A View of the Romish Hydra, Sermon 1

A View of the Romish Hydra · Sermon 1

p. 11 SAM. 26. VER. 8.

Abiſhai ſaid to Dauid, God hath cloſed thine enemy into thine hande this day now▪ therefore, I pray thee let me finite him once with a ſpear to the earth, and I wil not ſmite him againe, &c.

THE FIRST SERMON.

IN the beginning of this Chapiter wee hauehave Saul perſecuting, and Dauid perſecuted; the Ziphians diſcouering him, Dauid his eſpies, Saul ſleeping with his ſouldiours, the comming of Dauid with Abiſhai to Sauls campe in the night: and nowe in this part of Scripture we heare the conference and diſputation of Abiſhai and Dauid.

The argument and queſtion is, whether Saul the king may bee lawefully ſlaiue by them his ſubiectes or no?

As the perſons are two,A generall diuiſion of the Text. ſo are the partes of this ſpeach two: firſt Abiſhai the Opponent, obiecteth and defendeth the Affirmatiue, requeſting withall that hee may kil him. Secondly Dauid p. 2the Reſpondent, holdeth the Negatiue, denying that act to be lawful.

A matter in mine opinion moſt neceſſary for Preachers to entreate of, and for vsus all to heare and conſider of in theſe daies, when ſubiects vtterly forgette their duety and reuerence, which they owe to the ſacred Maieſty of Princes, and to all lawfull Magiſtrates. A thing long ſince prophecyed of by God in his holy word, and in al ages deteſted of the better ſort. Ieſaiah among other things prophecieth that the boy ſhal preſume againſt the Auncient, Ieſaia. c. 3& the vile againſt the honorable. Paul alſo prophecieth of theſe later times,…. Tim. 3. that men ſhall bee fierce, enimies of the good, traitors, headdy, high-minded, The hainouſnes hereof, both Heathen and Chriſtians hauehave abhorred. The miſtocles a notable captaine, being baniſhed from his vnthankeful country by the Athenians, & entertained of Xerxes King of the Perſians, was willed, according to his promiſe, to ſubdue Graecia vntounto his Empire: but rather then hee woulde betray his country, hee dranke vp a bole ful of Buls bloud,Plutarch. and ſo after his ſacrifices and prayers to his Gods, gaue vp the ghoſt. Vſthazares chamberlaine to Sapor King of the Perſians, beeing apprehended for his confeſſion of Chriſt, and refuſing to woorſhip the Sunne their God,Sor. lib. 2. cap. 9. doth onelyonly make this petition to the King, that by the voice of a cryer it might p. 3be proclaimed & ſignified to al men: Vſthazares is beheadded, not for any treaſō, or crime in the Kings court, but that he is a Chriſtian, and refuſing to obey the king, cannot abide to deny his God. So much was the very name of a traitor abhorred of thē. Now, ſeeing the enormity of the fault, & neceſſity of the time, giuegive me leaue to ſpeake to you as Bernarde once did in the like caſe vntounto the Romanes, Epiſt. 24…departing from the Pope Eugenius. When the heade a keth, dooth not the toung cry for al the partes of the body, that they ake alſo with the head? Ego corporis membrum minimum. As he, ſo I, the ſmalleſt and ſimpleſt member of our bodie, craue leaue to vtter our common griefe, for the heade and Soueraigne of this Realm, of late without cauſe troubled and aſſaulted by open and priuy practiſes of ſuch as ought to hauehave been true ſubiectes, and faithful countrymen. And for this purpoſe hauehave I choſen this parcell of Scripture, in the which wee may firſt learne the wickednes it ſelfe in the perſon of Abiſhai, and next in the perſon of Dauid a controulment and a confutation of it, as in the Sermons following ſhall be declared.

Touching the firſt, when hath there not bin an Abiſhai? Naie ſome worſe then Abiſhai, ſeekers and ſuckers of bloud?1 Part. Abiſhai would hauehave Saul a wicked perſecutor diſpatched out of the waie,Treaſon auncient and news others conſpire againſt the godly and innocent. p. 4Abiſhai vſeth more good maner in asking leaue of Dauid, others headdily attempt the ſame, conſulting nether with God, nor with good men, but only with their owne frontike pates, or factious mates, Abiſhai yealdeth reaſons, that he may dee it: The authority of God, the opportunity of the time, the poſſibility and eaſines of the fact: for he ſaith, God hath deliuered thine enimy into thyne hand this day, and he ſaw both Saul, and Abner, and the people in a deadly ſleepe, and promiſeth at one blow to deſtroy him, but the others doe far differ from Abiſhai, eſpecially in the maner howe they doe it, and in the cauſes why they doe it.

The manner is,The manner of Traitors. not only fiercely, and forcibly to riſe againſt man, but moſt communelie and cunningly with ſweete and faire words to commit this foule and filthy Act. The firſt murderer that euer was, vſed this pleaſant ſpeach, ſpeaking to Abel as it is in the greeke text: Brother, let vsus goe walke into the field; but a good beginning in ſhewe, brought an il ende, according to that which is written by this our Dauid againſt his falſe familiar friend, The woords of his mouth were ſofter thē butter, Pſa. 55.Ps 55yet war was in his hart: his woordes were more gentle then oyle, yet they were ſwordes. And alſo by his Sonne Salomon: A man that flattereth his neighbour, Proue. 29.ſpreadeth à net for his ſteppes. This Cainicall p. 5courſe followed Abſalom, 2. Sam. 13.2 Sam 13who inuiting his brother Amnon to a ſheepe-ſhearing feaſt, killed him. When I read the Commiſſion giuen by Abſalom, to his ſeruantes, it ſeemeth to me that the Romiſh Abſalom Pius Quintus ſpeaketh againſt a Prince: Smite, kill, feare not, for hauehave not I commaunded you? Be bould therefore. Is not this a ſtrange father of Peace, an Abſalom? Likewiſe Ioab laid his net againſt Amaſa, 2. Sam. …whom he tooke by the beard with the right hand to kiſſe, and with his ſworde priuily, and traiterouſly ſmote him to death. I omit Iudas the diſciple and traitour of Chriſt, and that with a kiſſe and with fair words. Aue Rabbi, Haile Maſter. Luc. 22.Luke 22This Iudas had two Schoole-maſters, Scribes and Phariſies, but the chiefe was Satan who entred into him, euen as theſe Papiſtical Traitors are not ſucceſſours of Peter in this point, but of Iudas, and are ſchoole-fellowes with him. It is not only Iudas his treaſō, but a Turkiſh-trick againſt Chriſtian Prínces and gouernours. One Sarracene vſed this againſt Edward king of Britane or England. It maie beè the Author meaneth Rich.To him ayding the Chriſtians againſt the enemies of Chriſt, came this fleeting fellow ſecretum colloquium ab eo petens, requeſting ſecret conference with him, and ſtriketh: but after two woundes receiued, the King laid handes vponupon him and ſiue him. Another Sarracens was ſuborned by the Sultan to kil Iames p. 6Luſignane king of Cyprus, vnderunder the pretenſe of caryeng letters: but he miſſed, and was tormented for it. Theſe flattering traitours that with this courtly or rather crafty curteſie, and Popiſh holy-water, work this cruelty, eyther by woords and inſinuations, or by preſents and gifts, or by deliuery of letters, or meſſages, or other waies vnderunder colour of friendſhippe, the more cloſe they be, the more crafty are they, the more priny, the more perilous: for flattery is more hurtful then the moſt cruell poyſon, according to the verſe: Blanditi a pluſquam dira venena nocent.

Wherefore it were to be wiſhed, that Princes and great perſonages would purge and clenſe their Courtes and houſes of ſuch that hauehave beene taught in the Schoole of Gnato to denye, to double, & diſſemble, and by the leſſon of Cato, Saluta libenter, ſeeke not to ſalute nor to ſaue, but to ſlaie them. Take the droſſe from the ſiluer, Prou. 25.Prov 25and there ſhall bee made a precious veſſell for the finer. Take awie the wicked from the King, and his throne ſhal be ſtabliſhed in righteouſneſſe. Out Dauid had his eies vponupon the faithfull of the land, that they might dwell with him, and vponupon them that malk in a perfect may, that they might ſerue him. There ſhall (ſaith hee) no deceitefull perſon dwell in my houſe. Pſal. 101.Ps 101Hee that telleth lies, ſhall not remaine in my ſight. This faithfulnes p. 7is firſt towardes God, and then towardes the Princes and neighbours: this deceitfulnes, flattering; gloſing, temporizing muſt needes offend God, and man: and therefore ought not to be regarded. The example of Conſtantius as it is noted by Euſebius found out theſe vnconſtaunt men-pleaſers,Lib. 1. de vita Con… & tanquam Proditores Dei as traitours to God eſteemed them vnworthy to be with an Emperour, and determined they ſhould be baniſhed out of the Court: for that they will neuer be true to Emperour, who are found vnfaithfull towardes God. Quomodo enim Imperatori fidem ſeruarent his qui erga Deum deprehenſi ſunt perfidie Becauſe theſe fleering counterfaites are hardly found out, therefore there needeth great circumſpection in diſcerning and tryeng them, and alſo earneſt praier to God that he would giuegive vsus the ſpirit of diſcretion, & by his prouidence to preſerue vsus from them. Such diſcretiō this Conſtā tius ſeemed to hauehave. A Philoſopher the nephew of Plato diſcreetly eſpied it, who ſaid vntounto a flateterer, Deſine adulari, nihil proſicis, cùm te intelligā. Leaue off this flattering & fauning, for thou preuailſt not, I perceiue thee. Praier alſo is needful, as an old prouerb importeth: Cui fidem adhibeo, ab …o me deus cuſtodiat. God keep me frō him in whō I put my truſt, for the other I wil ſee to my ſelf. The effect of this is, that the maner of dealing in theſe mē is worſe, thē the doing of Abiſhai. You p. 8may ſee by this that al is not goulde that ſhineth like gould: that euen Bees though they carry hony in their mouth, yet may ſting: that Sirenes or Myrmaidens ſing ſweetly, and hauehave their amiable entertainementes and allurements, but otherwiſe bring Shipwracke to Mariners: and therefore Vlyſſes gaue counſail to his Shipmen to ſtop their eares. I wiſh al men to take heede of Scorpions, though flattering in face, yet pernicious in the taile▪ the beginning may bee plauſible, the end clean coutrary. The Crocodile whyneth and plaieth the Hypocrite, but it is to catch and to kil. The flattering Dragon the Diuel, as Auguſtine termeth him, is woorſe than the roaring Lyon, and this is the maner & faſhion of this new or rather ould rotten naughty world.

Now we are to conſider the motiues & cauſes perſwading theſe men to enter into theſe high pointes of treacherous actions,2. Part. Cauſes of a reaſon. paſſing the compaſſe of this Abiſhai. There are many, but I reduce them to theſe following: Some men are led or rather miſſed by couetouſneſſe,1. Cauſe …centiouſ…eſſe. that is, either deſirous of liberty and impunity, which is looſenes; or elſe of gaine, which is ai…arice; or elſe of henour and dignity, which is ambition. In the time of the Emperour Henry the fourth certaine gentlemen not liking the bridle of diſcipline, nor the reſtraint of their diſſolutenes, laid their heads together how they might rid that Emperour out of p. 9this life, or bring him into the low order and baſe and bare condition of a priuate man,In vi…a Hen…. 4. not remembring that they did owe a peace vntounto their country-men, iuſtice to the Realme, and fidelity to the Ring. So far were theſe from the rule of obedience, that deſirous of their licentiouſnes woulde hazard the ſeruitude of the country. The deſier of lucre is another motiue to treaſon.2. Cou… neſſe. It was the couetous queſtion of Iudas, Quid vultis mihidare? What will ye giuegive me? Which maketh a number of malecontentes, ſeditious, troublers of a common-weale for apriuate commodity. So that now the caſe is, as in the time of Dauid, When the Prince ſtudieth peace, Pſal. 110.Ps 110and ſpeaketh peaceablie, they are ready to fight. Their feete are ſwifte to ſhed bloode nay they knowe not the waie of peace: Rom. 3.Rom 3They will neither knowe nor hauehave peace. They ſeem to be kinned to that mad ſouldiour, that paſſing by the Church, & hearing them pray for peace, Donanobis pacem, was angry with them, Phy, quoth he, Peace? Manliue.how ſhuld we liue? Such a Prince Cor. Agrippa telleth of in Italy, who being moued by the ſaid Agrippa, to take awaie that famous or rather infamous faction of Gibellines and Guelphians in his Territory, Naie not ſo, quoth hee, confeſſing plainly it was not for his profit, for that ther was brought into his coffers yearely about twelue thouſand ducats by occaſion of this faction.De van… ſcienti.

p. 10This greedines is the cauſe that many being now become bankerupts, vnthrifty & born to conſume & to ſpend the fruits of the earth, think by mutations and chaunges to recouer, and to licke themſelues whole. This is the cauſe, that mooueth ſome to fly from their countrie, and captaines to ſerue ſtraungers contrarie to the Law of GOD and man. Nemo miles ab imperatore extraneo ſtipendium accipit, ſaith Chryſoftome. No man taketh wages of a forraine king, or Emperor. How much more wicked is it, for Chriſtians profeſſing the goſpel to be in ſeruice vnderunder the cō duct & banner of a ſtranger, both in nation and in religion? & that for mony, bloud-gilt, the reward of Iudas? Quidagis Chriſtiane, ſidomini hoſtē amicum habueris? what doſt thou o chriſtian, what auaileth thee if thou haſt the enemy of the Lord to be thy friend? The ſame Chryſoſtome hath theſe words in an homily De proditione & Iuda. There is a third kind of couetouſnes not of theſe meane things, but an inſatiable deſire of honor, principality, & ſoueraignty: Iulius Caeſar imagining or rather dreaming of ſuch a thing,…ic. offi. 1. for a kingdom & a Monarchy brake the laws of God & man. This is pride and preſūption when men wil not be content with Dauid to tary their time, but wil aduē ture by hook or crook, by right by wrong to ſurmount.… lib. Dor…i ſecurè. …rm. 6 I reade of the Romans that they painted pride with a triple crowne Pope-like, becauſe, p. 11as R. Holcot teſtifieth,Holcot. fol. 23…. the proud man wil ouerrule al his equals, his inferiours, his ſuperiours. The firſt crowne hath this title, Tranſcendo, I ſurmount: the ſecond, Non obedio, I diſobey: the third, Perturbo, I trouble all: which in verſe is expreſſed ſomewhat otherwiſe in Holcot,

Effluo, tranſcendo, quo quis priuatur babendo,

Trāſmigrat genus excedit que homo qui nec obedit:

Turbor & affligor, perturbor, & vndi que laedor.

Meaning therby, that thoſe that wil be climing & tranſcendent, and diſobedient and troubleſome, muſt finde trouble and affliction themſelues.

Another motiue of theſe rebellious interpriſes is Enuie & Ingratitude. 3. Enuie.Enuie is a ſmoke that cā not abide y^e brightnes of good proceedings of her Maieſty, that goeth about to ſmother & obſcure the bleſſings of God ſhining among vsus in al proſperity & felicity, in the time of her gouernment.

Liuor tabific…m malis venenum.Virgil.

It is a poiſō that gnaweth & cōſumeth the vugodly, that cānot abide the happy eſtate by which we enioy the goſpel, & al ſpiriual conſolation, by which we hauehave the fruitiō of peace & plenly, if our ſinfulnes & vnthankfulnes do not abbridge vsus.

Promeritis male tractarunt Agamemnona Graeci.

The vnkind dogges monſtrouſly rent Acteon their maſter.Plut… Inuidia. The ougly toad cannot abide the good ſent of floriſhing vines. Cantharides green worms, though they hauehave their being & ſuccor in p. 12the tops of aſhes, in oliues & ſweet roſes, yet they wil ſhew their nature, their iuice is poiſon, and they wil make bliſters, tumbling, and trouble in the common weat. It is to be feared leaſt by their vnthankefulnes and grudging, this our proſperous and good eſtate, which we hauehave many years by Gods goodnes ſeene & felt, wil be turned by his heauy diſpleaſure into dearth and ſcarſity, as ſince theſe newe traiterous enterpriſes we may, if we be not blind, ſee ſome experience. Our too much plenty heretofore hath made vsus wanton, new fangled, buſie bodies, not contented with our bleſſings of Manna, as murmuring Iſraelites, preferring before this heauenly felicity the garlick and fleſh-pots of AEgypt, or rather the burdens of intolerable taſke-maſters vnderunder Romiſh Pharao. Theſe benefites and this repining cannot long continue togither by the iuſtice of God and by the courſe of naturall thinges. Too much rancknes beateth downe the corne, and bowes are broken with the burden; ouermuch aboundaunce of fruite commeth not to anie ripeneſſe, as wiſe Seneca writeth: euen ſo our proſperity, I feare, hath corrupted ſome of vsus. and made vsus forgetful of our duty towards God and our Prince. Gregory the great, when Popes were not ſo great, but did acknowledge the ſoueraignty of Princes ouer them, did wel confeſſe writing to one Theodore, …piſh. 103.a Phyſition, in this p. 13maner: Howe great benefites I hauehave receiued frō Almighty God, & from my moſt ſoueraign lord, the Emperour, my toung is not able to expreſſe. Would to god our Gregoriās, folowers, & fautors of the Pope, wold hauehave ſuch meditatiōs.

Another motiue, and cauſe of theſe ſtirs,4 Religi… and tumultes, is forſooth Religion, A ſtraunge Religion doubtleſſe, that teacheth men to murther Princes and Monarches of the world. It was a pretence of Religion in Herod, who told the wiſe men of the Eaſt,Mat. 2.Matt 2 that hee was deſirous to knowe where Chriſt was, that he might worſhippe him: but his Religion was a ful entent to kill Chriſt. True Religion is euer aſſaulted and unpugned by a falſe Religion. Haman could not abide good Mardocheus, nor the Iewes for their Religion, calling their lawes, new, ſtraunge,Heſt. ca. 3. and differing from all people, and ſo procured from Aſſuerus the King a bloody decree, to deſtroy al the nation. When the Chriſtians in Perſia, Soz. l…. c. 7.by reaſon of acquaintance, and conuerſation with the Oſroens, and Armenians, had gathered a church and congregation to ſerue Chriſt: that thing offended the Magicians, or wiſe Diuines of Perſia, who by ſucceſſion, as Prieſtes, had the charge, & miniſtery of that heatheniſh Religion. It offended alſo the Iewes: ſo that Chriſtians for their Religion were tormented, and good Father Symeon Archbiſhop of Seleucia, was accuſed to Sapor p. 14the King, Quaſi Regni, & Religionis Perſarum proditor, as a ſpy, and a betrayer of the Realme, and of the Religion of the Perſians, reueiling the ſecretes of Perſia to the Emperour of Rome, Soz. libae. cap. 8.and ſo was impriſoned and put to death, with an hundred Chriſtians. The ground of theſe violences or rather vilanies is Religion.

But there is a difference betweene the true and falſe Religion. The Religion of Ieroboam was a falſe, and caluiſh Religion, contrary to the Religion of the houſe of Dauid: and therefore he made two calues of goold, the one in Bethel, the other in Dan, made Prieſtes of the dregges and raſcalles of the people,1 King. 12.1 Kgs 12 commaunding them, that they ſhoulde no more ſacrifice at Ieruſalem in the houſe of the LORD, and perſecuteth the Prophetes and the profeſſours of the true ſeruice of GOD. And this was a pretenſe of Religion. But the Religion of Ezechias, and of Ioſias Kinges of Iuda, was good Religion,2. Chron. 29. & 35.2 Chr 29 to pull downe Images, and all Idolatrie, to reſtore the Lawe, and the Bible of GOD, and the true vſe of the Sacramentes. What other Religion is the Reformation of Queene Elizabeth, then this of theſe Kinges? And if their reformed Religion was commended by GOD, and of al the godly: why ſhould the Religion now receaued from GOD, and p. 15reſtored by Queene Elizabeth be condemned? May not I iuſtlie ſay to the poſterity of cruell Saul, as Ionathan ſaide to his Father Saul? What harme hath our Dauid doone,1. Sam. 19.1 Sam 19 more then oulde Dauid, then Ezechias, then Ioſias did? Why then will you ſinne againſt innocent bloode, and ſlaie Dauid with-out a cauſe? Why dooth the Popiſh Saul of Rome the Supreme Vicar of CHRIST, perſecute the annointed of God, and the handemaide of Chriſt? Surely it is hee, and none but hee that is Abiſhai in name,The Pops is Abiſhal in name & nature. and in deede, I ſaie the Romiſh Abiſhai, that is the Father of bribes, and giftes, by corruption a taker, and giuer, inueigling, and perſwading the Potentates, and people of the world, to rebell, and to murther the Lordes true annointed, to riſe, and to take weapon againſt their owne naturall, and lawefull Prince. It is hee that bleſſeth, and conſecrateth with holy water, and incenſe a ſworde, In defenſionem S. Romanae Eccleſiae: for the defenſe of the holy Church of Rome, and for the reuenge of the Popes enemies, and that in the ſolemne feaſt of the Birth of Chriſt: which hee fendeth abroade as a preſent to ſome moſt Chriſtian, or moſt Noble Prince, for the protection of his Catholicke Church, againſt the true Catholicke faith of Chriſt, which p. 16is not without a myſtery,C…r…. Rom. Eccele. lib. 1. Sect. 7. Fog…rat hic pontificalis gladius poteſtatem ſumman… temporalem à Chriſt… Pontifici eius in terris vicario collatam, i…xtae illud… Data eſt mihi omnis poteſt as in caelo & interra. E… alibi, Dominabitur à marivſ que ad mare. This Pontifical ſworde, doth ſignifie the ſupreme temporal power giuen of Chriſt to the Biſhop his vicar on earth,Mat. 28.Matt 28 according to that ſaying: Al power is giuen vntounto me in heauen and in earth. And in another place: You ſhall hauehave dominion from ſea to ſea. Behold what a fiſher of men Peters ſucceſſour is, that fiſheth for the dominion of all the woorld: all is fiſh that commeth to his nette, where with he draweth to himſelfe that which is properly and truely ſpoken of Chriſt by Dauid: vnles hee will alſo hauehave that which followeth, That al kings ſhal adore, Pſal. 72.Ps 72and worſhippe him, and that his kingdome is eternall and before the Sonne: But he wil prooue in the ende, to bee that fooliſh fiſher in Theocritus, that dreamed he had caught a golden fiſh, and waking, he got not ſo much as a frog. It is that Abiſhai, that likewiſe ſcattereth abroade in Lent his conſecrated golden roſes to ſome Princes, and alſo ſendeth to the captains or ſtāderd-bearers of the Church of Rome, Ibidem in C…rem.his banners and armour, likewiſe hallowed at a maſſe: It is he that ſendeth ſouldiors ſigned with the Croſſe againſt Chriſtian Emperours, as againſt Frederike the Emperour, who p. 17dooth ſignify to the King of England treaſons, & conſpiracies againſt him.Jn Hem. 3. The practiſers whereof, being beſeiged,Matth. Paris. were accompanied with Fryers, and by them receiued the ſigne of the Croſſe againſt him, pretending the authority of the high Biſhop by his Apoſtolicke letters, ac praedictae mortis, & exhaeredationis noſtrae, ſummum Pontificem, Greg. 9.ſic aſſerunt incentorem, affirming that the Supreme Byſhoppe of Rome, was the author of his diſinheritaunce and deſtruction. This Byſhoppe of Rome, taking occaſion of the abſence of Frederike, being nowe in the ſeruice of Chriſt againſt the Turke, as well to perfourme his vow in viſiting the holie land, as alſo to pleaſe the Pope: notwithſtanding this his daungerous viage, and humble obedience, he tooke from him his land in Apulia and Lombardie. And when Frederike ſent letters vntounto the Pope, of the honorable peace betwixt him, and the Soldan (wherein hee was forced to ſurrender vntounto the ſaide Chriſtian Emperour Ieruſalem, whereof he was crowned King, and many other cities) and wiſhed him to publiſh that great ioy vntounto all Chriſtendome, and to thanke GOD for that glorious victorie, hee refuſed it, and caſt awaie the letters: excommunicateth Frederike, graunteth the Croſſe and the p. 18croſſed warre-fare againſt him as againſt an Infidel and Turke, who at his commaundement fought valiauntly againſt the Turke. Hee gaue out alſo at one time this falſe Alaram, that he was dead, and the ſouldiours of Germany and France that returned from the holy land hee put to cruell death, that they ſhould not tell the truth: all which things wee may read in Carion, Cuſpinian, and in Abbat Vrſpergenſis. Lib. 3.And here the Author exclaimeth not without cauſe: Who rightly conſidering ſuch factes, Ann. 1228.dooth not lament and deteſt them, which ſeeme to bee ſignes and certaine prognoſtications of the ruine of the Church? Greg. 9.The ſame Gregory by letters priuilie deſireth the Soldan not to yeelde vp the holie land vntounto the Emperour, but as an enimie to kill him.Cuſpinian. Againſt Friderick whoſoeuer would fight, had a pardon & a promiſe of life euerlaſting. He about that time cōmanded to bee ſung, Salue Regina. But beholde more faith & charitie in the Turke, then in the Pope: for whē the Soldā had receiued letters from the Hoſpitalars & Tēplaries how Friderick might be taken, he deteſting this treaſō, ſent the letters vntounto Friderick, & ſaid vntounto his own Counſailers: Ecce fidelitas Chriſtianorum Behold the fidelity of Chriſtians! A vile and ſhamefull fact of the father of Chriſtians the p. 19Pope, that ſet him a woorke to goe this voyage, ſo vnchriſtianly & vncharitably to betray him abroad, and to inuade his countryes and dominions at home. Dum Imperator oues Chriſti, ne à lupo diſcerpantur, enſe ſuo tutatur as defendit, Pontifex radit, deglubit, & deuorat ſaginatas. Hoc eſt enim verè paſcere ones. This is he that claimeth three Paſce, Feede, feed, feede, for his triple crown & triple Regiment: but of a feeder is become a ſheep-biter, yea a woolfe, ſwallowing and deuouring the ſheepe. God bleſſe vsus from ſuch fleaing & butcherly ſheepe-hards. Of theſe and ſuch like Acts we may cry out with Cuſpinian: O integritas Romani Pontificis! And againe,In Frides ô ſcrinium pectoris ſanctum! This is the honeſty of the Byſhoppe of Rome: This is the holy cheſt of his breſt. Thus the poore Emperours, and Princes are made vaſſals and ſubiect to the check and cenſure, yea to the ſlauery and ſlaughter of the Pope, either by himſelf immediatly, or by others his means and inſtrumentes. How did Gregory the ſeuenth otherwiſe Hildebrand practiſe traiterouſly againſt Henry the fourth? Ʋarijs modis, he did manie waies laie in wait to deſtroy him, but eſpeciallie once, when the Emperour was at his deuotion in S. Maries Church at Rome, Cardinal Bem….euen in that time and in that place this Pope from the top of the Church by a ſtone p. 20did minde to murder him, and for that purpoſe had hyred a young Nouice to do the feyt, but while hee was tempering his ſtone, by the waight of it the bord brake, & he with his ſtone, fel downe to the ground & was bruſed & daſhed in peeces. The citizens of Rome worthily incenſed at it, cauſed his foote to bee tied with a rope, & to be drawn through the ſtreets of the city for the ſpace of three daies. Thus the Pope was diſappointed, and his conduict and hyred man condignely puniſhed, and the Emperour by God his prouidence mightily preſerued. This practiſe of theirs is principally wrought by themſelues, as you hauehave heard, and ſometimes by others their deputies, by ſword,A double practiſe of Pope… by themſelues and their Agents. Jn Philog. l…b. 28. dag, dagger, poyſon and ſo forth. For the Pope hath his Popelings and Paraſites more than euer had Gnato in his ſchoole of Flattery: very like thoſe clawebackes of whom R. Volaterrane reporteth to be among Sontiates a people of France, whoſe king hath flatterers, called by them in french Silodures, by the Graecians Euolimi (or rather by tranſpoſition of letters, Euomili (ſweet-tounged men, or fair-ſpoken men, who alwaies cleaue to him, hang on him, follow him whitherſoeuer he goeth, do as he doth, whether he laugh or weep, apiſhly faſhioning whatſoeuer he delighteth in: if he lie, they lie, or if he dy, they dy p. 21with him. Euen ſo the Popes adherentes and Silodures are at his beck, to go, to run, to flee, to execute al his commaundements vponupon any Prince in the world, in ſuch ſort as he preſcribeth. I told you of Gregories ſlattering factour, that brake his neck for his labour.A Nou… the Pope… factour. King Iohn by the Pope was excommunicated, and releaſed vponupon this condition, that hee and his ſucceſſours the Kings of England ſhould acknowledge themſelues tributaries to the Biſhop of Rome, but afterward he was poiſoned with confected wine in the Abby of Swinſheade by a Monke,A Monke. who periſhed with the King. Henrie the Emperour, the ſeuenth of that name, or rather the ſixt as I take it,Carion. l. 3. was poyſoned by Paulinus a Friar,A Friar. corrupted by money, Denarijs & pluribus florenis, at the receiuing of the Sacrament, of whom thus it is written in certaine auncient rithmes,

Sic Satanae Archangelus

Tranſformat ſe ſicut AngelusJn lib. Poemat.

Infector luculentus

Poſt vitae alimoniam

Dat mortis acrimoniam

Amicus fraudulentus.

The ſame Henrie the ſixt was called Lucemburgenſis by Raph. Volaterrane, In Anthropolog. l. 23.and by Baptiſt Ignatius, Lucelburgenſis, mentioning alſo of his poiſoning in the Euchariſt.

p. 22An other inſtrument was of late our Cardinal Pole the Popes penne-man,A Cardinal. who in his booke for the Supremacy of his great maſter the Byſhop of Rome incited Charles the Emperour then preparing againſt the Turke, to bende his force againſt his owne country of England, and againſt his ſoueraigne Lorde King Henry the eight, a Prince indeede of famous memory, but by the opinion of Pole woorſe then the Turke: for theſe be his words: In Anglia sparſum nunc eſt hoc ſemen, vt vix à Turcico inter noſci queat, id que anthoritate vnius coaluit: Terming the good ſeed of Gods word ſowen by the appointment of God,Mat. 13.Matt 13 and ſpreade by Authority of the King in England, to bee but a Turkiſh ſeede, and worſe then that, for that the Turke doth compell no man, as King Henry did, when he commanded his ſubiects to renounce ſubiection to the Pope, & to yeeld it to their owne natural Prince. I neede not ſpeake of late hyrelings againſt the Prince of Orenge, nor of the latter Mercenary men againſt our dread ſoueraigne Queene Elizabeth by Pius Quintus and his ſucceſſours:Parrie and other hyrelings againſt Q. Elizabeth. and al is, as they bear men in hand, for the Religion of the Catholick Church. Such a Catholicke faith muſt be maintained by ſuch Catholicke meanes, namely by open rebellions, priuie practiſes in a Catholicke and vniuerſall p. 23manner, that is by all vnlawfull meanes.

A peece & a part of this religion is a Vow, not of forced chaſtity, but of voluntary cruelty, which the Pope giueth preſumptuouſly, and the Popelings take fooliſhly. Such there hauehave beene, and ſuch are among vsus, whome Ambroſe reprooueth: Saepe pleri que conſtringun… ſeipſos iuriſiurandi ſacramento &c. Off…. lib. …. cap. 13. Religious votaries againſt Princes. Can. 22. quaeſt. 4.…. inter cae….Oftentimes the moſt part of men bind themſelues with an oth, and when they themſelues knowe that it ſhould not hauehave been promiſed, yet they doe it in reſpect of their oth. Is not their owne Law contrary to this? Is not there forbidden eueryevery oth that is the hande of iniquity? And is it not an vniuſt band when wee ſweare the ſpoile of Princely blood? No man liketh the vow that Iepthe made & ſeemed to keepe for the ſlaughter of his owne Daughter.Iud. 11.Judg 11 Dura promiſſio, acerbior ſolutio, as Ambroſe thinketh.Lib. 3. c. 13. No wiſe man wil allowe the raſh vowe perfourmed by Herode for the beheading of Iohn Baptiſt at the motiue of a dauncing damſel the Daughter of Herodias: Matth. 14.Matt 14neither yet the vowe of the Iewes, Act. 23.Acts 23who ſwore they would neither eat nor drinke til they had killed Paul. And why ſhall our men bind themſelues by a cruel oath, and make a cōſcience in obſeruing it?Ex Hid…r… in Syno…. In the ſame Popiſh decrees it is called a wicked promiſe, which is fulfilled wickedly, and in a Councel p. 24we are taught,… …onſil. …ibert. that an vnaduiſed determination may lawfully and laudably bee broken, neither is it a tranſgreſſion, but a correction of raſhneſſe. If any vow hauehave beene made among our countrymen, you ſee it ought in no wiſe to be ſtoode too, and I deſire them ſo to thinke and doe. For ſo thought Dauid when he ſware by God to kill that great foole Nabal: yet Enſem in vaginám reuocauit, hee put by his ſworde in the ſheath, at the requeſt of Abigael, and was not ſory for that periury, as it is wel applied by Beda. Hom. 44.Euē as the ſame Ambroſe exhorteth that a mā ſhal promiſe no vnhoneſt thing,Libro Offic. 3. cap. 13. or if hee hath promiſed, it is more tolerable not to keep promiſe then to do that, that is vnhoneſt. Which ſentences euen the Popes Lawe reciteth,C. 22. Q. 4. but falſly cites the firſt booke for the third.

But if any Papiſt either of ſcruple in mind & conſcience, either of good nature, or rather grace of God cannot be induced to communicate with ſuch traiterous enterpriſes, alleadging their duty & former oth made to Princes in the league of aſſociation & otherwiſe: thē the Pope hath this religiō & omnipotency, that he can & wil diſpēſe w^t any oth.Plat. Adrian the Pope the fourth of that name excōmunicated Williā King of Sicily, and aſſoiled al thoſe that were ſubiect to his gouernmēt frō the oth of obedience, p. 25that they might, being freed frō that, the ſooner reuolt frō him. Pope Innocent the 3. Cuſpini. in Frideric. 1.in a coūcel at Lions for hatred he bare againſt Frederik the 2. depriued him of al Imperiall dignity, & gaue an abſolutiō to y^e Princes frō y^e oth of fidelity, exhorting thē to chuſe another: & al this is catholick and current religion, & at Rome is auouched good doctrine from Peter and Paul the Patrones of that Church. O bleſſed Saint Peter, ſaieth Gregory the ſeuenth, I depoſe Henry the fourth from al Imperial and regal authority, Plat in vita Gregor.who hath lifted vp his hande too boldly and raſhly againſt thy Church, and I doe releaſe his loial leige people of their oth. You hauehave heard of Thomas Becket our countryman a man like Mercury in Ariſtophanes, In Plutoa man of all artes and occupations, a courtiar, a clerk, an Arch-Biſhop, by his hair cloth a Monk, by his inwardeſt garmēt nigheſt to his ſkin an Heremite, a man that firſt ſware the oth of fidelity to Henry the ſecōd, & the ſame man was the firſt that brake it by a diſpenſation of Alexander the Pope ad ſoluendam, I… Thomae Beckes.quàm ad confirmandam fidem promptior, a better Schoolemaſter of periury, then of obedience: and this prodition was ſuch a religion, that by the Monkes of Caunterbury it was praiſed and approued. This is a right Supremacy, to doe and vndo what p. 26he liſteth: this is the pride and the cruelty of the Romiſh Abiſhai againſt the Lordes annointed, not fearing to violate the maieſty of Princes, to breake oathes, to teach diſobedience, and wilful periuries, and al this hee may doe abſolutely by his new religion, and large commiſſion.

You vnderſtand by the premiſſes the effect of the firſt part, & the meaning of the firſt perſō Abiſhai: al tending to the death of the Lordes annointed. You vnderſtand the predeceſſours and ſucceſſours of Abiſhai in number to bee many, in maner of attempting to be violent & fierce, or elſe hypocriticall and flattering, and the cauſes mouing them to be either couetouſnes catching, either ambition aſpiring, eyther enuy maligning, either religiō pretenſed, or ſome ſuch like. As I reported before in the beginning out of Bernard to the Romans, ſo in the concluſion out of the ſame Epiſtle, I ſpeak to the Romaniſts: You fooliſh Romaniſts, Epiſt. 242.doe you neither iudge nor diſcern that which is honeſt? Doe you diſgrace and diſhonor as much as in you is your owne head, and the head of vsus al, for whome you ought not to ſpare your own necks, if need ſhould require?

I end with this good note of the ſaide Bernard. I knewe once (ſaith hee) in Babylon at p. 27the voice of one young man, that al the people which were deceiued by the vniuſt Seniors of the city to condemne Suſanna, did returne to Iudgement, and reuerſe it, and ſo that innocent bloud was ſaued that daie. I pray God, that you of whom I conceiue well, and others who may be ſuſpected elſewhere, may harken with indifferent eares, if not at the voice of Daniel, yet at our dayly motion, that you wil auoide the deuiſe of Abiſhai, that you wil not be ſeduced by the falſe ould iudges of Iſrael, that you wil not condemne our Suſanna raſhly and without al cauſe, but abhor al wicked conſpiracies, mutinies, practiſes, againſt her Maieſty, whom the Lorde preſerue many years among vsus, that ſhe may attaine that happines which wiſe Thales ſpake of, Principis faelicitas, vt ſenex ſecundum naturā in ſuo lectulo moriatur: this God grant,Raph. Vola… in Philol. 30. that ſhe may hauehave that felicity of a Prince, to dy according to nature in her bed an old Mother in our Iſrael, and after liue and raigne eternally with him, to whom I commit you, and to him be al honor and praiſe, world without end. Amen.