The English concord in ansvver to Becane's English iarre: together with a reply to Becan's Examen of the English Concord. By Richard Harris, Dr. in Diuinitie.

BECAN. Exam.

YOu cite out of the life of Boniface 8. vvhich is in the sixt booke of the Decretals, these words: Boniface 8. In time of solemne ••pplication, &c; but, falsery. There is no such thing there, neither yet in Platina, vvho is vvell knowne to have written the life of Boniface accurately. Peraduenture you found some such thing in the English fables; but they, out of that Iland, carry no credit.

D^r. HARRIS Reply.

YEs: I finde it in the Paralipom. Vrspergensis, page 365. thus: Papa Bonifacius 8. ipso apparatu in Iubilaeo, qui tunc Romae agebatur, se solenniter o∣stentauit: Primo quidem solenni die, in Pontificalibus appa∣rens populo, Apostolicam ill is benedictionem impartitur: postero die, Imperiali habitu, infula Caesarea insignis, gladi∣um ante se nudatum iussit deferri, et sedens alta voce testa∣tur; Ecce duo gladij hic. Boniface 8. in time of Iubile, shewed himselfe the first day in his Pontificall robes: the second day in his Robes Imperiall: to witte, the imperiall Crowne on his head; &c. and a naked sword borne before him, vvith proclamation thus: Beholde here two swords. And there I reade also this exclamation: Vides O Petre successorem tuum: Et tu Salutifer Christe, cerne tuum vicarium: vide quò ascendit superbia Serui Seruorum tuorum. Oh Peter thou seest vvhat manner of successour thou hast. And oh Saniour Christ beholde thy vicar, and see, vvhither the pride of the Seruant of thy sernants hath

ascended. Further, in Auentine, vt ex concilio Vangionum, I finde this written, viz. The Pope vsurpeth both the Em∣pire, and high Priesthood, as Decius, and other vvorship∣pers of false Gods, vvere vvont to doe.

The Iesuite mistooke my purpose in that marginall note, Vita Bonif. 8. in Serto: which was not to shew where it is written, viz. that Boniface went in processiō Emperor-like apparelled: but that the Christian Rea∣der might be directed to a writing authenticall, where he might see Pope Boniface 8. pictured out in far worse & more odious colours; namely, at the end of the sixt book of the Decretals, thus: In the yeare 1294, Boni∣face got the Popedome, but not without the crime of ambition, and of other ill feats. He pretermitted nothing vvhich either fraudor ambition could compasse. Hee vvas so proud, that hee contemned all men. There are some vvho vvrite, that hee suborned, and priuily sent certaine men, vvho in the night by a voyce sent downe as it vvere from heauen, entering the Chamber of Pope Caelestine (a simple man) should perswade him to relinquish his Popedome, if hee vvould be saued. This is notorious, that vvhen Prochetes the Archbishop of Geneua, vvas before him on his knees vpon Ashwednesday, vvhereas, according to the manner, the Pope should throwe ashes vpon his head & say: Remem∣ber man thou art but ashes, and to ashes thou shalt returne; Boniface cast ashes into Prochetes eyes, and said: Remem∣ber man thou art a Gibelline, and vvith the Gibellines, to a∣shes thou shalt returne. The same Boniface sent his letter to Philip King of France, first to exhort him, and if that vvould not serue, to threaten him to undertake the Hiern∣salem expedition. Philip commits that Legate to prison; vvhereupon the Pope sends the Archdeacon of Marbon,

to command the King in the Popes name to dismisse his Le∣gat; and if he refused, to tell him in the hearing of all men, That because of his contumacy and violating the law of na∣tions, The kingdo^• of France was deuolued to the Church of Rome. But Sarra, sent by King Philip, tooke the Pope pri∣soner, and so brought him to Rome, vvhere vvithin 35. dayes after for very griese of minde, he perished. In this sort dyed Boniface, vvho indeauoured to cast terrour into the hearts of Emperours, Kings, Princes, Nations, and People, rather then to sowe religion among them: who also endea∣noured to giue kingdomes, and to take them awaie, to put in, and to put out, vvhom hee vvould. Learne, all Princes both Secular, and Ecclesiasticall, learne by his example, to rule the Cleary and people, not proudly and contumcliously as hee did.

Behold here, gentle Reader, First, how great the igno∣rance of this Iesuite is, who knew not that the Treatise of the life of Boniface set down in the sixt of the Decre∣tals, was made by Platina. Secondly, how vnluckily the ignorance of this Iesuite here is; which hath ministred vnto mee so iust an occasion to publish afresh vnto the world, what a most shamelesse, and odious Tyrant Pope, their most renowmed Pope Boniface the eight was.

English Concord.

Becane, in his Iarre and fourth Question, demaun∣ded, Whether by reason of his Supremacy, the King may be called the Supreame head of the Church?

And I, in my Concord, and 4. Question, demanded,

Whether the Popeby reason of his Primacy, may be called the supreme head of the Church?

considering that Gregory the great writeth thus: What vvilt thou answere to Christ the head of the vni∣uersall Church,* 1.1 at the tryall of the last iudgement, vvho endeuorest by the name of Vniuersall Bishop (much more by the name of the Supreme head of the vninersall Church) to bring into subiection all his members vnto thee?

Vnto this, though it touch the Pope necre, the Ie∣suite, in his Examen, answereth not one word.

English Concord.

BEcane in his fift Question demanded, Whether the kings Primacy consist in any power, or iurisdiction, Ecclesiasticall?

And I im my fift Question demanded, Whether the Primacy of the Pope consist in any power or iurisdiction Temporall? That is, in a dominion tem∣porall and coactiue; considering that Christ saide thus: The Kings of the nations beare rule ouer them, but ye shall not be so: and that Bernard writeth thus, peremptorily:* 1.2 It is plaine that dominion is forbidden the Apostles. There∣fore presume thou to vsurp to thy selfe, either as a Sone∣raigne. the Apostleshippe; or as an Apostle, the Soue∣raigntie. Thou art plainely forbidden one of them. If thou vvilt haue both together, thou stalt lose both. Otherwise. thinke not thy selfe to be excepted out of the number of those, of vvhome the Lord complaineth, saying; They ruled, but not by mee.

And yet,* 1.3 Boniface the 8, giueth the King of France to vnderstand, that hee is chiefe Lord in matters Spirituall and Temporall through the vvhole vvorld: and commands the saide King to acknowledge that he holds the Kingdome of France of him: because it is hereticall to thinke and holde the con••rarie. In like manner saide Pope Adrian: The Emperour raigneth by vs;* 1.4 vvhence hath hee the Empire but from vs? Beholde: it is in our power to giue it to vvhom vvee vvill. And according to their Canon law: Kings and Emperours, by the command and vvill of Christ, re∣ceiue their power from the Pope, as* 1.5 from their Lord God.

Hereunto the Iesuite makes answere as followeth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lib. 4. Epist. 38
• * 1.2

  Luke 22.25 Consider. ad Eug••n. lib. 2.
• * 1.3

  Martin. Polon.
• * 1.4

  Auentin. 1.6
• * 1.5

  Extran. Joan. 22 Cum inter nonnullos. in Gloss.