The Novelty of Popery Opposed to the Antiquity of True Christianity, Book 1 · Chapter 37

The Novelty of Popery Opposed to the Antiquity of True Christianity · Book 1 · Chapter 37

p. 97CHAP. 37. Of the ſucceſsion of Popes and Cardinals. By what ways the Popedom uſeth to be obtained. Of Schiſms: And that the Popes have no lawful ſucceſsion.

WHo ſo ſhall truly know the ſucceſſion of the Pope and the Cardinals, and by what means both they and other Prelates enter into their charges, will wonder how perſons deſtitute of all lawful ſucceſſion, who have corrupted the charge of Paſtor of the Church, and have turned it to other uſes, having intruded themſelves by violence and fraud, and made of their charge a merchandize, can be ſo urgent to ask us a reaſon of our calling. It ſeems that they look for companions of their uſurpation, and think themſelves leſs guilty if they can involve us in the ſame guilt.

Since the Pope claims the ſucceſſion of Saint Peter, it will be to good purpoſe to compare them together. Peter going to preach from Town to Town, on foot, without money or proviſion for his journey, paying tribute unto Ceſar, teaching chaſtity, fidelity and innocence, diſpencing not unto the other Apoſtles the free and entire uſe of the keys; The Pope not preaching the Goſpel, riding upon p. 98mens ſhoulders, wearing a triple Crown ſparkling with Diamonds, giving his pantable unto Kings to kiſs,(a)(a)The Emperour the day that he receiveth the Crown from the Popes hand, layeth a maſs of gold at the Popes feet. That ceremony is deſcribed in the firſt Book of the Sacred Ceremonies in the 5. Section, ch. 3. Caeſar Pontificis pedes in reverentiam Salvatoris devotè oſculatur. And a little after, Caeſar iterum genu fleetens auri maſſam ad Pedes Pontificis offert, habetque vèrba ad Pontificem, gratias agens pro honorè ſuſcepto. making Caeſar to pay tribute to him; ſuffering himſelf to be called God, and the Divine Majeſty, cauſing himſelf to be adored; Canonizing Saints; fetching ſouls out of Purgatory; depoſing Kings; giving and taking away Crowns; beſtowing pardons of an hundred thouſand years; putting Kingdoms and States in Interdict, and expoſing them as a prey to the firſt Conquerour; diſpenſing men from keeping their vows, and the Oath made unto God, and the obedience ſworn to their Soveraign Prince; diſſolving marriages; exempting children from the ſubjection due to their Parents; ſetting up Brothel-houſes, permitting whoredom, and forbidding marriage; robbing other Biſhops of part of the uſe of the Keyes, reſerving certain caſes to himſelf, from which none but he can abſolve; prohibiting the reading of the holy Scripture, and giving in ſtead of the Scripture Images, and a ſervice in an unknown language. Whoſoever will make this compariſon, will eaſily acknowledge that the Pope cannot be a ſucceſſor of St. Peter; but as night ſuceeeds the day, and ſickneſs health; and that the name and ſucceſſion of St. Peter is ſet forth by the Popes ſlaves, rather to mock the world, then out of any opinion that the Pope is a ſucceſſor of that Apoſtle. For is it poſsible that it ſhould be the ſame charge, when the Functions are ſo contrary, ſeeing that St. Peter hath done nothing at all of all that the Pope doth, and the Pope doth nothing at all of all that St. Peter hath done? It is not then without cauſe, (and there is ſome myſterie in it) that the Popes renouncing the name of their Baptiſm when they become Popes, and taking another name, never take the name of Peter, as not convenient for them. Yea if any before he was Pope was named Peter, he leaveth that name aſſoon as he is Pope to take another. So did Peter de Luna, who having obtained the Popedom of Avignon, took the name of Benedict the XIII. but Gregory the XIII. his Anti-Pope called him Peter, to reproach him, and anger him. Before him Peter Biſhop of Pavia, being created Pope in the year 984. would be called John the XIV.

The like compariſon can be made between the antient Biſhops of Rome, and the new. For in the firſt ages of the Chriſtian Church, the Biſhops of Rome qualified themſelves Biſhops of the City of Rome only, and took no notice of the buſineſſes of any Church never ſo little remote from Rome. They preached the Goſpel, and were eminent only in Martyrdom in the eyes of the world, men full of zeal, and in deep poverty, as we will ſhew hereafter.

The Roman Biſhops of the latter ages who have led Armies, given battels, fulminated Emperours, filled Chriſtendom with blood, ſet up a worldly Monarchy, and heaped up wealth beyond the greateſt Kings; can they be ſucceſſors of thoſe good Biſhops? Certainly where the nature of the Office is altogether changed, there may be a ſucceſſion in in the place, but not in the Office of the antient Biſhops of Rome.

In that ſucceſſion of place, the lower we go, the worſer things do we find.(b)(b)Bellar. de noris Eccleſiae, c. 8. §. Addo ultimo, quod Eccleſiae illae Patriarchales per longa tempora habuerint Epiſcopos manifeſtos baereticos, unde interrupta eſt ſucceſſio veterum Paſtorum. Our Adverſaries hold that Hereſie breaketh the ſucceſſion in Epiſcopacy: Now the Chair of the Biſhop of Rome was ſtained with many Hereſies, which the very Roman Church doth condemn. Athanaſius in his Epiſtle to the Solitaries, ſaith, that(c)(c)foreign. Liberius Biſhop of Rome ſubſcribed to Arianiſm; and Hilary in his Fragments, very often doth anathematize him, becauſe he had ſubſcribed the Confeſſion of the Arians formed at Syrmium. (d)(d)Hieron. in Fortunatiano.Hierome ſaith the ſame in his Catalogue of Eccleſiaſtical Writers.

Viglius Biſhop of Rome, hath approved by Letters the Eutychian Hereſie. His whole Letters are ſet down by Liberat Deacon of Carthage, in the 22. chap. of his Breviary, where he openly declareth that he doth not acknowledge two Natures in Chriſt; for which(e)(e)Baron, an. 537. §. 14. Leo 2. Epiſt. ad Conſtantin. Imp. Baronius taunts him.(f)(f)Oper. 55. capitum, c. 48. pag. 308. Hinckmarus ſaith that Vigilius, p. 99from an Apoſtolical Pope is become an Heretick, and that after many horrible Oaths, when he was detained at Conſtantinople. Cardinal du Perron calls that Vigilius Simoniacal, Heretick, falſe Pope, and a favourer of Hereticks, whilſt his Anti-Pope Sylverius lived; but that he became a true Pope after the death of Sylverius, whom he cruelly put to death in Priſon. Thus that Vigilius from a falſe and heretical Pope, and an Uſurper, is become a holy and a lawful one by the murther of the lawful Pope. Being propped with the power of Beliſarius who had ſold him the Popedom for ready money, he could do what he would with the Roman Clergy. But though the Clergy approved him, yet was he a Symoniacal man, and a murtherer of his Predeceſſor, and he never revoked his Heretical Epiſtles. Neither did his inſtalment hinder Reparatus Biſhop of Carthage, from gathering a Council of African Biſhops in the year 549. where Anathema was pronounced againſt that Vigilius, as Victor Tunenſis relates in his Chronicle.

Honorius the I. Biſhop of Rome, is condemned as an Heretick Monothelite by three Univerſal Councils, the ſixth, the ſeventh, and the eight. And Leo II. Biſhop of Rome, ſucceſſor to that Honorius, doth deteſt him as one that had defiled the Roman See by his hereſie.(g)(g)Ep. 93. inter Epiſtolas Auguſtini, & Auguſt. lib. 1. in Julianum. Innocent the I. hath taught that the participation of the Euchariſt was neceſſary to little children to be ſaved. This Doctrine is condemned with Anathema by the Council of Trent, Seſſ. XXI.

John XXIII. was condemned and depoſed by the Council of Conſtance, Seſſion XI. for divers crimes, one of the leaſt being that he publikely and notoriouſly taught and maintained that the ſoul is mortal, and that there is neither Paradiſe nor Hell. There was at that time three Popes Excommunicating one another, and a Schiſm which laſted well nigh 50. years. And by conſequent, the Popes that now reign, are Succeſſors to Heretical and Schiſmatical Popes.

The Antient Canons declare him that hath bought the Epiſcopacy with money, to be no lawful Biſhop. The 29. Canon of the Apoſtles is ſuch.(h)(h)foreign. If any Biſhop or Prieſt, or Deacon is entred into poſſeſſion of that dignity with money, let him be depoſed, both himſelf, and he that ordained him. And that Canon is repeated in the ſecond Council of Nice in the 5. Canon. The ſecond Canon of the Council of Chalcedon ſaith, If any Biſhop giveth ordination for money, and puts to ſale ſuch a grace wich is not ſaleable, let him be endangered to loſe his own degree; and let not him that is ſo ordained receive any benefit by his ordination or promotion, but let him be expelled from that dignity and charge which he hath obtained with money. See(i)(i)Liberati Breviarium, c. 22. in the Roman Decree in the firſt queſtion of the firſt cauſe many the like Canons, and many places of the Fathers. Againſt that rule Vigilius obtained the Popedom, having bought it of Beliſarius Leiutenant to the Emperour Juſtinian in Italy, for two hundred marks of Gold, the which nevertheleſs he refuſed ſince to pay, and coſened Beliſarius. The time in which the Harlots Marozia and Theodora reigned at Rome, is full of ſuch examples. And yet at this time Kings and Princes give Penſions to Cardinals reſiding at Rome, and buy their ſuffrages very dear to have a Pope of their party. The factions made for that are ſhameful. This reproach Bernard makes to Pope Eugenius in the 4. Book De Conſideratione; (k)(k)Quem dabis mihi de tota maxima urbe qui te in Papam receperit, pretio ſeu ſpepretii non interveniente?Canſt thou give me any in this great City that hath received thee Pope without reward, and without ſome hope of gain intervening? See then what their ſucceſſion is; It is a meer traffick: So that a Simoniacal Pope ſucceeds another bought Pope. But yet they will have us to preſume that ſuch a Pope who ſets up the bank in Gods Temple, is preſently filled with the Holy Ghoſt, and cannot err in the Faith.

In the year 882. Marin, or Martin, attained to the Papal dignity, of whom Platina ſaith, that he(l)(l)Malis artibus Pontificatum adeptus eſt. came to the Popedom by ill wayes. There was then one Formoſus Biſhop of Porto, who by the will of Pope John the IX. had been obliged by Oath never to receive Epiſcopacy, though it were preſented unto him. But that Marin delivered him from that Oath by a diſpenſation, giving him leave to be forſworn with a good conſcience. At that time the Counts of Tuſculum had ſuch a power at Rome, that they made Popes ſuch as they liſted. Marin being p. 100dead, they promoted Adrian the III. to the Popedom, and after him Stephen the VII.(m)(m)Platina, Stella, Sigonius de regno Italiae, lib. 6. Baron. An. 897. §. 2. to whom Formoſus ſucceeded, who made no difficulty to receive the Popedom againſt his Oath. This Formoſus had but a ſhort reign; he had Bonifacius the VII. for his ſucceſſor, whom Steven the VIII. ſucceeded, who unburyed the body of Formoſus, and having arrayed him with his Prieſtly Robes, put him in full Synod upon the Popes Seat; then having cut his fingers wherewith he gave the bleſſing, cauſed him to be dragged and caſt into the Tiber, declaring him a perjured man, and an unlawful Pope. That Steven for his tyrannies was taken by the Roman people, and ſtrangled in priſon.

To that Steven Romanus ſucceeded, and to him John the X. both which reſtored Formoſus again to his good name: For this John aſſembled a Council at Ravenna, where all the Acts of Formoſus, were made valid, and his perjury approved. But Sergius that came after, abrogated all that, and again unburyed the body of Formoſus with a thouſand reproaches. From this Formoſus Uſurper of the Popedom againſt his Oath, the following Popes are deſcended.

It is a particular ſtain to that age, that in it the Pope began to authorize perjury, and to diſpenſe from Oaths. A power which the Popes have often uſed ſince: See the 6. queſtion of the 15. Cauſe of the Decree, which is full of ſuch examples. Now the Word of God forbids nothing more expreſly then perjury;(n)(n)Levit. 19.22. Pſal. 15.Lev 19:22Ps 15 and calls it a profanation of Gods Name, praiſing the man that ſweareth to his own hurt, and diſappointeth not. Joſhua deceived by the Gibeonites, yet preſerved their lives rather then violate his faith.(o)(o)1 Sam. 14.44.1 Sam 14:44 King Saul reſolveth rather to kill his ſon, then to go againſt his Oath; For(p)(p)Heb. 6.10.Heb 6:10 an oath is that which decideth all differences among men: And whoſoever brings in the licence of for ſwearing, breaks all bonds of Society among men. Wherefore the Mahumetans, who are very religious in keeping their Oath, fear to contract with a Chriſtian, becauſe they know that the Pope diſpenſeth from oaths. This truly is exalting ones ſelf above God: for who ſo diſpenſeth a ſervant from obeying his Maſter, is greater then that Maſter. Bellarmine daubeth this with a ſlie, yet a ſlight excuſe, in the 21. chapter of his Book againſt Barklay; ſaying, that the Pope by that diſpenſation hinders not a man to be faithful to God, but only declareth that God will not have him in this or that matter to keep his Oath: For he will have us to believe, that the Pope knoweth Gods intent about it, and that God hath revealed it unto him. A thing which none will believe but ſuch as will be deceived.

But to return to Pope Formoſus, Baronius is angry with Pope Steven for condemning the memory of Formoſus, and for determining by a Council ruled by his authority, that a Pope come to the Popedom againſt his Oath, was an unlawful Pope, not regarding that Pope Marinus had diſpenſed him from his Oath. Baronius then holding that a Pope can diſpenſe from Oaths, and diſcharge a man from the promiſe made unto God, holds alſo that this Steven was in an error, and that he was no lawful Pope. If we granted (ſaith he) that Steven the VII. hath erred in the Faith, the authority of the holy See ſhould not be hurt by it, becauſe he attained to the Papal dignity by tyrannie, not by lawful Election. And yet from that Pope, and from others of that age, who had likewiſe got up by intruſion, the following Popes are deſcended; and upon that depends the ſucceſſion of the Popes of this age.

The ſame Baronius on the year 897. ſaith,(q)(q)Hos Romana Eccleſia paſſa eſt Tyrannos Thuſciae Principes, Dominantes ſive pecuniis ſive armis populo cleroque Romano; per quos intruſi in Cathedram Petri ſolium Chriſti ſunt homines monſtruouſi, vitae turpiſſimae. that the Princes of Tuſcany domineering over the people and Clergy of Rome, have intruded by arms and money into St. Peters Chair, which is the Throne of Chriſt, monſtrous men of a moſt impure life, whom he acknowledgeth not for lawful Popes. Which diſorder having continued at Rome above one hundred and fifty years; I do not ſee where that ſucceſſion from St. Peter can be found; or how the thread of that ſucceſſion ſo many times broken could ever be knit again: For in that ninth and tenth age, well nigh fifty Popes will be found who came to the See either p. 101by the power of the Counts of Tuſcany, or by the faction and credit of Theodora an infamous harlot, and of her two daughters Maroſta and Theodora, who reigned at Rome many years, and made and unmade Popes. Of which diſorder Cardinal Bellarmin ſpeaks thus(r)(r)Quae tunc facies Eccleſiae Romanae? quam foediſſima, cum Romae dominarentur potentiſſimae aeque ac ſordidiſſimae meretrices, quarum arbitrio mutarentur ſedes, darentur Epiſcopi, & quod auditu horrendum & infandum eſt, intruderentur in ſedem Petri earum amaſii pſeudopontifices qui non ſunt niſi ad confignanda tanta tempora in Catalogo Romanorum Pontificum ſcripti! What was then the face of the Roman Church and how ugly, when moſt powerfull and moſt filthy whores bore the rule at Rome? at whoſe pleaſure Popes were changed, and Biſhopricks were given: and that which is the moſt horrible to hear, and not fit to ſpeak, their ruffians falſe Popes were thruſt into Peters See. Wherefore the ſame Cardinal acknowledging ſuch Popes to have been unlawfull, ſaith that the hiſtory mentioneth thoſe Popes only to mark the years of ſo long a time: Thereby acknowledging, that for a long time the Roman Church hath been without Popes. And that one may know how great that interval is, and how long that diſorder continued in the Church of Rome, hear Genebrard ſpeaking, who was a flatterer of the Popes in the higheſt degree. So he ſpeaks in the year 901. of his Chronicle.(ſ)(ſ)Hoc uno hoc ſaeculum infelix, quod per annos fere 150. Pontifices circiter 50. à virtute majorum prorſus defecerunt; Apotactici Apoſtacique potius quàm Apoſtolici. In this thing only this age was unfortunate, that for the ſpace of well nigh a hundred and fifty years, above fifty Popes did altogether degenerate from the vertue of their anceſtors, being rather Apotactick or Apoſtatick then Apoſtolick. Sigonius makes that ſpace of two hundred years.

In the year 912. John the X. before Archbiſhop of Ravenna, was choſen Pope. He beſtowed the Archbiſhopick of Rhemes upon a Child of five years old, as Frodoard relates in the 19. chap. of the 4. Book of his hiſtory. Whereby it is evident, that it is not of late years that the calling is corrupted in the Roman Church, and the Office ſhamefully proſtituted. Of this Baronius himſelf is aſhamed, and(t)(t)An. 925. §. 9, 10, & 11. Vidiſti Lector, cujus authoritate Pontificis (ſi tamen ille Pontifex dicendus) id primum fuerat introductum in Eccleſiam Dei. Johann. X. quo turpior nullus, cujus ſicut ingreſſus in cathedram Petri infamiſſimus, itá & exitus neſandiſſimus. ſaith, that is a prodigious thing, unheard of before in the Chriſtian world, and never entered into mans mind, that a child who ſcarce was learning his letters under the rod, ſhould be elected Archbiſhop of Rhemes. Of this Pope John the X. Baronius ſaith, that his entry into the Popedom was moſt infamous, and his end moſt wicked. And on the year 908. §. 7. he ſaith, that then God had forgotten his Church.

In the year of the Lord 931. John the XI. came to the Popedom. He was a baſtard, ſon to Pope Sergius, by the whore Morozia. Upon which Baronius (u)(u)Baron. an. 931. §. 1.ſaith, The holy Church of God, that is the Roman, ſuffered her ſelf to be ſhamefully trodden under by ſuch a monſter.

After him came many Popes creatures of the forenamed harlots, until John the XII. ſon to a Roman Conſul, who was created Pope by his fathers faction, being but eighteen years old, as Baronius relateth,(x)(x)Baronius. an. 935. §. 4. who deteſteth that John as an execrable monſter. The Emperor Otho called a Council where he was depoſed, and Leo the VIII. ſet in his room An. 963. That Pope renewed the conſtitution of Adrian I. whereby it is ordained, that the Pope be thenceforth elected by the Emperor. But as ſoon as the Emperor was gone out of Italy, Pope John returned to Rome, expelled Leo and degraded him, having called a Council againſt him. Soon after being taken in adultery, he was ſo beaten that he dyed of it. Luitprandus in the 6. Book, chap. 11. and Faſciculus temporum, ſay, that this(y)(y)Faſciculus, Temp. Tandem cum uxore cujuſdam ſe oblectans à Diabolo in tempore percutitur & ſine poenitentia moritur. Eadem habet Luitprandus. John lying with ſome bodies wife, was ſo beaten by the Devil in the temples of his head, that he died of it a ſevennight after. This Pope for money created children Biſhops, drunk the Devils health, playing at dice he called upon Jupiter and Venus, and conferred holy Orders in a ſtable.

At that time there was two Popes, for the Romans would have none of thoſe which the Emperor had elected, and created others; and thoſe Popes killed one another. One of which called Bonifacius, put two Antipopes to death, keeping the Popedom by violence; for then the ſtrongeſt and the craftieſt carried it, and there was no other ſucceſſion. And one Creſcentius uſurping a tyranny within Rome, would make and unmake Popes, in ſpite of the Emperor, who in the end took him and put him to death.

p. 102At the ſame time, a Council was held at Rhemes, Hugh Capet then reigning; In which Council Arnulphus Biſhop of Orleans bewaileth thus the ſtate of the Roman Church.(z)(z)O lugenda Roma quae noſtris majoribus clara patrum lumina protuliſti, noſtris temporibus monſtroſas tenebras futuris ſeculis famoſas effudiſti! O deplorable Rome, which in our anceſtors time haſt produced Fathers that were bright lights, now thou haſt ſpread monſtrous darkneſs, which ſhall be infamous in future ages! And after he had repreſented the enormity of the Popes of his time, he addeth,(a)(a)Num talibus hominum monſtris ignominia plenis, ſcientia divinarum rerum vacuis, innumeros ſacerdotes Dei per orbem terrarum ſcientia & vitae merito conſpicuos ſubjici decretum eſt? Doleo Eccleſiam tam foede deturpatam eſſe ab iis qui eam regunt. Is it a thing decreed, that ſo many of Gods Prieſts over all the world, men eminent in learning and in holy life, muſt be ſubject to ſuch monſters of men, full of infamy, and empty of knowledge of divine things? And a little after,(b)(b)Quid hunc Reverendi Patres, in ſublimi ſolio reſidentem veſte purpurea & aurea radiantem, quid hunc eſſe cenſetis? Nimirum ſi charitate deſtituitur, ſolaque ſcientia inflatur, Antichriſtus eſt in ſolio Dei reſidens. What think ye then Reverend Fathers, this Pope to be, who ſits in a high throne, glittering with ſcarlet and gold? If he have no charity, and is puft up with learning only, He is the Antichriſt, ſitting in the throne of God. Again, in the ſame vein; But for the animoſity of Kings diſſenting, it ſeems that we ought rather to be judged by them then by that city [of Rome] which being herſelf venal, weighs judgements by the weight of money. He ſaith more, that Antichriſt is neer, and that the myſterie of iniquity advanceth it ſelf. To which purpoſe he alledgeth the Epiſtle of the VI. Council of Carthage to Celeſtinus, where the Biſhops of Africa warn him not to medle any more with their buſineſſes, to receive no appeals from Africa, not to ſend his Legates thither, and not to bring the pride of the world into the Church. Of which Epiſtle we ſhall ſpeak afterwards in the right place. It is very obſervable, that this Arnulphus, for thus dealing with the Pope, fared never the worſe, neither did any cenſure paſs upon him, but he kept in his place and in the Kings favour; For at that time France was but half ſubject unto the Papal See, and the French Kings feared not to be depoſed by the Pope.

In the year 984. according to Sigonius, in the beginning of the 7. Book of the Kingdom of Italy, or according to Baronius, in the year 985. Bonifacius, who would be called John the XV. having killed two Popes, invaded the Popedom by violence and bribery. Baronius calleth him a robber and a thief, who had not ſo much as a hair of a true Pope.

In the year 998. John the XVIII. (as Platina relates it) having won Creſcentius a Roman Conſul with money, poſſeſt himſelf of the Popedom which he had bought.

In the year 999. Gerbert Archbiſhop of Rhemes, and ſince Archbiſhop of Ravenna, was promoted to the Popedom by the Emperor Otho the III. who had been his ſcholar, and was ſirnamed Sylveſter the II.(c)(c)Martinus in Chronico. Galfridus in Supplemento. Sigertus, Platina, Stella, Onuphrius, Faſciculus temporum & alii plures. Hiſtorians with a great conſent ſay, that to obtain the Popedom, he made a paction with the Devil, and made him an abſolute gift of his ſoul, to be carried away by him after his death. Baronius in the year 999. ſaith this to be a fable, but brings no proof to confute it. Genebrard in his Chronicle in the year 1007. ſpeaks thus of the Popes of that time, The Popes of that time being intruded by the Emperors rather then elected, were monſters: Whereby the lawfull ſucceſſion was interrupted, as ſometimes under the Synagogue in the time of the Antiochi.

In the year of our Lord 1033. Benedictus the IX. ſon to Albertus Count of Tuſculum, being but ten years old, was created Pope by the authority and faction of his father, as it is acknowledged by Coeffeteau (d)(d)p. 625. of his Book againſt the Myſtery of iniquity.Biſhop of Dardanie. Cardinal Benno ſaith, that he was addicted to Magical arts. Such was the ſucceſſion of St. Peter: Children and Magicians were admitted to it. Cardinal Peter Damianus ſaith,(e)(e)Damian. Epiſt. ad Nicol. 2. Pontificem. that after his death he appeared to a man in the ſhape of an aſſe, and ſaid, that he was ſo transformed becauſe he had lived like a beaſt. Platina ſaith the ſame, & Faſciculus temporum. And Coeffeteau in the fore-alledged place ſaith, that Benedictus the IX. was infamous for all ſorts of crimes, which give probability to that viſion that Damianus and others relate of him.

That Benedictus being expelled by the Romans(f)(f)Glaber ſaith, that Sylveſter was 12. years old when he was elected; but Baronius ſaith that he was but ten. Sylveſter the III. was put in his place, being but ten or twelve years old, and that by faction and bribery, p. 103as Platina ſaith. Such was the ſucceſſion in thoſe dayes; but after nine and forty dayes Benedictus was reſtored by his faction. Whereupon Platina addeth,(g)(g)Eo tunc Pontificatus devenerat, ut qui plus largitione & ambitione, non dico ſanctitate vitae & doctrina valeret, is tantum dignitatis gradum, bonis oppreſſis & rejectis, obtineret, &c. § 3. & 4. Popedom was then come to this, that he that prevailed, not in holineſs of life and learning, but in gifts and ambition, attained to that great dignity, good men being oppreſt and rejected; and would to God that our time had not retained that cuſtom. Likewiſe(h)(h)Johannes Romanam occupat ſedem, qui non legitimè vocatus à Deo ſedet, ſed malis artibus aſcendit ad ipſam. Baron. An. 1027. § 13. & §. 7. Baronius, An. 1024. of his Annals, ſpeaking of John the XX. brother to Benedictus the IX. ſaith, that he invaded the See unworthily and tyrannically, and climbed to it by wicked wayes. And yet this is the ſame Pope who put Romualdus in the liſt of the Saints, and St. Martial in the number of the Apoſtles, as if a devil ſhould carry a ſoul into Paradiſe. Where the great abſurdity is, that this St. Martial is an imaginary Saint, who was put in heaven, and never was in earth; For he of whom Gregorius Turonenſis ſpeaks in his firſt Book, chap. 30. is above an hundred years poſterior to that falſe Martial, whom they ſay to have been coſen to St. Peter, and to have been ſent by him to preach in Gaules. Of ſuch Popes then the Popes of our time are ſucceſſors.

Never was the like confuſion. That(i)(i)Baronius, Platina, Faſciculus, Coeſſeteau, p. 625. Benedictus the IX. being made Pope, not long after ſold the See to John Arch-prieſt of Rome; And after he had received the money, expelled the ſame John: So there were three Popes together, the one of which put the two others out by deviliſh wayes. And all three in the end yielded the See to Gregory the VI. for a great ſum of money. But the Emperor Henry the II. turned them all out in the year 1044. and made Syndeger Biſhop of Bamberg Pope, who called himſelf Clement the II. Of thoſe Popes(k)(k)Platina in Gregor. VI. Henricus II. in Italiam cum magno exercitu veniens, habita Synodo, cum Benedictum nonum, Sylveſtrum tertium, Gregorium ſextum tanquam tria teterrima monſtra abdicare ſe magiſtratur coegiſſet. Platina ſpeaks thus: Henry the II. coming into Italy with a great army, called a Synod, and conſtrained Benedict the IX. Sylveſter the III. and Gregory the VI. three horrible monſters, to leave the Magiſtracy. In that time it was hard to find any in the Monaſteries that could read. And(l)(l)Pag 628. of his Book againſt the Myſterie of Iniquity, of M. du Pleſſis. Coeffetenu upon this place ſaith, that in that time the chair of St. Peter was a ſhop of Simon Magus. From thoſe merchants the Popes of theſe times are deſcended. At the ſame time in the year 1045. the Kingdom of Poland was made ſubject to the Roman See, and obliged to pay to the Pope an obol by the pole. England alſo about that time, was brought under the ſame yoke, and that tribute by the pole was called Peter's peny.

Sigonius in the 8. Book of the Kingdom of Italy ſaith, that Henry the II. created a German Pope, to heal the Church of Rome, that had been ſick 200. years. And the ſickneſs which he means, is that which we have repreſented before, that the Papal See was expoſed as a prey, and a price for violence, covetouſneſs and ambition. That the Popedom was for a long time conferred by harlots that reigned at Rome, or by ſecular men, whoſe faction was prevalent at Rome, who made their children Popes by ſtrong hand at nine or ten years of age. That the Popedom was put to ſale and poſſeſt by Necromancers, adulterers, and murderers. That ordinarily there was many Popes together that expelled one another. And that the moſt wicked and ſtrongeſt in faction, or he that gave moſt would carry it. So that among all thoſe wild doings a lawfull ſucceſſion is no more to be found then fire in ice.

The Emperor thinking to have mended all diſorders, came ſhort of his hope; for Clement the II. whom he had made Pope, was perſently after poiſoned. Platina ſaith, the Hiſtorians affirm that he was poyſoned by his ſucceſſor Damaſus the II.(m)(m)Flatina in Damaſo II. Damaſus II. Pontificatum per vim obtinet nullo cleri populique conſenſu. Adeo enim inolevenat hic mos ut jam cuique ambitioſo liceret Petri ſedem invadere. For (ſaith the ſame Platina) that cuſtom had got ſtrength, that to every ambitious man it was permitted to invade St. Peters See. But that Damaſus was uſed as he had uſed his predeceſſor, and he died three and twenty dayes after his creation.

Leo the IX. ſucceeded him, who playing the Captain, led an army againſt the Normans, who routed him in battel, and took him priſoner.

In the year 1057. Victor the II. ſucceſſor to Leo, died with poyſon, which was p. 104given him in the chalice of the Maſs. His Subdeacon did him that good Office, who thereby gave work to the Doctors that maintaine tranſubſtantiation. For they ask whether the blood of Chriſt can be poyſoned?(n)(n)Vide Diſt. 82. Can. Preſbyter, & ibid. Gloſſam. Whether accidents, that is, lines, ſhape, whitneſs, redneſs, can be poiſoned? For if that be, accidents muſt become the ſubject of a ſubſtance. In that Victor's time began the cuſtom of changing bodily penances, as faſting and pilgrimage, into pecuniary pains. Peter Damianus Biſhop of Oſtia and Cardinal, ſpeaks thus of it,(o)(o)Non ignoras quin cum à poenitentibus terras, poſſeſſiones agrorum videlicet accipimus, juxta menſuram muneris eis de quantitate poenitentiae relaxamus. Baron. an. 1055. §. 9. & ſeq. Thou knoweſt, that when we receive from the penitent grounds and fields, we bate of the pennance according to the proportion of that they give. And Baronius freely acknowledgeth with Damianus, that thereby the ſtock of the Church was raiſed.

In the year 1061. two Popes were elected, the one by the Romans, who was called Alexander the II. the other by the Emperor Henry the IV. who called himſelf Honorius the II. Between whom there was hard ſcuffing and much bloodſhed; Honorius had the worſt of it, and was in the end conſtrained to quit the place.

(p)(p)Otho Friſingenſis Chron. lib. 6. cap. 34. Leo Oſtienſis lib. 3. Chron. Caſſin. c. 20.In the year 1084. the Emperor Henry the IV. having cauſed Gregory the VII. to be depoſed by a Synod, made Clement the III. Pope. Gregory expelled from Rome, dyed ſoon after out of grief at Salernum. But after his death, the Counteſs Mathild or Maud, who called herſelf St. Peters daughter, helped by the Normans, ſet on Deſiderius Abbot of Mount Caſſin to take the Popedom; And he born up by the Normans, ſet upon Clement, and after great ſlaughter drove him out of Rome, and making himſelf Pope, called himſelf Victor the III. Platina following Martinus Polonus, ſaith, that he was poiſoned in the chalice of the Maſs. Ʋrban the II. ſucceeded; who preſently fulminated Clement the AntiPope with excommunications; but he was maintained by the Emperors power, and kept his See at Placentia, thundering likewiſe againſt Ʋrban, who for his ſafety left Rome, and retiring into France, aſſembled a Councill at Clermont in Auvergne againſt Clement, and Clement another at Rome againſt Ʋrban. This is that Ʋrban (q)(q)Cauſa 15. q. 6. Canone Juratos. Juratos milites Hugoni Comiti ne ipſi quandiu excommunicatus est ſerviant prohibeto. Coeffeteau p. 716. & 732. & 3. & 6. Vide Helmondi Hiſtoriam Sclavonicam, & Albertum Krantzium & Sigisbertum.who by an expreſs Decree for bad keeping faith to an excommunicate perſon.

Ʋrban being dead, Paſchal the II. ſucceeded, Clement the III. the Antipope ſtill living, and the Roman Church having two heads. This Paſchal put Clement out of Rome by force of arms, and cauſed the Emperors ſon to rebel againſt his father. That great Emperor loaden with ſo many victories, was in his old age put down from the Empire by his ſon Henry, at the Popes inſtigation, who would not ſo much as give the ſon leave to bury his father. This was the ruine of Clement the III. ſo that Paſchal remained victorious. But by the juſt Judgemennt of God it came to paſs, that this ſame Henry whom Paſchal had ſet on againſt his father, was angry with Paſchal, and took him priſoner.

Paſchal being dead, the Romans created a Pope who called himſelf Gelaſius the II. But the Emperor cauſed another to be choſen, who was called Gregory the VIII. Gelaſius beind dead ſhortly after, at Vienna in Daulphine, Calixtus the II. ſucceeded, who having found the way to lay hold on Gregory the VIII. clad him with raw and bloody goat-skins with the fleſh-ſide outwards, made him ride about upon a Camel with his face towards the tayl, and giving him the title(r)(r)Abbas, Fuggerus, Platina, Ʋ …pergenſis. of Antichriſt, condemned him to perpetual priſon. Thus ſtrength prevailed; for one muſt alwayes preſume (if we believe our Adverſaries) that the ſtrongeſt Pope was the lawfull. This is that Calixtus that ſent(ſ)(ſ)Matth. Paris in Henrico I. Ranulph. in Polych on l. 7. c. 7. Weſtmonaſter. John de Crema Legat into England, to take the Prieſts wives from them. But that Legat was found in a baudy-houſe at London, lying with a harlot, whereby his legation was made odious.

In the year 1130. which was the time of Bernard, part of the Cardinals elected Innocent II. But a contrary faction elected Anacletus the II. Theſe two Popes were excommunicating one another, and continually calling one another Antichriſts, and aſſembling contrary Councils. Of theſe two Popes Bernard gives p. 105this verdict in the hundred twenty fifth Epiſtle. This Apocalyptical Beaſt to whom a mouth was given ſpeaking blaſphemy, and that makes war with the Saints, holds St. Peters chair like a Lion prepared for the prey; and the other Beaſt ſilently bloweth neer you, like the cub of a wild beaſt lurking in a cloſe place, Theſe Popes were fulminating one againſt the other and fighting cruelly.

Anaclet having held the See eight years, and put Innocent out of Rome, died: His death put life into the courage of Innocent, who ſoon after inſtalled himſelf at Rome. That Innocent was the true Pope, there is no proof, but that he overcame, and had the better ſucceſs.

The like happened in the year 1160. For Pope Adrian the fourth being dead, the Cardinals were divided into two factions: The one choſe Octavian, who would be called Victor the IV. The other choſe Rolland; who took the name of Alexander the III. Victor having made himſelf Maſter of Rome, put Alexander out: Whence followed many reciprocal excommunications, whereby they ſent one another, and all their adherents into hell; ſo that there was not one in the whole Roman Church, but was excommunicated. Victor was confirmed by a Council held at Pavia: But Alexander fled into France, where he aſſembled a Council againſt Victor, and againſt the Emperor Frederick Barbaroſſa Shortly after Victor died, whom Paſchal the III. ſucceeded, and Calixtus ſucceeded Paſchal: But Alexander held out, and by his practices got himſelf, called by the people of Rome: Being in Italy, he created many enemies unto Frederick, and made the Towns of Lombardy to revolt from him: Whereby the Emperor was conſtrained to be a Sutor to Alexander for peace, whom he came to meet at Venicei.

This Pope received the Emperor upon the ſtairs of the Church of Saint Mark at Venice. Whereas the Emperor was ſtooping to kiſs the pantable of Alexander, the Pope trod upon his neck with his foot, ſaying, Thou ſhalt tread upon the aſp… and adder, the Lion and the Dragon ſhalt thou trample under feet: (t)(t)Nauclerus 2 vol. Gen. 40. Bergomenſis in Supplem. Chron ad ann. 1160. Petrus Juſtini…nus l. 2. rerum Venetarum. Sabellicus, l. 7. Decad. 5. Azor. inſtitut. moral. part. 2. l. 5. c. 43. Bard in victoria navali, p. 140. & 141.Gen 40That Hiſtory is related by Nauclerus, Sabellicus, Papirius, Maſſo, Petrus Juſtinianus, and many more. And the Jeſuite Azorius puts this heroical act among the triumphs of the Church. The ill ſucceſs of the buſineſſes of Frederick, made this Alexander to be held a ſucceſſor of Saint Peter. If the Emperor had proſpered, Calixtus would have been the lawful Pope, and Alexander an uſurper. For our Adverſaries to maintain the ſucceſsion of the Popes, preſuppoſe always that the ſtronger of the Antipopes was the lawful Pope, although he was the moſt vicious, and although he had crept into the Popedom by fraud and corruption, and kept it by violence.

Obſerve that the Antipopes had created many Biſhops, and thoſe Biſhops many Prieſts, and that he that remained victorious would degrade all thoſe Biſhops and Prieſts, as unlawfully created by an uſurper. Whence it hapned, that the Sacraments and abſolutions conferred by thoſe Biſhops and Prieſts were void, by which means many died without Baptiſm, and without Sacraments, and without Remiſsion of ſins.

(u)(u)Ranulphus Poly chronico Roger. Annal. Baron. an. 1191.In the year 1191. Celeſtin the III. came to the Popedom, being fourſcore years old. The Emperor Henry the VI. came to him to receive the Imperial crown from his hands. And as he bowed to kiſs the Popes feet, Celeſtin with his foot ſmote Henries crown, and made it fall, to ſhew that he had the power to take it from him, when he liſted: Baronius approveth that action.

In the year 1269. died Pope Clement the IV. after whom, the Roman Church was two years and nine moneths without a Pope. So that the…thred of that imaginary ſucceſsion was long interrupted. The like vacancy of the Papal See, was after the Death of Nicolas the IV. which laſted two years and three moneths, becauſe the Cardinals could not agree about the election of any. In the end, as by contempt they elected a poor ſilly Hermite, who would be called Celeſtin the V. that Pope would ride upon an Aſs, after the example of Jeſus Chriſt, and would bring all the Cardinals to do the like. One(x)(x)Platina in Bonifacio VIII Paul. Emilius, Krantzius, Du Tillet, Nicol. Gil. in the life of Philip. Faſciculus Temp. Ranulphus Polychronico, l. 7. c. 39. Cardinal Benedict plaid upon his ſimplicity to make himſelf Pope; for he would make admonitions to him, ſaying, that he muſt leave the Popedom, if he would be ſaved; and that it was too great a burden for him, to have ſo many ſouls to anſwer for unto God. Then he ſuborned p. 106a groom of Celeſtins chamber, who In the night ſpake in his ear out of an hole, Celeſtine, Leave the Popedom, if thou wilt be ſaved; ſaying, that he was an Angel of God ſent to him: The good man frighted with this, reſigned the Papal Dignity, which was transferred to that Cardinal Benedict, in the year 1294. This was that famous Bonifacius the VIII. Wherefore when ſome years after this Boniface was apprehended by Sarra Colona and Nogaret, ſent by Philip the Fair King of France, and carried priſoner to Rome, for excommunicating the ſaid King, and beſtowing France upon the Emperor Albert, if he would get it, upon which diſgrace Boniface dyed with anger and grief, the world ſaid of him, that he entred into the Papal dignity like a Fox, reigned like a Lion, and died like a Dog. I leave it to the Readers Judgement, whether the ſucceſsion of this Boniface into Celeſtins place, was lawful and valid.

The ſucceſſion of John XXII. was not lawfuller: For Clement the V. who had tranſported the Papal See to Avignon, being dead, the Cardinals were two years, three moneths and an half about the election of a Pope; and found no other way to end their difference, then to defer unto James d' Oſſa Biſhop of Porto, the power of naming a Pope:Anno 1315. But he deceived them all, and named himſelf. This is that Pope that taught, that the ſouls ſhall not enjoy the viſion of God before the reſurrection, as Ockam witneſſeth in his work of ninety three days, Gerſon in his Sermon of the Paſſover, Eraſmus in his Preface upon the fifth book of Irenaeus, Genebrardus in his Chronicle upon the year of the world. 5422. Wherefore alſo that Pope was cenſured by the Sorbon. Thus the following Popes are ſucceſſors of an heretical Pope: Now our Adverſaries hold, that hereſie breaks the thred of ſucceſſion, as we have ſhewed in this chapter.

The moſt horrible Schiſm that ever was in the Papacy, was that which begun in the year 1377. between Clement the VI. a French man, and Urban the V. an Italian. For that Schiſm continued almoſt fifty years with unheard of cruelties and violences, which tore Italy, France, and Germany in a ſtrange manner. Ʋrban was reſiding at Rome, after whom came ſucceſſively Boniface the IX. Innocent VII. Gregory XII. But to Clement reſiding at Avignon, ſucceeded Peter de la Luna, called Benedict the XIII.

Gregory was elected Pope at Rome upon the oath which he took, that he would reſign the Popedom whenſoever he ſhould be required, for the peace of the Church. The ſame his Antipope, Benedict the XIII. did promiſe: But both broke their oath; for whereas they diſpenſed others from keeping their oaths and vows, they could eaſily give diſpenſation to themſelves. Who ſo will know the confuſions, rapines, perjuries, treacheries, and deviliſh tricks of theſe two Antipopes, let him read Theodoricus a Niem, Secretary to the four Italian Popes abovenamed; who hath writ a book purpoſely of that matter.

To make up that rent, the Cardinals being aſſembled, held a Council at Piſa, in the year 1411. in which, Benedict XIII. and Gregory XII. were declared Hereticks, Schiſmaticks, and falſe Popes; Whence it follows, that the Popes come ſince, are ſucceſſors of hereticks. And ſince theſe Antipopes, as well the one, as the other, were falſe and unlawful Popes; it follows, that the Roman Church hath been many years without a Pope, like a body without a head; and that the Popes come ſince, are ſucceſſors of falſe and imaginary Popes.

Here is worſe: For the ſame Council elected a Pope named Alexander the V. But Gregory the XII. and Benedict XIII. kept themſelves in the Popedom by force and arms, ſo that inſtead of two Popes, there was three, each of which called himſelf ſucceſſor of Saint Peter. France, and Spain, and Scotland acknowledged Benedict, and obeyed him. But now, even in France, the Doctors hold that both he and his Predeceſſor Clement the VI. were uſurpers and unlawful, and the ſame they ſay of Gregory the XII. ſitting at Rome.

That Alexander the V. created by the Council, laſted but little. Balthaſar Coſſa who is John XXIII. ſucceeded him,(y)(y)Platina in Joh. XXIII. Largitione uſus Pontifex creatur. having bought with money the ſuffrages of the Cardinals. Three Popes then were reigning together, John XXIII. Gregory XII. and Benedict XIII. who were exchanging excommunications p. 107among themſelves, breaking and diſanulling all ſentences, buls, judgements and ordinations, each of the two others; So that over all the Roman Church, there was neither Prieſt, nor Biſhop unqueſtionably ſuch, and of whom it was not doubted, whether they had a lawful power to make the conſecration in the Maſs; Which being not made, they hold that the people worſhip bread, and fall into idolatry.

That John, the moſt abominable of all, as teaching openly that there was neither Paradiſe nor Hell, aſſembled a Council. Nicolas de Clemangis, Archdeacon of Bayeux, who lived among all that confuſion, ſaith, that over that Pope in the midſt of the Council, a great Owl ſate ſhreeking hideouſly, and that for many Seſſions. The common ſaying was, that the Holy Ghoſt deſcended upon his Holineſs in the ſhape of that Dove.

In the end, the Emperor Sigiſmond with much ado prevailed ſo far, that a Council was called at Conſtance in the year 1416. where Pope Gregory the XII. being fourſcore years old, reſigned the Popedom, ſending to that purpoſe his Papal Cloak or Pall to the Council, to ſhew that he deveſted himſelf. Benedict would not appear, nor reſign, but fled into the Ile of Paniſcola, near the coaſts of Spain, where he kept many years the title of Pope until death. John the XXIII. came to the Council: But ſeeing that they went about to proceed againſt him, he ran away: But he was overtaken, and brought back, and committed priſoner. Againſt him fifty four accuſations were brought; Of which this was one notoriouſly known, That he had publikely taught, and maintained, that the ſouls of men died like thoſe of beaſts, and that there was neither Paradiſe nor Hell. For which crimes, and for getting the Popedom by bribery, he was depoſed; As alſo Gregory the XII. and Benedict the XIII.

The Popes which came ſince, are not well reſolved from which of theſe Popes they muſt fetch their ſucceſſion; For they were all declared Hereticks and falſe Popes by the Councils of Piſa and Conſtance; And it is not yet known in our dayes, which of them was Pope in the Roman Church. Yet the ſucceſſion of the following Popes ſheweth, that John XXIII. that honeſt man, ſucceſſor to Alexander the V. was held to be the lawful Pope in after ages, ſince the next that took the name of Alexander ſince Alexander the V. called himſelf Alexander the VI. Behold then the line of the chair. Behold that continued thred of Apoſtolical ſucceſſion, which is ſo much boaſted of. Here is that chair in which Devils are playing at in and out. With what face now can theſe Gentlemen queſtion us about our ſucceſſion?

In that Council of Conſtance, the three abovenamed Popes being depoſed, Martin the V. was elected; whom the Emperor Sigiſmond worſhipped, and kiſſed his feet in full Council. That Martin ſent Embaſſadors to Conſtantinople, to whom he gave inſtructions, which begin thus;(z)(z)Theſe inſtructions were prepared at the Council of Senes, printed at Paris, an. 1612. Sanctiſſimus & beatiſſimus, qui habet coeleſter arbitrium, qui eſt Dominus in terris, Succeſſor Petri, Chriſtus Domini, Dominus Ʋniverſi, Regum Pater, orbis lumen, &c. The moſt holy and moſt beate, who hath the heavenly Empire, who is Lord on earth, the ſucceſſor of Peter, the Chriſt of the Lord, the Maſter of the Ʋniverſe, the Father of Kings, the light of the world, the Soveraign Pope Martin by the divine providence, commandeth Mr. Antony Maſon, &c. Such doubtleſs were the titles which Saint Peter aſſumed in his inſtructions to his Embaſſadors whom he ſent to the King of the Parthians, or to the Emperor Nero!

The example that followeth, is no better proof of a goodly ſucceſſion. This Martin died in the year 1431. whom Eugenius the IV. ſucceeded, who was depoſed by the Council of Baſil, aſſembled by himſelf to reform the Church. In the place of Eugenius, the Council choſe Amadeus Duke of Savoy, who called himſelf Felix. But Eugenius brought againſt Baſil the Daulphn of France, who was ſince Lewis the eleventh, who in all things oppoſed his Father Charls the VII. and his confederates. He brought four thouſand horſe againſt Baſil, to break the Council; which yet he could not have effected, had not the peſtilence within Baſil, forced the Fathers of the Council to ſeparate themſelves after they had condemned Eugenius as an Heretick, and unworthy to govern the Church.

But Eugenius took arms, and being held up by Princes, maintained p. 108himſelf againſt the Antipope Felix, who after he had been five years Pope, retired to Ripaille, a pleaſant houſe in Savoy, there to lead a private life. So the Popedom remained in the hands of a man depoſed by a Council, aſſembled by the Pope himſelf, where Biſhops met out of all parts of the Roman Church. Note that after his depoſition, he created many Cardinals and Biſhops, whoſe office was null and illegitimate, ſince they were created by an uſurper, who had by force maintained himſelf in the office of Pope after his depoſition. And yet thoſe very Cardinals created by Eugenius an uſurper of the Popedom, are thoſe very men that elected the ſucceſſors of Eugenius, Nicolas, and Pius the ſecond, from whom is deſcended the ſucceſſion of the Popes of our time.

Peruſe all hiſtories ever ſince there was any Empire in the world, and ſee if ever there was any Monarchy that bore more marks of the wrath of God on the forehead, or any throne ſtained with more vices, or troubled with more confuſions. It is not then without reaſon, that two of the leſs evil Popes, Adrian the IV. and Marcel the II. would ſay with grief, that they thought that a Pope could not be ſaved, as(a)(a)Onuphrius, Panuinus, Supplemento Platinae in Marcello. II. Onuphrius an Auguſtinian Monk relateth. Which is a notable confeſſion, and extorted by the ſenſe of the truth.

(b)(b)See the firſt book of the Sacred Ceremonies, Sect. 1.I paſs by the buſie myſteries of the Conclave, when they are about the election of a Pope; How the windows of the Conclave are walled up, and all doors but one, ſo that no day-light gets in. How meat is thruſt in for the Cardinals by an hole, their bread cut into ſmall bits, for fear of ſome letter hidden; their drink in clear glaſs bottles: How they eat every one by himſelf, and are forbidden to preſent any thing of their meat to one another. How there are commonly three factions, the one of France, another of Spain, and the third of the Princes of Italy. There is no Cardinal but ſels his ſuffrage very dear, and gets penſions out of France or Spain, whoſe factions are always contrary: That of Italy joyning with this or that, carrieth it by the plurality. There are imployed all the arts poſſible to croſs and traverſe the ſuffrages one of another. In a word, all things there are done, as the queſtion being not to chooſe a Paſtor for the Church, but a Prince whoſe inclinations further or hinder the affairs of other Princes, and are a caſting weight in the balance. He that hath the two thirds of the ſuffrages, is choſen Pope, who is preſently deveſted of his clothes, and inveſted with Pontifical robes, and crowned with the tripple crown; he is carried up, and laid upon the Altar, which is Gods place, and then every one of the Cardinals doth him the homage of adoration. In that election none enquires, whether he that is in election, be fit to teach, nor whether his Doctrine be pure, or his life holy? So much is preſuppoſed without difficulty.

To all theſe, add the eleventh Canon of the VII. Seſſion of the Council of Trent. If any ſay, that in the Miniſters, when they do, and confer the Sacraments, the intention is not requiſite to do at leaſt that which the Church doth, Let him be Anathema. By that rule, if a Biſhop who is come to confer the ſacred Orders, hath no intention to confer them, or to confer any true Prieſthood, or to conſecrate a true Biſhop (for it is that which the Church that the Council ſpeaks of, pretends to do) the order conferred is null, and the Sacrament of the Orders is null. The like of the Sacrament of Baptiſm, which is null, if he that baptizeth, hath no intention to confer a true Baptiſm. That intention is preſumed by conjecture; for none can have a certain knowledge of the thought and intention of a man but God alone. Now who knows not that there are many Atheiſts, and many profane perſons that laugh in their heart at that they do? It may then happen, that a Pope was baptized by one that had no intention to baptize him really; and it is impoſſible for a Pope to be certain of the intention of him that baptized him. And if for want of intention, the Baptiſm which he received, is null, it followeth, that he is incapable to receive the ſacred Orders, through which he muſt of neceſſity paſs, before he can exerciſe the Office of Pope.

No more can the Pope be aſſured of the intention of him that conferred Orders upon him. Whence it follows, that the Pope knows not whether the Orders which he hath received, be valid or invalid: He is a conjectural Pope, who p. 109knows not whether he be Pope, or whether he be ſo much as baptized.

Yea it is poſſible, that he that conferred orders unto the Pope, received them from another that had no intention to confer them. And that other from another again that had not that intention, or was baptized by another, that had no intention to baptize him. So that by remounting upwards, the uncertainty is ſtill doubled; and multiplyed, even to infinity.