The Bee Hive of the Romish Church, Part 2 · Preface · Chapter 10
The x. Chapter. VVhichWhich doth treat of the Supremasie of the Pope, and proueth & establisheth the same by scriptures & examples.
The Popes power.NOw as touching that which is to be said for the supremasie, and authoritie of the Pope, that is to bee proued by so many clere & strong testimonies & witnesses of scripture, that I can scarse tell where it is best to begin. But I may take first the best knowne and plainest text, where Christ said:Math. 16.18. I say vntounto thee, that thou art Peter, and vponupon this Petra, (which is to say a stone, or a rocke) will I build my congregation, and the gates of hell shal not preuaile against them, &c. For by these fewe wordes, to begin withall,Cap. ita dominus dist. 29. capit-omnes. dist. 2…. capit. non t…rba…. 24. Quae▪ … & in the I. decree. in the beginning of Clemen…s Epist. it is witnessed (after the spiritual expositiō of the holy church) that Peter is the firme and seedfast foundation of the Church (for she hath nothing to do with Christ in this matter:) as Clemens hath verie worthily set forth in his Epistle written to Iames the brother of our Lorde. And againe, here is not to be vnderstood by Peter, the person of Peter the Apostle: but in the name of Peter, are our holy Fathers (the Popes) pointed vntounto, as with a wette finger. For whereas the heretikes will say, that Peter was neuer at Rome, it is a stark lie. See I pray you their follie: well, his head & bones lie there yet at this present in a golden chest. And yet besides that,S Peters historie of Rome not only his Legend, but likewise that holy man Lippomanus, & the booke called Speculū historiale, that is, The Mirror of histories made by Vincentius Lirinensis, do perfectly set forth,Capit. Quamuis. 21. dist. capit. sacrosanct. d…st. 22. cap. beati. 2. Quae. 7. capit. Fundamenta de electione & electi potestate. That Iesu Christ met him with out the town gates of Rome. And being demanded by Peter whether he was going? He answered, I am going to Rome to be there crucified againe: and a while after was Peter crucified, and that vponupon the same day, & place, & vnderunder the same tyrant that Paule, iust a yeare before, was put to death: yea, after that he himselfe had bene Pope, and gouerned that sea 25. yeares, by the same token that his seate which was hewed out of a Purphyre stone, and the Albe wherein hee song his first Masse, do both remaine yet for a memoriall. And although Saint Luke doe testifie,Read the Actes of the Apostles where is treated of Cornelius the captaine of the councell at Hierusalē, of Peters imprisonment, and in many other places. that hee continued verie long at Hierusalem: yea, and that in the verie same time that hee shoulde hauehave bene in Rome, by the reckoning and calculation of our deare mother the holie Church of Rome: and that Paul doth seeme to agree with the same, where he writeth, that the time that he lay in prison in Rome, there was not one of the faithfull that did visite or assist him: I leaue to say, that Peter shoulde then hauehave beene Pope: but all this cannot persuade vsus. For that is to bee answered, that Saint Luke might be ouerseene in his writing, and I thinke he was no good Arithmetician: or else we may say (as diuers Lutherans them selues confesse,) that one bodie may bee in two, or three, or mo sundrie places, at one time. And touching that, he had perhappes forgotten that Peter was Pope of Rome: as is apparant by that he writeth to the Galathians, where he saieth,Gal. 10.2.7.8. That Peter was appointed for an apostle to the Iewes, and he himselfe to the Gentiles. Or else it may well be answered, that it was not decent for Peter, beeing a Prince and Duke ouer all the Apostles, to go seeke or visite such a simple fellow as Paule was, lying in prison:Gregorie. 7. Considering how that Pope Gregorie the 7. successour, about the yeare one thousand and seuentie,Themperour Henrie the .4. This doth Platina write, Ben…o Cardinalis, & other Historiographers. did suffer the noble Emperour Henrie 4. who came in the colde winter, simply clad, bare headed, and barefoote, most humblie desiring to hauehave accesse to his holinesse, beeing then in the towne of Camisen, his holinesse did (as is before said) suffer him to tarie before the gates of the towne, three daies, without once looking vponupon him, or sending to him. I let alone that he would once step a foote to go meete him,This do all the Catholike doctours write, & many old histories, which yet notwithstāding do not agree among them selues, so that there may be false heades amongest them as it seemeth. being in the meane space passing his time & dallying with his Curtesans, and with the Dutchesse Matildis, who yet at last did make intercession for the Emperour. Wherefore, is it not to bee thought then, that Peter did likewise stand vponupon his grauitie and reputation, without much going to the prison, to seeke Paule, or visite him? Especially considering, howe busie he was to appoint and set new Prelates in euerie place. For it might perhaps be, that Peter was not verie well at ease, or diuerse other occasions might cause it. But this is alway to be beleeued, and holden for a verie truth, That Peter was fiue & twentie yeres complete, resident at Rome, and distributed the landes to euerie one, according as he thought good: & likewise ordeined and instituted Prelats, This is set foorth in the .2. decretall Epistle of Anacletus written touching the ordeining of bishops and Archbishops. In the first booke of the councell capit. Prouince ▪ dis. 39 This witnessing of Dauid in the 98. Psal. is brought in in the .3. Epistle of Anaclet. treating of the Patriarchs, & in the decrees. capit. sacrosancta dist. 21. Mat. 12.1. Mark. 9.53. Luk. 9.46.Bishops, and Archbishops, ouer all the world, and deposed the heathē gouernors, which at that time bare rule, out of their places, & placed other in their roomes, which hee did name Primates, for that euerie man came to rece…ue iudgment at their hands as is very finely and at large set out in the epistle of Anacletus, and in the booke of decrees. And that this is wel founded vponupon scripture, it is apparant by the wordes of the saide Anacletus, who doth bring in (for verefying of his saying) plaine textes out of the Psalmes, to witte, Moses and Aaron with their Priestes. For out of that is forceablie concluded (as hee saieth) that the Pope of Rome is the head of the Church. Is not that well shot, God saue the marke. Also the holie Apostles (saieth hee) did debate and determine amongest themselues (as I thinke at that time, when they did striue who should be chiefe amongst them) that the Bishop of euerie Countrie shoulde knowe, who should bee next vnderunder him: for notwithstanding, that they were all Apostles alike, yet did Christ giuegive that vauntage to Peter, that he shoulde bee chiefe of the Apostles, and so named him Cephas, How Christ wil led his apostles to vse thēselues in bearing rule one ouer another: You shall find in Luk. 22 25.26. Mat. 20.25.26. Mar. 10.42.45. Iohn. 1.42.that is to say, The chiefe head or Prince of the Apostles. See now, this is the exposition of our deare mother the holie Church of Rome, vponupon these woordes of Christ: Thou art Cephas. And yet it is true, that Cephas is a worde of the Chaldee tongue, and doth not signifie A heade, but A stone: as Petra doth in the Greeke, or Latin: for so S. Iohn the Euangelist him selfe doeth expounde it. But notwithstanding that, seeing it hath pleased our deare mother the holie Church of Rome, to vnderstand it so, considering that this worde Cephas, or Cepha, doeth signifie in the Chaldee tongue, A stone, & the like worde in maner, in the Greeke, and in the French tongue, doth signifie A head, as to wit, Cephali, or Cheff, therfore it is good reson that we take the exposition of Iohn as literall, & repose our selues vponupon the exposition of our deare mother the holie Church: who onelyonly in deede, hath the power and authoritie, to interprete the Scripture spiritually, and allegorically.Glosse. in capite antiquorum. ext. de poenitentia & remissionibus. So that this worde Cephas, must needes signifie A head, and not A stone: as is plaine to be seene in the glosse of the Decretals.
And out of this we hauehave to note two principall pointes. The first is, that the holie Church hath such power and authoritie, that she can (not onelyonly) chaunge the bread into flesh, but is able to make of a stone a head, & as well transubstantiate the wordes as the bread. The second is, that a man may make a good similitude or parable, vponupon the neerenesse of names in speache, which in pronuntiation doe sound one like another, as the holie Church hath concluded herevpon,S. Clara. S. Quintine. S. Valentine. S. Etro…ius. That Saint Clare can make dimme eyes looke clere: S. Quintine, can heale the quensie in the head: and S. Valentine, the falling sicknesse: and S. Etropius, the dropsie: because these names in pronuntiation do sound one like another. And yet this can not alway fall out so: for then might the Heretikes conclude out of the same, that Curats, are curres: the Spiritualtie, spite faultie: Bishops, verie bitesheepes: Cardinals, carnals: and that maister Gentianus after the French, is vn genti asne, that is, a proper asse: and Blindasinus, a blinde asse. Which thing nowe can not bee so, considering that asses are not accustomed to write bookes, as these men hauehave done. Therefore wee must remitte the iudgement of these matters (in like cases and nerenesse of names) to the holie Church, when they shall be so vnderstoode, and when they shall …ot be so taken. Now doeth our deare mother the holie Church, inioy d…uerse other goodly and plaine Scriptures, wherewith …o prop vp, and make fast the seate of our hol…e father the Pope: as specially, where it is written:Iob. 4.34.5.30 Esaias. 10.15. Which testimonie was alleged by Pope Nicholas, verba…m, vntounto this purpose, in an Ep…stle by him writtē that was s…nt to the bish. of Constan. and … is likewise in the decree… cap. Infer…or sedes. dist. 1.21. That Christ came to fulfill the will of his father. For of that must needes follow, That all good Christen men are bound to fulfil the will of their holie mother the Church of Rome, of which church the Pope (without all doubt) is the supreme heade. And againe, God speaketh by the mouth of his Prophete Esaias: But doth the axe boast it selfe against him that heweth therewith? Or doeth the sawe make anie bragging against him that ruleth it? Signifying thereby, that the king of the Assyrians had no power against the almightie God, who woulde vse him as an axe, or a sawe, to punish and correct his people by him. Out of this hath our mother the holy Church of Rome concluded, and (as she saith) made it appeare clearer than the Sunne, that there is no power nor authoritie in this worlde, but in the power of the holy sea & pope of Rome, to correct or punish the same. And this shee doeth establish yet more strongly, by the wordes of Paule, who saith: That the naturall man cannot conceiue nor vnderstand Gods doings: but the spirituall man doth vnderstand & rule all things, but may not be ruled of any man. For this doth the holie Church vnderstand by the pope of Rome,Boniface. 18. in the Extrauagantes, trac…. de maioritate & obedientia ff. quod etiam Gen. 2.1.1. that he is of himselfe so spiritual and ghostly, that no man may nor can iudge nor punish him. Now further, his power is established in the first booke of Moses called Genesis, where it is written, That God in the beginning did shape both heauen and earth. For now, that is as much to say (after the exposition of the holie Church of Rome) that the Pope is the beginning of all things. Considering there is no mention made but of one beginning. It is not said: In the beginning, This doth the Pope Boniface the .8. write in his Extrauag, Tractat. de maiorita…e & obedientia. ff. in hac eiusdem.as of mo or manie beginnings: and therefore whosoeuer should compare the Emperour to be as good as the Pope, he is a rank heretike & of the sect of the Manichees, who saide, There was mo beginnings of all things than one. What thinke you now of this? Is not this a good bagpipe to play a galiard vponupon? But now, tarie yet a little, it is likewise writen,Two greate lightes. That God did shape two great lightes, a greater and a lesser: which do signifie (after the interpretation of the holy Church) that the pope of Rome is aboue all other Potentates, & aboue the Emperour: for he is the Sunne, & the Emperour is the Moone. Whereby nowe is clearely to be seene, that Moses had a foreknowlege of the pope & his authoritie. And Iob must needes hauehave had some feeling of his cōming. For thus God said vntounto Iob:Iob. 38.33. This interpretation with the other two following are worthily written in the glosse of the decretals in the Cap antiquorum ext. de poenitentia & r… mi…sionibus. Knowest thou (I pray thee) how the heauens are gouerned? Or canst thou rule him vponupon earth? That is (after the interpretation of the holy Church) That euen as in the heauen one eternall God doth gouerne all things, and as the holy Trinitie is brought to one onelie vnitie: The like consequence must fall out here vponupon earth. So that here the Pope onelyonly must hauehave dominion ouer all estates, dukedomes, The Pope aboue all kings.kingdomes, & other whatsoeuer, in consideration that hee is the onelyonly line, leuell, and compasse, whereby all other people are and ought to be directed. And in consideration hereof is the prophesie of Paul thus vnderstood, saying: Vntil the fulnes of the Gentils be come, Ro. 11.25.26.and then shall all Israel be saued: ioining this, with that which Christ said: So that there shalbe but one flock, Iohn. 10.16.& one sheepheard: as to vnderstand, When all the nations vponupon earth, shall be subiect to the Pope. Like as now in our daies we hauehave seene a good beginning, & do daily see with our eyes very great apperāce of more. And that the Pope ought not only to hauehave a spirituall gouernment as a Bishop: but must likewise maintein a worldly gouernment, as a king, is by clere testimonie of Scripture of our deare mother the holy Church approued.The Pope is a king. For there is without doubt, a plaine text,This you shall find in the text before alleged of the decretals. ff. in hac ext. de maioritate & obedientia. that the Apostles did say: Behold here are two swordes. Wherevnto Christ answered not, saying: That it was too manie, but that, that was inough. Now out of this doth our deare mother cō clude, That the Pope of Rome must vse two swordes, to wit, a spirituall, & a temporall sword. Ho ball, ho how will this sound in the eares of the Heretikes?
But now must they vnderstand for a speciall matter, that a good while ago there was in Spaine an honest man, who coulde not vnderstand it so, saying that this scripture did serue nothing at al to that purpose. And by and by, the holy inquisition (which is the dearest and chiefest nourse & fosterfather of the Church of Rome) did take him, and burne him at a stake, as one which had highly blasphemed: because that vponupon his opinion should follow, that the holy church hath not full power to interprete the scripture as she will: which I assure you is a terrible slaunder.
Therefore hauehave these heretikes need to looke well to the matter, & kepe their tongues, & giuegive eare to other testimonies and witnesses. For yet besides this, Christ said to Peter: Put vp thy sword into the sheth. In the extrauagants de maiori. & obedi. and is likewise so concluded in the councell of Reines.Out of those words doth plainly appeare (as our holy father Bonifacius the 8. saith) That both the swordes, as well the temporall, as the spirituall, are vnderunder the power and iurisdiction of the Church, Yea, and it is verie necessarie, that the one sword be subiect to the other: which is to be vnderstood, That the temporal iurisdiction and authoritie must be subiect to the spirituall & ecclesiasticall power and authoritie. For (according to the saying of S. Paule) There is no power or authoritie, but that which is appointed by God. Truely (saith he) there would be no good regiment, if the one sword were not subiect to the other: and that the lower and inferiour were (by some good meanes) brought in subiection and obedience to the higher and superior. Consider, this is the onelyonly naturall and grounded interpretation of the before alledged text of the holie Scripture, as our deare mother the holy Church hath interpreted the same, word by word. Is not this Popingaie then trimly shot downe? Lee these Huguenots, and Lutherans come out now, who crie alway that we cannot establish the power & authoritie of the Pope by anie scriptures: now they may see, that we hauehave scriptures …now to hit the marke withall.
But now will we teach out of the scriptures, That the Pope only hath power to consecrate and halow Churches, & to blesse altars.For blessing and hallowing of Churches and altars. Psal. 127.5. Durandus in the booke called …ationale diui. offici▪ lib. 1. rubr. 7. de dedicatione Ecclesiae. Iohn. 15.1. Marke well the wordes plainly set out in the Psalms, where it is written, Except the Lord build the house, their labour is but lost that build it. For this is the verie text, that the holy fathers assembled at the coūcell of Carthage, were chiefly perswaded by to giuegive speciall commandement, That no cōmon or simple Priest shoulde take vponupon him to doe any such thing. Was not that (I pray you) a matter of importance to consult vponupon? And yet besides this, it is there written: I am the vine, you are the branches▪ he that remains in me & I in him, shall bring forth much fruit, which the holy Church vnderstanding of the pope, hath resolutely cōcluded, That no man may consecrate or hallow any Church, but he alone. Think you not that they had great reason so to do? And therefore no doubt, they are herein verie well founded, and vpō great reason persuaded out of this, and all the other texts before alledged▪ to conclude, teach, and determine thus, aGlosse in the Extrauagantes de verbor. signifi. ad apostol. ff. nos li. 6. de sent. & … iudicata. Item read herevpon the plain texts in the decretals cap. Quando personam de transl. episcop. and the glosse in the decretal. lib 1. de electione, & electi potestate. and alledge vpō that cap. quos deus. 3.9.2.That the Pope is not onelyonly a man, but Gods Lieftenant: yea, a God himselfe vponupon earth: by which occasion hee doeth likewise bGlosse vponupon the Preface of the decretals, onelyonly in the 6. booke.chaunge his name, at suche time as hee is promoted to the Popes seate, specially, for that hee doeth likewise after his nature, and from the degree of a man, is become halfe a God.
And vponupon this consideration cCap. Sic omn…s dist. 19.must his mandates be obserued, as Gods commaundements. Yea, it is not dcap▪ si qu…s sua den…e. 17.13.4lawfull for anie man to doubt, or to reason vponupon his title & authoritie. For hee may (if it so come in his head) eCap. Praeceptis dist 12.set vp and establish a newe seruing of God, or religion: and all men must (of necessitie) fCap▪ in memoriam. dist. 19.folow his commandements, how heauie or incomportable so euer they be. For he can (of an gCap. Fuit semper. 9.9.3. & cap. Euphemium 23.9.3.arrant knaue) make an honest man: hCap. si Papa & ibi glossa dist. 40 cap paret. cap. nemo iudicabit. cap. aliorum. cap. …acta. cap. cuius & per mundū with the other chapters folowing 9. causa quaest. 1.neither may hee by anie man be iudged or punished: no not although he runne headlong to bel, and carie a great companie with him, seeing it is he that iudgeth all men by his absolute power. Yea, th…re is giuen to him, iCap. omnes. dist. 22. cap. non no…. dist. 40. & the glosse in Extrauagants. cap. 1 de rel. ordin. Papa S…machus, & Arnold…s Ba…barus. glos. in. Extrau. ad aposto…. de Pa. dist 3. … persona.a full power & authoritie, as well in heauen as in earth: and he must be of all men esteemed holie: yea, although hee were knowne to be an arrant knaue, & vile varlet: neither may anie man say vntounto him, Wherefore do ye so, or so?
And therfore the holy Church doth aExtra de maioritate & obedientia paragrap. porto. Read likewise vponupon all these matters …ostensis a noble Canonist in summa titu. de off…cio legati ff. quod pertinet ad officium. nu. 3. & is likewise spoken by Nicholas Go…tiu… in his treatise de potestate legati a la…re Nu. 23. and 24.say, declare, & pronounce, That it is most nedfull that all Christen men (for their saluation sake) submit them selues wholie vnderunder the Pope of Rome, as it is written in the aIohn 1.18.first of Iohn: And of his fulnesse hauehave we all receiued euē grace for grace. Which being vnderstood, according to the letter, may wel be applied to Christ: but after the spiritual vnderstāding, which is according to the interpretation of the bExtr. de vsu pallii, ad h…norem. Esa…e. 10.14.holie Church, and of the Catholike Doctours, it is (without doubte) to bee vnderstoode of the Pope of Rome. And therefore doeth cCap aliorum hominum, Can. 9 quaest. 3.Esaias say: What will ye doe in the day of the visitation and destruction, which shall come from farre? To whom will ye runne for helpe? dTroilus Maluit…u… in his treatie de Canoni …atione Sanctorum, in 3. dubio.Or to whom will yee giuegive your honour, that he may keepe it? This is nowe to be vnderstoode (after the interpretation of the holie Church) eThis standeth written in a maner verbatim in the booke called Ceremoniale S. Roman. eccle. in the 2. Chap. of the 1. booke.That the Pope of Rome is all our honour and wealth. For howe can it be otherwise vnderstoode? Considering that hee hath the power to choose anie man or woman whō he liketh of, and him or her, in the name of God, or in his owne name: yea, and that without the will or consent of his Cardinals, declare, pronounce and iudge for a Saint, canonize them, put them in the Kalendar, place them in the register of Saintes: and so appoint them a roome in the Romish Hierarchie, either amongst Angels and Archangels, or else amongst Martyrs & Confessours,Hierarchie is to say, an holie regiment, & was called Dionysicall: by one called Dionysius, who said that the Rom…she Church was Areopagi…: wher of Luke doeth speake in the Act of the Apostles: other say that it was S.D…onyse of Paris, other take it but for a feined name, and a false booke which is put out in his name, where he doeth set forthe the heauenlie He…archie, or regiment, with all the Chores of Angels, with all the stooles and banks, so perfectly as though he had dwelt there ten yeares. Or men may vnderstand by this Dionyso Hierarchie, the holi… regiment that Dionysius companions, that is Bacchus companions doe keepe vponupon the Saintes holidaies, which the Pope hath canonized, as on twelfth eeuen, S. Martins eeuen, and such like. as he shall thinke good: willing and commaunding, That in euerie Church, one holie day shal be kept for them, and deuoute seruice said and done that day, as to an holie Saint is proper & apperteining: yea, and further, giuegive and graunt to all such as shall once a yeere (being shriuen and doing penance) goe on pilgrimage, & visite the tumbe of such a newe Saint, pardon of all their sinnes, for one whole yeere and fourtie dayes. Yea, moreouer, he may (if it be his pleasure) depose, deface, and blotte out of the Kalendar, and register, such as hauehave bene a long time canonized and worshipped: as did appeare by Pope Boniface the 8. who caused Saint Herman of Ferrare, to bee digged out of his graue and burnt, after he had bene taken and esteemed for a Saint more than twentie yeeres. And that which is more, wee finde written, That Pope Clement the fift (about the yeere of our Lorde, 1309.) did charge and commaunde the Angels, through his Popish authoritie & power, that they should take the soules of all such, as comming in pilgrimage towardes Rome, did die by the way, and forthwith carie them into heauen without anie delay or tarrying, or without letting them once smell the fire of Purgatorie: as appeareth by his Bulles herevpon granted and made: whereof diuerse copies doe (at this day) lie at Vienne, at Limoges, and at Poytiers, townes in France, in the chestes where the priuiledges of the same Townes are kept. Wherefore then I pray you) should not wee willinglie accept him for all our wealth and honour, seeing hee can canonize, make, and vnmake hee Saintes and shee Saintes: and hath likewise power ouer the Angels of heauen? I doe not speake of this, that hee, as a King and Priest, can make God: yea, and create him, who onelie createth all thinges,Reade the 1. chap. of the 2. parte. as it is written in the booke called, Stella Clericorum, which is to say, The starre of the Clerkes, That is to say the creatour of the creator of all thinges. 2. Thes. 2.4. Daniel. 11.36 These prophesies of Daniel Paule E…erardus Archbishop of Saliburch hath interpreted vponupon the Pope of Rome, like as is too bee seene in the booke called Annales Au…ntini Lib. 7. And so likewise the Emperoure Frederike 2. hath done the like, & set it forth so, euen in the same place. And Arnoldus, Bishop of O…lians did the like in the councell of Rein…. Read Cap. lect. with the glosse dist. 34. & 17. And the same is fortified by Sigismund, Neap.or Priestes: wherein all Priestes are named, Creatores Creatoris. And nowe, he maketh all Priestes: so that he may iustly bee called, Creator creatorum creatoris: that is to say, The Creatour of those which hauehave shapen and created the verie Creatour of all things. So that the writing of Paul to the Thessalonians, where hee speaketh of the Pope of Rome is not amisse: where he saith, That he shal extoll and aduance him selfe aboue all things that is named God, or Gods seruice, and shall sit in the temple of God, as though he were God him selfe, and proclame: him selfe for God. Which thing also was before spoken by the Prophete Daniel, That hee should lift and set vp him selfe aboue all Godhead, and should speake maruelous things against God, and do euerie thing after his owne lust: placing him selfe aboue all things in the worlde: distributing landes and kingdomes, euen as hee best list and will. Nowe, according to this prophesie, hath our deare mother the holie Church ordeined and concluded, That hee hath full power and authoritie to doe what soeuer his will and pleasure is, and that he may dispense both with the old and newe Testament: with anie othe, Read the glosse vponupon the first book of the decretals Gregorii tit. de translatio. Episcopi, Cap. quanto pe…so… there you sh…ll finde the place set forth and established by witnesses of the decrees. Item the glosse of the decrees caus. 15. que 1 And in the extrauag. Ioan. 23. tit. 14. cum inte. And Panormitan. writing vponupon the same place. Fo…nius Ga…ia in lib. 1. in P…in. 4. Col. de Pactis. Cu…tius senior ex Baldo, in Concil. 20. in sine. Ioan. de …. crema…a: Ca…ald…tius in tr…ctatu de potestate Papae. August. Berotus in Rubri. de off. de leg. num. 10. Bero. in cap. cum tu, in …um. 1. de Vsuris. Decius & Ludonicus Gomesius vponupon many places.vowe, or promise.
In summe, hee is ouer and aboue all iudgementes, of God or man, to make of nothing something, of streight crooked, and of crooked streight, to transubstantiate and chaunge the forme and substance of things, euen as it shall come in his head: For vntounto him are all lawes & iudgements subiect, and neither anie lawe nor iudgement hath power or iurisdiction ouer him: for that he is the liuelie f…unteine of lawe and iudgement, who (as touching matters of our faith) can not (in anie point) faile or misse: and therefore hee may order and determine vponupon all matters touching our beleefe and faith, and so interprete the Scripture, as he thinketh good: he onelie may take and leaue, doe and vndoe. In so much that (though all the worlde were against him) yet must we take his part. To be briefe, there is no man to bee compared vntounto him, but God alone: and therefore can he do all things that God doth. For looke what soeuer God doeth in heauen, the like doth the Pope here in earth.Zodericus Zamorensis in speculo humanae vitae, lib. 2 cap. s. Barto. Chassan. in catalogo gloriae mundi in 4. parte. in 7. consideratio. Antonius Florentinus in his Summa. What should a man say more? His authoritie and power is so great, that no tongue can expresse it, neither is it possible for the capacitie of man to conceiue it: as Zodoricus Zamorensis and Bartholus Chassaneus, yea the whole Catholike church of Rome hath determined and concluded. For as Antonius Florentinus doth testifie, he is aboue al creatures, and his might and power doeth extend euen to matters in heauen,Th…s doth Felinus witnesse in manie places. earth, and hell: for that he is the cause of causes, and the Lord of Lords, the Head & Bridegrome of the whole church: yea, the high and principall Gouernour of the worlde vniuersall:In cap. quoniam de vnitate ecclesia…um. 6. Iohannes de turre cre…m…t… in manie places. Antonius de Ro…ellis, Corsecus. Sicalus in tracta de regia poteliat…. he is the light, the brightnesse, & the verie foundation of faith, and the verie summe and touchstone of the trueth: hee is the hiest step of the staires, and all in all, whatsoeuer can be thought or said. For as touching the giuing and distributing of Kingdomes, Dukedomes, lands and countries, to whom, & when he shall think good: that office he hath fast & sure in possession, and doth dailie practise & put the same in exercise: as is right to bee vnderstood by this pretie verse folowing: Petra dedit Petro, Petrus diadema Rodulpho.
That is to say:
The Rocke gaue Peter, and his race,
a princelie and emperiall crowne:
And Ralfe receiu'd from Peters Grace,
a royall diademe of renowne.
Which trimme verse was (by the before named Pope Gregorie 7.) (after that hee had excommunicated the saide Emperour Henrie 4. and cursed all his adherents) sent vntounto Ralphe the Duke of Swaben with am Imperiall crowne:Reade Benno th… Cardinall, Iohannes Marius, Ma…e histo…iarum, C…r…ni…a Sigeberti, Platina and othe… moe writers of Histories. aduertising him plainlie therewithall, that it lay wholie in his handes, to giuegive to whem soeuer it pleased him, as well the Empire, as the crowne: wherein hee did finelie prophesie in such order, as Caiphas the Iewish Pope had prophesied, saying: That hee would neuer be esteemed as Pope, if there did not die the same yeere before Whitsuntide a false or vniust King: For it came euen so to passe: Not that the Emperour Henrie (by whom hee spake) did die that yere: but that the lotte fell vponupon Ralphe, to whom the Pope had giuen the Imperiall crowne, who was the same yere pitifullie slaine, his hands first cut of, & he lamenting sore before the Bishops, That through informing of the Pope & their prouokings he had made him and his accursed, and rebelled against his owne lord and supreme head. Nowe a litle after this did succeede Pope Paschalis 2. who againe excommunicated afreshe the Emperour,Paschalis Pope. and commaunded the Earle of Flaunders, called Robert, The Popes letter to Robert the Earle of …landers, written in the 2 booke of councels folio 810.to destroy with fire and sword, the territories of Luek and Camericke, because that they would remaine true vntounto their naturall lord and Souereigne the Emperour Henrie. Yea, hee did giuegive the Imperiall crowne with all the iewels of the Empire to Henrie the 5. sonne vntounto the said Henrie the 4. Emperour: & herein preuailed so much, that he did prouoke the sonne to rebell and persecute his owne Lord and naturall father: yea, with such horrible and vnnaturall malice, that he let him (most pitifullie) starue in the prison at Luek: which happened in the yeere of our Lorde 1108. Neither would hee receiue the Lukeners to grace, til such time, as they had taken vppe the dead carcase of his father (which was by thē there buried) & cast the same out into the fields,Read the Chron…l… of Robert …rnes, Eus… ▪ and Nau…erus. like the carion of a dogge. And by that meanes the Lukeners were likewise discharged of the excommunication which Pope Paschalis had laid vponupon them.
Men may likewise verie well conceiue the same by the example of the Emperour Fredericke Barbarossa, Fredericus Barbarossa.who after a great manie of excommunications and curses, was in the ende within the towne of Venice vponupon the great market called Saint Markes place, Rede Iohn Charion in his Chronicle, and other writers of Chronicles.at the toppe of the staires of the great church or palace, troden vponupon the necke by Pope Alexander 3. euen with his feete: who, for the establishing of his authoritie and power, did vsurpe and openlie pronounce before al the people this saying in the Psalme:Psal. 91. Super Aspidem & Basiliscum equitabis, & cōculcabis Leonem & Draconem: that is to say, Thou shalt ride vponupon the Lion and the Adder: the yong Lion and the Dragon shalt thou treade vnderunder thy feete, &c.
And thus likewise was Franciscus Dandalius Duke of Venice, Franciscus Dandalius.excommunicated and banished by Pope Clement 5. and enioyned vntounto certei…e penance: which was, That he should goe creeping alongest the Popes palace, vponupon his handes & knees, with a collar about his necke like a dogge. So that it is apparant, that the Pope of Rome hath ful and absolute power ouer al Kings,Quaest. 45. and 46. whole through. Dukes, and Princes: and therefore may commaunde them, as his subiectes and tenantes: and may extoll or aduance, and disgrade or depose them, euen as he shall thinke good. Which authoritie of his doeth extende and reache so farre, that hee hath likewise full power, commaundement and iurisdiction ouer the Kings and Emperours of Turkie, and other Heathen countries. In so much that a man may lawfullie appeale vntounto him, (in anie matter) from before anie earthlie Prince or Potentate.Augustinus de Ancona in summa De Ecclesiastica potestat. quaest. 1 articulo 7. And more other canonists. Iacobus de Te…ano, chamberleine to Pope Vrbane 6. writeth this, In tractatu …, qui incipit: Reddi…e quae sunt Caesaris Caesari, &c. Matth. 22 21 Marc. 12.17. Luke. 20 25. In summe, hee hath vnderunder him the rule and gouernement of all Emperiall, Princelie, and Spirituall iuris…iction: for hee is consecrated as a Priest, and crowned as a King: and is therefore the King of Kings, and Lorde of Lordes.
For, as touching that which these Heretikes do alledge against this, That Christ should hauehave said: GiueGive vntounto Caesar that which is Caesars, and vntounto God that which to God belongeth, that (saieth our mother the holie church) was not a perpetuall rule, but stood in effect onlie for a short time, to wit, till such time as Christ had suffered, and was ascended vp into heauen. For now, to answere that, where hee saith: After that I shalbe lifted vp from the earth, I will drawe all things vp after me: that is thus to bee vnderstood, (saieth the holie church of Rome) That Christ after his ascension into heauen, should take al Kingdomes, Dukedomes, and such like out of the possession of Kings, Dukes, &c. and that by meanes of his souldiers, especiallie by his Romishe Apostles. And whereas in other places hee doeth forbid his Disciples to seeke after,Matth. 10.…. Marke. 6.8. Luk. 9 3.12.33. or to receiue golde or siluer, that must likewise be vnderstood, but till such time onelie, as they hauehave brought in subiection and vnderunder them all Kingdomes, and so to leaue the same by will and testament vntounto the Popes of Rome (their successours:This doeth Platina witnesse in the booke of the Popes where he doeth set …orth the life of Alexander the 3.) for then endeth that determination. And that was the cause why the Popes beganne to trauell with a deliberate intention, to make a diuision of the Imperiall crowne of Rome, who then had the East and West countrie of Greece, and almost the whole world in subiection: as Pope Alexander 3. did plainlie acknowledge vntounto the Embassadors of Emanuel Emperour of Graecia, declaring plainlie, That hee in no wise would hauehave the Empire of Graecia & the Empire of Rome vnited or ioyned together againe in one: which was done especiallie to the intent that hee might bee the better able to ouerrule them both.
Fredericke the 2. deposed by Gregorie the 9. in anno. 4.And out of that it doth likewise growe, that Gregorie the ninth, and Innocentius the fourth, Popes of Rome, did depose the Emperour Fredericke the second, and absolued his subiectes of their othe which they had taken and made vntounto him: and aboue that, did excommunicate and banishe all such his subiectes, as did remaine faithfull and true vntounto him. And furthermore, graunted great indulgence and pardon to such as would rebelliouslie rise vppe to destroy and confound them. And yet besides all this, after that hee (with the summe of an hundred and twentie thousand markes of golde in weight) had redeemed and set free him selfe out of the excommunication of the said Pope Gregorie, yet was hee (notwithstanding that) once againe accursed and banished.Nauclerus. In so much that Henrie Lantgraue of Thuringe was chosen Emperour: and after his death, (which was verie sudein) the Imperiall crowne was giuen to one William then Earle of Hollande: Emperour William countie of Holland slaine by the Freeses.who verie shortlie after that, was by the Freeses slaine. After whose death the Empire did remaine seuentene yeres complete without head or Emperour.
And yet I pray you, consider: Do wee not finde by all perfect histories, that Pope Vrbane the fourth,Vrbane. 4. did about the yeere of our Lorde 1264. violentlie dispossesse Conradinus sonne to Conrade, Conradinus king of Sicilia.then Emperour of the kingdome of Sicilia, notwithstanding the same, did by iust title of inheritance apperteine vntounto him, and gaue the same to Charles Earle of Angiou de Prouince, and brother to Lodo…ike King of Fraunce, and his successour Clement the fourth, did set the Crowne vponupon his head, with condition, that hee shoulde yeerelie pay to the Sea of Rome,Reade the Chronicles of Fraunce. fourtie thousand crownes of golde.
Nowe to deface that deede and intent, Pope Nicholas the third about the yeere of our Lorde 1268. caused Peter the King of Aragon, Pope Nicholas. 3who had maried the cousine germane of the said Conradinus to come out of Italie, to depriue the saide Charles of the same, and brought the matter so farre, that he tooke perforce the said kingdome of Sicilia, hauing first by a craftie practise (in one night) caused most cruellie to be murthered (by the Sicilians) all the French, Frenchmen murdered in the vespertina Siciliana.both men, women, and children, yong and olde, that were within the whole Island of Sicilia: by reason whereof, they vse yet at this day for a common by woorde, to call it, The Sicilian Euensong. And then after, to the contrarie of this,Martinus did curse and banish Peter King of Sicilia. his successour Pope Martin the fourth, did both banishe and curse the said Peter: and so not onelie committed the defence and custodie of the said kingdome of Sicilia vntounto Robert Earle of Artois, for and to the vse of the sonne of the said Charles, who was kept prisoner in the handes of his enimies: but did likewise take from him the kingdome of Arragon, which hee possessed and enioyed by patrimonie, and did giuegive the same kingdome of Arragon vntounto Charles, Earle of Valois, and sonne to Philippe the Frenche King.
And did not Pope Bonifacius the eight in like manner curse Philippe the French King, and gaue his kingdome to the Emperour Albertus, by authoritie and gift of the holie and catholike Church of Rome: and that,Philip king of France. because the said Philippe would not acknowledge, accepte, and receiue the Pope of Rome, for his superiour: In so much that the foresaid king of France was forced (of necessitie) to sende out secretlie vnderunder the gouernement of Sarra Colomna, Reade the Cronicles of Frāce and Carion.three or foure hundred horsemen, who in the night, tooke the Pope prisoner at Anagnia, where he was at that time resident, and so brought him to Rome as prisoner: where (within foure and twentie dayes after) hee died like a beast, as by a common prouerbe (which hereafter shalbe more expreslie set forth) doeth appeare.Alexander. 7. These are the words specified in the Bull of Pope Alexand. grant…d for the same in anno 1943. the 4. of Maie: which Bull is set forth by Francis. Lope… de Gomora, in his hist. of Ind…
We hauehave likewise seene not long agoe, that Pope Alexander the seuenth, did giuegive vntounto Ferdinando king of Castile, & grand father vntounto the Emperour Charles the fift, all the countries of the newe Indians, which lie Westwarde from Spaine, in the Ocean Seas: and that in such order and maner as by the Bull is specified, Motu proprio, that is to say, Of his owne meere motion, and beeing not therevnto required: but much rather, De mera liberalitate, & ex certa scientia, ac de Apostolicae potestatis plenitudine, that is to say, Of meere liberalitie, and an assured knowledge, and by full power Apostolicall.
In so much that the King of Peru, called Atabaliba, This historie you shall finde written by the saide Francisco Lopes de Gomora in the histories of the Indians, in the 113. chapi….who being ouercome by the Spaniardes in a battell, saide (verie vnwiselie) That hee did not esteeme the Pope, saying that hee would giuegive away to another that which was none of his owne. For Frier Vincent Valuerda, had let him plainlie vnderstande, out of his Breuiarie or Portesse, That Christ the Sonne of GOD did at his departing out of this worlde, appoint and leaue the Pope of Rome for his Liefetenant, with power and authoritie, to giuegive and distribute all kingdomes, at his will and pleasure. And that the Pope of Rome had giuen all his countrie of Peru, and the newe Indians to the King of Spaine.
And likewise, in the yeere of our Lord, 1515. Leo 10. would hauehave giuen Frances the French king (who was then at Bolonia in Italie, and that to make confederacie and league with him) the whole Empire of Constantinople. Leo. 10. doth geue away an Empire.But the king giuing him worthie thankes, woulde not accept the gift, vnlesse he would put him in possession of it, which our holy father the Pope had no minde to do, because it would hauehave cost him a great deale more monie than the sealing of his Bulles. And not long before this, about the yeare of our Lorde. 1466. Pope Paule 2. had deposed by sentence George the naturall king of Boemia, from his said kingdome,Pope Paul. 2. frankely did giuegive away the kingdome of Boemia, but vponupon mad conditions. and giuen the same to the Dukes of Germanie: marie with this condition, that they should go and take it perforce, at their own cost and charges: in which attempt they lost aboue an hundred thousand men, both horsemen and footemen, and yet did preuaile verie little. For such presentes and gifts, are of the nature of his Bishoprikes of Hierusalem, and other townes in Turkie, which he giues to this man and that man, whereof the Bishops neuer inioy anie more, but the bare title, which they hauehave well wrapped vp in a Bull of a sheep skin surely sealed. And if they be not therewithall content, they may go seeke further at their owne co…t and perill. And yet will our holie father hauehave homage and rewarde for it,The Pope chiefe Lord of Naples. although it hauehave cost him neuer a penie. Of the like to this, we see daily examples, as the kings of Sicilia, and Naples, must euerie yeare (vponupon S. Peters day,) do homage vntounto him, and acknowledge him for their chiefe Lord: and for testimonie of the same, they present him with a white hackney,The Pope chiefe Lord of England. well trapped with riche furniture, with thousands of ducates besides: yea, the kingdome of Englande was a great while in subiection,Platina in the life of Alexander 3. and at the disposition of the Pope. For the before written Pope Alexander 3. did bring one king to that point, about the yeare of our Lord 1181. And that vnderunder pretence that Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canturburie, was by the kinges consent slaine. And further, long before that, in the yeare 740. a certein king of England called Inas, did make the whole Island tributarie to the Pope of Rome: insomuch that the Popes had alwayes their Collectors and Receiuers in Englan…, to gather vp and receiue the Peter peace, till such time as it was forbidden by king Henrie 8.
But to what purpose should I so particularly name the kings of England, Naples, and Sicilia, seeing that all Kings and Emperours, throughout the whole worlde, are bounde to kisse with great reuerence the Popes holie feete? Is not that a sufficient proofe, that he hath full power and iurisdiction ouer them all? And good reason it should so be. For by him Kings do reigne, and by him Iudges execute the lawe: as it is written by Solomon in his Prouerbes. Chap. 8. For that which he writes there, of the eternall wisedome of God, that is by our mother the holie Catholike Churche, vnderstoode and sette foorth concerning the Pope of Rome.Glos and Panormitanus, vponupon the Clementines, lib. 5. tit. ad nostram. This is plainly set forth and at large in the booke called Ceremoniae Ecclesiae Romanae, in the 2. tit. of the first booke ff. ordo processe. & further in the 3. ff. de prima lotion… manuum. As plainely doeth appeare by the glosse vponupon the Clementines, and by Panormitanus likewise.
And therefore, whensoeuer the Popes holinesse is disposed to ride on horsebacke, then must the Emperour or King which is present, holde his stirrop, and after for a while lead the horse by the bridle in his hand. And alwayes when the Pope will be caried in a chaire, then is the Emperor or King whosoeuer it be, bound of duetie, to bow downe his necke, and to take the chaire vp vponupon his shoulders. And likewise when the Pope goeth to dinner, the duetie of the Emperour or King, is to serue him with water wherwith to wash his holy hands, & he must be sure to attend at the table, till the first course be serued.
Clem. vnica de iureiuran…o▪ ve…s. postqu…m …bi. and in. ff. Cer…um. and the same is set foorth likewise by Restaurus Casta… dus in tract. de imperatore. quaest. 36. and the forme of the truth is sette forth in cap. Tib… domine. dist. 63. This you shall finde in the booke called Ceremoniale eccl. in the first tit. of the .3. booke.For a finall end, hee must serue the Pope euen as a seruant doeth serue his maister: yea, and I pray you wherefore should he not, see…ng he hath taken & made his othe solemnly of obedience and fidelitie to the Pope, as is plainly sette forth in the Popes lawes? And yet is not the Pope bound in anie point or iot to him, nor to anie other earthly creature, vnlesse he will sometime of speciall grace, rise out of his seat to let the Emperour kisse him kindly. Otherwise, all men liuing are bounde of duetie, as soone as they come within his presence, to fall three times downe vponupon their knees, and then to kisse his feete. And wheresoeuer he passeth by, there they must all fall downe vponupon their knees, and worship him: otherwise they are like to eate stock…ish, which his Garde will giuegive them largely: yea, and that without Butter. And therfore do they crie, Abasso, Abasso, This doth Barbazia a Catholike Doctour set foorth thus, and is so vnderstood of the Canonistes.which is as much to say as, Downe vponupon your knees. Which thing I assure you is most duetifull, and established by plaine Scripture: for that it is written Psalme 8. Thou hast put all things vnderunder his feete, sheepe and oxen: yea, and the beastes of the field: which is to be vnderstood,Ca. Cuncta per mu… d…m. 9. qua…s… ▪ 3 and the glosse in the chap. ad apostolicae de sententia & …e Indie. in 6 and so thorough. in quaest. 23.32.45.46. Christen men, Iewes, Turks, & Moores. And the foules of the aire, that is, The Saints departed. And the fishes in the sea, that is, The soules which lie in Purgatorie. Insomuch that there is nothing, but it is made subiect vntounto him. For he onelyonly is Lorde ouer all the world, and the worlde is properly his, so proued by the plaine text. Psal. 23. The earth with all her plentiousnesse, is the Lordes, as our mother the holie Church hath interpreted it, and so concluded. For which cause, he may (as Antonius de Rosellis doth testifie) take from one whatsoeuer he will,Antonius de Rosellis in. tincta. de conciliis. and giuegive to another what he list. And this is that which Cardinali Poole (being the Popes lieftenant at the councell of Trent) did likewise defend and establish by Scriptures,Regi…aldus Polu… in the booke which he wrote vponupon the councelles of Trent. euen by the verie wordes of Christ saying, That he would make of Peter a fisher of men. Which is in this sense to be vnderstood, according to the interpretation of the holie Church of Rome, That he would driue al Emperours and Kings: yea, all people of the world, into the Popes net, so that he might seeth them, broyle them, or frie them in a panne, euen as his holinesse should thinke best to vse and order them.
2. Cor. 4.4. Iohn 12.31.14.30.26.11.And although Paule did speake of an other, which shoulde bee the God of this worlde: and that Christ doeth like…ise name the same, The Duke, or Lorde of this worlde, Ephe. 2.2.meaning the Tempter which shewed him all the kingdomes of the world and the glory of the same, saying vntounto him, All these will I giuegive thee, Matth. 4.9. Luke. 4.6.if thou wilt fall downe, and worship mee: for they are mine, and I may bestowe them vponupon whom soeuer I will. Yet doeth not all that make anie thing against our purpose: for they twaine, to witte, the Pope and he, are both as one, and agree like two heades in one hoode: so that there can no gealousie growe thereby. For as the Scripture sayth, and beareth witnesse: The dragon hath rendered vp and giuen to the beast with seuen heades all his power, Apocal. 13.2.his seate, and authoritie. Now what conditions are made bet…ene them, I wote not, but let them alone with that matter, they will agree well ynough. Thus much then in effect touching all that which Daniel and Paule did say and prophesie in the Scriptures before specified, is throughly fulfilled in the Pope of Rome: and therewithall likewise, that thing whereo… Iohn speaketh in the Apocalypse, that The citie which is builded vponupon seuen mountains or hilles, Apocal. 17.…. And this is by … of the citie of Rome▪ in h…s boke against the Iewes, and in the … …oke against Ma… on Lacta…t▪ …. in the …. Read l…kewise the epistle of …eo …liensis. aduersus Paschalem, & in the 2. booke of Councels. fo. 809.(which out of doubt is the Citie of Rome, as Tertullianus, Lactantius, Hieronymus, and all the old fathers hauehave testified, and as the situation and state of the citie it selfe doth make apparant) shall receiue a maruellous power and authoritie (specially of the same whome Paule calleth, The God of this world, and whom Christ calleth, The duke or Prince of this world, & whom Iohn calleth, The dragō :) insomuch that all kings and princes of the earth shall pray vntounto him, & he shalbe trimmed and decked with golde, siluer, pearles, and all rich & precious iewels, as you may plainly see in our holy father the Pope of Rome, with all his Cardinals, who are deftly decked vppe with all costly iewels like Puppets, And hee shall receiue a mouth speaking great and wonderfull things, so that all the worlde shall say, Who is like vntounto him? Euen after the same sort, as you see the Pope giuegive forth strange things touching his owne person, and doeth attribute to himselfe a certeine power & authoritie aboue all kings, princes, and angels in heauen: yea, euen aboue the sonne of God, and (which more is) aboue God himselfe. Insomuch that, vponupon this consideration, our deare mother the holie Churche hath concluded, that hee shoulde bee called Papa, as though men should say Pape, Papa. pape.which is as much to say in our language, as a wonderfull shreeke or hem in derision. For it is a worde which doth signifie a monstrous wondring, for because that he is a wonderfull monstrous and straunge beast.The glosse vponupon the preface of the Clementines vponupon the chapter Quoniam. vponupon the worde pape and here he doth allege a Poet, whō he names Angelicus, which is to say an Angel or an Angelicall Poet. Insomuch that one of his owne Poets doth call him Papa stupor mundi, that is to say, The wonder or mocking stocke of the worlde. Euen as if a man shoulde say, Tushe, who is to be compared to him? So that it is most apparauntly to bee seene, that Saint Iohn in his Apocalypse doeth as it were, euen point to him, with his finger, and that Daniel and Paule doe in many places of the Scripture, paint him plainlie out in all his feathers. In so much then that these Heretikes are farre ouerseen…, when as they will say, That the Scripture doeth not make anie mention of the Pope of Rome, considering that wee hauehave proued all his authoritie to be grounded vponupon the Scripture, in such order, as there is nothing to be said against it.