The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 4 · Chapter 7
¶The .vii. Chapter. Of the beginnyng and encreasyng of the Papacie of Rome, vntill it aduaunced it selfe to this height, wherby bothe the libertie of the Chirche hath ben oppressed, and all the right gouernement therof ouerthrowen.
AS concernyng the auncientnesse of the supremicie of the see of Rome, there is nothyng hadde of more antiquitie to stablishe it, than that decree of the Nicene Synode, wherein the Bishop of Rome bothe hath the firste place among the Patriarches geuen vntounto him, and is cōmaū ded to looke vntounto the Chirches adioynynge to the citie. When the Councell maketh suche diuision betwene him and the other Patriarches, that it assigneth to eueryevery one their boundes: truely it doth not appoint hym the head of all, but maketh him one of the chief. There were present Uitus and Uincentius in the name of Iulius, which then gouerned the Chirche of Rome: to them was geuen the fowerth place. I beseeche you, if Iulius were acknowledged the head of the Chirche, should his Legates be thrust into the fowerth seat? Should Athanasius be chiefe in the Councell, where principally the image of the Hierarchicall order ought to be seen? In the Synode at Ephesus it appereth, that Celestinus whiche was then Bishoppe of Rome, vsed a crooked suttle meane, to prouide for the dignitie of his seate. For when he sent his deputies thether, he committed his stede to Cyrillus of Alexandria, which should notwithstandyng otherwise hauehave ben the chiefe. To what purpose was that same cōmitting, but that his name might by what meane soeuer abide in the first place. For his Legates sate in a lower place, and were asked their opinion among the rest, and subscribed in their order: in the mean time the Patriarche of Alexandria ioyned Celestins name with his owne. What shall I say of the seconde counsell at Ephesus: where when Leos legates were present, yet Dioscorus Patriarche of Alexandria sate the chief as by his owne right? They wil take exception that it was no vpright counsell, by which both the holy man Flauianus was condemned, and Eutyches acquited, and his vngodlynesse allowed. But when the Synode was gathered, when the Bishopes tooke their places in order, verily the Legates of the Bishoppe of Rome sate there among the rest none otherwise than in a holy & lawfull Councell. Yet they striued not for the first place, but yelded it to an other: whiche they would neuer hauehave done, if they had thought it to be theirs of right. For the Bishops of Rome were neuer ashamed to entre into the greatest contentions for their honors, and for this onelyonly cause oftentymes to vexe and trouble the Chirche with many and hurtefull striues. But because Leo sawe that it should be a to muche vnreasonable request, if he should seeke to gette the chiefe place for his Legates, therfore he successed it.
Then folowed the Councell of Chalcedon, in which by the graunt of the Emperour the Legates of the Chirche of Rome sate in the chiefe place. But Leo hymself confesseth that this was an extraordinarie priuilege. For when he made petition for it to the Emperour Marcianus, & Pulcheria the Empresse, he did not affirm yt it was due to him, but only pretended, that the Easterne Bishops, which sate as chief in the councell at Ephesus, troubled all thynges, and ill abused their power. Where as therfore it was nedefull to hauehave a graue gouernour, and it was not likely that they should be mete for it, whiche had ones ben so light and disordered: therfore he praied, that by reason of the default & vnfitnesse of other, the office of gouerning might be remoued to hym. Truely that which is gotten by singular priuiledge and beside order, is not by common lawe. Where this onelyonly is pretended, that there nedeth som newe gouernour, because the former gouernours had behaued theim selues ill, it is euident that it neither was so before, nor oughte to continue so for euer, but is doone onelyonly in respect of present danger. The Bishop of Rome therfore had the first place in the Councell at Chalcedon: not because it was due to his see, but because the Synod was at that tyme destitute of a graue and fitte gouernour, while they that oughte to hauehave been the chiefe, did through their owne intemperance and corrupt affection, thruste themselues oute of place. And this that I saye, Leos successour dyd in dede proue. For when he sence his Legates to the fifthe Synode at Cōstantinople, which was holden long tyme after, he brauled not for the firste seate, but easily suffered Menna the Patriarche of Constantinople to sitte as chiefe. So in the counsell at Carthage, at whiche Augustine was present, we see that not the Legates of the see of Rome, but Aurelius Archbishop of that place sate as chiefe: when yet the contention was about the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome.The coū sell at Aquile…a. Yea there was also a generall councell holden in Italy it selfe, at which the Bishop of Rome was not present. Ambrose was chiefe there, which was in very greate authoritie wt the Emperour, there was no mencion made of yt Bishop of Rome. Therfore at yt time it came to passe by ye dignitie of Ambrose, yt yt see of Millain was more noble thā ye see of Rome.
As concerning the title of supremicie, and other titles of pride, whervpon it now maruailously bosteth it selfe,Lib. 2. Epist. 2. & lib. 4. Epist. 6. it is not harde to iudge, when and in what sorte they crept in. Cyprian oftentymes maketh mention of Cornelius. He setteth him out with no other name, but by the name of brother, or felow bishoppe, or felowe in office. But when he writeth to Stephen the successor of Cornelius, he doeth not only make him egal with himselfe and the rest, but also speaketh more hardly to hym, charging him sometime with arrogance, somtime with ignorance. Sins Cipriane we hauehave what all the Chirche of Africa iudged of that mater. The Councell at Carthage did forbid that any should be called Prince of Priestes,cap. xlvii or chiefe Bishop, but onelyonly bishop of the chiefe see. But if a man tourne ouer the auncienter monumentes, he shall fynde that the Bishop of Rome at that tyme was content with the common name of brother. Certainly so long as the face of the Chirche continued true & pure, all these names of pride, wherwith sins that time the see of Rome hath begonne to waxe outragious, were vtterly vnheard of: it was not knowen, what was the hiest Bishop, and the onelyonly head of the Chirch in earth. But if the Bishop of Rome had ben so bold to hauehave taken such a thing vponupon hym, there were stoute and wise men that would hauehave by and by repressed his foli. Hierom forasmuch as he was a priest at Rome, was not ill willyng to set out the dignitie of his owne Chirch, so muche as the mater and state of the tymes suffred:Epist. ad Euag. yet we see how he also bringeth it downe into felowship with the rest. If authoritie (saieth he) be sought for, the worlde is greater than a citie. Why doest thou alledge to me the Custome of one citie? Why doest thou defend smallnesse of number, out of whiche hath growen pride, against the lawes of the Chirch? Where soeuer there be a Byshop, either at Rome, or at Engubium, or at Constantinople, or at Rhegium, he is of the same merite & of the same priesthode. The power of richesse or basenesse of pouertie maketh not a Bishop hier or lower.
About the title of vniuersall bishop the contention first began in the tyme of Gregorie, whiche was occasioned by the ambition of Iohn bishop of Constantinople. For he (whiche thyng neuer any man before had attempted) would hauehave made him selfe vniuersall bishop.Lib. 4. epistol. lx…vi. …auricio Augusto. Lib. …iii. epist…l. lx …. Ces…antia. … Li… 4 Ep… …0. In that contention Gregorie doeth not alledge that the righte is taken awaye whiche was due to himselfe: but stoutely crieth out against it, that it is a prophane name, yea ful of sacrilege, yea the forewarner of Antichrist. The whole Chirche (saieth he) falleth downe from her state, if he fall, which is called vniuersall. In an other place: It is verye sorowfull, to suffer paciently, that our brother and felow bishop, despisyng all other, should only be named Bishop. But in this his pride what els is betake…ned but the times of Antichrist nere at hand? because verily he foloweth him, that despising the felowshyp of Angels, went about to clymbe vp to the toppe of singularitie. In an other place he writeth … of Alexandria, and Anastasius of Antioche. None of my … at any tyme woulde vse that prophane worde: for if o…et called vniuersall Patriarch, the name of Patriarchs is abated from the … But farre may this be from a christian mynde, that any should hauehave a will to take that vponupon him, wherby he may in any part, be it neuer so little, diminishe the honour of his brethren.Lib. iiii. ep. lcxviii Ariano Diacono Lib. vii. epistol. cxciiii. Maurie. August. Lib. vi. epistol. c…xxxviii. To consent in this wicked worde is nothyng els but to lese the faith. It is one thing (saieth he) that we owe to the preseruyng of the vnitie of faith, and an other thyng that we owe to the kepyng downe of pride. But I say it boldly, because who soeuer calleth him selfe or desireth to bee called vniuersall Bishop, he doeth in his proude aduancyng runne before Antichrist, because he doth with shewing himselfe proude preferre himselfe aboue the rest. Agayne to Anastasius bishop of Alexandria: I hauehave said that he can not hauehave peace with vsus, vnlesse he amended the aduauncyng of the superstitious and proude word, which the first apostata hath inuēted. And (to speake nothyng of the wrong done to your honour) if one be called vniuersall Bishop, the vniuersall Chirch falleth when that vniuersall one falleth. But wheras he writeth, that this honor was offred to Leo in the Synode at Chalcedon, it hath no colour of truth. For neither is there any suche thyng redde in the actes of that Synode. And Leo himself, which with many Epistles impugneth the decree there made in honour of the see of Constantinople, without dout would not hauehave passed ouer this argument, which had ben most to be liked of all other, if it had ben true. that he refused that which was geuen him: and beyng a man otherwise to much desirous of honor, he would not hauehave omitted that which made for his praise. Therfore Gregorie was deceiued in this, that he thought that that title was offred to the see of Rome by the Synode at Chalcedon: to speake nothing, how fond it is, that he both testifieth it to hauehave proceded frō the holy Synode,Lib. iiii. epistol. lxxvi. & also at the same time calleth it wicked, prophane, abhominable, proude, and ful of sacrilege, yea deuised by the diuell, and published by the crier of Antichrist. And yet he addeth that his predecessor refused it, least all priestes shoulde be depriued of theyr due honor,Lib. vii. epistol. l.xix. when any thing were priuately geuen to one. In an other place: No man at any tyme hath willed to be called by that woord: No man hath taken to him self that presūptuous name: least if he should in the degree of bishoprik take to himself a glorie of singularitie, he should seme to hauehave denied the same to all his brethren.
Nowe I come to the iurisdiction, which the bishoppe of Rome affirmeth that he hath ouer all Chirches. I knowe howe great contentions hauehave ben in olde tyme about this mater: For there hath ben no tyme wherein the see of Rome hath not coueted to gette an empire ouer other Chirches. And in this place it shall not be oute of season, to searche by what meanes it grewe then by little and lyttle to some power. I dooe not yet speake of that infinite Empire, whych it hath not so long agoe taken by force to it self: for we wyll differre that to a place conuenient. But here it is good to shew briefly, how in old tyme and by what meanes it hath aduaunced it selfe, to take to it selfe any power ouer other Chirches. When the Chirches of the East were diuided and troubled with the factions of the Arrians vnderunder the Emperours, Constantius & Constans the sonnes of Constantine the Great, and Athanasius the chief defendour there of the true faith was driuen out of his see: such calamitie cōpelled him to come to Rome, that with yt authoritie of the see of Rome he might both after a sort represse the rage of his enemies, and confirme the godly that were in distresse. He was honourably receiued of Iulius then Bishop, and obteined that the Bishops of the west toke vponupon them the defence of his cause. Therfore when the godly stoode in great neede of foreyn aide, and sawe that there was very good succour for them in the Chirche of Rome, they willyngly gaue vntounto it the most authoritie that they coulde. But all that was nothyng els, but that the cōmunion therof should be hiely estemed, & it should be compted a great shame, to be excommunicate of it. Afterward euill and wicked men also added much vntounto it. For, to escape lawfull iudgementes, they fledde to this sanctuarie. Therfore if any priest were condemned by his bishop, or any Bishop by the Synode of his prouince, they by and by appelled to Rome. And the Bishops of Rome receiued suche appellations more gredily than was mete: because it semed to be a forme of extraordinarie power, so to entermedle with maters farre and wide aboute them. So when Eutiches was condemned by Flauianus Bishop of Constantinople, he complained to Leo that he had wrong doone vntounto hym. Leo without delay, no lesse vndiscretely then sodeinly, toke in hande the defence of an euill cause: he greuousely inueyed againste Flauianus, as though he had, without hearyng the cause, condemned an innocent: and by this his ambition he caused that the vngodlynesse of Eutiches was for a certaine space of time strengthned. In Affrica it is euidēt that this oftentimes chaunced. For so soone as any lewde man had taken a foile in ordinarie iudgement, he by and by flewe to Rome, and charged his contreemen with many sclaunderous reports: and the see of Rome was alway ready to entermedle. Whiche lewdnesse compelled the Bishops of Affrica to make a lawe, that none vnderunder peyn of excōmunication should appelle beyond the sea.
But what soeuer it were, let vsus see what authoritie or power the see of Rome then hadde. Ecclesiasticall power is conteined in these fower pointes, orderyng of Byshops, summonyng of Councels, hearing of Appealles or iurisdiction, Chastisyng admonitions or censures. All the olde Synodes commaunde Bishops to be consecrate by their owne Metropolitanes: and they neuer bid the bishop of Rome to bee called vntounto it, but in his owne Patriarchie. But by litle and litle it grewe in vse, that all the Bishops of Italie came to Rome to fetche their consetration, except the Metropolitans, which suffred not themselues to bee brought into suche bondage: but when any Metropolitane was to be consecrate, the bishop of Rome sent thether one of his priestes,Li. ii. episto. lxviii. & lxx. whiche should onelyonly be present, but not president. Of whiche thyng there is an example in Gregorie: at the consecration of Constantius Bishoppe of Millain after the death of Laurence. Howbeit I dooe not thinke that that was a very auncient institution: but when at the beginning for honor and good willes sake they sent one to an other their Legates, to be witnesses of the cōsecration, and to testifie cōmunion with them: afterward that whiche was voluntarie, beganne to be holden for necessarie. Howe soeuer it be, it is euident that in olde tyme the Bishop of Rome had not the power of consecratyng, but in the prouince of his owne Patriarchie, that is to say in the Chirches adioynyng to the citie, as the canon of the Nicene Synode sayth. To the Consecration was annexed the sendyng of a Synodicall Epistle, in which he was nothing aboue the reste. For the Patriarches were wont immediatly after their consecration, by solemne writyng to declare their faithe, whereby they professed that they subscribed to the holy and catholike Councelles. So, rendryng an accompt of their Faith, they did approue them selues one to an other. If the Bishop of Rome had receiued of other, and not him selfe geuen this confession, he had thereby been acknowleged superior: but when he was no lesse bounde to geue it,Lib. i. epist. 25. Lib. 6. epist. 169. lib. i. episto. 24. than to require it of other, and to be subiect to the common lawe: truely that was a token of felowship, not of dominion. Of this thyng there is an example in Gregories epistle to Anastasius, and to Cyriacus of Constantinople, and in other places to all the Patriaches together.
Then folowe admonitions or censures: whiche as in olde tyme the Bishops of Rome vsed toward other, so they dyd agayne suffer them of other. Ireneus greuously reproued Uictor, because he vndiscretely for a thyng of no value, troubled the Chirche with a pernicious dissention. Uictor obeyed, and spurned not against it. Such a libertie was then in vre among the holy Byshops, that they vsed a brotherly authoritie toward the Bishop of Rome, in admonishyng and chastisyng hym if he at any tyme offended. He agayn, when occasion required, did admonishe other of their duetie: and if there were any fault, rebuked it. For Cyprian, when he exhorteth Stephen to admonishe the bishops of Fraunce, fetcheth not his argument frō the greater power, but from the cōmon right that priestes hauehave among themselues. I beseche you, if Stephen had then ben ruler ouer Fraunce, would not Cyprian hauehave saide: Restraine them,Epist. 13. lib. 3. Ad pōp. contra epi. Stepha. because they be thyne? but he saieth farre otherwise. This (saieth he) the brotherly felowshyp, wherwith we be bounde one to an other requireth yt we should admonishe one an other. And we see also wt how great sharpnes of words he being otherwise a mā of a mild nature inueyeth against Stephē himself, whē he thinketh him to be to insolēt. Therfore in this behalfe also there appereth not yet, that the Bishop of Rome had any iurisdictiō ouer them that wer not of his own prouince.
As concernyng the callyng together of Synodes, this was the office of eueryevery Metropolitane, at certaine appointed tymes to assemble a Prouinciall Synode. There the Bishop of Rome had no authoritie. But a General coūsel the Emperour only might sūmō. For if any of the Bishops had attēpted it, not only they yt wer out of his prouince, would not hauehave obeyed his callyng, but also there would by and by hauehave risē an vprore. Therfore the Emperour indifferētly warned them all to be present. Socrates in dede reporteth, yt Iulius dyd expostulate with the bishops of the East,Tripar. hist. li. 4 because they called hym not to the Synode of Antioche, whereas it was forbidden by the Canons, that any thyng shoulde be decreed without the knowledge of the Bishop of Rome. But whoe doeth not see that this is to be vnderstanded of suche decrees as bynde the whole vniuersall Chirche? Nowe it is no meruayle, if thus muche be graunted bothe to the antiquitie and honor of the citie, and to the dignitie of the see, that there should be no generall decree made of religion, in the absence of the Bishop of Rome, if he refuse not to bee present. But what is this to the dominion ouer the whole Chirche? For we denie not, that he was one of the chief: but we will not graunt, that which the Romanistes nowe affirme, that he had a dominion ouer all.
Nowe remaineth the fowerth kynde of power, which standeth in appealles. It is euident that he hath the chief power, to whoes iudgement seate appellation is made. Many oftentimes appelled to the Bishop of Rome: and he him self also went about to draw the hearyng of causes to himselfe: but he was alway laughed to scorne, when he passed his owne boundes. I will speake nothyng of the East and of Grecia: but it is certain that the Bishops of Fraunce stoutely withstode hym, when he semed to take to himselfe an empire ouer theim. In Affrica there was long debate about that mater. For where at the Mileuitane Councell, at whiche Augustine was present, they were excōmunicate that appealled beiond the sea, the Bishop of Rome trauailed to bring to passe, that that decree might be amended. He sente his legates to shewe that that priuiledge was geuen to hym by the Nicene Councell. The Legates brought foorth the actes of the Nicene Councell, whiche they had fetched out of the storehouse of their owne Chirch. The Affricans withstode it, and denied that the Bishopes of Rome ought to bee credited in their owne cause: and said that therfore they would sende to Constantinople, & into other cities of Grecia, where copies were to be had yt were lesse suspicious. It was found, that therin was no such thyng written, as the Romains had pretended. So was that decree confirmed, which tooke the chiefe hearing of causes from the Bishop of Rome: In whiche doyng the lewde shamelesnesse of the Bishop of Rome hymself appeared. For when he guilefully did thrust in the Synode at Sardes in stede of the Nicene Synode, he was shamefully taken in a manifeste falsehoode. But yet greater and more shamelesse was their wickednesse, that added a forged Epistle to the Councell, wherein I wote not what bishop of Carthage, condemnyng the arrogance of Aurelius his predecessour, for that he was so bolde to withdrawe himselfe from the obedience of the see Apostolike, and yeldyng himselfe and his Chirche, humbly craueth pardon. These be the goodly monumentes of antiquitie, whervppon the maiestie of the see of Rome is founded, while they so childishlye, vnderunder the pretence of Antiquitie, that very blind men may fynde it oute by gropyng. Aurelius (saieth he) puffed vp with deuelishe boldenesse and stubbornesse, rebelled against Christe, and saint Peter, and therfore to be condemned with curse. What said Augustine? But what saide so many Fathers that were present at the Mileuitane Councell? But what nede is it to spend many words in confutyng that foolishe writyng, whiche the Romanistes themselues, if they hauehave any face left, can not looke vponupon without great shame? So Gratian, I can not tell whether of malice or of ignorance,2. quest. cap. 4. where he rehersed that decree, that they should be excommunicate that appealle beyonde the see, addeth an exception: Unlesse peraduenture they appealle to the see of Rome. What may a man do to these beasts, which are so voide of cōmon reason, yt they except that only thing out of the law, for whoes cause eueryevery man seeth that the law was made? For the Councel when it condemneth appealles beyōd the sea, forbiddeth only this, yt none should appelle to Rome. Here the good expositor excepteth Rome out of ye cōmon lawe.
But (to determine this questiō at ones) one historie shal make plaine what maner of iurisdiction the bishop of Rome had in old time. Donate of the blacke houses had Cecilian bishop of Carthage. The mā accused was condemned, his cause not heard. For when he knew that the bishops had conspired against him, he would not appeare. Then the mater came to the Emperour Constantine. He, forasmuche as he willed to hauehave the mater ended by ecclesiasticall iudgement, cōmitted the hearing of it to Melciades bishop of Rome. To whom he adioyned felow commissioners many bishops of Italie, Fraunce, and Spaine. If that belonged to the ordinarie iurisdiction of the see of Rome, to heare an appeale in an ecclesiasticall cause: why doeth he suffre other to be ioyned with him at the will of the Emperour? Yea why did he himselfe take the iudgement vponupon him rather by ye Emperors cōmaūdement, than by his own office? But let vsus heare what hapned afterward. There Ceciliā got the victorie:Augus. epist. 162 Donate of the blacke houses was cōdemned for sclaūder: he appelled. Constātine cōmitted the iudgemēt of the appelle to ye bishop of Orleance. He sate as iudge, to pronounce what he thought, after the bishop of Rome. If the see of Rome hath the chief power without appellation: why doth Melciades suffer himself to receiue so great a shame, yt the bishop of Orleāce should be preferred aboue him? And what Emperor doeth this? euen Constantine, of whom they boast that he employed not only all his endeuor, but in a maner all the richesse of the empire to encrease the dignitie of their see. Wee se therefore now, howe farre the Bishop of Rome was at that tyme by all meanes from that supreme dominion, whiche he affirmeth to be geuen vntounto hym by Christe ouer all Chirches, and whiche he lyengly saieth that he hath in all ages possessed by the consent of the whole worlde.
I know how many epistles there be, how many writings & decrees. wherin the bishops doo geue muche, and boldly chalenge much vntounto it. But this also al men that hauehave but a very little wit & lerning do know, that the most part of those are so vnsauerie, that by the first tast of them a man may soone find out of what ship they cam. For what man of soūd wit and sobre,Dist. xii cap. Sacrosa…ct. wil thinke that that goodly interpretation is Anacletus his owne, which is in Gratian reported vnderunder the name of Anacletus: that is, that Cephas is a head? The Romanists doo at this day abuse for defence of their see, many suche trifles, which Gratian hath patched together without iudgement: and yet still in so great light they will sell suche smokes, wherwith in olde time they were wont to mocke out the ignorant in darknesse. But I will not bestow much labor in confutyng those things, which do openly cōfute them selues by reason of their vnsauory folie. I graūt yt there remain also true epistles of ye old bishops, wherin they set foorth ye honor of their see with glorious titles: of which sort are some epistles of Leo. For that man, as he was learned and eloquent, so was he also aboue measure desirous of glory & dominion:Vide epist. 85. Epist. 83 but whether the Chirches then beleued his testimonie when he so aduaūced himself, that in dede is it that is in cōtrouersie. But it appereth yt many offended with his ambition, did also withstand his gredie desire. Somtimes he appointed in his steede the bishop of Thessalonica throughout Grecia & other contrees adioyning: somtime he appointed the bishop of Orleance, or som other throughout Fraūce. So he apointed Hormisdas bishop of Hispalis to be his vicar in Spain, but eueri wher he excepteth, yt he geueth out such apointmēts vpō this cōdition, yt the Metropolitās may hauehave their auncient priuileges remainyng safe & whole. But Leo himselfe declareth, yt this is one of their priuileges, ye if any dout happē about any mater,Episto. lxxxix. ye metropolitane shold first be asked his aduise. Therfore those appointmētes of vicars in his stede wer vpō this conditiō, yt neither any Bishop should be letted in his ordinary iurisdictiō, nor any Metropolitane in being iudge of Appealles, nor any prouincial Coū cel in ordering of their Chirches. What was this ells but to absteine frō all iurisdiction: but to entermedle to the appeasing of discordes only so farre as the law and nature of the communion of the Chirche suffreth.
In Gregories time yt aunciēt order was already much changed. For whē ye Empire was shakē, and torne in peces, whē Fraunce & Spaine were afflicted wt many ouertrowes receiued, Slauonia wasted, Italie vexed, & Africa in a maner destroied wt cōtinual calamities: yt in so great a shakīg of ciuile affaires, at least ye integritie of faith might remaine, or yet not vtterly perish, al ye Bishops frō ech part did ye rather ioine themselues to ye Bishop of Rome. Thereby it came to passe, yt not only ye dignitie, but also ye power of yt see greatly encreased. Howbeit I do not so much passe by what meanes it was brought about. Truly it appeareth that it was thē greater thā in ye ages before. And yet it then greatly differed frō being an vnbridled dominiō, yt one mā myght beare rule ouer other after his own wil. But ye see of Rome had this reuerence, that it might wt her authoritie subdue & represse y• lewde & obstinate that could not by ye other Bishops be kept wtin their dutie. For Gregorie doth oftē times diligētly testify this, yt he doth no lesse faithfully preserue to other men their rightes,Lib. i. Episto. lxviii. than he requireth his own of them. Neither doe I (saith he) pricked on by ambition, plucke frō any man that which is his right: but I desire in al things to honor my brethrē. There is no saying in his writinges wherin he doth more proudely bost of ye largenesse of his Supremicie,Libr. ii. Epi. vl…. lib. vii. epi. lxiii… thā this: I know not what Bishop is not subiect to ye see Apostolike when he is founde in faulte. But he by & by adioyneth, Where fault requireth not, al according to ye order of humilitie are egal. He geueth to hymselfe power to correct them yt hauehave offended: if all doe their dutie, he maketh himselfe egall wt y• reste. But he himselfe geueth himselfe this power: and they assented to it yt would: & other that lyked it not, might frely gainesay it, which it is well knowen yt the most parte of them did. Beside yt he speaketh there of ye Primate of Cōstantinople: which whē he was cōdemned by ye prouincial Synode, refused ye whole iudgemēte. His fellow Bishops informed ye Emperour of this stubbornesse of him. The Emperour willed Gregorie to be iudge of ye cause. We see therfore that he both attēpteth no thing, wherby he may breake the ordinary iurisdiction, and the same thing that he doth for the helping of other, he doth not but by the commaundement of the Emperour.
This therfore was thē al ye power of ye Bishop of Rome, to set himself against obstinate & vntamed heds, whē there neded any extraordinary remedy: & yt to helpe & not to hinder Bishops. Therfore he taketh no more to hīselfe ouer al other,lib. ii. Episto. xxxvii. Epi. xvi thā in an other place he graunteth to al other ouer hīselfe, whē he cōfesseth yt he is redy to be corrected of al, to be amēded of al. So in an other place he doth in dede cōmaunde ye Bishop of Aquilela to come to Rome, to pleade his cause in a cōtrouersy of faith that was risē betwene him & other: but he doth not cōmaūde him of his own power, but because yt Emperor had so cōmaūded. Neither doth he geue warning that he alone shalbe iudge, but promiseth that he will assemble a Synode by whom the whole mater may be iudged. But althoughe there was yet such moderation, that the power of the see of Rome had her certayne boūdes, which it might not passe, & the Bishop of Rome himselfe was no more about thā vnderunder other: yet is appeareth how much Gregorie misliked such state.Li i. ep. v. For he nowe & thē cōplaineth, that vnderunder color of Bishoprike he was brought backe to the world: and that he was more entangled with earthly cares, than euer he had serued them while he was a lay mā: yt he was in yt honor oppressed with tumult of worldly affaires. In an other place: so great burdēs (saith he) of businesse do holde me down,Lib. i. epi. vii. &. xv. yt my minde can nothing at all be raised vp to thinges aboue. I am shaken with many waues of causes: and after those leysures of rest I am tossed with tēpestes of troublesome lyfe: so yt I may rightly say, I am come into ye depth of the sea, and the tēpest hath drowned me. Hereby gather, what he would hauehave sayed, if he had happened to be in these tymes. Although he fulfilled not the office of a Pastor, yet he was doing it. He absteyned from the gouernement of yt ciuile Empire, and confessed himselfe to be subiect to the Emperor as other were. He did not thrust himselfe into the cure of other Chirches, but being compelled by necessitie. And yet he thinketh hymselfe to be in a maze, because he can not apply himselfe altogether only to the office of a Bishop.
At yt time ye Bishop of Constantinople striued wt the Bishop of Rome for ye Supremicie, as it is already said. For after yt the seate of y• Empire was stablished at Cōstātinople, the maiestie of ye Empire semed to require, y• that Chirche also should hauehave y• seconde place of honor after the Chirche of Rome. And truly at the beginning, nothing more auailed to cause yt Supremicie to be geuē to Rome, but because ye hed of ye Empire was there at yt time.Dist. lxxx. CaP. vi. There is in Gratian a writing vnderunder the name of Pope Lucinus, where he saith, yt cities wer no otherwise diuided, where Metropolitanes & Primates ought to sit, thā by ye reson of y• ciuile gouernemēt yt was before. There is also an other vnderunder ye name of Pope Clemēt, where he saith, yt Patriarches wer ordeined in those cities that had had ye chefe Flamines in thē. Which, although it be false, yet is takē out of a truth. For it is certaine, yt, to the ende there should be made as litle change as might be, the prouinces wer diuided according to yt state of thinges that thē wer: & that Primates & Metropolitanes wer set in those cities that excelled the other in honors & power. Therefore in the Coūcel at Taurinū it was decreed,Cap. i. yt those cities which in the ciuile gouernemēt were yt chefe cities of eueryevery prouince, should be the chefe sees of Bishops. And if it happened the honor of ye ciuile gouernement to be remoued frō one citie to an other, yt thē the right of the Metropolitane citie should therwtal be remoued thether. But Innocentius Bishop of Rome, whē he saw the aunciēt dignitie of his citie to grow in decay, after that the seate of the Empire was remoued to Constantinople, fearing the abacemēt of his see, made a contrary law: wherein he denyeth it to be necessary yt the ecclesiastical mother cities should be chāged as ye Imperial mother cities change. But the authoritie of a Synode ought of right to be preferred aboue one mans sentēce. Also we ought to suspecte Innocentius himselfe in his owne cause. Howsoeuer it be, yet by his owne prouiso he sheweth, that from the beginning it was so ordered, that the Metropolitane cities should be disposed according to the outwarde order of the Empire.
According to this auncient ordināce, it was decreed in ye first Coūcell at Constantinople,Socra. hist. tri… part. lib. ix. cap. xiii. Decret. xxii. dist yt the Bishop of yt citie should hauehave the priuileges of honor next after the Bishop of Rome, because it was a new Rome. But a long time after, when a like decree was made at Chalcedō, Leo stoutly cried out against it. And he not only gaue himselfe leaue to esteme as nothing yt which sixe hundred Bishops or moe had decreed: but also bitterly taunted them, for yt they toke frō other sees that honor which they were so bolde to geue to the Chirche of Constantinople. I besech you, what other thing could moue a mā to trouble ye world for so smal a mater, but mere ambition? He sayeth y• that ought to be inuiolable, whiche the Nicene Sinode hath ones decreed. As though forsooth the Christian faith wer endangered, if one Chirch be preferred before an other: or as though Patriarchies wer there diuided to any other ende, but for policies. But we knowe that policie receiueth, yea requireth diuerse chaunges, according to the diuersitie of times. Therefore it is fonde that Leo pretendeth, that the honor, which by the authoritie of the Nicene Sinode was geuen to the see of Alexandria, ought not to be geuē to the see of Constantinople. For cōmon reason telleth this, that it was such a decree, as myght be takē away according to the respect of times. Yea none of the Bishops of the East withstode it, whō that thing most of all concerned. Truely Proterius was present, whom they had made Bishop of Alexandria in the place of Dioscorus. There were presente other Patriarches, whoes honor was diminished. It was their parte to withstand it, not Leos which remained safe in his owne place. But when all they holde their peace, yea assent vntounto it, and only the Bishop of Rome resisteth: it is easy to iudge, what moueth hym: that is, he foresaw yt which not long after happened, that it would come to passe, that, the glory of olde Rome decaying, Constantinople not contented with the seconde place, would stryue wt Rome for ye Supremicie. And yet wt his crying out he did not so much preuaile, but that the decree of the Councell was confirmed. Therfore his successors, whē they saw themselues ouercome, quietly gaue ouer that stiffenesse: for they suffred that he should be accompted the seconde Patriarche.
But within a litle after, Iohn which in Gregories tyme ruled the Chirche of Constantinople, brake forth so farre yt he called himselfe the vniuersall Patriarche. Here Gregorie, lest he should in a very good cause fayle to defende his own see, did constantly set hymselfe againste him. And truely both the pride and madnesse of Iohn was intolerable, whiche desired to make the boundes of his Bishoprike egall wyth the boundes of the Empire. And yet Gregorie doth not claime to himselfe, that which he denieth to an other: but abhorreth that name as wicked, and vngodly,Lib. vil. Episto. xxx. and abhominable, whosoeuer take it vponupon him. Yea and also in one place he is angry wyth Eulolius Bishop of Alexandria, whiche had honored hym with suche a tittle. Beholde (sayeth he) in the preface of the Epistle which ye directed to my selfe that hauehave forbidden it, ye hauehave cared to emprinte the woorde of proude callyng, in manyng me vniuersall Pope. Whiche, I praye that your holinesse wil no more do because that is withdrawen from you, whiche is geuen to an other more than reason requireth. I compt it no honor, wherin I se the honor of my brethren to be diminished. For my honor is the honor of the vniuersall Chirche, and the sounde strength of my brethren. But if your holinesse call me the vniuersall Pope, it denyeth it selfe to be that which it confesseth me to be wholly. Truely Gregorie stode in a good and honest cause. But Ihon holpen by the fauor of Maurice the Emperor, could neuer be remoued from his purpose. Ciriacus also his successor neuer suffered himselfe to be entreated in that behalfe.
At the last Phocais, which when Maurice was slaine, was set in his place (I wote not for what cause being more frendly to the Romaines, but because he was there crowned without stryfe) graūted to Boniface the third, that which Gregorie neuer required, that Rome should be the hed of all Chirches. After thys maner was the controuersy ended. And yet this benefite of the Emperor, could not so much hauehave profited the see of Rome, vnlesse other thinges also had afterwarde happened. For Gretia and all Asia were within a litle after cut of frō the communion of Rome. Fraunce so much reuerenced him, yt it obeyed no further than it lysted. But it was thē first brought into bondage when Pipine vsurped the kyngdome. For whē zacharie Bishop of Rome had ben his helper to the breache of his faith, and to robbery, yt thrusting out the lawful kyng, he might violently enter vponupon the kyngdome as layed open for a pray: he receiued thys rewarde, that the see of Rome shoulde hauehave iurisdiction ouer ye Chirches of Fraūce: As robbers are wonted in parting to deuide ye commō spoyle: so these good men ordered the mater betwene themselues, that Pipine should hauehave ye earthly and ciuile dominion, spoiling the true king: and zacharye should be made hed of all Bishops and hauehave the spirituall power: which, when at the beginning it was weake, (as it is wont to be in new thynges) was afterwarde confirmed by the authoritie of Charles, in maner for a lyke cause. For he was also indetted to the Bishop of Rome, for yt by hys endeuor he had atteined to the honor of the Empire. But although it be credible, that Chirches eche where were before yt tyme muche deformed, yet it is certayn yt the old forme of ye Chirch was thē fyrst vtterly defaced in Fraūce and Germanie. There remayne yet in the recordes of the court of Parise brefe notes of these tymes, which, where they entreate of the maters of the Chirche, make mention of the couenant both of Pipine and of Charles wyth the Bishop of Rome. Therby we may gather that thē was an alteration made of the olde state.
Sins that tyme, when thynges did eche where daily fal from worse to worse, the tyranny of the see of Rome was now and then also stablyshed & encreased, and yt partly by the ignorāce, and partly by the slouthfulnesse of the Bishops. For when one mā toke all thynges vpō him, and without measure proceded more and more to aduaunce hymselfe against law & right: the Bishops did not with such zele as thei ought endeuor themselues to restrayne his lust, and though they wāted not courage, yet they were destitute of true learning and knowledge: so that they were nothing fytt to attempte so greate a mater. Therefore we see what and howe Monstruous an vnholy defyling of all holy thinges, and a scattering abrode of the whole order of the Chirche, was in Bernardes tyme. He cōplayneth yt there resort by heapes to Rome out of al the world,Lib. i. de consi. ad Euge. ambitious men, couetous, Simonians, robbers of God, kepers of concubines, cōmitters of incest, and all such monsters, to obtein or reteine ecclesiastical honors by ye Apostolike authoritie: and ye fraud and vndermining, & violence were growē in force. He sayth yt that maner of iudging which thē was vsed, was abhominable, & vnsemely, not only for the Chirche, but also for a iudicial court. He cryeth oute that the Chirche is ful of ambitious men: and yt there is none that more dredeth to commit mischeuous Actes, than robbers do in their caue, when they deuide the spoyles of wayfairing men. Few (sayeth he) do loke vntounto the mouth of the lawgeuer, but vntounto his hands. But not without cause. For those handes do all the Popes businesse. What a thing is thys, yt they are bought of the spoiles of Chirches, yt say to thee, oh well done, well done? The life of the poore is sowē in the stretes of the riche: siluer glistereth in the myre: mē run to it frō al places: not the poore, but the strā ger taketh it vp, or he paraduēture ye runneth fastest before. But thys maner, or rather thys death, came not of thee, I would to God it might end in thee. Among these thynges thou a Pastor goest forwarde compassed wt much and precious aray. If I durst say it, these are rather the Pastors of deuils, than of shepe. Forsoth Peter did thus, Paule played thus.Lib. iii. Thy courte is more accustomed to receiue men good thā to make them good. For the ill do not there profit, but the good do decaye. Nowe as for the abuses of appealles yt he rehearseth, no godly man can rede them wtout great horror. At the last he thus concludeth of ye vnbrideled gredinesse of the see of Rome in the vsurping of iurisdiction: I speak ye murmour and commō complaynt of the Chirches. They crie out that they be mangled and dismembred. There are either none or fewe that do not either bewaile or feare this plage. Askest thou what plage? The Abbotes are plucked frō the Bishops, the Bishops frō the Archebishops &c. It is maruelous if this mai be excused. In so doing ye proue that ye hauehave fulnesse of power, but not of righteousnesse. Ye do thys, because ye can do it: but whether ye also ought to do it, is a question. Ye are sett to preserue, not to enuye to eueryevery man hys honor and hys owne degree. These fewe thynges of many I listed to rehearse, partly yt the reders may see, how sore the Chirche was then decayed, and partly that they may know in how great sorowe and mourning thys calamitie helde al the godly.
But nowe, albeit that we graunte to the Bishop of Rome at thys day that preeminence and largenesse of iurisdiction, which that see had in the meane tymes, as in the tymes of Leo and of Gregory: what is that to the presēt state of the Papacie? I do not yet speake of the earthly dominion, nor of the ciuile power therof, whiche we will afterwarde consider in place fit for it: but the very spiritual gouernemēt yt they bost of, what hath it like to the state of those tymes? For they define ye Pope none otherwyse than the Supreme hed of the Chirche in earth, & the vniuersal Bishop of the whole world. And the Bishops themselues, whē they speake of their owne authoritie, do wyth great stoutenesse of countenance, pronounce yt to them belongeth the power to cōmaūde, & other are boūde to the necessitie to obey: yt so al their decrees are to be holden as confirmed with the diuine voice of Peter: that the prouincial Sinodes, are without force, because they want the presence of the Pope: that they may order clerkes of any Chirche that they will: and may cal them to their see that hauehave ben ordered ells where. Innumerable of y• sorte are in Gratiās packe, which I do not now rehearse, least I should be to tedious to the Reders. But this is the summe of them, that onelyonly the Bishop of Rome hath the Supreme hearing and determining of all ecclesiastical causes, whether it be in iudging and defining of doctrines, or in making of lawes, or in stablishing of discipline, or in executyng of iudgemētes: It were also long and superfluous to rehearse the priuileges that they take to thēselues in reseruatiōs, as they cal them. But, (which is most intollerable of al other) they leaue no iudgemente in earth to restraine and brydle their outragious lust,Decre…. xvii. quest. iii. cap. Nemini. Innocēt ix. que. … cap. nemo. Sym ix. que. … Cap. Aliorū. Auther. Ibid. ca. facta. if they abuse so immeasurable power. It is lawful for no mā (say they) to reuoke ye iudgement of that see, because of the Supremicie of the Chirche of Rome. Againe. The iudge shalbe iudged neither by ye Emperor, nor by kīges, nor by al the Clergie, nor of the people. That is in dede to imperiously done, that one man maketh hymselfe iudge of al men, and suffreth himselfe to obey the iudgement of no mā. But what if he vse tyranny ouer the people of God? if he scatter abrode and wast the kingdom of Christ? if he trouble the whole Chirch? if he turne the office of Pastor into robberie? Yea thoughe he be neuer so mischeuous, he sayeth that he is not bounde to yelde accompte. For these be the sayinges of the Bishops: gods will was to determine the causes of other men by mē, but he hath wtout questiō reserued y• Bishop of this see to his own iudgemēt. Again. The doinges of subiectes are iudged of vsus: but oures, of God only.
And that such decrees might hauehave the more weight, they hauehave falsly thrust in the names of the old Bishops, as though thinges had ben so ordeined from the beginning: wheras it is most certaine, that it is new and lately forged whatsoeuer the Bishop of Rome geueth to hymselfe more than we hauehave rehearsed to be geuen him by the aunciēt Coūcels. Yea they are come to so greate shamelesnesse,Ibidi. ca Ant. that they hauehave set forth a wryting vnderunder the name of Anastasius Patriarche of Cōstantinople, wherin he testifieth that it was decreed by the olde rules, that nothing should be done euen in the furthest prouinces, that wer not first moued to the see of Rome. Beside thys that it is certaine yt this is most vaine, what man shall thynke it likely, that suche a commendation of the see of Rome proceded from the aduersary and enuier of the honor and dignitie thereof? But verily it behoued that these Antichristes shoulde be carried on to so greate madnesse and blindenesse, that their lewdenesse might be playne for all men to se, at least so many as will open theyr eyes. But the decretall epistles heaped together by Gregorie the .ix. agayne the Clementines, and Extrauagantes of Martine, dooe yet more openly and with fuller mouth ech where breathe forth their outragious fiercenesse and as it were the tyrannie of barbarous kinges. But these be the oracles, by which the Romanistes will hauehave their papacie to be weyed. Hereupon arose those notable principles, whiche at this day hauehave eueryevery where in ye papacie ye force of oracles: yt the Pope c… ̄ not erre: that ye Pope is aboue the Councels: that the Pope is the vniuersall Bishop of al Bishops, and the Supreme head of the Chirche in earth: I passe ouer the much absurder follies, which the foolishe Canonistes babble in their scholes: to which yet ye Romish diuines do not only assente, but do also clap their handes at them, to flatter their idole.
I wil not deale with them by extremitie of righte. Some other man would against this their so great insolence set the saying of Cipriane, which he vsed among the Bishops, at whoes councell he sate as chiefe. None of vsus calleth hymselfe Bishop of Bishops, or wt tirannous feare cōpelleth his felow Bishops to necessitie to obey. He would obiect that, which a litle afterwarde was decreed at Carthage. That none shoulde be called Prince of Priestes, or chiefe Bishop. He woulde gather many testimonies out of Histories, Canons out of Sinode…, & many sentēces out of ye bokes of old writers, by whiche the Bishop of Rome shoulde be brought down into ye felowship of ye rest. But I passe ouer al these, least I should seme to precisely to presse them. But let ye best patrones of ye see of Rome answere me, wt what face they dare defende ye title of vniuersal Bishop, whiche they se so oft to be condemned wt curse by Gregorie. If Gregories testimonie ought to be of force, they do therby declare yt Antichrist is their Bishop, because they make him vniuersal. The name also of hed was no more vsual. For thus he sayeth in one place. Peter is the chiefe mēber in the body,Lib. iiii. Ep. xcii Iohn, Andrew & Iames ye heds of particular peoples: yet they all are members of the Chirch vnderunder one hed: yea ye holy ones before ye law, ye holy ones vnderunder ye law, ye holy ones vnderunder grace, are set among mēbers, altogether makyng vp ye body of the Lord: & no mā euer willed to hauehave himselfe called vniuersal. But wheras ye Bishop of Rome taketh vpō hymselfe ye power of cōmaunding, yt thing smally agreeth wt that which Gregory saith in an other place.Lib. vii. Episto. xxviii. For wheras Eulolius Bishop of Alexandria, had said that he was cōmaunded by hym, he answered in this wise. I pray ye, take away thys worde of cōmāding frō my hearing. For I know what I am & what ye be. In place, ye be to me brethrē: in maners, ye be to me fathers. Therefore I cōmāded not, but I cared to tel you those thīgs yt I thought profitable. Wheras he so extendeth his iurisdiction wtout end, he doth therin great and hayno…s wrong, not only to ye other Bishops, but also to al particular Chirches, which he so teareth & plucketh in peces, yt he may bilde his seate of their ruines. But wheras he exēpteth himself frō al iudgemēts, and wil so reigne after the maner of tirantes, yt he accompteth his own only lust for law, yt verily is so hainous, & so far frō ecclesiastical order, that it may in no wise be borne: for it vtterly abhorreth not only from al feling of godlinesse, but also from all humanitie.
But yt I be not cōpelled to go through & examine al thinges particularly, I do agayne appelle to them, ye wil at this day be accōpted ye beste and most faithful patrones of ye see of Rome, whether they be not ashamed to defende the present state of the papacie: which it is certaine to be a hundred times more corrupt, than it was in the times of Gregory and Bernard: which state yet dyd then so much displease those holy mē. Gregory eche where complayneth,Libro. i. Epist. v.vii. &. xxv. &. alibi. yt he is to muche diuersly drawen away with forein busynesse: yt he is vnderunder ye color of Bishoprike brought backe to the world: wherin he serueth so many cares of the world as he neuer remembreth that he serued when he was a lay man: that he is pressed downe wyth tumulte of worldly affaires, that hys mynde is nothing raised vp to thinges aboue: that he is shakē with many waues of causes, and tossed with tempestes of troublesome lyfe: so that he may worthily say, I am come into the depth of the sea. Truely among those earthly businesses, he might yet teach the people with Sermones, priuately admonishe and correct such as it behoued, order the Chirche, geue counsell to his fellow Bishops and exhort them to their dutie: beside these thinges there remained some time to write: and yet he lamenteth his calamitie, that he is drowned in the depest sea. If the gouernement of that time was a sea: what is to be sayed of the papacie at thys tyme? For what likenesse hauehave they together? Here be no preachinges, no care of discipline, no zele to ye Chirches, no spirituall doing, finally nothing but the world. Yet this maze is praysed, as though there could nothing be founde more orderly & better framed. But what cōplaintes doth Bernarde poure out, what grones doeth he vtter, when he loketh vponupon the faultes of hys age? What then would he doe, if he behelde thys our age of iron, and worse if any be worse than iron? What obstinate wickednesse is thys, not only stiffly to defende as holy and diuine, that which all the holy men hauehave wt one mouth condemned: but also to abuse their testimonie to the defense of the papacie, whiche it is certaine that they neuer knew of? Howbeit of Bernardes tyme I confesse, that then the corruption of all thynges was so great, that it was not much vnlike our tyme. But they are without all shame, that fetche any pretense for it, out of that meane age, yt is the tyme of Leo, Gregory, and such other. For they doe lyke as if one, to stablyshe the Monarchie of Emperoure, would praise the olde state of the Empire of Rome: that is, woulde borrowe the praises of libertie, to set forth the honor of tyranny.
Finally, although al these things wer graūted them: yet there ariseth of fresh a newe strife for them, when we deny that there is a Chirche at Rome, in whiche suche benefites may be resident: when we denie that there is a Bishop, which may beare these priuileges of dignitie. Admit therfore al those things to be true, (which yet we hauehave already) wroong from them) that Peter was by the mouth of Christe appointed hed of the vniuersal Chirche: and that he left the honor that was geuen hym, in the see of Rome: that the same was stablished by the authoritie of the auncient Chirch, and confirmed with long continuaunce: that the Supreme power hath been alway by one consent geuen of all men to the Bishop of Rome: that he hath ben the iudge of al both causes and men, and himselfe subiect to the iudgement of none: let them hauehave also more, if they wil: yet I answere in one word, that none of these things auaile, vnlesse there be at Rome a Chirch & a Bishop. This they must nedes graūt me, that it can not be the mother of Chirches, which is not it selfe a Chirche: that he can not be chiefe of Bishops, which is not himselfe a Bishop. Will they therfore hauehave the see Apostolike at Rome? Then let them shewe me a true and lawfull Apostleship. Will they hauehave the chief Bishop? Then let them shewe me a Bishop. But what? where will they shewe vsus any face of a Chirch? They name one in dede, and hauehave it oft in their mouth. Truly the Chirche is knowen by her certaine markes: and Bishoprike is a name of office. I speake not here of the people: but of the gouernemente it selfe, which ought continually to shine in the Chirche. Where is the ministerie in their Chirche, such as Christes institution requireth? Let vsus cal to remembrance that which hath before ben spoken of the office of Priestes and of a Bishop. If we shall bryng the office of Cardinals to be tried by that rule, we shal confesse that they are nothyng lesse than Priests. As for the chief bishop himself, I would faine know what one thing at all he hath bishoplike. First it is the principal point in the office of a Bishop, to teach the people with the word of God: an other and the next point to that is, to minister the sacraments: the third is to admonish and exhort, yea and to correct them that offend, and to hold the people together in holy discipline. What of these thyngs doeth he? yea, what doeth he faine himselfe to doo: Let theim tell therfore, by what meane they would hauehave him to be compted a Bishop, that doeth not with his little fynger, no not ones so muche as in outewarde shewe, touche any part of a bishops office.
It is not so of a Bishop as it is of a king. For a king, although he do not execute that which belōgeth to a king, doth neuerthelesse retein the honor and title. But in iudging of a bishop respect is had to Christes comaūdement, which alway ought to be of force in the Chirche. Therfore let the Romanistes lose me this knot. I denye that their hye Bishop, is the chiefe of Bishops, forasmuche as he is no Bishop. They must nedes proue this last point to be false, if they will hauehave the victorie in the first. But howe say they to this, that he not onelyonly hath no propertie of a Bishop, but rather all thinges contrarie? But here, O God, where at shall I begynne? at his learning, or at his maners? What shal I say, or what shall I leaue vnsayde? where shall I make an ende? This I saye: that whereas the worlde is at this daye, stuffed with so many peruerse and wicked doctrines, full of so many kyndes of superstitions, blynded with so many errors, drowned in so great idolatry: there is none of these any where, that hathe not either flowed from thense, or at least bene there confirmed. Neither is there any other cause, why the Bishops are caried with so greate rage against the doctrine of the Gospell newly springing vp agayne, why they bend all their strengthes to oppresse it, why they kindle vp kings and princes to crueltie, but bicause they see y• their whole kingdom decaieth & falleth down, so sone as the Gospel of Christ cometh in place. Leo was cruell: Clement was bloudie: Paul is a fierce murtherer. But nature hath not so much moued them to fight against ye truthe, as for that this was their only meane to mayntain their power. Therfore sithe they can not be safe, till they hauehave driuen awaye Christ, they trauaile in this cause, as if they dyd syght for their religion and contrees, and for their owne lyues. What then? Shall that bee to vsus the see Apostolike, where we see nothyng but horrible Apostasie? Shall he be Christes vicar, which by persecuting the Gospell with furious enterprises, doth openly professe him self to be Antichrist? Shal he be Peters successour, that rangeth with swerd and fyre, to destroy all that euer Peter hath builded? Shall he bee hed of the Chirch that cutting of and dismembryng the Chirche from Christe the onelyonly true head therof, doeth in it selfe plucke and teare it in pieces? Admitte verily that in the olde time Rome was the mother of all Chirches: yet sins it hath begon to be the seate of Antichriste, it hath cessed to be that which it was.
We seme to be to muche euill speakers and railers, when we call the bishop of Rome Antichrist. But they that so thinke, doo not vnderstand that they accuse Paule of immodestie, after whom we so speake, yea out of whoes mouth we so speake. And least any man obiecte, that we doo wrongfully wrest against the bishop of Rome, these words of Paul that are spoken to an other intent. I will brefely shew, that they can not be otherwise vnderstanded,ii. Thess. i….iiii. Dan. vii.xxv. but of the Papacie. Paule writeth, that Antichrist shal sit in the temple of God. In an other place also the Holy ghost describyng his image in the person of Antiochus, sheweth that his kingdome shall consist in hautinesse of speche, and blasphemyngs of God. Hereupon we gather, that it is rather a tyrannie ouer soules, than ouer bodies, that is raised vp against the spiritual kingdome of Christ. Then, that it is suche, as doeth not abolish the name of Christ and the Chirch: but rather should abuse the pre…ence of Christ, and lurke vnderunder the title of the Chirche, as vnderunder a disguised visour. But although all the heresies and sectes that hauehave ben from the beginnyng, belong to the kingdome of Antichrist: yet where as Paule prophecieth, that there shal com a departing, by this description he signifieth, that that seate of abhomination shal then be raised vp, when a certain vniuersall departyng shal possesse the Chirche: howsoeuer many membres of the Chirch here and there continue in the true vnitie of Faith. But where he addeth, that in his time he began in a misterie to set vp the worke of iniquitie, which he would afterward shew openly: therby we vnderstand, yt this calamitie was neither to be brought in by one mā, nor to be ended in one man. Now wher as he doeth set out Antichrist by this marke, that he should plucke awaye from God his due honor, to take it to him selfe: this is the chiefe token that we ought to folowe in seekyng out of Antichrist, specially where suche pride procedeth euen to the publike dissipation of the Chirche. Sithe therefore it is certaine, that the bishop of Rome hath shamelessely conueyed away to himself that whiche was the chiefe propre thing to God alone and Christ, it is not to be douted but that he is the capitaine and standerdbearer of the wicked and abhominable kyngdome.
Nowe let the Romanists goe, and obiect antiquitie against vsus. As if in so great alteration of all thynges, the honor of the See might stand where there is no see.Euseb. lib. iii. cap. 5. Eusebius telleth, how God, that there might bee place for his vengeance, remoued the Chirch that was at Hierusalem to Pella. That whiche we heare to hauehave been ones doone, might be ofter doone. Therfore so to by…de the honor of supremicie to a place, that he which is in dede the moste hatefull enemie of Christ, the hyest aduersarie of the Gospell, the greatest waster and destroyer of the Chirche, the moste cruel slaughterman & butcher of the saints, shold neuerthelesse be accompted the vicar of Christ, the successor of Peter, ye chief bishop of ye Chirche, onelyonly because he occupieth the see that was ones the chiefest of all: that verily is to muche to be scorned and foolishe. I speake not, how great difference there is betwene the popes chauncerie, and a well framed order of the Chirche. Howbeit this one thyng may wel take away all dout of this question. For no man that hath his right wit, wil think the bishoprike enclosed in leade and bulles: muche lesse, in that schoole of fraudes and deceites, in wiche thyngs the Popes spirituall gouernement consisteth. Therfore it was very well sayd by a certain man, that that Chirche of Rome which is bosted of, is long agoe tourned into a court which onelyonly is nowe seene at Rome. Neither doo I here accuse the faultes of men: but I shew that the Papacie it selfe is directly contrary to the true order of a Chirche.
But if we come to the persones of men, it is well enough knowen what maner of vicars of Christ we shall fynde. Iulius forsoothe, and Leo, and Clement, and Paule, shalbe pillers of the christian faith, and the chiefe expositours of religion, whiche neuer knew any other thyng of Christ, than that whiche he had learned in Lucians schole. But why doo I recken vp thre or fower Popes? as though it were doutfull, what maner of forme of religiō the Popes with their whole college of Cardinals hauehave sins long ago professed, and at this day doo professe. For first this is the principall article of that secret Diuinitie that reigneth amōg them, That there is no God: the seconde, That all things that are writen and taught concernyng Christ, are lies and deceits: the third, That the doctrine of the life to come, and of the last resurrection, are more fables. They doo not all thinke so: and fewe of them speake so. I graūt. But this hath long ago begon to be ye ordinarie religiō of Popes. Wheras this is very well knowen to all that knowe Rome, yet the Romishe Diuines ceasse not to bost, that by Christes priuilege it is prouided, that the Pope can not erre, because it was said to Peter: I hauehave praied for thee,Luc. … xxxii. that thy faith should not faint. What, I pray you, winne they by mocking so shamelessely, but that the whole world may vnderstand, that they are come to that extremitie of wickednesse, that they neither feare God, nor stande in awe of men?
But let vsus imagine, that the vngodlynesse of those Popes whom I hauehave spoken of, is hidden, because they hauehave neither published it by prechinges, nor by writinges: but onelyonly hauehave bewrayed it at their table, and in their chamber, or at least within walles of houses. But if they will hauehave this priuilege to be of force, whyche they pretende, they must nedes wipe Iohn the .xxii. out of the number of Popes, who openly affirmed that soules are mortall, & that they die together with the bodies vntil the day of resurrection. And, that you may perceiue that the whole See with her principall staies was then wholly fallen: none of all the Cardinals withstode so great a madnesse,Gerson whiche lyued thē but the schoole of Parise moued the king of Fraunce to compell him to recant it. The king forbade his subiectes to communicate with him, vnlesse he did out of hande repent: and the same, as the maner is, he proclaimed by a heralde. The Pope compelled by this necessitie, abiured his error. This example maketh that I neede not to dispute any more with my aduersaries about this that they say, that the see of Rome and the Bishops thereof, can not erre in the fayth, because it was saide to Peter, I hauehave praied for thee,Luc. x….xxxii. that thy faith may not fainte. Truely he fell with so fowle a kinde of fall from the right faith, that he is a notable example to theim that come after, that they are not all Peters whiche succede after Peter in the bishoprike. Howbeit this is also of it selfe so childishe, that it nedeth no answere. For if they will drawe to Peters successours whatsoeuer was spoken to Peter,Mat. …vi …iii. it shall …olowe that they are all Satans, for asmuche as the Lord said this also to Peter. Go behinde, thou Satan, because thou art an offence to me. For it shalbe as easye for vsus to turne backe this later sayeng against them, as it shalbe for them to obiect the other agaynst vsus.
But I list not to striue with them in playeng the foole. Therefore I returne thether from whense I made digression. So to bind the place, & Christ, and the Holy ghost, and the Chirch together, that whosoeuer sit in that place, although he be the deuil, yet he must be iudged the vicar of Christ, and the hed of the Chirche, because it was ones the seate of Peter: I say this is not only wicked & sclaūderous to Christe, but also to great an absurditie and against cōmon reason. It is already long ago sins the bishops of Rome are either without all religion, or the greatest enemies of religion. Therfore they ar no more made ye vicars of Christ, by reason of the seate which they occupie,ii. Thess. i.iiii. than an idoll, when it is set in the temple of God, is to be taken for God. Now if their maners be to be iudged vppon, lette the Popes them selues answere for them selues: what one thing at al there is in them, wherein they may be knowen for bishops. First wheras there is such life at Rome, they not only winking at it, but also as it were with secret countenance allowyng it, this is vtterly vnmete for bishops, whoes duetie is with seueritie of discipline to restraine the licentiousnesse of the people. But I wil not be so rigorous against them, to charge them with other mens faultes. But where as they themselues, with their owne household, with almost the whole college of Cardinals, with the whole flocke of their clergie, are so geuen foorth to all wickednesse, filthinesse, vncleannesse, to all kynds of lewde and mischeuous doings, that they resemble rather monsters than men: therin truely they bewray them selues to be nothing lesse than bishops. And yet they nede not to feare least I shold further disclose their filthinesse. For bothe I am wery to hauehave to doo in so stinkyng myre, and I must fauour chast eares, and I thinke that I hauehave already enough and more proued that which I went about: that is, that although Rome had in olde tyme ben the head of Chirches, yet at this day she is not worthy to be iudged one of the smallest toes of the Chirches feete.
As concerning the Cardinals (as they cal them) I can not tell how it is come to passe, yt they be so sodeinly risen vp to so great dignitie. This name in Gregories time belonged to bishops only. For so oft as he maketh mention of Cardinals, he meaneth it not of them of the Chirche of Rome, but of any other: so that brefely, a Cardinal Priest is nothing els but a bishop. In the writers before that age I finde not this name at all. But I se that they were then lesse than bishops, whom they bee nowe farre aboue. This saying of Augustine is wel knowen: Although according to the names of honor, which the vse of the Chirch hath alredy obteined, bishopricke is greater than priesthode, yet in many thinges Augustine is lesse than Hierom. Here in dede he maketh difference betwene a priest of ye Chirch of Rome & other: but he indifferently setteth them al behind ye bishops. And yt was so long obeserued, that in the Coū cel at Carthage, whē there wer present two legates of the see of Rome, the one a bishop, ye other a priest, ye priest was thrust back into ye last place But not to folow to old exāples, there remaineth a Coūcel holdē vnderunder Gregorie at Rome, at which ye priestes sat in ye lowest place, & subscribed seuerally by themselues, as for the Deacōs, thei had no place at al in subscribing. And truly they had then no office, but to be presēt & vnderunder ye bishop at ministring of doctrine and of the sacramēts. Nowe the case is so changed, that they are become the cousins of kinges and Emperours. And it is no doute but that they grewe vp by littell and littell together with their head, till they were aduaunced to this hie toppe of dignitie. But this also I thought good to touche shortly by the waie, that he reders might the better vnderstande, that the See of Rome, suche as it is at this day, doeth muche differ from that auncient one, vnderunder pretense wherof, it doeth nowe maynteine and defende it selfe. But of what sort soeuer they wer in old tyme, forasmuch as they hauehave now nothyng of ye true and lawfull office in the Chirche, they reteine onelyonly a deceitfull colour and vaine visour: yea forasmuche as they hauehave all thinges vtterly contrary, it was necessarie that that should happen to them, which Gregorie writeth so oft.Lib. iiii. epist. xxv. & lv. Lib. v. epist. vii. Mala. ii.viii. I saie it (sayth he) wepyng: I geue warnyng of it, groning: that sith the order of priesthode is fallen within, it shall also not be able to stand long without. But rather it behoued that this shold be fulfilled in them whiche Malachie saith of suche: Ye hauehave gon backe out of the waie, and hauehave made many to stumble in the lawe. Therfore ye hauehave made voide the couenant of Leui, saith the Lord. Therfore beholde I hauehave geuen you out of estimation, and vile to all the people. Nowe I leaue it to all the godly to thynke of what sort is that supreme height of the Hierarchie of Rome, wherunto the Papistes with abhominable shamlessenesse stick not to make subiect the very word of God, whiche ought to hauehave ben honorable and holy bothe to heauen & earth, men and Angels.