A counterblast to M. Hornes vayne blaste against M. Fekenham Wherein is set forthe: a ful reply to M. Hornes Answer, and to euery part therof made, against the declaration of my L. Abbat of Westminster, M. Fekenham, touching, the Othe of the Supremacy. By perusing vvhereof shall appeare, besides the holy Scriptures, as it vvere a chronicle of the continual practise of Christes Churche in al ages and countries, fro[m] the time of Constantin the Great, vntil our daies: prouing the popes and bishops supremacy in ecclesiastical causes: and disprouing the princes supremacy in the same causes. By Thomas Stapleton student in diuinitie.

Stapleton.

The principall tenour of the matters here conteyned, standeth in the confirmation of the Popes election, in cal∣ling councelles, and confirming lawes ecclesiastical. To all the whiche we neade no farre fetched or newe solution, especially seing M. Horne hym self, furthereth yt so wel, as declaryng that all thinges were donne according to the holy Canons, and sayinges of the holy Fathers: and that many of theis matters towched the polityke gouernmente of the realme. Yet let M. Fekenham now beware. For M. Horne proueth yt high treason in the people and clergy, for that Paschalis was made Pope wythowte themperours consent. And so lo, at the lengthe here is some face of anti∣quity, for our newe actes of Parliamente. Well found out, and lyke a good lawyer M. Horne. Yet I beseache you tel vs, which wordes of all that you reherse imploye plaine treason.* 1.1 I am assured there are none, onlesse yt be these. that they do no more offende againste hys maiesty▪ as your self reherse out of Sabellicus. And yf ye call thys treason, and make no better prouf, I thinke neither good grammarian, nor any good lawyer wil take your parte. For thowghe in latin laedere maiestatem, be somtyme taken for treason, yet yt is not alwayes, neither can yt be englished treason, but vpon the circumstances, which declare the acte to be trea∣son. And how wil thys cruell exposition stande I pray you with your owne declaration, in this leaf also: that thys Lu∣douicus was a milde mercifull, and moste gentle prince? Be∣side thys, it is not like he toke thys matter so heauely, for that euen as Platina your authour here writeth out of A∣nastasius bibliothecarius, a worthy authour ād lyuing about thys tyme, thys Emperour released to this Pope Paschalis his right that he had in the election of Bishoppes, geuē be∣fore

to Charles by Adrian the Pope. And here uppon might I aswell cōclude after your base and yet accustomable rea∣soning,* 1.2 that the Princes of Englande should haue nothing to doe, with the election of Bishopes. Yet, if there be no re¦medy, let yt be highe treason to agnise the Popes election withowte the Emperours confirmation. What is thys to the prince of Englonde, that hath nothing to doe therwith, or to M. Fekēham, seing if al be true, yet it maketh nothing for the Emperours supreamacy, or againste the Popes su∣preamacy?* 1.3 The denial wherof in dede (the more pitie) is taken for treason with vs, but yet thankes be to God, suche kinde of treason, as a man maye lose his head and take no hurte by yt, but muche good: and that is to be a very true and a blessed martyr.

But now touching the particular doinges of this Empe∣rour Ludouike, you tel vs he bestowed Spirituall promotions (and you tell vs but of one onely) and instituted his brother Drogo the Chiefe Minister or Bishop at Mettes. And here you leaue oute, Canonicam vitam agentem, clero eiusdem Eccle∣siae consentiente ac eligente, he instituted him being a man that lead a regular lyfe, the clergye also of that Churche bothe confenting and choosing him.* 1.4 This you leaue out to make the worlde beleue the Emperour bestowed Spiri∣tuall promotions, of his owne supreme Authorytie abso∣lutely. And here you tel vs of a right belonging to the Empe∣rial maiesty, in confirming of the Pope. And yet you forget,* 1.5 that in the very leafe before you confesse, this was made by decrees of Adrian and Leo Popes to Charles, this mans Fa∣ther. And then was it not a right of Imperial Maiesty, but a Priuilege frō the Apostolike Authoryte. As for the Cle∣mency of this Prince so much commended, it was not as

you imagine for any supreme gouernment, but for his most fatherly defending, aiding and succouring of the Church. Namely in that most learned Councell holden vnder him at Aquisgrane, of which presently you do talk very much, prying out for som clause that might make for your suprem gouernmēt. And at last, finding none, with a litle false tran∣slatiō, you make the Synode to say of th'Emperour, that he had the charge and ouersight of Christes Church. Which al in Latine is but this one word Procuratorem,* 1.6 A defendour, a succourer, a maintainour, not a Supreme Gouernour with charge and ouersight. You adde also the Synode was furthe∣red with his helpe otherwise, itching forth a litle and a litle, faine to finde somewhat, and it wil not be. For all that fur∣thering (that you so closely couer) was nothing els, but that to his great charges, he furnished the Councel with a goodly store of bookes, and greate plentye of the Fathers writings. Out of which they collected a fourme of institu∣tion, &c. Not the Emperour. A non after you talke of Mo∣nasteries for men and wemen: but you leaue out: Secun∣dùm regulam S. Benedicti. According to the Rule of S. Benet. Your vnruly Religion coulde not beare so much as the Remēbraunce of that holy Rule. And al that you tell of the Emperors words to the Bishops in the Coūcel of Ti¦oinū,* 1.7 the Coūcel calleth it only Cōmonitoriū an aduertise∣mēt or admonitiō. No charge or Cōmissiō. You note to the Reader certeyne enormyties recited in this Goūcel. But wote you what those enormytes were? Forsoth these. That the lay Nobilite, quia ad electionis consortiū admittuntur, Archi∣praesbyteris suis dominari praesumunt, & quos tanquā patres ve¦nerari debuerūt, velut subditos cōtēnunt. Bicause they are ad∣mitted to haue a part in the Electiō, they presume to ouer

rule their chief priestes. And whom they oughte to reue∣rence as Fathers, they contemne as subiects. These were the enormyties there recyted M. Horne. And do not you defende this very enormytie, euen in this very place, ād by this very Councel? When will you leaue to bringe Autho∣ryties against your selfe? As touching the matter of Incest, the Synod requireth of the Emperour that to bringe such offenders to open penaunce,* 1.8 Comitum eius auxilio fulcian∣tur, they may be vpholded with the helpe of his Offycers. Lo they require the Emperours helpe for execution. And yet you conclude after your maner. Thus dothe the kinge take vpō him, ād thus doe the Bishops yelde vnto him the Go∣uernement as wel of Ecclesiastical as Tēporal causes and thin∣ges. And this you conclude a gouernement, whiche in all your premisses was not so muche as named. Your Con∣clusion is alwaies full and mightye. But your proufes are voyde and fainte.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ne āplius simili ex∣emplo im∣peratoria laederetur maiestas.
• * 1.2

  Nauclerus generat. 28. pag. 55. et dist. 6••. Ego Ludo∣uicus.
• * 1.3

  A new kinde of treason wherin a man may loose his head and take no hurte.
• * 1.4

  Naucle∣rus. pag. 55. Gener. 28.
• * 1.5

  Fol. 63. b.
• * 1.6

  Tom. 2. Conc. pag. 639.

  Eius vide∣licet libe∣ralissima largitione Copiā li∣brorū &c.
• * 1.7

  In Con. Ticin. pag. 705. pag. 706. Col. 2.
• * 1.8

  Ibid. Vt publicae possint poe¦nitentiae subiugari.