The Tragedies of Tyrants Exercised Upon the Church of God, Chapter
Of the. 20. and laſt Tragical Act or perſecution, which the Bishops of Rome hauehave moued and practized againſt the Chur… of Chriſt, certen hundred… Chapter. …
THe Papiſtical pe… next to the … much the more daungerous: how much the leſſe it was to bée looked for, and ſo much the more cruell: becauſe it is practized by thoſe who of all other oughte moſte to bée ſéekers of peace and quietnes, and ſutch as would bée accoumpted moſt ſoundeſt in relygion, and moſt hollyeſt of all other in the Church, as vntounto whom Chriſte hath giuen all power in the Church, that in matters of faith they may rule all thinges accordinge to their pleaſure, and to bée the head and vniuerſall paſtours, ouer the Catholick church of Chriſte. For all men knowe, what titles the Pope, and all his ſpirituall perſons do boaſte of.
But in the béeginninge of this booke, wée hauehave declared that there bée ſundrie vnderſtandynges and diſtinctions, not onelyonly of faith, and Religion: but of the Church alſo, ouer which the vngodlye ſéeke to rule. There is alſo very great difference béetwéene the auntient Churche of Rome, and the firſte Biſſhoppes thereof: and the Churche of Rome, Pope, Cardinalles, and byſhops which be now at this day.
The antient Byſhopes of the ChurchThe firſte Biſhops of Rome were Martirs. of Rome, whiche lyued and ſate there from the yere of Chriſt. 70. vntounto y• yere 314. and during the time of Conſtantine the great were in number. 32. who wer all faithfull in their callyng, profitynge the Churche by teachinge, and otheir meanes, and for chriſte and his Goſpels ſake were martyred and ſlayne. They medled not at all wt the ciuill gouerment there was no Court of Rome, no ſenat of ſcarlet Cardinalles, no guarde for the body, no other ſuperfluities, which now adayes are frequented by Popes. Hiſtories of credit do confirme this ſame, ſuch as were not writen in flatterie of the Popes. Alſo the name of Pope at that time was not proper onelyonly to the Byſſhoppe of Rome: but other Biſhoppes alſo abroade in other Prouinces were called by the ſame name. For Aurelius and Ciprian, Byſhops of Carthage Ambroſe Byſhop of Millaine, and other Byſhops in other places, were alſo called Popes. And lykewiſe Saincte Ierome termeth S. Auguſtine whiche was Byſſhop of Hippo, in certen Epiſtles by the name of Pope. For thisPapa, or Pope, what it ſignifieth. woorde Papa Pope, in the Syracuſian tounge ſignifieth as mutch as this word Pater a Father, as Suidas teſtifieth. For it behooueth the Miniſters of the church to be faithfull fathers of the people,1. Cor. 4. as Sainct Paule writeth.
Moreouer, amonge all the Byſhops of Rome from Conſtantinus the great, and Pope Sylueſter, vntounto Gregorye the firſte which were in number, xxxvi. ther was not one within compaſſe of. 280. yéeres, that vſed y• pompe, pride, maieſtie, and power, which the Popes vſe accuſtomably now now a daies. TheirThe auntient Popes aucthoritie. aucthoritie was great amonge other Churches and Byſhops, becauſe for the moſt parte they were learned and ſkilfull men, neither infected with hereſies as ſome other Byſhops in other Churches were, but principally: becauſe thei were Miniſters of the ſame Churche whiche the Apoſtles planted at the béeginninge,Apoſtolick Sea. which was therfore called the Apoſtolick Churche, and the Apoſtolick ſeate, and Sainct Peters Chaer. Howbeit the title, and name of the Apoſtolick ſeat was not giuen only to the Romane Church: but vntounto other Churches alſo, namely Ieruſalem, and Antioche. And this woord, ſeate, ſignifieth not a iudgment ſeat, or a princes throne: but an eccleſiaſticall preachers pulpit. SoTertul. de preſcript. haereſ. that our forefathers in the ould time termed the aboue named churches, Apoſtolike ſeates of the Apoſtolicke doctrine, bycauſe the Apoſtles taught in thoſe places, and from thoſe Apoſtolick Churches, the Apoſtolick doctrine ſtretched foorth vntounto other Churches, aſwell farre as nere. Wherfore thoſe places in which is not the Apoſtolick doctrine, can not glory of the Apoſtolick ſeat, although indéed it were ther many hundred yéeres béefore. For there is alſo a ſeate of the Diuell, as Saynt Iohn declareth in the 2. Chapter of the Reuelation.
But in the time of Pope Gregory the firſt, whiche was within. 300. yéeres after the birth of Chriſte, the Church of Rome was ſo farre from the dominion which now it obtaineth: that Gregorye very vehemently with ſtood Iohn, which was biſſhop of Conſtantinople, who ambitiouſly ſought to hauehave cheif place, and ſuperioritie in the Church, & would alſo bée called vniuerſal byſſhop. Which title, notwithſtandinge and greater to, the byſſhops of Rome do vſe at this day: but Gregorie ſaid that this was a Deuiliſh pride, and the malice of Antichriſte. Hée that luſt let him reade the fourth, & ſixte books of Saint Gregories Epiſtles touchinge this matter.
Howbeit not longe after the death ofFrō whēce the Romiſh church receiued her power. Gregory, Bonifacius the 3. vſurped that title, which was graunted vntounto him by Phocas the emperour, a naughtie and wicked man. For Otho byſſhop of Friſingen a writer of Cronacles, in the v. booke, and eight Chapter: reporteth how Pope Bonifacius the 3. had obtained of Phocas the Emperour, that by his aucthoritie, power and commaundement the Churche of Rome might bée cauled, and alſo bée indéede, the head of all other Churches. Beda alſo writeth the ſame. And Vrſpurgenſis ſaith: that Rome ought to bée mother of all other Churches. Nauclerus writeth: that al other Churches in the worlde, ought to obey the Churche of Rome, and the Biſhop therof. Wherby it may bée eaſely perceaued how that this decrée of Phocas the Emperour, whom all Hyſtoricians do verie mutch reprooue: was no decree or inſtitution of the Apoſtles, made by Peter or Paule.
The Sea of Rome béeyng exalted afterHow the Byſhoppes of Rome vſurped. this maner: the biſhops which conſequently enſued, began more & more to buſie and medle themſelues with ciuile matters, neither ſought they only for power, and dominion: but deuiſed how they might plucke their necks from the emperours iuriſoiction, and extol themſelues aboue them, how they might challenge & bryng in ſubiection vnderunder them, their prouinces, peoples, and maieſtie. But in y• meane ſeaſon they quight forgot their ſubmiſſion and duty, departing far wide from thence, & became altogetherPopes roſe againſt Emperours. vnlike vntounto y• firſt biſhops of Rome At length the matter proceeded ſo farre: that they durſt boldly withſtande y• emperours, and riſe agaynſt them, for euen ſo Gregory the .ij. and Gregory the .iij. Popes of Romes, oppoſed themſelues againſt Leo the .iij. and Conſtantine ye .v. emperours. For theſe calling certen coū ſels, vntounto which there aſſembled a great numbre of learned men, and biſhops of Aſia, Grecia, and other regions, they argued the controuerſie of Images: namely, whether it were lawfull to hauehave and to woorſhip the Images of Chriſte, and the holly ſaincts in the Churches of the Chriſtians. Whereas at that time it was concluded, and confirmed out of the holy ſcriptures, and doctrine of the auncient fathers, that Images ought not to be worſhipped, nor to be ſuffred in churches, but to bée taken away wherſoeuer they were founde. But after that th'emperours had giuen foorth cōmaundment to the Popes, and vntounto other vnderunder the Roman Empire, that all of them accordyng to the woord of God, and the meaning therof diſcuſſed in this preſent coū ſeil, ſhould take downe th'images out of their Churches: ſutch was the preſumption of the Popes, that béeyng called to y• counſel: they neither appered, and afterwarde by their owne aucthoritie, contrary to the cōmandement of ye Emperours:Anno Domini. 739. they called peculyer Counſels of Italian Byſhops, wherein they decréede y• Images ought bée to retained in churches, and more worſhipped then euer they had bin before. Nether preſumed they onelyonly thus farre: but withdrue the Emperours ſubiectes from due obedience towards hym, excommuncaityng the Emperours themſelues withoute cauſe, raiſing morouer tumults & great feditions, wherein the Emperours lieutenantes and debites were ſlayne, as namely, Paulus at Rauenna: and Mauritius with Adriane his ſunne in Campania. And by this meanes all dutifullEmperour of Conſtant. by Popes driuen out of Italy. ſeruice, and obedience was denied to the Emperours, & they were driuen from the gouerment of Italye. But by what right, the Popes brought theſe thinges to paſſe by their practizes: eueryevery man that is indued with common ſence, and hath any knowledge of iuſtice, mai ſoone vnderſtand. Al theſe things were doone wt in. 30. yéeres after y• yere of our lorde 724, or nere therupon, vntounto the yéere of our Lorde. 754
In the yéere of our Lorde, 750. Popean honeſt practiſe. Zacharie the. 1. of that name, tooke vponupon him tēporall matters, & began to medle with the ciuill gouerment, & aſſiſted to depoſe ye king of France frō his crowne and to place another in his rowme. For through his help and counſell, Hilderik king of France of the antient familie of Merouingi, was depoſed from y• crown, and Pipine of the familye of Charles, thurſt into his place.
But ſhortly after this great benifite of the Popes: Pipine brought an army of Frenchmē into Italy againſt Eſtulphus king of Lumbardy, when hauing taken in war the greater parte of the cuntrey, hée gaue it for reward vntounto pope Steuen the ſecond, and then firſt S. Peter obtained an inheritāce, who béefore y• time, y• ſpace of. 700. yéeres: neuer had any: and although y• Conſtantius y• emperour ſent Embaſſadours vntounto Pipine, that hée would not alienate the Prouinces of the Romane Empire: yet notwithſtanding Steuen the Pope gladlye receiued thoſe Prouinces, peopls, and ciuill gouerment whiche certenly S. Peter would neuer hauehave doone, foraſmuch as hee refuſed the charge ouer the poore. Actes the vi.
The Popes followinge thereafter, immitated the déedes of thē which went before, nothinge lyke the déedes of the Apoſtles. For Hadriane the Pope, lykewiſe receiued all thoſe thinges willyngly which Charles ſurmamed the great, King of Fraunce, gaue vntounto him when he had vanquiſhed and ouercome the Lumbards, and taken priſoner Deſiderius their King. But Leo the third attempted more. For he tooke vponupon him the aucthoritie ouer all the Empire, which then appertayned to the Emperours of Conſtantinople, and crowned Charles Emperour of Rome withouteCharles made Emperour by the Pope. the knowledge and conſent of the lawfull Emperours, when as then, as Palmerius accompteth, the weſt had lacked their owne Emperour the ſpace of. 330. yéeres.
The yéere of Chriſte 860. Pope Nicholas Emperours ſwere to the pope.the firſte ruled the ſea of Rome, a paſſinge ambitious man inſtitutinge ſundry thinges not appertayning to the gouerment of the Church: but to confirmation and eſtabliſhinge of the popiſhe tyrany. Firſt that no prince, no not the emperour himſelfe, ſhould bée preſent in the counſeiles of the Clergie. Alſo that no lay man ſhould ſet in iudgment ouer a clarke, or eccleſiaſticall perſon. Moreouer that the Popes decrées and ſentences, ought to bée iudged by no man: yea, that the Pope is ſubiect vntounto no ciuile power, bicauſe he is God. Reade Antoninus Titul. xvi. Paragra. 9. and likewiſe in the decrées, in the 76. and. 28▪ diſtinction.
Afterward in the yéere of Chriſt. 962. the Popes of Rome grue vntounto ſo great power: that when Otho the. 1. emperour of that name, came vntounto Rome, hée muſt néedes take an othe vntounto Pope Iohn the xii. that hée would defende the inheritance of Peter, &c. Reade the. 63. diſtinction which béeginneth: Tibi Domine Ioanni.
But in the yéere after the birth of our Lord & ſauiour Chriſt. 1000. the tyranny of Popes againſt y• emperours brak foorth into light: for caſting away their yoke from their neckes: they béegan fréely to bear rule at their owne pleſure nothinge regardynge any Magiſtrate, yea bringynge Princes, kynges and Emperours into ſubiection vnderunder them and compellyng to obey them, or otherwiſe through deceit and couen, bryngynge them to the bent of their bow. For I pray you what horrible tragedies and turmoiles did pope Gregory the ſeuenth ſtirre vp againſt Henrie the fourth?
For, not only hée excommunicated him and intreated him moſt diſdainfully: but alſo diſcharginge his ſubiectes, princes, and nobles that were vnderunder the empire from their othe and allegeance: raiſed a ſedition againſt him, cauſing an infinitie deale of blood to bée ſhead. Who ſo is diſpoſed: let him reade this moſt cruell and ſtrange hiſtorie, in the yéearlye recordes of Ihon Auentine, and in other hiſtoricians.
Pope vrbane the .ii. which ſuccéededvrban. 2. Gregorie in the ſea of Rome, his verie true and vndoubted Diſciple, in the Claromont counſell was cauſer of the moſt cruell warre, which the Chriſtians made againſt the Sarracens, wherof we hauehave ſpoken béefore. Béeſides, hee prouoked Conrade the prince of Italye to rebell againſt his father the emperour Henrye the fourth, which was a deede altogither againſt nature.
Likewiſe Paſchalis the .ii. egged thePaſchalis. 2. ſunne Henrye the v. againſt his father Henrye the fourth, and thriſe accurſed him tauſinge the byſſhoppes of Ments, and Coleine, & wourmes, in his palace of Ingelheim by force to turne him out of his imperiall ornamentes, diſgrading the good ould emperour, and adorninge therwith his ſunne Henrye the fifte. If anye man can bée delighted herewith: let him read this wofull hiſtorye, in his Saxonie of Albertus Crantius the fir… booke, the xx. chapter.
The ſame Paſchalis was troubleſom alſo vntounto the emperour Henrye the fift, and was the cauſe of mutch bloodſhead, and all only for the donation and gift as they call them of certein eccleſiaſticall benefices, and prefermentes, which vntounto that time the emperour had alwayes, and now the Pope went about forcibly to take them away. But that which hée could not bringe to paſſe the ſame afterward Calixtus the. 2 aſſaid, nether relented vntill hée had taken away from the emperour the ſame right of donation of ſpirituall prefermentes. Wherof Abbas Vrſpurgenſis hath writen diligently. Theſe thinges were doone in the yéere of our lord God 1122.
But the Popes of Rome were notPopes oppreſſe the emperours. contented with this: but the later ſorte hauehave inſued the trade of their prediceſſours, touching wickednes and miſcheif in perſecutinge the emperours. For afterward they béecame gréeuous vntounto them, neuer makinge an ende of curſing ſeditions, warres, and perpetuall fraud and deceipt, vntill at length they had oppreſſed the wéerie emperours, and exalted their ſeate aboue theirs, placinge themſelues in power and ſuperioritie aboue all other. Who ſo deſireth to hauehave2. Theſ. 2. a ſounde, and perfect knowledge of theſe matters: let him reade the ſtorye of Fridericus Barbaroſsa, and thoſe thinges which the Popes Adrian the fourth, and Alexander the thirde, practized againſt him, of which the later moſt preſumptiouſly trode vponupon the Emperours necke with his foote. Alſo what Caeleſtinus the fourth wrought againſt Henry the firſt. Let him alſo there béeholde with what arrogancie, pride, and inſolencie, Pope Innocentius the third, a loftie and bould Preiſt, vſed againſt Philip the Emperour. But ſpecially let it bée well conſidered, what the popes Honorius y• third. Gregorie the .ix. and Innocentius the. 4 committed wickedly, and deceiptfully againſt Fridericke the ſeconde, a notable and moſt excellent Emperour, & a man indued with moſt ſingular giftes, whom moſt vnworthely and reprochfully, they troubled & afflicted, as they did likewiſe his ſunne, Conradus, the fourth emperour of that name.
Theſe contentions, perſecutions, and moſt cruell and perpetuall warres, béetwéene the Popes and the emperours: continued. 181. yéeres béeginning in the time of Gregory the 7. vntounto the enſtaulinge of Alexander the fourth, and vntounto the yéere of our lord. 1256. About which time writers of hiſtories, & Cronacles, do make an Interregnū, or ſpace while none ruled, which indured the terme of xvii. or xviii. yéeres, vntounto the election ofAnno 1271. y• emperour Radulphus of Habſpurge. And although in the meane time certen princes were choſen, as Alfonſus, and Rycharde, wherof the laſte tooke vponupon him the charge, and gouerment of the empire: yet all theſe princes were ſo terr…fied with daily moleſtations, and deceites, wherwith ye Popes had hetherto troubled the emperours, that no man would willinglye take the empire vponupon him, ſince euerie man euidently béeheld that by poſſeſſion therof hée could obtaine no quietnes nor profit, but only damageKinge of Rome without Rome. and vexation. For although Germanye had the title of the Romane empire: yet Rome was not the head of their empire, but of the Pepes & if that haply through their great charge, trouble, and payne leadinge an armie into Italye, they had by force poſſeſſed the citie: ſo ſoone as they were returned again into Germanye, the Pope by and by repoſeſſed the ſame.
Moreouer, the kinge or emperour of the Romans, receiueth no great commoditieSe Theodor Nyem of ſciſmes. 3. booke 43. chap. and sleidan. de Monar. Pag. 120. 171. 172. nor reuenue out of the Romane Empire, ſo that vnleſſe hée hauehave otherwyſe prouiſion, and liuinge of his owne hée is ſcarce able thereof to mayntayne his port, and dignitie. Yea, and béeſides this: the Popes hauehave moleſted, and gone about to take awaye by force of armes, their patrimonie whiche hauehave taken vponupon them the Empire thereof. Wherfore, princes that were of wealth and ſubſtance, hauehave not eaſely bin perſuaded to take the Empire vppon them. And Radulphus Erle of Habſpurge, when as hée accepted the election: yet could hée neuer bée perſuaded to goe to Rome, to receaue the Crowne of the Empire, for hée alwayes aunſwered, that hée was affraid by the example of manye whiche hauehave gone to Rome, wherof but fewe hauehave returned agayne. And that hée might cléerelye diſcharge himſelfe from that Cerberus: hée caſt into his mouth Romandiola, whiche vntounto that time béelonged to the empire.
The Popes of Rome hauehave vſed ſundry ſtrange practizes, to bereue kinges and Emperours of their power, and to extolle themſelues aboue Kinges and Princes, or rather to caſt thē downe vnderunder their féete. Their chiefe power conſiſted in excomunicatiō, or hauing excomunicatedExcommunication. any Prince: they withdrue the ſubiectes from obeying him, and exhorted them to raiſe tumultes, and fall away from him: moreouer they egged ſubiectes and ſeruantes to rebel againſt their Lords, & Maiſters ſhamefully diſcharging them from their Loialtie and oth, vnderunder this title & pretence, y• there ought no honor, nor obedience be ſhewē or vſed vntounto excomunicate perſons, norThe popes Legates. oth kept towards them. Then ſent they abroad into all Prouinces ſubtile men, Legates with Bulles or Letters, and we ye Apoſtolick power, as they terme it, through whoſe meanes they bread ſundrye conſpiracies, partly with the Biſſhops of the Prouinces whom they put in minde of their dutifull obedience to the Sea of Rome, partly with Princes of the Empire, and with all other that were of ani power, or aucthority. Thus hauinge gotten certen of thoſe in their faction, and raiſing a diſſention amonge the people, the next was that there muſt a new Emperour, bee choſen: and then fell they together by the eares whiche héeld with the old Emperour, and they which tooke part with the new. Wherevpon many horrible, & wofull miſeriesWarres and ſedition. hauehave enſued, as ciuill warres, ſeditions, murthers, burnings, and generally all kindes of calamities: wherwith the good Emperours ſomtimes béeing wearye, many times ouercome by force: hauehave bin conſtrained to geue place and abide theſe thinges, and in the meane while the Popes hauehave with more arrogancye and bouldneſſe aduaunced their head. Al theſe thinges may bée ſéene as it were in a Mirrour, in ye hiſtories of the emperours Henrie the fourth. Henrie the. 5. Frederick the firſte, and Frederick the ſeconde, and others, whome wée hauehave béefore named. And ſo at length the Popes hauehave ouercome and béecame ſtronge, as Daniell writeth, but not by their owne power.
Béeſides this alſo, they hauehave vſed theCounſelles benifite of counſelles vntounto the confirmation, and preſeruation of their kingdom. For in thoſe dayes they made themſelues rulers of the counſelles, vntounto whiche they called men of their owne faction, who in no poynt would gainſay the Pope. And becauſe that of oulde times ſutche counſelles as then were holden by moſt godly and learned men, were of great aucthoritye: they were alſo verye mutch regarded of all men which the moſte hollye father (for ſo hée was ſuppoſed to bée) with his adherents had concluded in their aſſemblies. And thus vnderunder the title of counſelles: the Popes mightely brought their driftes to effect.
There was alſo a newe deuiſe, andCruciata or Croyſados. ſuch a one as the like hath not bin heard of before, inuented in the Claromont counſel, vnderunder Pope Vrbane the ſecond which by a new name they called Cruciata: or Croysados. They preached the Croſſe, but farre otherwiſe then dyd the Apoſtles. For they preached the Croſſe of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, namely, how that through his Croſſe and Paſſion, wée are clenſed from our ſinnes, and by Faith obtayne eternall felicitie. But the Popes Cruciata or Croyſados, was a certein kinde of Alarme. For the preachers of this Cruciata, exhorted the chriſtians to ſigne themſelues with the Croſſe, (lyke as ſouldiers in warre for a ſigne or token, doo weare white or red ſkarfes) and that they ſhould march into the Eaſt againſt the Sarracens, as we hauehave ſhewed before. And they preched that they whiche were ſigned with the Croſſe in this warfare: obtayned indulgencies, that is to ſaye, remiſſions of ſinnes, and if they were ſlayne in battle: ſhould be partakers of eternall felicitie.
Afterward, theſe ſuborned preachersMendican… Friers. of the Popes, not onelyonly preached the croſſe againſt the Sarracens: but alſo againſt the Chriſtians, namely againſte the Emperours, whome the Pope had proclaimed to bée hereticks, & generally againſt al y• would not adore the pope, & obey all his commaundements. And by this ſhift, the Popes hauehave gathered very great and well apoynted armies almoſt withoute any charge, obtayning their power, wealth, and greatneſſe wherunto they bée nowe growne, by verye force.
But in this matter the foure orders of begging or mendicant Fries hauehave doone the Popes verye good ſeruice, whiche firſt béegan in the time of Pope Innocentius, and Honorius, both the. 3. of that name, which kinde of people the Chriſtian Churche wanted the ſpace of MCC. yéeres, and that with more quietneſſe and commodytie then hath ſince the time of their béeginninge, and approbation enſued. Howbeit in prechynge and ſettyng foorth of the Cruciata or Croyſados: the Dominican Friers hauehave taken moſt paine, who by preachyng this Cruciata or Alarme, obtayned the name of preaching Friers. WhomPreachyng Friers. the Popes in conſideration of their paines and dillygent ſeruice: hauehave indued with Priuiledges, and honours, and loued them more tenderly then the reſtdue. Of whoſe trauile employd to the pleſure, and furtherance of the pope many thinges might be written.
At length the ſtate of Chriſtianytie proceeded ſo farre, after the time of theThe Pope vaunteth himſelfe to be Empe. kinges Radulphus, and Adulphus, vnderunder Albertus the firſte, in the yéere of Chriſte. 1300. that the Pope vaunted hymſelfe to be Emperour. For at the ſame time, Bonifacius the. 8. brought in agayne the yéere of Iubilee, which was abrogated by the Apoſtles. Actes the. 15 Chapter, promiſing forgiueneſſe of ſins vntounto all ye would come to Rome: vponupon ye firſt day of which Iubilee, being adorned in his pōtificalrobes: he came abroad ſhewing himſelfe as Pope to all men, & bleſſing ye people: the next day he came foorth in his Emperiall apparell, openly declaring that the Empire and Papacie together with all ciuill and eccleſiaſtical power, were in the popes hands. Theſe things are written by Albertus Crantzius, in the eight booke, 26. Chapter of his Saxonie. The ſame Pope alſo ſet foorth Decretals, whiche are called the Decretals of Bonifacius the eight, where in muche more impudentlye hée challengeth all power to the Popes.
This power or rather tirannie, and intollerable arrogancye, not longe after Bonifacius: Iohn the twenty and two,Iohn the. 22 againſt the emperour Ludou. 4. put in practiſe, and declared towardes Ludouick. For he moſt reprochefully miſuſed him, excommunicated him, caſt him into gréeuous warres, cauſinge an vnſpeakable deale of mans bloud to be ſhead, throughout all Germanie. Theſe thinges are deſcribed dilligently, and at large, by Iohn Auentine in the ſeuenth booke of the yeerely recordes of the Boi: whiche I declare for this intent, that who ſo deſireth to hauehave an exacte knowledge of theſe thinges: may know wherto finde it.
Moreouer, in the reigne of Ludouick Zurick excommunicated.the fourth, as alſo before, vnderunder Friderick the ſecond, the Citie of Zurick béecauſe it tooke part with the Emperours againſt the Pope, keeping alwaies their oth and allegance towardes hym: ſtood many yéeres excommunicated, whiche was not withoute great hinderance of the commonwealth, although ſince that time it hath againe bin indued with ſundrye priuiledges, and honours. At which time the firſt ground and foundation of the Swicers league, through the gifte of God was layde moſt happely, Ludouick the Emperour moſt largely and liberally graunting to the ſame, and fauoring the Swicers, whom I pray god to bleſſe, and kéepe, and defend moſte mercifully.
Nowe perhaps you wyll aſke mée, whether theſe Actes of the Popes and Emperours, and the increaſe of the Popiſh power and aucthority, doo any thing appertaine to ye perſecutions againſt the churh, wherof at the beginning we purpoſed to write? yea indeede, altogether, & ſurely moſt properly they appertaine to the ſame. For in aſmuch as the firſt biſſhops of Rome perſecuted no man, but themſelues ſuffred perſecution, & were Martires, and thoſe whiche next followed were moſt parte of them holye and faithfull doctours, ſubiectes to the Emperours and ciuill Maieſtrates, and ruled ouer no Prouinces nor Peoples ſo that none of them were Princes, and the later Popes in theſe laſte times ſtirred vp moſte gréeuous perſecutions within the circute of Chriſtendome: it is expedient to know by what means and maner, how, why, and when, the ſtate of the byſſhops of Rome was ſo ſhamefully deformed and chaunged, that the later Popes béecomminge ſo farre diffrent from the firſt byſſhops: béecame Lordes of kinges, and emperours, and cruell perſecuters of them. Now therfore, ſo many moſte cruell and ſharpe warres, which the Popes béeing aduanced to ſo great power hauehave ſtirred amōg Chriſtians, in which ſutch aboundance of Chriſtian blood hath bin ſhead: maye they not rightfully be reckned amongſt the perſecutions of Chriſtians? For like as abroad they hauehave bin ſticklers of moſt gréeuous warres vntounto the Chriſtians againſt the Sarracens and Turkes, as wée hauehave declared béefore: ſo hauehave they bin alſo at home aucthours of perſecutions, troubles, and deſtruction to Chriſtians. Doth not this verie well deſerue the name of a perſecution, when as Chriſtian emperours, with ſuch as duetifully obeyd his heſtes, ar by Popes vexed and waſſhed with their own blood diſcourteouſly dealt withall with weapons, and warlike torments, which, as we hauehave ſhewed béefore out of hiſtorys, many yéeres with infinite ſpillinge of blood, were moſt cruelly and tyrannically committed? But in the midſt of ſo many calamities, the wofull kinges and emperours perpetuallye ſuffringe affliction, and miſerie: at length they and theirs quayled, and gaue ouer, and the Popes béeinge conquerours: triumphed, and althinges hapned accordinge to their deſier, and ſo they eſtabliſhed their power, that they might ſtand heerafter in awe of no man, but rule at their pleaſure without all controulement.
And in very déede, theſe are not vnlike vntounto Daniels prophecy, wherin hée hath left thus written: While the vngodly are a growyng: there ſhall ariſe a king with an impudent face, which ſhall vnderſtand darck ſayinges, and his power ſhal encreaſe but not in his own ſtrēgth and hée ſhal deſtroy aboue meaſure, and all that hée goeth about ſhal proſper, and hée ſhall deſtroy the valient and holly people. And through his craftines, deceit ſhal proſper in his hand, and hée ſhal magnifie himſelfe in his hart, and in his proſperity hée ſhall confound many. Yea hée ſhall riſe vp againſt y• prince of princes, but hée himſelfe ſhalbée deſtroyed with out hand. Daniell the .viii. Chap. But if I would here declare ye vnſpekable deal of mans blood, which by meansWarres for sicill, and Naples. of Popes hath bin ſhead in Sicile, Naples, and Apulia: ſurelye the recitall would bée ouer longe. For, from ye time of Innocentius the. 4. vntounto Clemente the vii. ye ſpace of. 284. yéeres: ſumtime the Germans, afterward the Frenchmē again the Spainiards againſt ye Frenchmen, then a freſh the Germans againſt them, then againe the Frenchmen and Hungarians were by Popes called to ſutch and ſutch kingdomes, and ſutch and ſutch peoples were at warre, and by them ſet togither by the eares. All which troubles are diligently ſet downe by hiſtoricians.
Moreouer, through the immoderate,Popes rulers of faith and the Church. and vnlawfull power or rather tyranny of y• Popes, no leſſe alſo by other meanes, blooddy perſecutions and murthers hauehave riſen. For after that, as wée hauehave ſhewen béefore, they had mightely vſurped vponupon all Eccleſiaſticall and Ciuill iuriſdiction, and power alſo ouer counſelles: then might they afterward inſtitute and ordeine all ordres of ye Church the doctrine of faith and religion, rites and cuſtomes in the Churche, at theyr owne will and pleaſure. And hereof aroſe perſecutions. For who ſo euer reſiſted: thoſe they cried out vppon for heretickes, and vnderunder that pretence perſecuted them. And this ſame (béeſides the warres of the Popes) I terme properlye the Papiſticall perſecution agaynſte Chriſtians, and the Chriſtian Churche, whiche was mooued againſte the godlye and faithfull onelyonly for their faithes ſake, as it was ſumtime in the primitiue Church. Wherfore, like as at the beeginninge, the firſt faithfull were perſecuted by the Emperours of Rome: euen ſo towards the ende of the worlde, the faithfull of the latter times do ſuffer perſecution by the Popes of Rome. But vndoubtedlye the Lorde will come ſhortlye to iudge both the quick, and the dead.
But to the end that this matter may the better bée vnderſtoode, and for the more exact knowledge therof: it cannotErrours crept into the Church bée denied, that many errours and abuſes not now firſt, but ſumwhat béefore hauehave crept in and hauehave bin receaued into the Church, ſo that through continuance of time: they hauehave growen into cuſtome. Which thinges with manie other moe, in proceſſe of time are confirmed, and cheifly by the Popes forced vponupon men, and by ſubtile practiſes but ſpecially by the ſwoorde inlarged, and preſerued: in ſo mutch that many perceauynge the errour, yet durſt not openly withſtande it: for they ſaw well, that they might not ſo do without daunger of their owne bloud. But cheifly in theſe later times this cuſtome hath preueyled, which I wil now recite.
In the dayes of the emperours Lotharius, Originall of the Cannon law. Gratianus.and Conrade the .iij. or as other ſome ſay of Fridericke, about the yéere of Chriſte. 1130. Gratianus Bononienſis a Munke of the order of Benedictus, gathered together the ſentences of ye counſels, fathers, and popes, touching ſundry matters apperteinyng to religion & the Church, and ſetfoorth that work abroad which is commonly called Decretum, or Decree. After Gratianus, certein popes, as Gregory the. 9. Bonifacius the, 8 Clemens the. 5. & Iohn the. 22. following the example of Gratianus: hauehave gathered alſo, & with y• help of certein munks and Doctours: they patched together ſē tences and iudgements of Popes, concernyng rites, and inſtitutions, and buſineſſes apperteinyng to Churches, and eccleſiaſticall orders. The ſame are called Decretales, and Extrauagantes, and were added vntounto Gratianus Decretum, and all of them togither do make the body of the Canon law. This law béegan to bée taught in ſchooles, which all other followed in doing the like in theirScholes, and Vniuerſities vnderunder the pope eccleſiaſticall iudgmentes, and adminiſtration of ye Church. …y which menes Schooles and vniuerſities whiche are called the Schooles of lawes & Canons came vnderunder the Popes iuriſdiction, wherein the ſcholars, Maiſters, and Doctours, muſte take an othe to bée obedient vntounto the Pope, and the … of Rome, or vntounto ſutch as are obedient vntounto him, or againſt his lawes, and inſtitutions▪ Yea this matter hath proceded ſo farre: that the emperours alſo, as well as all other byſſhops, muſt take an othe vntounto ye Pope. The fourm of which Othe: is extant in ye Decrées, & Decretals.Swere to the Pope. And by this meanes the Pope hath made ſubiect, bound, & béeholding vntounto him: al ſortes, and orders of ye Church.
Héereunto oppertaineth, that at the ſame time with Gratianus, not longe after, accordinge to the ſupputation of other, about the yéere of our Lorde. 1172.Peter Lumbard. Peter Lumbard, whom they call maiſter of the ſentences, wroat, and ſetforth 4. bookes of the Chriſtian faith and doctrine, which were receaued into the Schooles, as was the body of the lawe: ſo that like as Gratianus is aucthour of the Canoniſtes, & doctours of the Pontifical lawe: ſo Peter Lumbard is aucthour of the ſcholaſticall diuinitie. For the Doctours of thoſe times, and cheiflye mendicant friers, read Lumbardes ſentences openly in ſchools, and hauehave written vponupon the ſame, as Albertus, Thomas, Bonauenture, Scotus, and many other. And according vntounto theſe ſentences: they ordred the doctrin of faith, and all other affaires of ye Church. At which time the Chriſtian doctrine was wonderfully torne & cut into ſundrie queſtions, wherof they cōmonly diſputed and argued in ye ſcholes and holy ſermons, or rather ſkoulded, wherby the Chriſtian doctrine, béecame altogither vnlike vntountoAgreement of the Church. th'auntient Apoſtolike ſinglenes, & integritie. Althings were referred and ſubiected to ye ſea of Rome, and y• pope vntounto whom al ye Canoniſtes, & diuines were bound by an othe. And this is ye conſpiracie of the clargie, which they cal & vaunt to be the conſent of al ye church, in faith, & doctrine. Howbeit in veri déed it is none other but this conſpiracy which we hauehave héere recited. Wherfore, out of this fountaine and welſpryng, flowed y• greuous papiſticall perſecution againſt the Chriſtian Church. For whoſoeuer miſliked with the Popes Monarchie, and conſpiracy of ye clergy, which they terme conſent and agréement of the church, and did not ſpeake althinges according to the intent of the Canoniſtes, and Theologiſtes: vponupon thoſe they ran in flockes, and through the Popes helpe, and aſiſtance of the ſeculer arme: they proclamed them euerywhere hereticks, perſecuted, and oppreſſed them. Touchyng which purpoſe, in the Decretals there is extant a decrée of Pope Lucius the third the effect whereof is this. WhoſoeuerA popiſhe decree. thinke otherwiſe of the Sacramentes then the holy Church of Rome thinketh and lykewiſe, all whom the Pope ſhall condemne: let them be accoumpted for heretickes, and excomunicate perſons. Ther is added alſo an explication how the ciuill Magiſtrate ſhall procéede againſt ſutch, which if hée wyll not doe: how they ſhall procéede againſt the diſobedient Maieſtrate. The thirde booke the ſeuenth Title of Heretickes, Chapter, Ad abolendum. To aboliſh. &c.
Hereunto accorded the counſell, whichCounſelles do conſent. as wée hauehave before admoniſhed, the Popes had vnderunder their owne power, for by occaſion of them they hauehave alwayes kept their conſent and agréement, and all that euer reſiſted the ſame: thoſe hauehave they oppreſſed, put to flighte, or quight rooted out. For whatſoeuer were decréed in the counſelles: the ſame muſt be brought to effect, & immediatly put in execution, whereunto all Maieſtrats wer bound, and as many as were able to beare armour.The ſum of papiſticall counſel.
In the yéere of our Lorde, 1215. Pope Innocentius the third, held a great counſell in Lateran at Rome: the manner and forme of the indiction, Abbas Vrſpurgenſis hath expreſſed in his Cronacles, whiche comprehendeth verye many thinges, the cheife ſumme wherof bée theſe. Firſt of making warre vponupon the Sarracens, and recouering Ieruſalem, and the holye Sepulcher. The ſecond of rooting out hereſies. The third of mendinge of manners, and refourming the Church. The ſame Chapters were propounded almoſt in al counſels, which hauehave bin holden from that time hitherto. They all intreate of thrée poyntes. Of repreſſinge the force of the Turkes, of rooting out of hereſies, and of refourming the Church.
But although they hauehave celebrated many Counſels, within the precinct of 300. yéeres and more: yet hauehave they in none of them refourmed that was amiſſe,Counſelles wherby it might deſerue ye name of a reformation. For errours and ſuperſtitions with ſundrye abuſes moe, are not taken away but more increaſed mutchleſſe hauehave they reformed anye whit in the head (as they ſpeake,) or members of the Church. And although the whole world, during the ſpace of certen hundred yéeres hauehave woorthely accuſed the abuſes, and moſt corrupt ſtate of the eccleſiaſticall order, with other enormities of the Church, which well deſerue to be taken away and mended: Notwithſtandinge they hauehave not touched them with their little finger, and therfore oftentimes ariſe ſome greater diſcordes, and they fall farther of from the Chriſtian diſcipline. Yea, & all ſuch as ſéeke for, and require to hauehave ſome true reformation, reprehending the diſorders and abuſes, and ſpecially y• popes vnlawfull aucthorytie, the filthye, and lecherous lyfe of the Clargye, which all men are conſtrained to confeſſe to bée very culpable: the ſame men neuertheleſſe are condempned for ſciſmatickes, and Hereticks, & ar ſharply perſecuted.
For vntounto them all are Heretickes:Whom the Pope calleth heretieks. whoſoeuer do not ſubmit themſelues to the Sea of Rome, and the Pope in all thinges, and beléeue in althinges which that Sea beléeueth and commandeth to bée beléeued, accordyng to the aboue named conſpiracie: and ſo Lucius the pope defineth Heretickes in his Decretall, wherof we hauehave made mention before, in the Chapter Ad aboliendum, to abolyſhe. Wherefore with them it is not ſufficient that a godlye man confeſſe all the articles of the antient, true, vndoubted, and Apoſtolick faith, ſaying: that hée beléeueth in one God, the father &c. that hée alſo alowe, and confeſſe the foure orders of our beléefe ſet foorth by the auntient counſelles, and S. Athanaſius, and whatſoeuer are taught and confirmed out of the holy ſcriptures of both Teſtaments: & moreouer doo condemne y• hereſies which were conuicted & condemned in y• antient counſels. In ould time this kinde of confeſſion was ſufficient enough for chriſtiās in y• auntient church but amongſt theſe men all theſe things aveile nothinge, neither ſuffice to the confeſſion of the faith, but a man muſte néedes confeſſe and beleue in the church of Rome as it is now vnderunder the Pope, and follow the conſent thereof: or elſe he ſhall léeſe honour, goodes, bodie, lyfe and all.
And therefore during the time of theCounſelles cauſe wars. and perſecutions. Counſels, before, and after them, hauehave bin many bateiles, murthers, and foule waſtings committed, nether were theſe things done onelyonly againſt the Sarracens and vnfaithfull men: but with mutche more extreamitie and crueltie againſt Chriſtians, which would bée indéed, and named Chriſtians, and not papiſts, and which diſallowed and alſo be wayled the pride, and tyrany of the Pope, his great and manifeſt abuſes and deprauations of holy thinges. Wherefore in the ould time it grewe into a prouerbe: EueryEvery counſell breedeth warre: which is to be vnderſtoode of Papiſticall counſels, and found indéed to be true by proofe.
For that I may paſſe ouer in this place, warres and moſte bloody perſecutions of faithfull men, but enemies to the Sea of Rome, whiche were waged and committed in the reigne of Pope Innocentius the thirde and certen other Popes next enſuing: let vsus onli examin thoſe thinges which are not farre paſt the memory of men that are aliue. TheThe counſell of Conſtance. counſel of Conſtance, I pray you, what warres, perſecutions, burninges, waſtyngs, and murthers purchaſed it vntounto Boheme, & Germanie? He that knoweth not this: let him learne it at leaſt wiſe out of Pope Pius the ſeconde, who when he was called as yet Aeneas Syluius, wroat theſe thinges very dilligently in his ſtorye of Boheme. The troubles, ſeditions, & ſlaughters, which the counſel of Baſile brought forth are in part recitedThe Counſell of Baſile. by Platina in the life of Eugenius the fourth. But béeſids this, we hauehave a more freſh and certeine example of the Tridentine Counſel, which beeing firſt appoynted at Mantua, and afterwarde at Vincentia: was at the laſt by Paule the thirde in the yeare of our Lord. 1542 called at Trident nigh Atheſis, wholy in manner and fourme as we hauehave béefore recited, whiche was conluded andThe Trident counſel ended by Pope Pius the fourth in the yéere of our Lorde. 1563.
Howbeit, what thinges were doonePerſecurtions of our time. certen yéeres before this counſel, and alſo ſince, againſt holie and faithfull men, which only beleeued in the Goſpell, but not in traditions of Popes nor in ye ſea of Rome, by Leo. x. Clemēt. 7. Paul. 3. and▪ 4. Iulius, the 3. Pius, ye. 4. and. 5. and by this preſent Pope Gregorye the. 13. the ſpace of. 53. yéeres: I néede not repeat. For they are knowen vntounto God and al ye world, and as it were writen in heauen, vntounto which place ye blood of all innocents together with the blood of Abel: crieth from the earth vntounto God for vengeance. Many gréeuous, longe, and bloodye warres for ſundry cauſes were waged in thoſe yéeres, but at the ſame time no leſſe gréeuous and bloody perſecutions wer committed againſt ye faithfull: for faith, and religions ſake. Faithfull and Godly men were reprochefully and iniuriouſly dealt withal, apprehended, thrown out of dores, driuen into exile, ſpoyled of their goods, beheaded, hanged on gallowes, burned, vexed with al kindes of tormentes, and puniſhment. And by this meanes were oppreſſed tormented, & ſlayne, hundred thouſands, of faithfull men and profeſſours of the Goſpell both in the higher, and lower Germanie, in Scotlād, England, Spaine, Note.(which found out the new practize of the inquiſition) in Italie, and other regions. But cheiflye what hath bin doone in France: ther is no man at this day but knoweth. And there are extant whole bookes written of ye gréeuous, and long Papiſticall perſecution, and the thinge doone is yet freſh in memory, wherfore it is not néedefull that I ſhould ſpecially declare it againe at large, ſince yet at this preſent they make no end of their crueltie, and ſheding of blood. Since therfore, thei which would ſéeme to be Fathers, and paſtours of ye church, do make themſelues executioners of this laſt papiſticall perſecution: wée may not only compare it we ye olde perſecutions, but in reſpect of the greatnes prefer it aboue it.
Moreouer, as in auntient times the ould perſecutors of ye church were egged forwarde to rigour through an vnſatiable deſire to rule, to th' intent they might kéepe and increaſe their dignitie, pleaſures, ritches, and ſuperſtition: ſo likewiſe is the Papiſticall perſecution committed for the ſame cauſe. But like as the Chriſtian faith in the ould time was no whit the leſſe eſtéemed of for the perſecutions: ſo at this preſent the Euangelicall doctrine is nothinge the woorſe nor viler, bicauſe the Papiſts do perſecute the profeſſours of the Goſpell, and manie times ouercome them. There are ſundrie cauſes, why God ſuffreth this to bée doone, neither ought any man to accuſe, or call the iudgment of God into queſtion.
And this mutch I had to ſaye of the perſecutiōs which the Church of Chriſt hath ſuffred from the birth of our Sauiour vntounto our time: comprehendinge breefely the whole ſumme, wherby the matter beeing otherwiſe verie large: might ſeeme ouerlonge, and tedious to the reader. Howbeit, much more might and oughte to hauehave bin written of thys manifold, and ample argument.