mole of Hadrian now Saint Angelo the prison of the basest offendours and there miserably strangled Hadrian the fourth Into his mouth slew a flie which could not be taken out nor thrust downe by any Art of the Physitian so that it stopped his breath and choked him Lucius the second with an armed band assaulted the Citizens in the Capitol of purpose vtterly to destroy the whole Senate The newes runneth through the City the people fly to Armes and a strong fight is managed Lucius ingaging himselfe in the hottest of his armed troupes is so mauled with stones and shot that a little while after he surrendred his life Iohn the two and twentith At the instant wherein he promised vnto himselfe a long continuance of his life was suddenly taken away and was alone found buried amongst timber and rubbish by the fall of a chamber Clement the sixt was suddenly taken with an Apostume and died Leo the tenth suddenly died with an astonishing disease Leo the third was so odious vnto the people that in a certaine Procession being cast from his horse they dispoyled him of his pontificall ornaments buffeted him well fauouredly and committed him to prison And as some report they depriued him both of his eies and his tongue Christopher the first being deposed from the Papacy was constrained to lead a monasticall life Not long after he was taken from the said monastery by Sergius his successor and committed to a most seuere prison and there ended his daies in great misery ¶ These vnder written were poisoned IOHN the sixteenth nineteenth twentith Clement the second Damasus the second Leo the ninth Victorinus the second Nicholas the second Alexander the second Victorinus the third Gregory the eight Celestine the fourth Vrban the sixt Alexander the fift Clement the seuenth Thus much for their manners and now to stop the mouthes of those who cry out what is this to Religion Behold here for a conclusion not the fruits but the very points some few for a taste of these their irreligious documents BLASPHEMIES OF THE CANONISTES THE Bishop of Rome is God Dist. 96. ca. Satis euidenter 2. The Pope is not man Lib. 1. Sexti de electione tit 6. ca. Fundamenta in Glossatore 3. The Pope is neither God nor man In prologo clementinarum in glossatore 4. It is lawfull for no man to imagine or practise to transgresse the precepts of the Apostolicall Sea Dist. 20. ca. Nulli Item dist 12. 22. 5. An Heretique is hee who is not obedient to the Popes decrees ibid. in gloss 6. He is guilty of Sacriledge that belieth the Pope For he supplieth the place of the liuing God on earth De paenit dist 1. ca. libenter ignosco 7. The Pope is the vniuersall Bishop through al parts of the earth Lib. 5. Sexti ca. faelicis in gloss 8. The Pope is Lord of all principalities vpon earth Li. 3. Sexti tit 16. cap. Periculoso 9. Let no man dare to say vnto the Pope Lord why dost thou doe thus or thus In extrau tom 22. tit 5. ca. ad Apostolatus in gloss 2. li. 1. Decretal tit 7. ca. 5. vide gloss 10. The Pope by vertue of these words Thou art Peter or feede my sheepe obtaineth primacy In praemio Sexti in gloss 11. No mortall man may sit in iudgement vpon the Pope Caus 9. quaest 3. c. nemo Item aliorum dist 40. ca. st Papa Caus 12. quaest 2. ca. quisquis in gl dist 40. ca. non nos in gloss 12. It is lawfull for no creature to call into question the iudgement of the Apostolique Sea or to delay the sentence thereof Caus 17. quaest 4. c. nemini 13. The Pope may dispence against the Apostles dist 34. collector in gloss dist 82. ca. presbiter in gloss caus 15. quaest 6. ca. Authoritatem in gloss 14. The Pope hath celestiall arbitrement Li. 1. decr Greg. tit 1. ca. 5. 15. The Pope may change the Nature of things ibid. 16. The Pope of nothing can make something ibid. 17. The Popes will is a Law ibid. 18. The Pope may dispense aboue the law ibid. 19. The Pope may cause an vniust decree to be receiued for iust ibid. 20. The Pope hath fulnesse of power ibid. 21. As is the difference betweene the Sunne and the Moone such is the difference between the Pope and a King Li. 1. decre Greg. tit 33. solitae 22. Persons vniustlie condemned and oppressed ought to seeke redresse and amends from the Church of Rome Caus 2. quaest 6. c. ideo Last of all By these Mens Liues Manners and Doctrine new Pen'd by the trauaile of my Pen O you Who read the leazings of this false-mouth'd crue Learne these their Liues Words Maners to eschue CONTRADICTIONS MORE REAsonable then Canonisticall A Learned and noble preacher if any such be amongst the Iesuits being demaunded his iudgement concerning the opinion of Bozius a more peremptory Champian for the Canonists then any of his fellowes Eum vocabat Papalem parasitum viz. termed him a Papall parasite Gaguin a learned and religious historiographer in his time thus taxeth this their irregular vsurpation Such is saith he at this day their haughtinesse and Lordship that hauing small respect vnto Princes they boast that all things are lawfull vnto themselues soly Neither in my Age did any of them ascend the Papacy but forthwith hee enriched his nephewes with infinit wealth and honours S. Bernard long before Gaguin Doth not now ambition more then deuotion possesse the Apostolicall succession Hereupon said Platina In this maner dyed that Boniface who studied more to terrifie then to teache Kings Princes and nations Who for his pleasure made it a matter of pastime to giue and retake kingdomes to interdict Nations and absolue them afterwards Gaguin againe Such was the end of Boniface the scorner of all men who hauing no remembrance of his Master Christ did his vtmost according to his priuate fancy to