A Defense of the Catholic Faith, Book 1 · Chapter 7

A Defense of the Catholic Faith · Book 1 · Chapter 7

p. 105CHAP. VII. The authoritie of Emperours and Kings ouer the Biſhop of Rome, that they hauehave elected, degraded, and cenſured them, that Princes hauehave had authoritie ouer their Biſhops, and their temporalties: The firſt beginning of Poperie in England.

WHo ſo deſires to ſee more proofes drawne out of ancient Hiſtories, by which it is made euident, that the Biſhops of Rome acknowledged themſelues ſubiects, and vaſſals of the Emperours, let him read the place of the King of great Brittaines Apologie,Obſe crantes interim ex animi feruore veſtram manſuetudinem, obteſtando, & veluti preſentes genibus aduoluti & coram veſtigia pedum volutando. where he anſwers the firſt Breue of Paulus Quintus, whereunto we may adioyne the words of Pope Adrian writing to the Emperour Conſtantine ſonne to Irene in the letters inſerted into the ſecond Councell of Nice. We in the meane time with feruencie of ſpirit beſeeching your Grace, and as if wee were preſent fall before you on our knees, and proſtrate p. 106our ſelues at your feete, both my ſelfe and my brethren. In thoſe daies Popes kiſſed the feet of Emperours. Long before King**Platine in vita Agapeti. 1. Theodorick employed Iohn the firſt, Biſhop of Rome in the nature of an Ambaſſadour to Iuſtinian the Emperour, and after his returne kept him in priſon till he died. Platina in the life of Agapetus the firſt, ſaith, that King Theodat ſent Agapetus his Ambaſſadour to Conſtantinople. Soone after Pope Vigill comming to Conſtantinople at the Emperours command, he cauſed him to be whipt, and drawne with a halter about his necke through the Cittie. Oh that they had had the grace in thoſe daies to hauehave thundred againſt the Emperour, and by authority of the See Apoſtolique to hauehave giuen away the Empire to ſome other! as touching the election of Popes, they were commonly choſen by the ſuffrages of the people and clergie of the cittie of Rome: but this election continued doubtfull till the Kings of Italie, or the Emperours had confirmed them: who did often alſo eſtabliſh the Biſhops by their owne abſolute authority, not regarding the voice of popular aſſemblies. In the yeare 535. Agapet the firſt was choſen by King Theodate, who elected alſo Syluerius after Agapet. Syluerius beeing depoſed by Betiſarius a captaine, the Emperour Iuſtinian ſurrogated Vigill into his place. In the yeare 581. Gregorie the Archdeacon was ſent to the Emperour Tiberius to make an humble excuſe, for that Pelagius was elected without his approbation; the incurſions of the Lombards, and the great inundations of waters hauing p. 107cut off their paſſages. The ſame Gregorie beeing ſoone after choſen Pope by the common people, wrote humble Letters to the Emperour Maurice, not to confirme his Election, in the yeare 679. Pope Agatho beſought the Emperour Conſtantine to forgiue him the tribute, which the Biſhop of Rome did vſually pay for their conſecration; as the King of England hath learnedly obſerued;Looke Sigebert and Luitprand Stella. Platina, &c. being farre from enforcing the Emperours vponupon the day of their conſecration, to lay downe a ſumme of money at the Popes feete for tribute in token of their ſubiection, as the Almaine Emperours were afterwards, conſtrained to do: Bellarmine, ſaith, that Conſtantine the fourth gaue ouer this power of chuſing the Popes to Benedict the ſecond, but he maliciouſly hath omitted, that the Emperour in ſtead thereof, ſent thither his ſouldiers, which he ordinarily kept at Rome: which continualy occaſioned Faction and Sedition in their Elections; witneſſe the election of Canon the firſt, and of Sergius the firſt in the yeares 686. and 688. by which they were driuen to hauehave recourſe to the Exarches, Sigonius lib. 3.the Emperours Lieutenant in Italy.

The title of the Empire of the Weſt, and the Royalty of Italy being fallen into the hands of the French, Charlemaine ſeazed both the Soueraignty ouer the Citie of Rome, and the power of electing Popes into his owne hands. The forme or nature of this authority is faithfully reported by his Maieſtie of England, iuſt as it is inſerted into the Romiſh Decree, in the 69. Diſtinction, in the Canon Adrianus: p. 108Leo the the third yeelding to this authority ſought, and offered him ſome preſents to be confirmed by him: Soone after Paſchall the ſecond ſend his excuſe to Lewes le Deuonaire, becauſe his election was diſpatched before his pleaſure was knowne. Some alleadge hereupon that Lewes did at that time freely diſclaime his authority, and to produce a Declaration to that purpoſe; but the practiſe of that time proueth the contrary: for a little after in the yeare 827. Gregory the fourth would not enter vponupon his charge, till his election was confirmed by Lewes, as Sigonius and Platina teſtifie. In whom you ſhall finde a like example in the life of Benedict the third, which is he, whom Platina and a whole ſcore of other witneſſes make to ſucceede next after Pope Ioane. In the yeare 867. the Ambaſſadors of Lewes made head againſt Pope Adrian, becauſe they had not beene called to his election; the people hauing tumultuouſly forced him to take the Papacy vponupon him. The warres of the Normanes came then ſuddenly vponupon them, which ſet the Emperours about other buſineſſe: and the Sea of Rome began then to grow to that ouerflowing and diſorder, that for the full ſpace of two hundred yeares, there was nothing to bee ſeene but ſlaughter, theft, adulterie, forcery, and one Pope degrading and thruſting out another: in which time by Coeffeteau's owne confeſſion many Maſters ſate in the Pontificall chayre; and it is pleaſant reading to peruſe the Councel of Rhemes held vnderunder Hugh Capet about that affaire. During p. 109which hurly-burlies, the Church of Rome was in the yeare 898. conſtrained to ſue vntounto Berengarius King of Italy, to interpoſe his authority in the election of the Popes. And a while after Otho the firſt, Emperour of Almaine hauing ſubdued Italie, ſeazed vponupon the ſame authority,Anno 992. and choſe Pope Leo the eigth, and after him Iohn the fourteenth, and after that Benedict the fift, as Sigonius, Platina, and others doe affirme. In the yeare 995. Otho the third keeping the ſame cuſtome, choſe Gregory the fift without any regard to the voyces of the common people. Silueſter the ſecond, who (as Platina, Stella, Faſciculus temporum, and ſundry others do write) attained the Popedome by bargayning with the Diuell, about the yeare 997. was eſtabliſhed by the Emperour Otho the ſecond,Sigonius Platina who had beene his Scholler. In the yeare 1024. the Earles of Tuſculum, which then were growne mightie, aduanced Iohn the one and twentieth, who was a Lay-man to the Popedome In the yeare 1047. Henry the ſecond depoſed Benedict the ninth, Seluester the thirteenth, and Gregory the ſixt from the Papacy; who by Platina are called three Monſters; as the King of great Britaine doth truely obſerue. The ſame Emperour renewed the Oath vntounto the people, that they ſhould not offer to chuſe their Biſhop without his commaundement. After which Leo the ninth,Sigonius pa. 372. Platina. In Clemente 11. Nicholas the ſecond, & Honorius the ſecond were elected according to the ſame rule. Sigonius in the yeare 1064. ſaith that Hanno the Archbiſhop gaue Pope Alexander a checke for entring vponupon p. 110the Papacy, without the penalty of Henry the Emperour, Quam ſedem multos iam per annos nemo niſi a rege probatus auſus eſſet attingere; vntounto which ſeate none (ſaith he) for theſe many yeares hath preſumed to approach without the Kings approbation. The ſame Hildebrand which was called Gregory the ſeuenth, the ſcourge of Emperours was confirmed by Henry the fourth in the yeare 1075. who hauing firſt dared to incite the Almaines and Italians to reuolt from the Emperour, and infinite warres being kindled thereby vnderunder this Henry, and his ſucceſſors, it would be ouer-long to reckon vp how many Popes hauehave beene degraded, and how many Anti-Popes created by the Emperours. By which confuſion and warlike broils, continuing for one hundred or ſix ſcore yeares, the Papacy grew to a farre greater greatneſſe then it maintaines at this day: for it is within theſe two or three hundred yeares fallen wel-neare halfe way from the height and State wherein it ſtood.

The King of great Britaine hauing alleadged ſome of theſe teſtimonies; M^r. Coeffeteau makes after his faſhion a ſuperficiall anſwere, and ſaith, That in the beginning it was not ſo. Fol. 16. pag 2And he ſaith well: for in the beginning the Biſhop of Rome medled not with the election of the Emperours: hee did not pull downe Kingdomes: he impoſed no Annates, or tyrannous impoſitions vponupon the Clergy: hee intermedled not with temporall affaires, neither did his Eccleſiaſtical authority extend farther then the Churches and pariſhes in the Suburbs; that is, p. 111no farther then the Prouoſt-ſhip and Iuriſdiction of the Citie of Rome: he was not called the Monarch of the world, nor the head of the Vniuerſall Church, nor God vponupon the earth, nor did he weare a triple Crowne, nor made the Kings to kiſſe his feet, nor did he vaunt that he could not erre in matter of faith: but as faſt as the Emperours did fall, ſo faſt did the Popes riſe: and I aſſure my ſelfe, that the Pope would rather renounce his ſucceſſion of S. Peter, then the Donation of Charlemaine.

Secondly, Coeffeteau ſaith, That in the firſt ages the Chriſtian Emperours did not enterpriſe ſuch matters, no not the Constantines, or Theodoſij. Here then wee muſt learne him ſome skill in hiſtorie. Betweene Constantine the great and Theodoſius the firſt. Valentinian was Emperour, whoſe royall aſſent concurred in the election of Ambroſe Biſhop of Millaine, a Prelate more reuerenced at that time then the Biſhop of Rome: Ruffinus ſpeakes plainely in his ſecond booke, the eleuenth chapter. The deſire of the people being reported to the Emperour, hee gaue commandement that their deſire ſhould be accompliſhed. Socrates hath the ſame, Lib. 4 cap. 25. The Emperour Theodoſius choſe Nectarius Biſhop of Conſtantinople: for (as Sozomen. teſtifieth) he commaunded the Biſhop to write downe in a paper their names, whom they thought worthy, reſeruing the choyce vntounto himſelfe: and hauing caſt his eye ouer the liſt of ſuch as were named, among all the reſt, hee made choice of Nectarius. Now wee are to vnderſtand that the Biſhop of Conſtantinople was p. 112not then inferiour to the Biſhop of Rome in any reſpect: Of which we could produce 780. witneſſes; to wit, thoſe hundred and fiftie Biſhops which were in the firſt Councel of Conſtantinople vnderunder Theodoſius; and the ſixe hundred and thirty Biſhops in the Councell of Calcedon, in which Councels there are expreſſe Canons to that purpoſe. The third Canon of the Councell of Conſtantinople ſpeakes in this tenour,aaforeign. That the Biſhop of Conſtantines Citie hath prerogatiues of honour next after the Biſhop of Rome becauſe it is new Rome. Which Canon attributing to the Biſhop of Rome priority of rancke, not in reſpect of the See, but in regard of the cheife Citie, is expounded at large in the Councell of Calcedon in theſe wordes, in the eighteenth Canon:bbforeign. Our Fathers hauehave very rightly giuen the preheminence to the See of auncient Rome, becauſe the City was the Seate of the Empire. So the hundred and fifty Biſhops of the Councell of Calcedon, beloued of God, moued with the ſame reaſons hauehave transferred the ſame preheminence to the ſeat of ccThat is to ſay Conſtantinople.New-Rome, thinking it reaſon that the City honoured with the Empire, and with the preſence of the Senate, and enioying the ſame priuiledges as ancient Rome being the Seate of the Empire did, and being after it the next ſhould in matters Eccleſiaſticall hauehave equall aduancement: For then the See of Rome had the precedency without any authority or Iuriſdiction aboue the reſt, iuſt as one Counſeller of State goes before another, that is equall in Commiſsion with him. This excellent Canon hath beene ſhamefully falſified in the Romane p. 113mane Decree, in the Canon Renouantes, the two and twentieth Diſtinction; where in ſtead of Etiam in Eccleſiaſticis, our Aduerſaries hauehave thruſt in Non …amen in Eccleſiaſticis. Hereupon I conclude, that if Theodoſius being at Conſtantinople, had a hand in the election of the Biſhop of Conſtantinople, he might as well meddle with the election of the Biſhoppe of Rome, in caſe hee ſhould be preſent in Rome. And indeede Coeffeteau confeſſeth that the Emperour Constantius medled both with the election of Foelix, and with the depoſing of Liberius Biſhop of Rome: but he ſaith that he was an Arrian, and that S. Hilarie cal'd him Antichriſt: which notwithſtanding diſables not the authority of this example: for if Liberius had beene then an Arrian, as hee became afterwards, no man could hauehave thought it ſtrange, that Conſtantius had expelled him, and aduanced another of the Orthodoxe faith into his roome. S. Hilary blamed him, not becauſe he medled with the depoſing, or election of a Biſhop, but becauſe in Liberius he perſecuted the truth: which may be as well ſaid of the Kings of the Gothes, fauourers of Arrianiſme, which made and vnmade the Biſhop of Rome at their pleaſure: And it is principally to be conſidered, that the Emperours tooke leſſe heede to the chooſing of the Roman Biſhops as long as they preached the Goſpell themſelues, and were contented with the office of being Paſtors of the City of Rome, and did not thruſt their Eccleſiaſticall ſicle into the temporall harueſt. But aſſoone as they began to ſpeake p. 114bigge, and to meddle with ciuill affaires, and that when matters were doubtfully ballanced, they were like a great ſtone in one of the ſcales, who can wonder if the Emperours b…gan then to looke about, that none of an aduerſe faction were brought in to that See againſt themſelues?

That which Coeffeteau ſubioyneth, makes nothing to the purpoſe, to wit, That the Emperours of the Eaſt continued the vſurpation of the Gothes, out of a baſe coueteous humour: for it makes not, whether their proceedings were tainted with auarice, or no: ſome one in the proſecution of his right, may mingle his particular vices. Now if this cuſtome be not, then are the Popes, and Councels worthy of blame that hauehave adiudged them both iuſt, and neceſſary; as Adrian the firſt, Leo the eigth, and others which vnrequeſted did voluntarily referre this choyce to the Kings of Italy, and to the Emperors. And indeed Sigonius Anno 963. ſaith that Leo the eigth was of opinion,Non ſine cauſa Adrianū 1. Ca rolo magno tribuiſſe vt Eccleſiam ordimaret & Pontiſicemlegeret—Labertate populo …eddita Romanos in dies deteriores effectos: that Adrian the firſt had cauſe to referre the honour of gouerning the Church, and chuſing the Pope vntounto Charlemaine, and that when liberty was giuen to the popular Aſſembly for the election of the Pope, things greweuery day from bad to worſe. It is heere more remarkable that Coeffeteau doth a little after contradict himſelfe; for after hauing condemned this electiue cuſtome, as as an vniuſt vſurpation of the Emperours, a little after he ſaith, that the Emperour did not vſurpe this right, Fol. 18. pag. 2.but receaued it from the Pope. If then the Emperours did not vſurpe this p. 115power, he doth vniuſtly call it vſurpation. And if the Popes gaue this authority, the fault was onelyonly in the Popes. And if it be a Right, as Coeffeteau cals it, it can be neyther wrong, nor iniuſtice, not vſurpation. The feare of the Lombards ſhould hauehave beene no motiue to the Popes to iniure their own See, to p…ſſeſſe the Emperours of that which appertained not vntounto them.

Touching that which he addes,Fol. 19. p. …. that Lewes the ſonne of Charles diſclaymed this right; I hauehave already diſproued it, as vntrue. The Canon Ego Lodouicus, in the 63. Diſtinction, is of the ſame touch, and as true as the Donation of Conſtantine.

It is alſo vntrue which he ſaith, that the Popes acknowledged Lewes for a benefactor of this See; and that they ſhould thinke themſelues obliged to him, and other Princes, which hauehave beſtowed on them the temporalities which they poſſeſſe. For firſt the Popes would not acknowledge any ſuch obligation to this Lewes, nor to his predeceſſors, notwithſtanding all their gifts vntounto them, hauing forged the Donation of Conſtantine to obliterate the memory of this benefite, and caſt an immaginary Conduit-pipe, that might from others of farther diſtance deriue this bountie vntounto them. Beſides their abuſing and thundring their ſtormes vppon our Kings, and robbing their Kingdomes is their faire acknowledgement of this good turne; like him that hauing gathered the fruite, and refreſhed himſelfe in the ſhadow of a tree, doth with his bil-booke lop off the boughs and branches for recompence.

p. 116Moreouer we denie (notwithſtanding any thing Coeffeteau ſayth) that the Popes held their temporal poſſeſſions of Pipin, or Charles, or of Lewes, or of any King or Emperour. I am not ignorant that theſe Princes hauehave exceeded in their liberalities to the Biſhop of Rome, which they hauehave performed to their hinderance: but they euer did, as Princes vntounto ſubiects, reſerue the Soueraignty ouer the Donce.

To examine the matter by auncienter proofes and better, Sigonius in the Hiſtory of the yeare 687. ſaith, that the Exarches ſent Iudges vntounto Rome, to adminiſter iuſtice vntounto the people. Platina hath the fame in the life of Sergius the ſecond, who was the firſt that chaunged his name after his election, becauſe he was formerly called Hogs-ſnout. In the diuiſion betweene the children of Lewes le Debonaire, Lotharius the eldeſt ſonne had for his part the City of Rome, with Italy, &c. Platina in the life of Eugenius the ſecond, ſaith, that††Sigonius p. 116 Lotharius in Italiam veniens Magiſtratum delegit qui populo Romano ius diceret. Lotharius comming into Italy, eſtabliſhed Magiſtrates at Rome to iudge the people of the Citie. Aboue all, we hauehave expreſſe teſtimony of Sigonius in the ſeuenth booke of the Hiſtory of the Kingdome of Italy: Ann. 973.**Pontifex Romā. Rauennam que & ditiones reliquas tenebat authoritate magis quam imeprio: quod ci uitates Pontificem vt Reip. Principem Regem verò vi ſummum Dowinum intue entur at que ei tributa obſequia que praeberent. Then (ſayth he) the Biſhop of Rome helde the City of Rome and Rauenna, rather by anothers authority then their owne commaund Becauſe theſe Cities acknowledged the Biſhop as a Prince in the Common▪wealth, but did euer looke toward the King as their ſoueraigne Lord, payde him tribute, and to him yeelded their obedience. And yet it was a long while after, ere the Emperours p. 117came to Rome, to take their Crownes which they held not of the Pope, who had onelyonly a hand in the Ceremony, but of the people of Rome. So that all that which the Pope dooth at this day holde in the nature of a ſoueraigne Prince, is a meere vſurpation ouer the Empire, and he cannot exhibite his titles, nor ſhew vsus the beginning of his Princely Soueraignty.

Coeffeteau goes on, and condemnes the Emperor Otho for depoſing Iohn the thirteenth for his irregular life; and Henry the third for depoſing three Popes in a ſhort time, and ſaith, that in this proceeding he ſhewed a zeale, but no knowledge. Whereunto I anſwerre, that this Iohn being maintayned by an Army, and a very potent faction, he could not be expulſed, but by the power of the Emperour: nor is it zeale without knowledge to apply vntounto an extreame malady, the onelyonly and moſt neceſſary medicine that can poſſibly the prouided.

Our Doctor doth further adde that Conſtantine did ſhew much more Religion, when in the Councell of Nice he acknowledged, that it belonged not to him to iudge of the faults of Biſhops. But theſe were but words of his gratious reſpect vntounto them, ſuch as the ſame Prince vſed, when he ſaid, that if he ſhould finde a Clergy-man offending with a woman, he would couer him with his cloake: but before in the ſixt Chapter we ſaw, that the lawes of Conſtantine did not priuiledge the offences of the Clergy from the ciuill authority; no not the lawes of Iustinian which were made more then two p. 118hundred yeares after. And indeede Theodoret, lib. 1. cap. 19. alleageth an Epiſtle of Conſtantine to N… comedians, in which ſpeaking generally of all ſorts of men, he ſaith that**Si quis audacter inconſulte que ad memoriam aut landem peſtium illarum exarſerit, illias ſtatim audacia miniſtri Dei h…e. mea executione coercebitur. If any one will raſhly and inconſiderately maintaine thoſe peſtilent aſſertions (ſpeaking of the Arrians) his audatiouſnes ſhall be instantly curbed by the Emperours execution, who is Gods Miniſter. I doe plainely confeſſe, that they cauſed them to be very often depoſed by a Synode, but yet they ceaſed not to hauehave ſoueraigne authority ouer the Biſhops before their depoſition, or to hauehave power of inflicting corporall puniſhment vponupon them: but of this we hauehave ſpoken at large before.

Thence doth Coeffeteau proceede to the Example of Henry the fourth; which he ſaith cannot be alleadged, becauſe the times were then troubleſome: but the example ſuits very well to our purpoſe, for that the Popes were the onelyonly inſtruments of raiſing thoſe troubles, to exempt themſelues from the Emperours ſubiection, and to ſubiect the Emperours to themſelues, euen in ſeruices more ſeruile then ſeuuitude it ſelfe; ſtirring vp the ſonne to ſeeke the life and Crowne of Henry his father, who died being depriued of his Imperiall dignity by his ſonne, the Popes inſtrument therein; who vouchſafed not his father ſo much fauour,See Helmoldus in the Chronicles of Sclauonia. Naucl. 39. genera. Baronius de vitis Pontificum, and many others. as to cauſe his body to be buried. Fredericke Barbaroſſa being come ſoone after into Italy to be Crowned Emperour, the Pope enforced him to hold his ſtirrope, when he tooke horſe. But this Emperour little-skil'd in theſe ſeruices, putting himſelfe forward p. 119to hold the left in ſtead of the right ſtirrop, was adiudged to practiſe the ſame ſubmiſſion the day following: and howbeit he performed it very mannerly, yet in concluſion the Pope ſought to pull his Crowne from him. And in the ſame degree of pride did Alexander the third treade vponupon the ſaid Frederickes necke, vponupon the ſtaires of S. Markes Church in Venice: the Hiſtory is reported by many writers, and alleadged by the King of great Britaine, in his confutation of Bellarmine about the end of the booke: and it is paynted at Venice in the hall of del Scrutinio & del grand Conſtiglio; the Maps and Tables thereof are reckoned vp and expounded by Girolam Bardi, in a booke expreſly written of that argument.

In the ſequel of his diſcourſe Coeffeteau fals into that wretchleſſe negligence, that he accuſeth the King of miſtaking the Hiſtory, not alleadging ſo much as one paſſage for his confutation. And ſure it is not Platina that doth alone record the depoſition of theſe three Popes by Henry the fourth; for Stella a Venetian Monke, who hath written the liues of the Popes, hath the ſame in theſe wordes; Henricus Caeſar habita Synodo Benedictum praedictum & Sylueſtrum, & hunc Gregorium abdicare ſe Pontificatu coegit.

His Maieſty of England alleadgeth to the ſame purpoſe, the example of Philip le bel K. of France, that wrote with liberty enough vntounto Boniface the eight, who firſt inuented the Iubile,Platina Stella. in theſe wordes: Let your great folleſhip vnderſtand, p. 120that in in temporall matters we are not ſubiect to any man, &c. And he it was that ſurpriſed the aforeſaid Pope at Anagnia, and committed him to priſon at Rome, where for griefe hee died, An. 1303. To the example of Lewes the ninth, King of Fraunce, that eſtabliſhed the law called Pragmatica ſanctio, againſt the pillaging and merchandizing of the Court of Rome; he ioyneth the example of Lewes the eleauenth: who being vrged by Pius the ſecond to repeale that Sanction, remitted his Legates to the faculty of the Diuines of Sorbone,Iohannes Maierius libra de ſchiſmat Concil. who made it good againſt the Pope: with whom Iohannes Romanus the Kings Aduocate, was ioyned, that oppoſed them ſo farre with his concluſions, that the Court appealed to the next Councell; as indeeede they did. The ſaid King ſaith farther, that the facultie of Sorbone, came to maintaine this point, that if the Pope ſhould offer violence to our King, the French Church had authority to eſtabliſh a Patriarch, and ſeuer themſelues from the See of Rome. And that Gerſon Chaunceller of the Vniuerſitie of Paris, was ſo farre from defending this pretended temporall power of the Popes, that he wrote a booke De auferibilitate Papae ab Eccleſia; that is, Of the poſsibility of forſaking the Pope, and remoueing him from the Church. How much more did hee beleeue then that the temporall power of Kings might be free from the inſulting of Papall authority?

To this doth Coeffeteau make no other anſwere, p. 121but that theſe contentions were onelyonly for temporall matters; and that Philip or Lewes, or the faculty of Sorbonne, or the Kings Aduocate, deſired not to preiudice the Popes authority in any regard, as he is head of the Church; ſo that here, he anſweres well to the King of Englands queſtion; whoſe ayme is onelyonly vntounto matters temporall, and to the vſurpation of Popes ouer Monarches. Touching the title of Head of the Church, which is an abuſe more intollerable, hee reſerues that for an after-diſcourſe. Now if ſo be, the diſſention betweene Philip and the See of Rome continued not many yeares, as Coeffeteau obſerueth,Fol. 22 pag 2 it was becauſe the Pope gaue way vntounto him: and Benedict the eleuenth was very glad to giuegive Philip abſolution,Platina Stella. which he graunted of his owne accord, becauſe the other might hauehave beene well without it.

That we may cloſe vp this point, the King of great Britaine drawes many examples out of Matthew Paris, and out of the Records of his Kingdom to this purpoſe; as William Gifford whom King Henry the firſt inueſted with his Biſhopricke, and Rodulphus whom the ſame King inueſted with the Archbiſhopricke of Canterbury by his Ring and Croſier-ſtaffe: and Thurſtan nominated to the Archbiſhopricke of Yorke, depriued by the King of his temporalties, for corrupting with bribes the Popes agents in the Councell of Rhemes. The ſaid King alleadgeth many examples of Abbots, Biſhops and Deanes in England, that hauehave eyther againſt the Popes will, yeelded obedience to their p. 122Soueraignes, or hauehave beene degraded, cenſured and impriſoned by their Princes for their diſobedience in adhaering to the Popes And which is more conſiderable, theſe are late examples, ſuch as hauehave happened while the Papacy domineered moſt: How ſtood the caſe then, when the Biſhoppe of Rome had nothing to doe in England, with matters eyther temporall or ſpirituall? The Kingdome of Fraunce doth furniſh vsus with examples of more pregnancy. The Synode of Fraunce is of ſpeciall note to this purpoſe, which is to be found in the third Tome of the Councels of the Colleyn Edition, pag. 39. where Carolomanus qualifying himſelfe as Duke and Prince of Fraunce vſeth this ſpeach, By the aduiſe of my Clergie, and others of principall eſteeme of the Realme, Ordinauimus Epiſcopos.We hauehave ordayned Biſhops in the Cities, and hauehave establiſhed Boniface Archbiſhop ouer them. The Councell of Maurice holden vnderunder Charlemaine, Anno 813. beginneth thus: Carolo Auguſto verae religionis rectori, ac defenſori ſanctae Dei Eccleſie: and the firſt Councell of Mayence vnderunder Lewes le Debonaire: Ludouico verae relligionis ſereniſsimo rectori. And theſe, I trow, ſhould hauehave been accounted irreligious Titles now-a-dayes.

And here let it be principally noted, that Coeffeteau truſts more to his heeles, then to his hands: for he buckles onelyonly with the firſt of theſe examples; and all his anſwere is, that Anſelme Archbiſhop of Canterbury oppoſed this courſe. But to this I reply, that for this oppoſition he was forged both to forſake England, and quit his Biſhopricke. The p. 123contradiction of one of the Popes penſionary Prelates oppoſing his Soueraigne, is of ſmall moment in this behalfe; for Anſelme was accounted the Popes, not the Kings ſubiect. Nor is it any greater wonder if Mathew Paris, who ſo often magnifies this King Henry, doe now and then caſt ſome imputation vponupon him: in as much as he was a ſuperſtitious Monke, and liued ſoone after: who in eueryevery paſſage complaining of the tyrannie and exactions of the Popes, doth yet ſometimes reſtrain himſelfe for ſome idle reſpects, in which he oftener gropes for the truth, then he doth ſee or finde it.

We muſt alſo obſerue, that the principall quarrell betweene the King of England and the Pope being for inueſting men with ſpirituall promotions, the Pope hath beſtowed very glorious Titles on thoſe perſons, that ſuffered for this quarrell: as if he ſhould write Rubarbe, vponupon a pot of Rats-bane. So hath he placed this Anſelme in the Kalender of Saints, and Confeſſours; and Thomas of Canterbury in the Catalogue of Martyrs, that loſt his life, not for the profeſſion of the Goſpell, but for a Controuerſie of Prebends, and the right of Inueſtiture.

Coeffeteau doth here adde, That the Kings of England in the matter of ordination of Prieſts hauehave neuer violated the Diſcipline of the Church: The King of England alleadgeth theſe and many other examples of like nature.And I ſuppoſe that hee had not vouchſafed the reading of the booke, againſt which he writes. For the Kings book ſaith that Henry the firſt, inueſted an Archbiſhop in his Archbiſhopricke with his Ringe and Croſierſtaffe, p. 124without the Popes leaue, which is flat repugnant to the diſcipline of the Church of Rome.Fol. 15. pag. 1: And beſides the now Pope Paul the fift doth pretend that the Venetians in puniſhing the criminall offences of their Clergy doe derogate from the liberty of the Church. Edward then the firſt and ſecond by inflicting corporall puniſhment vponupon the Clergy, that would hold a dependancy from the Pope, hauehave by this reckoning derogated from the liberty of the Church.

To conclude, our Doctor ſayth, that Henry the first did in other things ſubmit himſelfe to the lawes of the Church; that in the Records of England, moſt of the monuments ſpeake of yeelding obedience to the See Apoſtolique: that his Maieſtie embraceth a Religion which his Predeceſſors neuer poſſeſſed, but hauehave euer acknowledged the authority of Rome in all matters depending vponupon matter of conſcience.

Firſt, I anſwere, that this is to wander from the queſtion, for heere is nothing queſtioned but the Popes Supremacy ouer Kings in matters temporall: Secondly, that barely to affirme, and to confirme nothing, eſpecially writing againſt a King, doth eyther diſcouer much weakeneſſe, or argue ouer-much neglect: and indeede his whole allegation is vntrue. Concerning Henry the firſt, I confeſſe, that he aſcribed too much honour to the Church of Rome; for he liued in a dark & ignorant age, and in the height of the Popes tyranny, to which England of all Countries was moſt enthralled: which cannot bee proued of the times more p. 125auncient. It may well appeare, that the Citie of Rome, being the ſeat of the Empire, was by conſequent the reſort of all nations; by which meanes the Church of that citie, how poore and miſerable ſoeuer, might hauehave aduertiſements from all parties, and hauehave intelligence with all the Churches within the Empire, and conſequently which is the Church of great Brittaine; which was originally planted by ſome of S Iohn. Diſciples that came thither out of Aſia: whereof we hauehave this proofe, that euen to the time of Auguſt. w^ch was ſent into England by Gregogorie the firſt about the yere 596. the Church of the Iland, did keepe the feaſt of Eaſter, according to the cuſtome of Aſia, vponupon the 14. day of the month, which if it had beene vnderunder the iuriſdiction of the Biſhop of Rome, no queſtion but it had abrogated that cuſtome, when Victor, in the yeare 200. did excommunicate the Churches which made any preciſe obſeruation of the 14. day. Helene mother vntounto Conſtantine. was of the Iland, and held no points of Papiſtrie maintained at this day. Pelagius was alſo of this Iland, and ſauing the points of free will, and originall ſinne, diſſented not in any opinions from S. Anguſtine. Now S. Anguſtine receiued no Popiſh opinions now defended; as we hauehave proued in the 20. chapter of my booke of the Euchariſt in another place,In the twenty Chapter of my booke of the Euchariſt. Pontificus Verumnius lib. 4. Jo. Lelandus. that he died excommunicate from the Church of Rome The firſt Chriſtian King of great Brittaine that can be remembred, was Lucius, that poſſeſſed a part of the Iland in the time of Marcus Aurelius: who, queſtionleſſe had commerce with p. 126the Biſhop of Rome, for he had beene at Rome, and held correſpondence with the Emperour: but that he ſhould be ſubiect to the Biſhop of Rome, or acknowledge him the head of the Vniuerſal Church, admits no manner of proofe. In the yeare of our Lord 530. that Warlike Prince Arthur raigned in great Britaine, of whom being a Chriſtian it doth not appeare, that eyther he depended vponupon the Biſhops of Rome, or that they intermedled in the election, or inueſting of the Britaine Biſhops, during the raigne of Arthur, or his Succeſſors. In the yeare 596. ſoone after that the Engliſh Saxons (being Almaines, and at that time Infidels) had inuaded Britaine, then did Gregory the firſt ſend Auſten into this Iland, a man full of faction, and arrogancy, to plant the Chriſtian faith; although the Chriſtian Religion had beene planted here more then foure hundred yeares before. But by the Chriſtian faith, theſe men doe now vnderſtand the authority of the Pope. This Auſten was ſtrongly and ſtoutly oppoſed by the Chriſtians of that Countrey, who refuſed to change their auncient forme of Religion, which they had receiued from ſuch as were Diſciples to the Apoſtles. They had ſeuen Biſhopricks and one Archbiſhopricke; the ſeat whereof being firſt errected at Carleon, was afterward tranſlated to S. Dauids, as it is recorded by Rainulphus Ceſtrenſis, lib. 1. cap. 52. for the Archbiſhop of London was of a later foundation: beſides they had a Colledge of 2100. religious perſons at Bangor, who about the yeare 550. when the Order of S. Benet began to p. 127flouriſh in this Ile, were called by the new name of Monkes: Men that adicting themſelues to the ſtudy of Diuinity, got their liuing by the labour of their handes; not being tyed to the rigorous obſeruation of a Vow: whereunto no man by the ancient Order of S. Benet is obliged. This Auſten then found meanes to inſinuate himſelfe into the familiar acquaintance of one of the petty Kings of the Countrey, called Ethelfred King of Northumberland, who was an enemy to the auncient Chriſtians of that land, and had inuaded their Countrey, and waſted many Churches: with this Auſten then he combined againſt the Chriſtians, and both together maſſacred the poore religious men of Bangor, and flew no leſſe then 1200. of them: The ſame Ethelfred aſſiſted by the petty Engliſh Kings to deſpite the Chriſtians inhabiting the Countrey, remoued the Archiepiſopall ſeate from London, and tranſlated it to Canterbury, where ordinarily he made his reſidence. Now the principall difference betweene the Chriſtians and the Romiſh faction was about the day of Eaſter, the ſingle life of Prieſts, and the Church-muſique proceſſions and Letany after the order of Rome: conſider further that ſome of the people were Pelagians, for there was no ſpeech then of tranſubſtantiation, nor of the Popes grand Pardons and indulgences, nor of the Sacrament vnderunder one kinde, nor of ſuch hereſies as were hatched in the after ages: Whereof we hauehave ſundry witneſſes, as Amandus Zirixenſis in his his Chronicle. Beda in the ſecond booke of his p. 128Eccleſiaſticall Hiſtory of England: Mantuan in faſtis, and Polydore Virgill: Mantuanus. Adde quòd & Patres auſi taxare Latinos. Cauſabantur eos ſtulte, imprudentur & aequo Durius ad ritum Romae voluiſſe Britannos cogere &c.but eſpecially obſerue the wordes of Geffery of Monmouth in his eight booke de Britannorum geſtis. **In patria Britonum adhuc vigebat Chriſtianitas quae ab Apoſtolorum tempore nunq tam inter eos defece rat. Poſt quam autem venit Auguſtinus, &c.In the Countrey of the Brittànes Chriſtian Religion flouriſhed, which neuer failed among them from the time of the Apoſtles. For Auſten being arriued there, found ſeuen Biſhoprickes and an Archbiſhopricke in their Prouince, all furniſhed with very religious Prelates, and Abbots, men that liued by the labour of their hands.

The King of England produceth alſo the Statute of Richard the ſecond King of England, by which all Engliſh-men were forbidden to holde, or ſue for any Benefice from the Pope, which was in the heigth of the Popes vſurpation: and this as the greateſt part of the booke doth Coeffeteau paſſe by, being content to ſcratch where he cannot bite.