A Survey of the Popes Supremacy, Part 2 (2 of 3)

A Survey of the Popes Supremacy · Part 2 (2 of 3)

p. 149To doubt of the popes power it is no leſſe then ſacrilege. As p. 150alſo it is alleadged out of Thomas of Aquine againſt the errors of the grecians queſtion 66. That to ſay that the pope hath not ſupremacy ouer the whole church, is like the errour of them, that ſay the holighoſt proceeds not from the ſonne. But ſuch are heretickes againſt the godhead as it cannot be denied,Yo' doubt of the popes ſupremacie is hereſie againſt God. and therefore doubtleſſe by the iudgement of Thomas of Aquine, they that do but doubt of the popes ſupremacy are hereticks againſt the godhead.

And is this that Thomas of Aquine, that glorious Saint and clarke, whoſe only ſentence weigheth more, then all the proteſtantes wits and wordes in the worlde,In his inuectiue anſwer to the Engliſh Iuſtice. as ſaith in a ſpitefull pamphlet our weeping cardinall of England, who can neuer bee merry, vntill be ſee the ruine and deſolation of his naturall contry.

In which reſpect I pray God hartely, that hee may nightly water his bed with teares, and moyſten alwaies his breade with weeping rather then he ſhould ſee, or his eies behold, the deſtruction of this land, which he and ſuch other tigers whelps ſo greedely gape for. And I doubt not, but our good God, which hath hitherto very often, not mercifully onelyonly, but miraculouſlie alſo and mightely preſerued and vpholden, the only proppe and ſtaie of this our flourſhing lande, will ſtill pleade her cauſe againſt all her foes,our ſins deſerue great plagues. and preſerue her ſoule the ſoule of his turtle Doue againſt all their ſecret and malitious practiſes. I confeſle indeede, that our ſinnes which abound daily more and more, doe iuſtly deſerue, that this pretious iewel, ſhould be taken from vsus. And it is onelyonly Gods merciemercy, that hath preſerued vsus theſe many yeares, euen his free and great merciemercy. But if we could turne to the Lord vnfainedly, we neede neither feare the ſuites or teares, nor traiterous deuiſes, of ſuch hipocrites, neither yet the might or malice of all thoſe conſpirators. But if the Lord ſhould as in iuſtice he may giuegive vsus ouer to be a prey vntounto their teeth, yet the truth of our cauſe is grounded ſtill vponupon Gods word. And the Iſraelites were Gods people ſtill, although when they rebelled againſt the Lord, hee did ſometimes deliuer them to be puniſhed, euen of his owne enemies, and wicked ones.

And I beſeech the Lorde make vsus more patiently to beare p. 151his deſerued wrath if it ſhall pleaſe him to lay it vponupon vsus, then we hauehave vſed thankfully his vndeſerued grace and fauour, which hetherto he hath ſhewed vntounto vsus, and continued amongſt vsus. And thus much by occation of that vndue commendation, that Allen giueth vntounto Thomas of Aquin. But him and ſuch like I leaue to their owne fancies. And to the godly I ſay onelyonly with Saint Iames, my bretheren hauehave not the faith of our glorious Lord Ieſus Chriſt,Iames 2. 1.Jas 2:1 in reſpect of perſons. Let our cares be attentiue to marke, and our hearts ready bent to receaue that which in due examination we find to be well ſpoken, without beholding of the perſon, or regarding any thing more, then the word that is taught. And thus hauehave I briefly ſhewed, how this vniuſt authoritie which the pope chalengeth and into the which moſt craftely hee crept, is in part moſt lewdly, by him abuſed, not onelyonly in that he claimeth to hauehave a proude name ouer his bretheren, and the whole church, but alſo that he dare match himſelfe with God, and directly to oppoſe himſelfe againſt his will.

But as in many things much, ſo in nothing more doth the biſhop of Rome darken Gods glorie, or thruſt himſelfe into Gods place, then, in that he being himſelfe a ſinfull man, yea a ſeruant to ſinne, euen ſet and ſold to doe wickedly, dareth yet take vponupon him to forgiue ſinne:The pope forgiueth ſinnes. And that not as one that would preach and proclame, vntounto the penitent ſinners Gods grace and mercy, but as one that commendeth vntounto the people his owne power to pardon and forgiue men their offences. Wherein hee firſt offendeth,God onelyonly can pardon ſinnes. in that he taketh more vponupon him, then belongeth to him, or to any man. For, ſeeing our ſinnefull act, whether it be againſt God or man, is therefore imputed to vsus as ſiune, and is indeede ſinne, becauſe it is a breach of Gods Lawe; it is very abſurde to imagine that any man can diſpenſe with vsus for this ſinne,1. Iohn 3. 4.1 John 3:4 but only that good God, againſt whoſe lawe we hauehave tranſgreſſed. And for this cauſe the godly when their ſinne was vntounto them a heauy burthen, hauehave made their ſuite and mone vntounto God, becauſe he onelyonly can heale that ſore, and helpe that ſickeneſſe, as that one example of Dauid in ſteed of many, may prooue vntounto vsus, Pſal. 51. 1. HaueHave mercy vponupon me O Lord according to thy great merciemercy, and according p. 152to the multitude of thy compaſſions,Tibi ſoli peceaui. put away mine iniquities. And although his ſinnes were exceeding great (as after he confeſſeth) yet becauſe none could pardon them but God only, therfore euen to him he commeth, againſt whom he had offended, to him,Iob. 14. 4.Job 14:4 he confeſſeth his fault, of him, he ſeeketh for releaſe, to him, he ſueth for pardon. For of all men it is true that Iob ſaith who can make that cleane, that is conceiued of vncleane ſeede? there is not one. And therefore God proclaimeth by his prophet Eſay. I,Eſa. 43. 25.Isa 43:25 euen I, am he that putteth away thine iniquities, for mine owne ſake, and will not remember thy ſinnes. And firſt we bowe the knees of our heart, to our good God, yeelding vntounto him immortall thankes and praiſe, who dealeth thus gratioufly with vsus vnwoorthy and ſinnefull wretches, as that hee doth not onelyonly freely forgiue vsus, for Chriſt his ſake, all our ſinnes, and blot out all our offences, and put away all our tranſgreſſions, with an aſſured purpoſe, neuer to cal them to remembrance, or to charge vsus with them in his iuſt iudgement: but alſo for the better quieting,The miniſtery of …econciliation. of our fearefull and troubled conſciences, hath giuen power and commandement to his miniſters, by proclaiming to the penitent this his free pardon miniſterially to heale the ſoule wounded with ſinne, to bind vp the broken and contrite heart, and to raiſe by form the pit of deſpaire, them whom the clog of conſcience accuſed of ſinne had preſſed downe. This, euen this, we acknowledge to be an vneſtimable benefit, and a great fauour, that God ſheweth to vsus vile wretches, that that mercy which he hath ſealed vp for vsus in heauen, he hath cauſed to be made known here on earth, by the miniſtery of the goſpel. And this is all the power that is giuen to man, to proclaime vntounto vsus that pardon,Eſa. 1. 18.Isa 1:18 that God only giueth. To tell vsus, that if our ſinnes were as crimſon, they (being for Chriſt his ſake pardoned) ſhal be as white as ſnow, and if they were like ſcarlet, they ſhalbe as wooll. But either to thinke or ſay, that any man can giuegive any pardon, is too abſurd. I cannot therefore but maruel at the church of Rome, and the biſhops thereof, tha they ſhame not, as it were to thruſt themſelues into Gods place, and to take vponupon them to doe, that, which none can doe but God only. They appo…t their I…ylies, and proclaime pardon of all their ſins, to ſuth as come to Rome, in the time of that ſolemne feaſt. In p. 153like manner to ſuch as deuoutly ſay ſo many praiers before ſuch an image, or goe in pilgrimage to ſuch a place. They ſend abroad into all places, their pardons and indulgences, making of them plaine marchandies. So that men or women, may for a litle mony, buie a pardon for their greateſt ſinnes, as they imagine. Is not this an eaſie way for rich men to get to heauen?Popery a doctrine of licentioſneſſe. Is not this the very fountaine of all licentious liuing, to teach that men for mony, may make their peace with God, and ſatiſfie for their ſinnes? And yet the church of Rome, that ſhameleſſe harlot, dare charge our doctrine of iuſtification by fayth (taught firſt by Chriſt himſelfe,Ioh. 3. 1…. Rom. 3. 28.John 3:1Rom 3:28 afterwards by his apoſtles eſpecially Saint Paul in plaine words) to be a doctrine of libertie. What ſhall we then ſay of this wicked doctine, or rather of this blaſphemous marchandies, whereby leaue to ſinne, is ſold as commonly for mony, as old boots and ſhoes are ſold in London ſtreets, for beeſoms or broome? The firſt I ſuppoſe that opened this ſhop of theſe popiſh wares was Boniface the eight,Plat. in Bonif. 8. who gaue full pardon of all ſinnes, marke not of ſome ſinnes, but of all, to them that viſited the place, where the apoſtles were. And after the world was filled with ſuch traſh, pardons were promiſed to them that would fight againſt the Turke, yea pardons for them that would fight againſt the popes enemies. But my meaning is not to ſtand vponupon theſe points in particular, but rather to point vntounto them. Yet I can not omit how that Clement the ſixth pope of that name, did perſwade himſelfe ſo well of his power and authoritie in this behalfe,Sleid. li. 21. that he gaue commaundement and charge vntounto the Angels, that if any died comming to Rome to the Iubilie, which he had appointed to be kept eueryevery fifteth yeare, whereas Boniface had appointed it to be kept but eueryevery hundred yeare,Plat. in Clem. 6 the Angels I ſay, ſhould carry the ſoules of ſuch ſtraight way to heauen. What durſt not theſe men preſume to doe, that durſt like Gods take vponupon them, to commaund euen the Angels, to be at their becke? Well, againſt theſe their blaſphemies which hauehave no warrant no colour in the word, I only aſke of them, who can forgiue ſinne but God onelyonly?Marke 2. 7. 1. Pet. 1. 18, 19.Mark 2:71 Pet 1:181 Pet 1:19 Let them proue it by ſcripture, let them point vntounto him out of Gods worde. If man could doe it, what neede ſo precious a price, ſo great a ranſom, as not gold p. 154nor ſiluer, but the blood of that vnſpotted Lambe Chriſt Ieſus.

An other great abuſe there is in this there wicked doctrine. They promiſe their indulgesnce generall to al that die in the defenceAnother abuſe. The generall promiſe of pardon. of chriſtians againſt the Turke. Yea they often ſell their pardons to any that will buie them, as Bale out of Crantzius reportes,Act. Rom. pontif. Mart. 5. that ſome did in Saxonie, in the time of pope Martine the firſt. What excuſe can they make, or what pretence can they vſe, to make this hauehave any ſhew of lawfulneſſe? God in the ſcripture ſtill criieth turne vntounto me,Pardon to the penitent, and promiſeth forgiueneſſe to the penitent, hee threatneth the vngodly, that they ſhall hauehave no peace.Eſay 48. 22.Isa 48:22 But not one teſtimonie, not one example cannot be alleaged, to proue that any man or woman receaue forgiueneſſe of ſins, vnleſſe they firſt be ſorie for the ſame, which commonly cannot be in ſodaine death in the wars, and the pardoners rather require money then amending for the ſame.Luke 7. Luke 19. 8.Luke 7Luke 19:8 The ſinful woman had pardon for her ſins, but ſhee hated them. Zache likewiſe, but he was become a new man.Matth. 16. 75.Matt 16:75 Peters denying of Chriſt was forgiuen him, but by weeping hee teſtified his ſorow for the ſame. The like may be ſaid of many other, whome I for ſhortneſſe omit.

Wickedly therefore doeth the Pope giuegive his pardon of ſinnes, not ſeeing ſorrow for ſinnes, or purpoſe of amendment in them, that buy or inioy thoſe their pardons. So Alexander the fifth did wickedly abuſe the words of Chriſt,Plaeina. being at point of death: my peace I giuegive to you, my peace I leaue with you, as though he could giuegive that peace.

But if he hauehave beeue ſo ſawcie with God, how ſhall he behaue himſelfe thinke you towards men? For that is another point which is neeeſſarie to be conſidered. Whereby it will appeare that as by ſubtilty he entred, ſo with much pride and more then barbarous cruelty he hath raigned. I told you before, how that when he had firſt by the emperors means got the biſhops vnderunder him, he neuer reſted vntil he had not onelyonly thruſt the emeperour from hauing any thing to doe in this election: but alſo brought them vnderunder his yoke, that they could not be confirmed in the empire but by him. Now what folowed of this muſt be declared. Firſt he did ſtriue earneſtly, to keepe all that he had gotten, p. 155and if any emperour hauing indeede in him any noble heart, would ſeeke to recouer his ancient libertie in ſome part, and to free himſelfe, from that Romiſh Egypt, and ſlauiſh ſeruitude, wherein that proud Pharo (vnmindfull of Gods graces to him, or his duetie to others) did ſeeke to detaine him: then would the proud pope, viis & modis, by al meanes that poſſible he could deuiſe, ſo perſecute and afflict ſuch, as if he were ſet vp of God, to be a pledge to all chriſtian princes, and (as were the Cananits vntounto the Iſraelites) pricks in their eies,Num. 33. 55.Num 33:55 and continuall thornes, and whips in their ſides. And this may euidently appeare out of innumerable examples. The church of Rauenna did not vponupon Phoeas his decree, ſubmit it ſelfe to the church of Rome, or acknowledge it to be her head. The patriarch thereof thought himſelfe to vne as great at Rauenna, as the pope was at Rome.

But Theodorus although he willingly would hauehave kept thatFunct. Cronol an 686. ancient priuiledge, yet for feare ſubmited himſelfe to Donus then biſhop of Rome, about the yeare of the Lord ſix hundred ſeuentie and ſeuen.The popes contention with his brethren. But Felix beeing after patriarch of Rauenna, and deſirous to ſtand in his auncient priuiledges, mouen the people to the ſame. So that by all meanes they ſought to ſhake off the biſhop of Rome his heauie yoke. Leo then biſhop of Rome ſtirred vp Iuſtinian the ſecond Emperour of that name, by ſlaughter, ſiege ſpoile, and ſuch violent meanes, to ſubiect that patriarch to his ſeate. And Felix who ſought to recouer his liberties, had his eies thruſt out with a hot burning Iron, as out of Sabelicus and Nauclerus it is reported. But the pope is not more earneſt, to maintaine his ſupremacie ouer biſhops (although this hea… was too too feruent, that the patriarch, for this popes pride ſhould hauehave his eies burnt out) then he was to hold faſt, aud to increaſe daily, that authoritie which by moſt impdent and vngodly meanes hee had gotten, not onelyonly ouer all princes and kings, but euen ouer the Emperour himſelfe, the greateſt monarch that is in all chriſtendome.

The emperour had wont in the primitiue churches, to hauehave a great ſaying in the choſing of biſhops, eſpecially ſuch as were p. 156biſhops of Rome, as all hiſtories make mention, and is more euident,The Emperours debarred for hauing any thing to do in the election of the Pope. then that it needeth proofe, and more plaine, then that it may be doubted of. But when the popes came to their ouer great authoritie, they began ſomewhat more boldly, to take vponupon them to occupie that roome without leaue of the Emperour.

Adrian the firſt therefore being B. of Rome, and hee thinking himſelfe much beholding to Charles the great, for defending him and his church, from the violence of enemies, did in a council holden at Rome by the emperor and the pope,Sigeb. Cronic. …nno 773. make this vniuerſall decree, that the emperour ſhould hauehave right to chuſe the pope, and to order the apoſtolike ſeat, and to hauehave the dignitie or preheminence of principalitie. I would all our Engliſh papiſts, and ſpecially the fugitiue traitours, that would for this cauſe make the happy and quiet gouernment, which England hath vnderunder our moſt gratious princeſſe, a long time comfortably inioyed, (becauſe we giuegive vntounto her maieſtie the title of ſumacie) ſeeme odiuos to others,A pope acknowledgeth the emperour to hauehave ſupremacie. and vnlawfull to our ſelues, I would I ſay they would marke, what pope Adrian and the vniuerſall council (for ſo doth Sigebert there call it) doe yeeld to Charles the great, then emperour, that he ſhould hauehave the principality and ſupremacie. And further it is there decreed, that the archbiſhop and biſhop through eueryevery prouince, ſhall be inueſted by him, and that no man ſhall be once ſo bold as to conſecrate him, whome the king doth not commend and inſtitute and that vponupon paine of excommunication. And if hee reforme not himſelfe, his goods to be forfeited, and himſelfe to be baniſhed.

A neceſſary Lawe doubtleſſe for our dayes, both in reſpect of the lawe it ſelfe, and alſo in regard of the puniſhment which is to be layed vponupon offendours▪ And the more to be accounted of, becauſe it is de…iſed by ſuch, as I hope they will not ſaie can erre or cannot ſay they ſeeke their bloud. Wel, notwithſtanding this decree ſet downe by councill, as you hauehave hard, Steuen the fourth biſhop of Rome, and next but one to this Adrian the firſt (who by a conucil cōfirmed to the emperour this authoritie)Diſt. 63. C. Quia ſanct. Rom. doth not onelyonly debar the emperour, for medling in election of the pope, but alſo accurſeth all them, that by the p. 157emperours conſent do obtaine any church. And for the lowder proclaming of his pride, moſt lewdly hee compareth his vniuſt and raſh deſanulling of that iuſt decree, made by Adrian and the council,Pope Steuen the fourth abuſeth ſcripture. with Ezechias his godly aboliſhing of the high places, the ſerpent, and ſuch other things as were idolatrouſly abuſed by the Iſraelltes. He alone I ſay without a council, reuoketh that which the council had commaunded. Pope Paſchalis the firſt ſucceeding this Steuen, had not the conſent of the emperour, and therefore ſent his embaſſadours vntounto the emperour Lodouike, to excuſe the matter, and to make him beleeue, that he was forced by the clergie and people to take the popedome on him. The emperorbeing of a very mild nature, yet willing to retaine that priuiledge willed them not afterward to informe the emperours authoritie, but to keepe in their election the decrees of their elders. Now the emperour being forced for the repreſſion of ſome that rebelled againſt him, to ſend Lotharius his ſonne into Italy there to remaine: Paſchalis the pope inueſted the ſaid Lotharius in the empire. But hee being gone to his father into Fraunce for greater aid, ſome of his moſt truſty frends, were in the meane time killed euen in the palace of Lateran, Rioche Compe…, temporum.their eies firſt put out, onelyonly becauſe they were faſt and faithfull to Lotharius. The pope was commonly ſuppoſed to be guiltie, or at the leaſt to be acquainted, with this outragious dealing of the Romans. And although by other he denied the fact, yet did he acquite them that had done that deede, and pronounced them that were ſlaine, to hauehave beene guiltie of treaſon. But howſoeuer it was, the emperour ſeeing belike the popes wholy bent, to depriue him vtterly of any conſent in the election of the pope, doth himſelfe yeeld it into their hands, making it lawfull for the popes to take that place vponupon them, being choſen by the clargie and people of Rome,Diſt. 63. C Ego Ludouicus. without the emperours conſent not long after him commeth Nicholas the firſt, who ſeing the emperour ſo eaſily to be chruſt from his right, which was euen by the biſhop of Rome,The emperor put from their councils by the pope. Diſt. 96. C. Vbina…. in a council giuen to him in electing of the pope, thought hee would incroach ſomewhat further, and doth wholy debar him, of hauing any thing, to doe, or being at or in their council, vnleſſe it be when matters of faith be in handling.Diſt. 28. C. Conſulendum. And further he did decree (to cut his power yet p. 156ſhorter) that no lay man whatſoeuer,Diſt. 28. C. conſu…end …m …l…gie not to be iudged by lay men. Funct. An. 885. ſhould ſomuch as iudge of Prieſts, or enquire how they liue. And although Nicholas the firſt, durſt not as yet goe plainlie to worke, but rather by craftie meanes ſought to diminiſh the Emperours power, yet within leſſe than thirtie yeares after it was decreed, by Adrian the third, that the Emperours conſent ſhould not he regarded, in electing the Biſhop of Rome, but the voices or election of the Cleargie, and people therein ſhould be free.

Now by this exemption which the Romans had from the Emperour, that hee had nothing to doe in their elections: as they were without feare of his diſpleaſure, ſo were they without care of doing in their elections as they ought, and by that means preferred many vnworthie of that place. Wherefore pope Leo the eight,Diſt. 63. in Synodo. The emperours tight reſtored. in a Synod holden at Rome did decree, that Otho then Emperour, and his ſucceſſours after him, ſhould elect, not the pope onelyonly, but alſo the chiefe officers of Rome, or biſhops, and that onelie with his conſent theſe muſt be counted lawfull. And if any ſhall goe about to infringe this decree, he is excommunicate. If he continue therein, he ſhall be perpetually baniſhed, or hauehave extreame puniſhment. How long this decree was kept which was nowe by two Councils at Rome, and by two popes, Adrian the firſt decreed, & this Leo the eight confirmed, it is not certaine.The Romiſh ſhif… to debar the emperor for maintaining his right in the elections. But I am ſure that not long after, it was accounted ſimonie, for anie man to take anie biſhopricke, or benefice, being inſtituted thereto by anie lay man. And this was eſpecially laboured by Hildebrand, as ſoone as euer hee came to hauehave any thing to doe for the popes, that the Emperour or lay men, ſhould hauehave nothing to doe, in the election of the pope. And becauſe alreadie two Councils had giuen to the Emperours that authoritie, they that followed would not altogether and directly, controll the decree of the Councils, but more craftily they ſo handle the matter, that by a very generall decree, forbidding all lay men to meddle with elections, or to intteſt the cleargie, or rather threatning the cleargie, that will receiue anie eccleſiaſticall promotion at the handes of anie lay man, they imagine that they annihilate that, which more particularlie, giueth to the Emperour that power. And indeed moſt buſie to bring this about, was Hildebrand, (that firebrand of much p. 157miſchiefe) who beeing pope, (for that is hee that was called Gregorie the ſeuenth) it was almoſt the greateſt ſinne that a pope could commit, to ſeeke to hauehave his election confirmed by the Emperour.

But before the time of this Gregorie the ſeuenth his papacie, as Pantalcon reporteth,Panta. ex blondo. Clement the ſecond, went alſo about to debarre the people of Rome, for hauing anie thing to doe in electing the Pope. And thus the biſhoppes of Rome, euer repining and grudging, that the emperour (whoſe power they feared) might bee a bridle vntounto them, or rather a deſerued ſcourge for their vngodly life, or any other lay man, ſhould hauehave anie thing to do in their election, at the length did bring to paſſe, that neither cleargie nor people,Election by Cardinals. nor emperour ſhould chuſe the pope: but onelyonly ſuch of the cleargie as were called Cardinals. And the firſt that euer was choſen pope by the Cardinals, was Gelaſius the ſecond. For we reade not of anie ſo elected before him. Paſchalis the ſecond (who was next after him) was,Plat in Paſch. 2. as Platina writeth of him, deſpiſed of the people, choſen of the cleargie,Plat. in Gelaſ. 2. praiſed of the Cardinals. But of this he ſaith, that hee was choſen by generall conſent of the Cardinals, and ſo doeth Rioche a frier, an hiſtoriographer of our time. Well nowe the biſhop of Rome hath ſhaken off his yoke, he is now lawleſſe and peerleſſe, he plaieth now the part of an vntaught and vnruly iade, that hauing caſt his rider, ſtriketh at him with his heeles. For, freeing himſelfe from the emperours gouernment, he goeth about to bring the emperour to be in ſeruitude vnderunder him. And therefore firſt,The emperour confirmed by the Pope. Plat. in Innoc. 3. he goeth about to confirme the emperours election, as it were not ſufficient without his approbation, as Innocent the third confirmed the election of Otho. Wherin yet by the way, y^• practiſe of theſe prelats is to be noted.A popelike policie. For they would cōmonly intend themſelues to medle, when by reaſon of ſome diuiſiō, they hoped their taking part wold be acceptable. As in this caſe. For there was a diuiſion about chuſing the emperor, ſome inclining to Frederick, ſome to Otho. Acts Rom. pontif.But afterward they came to that boldneſſe that we reade that godleſſe wretch Iohn 22. or 21. as ſome reckon did excommunicat Lewes of Bauaria emperor, becauſe he tooke vpō him the empire, without the approbation of his holineſſe: which was decreed by Clement that was p. 160next before him, as Bale out of Marius alleadgeth. For, although the electours by their election, might giuegive him power to be King of the Romans, yet could he not now hauehave the name of an Emperour, but by the pope. And thus wee ſee how vponupon a ſudden, he that but a litle before, could not be pope, but by the approbation of the emperour, is now ſo great, as that the emperour can not be emperour, but by his leaue. Now hauing gotten thus high, his ambition yet had no end, his pride had no meaſure, his rage had no bridle. For, as he had now either fraudulently, or violently, or rather both waies obtained thus much, that he muſt confirme the emperour before he might hauehave that title: ſo did he alſo take vponupon him (O intollerable preſumption) ſoone after,The popes controll emperours. Brut, …ulmen ex Nau…l. Eſ…c. 28. …Isa 28 to controll him euen this higheſt maieſtie in this worlde, if he did but write his name before the pope, as Adrian the fourth did Fred▪ the ſecond.

Thus we ſee the pope hath ſet himſelfe in Gods ſeate, as Tyrus ſaieth of her ſelfe, His throne is placed in the cloudes, and his neſt made very high. Now what means hauehave they vſed to clime vp into the ſame? For you muſt vnderſtand, that impotent affections hauehave driuen them forward, ſo impudently to ſeek for this honor. Which if it do not appeare, in that which hath already bin ſaid: yet in that that foloweth, I truſt it wil be as clear as the noone day. For many vngodly & vnlawfull practiſe they hauehave vſed, (but what doe I giuegive them ſuch termes, as doe nothing expreſſe their doings?)Many vile means to get the papacy Many deteſtable and deuiliſh deuiſes they hauehave had, to intrude themſelues into that ſeate, and to ſetle themſelues in that throne. Yea I may (I ſuppoſe) boldly affirme, that a man ſhal not reade in any hiſtories, or finde in any records, of any ſtate or ſort of men, be they neuer ſo prophane, that hauehave vſed more vile and vilanous wayes to obtaine their deſire, then the popes hauehave doone to mount into that chaire. It ſhould not be ſo I confeſſe, but yet it is ſo: The greater is their ſinne, the more is their ſhame. No man ſhall take vntounto him any honour and eſpecially ſo great honour, but he that is called of God as was Aron. And whoſoeuer doth not enter in by the doore into the ſheepfold,Hebr. 5. 4. None ſhould without calling take any place. Ioh. 10. 1, 10.Heb 5:4John 10:1John 10:10 but climeth vp another way, is but a theefe and a robber. And the theefe commeth not but to ſteale, and to kill, and to deſtroie. God by his prophet Ieremie p. 161doth often complaine of ſuch prophets, as would runne, when they were not ſent,Ier. 14. 13. Ier. 23. 21. Ier. 29. 8.Jer 14:13Jer 23:21Jer 29:8 and would prophecie, although the Lorde ſpake not to them. And therefore that which they ſaid vntounto the people, was but lies, a falſe viſion, and the deceitfulnes of their owne heart. But the true prophets neuer came but when God ſent them. And therefore they doe commonly publiſh and proclaime their commiſſion in theſe words, The word of the Lord came to me, which is more common in the ſermons of the prophets, then that I neede to point vntounto the particular places. Our Sauiour Chriſt,Ioh. 6. 38. Ioh. 1. 19John 6:38John 1:19 when hee came, was ſent of the Father. And for that cauſe, the Iewes ſent prieſts and Leuites to Iohn the Baptiſt, to know what he was, what calling hee had in the church, and by what authoritie he did that which he did. And as Chriſt himſelfe was ſent of the Father, ſo he ſendeth his Apoſtles, As my Father ſent me,Ioh. 20. 21.John 20:21 ſo ſend I you. As for Paule who was then a perſecuter, when the other Apoſtles were ſent to preach, yet when Chriſt purpoſed to hauehave his ſeruice in the miniſtery, he called him, and that not ſtrangely onelyonly, ſaying to him from heauen,Act. 9. 4. 1. Cor. 15. 10.Acts 9:41 Cor 15:10 Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me? but effectually alſo, inſomuch as he afterwards laboured more aboundantly than they all. Whereby it is plaine, that God would neuer hauehave the miniſtery of any in his church, but that he called them lawfully thereunto. Neither is it enough for a man to knowe that his calling is good, I meane his office or function which hee taketh in hand, vnleſſe hee hauehave within him the teſtimonie of his owne conſcience to aſſure him, that hee is called to that function, not onelyonly by the outward calling lawfully, but alſo by the inward calling of the ſpirit effectually. And this is the meaning of thoſe Canoniſts, (who otherwiſe are ſhameleſſe in flattering the pope) who dare thus affirme,Bald. In 6. l. Impetrata C. Sententiam reſcindi non poſſe. Num. … as doth Bald. The pope (ſaith he) being choſen according to the canons, is a God vponupon earth, but not being choſen canonically, is a diuel, not hauing the keis of the kingdome of heauen, but of hell. And as Felinus ſaith,…elin. in l. 4. de iureiuran. extra in principio. Diſt. 79 C. Si quis pecunia. Plat. in Nico…. he is not apoſtolicall, but apoſtaticall: which words Felinus hath borrowed out of Gratian his decrees, and Gratian out of pope Nicholas the ſecond. For pope Nicholas hauing depoſed pope Benedict the tenth, who as he alleadgeth came in by ſymony, called a councill at Laterane, and doeth p. 162there ordaine, that he ſhall be accounted apoſtaticall, and not apoſtolicall, who by mony, fauour of men, tumult of the people, or of the ſoldiers, or by any other way then by the agreeing, and canonicall election, of the cardinals, is made pope. We ſee then what manner of election there ſhould be. What manner of elections they hauehave, and after what ſort they come to be popes it is now to be declared, which ſhall be performed God willing out of auncient hiſtories: that the world may ſee, not what Luther or Caluine, or any of vsus in theſe our dayes, doe ſay of their wicked practiſes, but what hath beene ſpoken and written of them, that by violence and intruſion, hauehave entered into that ſeate.

Platina himſelfe (no Lutheran) telleth vsus that when Damaſus was choſen pope,Plat. in Damaſo. there was a great ſchiſme in the church: for one Vrſicinius, Li. 4. oiſt. c. 29 li. 6. cap. 23.or as Socrates calleth him Vrſinus or as Sozomen in his eccleſiaſticall hiſtorie calleth him Vrſatius being at that time in election, gote himſelfe to be made pope, by the meanes of his frends.

And whileſt neither of them would giuegive place to the other, but both deſired that place, they fell firſt to words, and after words to blowes, in ſuch ſort, that euen in the church many were ſlaine on both ſides (ſome ſay to the number of one hundred thirtie ſeuen. And as there was no regarde of the place (for this inocent blod was ſhed in the church) ſo neither ſpared they the very women or any ſexe.Hieron. in cron. The diſorder was ſo notorious, as that Maximinus at that time gouernour of the citie, did for the ſame put to death many both of the laitie, and of the clargie alſo.

Howe ſhall wee find heere the agreeing or conſenting election that before I hauehave ſpoken of,Socrat. hiſt. eccl. li. 4. ca. 62. where we ſee ſuch not diſſenting in words onelyonly, but alſo ſuch diſorder in blowes, yea bloud, by ſtriuing to get into that glorious chaire? Not long after Boniface the firſt being choſen by ſome to be pope,Plat. in Bonif. 1. Sigeb. Crou. another ſort did chuſe in another church of Rome, another pope, one Eulalius. And ſo litle agreement there was in that election, nay ſo great diſſention and ſo much diſcord afterwards, that Honorius the emperour for feare of greater inconuenience, was forced to turne them both out of the citie.…aſ…ie. tempor. p. 163Afterwards when Symachus was by ſome choſen pope, other did chuſe one Laurence: Plat. in Sy…. Bergom.the contention was very great, and made a very great diuiſion betweene the ſenators of Rome, and the people alſo.

Theodoricus then being King of the eaſt Gothes, and at this time ruler in Italy,A king maketh a pope. placed Symachus pope. But within four yeares after, this Laurence ſeeking to diſplace Symachus, and to be pope as before he would hauehave beene, Theodorick ſent one Peter a biſhop to to diſplace them both, and to ſit in that chaire himſelfe. Simachus found meanes that both Laurence and Peter, were condemned to be baniſhed. Whereupon there was amongſt them a great ſlaughter, wherein neither virgines nor prieſts were ſpared as the ſtories report. Yea ſome report, namely Rioch a papiſt,Rioche. a frier, and a late writer, that this ſedition and murder continued three yeares, betweene him that was, and that other that would hauehave beene pope. Neither was Boniface the ſecond choſen pope by a conſonant conſent,Plat. in Bonif. …. but great contention there was for eight and twentie dayes,faſcic. tempor. or as ſome write for eight and thirtie dayes: vntill at length by the death of Dioſcorus (who was choſen by a contrarie faction) the ſtrife was ended.

Sergius the firſt was alſo choſen very hardly, as writeth Bergomates, Bergomates faſcicul. tempor.and as an other ſtory ſaith, in his election, there was great diſſention. For ſome would hauehave Paſchalis, other would chuſe Theodore. But the gouernour of the citie and of the ſouldiers,A pope made by the gouernour. to pretient further miſchiefe, did appoint Sergius to be pope. Conſtantine the ſecond of that name, was by force put into that ſeate,Bergomates Stella. by the helpe of Deſiderius king of Lombardy, and others: who bringing to Rome an army made him pope, being a meere lay man,A lay man made pope. and not hauing taken any orders before. But perchaunce they will readily except againſt him, becauſe that Platina and others account him not in the number of popes.

It is true that Platina doeth not reckon him amongeſt the Popes, although he was in that place more than a yeare. But it ſeemed that they did not call in queſtion his manner of chuſing (for that had beene a thing growen very common before, not to hauehave conſent of them that vſed to chooſe them) but as p. 164Platina reporteth, is was obiected vntounto him, that he not hauing taken order,Plat. in Steph. 3. was content to take vponupon him to be pope, when he anſwered that the people forced him thereto, the council ſeemed to pitie him. But when the next day he defended himſelfe, by the examples of Sergius who was made archbiſhop of Rauenna, and Stephan biſhop of Naples, being meere lay men, then they were angry at him, and proceeded againſt him. Becauſe therefore we ſee not any miſlike that they had of him, but onelyonly that he was not within orders: I ſee not but that he may well enough be reckoned among them, that by violence poſſeſſed that ſeate,Bargom. faſcic. tempor. and therefore not lawfully. What ſhould I ſpeake of Eugenius the ſecond, that in a ſchiſme was made pope? Or of Martin the ſecond, (whome Oniforus calleth Marius) who by euil meanes came to be pope, and as Platina ſeemeth to report, by mouing ſedition againſt Iohn the ninth.Blat. in M. 2. Whether he were ſuſpected of the death of the ſaid Iohn or not I knowe not.Abbas Vrſp. But the Abbat of vrſperg reporteth that the pope had poyſon giuen him and alſo a blowe with a beetle or mall, whereof he died.

Nowe whether theſe be the euill meanes whereof the hiſtories ſpeake, by which pope Martin came to be pope I cannot affirme. But many popes hauehave vſed as had meanes as afterwards (God willing) ſhall appeare. Not long after pope Chriſtopher, Platina Bergomat. Rioche.thought it was too long before he could get into that proude ſet. For feare therefore leſt he might goe quite without it, if he quickely got it not, he traiterouſly moued ſedition againſt pope Leo the fifth, that made great account of him, and tooke the ſaid Leo when he had beene pope but fortie dayes, and ſo gote into the place, as Rioche affirmeth by contention, and euill meanes. But nowe theſe Romiſh rabbies I would hauehave to open me one riddle. Platina hauing ſet downe this hiſtorie learneth by this experience that it is moſt true,Platina in Leo. 5. that dignities are rather dignified or commended by men, then men by them. As the Cenſorſhip (ſaith hee) of Rome at the firſt as a meane office, was nothing ſet by, but when the chiefe men of the citie, tooke that office vponupon them, then the greateſt citizens thought themſelues almoſt vnhappie, if in their life they inioied not that office. p. 165What Platina meaneth by this I cannot tell, vnleſſe he thinketh the biſhop of Rome at the firſt, was not in ſuch eſtimation or account as afterwads hee grew to. But that ſo it was I hauehave before declared. For from mean beginning he is now growen to be a captions controler of the greateſt princes. And this (as it ſeemeth) Platina thinketh to be the reaſon, why the biſhopricke of Rome (which was perchance in the beginning not worth ſuing for) was afterwards by ſo great contention and fighting ſought for. And ſo men hauehave dignified that ſeat, and not that ſeat the men. And the place hath gotten authoritie by the biſhops, not the biſhops by the place. Which in my iudgement doth ſomewhat ouerthwart that fulneſſe of power, and that continuall ſpring of ſpirituall graces, which they would make vsus beleeue, floweth from that chaire and that power which they ſay it hath from Chriſt himſelfe.

Next after Chriſtopher commeth Sergius the third.Rioche. faſcic. tempor. He diſplaced Chriſtopher by the helpe of Lotharuis the king and ſate in his place and caſt him into priſon. Now how himſelfe was made pope, Platina can tell you, who ſaith that he perſecuted Formoſus his faction,Platina in Serg. by whome he was before hindred, from being pope (for hee thought he waited to long for ſo good a place.) And thereupon Platina comparing the popes then, with the firſt that were, findeth them nothing like. For in times paſt, they refuſed that place being offered vntounto them. But now ſaith he, they ſeeke it by briberie, and ambition, and euill meanes. They gaue themſelues to prayer, and to teach. Theſe not regarding Gods ſeruice giuegive themſelues to tyranous crueltie, that after they may the more freely fulfill their luſts, whē no man dare control thē. Thus ſaith Platina of them. Not long after commeth Iohn the eleuenth a worthie prelate for ſuch a place. He was baſtard ſonne to pope Laudo, howe holy his ellection was,Bale ex Petro Premonſtratenſ. howe canonically hee was choſen is worth the hearing. Theodora a ſhameleſſe harlot, that ruled all Rome, was greatly in louelove with this Iohn, as ſoone as ſhee ſaw him. And ſhee hauing for a time inioyed his companie and liking well of the ſame, firſt made him biſhop of Bondnia, after archbiſhop of Raue…a, and laſtly biſhop of Rome, and was not this thinke you a canonicall election. p. 166But whether this harlot Theodore did violently place this pope (which eſpecially belongeth to my matter in hand) or that ſhe by fauour obtained conſent of the electours, it is not certain. But by lawfull meanes, it is certaine he came not to it. There was alſo another pope Iohn after him, thruſt into that rowme, who although he be not numbred among the popes, yet becauſe he was baſtard ſonne to pope Sergius the third, hee is woorth ſpeaking of, in reſpect of the good ſtocke he came of. Therefore Theodora that famous harlot, had a daughter maried to Guy Marques of Thuſcia, her name was Marozia. Who following the good conditions of her mother, by pope Sergius had a baſtard, whom ſhe and her huſband (hauing diſpatched pope Iohn the eleuenth by ſtopping his mouth with a pillow) made pope, and hee was called Iohn the twelfth. Thus did Marozia kill her mothers paramour, that ſhee might make her huſbands baſtard ſonne (by pope Sergius) pope in his roume. And thus we ſee howe this ſeat, wherein they will make vsus beleeue, that none can ſit but moſt holy fathers, is become a denne for moſt prophane and godleſſe ruffians and rakehels.

Iohn the twelfth by the their owne account,Rioche faſci, t…m, …ergom. was alſo intruded into that place, by meanes of his father, who was thought to bee Albert, or Albericke king of Italie. But howſoeuer he came to it, he when he was in it, was ſuch a ruffianly companion, and ſo vicious, as that it is written, that euen from his youth he was ſtarke naught, and was not aſhamed openly to keepe harlots. So youthfull he was, that in him began that by-worde, As merrie as pope Iohn. He came of a good race. For Marozia (of whom before I ſpake) was his grandmother,Act. Roman, pontif. And as his entrance was not good, ſo yet his going out was too bad: for ſome ſay the diuell killed him euen in his adulterie, being in bed with an other mans wife:Faſciul. temp. Bergom. Rioche. ſome affirme it was the womans huſband, but that hee was killed euen in his filthineſſe, all agree. And was not this a holy Father? Neither did Boniface the ſeuenth get into this ſeate the right way, but malis artibus, by euill meanes, as all ſtories almoſt ſpeake.

And of the popes that were about this time doeth the ſtoriePlat. faſcicul. temp. called Faſciculus temporum giuegive this note, That in p. 167theſe daies the biſhops of Rome were ſlaine,Platina. faſcicul temp. Popes murthered, but not mar…ired. as well as in the primitiue Church, but yet they are not Martyrs, as were the other. Their deathes were like, but the cauſe vnlike. And of this pope Boniface the ſeuenth manie ſtories report,A pope, a theefe. that hee committed theft, and ſacriledge, ſtealing from Saint Peters Church, all the Treaſure and Iewels, and ſold them at Conſtantinople, to make money thereof, wherewith hee procured ſome friendſhip at his returne, with more ſafetie to ſit in that proude ſeate.

Among theſe alſo,Rioche. may Gregorie the fifth be reckoned, who for fauour of the Emperour was made pope, or as Platina ſaieth, by the othoritie of Otho the Emperour, and as Faſciculus temporum ſaieth, at his requeſt, Bergomates ſaieth the Emperour did will and commaund him to take it vponupon him. Benedict the ninth entred vniuſtly,faſcicul. temp. and fearing that hee could not keepe the papacie, hee ſolde it to Iohn the Archdeacon. But of him I muſt ſpeake after Silueſter the third was intruded either by Symonie or ambition,Rioche. or for hatred of Benedict the ninth.

Benedict the tenth entered by force and briberie.B…rgom. As for Gregorie the tenth, how canonicallie he was choſen, it may be ſeene by the olde verſes that were made of his election, whereby it appeareth that the diſcorde of the brethren, made him (who was an Archdeacon before) father of fathers. For the place (I meana the popedome) was nowe ſo much deſired, and ſo ambitiouſlie ſought for, that the Cardinals manie times, would for a long time bee diuided, and could not agree about the chuſing of the holie father.

As immediatelie after the death of Innocent the fourth,Rioche, and alſo after the death of Clement the fourth, they diſſented almoſt two full yeares at either time, before they coulde agree of one. And this latter time doubtleſſe they had ſtaied longer, but that for ſhame they were forced to chooſe one, becauſe Philip the French king, and Charles were they preſent.

So likewiſe, before Nicholas, the 3. could he choſen, the cardinals were diuided 6.Rioche. months, & he being dead, the 2. families of y^e Vrſins & Annibals, did for 5. mōths ſpace make ſuch a breach among them, as that they could not agree of any. And before Celeſtine the fift could be choſen pope, the cardinals diſagreed two yeeres and three moneths, or, as other ſay, two yeeres and ſix moneths.Bergomate… faſcicul. tempor. And when he was choſen Bergomates ſaith, it was in ſcorne & diſdaine of Nicholas that was next before him. And indeed his ſimplicitie is ſaid to be ſuch, by al y^t write of him, that themſelues could not be ignorant, that he was not likely, to be the fitteſt for that place. After the death of Benedict the eleuenth the cardinalles were more then a whole yeere before they could chuſe an other.faſcicu. tempor. Rioche. Elections in worldly reſpects. For they did not ſeeke to chuſe the fitteſt, but ſom deſired to hauehave an Italian, y^t would be friendly to Boniface his friends. Other would hauehave one that ſhould be friendly to the French King. Thus we ſee how in their election, they maintained a faction. And at the laſt by fauour of the French king, and at his requeſt,Rioche. was Clement the fift. Next after Clement the fift commeth Iohn the two and twentieth. The cardinalles hauing beene diuided two yeeres and three moneths, when they could not agree of any, they gaue power to him, to name him that ſhould be pope. But he contrary to their expectation, did name or chuſe himſelfe, and ſo was made pope. How canonically he was choſen let the Reader iudge. Becauſe others would not,Bergomates Stella. he ſet himſelfe in that ſeate. And ſo did Iohn the three and twentieth: for lying at Bononia, more like a lord then a legate, and hauing with him a great army, he threatned the cardinals to be euen with them, vnleſſe they choſe ſuch a one as hee liked of. They naming ſundry, he would like of none. Then they deſired him to tell them whom he would hauehave. Bring mee, ſaith he, Peters cloake, and I will giuegive it to him that ſhall be pope. They did ſo. He caſt it vponupon his own ſhoulders and ſaid, I am pope. I omit to ſpeake of the great ſchiſme and contention that was for the papacie, that beganne betweene Clement the ſeuenth and Vrban the ſixt,faſcicul. tempor. which continued 39. yeeres, Faſciculus temporum ſaith 40. which alſo was occaſiō of great bloodſhed among chriſtians. Wherein chriſtendome was ſo diuided, that the moſt godly and learned did not knowe which was that pope, whom they might acknowledge for the head of the church. In what a diſtreſſed caſe was the church at that time, when it imagined, it muſt needes hauehave a pope for a head, and could not tell where to hauehave him:De authorie. co… cil li. 2. cap. 19. The church ſome time headleſſe. for a doubtfull pope is no pope ſaith maſter Bellarmine. As alſo before I hauehave ſhewed that many times there was no pope for many moneths, yea ſometimes for ſome yeres, becauſe the cardinals could not agree among themſelues. Yea after Nicholas the firſt there was no pope as ſome ſay for eight yeeres and almoſt eight months:Platina. Iacob. Bergom. how then did the church for want of a head.

Thus hauehave I briefly runne ouer many of them, whome in ancient hiſtories I find by fighting or force, or other hard means to hauehave intruded themſelues, or elſe by contention and ſtrife to hauehave beene placed by other in the popedome. And not one that ſo climeth vp by the window, can be ſaide lawfully to be choſen to the ſame.

But as theſe by force, ſo by falſhoode other came to the ſame.Platina. Vigilius was made pope at the earneſt ſuite of Theodora the empreſſe, with this promiſe, that when hee was made pope, hee woulde reuoke Anthemius, making him againe the patriarch of Conſtantinople, and diſplace Menas a godly biſhop. Now Anthemiu was an Eutychian, and ſo did defend, that there was in Chriſt but one nature. True it is, that he being made pope would not performe that promiſe, wherein he did well. But if hee had not by ſuch ſubtile ſhifts ſought to be pope he had done better. But it ſeemeth, howſoeuer he afterwardes conſtantly refuſed to do that euill (perchance being put in minde of his offence by Siluerius) yet hee had a very ambitious minde, and ſought long before to hauehave beene pope,Epiſt. Siluer. Tom. concil. 2. in principio. Bergom. Platina. as appeareth by a letter that Siluerius the pope his next predeceſſour wrote vntounto him. Wherein he chargeth him, that contrary to the Canons he ſought to be ſucceſſour vntounto Boniface.

Martine alſo the ſecond, a proude pope and ambitious, by moouing trouble to Iohn his predeceſſour, and getting him caſt in priſon, thought (perchance) the ſooner to get into that place. But howſoeuer it was, it is written of him, that by euill and indirect meanes he came to that place, and by craft or deceit (as Bale writeth.)

As for Honorius the ſecond, Platina telleth vsus how he came to that ſeate.

p. 170For Leo Breake-bread, a great man in Rome (Calixtus the ſecond being dead) gaue charge vntounto the Cardinals,Platina. Act. Rom pontif. not to be too haſtie to chuſe a pope, but that they ſhould tarie three daies, to conſider more deliberately of the matter, and to peruſe the Canons. He indeuoured in the meane time to procure the place to one Lambert biſhop of Oſtia. The Cardinals perceiuing his ſubtiltie, did chuſe one whom they called Celeſtine. The people were verie deſirous to hauehave a Saxon the cardinal of S. Steuen, and alſo the ſaid Break-bread, ſeemed willing to hauehave the ſame, the rather to get the people to bee fauourable to him whom he would hauehave, ſeeing the Cardinals had choſen one, againſt their minde. And by this ſubtiltie of Breake-bread was Honorius made pope. Frier Rioche ſaieth, perchaunce Honorius was not conſenting to this canuaſing to make him pope. Whether he were or not it maketh no great matter. I looke not nowe, what the parties are, but whether the election were lawfull, the choiſe free, and with willing conſent, and how he entered. But Platina himſelfe miſliketh the election.

I had almoſt forgotten Boniface the eight,Platina. Bergom, Rioche. a man as well worthie to be remembred, for his ſubtill dealing, to get Rome for him to ſit in the popes ſeat, as any other. For he cauſed a man ſecretly to hide himſelfe in the chamber of (eleſtine the fifth, who was a verie ſeellie ſimple man, who in the night time, ſhould, as if he were an Angell ſent from God to inſtruct him, admoniſh pope Celeſtine, if he would be ſaued, to giuegive ouer the papacie. Celeſtine not miſtruſting any falſhoode, but thinking it was a voice from God himſelfe, gaue ouer the papacy. Vrban the ſixt likewiſe was thus choſen,Iacob. Bergom. & The people required an Italian pope. The Cardinals to pleaſe the people, promiſed to do what they could, and aſking aduiſe of one Bartholomew biſhop of Bar, he gaue counſel that they ſhould chooſe one for the preſent, to pacifie them, that they might hauehave the name. And then going to another place, they ſhould chuſe another, that ſhould be pope in deede. Whereupon they choſe him to be pope in name. Which when they had done hee kept it in deed. And therefore Stella and others,…uic. l. 20. in fine call him craftie. But in craft Paul the third was not inferiour to any, who (as is reported by Francis Guicciardine a papiſt too in his hiſtorie of Italie) that the Cardinals p. 171might be the more willing to chuſe him to be pope, in hope that he would ſoone be dead, did by art iucreaſe the opinion of weakneſſe, which by reaſon of his age, (for he was lxvii. yeares olde) they had conceiued of him. But for all his feigned weakeneſſe, he liued pope more then xv. yeares. A longer time then commonly the popes of theſe latter times are ſuffered to liue.

An other kind of cunning alſo there is,Popes choſen by ſymony and briberie. when by bribery and gifts they will buy, that which their deſert can neuer procure vntounto them. And this ſymonicall ſubtiltie, was ſometime their ladder, whereby they muſt climbe vp into that chaire, which is ſet higher, then they otherwiſe would be able to get into. Platina writeth that Formoſus g…t to be pope by bribery rather then vertue.Platina. But what ſpeake I of Formoſus, Bergomates and Stella, writing vponupon Romanus that was pope ſoone after Formoſus, doe ſhew the practiſe of popes of thoſe times to get the popedome.Bergom. Stella. For of Romanus they ſay, that he came not to it by ambition, and briberie, as did many of the popes of thoſe dayes. I hauehave ſpoken before of Boniface the ſeuenth, who ſtole the treaſure, and moſt precious iewels out of S. Peters church, that he might be the better able to bride, as all ſtories report. As for Benedict the ninth if he ſolde the popedome, Gregorie the ſixth bought it. In deed Platina and other doe ſay, that he ſold it, or gaue it ouer, let the indifferent reader iudge whether is more likely that he did.Sigeb. Cron. But Sigebert doeth pſaiulie ſay, that this Benedict was a Symoniacke, or got the popedome by ſimonie. And in Euſebius his Chronicle it is written,Euſeb. cron. that Theophylact (belike that was Benedicts name) did ſell the Papacie to Iohn a Prieſt. And this bargaining and badde dealing made plentie of Popes at this good time. For ſome write, that Henrie the Emperour depoſed at this time fiue Popes, and made a ſixth.

And that the world may ſee howe good choiſe they made. It is written that one of them (Sigebert ſaith Benedict, but Faſciculus temporū ſaith Gregorie the ſixt) was ſo vnlearned, that hee was faine to get one choſen to ſay Maſſe, and play the Pope in the church,Faſcic. tempot. while himſelfe might play the pope abroad. Now I pray you which of theſe popes was the heade of the church: the praying pope, or the playing pope.

p. 172The church that hath ſo bad heades muſt needes be ſicke of the headach,Eſay 19. 14.Isa 19:14 and troubled with a phrenſie, or gidi…es, as indeede the Romiſh church is. For it would not otherwiſe ſo manifeſtly oppoſe it ſelfe againſt Chriſt, as it doth. By what meanes Clement the third came to be pope I cannot tell. But Richard the firſt king of England,Act. and Mon. Anno 1190. Mat. Paris. made a great complaint of the pope, and his court for their ſymonie. And Mathew of Paris reporteth, how he emptied the bags, and lightned the cariages of Iohn the biſhop of Norwich, who ſought to him to be diſpenſed withall for a vowe (as it ſeemeth) that he had made, to go to the holy land. But of that kinde of ſymonie, that author complaineth bitterly, in many places, againſt many popes. I might alſo ſpeake of the euil entrance of Iulius the ſecond, who by his great power which men feared,Guic. hiſt. Ital. N. 6. and his bribes that he gaue, and promiſes of biſhopricks and ſuch other promotions which he made, got to be pope, although otherwiſe a man for ſturdie and ſurly nature loued of none, miſliked of all. But let vsus ſee what other meanes they hauehave, when violence, craft, and ſimonie, will not ſerue. They hauehave an Italian figge, to haſten them that are popes to giuegive place to them that would be.

It is reported by the writers of hiſtories,Platina… Rioche. that Damaſus the ſecond ſent ſuch a haſtie meſſenger, to call away Clement the ſecond, his predeceſſour. For he thought he taried too long, and yet he ſtayed in that ſeat ſcarſe nine monthes. A litle before Clement, was Iohn the ninteenth ſommoned in ſuch ſort, when he had beene pope litle more then three monethes.bale act. Rom. pontif. But for Clement Benno the cardinall writeth that hee was rather poyſoned by Brazutus that godleſſe wretch and that Heldebrand that firebrand of much miſchiefe,ben. de vita & geſtis Hildeb. procured to doe many ſuch feats. For within thirteene yeares, he poiſoned ſix popes, Clement the ſecond Damaſus the ſecond, Leo the ninth, Victor the ſecond, Steuen the tenth, and Nicolas the ſecond. So that if any but Gregorie were choſen this Gerard Brazutus was readie ſtraight way to giuegive him a drinke that did them litle good. So …hat poyſoning ſeemeth at that time, to be but a popelike practiſe,De pontif. Rom. …. 5. cap. 13. if wee will beleeue Cardinall Benno. But maſter Bellarmine endeuoureth as much as hee can, to p. 173impaire the credit of that hiſtory. And to that end he gathereth all that he can find out of other hiſtories,bellar. obiect. againſt benno. either in diſprayſe of Henry the fourth the emperour, againſt whom pope Gregory the ſeuenth did vndutifully and vnchriſtianly oppoſe himſelfe. And alſo picketh out all the prayſes of Gregory the ſeuenth, to make him ſeeme another manner of man, then Benno reporteth him to be.Anſwere. But Benno liued in the time of Gregorie and therefore he could be an eye-witnes of many things. He was a cardinall and therefore by likelihood, howſoeuer he miſliked of the doings of the man, yet he would not vntrewly report any thing, that might be a ſtaine to that church. But if he had written any thing falſly, it is not to be thought, but that ſome or other hiſtoriographer of thoſe times, would hauehave proued that cardinall Benno had but ſlaundered, and would hauehave written againſt him. Which maſter Bellarmine hath not ſhewed there. And therefore that which he hath ſaid doth onelyonly prooue, that the emperour had his faults, and that the writers of thoſe times, would rather lay the cauſe of Gregories immoderate pride and tyrannie vponupon the wicked doings of the emperour, then vponupon the proud and vnruly affections of the pope. Pope Alexander the ſixth a ſea and ſincke of ſinne, and as it were nothing but a maſſe of wickedneſſe, was belike very ſkilfull in this tricke.Guic. hiſt. Ital. li. 1. And yet I neuer heard that euer he poyſoned any popes, but one onelyonly, and that was himſelfe. He came to be pope as other in thoſe dayes, by indirect and euill meanes. For he bought with mony, and obtained, by promiſing the promotions that he was poſſeſſed of vntounto others their voices, and ſo was made pope. Though he was of ſo bad diſpoſition, as that Ferdinand king of Naples (though he were neuer ſeem to weepe, at the death of any of his children) when he heard that he was choſen pope, wept, and with teares ſaid to his wife, that hee would be a great enemy not to Italy only, but euē to al chriſtendome. And thus doth Guicciardine and Italian deſcribe him that there was in that man no ſincerity,A popelike man. ſhame, truth, faith, religion: but inſaciableauarice, immoderate ambition, more then barbarous cruelty, a moſt earneſt deſire to aduaunce by any meanes his children that were not few, & ſom of them as bad as their father. Is not this thinke you a popelike prelate? Did not the cardinals p. 174that ſold their voyces, to make him pope, find out a holy father to ſit in that chaire? And ſuch are, O ye papiſts, ſuch are too too many of the heads of your church of Rome, of later yeares. But to returne. For I hauehave a litle diſgreſſed to ſhew his canonicall entrance, and his popelike vertues. If he entred not by poyſening, yet he did practiſe it very much. And hee had a ſonne Valentine a baſtard as hee had many (ſixe children in all Platina ſpeaketh of) who was firſt made cardinall by his father,Guic. hiſt. Ita, l. 6 yet afterwards he turned his cote, and became a duke. His father and he minding to ſup in a garden (where the ſonne alſo purpoſed to poyſon Adrian a cardinall, that ought the garden) this Valentine ſent thether bottels of poyſoned wine, with charge that none ſhould drinke thereof, before himſelfe came. But the pope his father being drie, called for wine. And becauſe none was brought from the popes pallice, Valentines ſeruāt, giueth to the p…pe of that wine, thinking his maſter had forbidden that any ſhould drinke thereof, becauſe it was ſome principall wine. As the pope was drinking, his ſonne Valentine commeth in, his father giueth to him of the ſame wine. The father died of the ſame. Wee may note in him Gods iuſt iudgement. For the pope and his ſonne did vſe to poyſon many,A pope a poiſoner poiſoned by his ſonne. not ſo much for reuenge, or in reſpect of their ſafetie, to diſpatch ſo their enemies (although euen that is but a cowardly vilanie) but to get their goods, although they neuer wronged them. As the rich cardinall of Saint Angelo. Yea euen their deareſt frends, if they were rich they would ſerue ſo, as they did the cardinals of Capua, and Mantua. But that kind of death that they had brought many vntounto, the pope himſelfe then taſted of, and the ſonne very hardly eſcaped, but his being ſicke at that time was a meruelous ouerthrow of his eſtate. Yea we ſee how they that were conſpirers together, to poyſon many, did now ſhew their ſkill, one vponupon another. The ſonne poyſoning the father, for he ſent the poyſoned bottels.The father and ſonne poiſon one another. And the father poyſoning the ſon, for he gaue him poyſon to drinke. And ſo where ſome other by poyſoning their predeceſſours made roome for themſelues: Alexander the ſixth, by poyſoning himſelfe made roome for another. And if they thinke none of theſe practiſes ſure enough, then will they fall downe and worſhip him, who when he had p. 175ſhewed Chriſt all the kingdomes of the worlde,Matth. 4. 8, 9.Matt 4:8Matt 4:9 and the glorie thereof, he ſaid to him, (though they are not his to giuegive) all theſe will I giuegive thee, if thou wilt fall downe and worſhip me.Platina. Platina himſelfe (who is loth to ſpeake the woorſt by Popes, vnleſſe the truth thereof be ſo plaine, that it cannot well bee denied) reporteth of Silueſter the ſecond, that he gaue himſelfe to the diuell, vponupon condition the diuell would make him Pope. Muſt it not needes be a good head of the Church, that is of the diuels owne chuſing?

Cardinall Benno writeth the like alſo of Iohn the ninteenth,Ben. de geſt. Hil. who came next after Siueſter, and of Benedict the 9, who as he ſaith, was by the diuell choked in a wood. But I of purpoſe let paſſe many of theſe examples. For I hauehave beene much longer then I had purpoſed, in theſe practiſes of the popes, to get into this chaire. If I ſhould come to the election of popes in theſe our times is it not as eaſie to ſee, as the ſunne at noon day, that there is almoſt none choſen to that ſeat, but by fauour, briberie, ſuite, or to pleaſe and pleaſure ſome princes, or in reſpect of ſome faction? Is not this the ſpêciall care that they hauehave in their elections, who is fitteſt to maintaine their owne pride, and moſt likelie to ſerue their owne turne? Are all their popes choſen now canonically, without reſpect of any thing, but to chuſe the fitteſt? If the greateſt friends that the Romiſh church hath, were ſo ſhameleſſe that they would ſay ſo, yet their owne heart within them, would tell them that they lie. Well then, if to bee thruſt into that place by others, or to intrude themſelues, if to get it by fighting and brawling, by poiſoning and killing, by bitter contention and ſtrife, by craft and falſhood, by briberie and gifts, by murthering and miſchiefe: To bee ſhort, if to climbe into it by helpe of the diuell, and by ſuch horrible wickedneſſe, as Chriſtian eares cannot well endure to heare, be to enter in at the doore, and to be choſen canonically, then we will confeſſe that mame of the popes hauehave entered well. But if this be to come as a theefe, and a murtherer, then what meaneth the church of Rome, ſo to …ag of their ſucceſſion, which euen by their owne lawes (ſet downe a little before) hath ſo often, and ſo notoriouſly beene interrupted? What meane theſe factours and brokers for Simon Magus, that briber and ſorcerer, to vauat themſelues, to be ſucceſſuors p. 176to Simon Peter? Theſe are ſuch heads, as the church of Rome can affoord vsus. Theſe are they, that we muſt call moſt holy fathers. Theſe, euen theſe are they that cannot erre, if you will truſt the church of Rome. And yet in all that they doe, there is nothing but erring, out of the right way. They are like men, that pretending to ſhoote at a marke, turne their backe of it, and ſhoote the cleane contrarie way. And as they are content to vſe any meanes be it neuer ſo vnlawfull, to get into that ſeat, ſo when they are gotten once into it, they are become lawleſſe and ſhameleſſe, as by ſome examples ſhall be ſhewed. Honorius the third, did very ſawcely oppoſe himſelfe againſt the emperour Fredericke the ſecond (as alſo did ſome other of his felowes) and did excommunicate him and depriued him of his imperiall dignitie.Plat. in Honor. 3. Act. Rom. pont. in Honor. 3. And Bale telleth vsus that the cauſe why the pope delt ſo hardly with him, was for that he defended his owne right in Apulia and Cicily. And out of Marius he reporteth, that the pope did maintaine and cheriſh, certaine of the emperours rebels and ſeditious ſubiects ſo that the emperour, could not puniſh them as they deſerued. The names of thoſe traiters were Mathew and Thomas, who kept from him forceably ſome of his caſtels and poſſeſſions,Abbas Vrſperg. in freder. 2. whom when the emperour had ſubdued they fled to the pope: who intertained thoſe traiters againſt their lord and maſter. Whereof becauſe (as he had great cauſe) hee complained it ſeemeth that hereupon he did excommunicate him. But Gregorie the ninth that came next after him, was far more cruel then he againſt the emperour, continuing the ſentence of excommunication againſt him, which Honorius had pronounced,Plat. in Greg. 9 vponupon pretence that al his commaundement, hee did not goe to the holy land. Neither could any reaſonable excuſe ſerue to mitigate the mad moode of that Luciferian pope againſt the emperour. For by the emperours letters, the contents whereof are to be ſeene in Abbas Vrſpergenſis, and in Mathew of Paris, it appeareth that the emperour was ſick, in ſomuch as hauing vndertaken the iorney, by reaſon of his ſickneſſe, hee was forced to returne againe. But it is plaine enough to them that marke the ſequel, that the pope did but picke a quarrel againſt the emperour, that he might inuade his poſſeſſions. The emperour ſeeing this ſaucie pope, p. 177ſo cruely and couetouſly bent againſt him, conſulted with ſome of the Romans (with ſuch I ſay as were of principall account among them) how he might bind the people of Rome, to acknowledge themſelues to be his ſubiects, which he brought to pas. Then the pope ſent forth againſt the emperor, another thundercracke of excommunication. For which his inſolent fact, the pope by the people was forced to flee out of Rome. And durſt not returne in two yeares. Now the emperour to pleaſe the pope went to the holy land as they call it. But the pope doth now ſhew himſelfe to hauehave had no other meaning, in ſending him to fight for the holy land,2. Sam. 1….2 Sam 1 then Dauid had, when hee commaunded Ioab to place Vriah in the ſtrength of the enemies battel, and that he and his people ſhould flee, leauing Vriah to be ſlaine of the enemie. So the pope commaunded the emperour (the ſawcie ſeruant his lord & maſter) to fight againſt y^e Turke. But to what end? Had he any true zeale againſt Gods enemies? Had he a ſincere heart, and vnfained affection, to increaſe the kingdome of Chriſt, no no. It ſeemeth he much more deſired the deſtruction of the emperour and intruding himſelfe into his dominions, then the recouering of the holy land. For the emperour being at Acon, hauing paſſed according to the popes pleaſure, into that land to fight againſt the Turke: the pope by all meanes poſſible did ſtay his ſoldiers, and ſuch as were to paſſe ouer to aide the emperour, and fight in that quarrel, not ſuffering them to goe. And nowe the emperour being where the pope would hauehave him, he (the pope I meane) beſtoweth huge maſſes of mony, in hiring of ſoldiers to inuade the emperours dominion, ſtirring vp the traitours before mentioned Mathew and Thomas againſt him, and ſo ſubdueth to himſelfe that which belonged to the emperour. What a godles and ſhameles parte was this, by excommunications to force the emperour, vnderunder pretence of holy warre, to leaue his dominions, and then moſt wrongfully to inuade the ſame? And when the emperour being there, had made an honorable peace betweene the Chriſtians and the Soldan, hauing gotten reſtitution of certain things, that the Soldan had woon, he of his good nature wrote vntounto the pope, to certifie him of theſe newes, which he thought, would hauehave bin ioyfull to al chriſtians. But that proud prieſt, as he had p. 178before contemptuouſly refuſed to heare, or admit into his preſence the emperours embaſſadours,The pope a ſhameleſſe liar. ſo did hee nowe reiect his letters, and caſt them from him. he alſo cauſed it to be publiſhed abroad that the emperour was dead, thinking thereby the rather to diſcourage the emperours faithfull ſubiectes, and to make them yeelde vntounto him. And to the end that this lying report ſhould not be croſſed,A murderer. Act. Rom. pontif. in Greg. 9. the pope cauſed the meſſengers that brought the letters to be killed. Thus we ſee how Gods vicar beyond all ſhame, and without all ſhew of reaſon doth whollie oppoſe himſelfe againſt Gods ordinance, namely the emperor. Theſe things are largely ſet downe by Abbas Vrſp. before named, but eſpecially by Mathew of Paris, who in a letter written to Richard earle of Cornewall by Fredericke the emperor of the report of all the popes dealing with the ſaide emperour,Mathew Paris. Hen. 3. fol. 676. The cauſes of the popes hatred againſit the emperour fol. 673. ſheweth the principall cauſe of all this malice that the pope had againſt him, was, becauſe he refuſed to permit the pope to ſet downe order concerning Lumbrardy: for the pope deſired to hauehave that matter compromitted to him ſimply, without any exception or reſeruation of any right to himſelfe. Which if the emperor would hauehave yeelded vntounto, and ſo hauehave loſt Lumbardy, as there the emperour doth teſtifie, he might hauehave wonne the Popes fauour. For hee promiſed him faithfully (if the faith of a Pope be any thing worth) that hee woulde not onelyonly doe nothing againſt him, but he would alſo giuegive vntounto him towards he maintenance of his warres, the tenth of all chriſtendome. The pope alſo woulde faine hauehave beſtowed a neece of his vppon the emperours ſonne Henry, Pariſ. 1107.which becauſe the emperour would not hearken vntounto (for his nobles tooke ſcorne that the pope ſhoulde make that offer) for this and the other cauſe before alleadged, the pope miſliking the emperour, did picke all quarrels againſt him and did thrice excommunicate him,In Greg. 9. and as Iohn Bale out of this Mat. Paris allegeth, did promiſe eternall life to al them that would fight againſt the emperour. As if ſo curſed a creature had it to beſtow at his pleaſure: or as if rebellion againſt Gods ordinance might looke for ſo good and great a recompence.

I might enter into a large and wide fielde of the notorious o…ſtinacie and vnlawful dealing which ſundry of the popes hauehave vſed againſt their lords & emperors. But I hauehave ſtaid ſomwhat p. 179long in this example, becauſe it appeareth by the ſtories, that as their dealing againſt him was lewd and cruel, ſo the cauſe was their owne priuate matters, which caried them with an vndrideled affection to do whatſoeuer they could miſchieuouſly deuiſe, if they had power to put it in execution, not regarding what impietie they cōmitted againſt God, or what wrong againſt man, or what diſgrace the brought to themſelues, an their place, ſo they might worke their wil.The vexation againſt the emperour Henry the fourth. What ſhould I here ſpeake of the great troubles that Gregorie the 7, Victor the 3, Vrban the 3, and Paſchal the 2 wrought againſt Henry the 4 the emperor excommunicating him, diſcharging his ſubiects of their obedience they ought to him, yea ſtirring vp vnnaturally his owne natural ſonne againſt him? How rude and ſauage crueltie was that which Gregorie the ſeuenth that vnmanerly fellow, ſhewed vntounto the emperour at the towne called Canuſium,Greg. 7. his barbarous pride. when hee made the emperour, that was willing to ſubmit himſelfe (being by extremitie forced therto) to wait at his gates, three daies continually in the extremitie of a ſharpe winter,Sleid. de mon. l. … Rioche cempend. hiſtor. barefoote and bare legged, without meate or drinke, and would not admitte that great monarch to his ſpeech. The fourth day, with much adoe, by the intreaty of a gentlewoman (who could do ſomwhat with the pope) and at the ſuite of ſome others, his holineſſe forſooth was content he ſhould be admitted vntounto his preſence. And though this y^e emperor his ſubmiſſiō was ſuch, as was thought too lowly and abiect by the nobles of Italy, inſomuch as they purpoſed to depoſe Henry the fourth from the empire,Sleid. de mon. l. … as bringing a ſtaine to the ſame, by his ouer humble yeelding vntounto the popes exceſſiue pride: yet could it not ſatiſfie the pope. For he notwithſtanding all that the emperour had doone, purpoſed to beſtow the empire vponupon Rafe …. of Sweueland. And therefore ſent to him the crown emperial with this verſe written about it:

The Rocke to Peter this crowne gaue,

And Peter bids that Rafe it hauehave.

This Henry that was moſt villainouſly abuſed, by that prowde beaſt and his ſucceſſors, is he of whome Paulus Langius bringeth the teſtimonie of Otho Friſingenſis, that he was the firſt emperor of Rome that he could find (although he marked diligently in reading) that euer was excommunicated, or p. 180depriued of his kingdome by the biſhop of Rome.…geb. Cron. anno 1088. For, as Sigebertus ſaieth, this onelyonly new doctrine, I wil not call it hereſte (ſaith he) was not yet bred, that the prieſtes ſhoulde teach the people, that vntounto wicked kings they owe no ſubiection. Yea, though they hauehave ſworne fidelitie to them, yet they owe them no fidelitie, neither that they are not to bet called periured, that ſtand againſt the king, but whoſoeuer obeyeth the king, is to be accounted an excommunicate perſon: but he that is againſt himlis abſolued from all fault and periurie. If Sigebert had liued in our times, what would he hauehave ſaid, when hee ſhould ſee this new hereſie, not onelyonly ſtiffely and ſtubbornly, yet ſlenderly and verie vnlearnedly maintained for catholike doctrine,The anſwer to engliſh iuſtice cap. 4. by that vnnaturall traitor Allen and his fellowes, and a new practiſe alſo agreeable thereunto put in bre and highly commended, to poiſon, ſhoote, or by any meanes to kill, ſuch as the popes will ſay are heretikes (as all are that wil not ſtoupe vnderunder his yoke.) Wel, about 500. yeres ſince, it was new hereſie (for it is verie neare ſo long ſince Sigebert did write.) And therefore it is not that poore proofe of Tho… of Aquine, a man that liued in the dayes of corruption, or of Francis of Toledo, ſome ſeditious papiſt of our time, or of that late Councill of Lateran, not much aboue 300. yeares ſince, that can make it a Catholike doctrine. But to end this ſtorie of Henrie the fourth, Paſchalis who was not long after Gregorie, did not only proſecute the matter with all extremitie, againſt he ſaid Emperour whileſt hee was aliue, as did Gregorie before him:Malice againſt the emperour being dead. …rant. li. 5. c. 24. Abbas Vriperg. …. 1106. but euen after he was dead, they who for good will, and that common dutie that we owe to them that are departed, did burie him, could neuer hauehave peace or fauour of pope Paſchalis the ſecond, vntill they had taken vp his bodie, and caſt it into the fields. Is not this popelike charitie? Is not this diueliſh enuie, a moſt ſure demonſtration that they are not led by the ſpirit of God? But to bee ſhort, this one thing I dare affirme, and I proclaime it to the ſhame of all them that louelove poperie: that if you ſearch all ſtories, and peruſe all Chronicles, and call to remembrance all things that you hauehave read, heard, or ſeene, you ſhall neuer find any that profeſſe the name of Chriſt, be they neuer ſo rude or ſauage, not any Turke, Iew or infidell, wil attempt things ſo vnnaturall, ſo contrarie to the law p. 181of God, ſo far beyond the compaſſe of humanitie, as papiſts doe and wil do, yea and many of the popes themſelues hauehave don, and thought they might doe. Our late daies giuegive vsus ſo many examples, to proue this to be true, that wee need not looke vntounto theſe former ſtories. You ſee how vnereuerently they hauehave dealt with theſe moſt honourable princes. And did not pope Alexander the third as intollerably hehaue himſelfe as any man could do, when hee making the Emperour lie downe at his feete, did treade vppon the necke of the Lords annointed, which was woorſe then to cut off the lap or a peece of his garment,1. Sam. 24. 6.1 Sam 24:6 (for doing whereof, Dauid accuſed himſelfe to hauehave done wrong.) But this pope, I ſay,funct. cro. 116…. treading vponupon the necke, of Fredericke the firſt of that name emperour, did moſt prophanely and blaſphemouſly abuſe theſe words of the Pſalme, Pſal. 91. 13.Ps 91:13Thou ſhalt walke vponupon the lion and aſpe, the yong lion and the dragon, ſhalt thou tread vnderunder foot. Thereby proclaiming that he he neither had any feare of God, or reuerence of the ſupreme maieſtie in earth. I omit of purpoſe to ſpeake of Gelaſius the ſecond,Gelaſius. Calixt. 2. againſt Hen. 5. and Calixtus the ſecond, againſt Henrie the fift, the vnnaturall ſonne of Henrie the fourth. Nether do I rehearſe the vngodly dealings of theſe and ſome other againſt manie kings and princes. Yea I paſſe ouer alſo with ſilence, that villainous treaſon that Alexander the third wrought and practiſed,Act. Rom. pontif. Alex. 3. with the Turke, againſt this Fredericke the firſt which had beene the finall deſtruction of the emperour, if the Turke had not beene more mercifull,The pope a traitor to the emperour. then the pope was faithfull. For the pope deſiring the death of the emperor, moued the Turke to diſpatch him, as he loued his owne quietnes: and withall ſent him a liuely counterfet or picture of the emperor, wherby he might know him if he came into his hands, by which alſo the emperor being taken of the Turks, was knowne when he came before the great Turke. For hee brought forth the ſaid picture which y^e pope had ſent him, therby prouing him to be Frederick, and withall he ſhewed the popes letter, mouing him to deſtroy the emperor, and therby did it appeare to all that heard thereof, that the pope was a traitor to Gods cauſe, & the emperors perſon. But I am weary of raking in theſe chanels. And this which is already ſaid, is I truſt, ſufficient to point vntounto the vnreuerent vnhoneſt, & vnchriſtian proceedings which theſe godles and prophane p. 182vgly monſters vſed, after y^• once they came to their height of honor: abuſing the colour and pretence of religion and holines, to hide their violent and bilanous practiſes: And makng that ſeuere cenſure and ſharpe chaſticement,Excommunication abuſed. (which is onelyonly to be vſed in Gods cauſes, and that vponupon the greateſt occaſions,) as a very fooles bable, wherewith they ſtrike eueryevery one, that doth not folowe their vnbridled wilfullneſſe. But their intollerable and impotent pride, doth yet more appeare, if we conſider their dooings nearer home. For you ſee howe after they had gotten that authoritie which long they ſought, euen as a man that aimeth at his marke, ſo did they practiſe and deuiſe what they could, againſt the ſoueraine maieſtie vponupon earth, as if all their care were bent, to bring him lower as indeede they did, ſpoyling him by litle and litle of his dominions, and ſo leſſening his power, and at the laſt deſpiſing his authoritie, and wringing it out of his hands as hath beene ſhewed. And as hee could not abide any to be his better or ſuperior ſo far of,The popes dealings againſt the regiment in Rome. ſo likewiſe he could not ſuffer any to hauehave any gouernment exempt from him, neere him in the citie of Rome, and therefore were they alſo ſundrie times repining and ſtriuing againſt thoſe magiſtrats which in Rome had the gouernment of the citie. For hauing brought the emperour to hold of him (for the emperour, ſay the Canoniſts now, holdeth his empier of the pope, and therefore he is bound to ſwere homage and fealty to the pope, as the vaſſal is voūd to his lord) hauing I ſay ſo ſubiected the greateſt, he taketh ſcorne that any ſhould ſit vnderunder his noſe, and not be vnderunder him. And therefore pope Leo the third ſending certaine preſents vntounto Charles the great,Rob. Ba…nes. in Leo 3. The popes ſeeke to ſubiect the citie to them. made vntounto him ſuite and obtained it, that the people of Rome ſhould be ſworne to be ſubiect vntounto him.