THe goods of the Clergie both secular and Ecclesiasticall, are and ought to [error 99] be exempted from paying tribute to Princes; yet they haue not this libertie, say they, by the Lawe of God, but by the grant of Princes themselues, Rhemist. annot. Rom. 13. sect. 5. Bellarm. de Clericis. cap. 28.
Genes. 47.22. & 27. The lands of the Priests were exempted from paying tribute: Ergo, it seemeth that this custome is grounded vpon the law of nature, Bellarm.
Ans. First, the Hebrew word signifieth rather Presidents, such as were the Kings officers, not Priests, as Tremellius sheweth: who were maintained by the Kings prouision, being officers of his houshold: for Genes. 41.45. Ioseph is sayd to marrie the daughter of Potyphar prince, not priest of On. The same word Co∣hen is there vsed: for it is not like that Ioseph would match himselfe with an ido∣latrous priests daughter. Secondly, but be it granted, this was but a politike con∣stitution for that coūtrey: other Princes are not bound to Pharao his law. Third∣ly, they gaine nothing by this, but that it is an humane constitution.
THat Princes haue authoritie to punish Ecclesiasticall persons offending in their goods; either by displacing them, or by conuerting the Church posses∣sions by them abused, to better vses, we haue shewed before, Contr. 5. quest. 6. part. 1. And that their goods ought to pay tribute, subsidie, taxe, vnto the prince, thus now it is proued.
1 Our Sauiour Christ paied poll money, Math. 17.25. Rom. 13. Euery soule